Variety is the spice of life with North Midland URC

ShootingUK is the complete shooting resource for the British shooting community. From shotgun licence and shotgun certificate information to gun reviews, game shooting, clay shooting and more.

| Next

Variety is the spice of life with North Midland URC

The puppy winners: (from left) Chris Hewison, Mark Dawson, Russell Hodgen and Neil Stanley.

By Phil Wagland

Monday, 17 November 2008

The North Midland Area of the United Retriever Club proved their wide ranging appeal at their puppy and novice tests at Welbeck, Notts., with three breeds sharing award honours.

Held by kind permission of Lady Anne Bentinck and generously sponsored by Alpha, the judges were Margaret Rowson and Anna Wagland, plus Phil Wagland for the novices.

The puppy tests were held in the morning, which was cloudy with drizzle. The parkland was used for tests emphasising basic obedience and retrieving. First was heeling with a send back for a retrieve.

Nearby handlers had to heel their dogs and negotiate a gate, then send for a marked retrieve. Next was a marked retrieve from the lake, followed by a blind along a path through a wood.

In the afternoon the novice tests were held in a mixture of sunshine and showers. Each judge assessed the dogs for two retrieves.

Phil Wagland judged a walk-up with three dogs in line, each dog getting a forward mark and a longer mark on undulating grassland.

Anna Wagland sent the dogs for a blind uphill in long grass. As the dogs returned a shot saluted a mark over a wooden fence, next to a gate.

Meanwhile Margaret Rowson judged a long mark on the lake, which was followed by a blind retrieve from deciduous woodland.

Of the 36 runners nine dogs did well enough to earn awards.

RESULTS
Puppy
1 Russell Hodgen with lab.b. Lowforge Amelia of Russjancoe

2 Mark Dawson with lab.b. Duggonholme Fara of Marquest

3 Chris Hewison with fcr.b. Casblaidd Little Linnet

4(& Best Young Puppy) Neil Stanley with lab.d. Thunderlands Elijah