Our News

WORKING NEWS 2006

The summer was particularly busy for the Club,
commencing with a new venture of holding all our tests, Open,
Novice, Puppy and Veteran on the same day.- Sunday 23rd April,
2006 at Batsford Park, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire.

The day proved to be a big success, despite the cool weather
(which suited the dogs, if not the handlers)

The judges,. Peter and Emma Scott,
Robin Watson and Ruben Mort, were extremely patient with their
eighty-three entries and came up with the results as follows:-

PUPPY

1st T Gibson’s d Holway Seeker

2nd Ms L Blankenspoor’s b Whispering Oaks Dora for
Cleynehage

3rd Mrs P Simms’ d Bedeslea Canny Lad
with St Vincent

4th Mrs H Kimberly’s b Friendborn Dainty Dacapo

NOVICE

1st A Pace’s b Birdsgreen Secret
Sybil of Castlemans

2nd Ms C Morrell’s d Crowshott Oynx Rhythm
JW

3rd R Marcham’s d Echobrook Coppice

4th Miss J Evans; d Classic Clancy

OPEN

1st M Wright’s d Marcus Maybe of
Wadesmill (handler A Wright)

2nd Miss J Evans’ d Holway Victor

3rd Mrs K McCarthy’s d Castlemans Running Game

4th Mrs J Rainey’s d Deadcraft Humphrey

VETERAN

1st R Marcham’s b Haresmead Iolanthe

2nd Mrs M Jarrod’s d Bednall Finlay

3rd Mrs A Mofitt’s b Alveston Rosetta

4th Ms L Blankenspoor’s b Tauvechan Jade with Cleynehage

Also waiting anxiously until lunchtime, was
Pat Tuck with Tamsbrook To Hold A Dream, who successfully completed
her Kennel Club Water Certificate.

Our working events this year have kindly been
sponsored by Vitalin Dog Foods and they also provided shirts and
caps for our teams participating at the first BASC Team Challenge
held at Sherborne Castle Country Fair on the May Bank Holiday
Monday .

Our team of Jim Gale, Nick Coates, Andrew Wright
and Richard Ashdown came a credible third, over a course which
had been used by the international competition last year.. Coming
one place higher at the Inter Club Test in June, was the team
comprising Catherine Munn, Peter Hargreaves, Graham Bird and Miriam
Fowler

The field trials were a bit of a mixed bunch
with some exceptional highs, but some lows – particularly with
the novice stakes.

Again, our winter events were very generously sponsored by Vitalin
for which the Club is extremely grateful.

The season started with our All Aged stake
at Bunwell in Norfolk on 11th September 2006.

1st R Ashdown’s (d) Mistybrook Connor

2nd J Gale’s (d) Blackthorn Briar

3rd Mr & Mrs S Crookes’ (b) Pebbletoft Lyric (handler
Mrs A Crookes)

On 28th September, we had our first Novice
Stake at Teffont Magna in Wiltshire. This has been kindly organised
and given by Henry and Elizabeth Pelham and was a return to their
original ground near home. Unfortunately the novices were not
quite up to the mark so early in the season and when the judges
extended the dogs in order to prove their worth, it was felt that
a first place could not be awarded

2nd D Burgess’ (d) Captain Crusader
of Catcombe

3rd K Ridley’s (d) Almshoebury Istanbrook

The second Novice Stake at Horningsham, Wiltshire
– despite being two months later on 18th November- fared no
better. Again no first was awarded.

2nd Mrs JA Rainey’s (b) Abnalls Rachelle
of Deadcraft

3rd J Bates’ (d) Leanchor Golden Boy

Better news now with our Two Day Open Stake
at a new ground Eagle Hall Shoot, Lincolnshire on 26th & 27th
October. A very worthy winner, also taking Guns’ Choice and
the cup for the best marking ability was Judith Evans’ dog Holway
Victor

1st Miss J Evans’ (d) Holway Victor

2nd PN Bates’ (d) Birdsgreen Sweet Reward of Castlemans


(handler Mrs P
Williams)

3rd PJ Wagland’s (d) Pebbletoft Rock

C of M Mrs L Stringer’s (b) Clancallum Fidditch

Judith and Victor went on to run a very good
trial at the IGL Retriever Championship, going out on the third
day on an impossible running partridge. Ann Crookes with Wydcombe
Daniel of Moscargrange also qualified through winning Northern
Goldens Two Day Stake. Jim Gale and FTCh Hawthorn Heather qualified
at the Coventry & District Two Day Stake, but of course Jim
could not run his bitch as he had the honour of being asked to
judge. Last but not least of course was Max Wright’s dog FTCh
Marcus Maybe of Wadesmill handled by Max’s son Andrew. The dog
gained his title by winning the Leicester Gundog Society Two
Day Stake and then went on to win the IGL Retriever Championship,
only the fourth time a golden retriever has gained this honour
in post war years. Andrew and Marcus were then invited to run
in the Irish Retriever Championships and went on to gain a Certificate
of Merit. By all accounts they were ‘in to win it’ but for
a slip-up on the final retrieve.

What a marvellous boost for the breed and an inspiration to us
all to keep on trying!

The season finished with the Club holding a Show Gundog Certificate
Day in January 2007, again in Wiltshire. Sixteen retrievers -
amongst them Flatcoats, a Curley Coat and of course goldens
– were put through their paces on a shooting day in the field
and over water. Thirteen went away happy having gained their
coveted certificate.

We have also had news of a number of goldens obtaining their
Working Gundog Certificate, which must be good for the breed.

——————————

The year passes so quickly and already some
dates are available for the new working season. After last year’s
success of a grand working test, we are repeating this again on
Saturday 21st April at Batsford in Gloucestershire . Come and
participate or spectate to see our working goldens in action.

Another event during the summer where you can see some of the
top goldens working is the Inter Club Test on June 24th . Contact
GRC Wales – this year’s host – for details.

Our premier Two Day Qualifying Stake will
be at Checkley Wood, Nantwich, Cheshire on Monday/Tuesday 15th
& 16th October 2007.

The first trial of the season will be an All Aged Stake at Black
Notley, Essex on Saturday 1st September 2007.

The novice trials will be advertised when finalised