Avon Working Trials

Trials

Avon WTTS Open Trial

Keevil, Wiltshire
22 – 23 January 2011

UD Stake

Judge: Allyson Tohmé
Tracklayers: Felicity Veasey, Marney Wells
C & A and Square Steward: Jeanette Hickson
Escorts: Adele and Rick

Many thanks to: the society for inviting me to judge; Mr and Mrs Banfield for the generous gift of their land; Pippa for being Trials Manager; Rick for all his behind the scenes work “gofering” and transporting the agility equipment; his other half Kate and the girls Lily, Heidi and Sharni not only for keeping everyone well fed and watered but for their lovely smiles and manners; not to mention Nicki and Bronwen for their gateaux!

Marney and Flis laid the tracks exactly on time and Jeanette was an absolutely outstanding steward who not only laid the squares exactly as I wanted but chaperoned the handlers around the C & A with consummate ease and warmth. I would recommend her services to anyone at any level.

Last but not least thanks to all the competitors for entering under me and accepting my decisions with good grace. I really like judging this stake and I hope you all enjoyed my test as much as I appreciated your company. This very friendly and welcoming trial is my “local” with everyone mucking in to help and support all involved.

Before I go any further I must formally apologise for arriving late on Saturday (thanks go to those who sent the facetious texts and gift suggestions of an alarm clock, you know who you are)! I had absolutely no excuse and had the positions been reversed I would have been annoyed if, as a helper or competitor, I could have had an extra 30 minutes in bed!

13 entered, 11 ran. A total of 10 breeds were represented: Bearded Collie, BSD, BC/WSD, Bouvier de Flandres, Boxer, Dobermann, ESS, GSD, Lab, Weim. As an owner/handler of “another” breed, I always look forward to learning about different approaches to life and work, and so I was in my element!

Tracking was on grass; 7 legs, 700 yards; articles: 16 x 10 cm blue fabric, wooden dolly peg. Square articles: half a wooden peg, green cartridge, 10 x 8 cm green fabric, 10 x 8 cm green pan scourer.

The C & A round commenced with the retrieve; medium and slow pace heelwork to the sendaway, which was 100 yards to anywhere in a hedge, followed by fast pace heelwork prior to the agility section. There were no turns in the heelwork due to the uneven terrain and handlers were permitted to put their dogs on the lead on the approach to the jumps.

Saturday was extremely cold with temperatures around freezing point most of the day; all competitors completed the track and square successfully. The rise in temperature on the Sunday appeared to release a cocktail of scent with the sad result that no dog actually completed the track.

4 of the 5 competitors on Saturday went into the stays on good qualifying marks but of these, 3 decided that it was much too cold to lie down for 10 minutes and I can’t say I blamed them!

On the Sunday no dog qualified the C & A and only one made it round more than 3 legs of the track which thus left us with only one qualifier overall.

1st Chris Young with her WSD dog Llynellen Meadow Sage 183
The last leg was a bit hairy but this team recovered both articles on the track and all 4 from the square. Full mark retrieve, heelwork, gun and stay meant a very well deserved CoM. Congratulations!

2nd Sasha Holden with her Bouvier de Flandres dog Silvenrok Xeven Vika 183.5
Another team which recovered both track articles and all those in the search square. Full mark gun, retrieve and agility; such a shame about the stay! I have seen this pair work before and I have to say they get better and better; I was particularly impressed with his focus in the square. Well done!

3rd Fiona Britten with her Weimaraner dog Owlsley Tikouka 183
I have to admit to a soft spot for this dog having recognised his potential some time ago! The picture looks much better now that Fiona has slowed down and improved her line handling. Once again both articles off the track and all 4 from the square along with a full mark gun and sendaway. Very clever handling in the C & A round meant that you maximised your chances of success but sadly another dog that went out on the stay. Winner of the Shardee Shield for the best nosework.

4th Meg O’Kelly handling Mrs W L Beazley’s BC bitch Stardell Naos 166.5
First on, this team left one article on the track but recovered all 4 articles from the square; full mark gun and sendaway. Another victim of the stays!

Hard luck story of the trial: Rosie Lane and her lovely Dobermann bitch Chaanrose Get-OH-Fabulous; an “if only” at the long jump. A very stylish tracking dog that managed all but the last leg in textbook fashion.

The dog that the judge would most like to take home: this was a tie between the lovely Beardie and the ESS. The former had a lovely focused tracking style and full mark jumps and sendaway (not sure I could cope with all that hairdressing though)! Marney and I fought over who should kidnap the Springer. I shall watch both dogs’ progress in trials with interest.

Finally I would like to express my gratitude for the lovely gift which, as you know, will be deeply appreciated (once the hot weather returns)!

Enjoy your dogs.

JUDGE’S REPORT SHEET

Name of Society:Avon Working Trials Training Society

Date:23rd and 24th January 2010

Venue: Keevil, Trowbridge

Stake Judged:UD OPEN

Name of Judge:Gill Lawrence

Tel No:01460 242841

Address: Biddys Barn, School Lane, Seavington Ilminster, Somerset, TA19 0QD

Tracklayers: Allyson Tohme, Dave Edmunds, Anita Reeves

Steward: Ann Clarke

General Remarks:

Thank you to Pippa, Felicity and the committee for asking me to judge and for laying on dry (if cold) weather. Many thanks must go to the tracklayers especially Allyson who was a tower of strength. Also thanks must go to the trusty kitchen staff who kept us well supplied, the escorts and all the other helpers so necessary to make a trial successful. Last, but certainly not least, huge thanks must go to Ann Clarke who was my trusty steward. She kept me and everyone else in line and as usual, was great fun to be around. The ground was to die for – lush grass and this resulted in all but one getting around the track.

Results and comments:

1st Carol Huckle and Vapresto Diablo Kingswold - BSD (Terv.) D. CoM - 180. I was so impressed with this team today. They looked like winners from the start with a neat and tidy track, sadly left one in the square but went on to do a very competent control round. It was nice to see ‘Blue’ back on form after his setback last year. Very well done!

2nd Heather Donnelly with Woolram Lothario - BC. D. CoM - 175. Very impressive nosework from this handsome dog but showed his very exuberant youthfulness in the control round. One to watch for the future I am sure. Good luck with him.

3rd Kelly Chapman with Tarnedge Posy - Lab. B. CoM - 174 ½. This diminutive dog made up for her lack of size with commitment to her work. To see this little dog fly over the long jump had to be seen to be believed. Well done.

4th June Coutts with Cradbridge Bill Lab Ret. D. CoM - 172 ½. This pair always seem to give a good account of themselves and today was no exception. He deserved to be in the line up and should progress nicely through the stakes. Good luck to you both.

Also gaining CoM’s -

Jill Carruthers with Vomkyna Darca GSD. B. 169
Kath Channing with Glenalpine Ace BC. D. 166
Sasha Holden with Silvenrok Xeven Vika Bouvier D. 162

TD Stake
Judge: Jo Magness
C/A Stewards: Celia Bourne, Adrian Quick
Search Steward: Dave Edmunds
Tracklayers: Lindsey Poole, Pippa Bentham, Adrian Quick

My thanks to Avon for the invitation to judge, to the ladies in the kitchen for keeping us fed and coffeed and everyone else in the base and out on the roads ferrying competitors around. Unfortunately prior to the trial Chris, the trials manager, was involved in an accident and was unable to drive and sort the fields etc. so special thanks to Pippa for stepping in and sorting things. Thanks to all my helpers, Celia, Adrian, Dave, Lindsey and Pippa you were all first class and good company.

The weather Friday started ok but then progressed to heavy drizzle however two dogs completed the track one of which was my eventual winner. Saturday was glorious sunshine and we had three qualifiers. Sunday the heavens did their worst and despite some brave attempts there were no qualifiers. I hope everyone enjoyed my test as much as I enjoyed watching you work your dogs.

1st Janet Parker Nedlow Top of the Pops BC Dog 215Q, Well deserved win. Only loosing 1.5 on heelwork (the ground was very rough) and 3.5 on the track.

2nd Allyson Tohme Jake at Jotunheim CD ex UDex VVDex SchH3 GSD Dog 205.5Q Lovely dog, a pleasure to watch. well done.

3rd Gill Lawrence Bekkis Bekwey Merridown CDex UDex VVDex BC Dog 183.5Q

4th Juliette Ward Wolfhard What a Cracker CDex UDex VVDex GSD Bitch 182.5Q