Results of Novice A/V Retriever (14 dog) Trial at Birch House Farm, Shirley, Ashbourne. Monday 26th January 2009.
By kind permission of Mr and Mrs D Goodall.
Judges: Keith Bedford, Brian Barker and Godfrey Lowe.
Words and photos, Guy.
Another
new ground for Dove Valley at Shirley, near Ashbourne, provided the
venue for our last Trial of the season. Our host, Mr David Goodall had
kindly agreed to let us have a day although I think he was a little
sceptical when the request was made. Trialling does carry a little bit
of a,
"Oh, I don't know about that" label, but in this case, Mr
Goodall decided to find out for himself!
Mr David Goodall. "Hmm. A Field Trial heh? I don't know about that!"
Under the leadership of Gamekeeper, Jim Harrison, we set off to the first drive. Mr Goodall placed the guns while Jim organised the beaters to push through a woodland strip flanked by a game crop. Jumpy January Pheasants came slowly to start with and proved difficult targets but some good birds were shot into marshy ground and over a stream into a wood behind the line of dogs. Interesting retrieves were given to the dogs without the judges having to create situations.
Guns: L-R. Gareth Fleck, Pete Bancroft, Kev Marriott, Phil O'Connor, Mick Barrett-Nicholson, Terry Dobson, Vernon Lathwell and David Waring.
The Trial progressed slowly but surely with more drives from game cover and woodland, and again, interesting retrieves were possible. A late lunch was taken before our Judges closed their books on a Trial which had been, at best, interesting, and, at worst, a typical late January shoot day! Varying standards of dog work had been seen by a keen gallery and I don't think anyone was surprised when I announced that the Judges had been unable to award a first place. Three awards were made (see below) but potential winners had all received a little "Knock" in some form or other which would have made their transition to Open Stakes a little premature. All in all, a good day for our Club, and, more importantly, a happy Host and 'Keeper. What more can we ask for?
Godfrey Lowe, (right) Judging on the left, at the first drive.
Gamekeeper, Jim Harrison.
Terry Dobson waits.
Cherryl Jones' Rollpark Farm Black Pepper with a
Cock runner
picked during the first
drive.Mr David Goodall. "Hmm. A Field Trial heh? I don't know about that!"
Under the leadership of Gamekeeper, Jim Harrison, we set off to the first drive. Mr Goodall placed the guns while Jim organised the beaters to push through a woodland strip flanked by a game crop. Jumpy January Pheasants came slowly to start with and proved difficult targets but some good birds were shot into marshy ground and over a stream into a wood behind the line of dogs. Interesting retrieves were given to the dogs without the judges having to create situations.
Guns: L-R. Gareth Fleck, Pete Bancroft, Kev Marriott, Phil O'Connor, Mick Barrett-Nicholson, Terry Dobson, Vernon Lathwell and David Waring.
The Trial progressed slowly but surely with more drives from game cover and woodland, and again, interesting retrieves were possible. A late lunch was taken before our Judges closed their books on a Trial which had been, at best, interesting, and, at worst, a typical late January shoot day! Varying standards of dog work had been seen by a keen gallery and I don't think anyone was surprised when I announced that the Judges had been unable to award a first place. Three awards were made (see below) but potential winners had all received a little "Knock" in some form or other which would have made their transition to Open Stakes a little premature. All in all, a good day for our Club, and, more importantly, a happy Host and 'Keeper. What more can we ask for?
Godfrey Lowe, (right) Judging on the left, at the first drive.
Gamekeeper, Jim Harrison.
Carol Greaves handling Craighorn Tully of Dragonswell.
Glenn Main with Glanwold Aphrodite goes in for the first round.
"It's further back" "A" Panel Judge in the middle, Keith Bedford gives instructions to.........
....................Cherryl Jones handling Pepper over the stream.
Sarah Jaggards' Hyndford Sabre of Nortoft.
Try to keep your Stewards................
.......................happy!
Dave Clayton with Glenanne Enoch of Klato in the 2nd round.
That's J(A)3g sorted!
Linda Partridge struggled to get her young Yellow, Braidenvale Bruff, back for a hen bird. She didn't seem happy about all the people. The dog that is, not Linda!..................so Ken Byron had quite a straight forward technical eye wipe with..................
................Glenbriar Ralph of Copperwheat.
I must get a little hand on my watch!
Lamaload Truffle of Minstead, owned and handled by.......................
..................Ian White.
The first "Huddle"!
Anna Licciardi, handling Margaret Crawfords' Cynhinfa Flora of Pasturelands was sent for a very strong Cock bird which ran like the wind. When Godfrey told Anna to send her dog, they were about 40 yards further back behind a hedge. The dog made the fall quickly and took the line out of sight and Anna just watched - and waited.
All right - calm down. It wasn't that good!
Kevin Hill sends Glanwold Hawk for a cock bird through a gateway into a grass field.................
..............and nicely back to hand.
Sarah Jaggard lines up Sabre for another cock bird closely watched by...................
.................Brian Barker.
Godfrey gives Ken a mark on a long down hen bird over a stream................
................but
despite their best efforts, Ken - and Julie - had no luck.
Neither did the Judges.
The end of a long, hard day.
Mr Goodall presents Ken Byron with his 3rd place certificate. Photo. Kev Marriott.
(Sorry Sarah, Anna and Julie! The photos of you didn't come out!)
L to R: Anna Licciardi, Gun's Choice. Sarah Jaggard, Second. Ken Byron, Third. Juilie Wessels, C of M.
Trophies: Gun's Choice, The Springfield Trophy presented by Steve and Angie Lomas.
Second. The Merriwych Trophy in memory of Dennis Stevens.
Many thanks to Mr and Mrs Goodall.
My apologies to Ann Blake and Ian Wain. I didn't manage to snap them!
Thanks to the Guns who bought the day and to all the Dove Valley Stewards for their loyal support throughout the season..
Thank you for visiting this page.
Why not come to our Quiz Night on March 27th?
Go to Events Page for more details.
The end of a long, hard day.
Mr Goodall presents Ken Byron with his 3rd place certificate. Photo. Kev Marriott.
(Sorry Sarah, Anna and Julie! The photos of you didn't come out!)
L to R: Anna Licciardi, Gun's Choice. Sarah Jaggard, Second. Ken Byron, Third. Juilie Wessels, C of M.
Trophies: Gun's Choice, The Springfield Trophy presented by Steve and Angie Lomas.
Second. The Merriwych Trophy in memory of Dennis Stevens.
Many thanks to Mr and Mrs Goodall.
My apologies to Ann Blake and Ian Wain. I didn't manage to snap them!
Thanks to the Guns who bought the day and to all the Dove Valley Stewards for their loyal support throughout the season..
Thank you for visiting this page.
Why not come to our Quiz Night on March 27th?
Go to Events Page for more details.
