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AUTUMN/WINTER 2011-12 (Field Trials)
9-10 Nov - Kennel Club Two-Day Open Stake, Certificate of Merit
Laura ran FT CH Jobeshill Octavia in this two-day Stake, held at the Blankney Estate, Lincolnshire, by kind permission of Sir Richard Parker. The judges were Messrs. G. Bennett, R. Phillips, A. Leonard and W. Rostron.
It was a great privilege to be called in as a reserve to this excellent trial, which was held at the same grounds as the 2009 Retriever Championships. As you can imagine, the game came readily and steadily, with the trial walked up mainly in sugar beet. The guns shot brilliantly throughout the two days and there was some exceptional dog work, with 14 dogs being taken through to the second day.
These dogs were then stretched with some challenging retrieves, leaving five dogs in the awards. Laura was very pleased to receive a Certificate of Merit.
31 Oct - 1 Nov - East Midland Gundog Club Two-Day Open Stake, Guns Choice
And again!....
With Bea now lame, Laura ran FT CH Jobeshill Octavia in this two-day Open Stake, held at Park Farm, Wormegay. The judges were Messrs. M. Newsam, K. Willimot, M. Thwaites and P. Darton.
The trial was walked up on the first day, starting in leeks and then moving into a thick crop of mustard, which saw some early casualties, as the dogs struggled to mark, and handlers found it hard to see their dogs. It then moved onto stubble and finished in sugar beet, where the marking and scenting seemed to be a little better.
On the second day the trial began on stubble and then moved on to a grass field where several duck were shot, before finishing again in sugar beet.
Pru ran really well, with an eyewipe on her first retrieve and a spectacular runner at the end of the first day. On the second day she picked an English partridge as a blind retrieve at a very long distance, but then sadly went out as one of two dogs that could not lift another partridge on the stubble field. Both dogs worked the area incessantly, but were unable to get any scent from the bird. What a shame.
Once again, Pru was award Guns Choice for her work, which had been excellent until that last tricky partridge!
27-28 October - Dukeries Gundog Club Two-Day Open Stake, Guns Choice
So near......
Laura ran Jobeshill Lotta of Stauntonvale in this two-day Open Stake, held at the Osberton Estate, Nottinghamshire. The trial was judged by Messrs. P. Wagland, B. Rostron, S Crookes and Mrs J Hay.
The trial was walked up in sugar beet and stubble turnip, with a lot of hare being shot on the first day. Twelve dogs were taken through to the second day, and Laura and Bea had had an eyewipe and a nice runner, so were well positioned to do extremely well. Unfortunately, Laura made an error in handling, working Bea in the wrong area, and failed to pick her sixth retrieve. This cost Laura the trial. She was doubly gutted as this win would have made Bea up to Field Trial Champion....
Bea was awarded Guns Choice, however, in recognition of the excellent work she had done throughout the trial.
3-4 October - Lincolnshire Gundog Society Two-Day Open Stake, First
First time out - Laura & Bea have qualified for the IGL Retriever Championships!
Laura ran Jobeshill Lotta of Stauntonvale in this two-day Open Stake, held at at Sir Richard Sutton's Estate, Stainton-le-Vale, Lincolnshire. The trial was judged by Messrs. D. Benson, J. Lees, D. Haycock and H. Vilendal. It was mainly walked up.
The ground was challenging. On the first day, competitors were walking up in woods, which were thick with bramble and nettles. It was not only difficult for dogs to mark, but also physically hard-going for both dogs and handlers. Early dogs struggled with poor scenting conditions and the weather was very unseasonal, reaching a maximum of 29 degrees celsius! After the woods, the third round was started with a walk up and mini drive alongside a maize cover crop, which produced several more birds. This rounded off the first day, with 12 dogs being taken through to the second day.
Day two was walked up in sugar beet and cover crops. Again, a few dogs were lost when asked to pick from a tall maize crop. Dogs were unsighted, and a very strong cross wind didn't help.
By the end of the fourth round only two dogs had survived, and the trial was declared over. Laura and Bea were awarded first place, and gaining the qualification for the IGL Retriever Championships 2011.