Dove Valley Working Gundog Club.

This was our first Novice Retriever Trial of the new season and, as usual, Headkeeper, Mick Walton, got the day off to a cracking start with a drive out of maize over rape. The guns were on form from the first shot and birds fell in the young crop providing testing retrieves although dogs which got their noses down and held the area were soon back with their birds. Good judging from Steve Crookes with Jane Fairclough on the left saw Wayne Skett's Emmanygen Pippet sent for a running Partridge during the drive. Always a hot topic amongst judges and handlers, waiting for the whistle loses birds and Steve wasn't about to let that happen here. Wayne sent Pippet to the fall 50 yards behind the guns and she took a line of about 30 yards to pick her bird. The same thing happened with Ronnie and Anne on the right, and again, birds were picked during the drive while our experienced guns waited until dogs had picked before resuming shooting. Around 25 birds were shot on the first drive which saw the trial well into the second round.
A few dogs were lost due to the inevitable problems Partridge can cause, but most found their game well with Sarah Jaggard's Welbeck Swallow of Nortoft having a 3 dog eye wipe which set her up for her eventual win, although Wayne and Anna were close behind her all the way. The second drive was also out of maize. Dogs were tried now over greater distances for dead birds on undulating pasture and through a gap in a hedgerow for birds on drill. With five dogs left, all of which had had six retrieves, the Trial was declared over. Quite an early finish for a Dove Valley Trial. Everything had gone very smoothly with, once again, the Dove Valley Team working together for an excellent day’s sport. 

Our thanks to everyone involved for a great day out.

First winning the Loynton Trophy and The Thorpe Cloud Clary Trophy (Gun's Choice) .....  
 
Sarah Jaggard (above) handling Welbeck Swallow of Nortoft.
Sarah also won the Roston Cup for the Top Lady Handler.

Second winning the Spirit of Blythe Trophy -
Wayne Skett with Emmanygen Pippet. (below)
Wayne also won the Steward's Credit Award for the best dog, picked by the Dove Valley Stewards.


Third Anna Licciardi with Golden Granite winning ............

The Delfleet Pepper Trophy for the Best Yellow Labrador.

Certificates of Merit were awarded to:

David Waring, a Founder Member of Dove Valley, is a keen shot and, if I come back as a
Partridge and see him, I'll fly the other way!


A Snapper Snapped!
Photo Brian Blake.

                         

Top Stewards, Ann, Janet and Angie.


I'd fly the other way here too!


You'll have to use your imagination for this one !!


Nice Slippers Mary !
Photo John Mead.


Don't accept a coffee off this man if you're driving!


Anna sends Golden Granite in the Last Knockins.




Headkeeper Mick Walton (right) has a minute with John Eaton.

All eyes on Sarah and Swallow..


Presentation of Trophies by Charlotte Walton, Mick's daughter, brought to an end a very enjoyable day.

Thanks to our guns-

Vernon Lathwell, Phil O'Connor, Mike Thompstone, David Fox, 

David Waring, Rose Dyche, Allan Froggatt and Gareth Fleck  

who are always ready to  support us.