Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:54 pm Post subject: So Near yet so Far... UGS Novice trial yesterday
Got our 7th run this season in the UGS Kent & East Sussex Novice Stake at Orsett, Essex yesterday. Field of 16.
As first reserve I went in at number 16.
All dogs sat in the first drive. It was a hellishly freezing morning and the birds did not want to get up so a long drive but few birds resulting. As number 16 we did not get a retrieve. Moved onto the second drive. Only the next four dogs to get a retrieve sat in that drive which was far heavier. The judges moved through the field quite quickly after that with plenty of game down.
To explain:
1st round of a trial - each dog has 2 retrieves.
2nd round - one retrieve
3rd round - usually 2 retrieves but up to the judges
4th round however many it takes for the judges to come to a decision
We were called in for our first retrieve in the 1st round on a dead c*ck bird over a ditch and then down a track in a wood and off to the right. It was not a pretty retrieve, lots of handling, lots of other game down so she was keen to dive into the wood on the LEFT where the next dog picked a bird immediately aftet her so her nose was right, just her behaviour that was wrong. But managed to pull her off and put her right and she got her bird.
Second retrieve in the first round was second dog down on a runner c*ck over the same ditch and further back in the wood. The first dog was called up after not finding it, and we were given a try. Mallie made a nice clean job of it and HELD to deliver! We have had such a problem with runner c*ck birds and her readjusting all the way back it was a superb relief. The fact as the last retrieve of that drive the whole gallery, the guns all competitors the landowner and all judges were watching made it extra special So we made the second round.
So third drive starts and of those left in, I am the only one not to have had a second round retrieve. A duck drive. Only Mallie sat in on this drive alone incase there was a runner during the drive they wanted collected. Otherwise all dogs had sat through a drive so the judges deemed another for everyone unecessary.
So sitting there alone, the world watching. About 15 minutes into the drive a duck was just tipped and landed a short distance away then started to peg it back into the wood. We were sent and Mallie made a clean job of it. I was quite pleased because whilst she was collecting two other dead ducks fell in close promimity which she ignored. Happy days. Round Three. (Ding ding)....
The duck drive had dropped a lot of ducks and a few pheasants into a nearby wood so round three was mostly conducted in there. The judges decided on two retrieves for the third round each. There were about 9 left in at this point. Our first retrieve was a wounded duck just into the wood, over a small frozen stream (or across the plank over the stream). We were sent from quite a long way back in the field and i was pleased with the job she made of it. She did re-adjust the duck on the way back but it was obvious it was a quick re-adjustment and not a 'slam on the ground' (as has been known from her from time to time!)... she delivered well (its funny when you have a problem you focus in on it when others probably wouldn't even think about their deliveries, as nor would I with others of my dogs who deliver fine!).
We were then taken around the back of the wood and sent into the wood over a stream again, back and then to hunt a ditch inside the wood which went out of sight very quickly if you didn't hold them, for a Woodc*ck. I'm not sure Mallie has picked a Woodc*ck before but to my deep joy I saw the judges stick raise in the wood, and she canters round the corner happily with it. So then its all about seeing if we have been good enough to take forward to the fourth round. Dogs can be dropped at this stage.
Was overjoyed that they took four of us forward to the fourth and final round! The tension is almost overwhelming!
After long discussions the judges decided we would have to do another drive, so we sat in our third drive of the day. I have to say for the first time ever since she began her trialling career she stood to mark the first bird down in the drive, a wounded partridge. I had to hiss at her to sit her back down but I never felt she was going anywhere particularly. Luckily the dog next to us was on his feet swinging left and right marking so the judges were more interested in him! Funny how one trial one rise to their feet can get a dog put out. Even if they then sit back down with no fuss naturally. Here the dog up and down was kept in and eventually got an award so it can't have bothered the judges at all! 'Thats trialling!!', as is said about a hundred times a season! I swear I am going to get a T-shirt with it on one day!
Now, our downfall occured in the last few seconds of the drive. Something very minor. The last bird to drop with a thud about ten foot from us was a large dead c*ck bird. Mallie stared intently at it and remained steady. No problem. The whistle goes. Leads on. During that drive the two lowest number competitors had been given a retrieve on a runner. The first of them failing, the second picking well. So it only remained for myself and the other of the four to get our turn.
How life laughs at you sometimes.............
Partridge were down on this very flat field with only light grass cover, all over the place. However what SCREAMED at us, even moved 50 yards away from where we had sat in the drive was this one, huge c*ck bird...... Mallies best mate who had nearly joined us on the drive
One of the judges mentioned handpicking the c*ck bird as it was a huge belisha beacon shouting 'come get me please!' But no, and probably rightly so.
So the other competitor is sent for a partridge. The partridge is level with the c*ck bird and about thirty foot to the left of it. he has to seriously fight but picks it after a struggle away from the **** bird.
I knew I was doomed when all mallie could do was stare intently at the c*ck throughout his retrieve I did everything in the book. Turned her away, made a quick fuss of her to try and break her concentration, I'd have done anything I'll never go to heaven because I even had a quick prayer that the previous dog would break and pick the c*ck - when usually you are praying everyone does the best they can!! Not so in the 4th round The gloves are off! (although it was WAYYY to cold for that really)
So we are pointed out a partridge a fair bit further back than the previous one and slightly nearer in angle to the c*ck bird. I decided to give it my all although i felt an impending sense of doom I angled her well up the field, so not straight to her retrieve, but at least putting as much angle without being silly about it between her and the c*ck bird.
She ran straight down my arm! beautiful! Trouble was my arm is only two foot long and it all fell apart from there
She shot right handed. Stop whistle! She stops. I give her a calm gentle lefthanded back... she whips round and charges another ten paces to the ****. Another stop whistle! Stops. I give an left handed out instead this time to leave no doubt I want her away from it.... she goes. But only a few feet thenm stops, to be honest, utterly confused as to why I don't want the utterly obvious laying screaming at her!
TOO MUCH BLOODY PICKING UP! One of the judges muttered, and I couldn't agree more! On a shoot day you;d pick that first as the obvious one to get put the way, then sweep the field for the 'rest' of the harder birds! Not so at a trial
So a couple more careful 'outs' away from it, which had her varying between standing stock still bedazzled and bedazed (because if she wanted to be a cow she'd have just ignored my stop whistles and charged and picked it!) and sliddling in a 'Cockwardly' direction! The judges rightly said 'last command' so I gave it a lively lefthanded 'back!' and she whipped round galloped twenty yards and picked the c*ck .....
She delivered it beautifully
"Wrong bird I'm afraid, Lead on Madam, bad luck" said one of the judges. Then..... "Trial Over"
So, well we made the last round. And went out of the trial on the last bird of the last drive No excuses.... but its so indescribeably hard to smile sometimes
So onwards till only tomorrow when we are lucky enough to have another run. We have a bit of work to do this afternoon though I can tell you
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
oh blimey Di - I want to say well done Mallie & you cos it sounds like she did brilliantly - shame about the naughty asterisk bird being too much of a temptation
Oh Di...... what a nightmare!!! Poor Smoo, she did her best bless her and by the sounds of it you both did bloody well till that point.. Good luck tomorrow hun! x
As I was reading it I thought exactly the same. Its that flipping picking up and you really just needed that bit of luck which eluded you again. Has anyone noticed I have not actually taken Darcy picking up cos I just know everything will go to pot
Funnily enough I have just been for a training session with my trainer and he has just done a trial where there were five dogs in for the last round and they ALL failed on a partridge cos the ground was too cold and there was just no scent at all!!
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So we made the second round.
Is there many showbred dogs competing ?
