URC Lincs Special Puppy Test 17th July 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All photos courtesy of Michael Gray

Both Garicmoor Grenadier of Ettinsmoor (Skip) and Ettinsmoor Morse were entered for this test and the tests were as follows:

Test 1  Short piece of heelwork off lead in some woodland stopping at a post and a dummy being thrown which the dog was then sent to retrieve. Skip scored 20 and Morse scored 20


Test 2  Had two retrieves - the first was thrown directly in front of the pups into the corn. Once this was delivered to hand you turned your pup to the left to mark a retrieve thrown down the field into some long grass. Skip scored 19 and Morse scored 20


Test 3 Was a water retrieve and quite tricky for young pups - they had to go down a bank into the water swim across and pick on the other side of the(small) river swim back and climb back out with the retrieve. Skip scored 17 and Morse 19. Skip actually climbed up the far back and it took some whistling to get him back down and across the river. Morse just turned and swam back.

Test 4 Was a short piece of heelwork off lead with the judge, sit your dog, throw the retrieve, walk back to the start with your dog then send your dog for the retrieve. Skip scored 20 and Morse 18.

Test 5 Was the difficult retrieve of the day and many of the dogs failed on this retrieve. It was down a long track and the dummy fell round the corner out of sight of the pups, quite a long retrieve for young pups and with no help from the wind several of them failed. I was really pleased that both my pups succeeded. Skip scored 19 and Morse 16 as I had to stop and send him back several times. Thank goodness we have spent so long training the back command!

Skip and I were then called up for a run off for 2nd and 3rd place. This was a longish mark into the corn.

It was a fantastic day and I was thrilled that both my pups were in the awards:

2nd     Garicmoor Grenadier of Ettinsmoor

COM  Ettinsmoor Morse

Ettinsmoor Monk and Ettinsmoor Mystery also entered the test and were just outside of the awards.

 

The Lincolnshire Gundog Society Special Puppy, Puppy and Veteran Working Test Sunday 12th June 2011. At Martin by the kind permission of Mr & Mrs Gillings & The Black Dale Shoot.

Judges - Mr Robin White, Mrs Sue Lowe and Mr Martin Everleigh
Chief Steward Mr Casper Jonsen

Special Puppy (Up to 12 months) 14 entries

2^nd Garicmoor Grenadier of Ettinsmoor and Jill Parsons  (Skip)

Tests for Special Puppy up to 12 months of age

Mark retrieve from the long rough grass onto the short mown grass.

Heel on lead for short distance along track in the woods, sit your dog while a dummy is thrown further along the track, leave your dog there, walk back to the start and send it back for the retrieve

Short walk up off lead, then a dummy was thrown (with lots of noise) about 80yards I think (it was a long one anyway).

Mark retrieve into the long grass so the pups had to hunt to find.

Two pups sat up next to each other off lead while four dummies were thrown in front of them, then the handlers had to go and pick up the dummies. Then one at a time you had to do a short piece of heelwork off lead to a pole throw the dummy yourself, then turn and go right back to the start with your dog, turn and send your dog for the retrieve.

Water retrieve with dogs and handlers starting about 10 yards back from the edge of the pond.

Skippy the bush kangaroos first test . He scored 20,19,20,20,19 and 19 only dropping three points. The winner dropped 2 points.

The weather just about held off until we had almost finished the tests. Such a successful day for Lincs Gundog Club. I don't think I have ever seen so many dogs at this test before. Thank you to landowners, judges, helpers. And the barbecue was to die for even if it was p*****g down by then.

Did I say I was thrilled with Skip (at 10 months) . So special after him being so ill with meningitis in January. I must admit I didn't think he would even walk soundly again let alone achieve this. No group photo because of the rain, so here is our photo back at home.

URC LINCS NOVICE COLD GAME TEST 22/08/10

I am pleased to say that Pepper ran in the above test yesterday and achieved a Certificate of Merit. His first award in a Novice Test.

Fantastic day but very very hot. Thrilled with Pepper and most of the places were actually taken by people I train with so the excitment levels were high. I also realised when we gathered for the photo that I was the only lady in the awards!

First time in line two mark retrieves in front one directly in front and the other thrown out to the side. We scored 18 and 19. Second time in line a longer mark in front and a blind behind the line. We scored 19 and 19.

There was a cut at lunchtime with about 12 dogs going through I think (I didn't actually count them) but they included one of Pepper's brothers as well which was nice for me to see, oh and Pepper.

After lunch all 12 dogs went in line together (which was a very long line) with the first dog (ME) at the far righthand end of the line. We were told there would be a long mark in front then a shot would be fired right off the end of the line out of the sugar beet across a track and half way across a big stubble field. They wanted the blind first and as first dog I knew that I was going to have problems with this one. Pepper loves the sugar beet and I knew it would be tough to get him out and across the stubble for a blind. It was and thank goodness the judges gave me a little longer as first dog, but we finally picked the rabbit (all the other retrieves were pigeons). We then picked the mark with no problems at all. Our mark was 13 and I have no doubt it was 3 for the bling and 10 for the mark, but we got it!

We then had to go to the other end of the line and have the other 11 dogs shoot past our nose for their blind keeping everyone on tenterhooks for the rest of the test.

URC LINCS HAVE A GO DAY

Well, what a day!

The concept was conceived by the Chairman Jim Cochrane and it was a fantastic idea. Jim and his merry helpers gave us all a fantastic day and worked their little socks off for which I thank them.

There were 5 Levels. Level 1 being the basic level with no retrieve (just a pick up by the handler) going up to Level 5 which included a mark and a blind and a retrieve over a fence into water which was novice level. I loved the concept as it took me back to my Working Trials days when you qualify out of each level by gaining a certain number of points and move up to the next level. You could have as many tries at each level as you wished. You could also miss out the basic Level 1 and start the day on Level 2.

There was also a Conformation Test at the start by a Show Judge which was facinating for me as a Breeder. Having a few pups that I bred there on the day getting some positive feedback was a joy and made me feel that some of my late night struggling over pedigrees etc. is starting to pay off. Probably the feedback on Pepper was the most suprising for me. She loved my boy. Both Pepper and Spice had an identical conformation mark!  

Now down to my dogs - I took three (I wish I'd had the energy to take all six) and they all achieved the top Advanced Level Five Certificate and red rosette at the end of the day. Pepper and Darcy just got on with the job. Spice was a delight and I just wish we had a photo of the judges faces when I press the 'green for go' button at the start of a test and we have launch! She had to have two tries at two of the tests but once shown what to do she got full marks on the second try.

I did go round checking on the conformation scores on all the "Ettinsmoor" pups that attended and I'm still smiling at the scores on conformation. Who'd have thought that would mean so much!
 


Darcy - Photo courtesy of Michael Gray



Pepper - Photo courtesy of Michael Gray



Spice - Photo courtesy of Michael Gray

COVENTRY & DISTRICT GUNDOG CLUB PUPPY TEST 22/05/10

Spice obtained a 4th place in her first Puppy Test. Really pleased with her first outing, although lots more work still to do, and then she decided to come into season so I've had to change all the entries over to Pepper in Novice. No more Puppy Tests for Spice.
 
URC LINCS TRAINING & MATCH 08/05/10

I had decided to go to the URC Lincs training today as it included water training and Spice, who is entered in a Puppy Test in a couple of weeks, has been swimming but not actually retrieved from water. But when I woke up this morning the weather was horrible and it was very tempting to snuggle back down under the duvet. I didn't though, I got up and we packed the car and went off towards Lincoln. 

It was a wet, windy, cold day and I was grateful for my winter 'picking up' gear. Not idea conditions for water training but hey ho!

We trained in the morning (it was so windy there were waves on the reservior) and the club then ran a match in the afternoon for puppies, novice and open. The weather was so bad that Jim the Chairman decided we would only do three tests for each class instead of the usual four.

The results for the Puppy Class were: 1st - Spice & Jill Parsons

So at Spice's first competition of any sort, and only second group training session, she scored 60 out of 60. I am thrilled with my little showgirl!

YELLOW LABRADOR CLUB NOVICE TRIAL 12/09/09



Darcy's first Field Trial

It was quite difficult have a late number (13) and having to watch many other experienced handlers and some very nice dogs go out of the trial at a very early stage. The cover was very very thick and the dogs just were not finding the birds.

I finally went in line to be really luck and get a nice straightforward retrieve in front of the line which she picked up nicely. A really great retrieve to start for Darcy.

I was then taken to the other end of the line for a blind retrieve out on the plough which again she picked nicely.

I stayed in again because they were short of dogs and my next retrieve was a mark in front which just went into the (very thick) cover, but again she went in and hunted for a while and reappeared with the bird.
 
At this point we all went back in to stand in the shade and for the judges and helpers to have a coffee. On asking who was left in I was told it was me, Derek Capel and Ricky Maloney.
 
After the break the three of us went back out and I had the chance of an eye wipe on RM but she would not take a left direction through the hedge, then the judges failed to find the bird, phew! DC meanwhile had gone leaving little old me and RM.

My next retrieve was a bird down the other side of some deep cover and back through a hedge. Try as I might (and even though I was allowed to go quite a long was forward as I couldn't see anything) I couldn't push Darcy back through the hedge. She hunted the fall but I guess the bird had run back through the hedge. I couldn't actually see so RM went and eye wiped me and Darcy. RM was out next on retrieve a mark shot in front in cover.

So no awards given at this trial but a creditable performance for Darcy in her first trial.