Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:54 am Post subject: Burns and Becks Novice Walked-up test Sunday 3rd July
At Brackenburgh by kind permission of Mr J Harris
Judges: Mr G Hodgson, Mr P Holmes, Mrs E Kelleher, Mrs N Rudgard.
There was a puppy safari test earlier in the morning, won by Cuckavalda Boris – Mr B Kelley
There were 15 dogs entered into the novice (5 from here ). It was very hot, and the test was run completely on heather. The test is run like a “virtual” field trial with a pair of dogs on either end and a pair of “spares” in the middle, and FT rules and scoring apply. We were drawn No 5 and were in the first group in the line (No1 withdrew), Lorraine (No 2) was on the other side of the line from me.
There were 2 dummy throwers in front and two behind dropping blinds – in the first round your retrieves were randomly chosen from either of the 2 throwers on your own side of the line.
I had two marks for my first round. Reiffel over ran both, losing his mark as he ran over the rough ground (which were getting on for 100 yards) and because of the ground I couldn’t see him until he was well past , but he came back around and handled nicely when asked.
For the second round you swap ends so the other judges get to see your dog (but they are all taking notes all the time – a judge I was standing next to later on made a note when a dog from the other side of the line stopped for a pee on the way back up the hill). We had another mark here about 100 yards across the line – I was worried that Reiffel had not spotted the thrower on the ridge, and to be fair he did not have much of a view - he knew it was there but over ran again to start with.
Lunch. I was happy enough at this point, this is only his second test and its a fairly big ask for a young dog to concentrate on so much in the heat, So I was really happy with the way he coped! I was not expecting to be carried forward because of the handling so I just about passed out when they called the numbers for round 3 and we were one of them .
Another 2 retrieves in round 3, I was on the right of the line – first retrieve was a mark behind the left hand side of the line (which was on the other side of a bracken gully) he got a little bit snarled up with the line, saying Hi to his pal , and (isn’t this always the case) I stopped him at the very second he winded the dummy – aaargh. The next was a longer mark in front of them- he had to run right through the dense bracken and he is only small so he got a bit disorientated and I had to push him back twice (never normally an issue with him) the dummy had a lovely lie on a rock so as soon has he got to the top of the hill he spotted it – and back through the bracken.
Round 4 off to the other side of the line and a blind back the way we had come just down from the crest of the hill. He took another great line through the gully but went into the line again so I had to handle him a tiny bit, and again I overdid it after he had picked up the scent – basically “encouraging” him to challenge my commands – he responded but not as quickly as I like. But thats nit picking really as he took consistently good lines all day on rough ground, he focused on every shot and watched all the other dogs working very calmly. For the most part he handled sharply and I expect time and experience will help with a lot of other stuff (including my timing). It was nice to get some positive comments from the judges too.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day, its a different challenge from a safari test. Although the retrieves may not be quite as complicated, there is a lot more to think about and not a lot of down time. I wish they were all like this.
Result:
1st – Norbeck Santa, Lab D Mr B Kelley
2nd – Marranscar Mint, Lab B Mr N Hardy
3rd – Rimrock Blizzard, Lab D Mr L A Earl
4th – Leegail Rugen, Lab B Mr D Lowe
C.O.M – Westmacott Lamp Sonius, Lab D Miss J Johnston
I'll go next Julia and Reiffel rocked! Huge congrats to them for their very well deserved CoM I nearly hugged you at the end but thought that might be a bit over familiar of me, esp' given how hot and bothered we all were by then!
I could be wrong, but I actually think the retrieves yesterday were more difficult than a standard novice safari that most clubs would run. There were a lot of obstacles/bunkers, a lot of out of sight work, testing distances for novice dogs. I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of the retrieves might've been verging more on open standard elsewhere, but I might be wrong. You definitely needed a dog that would take a line on a blind, who would handle and push beyond cover if you couldn't line to avoid it, and one who would hold his mark despite umpteen obstacles along the way. Some dogs got into the bunkers or too far from the area, and it was curtains.
The walk up was extremely well set up and organised. I had a great day and will definitely go back
Boots was a little gem. We made it right to the fourth round. Round 1 was two blinds behind the line for us. Gahhh, had hoped for a nice mark in front as blinds aren't our forte. Bit of handling on first blind, second he picked with no handling, straight out and back. Second round and the cross retrieving started. It was a long long mark for us. Various potential obstacles along the way. He faltered about 3/4 of way there, just because of the length of retrieve I think. Quick stop and right back and he went the distance and picked. Third round: First retrieve was behind the line (no shout of 'behind' though), through a bit of bracken and on up a heather bank. Straight out and back. Second retrieve was a horror. We were high up on one bank and the other end of the line high up on another bank. Between us was a steep steep gully with tall bracken. So we get a diagonal mark on the opposite bank. It meant when dog left your side it was out of sight virtually immediately. Then when in the gully, the bracken was so tall I couldn't see Boots. I panicked in my head as I thought he might be tempted to hunt the bracken. However, out he popped at the top of the other bank. He was a bit too far back though (and wring for what little wind there was), which meant he hunted short and needed to push out through old falls. In hindsight, I should have left him to hunt the falls and then see if he moved on himself. However, I stopped him and cast left, but he needed several pushes.
Round 4: I lost the plot. I can't tell you how hot and tired I was. We got a long blind diagonally across behind the line. Back down through that bracken gully. I got Boots round for the shot, and think his spine was ok, but his head was looking towards where the previous retrieve had been on our side of the line. I KNEW he wasn't lined properly. I KNEW I should've stood up, taken a step round, and lined him again. I KNEW I should be aiming to send him straight down the walk up line and then handle him at the other side. Did I listen to what I knew?? Did I heck as like! What is WRONG with me????! Judge said send you dog and I clearly thought 'oh to h*ll with it, we'll wing it and it might be ok.' Even though I also KNEW he would pull in the direction he had been looking. So he did, and I started to handle him, but then I made the decision in my head to just call it a day and I told the judge I was going to call him up. It was my fault he wasn't right 'at my feet' and it was so hot that putting him out on another long retrieve that was going to require a lot of handling from the outset just didn't seem fair on my dog. So that was that. In hindsight, maybe I should have persevered, but I figured we'd just blown our chances of being in the first 3 or 4 then anyway, so better to stop than potentially knock Boots' confidence with loads of handling. I'm absolutely delighted with how he went though, and I will never not line properly or not have the confidence to adjust my line again!! Lesson learned!
What a lovely day we all had, the sun was shining and the company wonderful
The first round was good and Skye got both of her marked retrieves quite ok (ish) and delivered nicely to hand. Nicola Rudguard (one of the judges) was very helpful.
Round Two however, was a disaster. Just as we were going for the blind one of the judges fell down a rabbit hole, Skye took her eye off where the shot had come from and it was all I could do to hold myself together to stop from laughing. My shoulders were going ten to the dozen. Not a good time for my warped sense of humour to kick in I'm afraid. As I lined her up and sent her, she took the line to the other dummy thrower and just would not handle up the hill to the blind. So we were called up. No excuses as I should have been able to handle her. We will be working on the stop whistle and directions big time now - (again)
On the plus side Skye didn't run in ....Yaaaaaay
Huge congratulations to Julia and Reiffel and also to Mo and Boots who were very unlucky not to win.
I was very impressed with Brendan Kelly's winning dog, who incidently is a 1/2 brother (same sire) to Skye and Reiffel.
I will let Lorraine tell you all about the episode of "Bear Grylls and the little Green Car"
All in all a most fabulous day, took away lots of things to work on and also took away a rather nice........TAN !!
mo - know what you mean about what you should do and then your brain goes all tilt and suddenly you've done something which you knew was wrong the second you did it... we live and learn
sound slike a fab day
____________ Sam, Coal & Finn
It�s never too late to be what you might have been
All photographs remain copyrighted to me with al
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Burns and Becks Novice Walked-up test Sunday 3rd July
). It was very hot, and the test was run completely on heather. The test is run like a “virtual” field trial with a pair of dogs on either end and a pair of “spares” in the middle, and FT rules and scoring apply. We were drawn No 5 and were in the first group in the line (No1 withdrew), Lorraine (No 2) was on the other side of the line from me.
.
, and (isn’t this always the case) I stopped him at the very second he winded the dummy – aaargh. The next was a longer mark in front of them- he had to run right through the dense bracken and he is only small so he got a bit disorientated and I had to push him back twice (never normally an issue with him) the dummy had a lovely lie on a rock so as soon has he got to the top of the hill he spotted it – and back through the bracken.
off to the other side of the line and a blind back the way we had come just down from the crest of the hill. He took another great line through the gully but went into the line again so I had to handle him a tiny bit, and again I overdid it after he had picked up the scent – basically “encouraging” him to challenge my commands – he responded but not as quickly as I like. But thats nit picking really as he took consistently good lines all day on rough ground, he focused on every shot and watched all the other dogs working very calmly. For the most part he handled sharply and I expect time and experience will help with a lot of other stuff (including my timing). It was nice to get some positive comments from the judges too.
