Fun Day at Gayton

At 9am on Sunday 19^th September we gathered at Gayton Wood Farm by kind permission of Dawn and her parents; John and Rosemary Huckerby – a very big 'Thank You' to them. Dawn Rose and Gaynor Gent, collectively known as 'Trouble' or 'www.gundog-trainers.co.uk' had organised working tests and fun activities in aid of 'Breast Cancer Care'.

The day started with judges Graham Bird & Trish Ford putting the Intermediate dogs through their paces. Test 1 involved a mark to the left at about 200 yards and a blind in long white grass alongside a small copse. The blind was to be picked first. The dogs handled this well, one or two understandably reluctant to cross nettles and thistles.

Test 2 was along a disused railway line bordered by hedge to one side, wooded to the other side with a small stream running through. For this test, there was a fallen tree across the path a yard or so along the track. A mark was thrown, about 100 yards down the track. The dog was sent and another blind was set in the same place. The dogs could jump or go under the tree obstacle. This was handled well by the dogs although a large hole to the right, a couple of feet in front of the peg occasioned some interest slowing the retrieve a little.

Test 3 was again along this track, but further along. It was set as a picking up day. Facing into the wood, there were dummies on the far bank of the stream, a few to the left and a few more to the right. One dummy was to be picked from each, the handler choosing which should be first. An interesting test, the dogs tended to go up to the edge of the wood and then turn back onto the dummies. A concern was that a dog might swap dummies or that on sending for the second dummy they might remember those left behind on the first retrieve. However, swapping did not appear to be a serious problem and a sharp command to 'leave that' had the dogs managing the retrieves well.

The final test was back up on the grassy area and made a little tricky by quite strong cross winds. However, a marked retrieve at the top of a grassy slope, about 150 yards from the peg enabled the dogs to work across the wind for a successfully.

Intermediate Results:

1^st Karen with Molly

2^nd Chris with Willow

3^rd Simon with Ellie

4^th Guy with Westley

The special beginners test was held in the same areas. Test 1 - a marked retrieve into the long grass by the copse had the dogs running out well. The return was a test of experience for both dog and handler, but the judge ensured that they were given support to be successful.

Along the track, test 2 was a straight mark along the track without obstacles. Apart from some interest in Simon, our 'semi-hidden' dummy thrower, the dogs managed this well.

Test 3 was a heel, stay and recall activity. Heeling the dog, throwing a dummy, turning the dog and leaving it, the dog was first recalled before sending it back for the dummy. The hardest part was, of course recalling the dog without it going for the dummy. The dogs had various reactions, from wanting to go and hunt the hedge through simply assuming that the handler wanted the dummy and many managed to recall and then return for the dummy.

The final test was held back along the railway track. Back to the stream, a mark onto the opposite bank tested the dog's willingness to cross the stream, having marked the dummy.

Special Beginners Results:

1^st Sian with Bertie

2^nd Angie with Dotty

3^rd Karen with Teasle

4^th Alison with Dennis

The puppies were judged by Gaynor Gent. They had a heel, stay and recall exercise followed by a simple retrieve. The puppies handled this well.

Puppy Results:

1^st Angie with Dotty

2^nd Helen with Ziggy

3^rd Richard with Barnaby

4^th Danni with Billy

While the tests were proceeding, there was plenty of activity continuing at the top of the field where Jo had kindly brought agility equipment and set it up for everyone to try together with a scurry. Photos were taken by 3 photographers around the ground and will be available for a small donation to Breast Cancer Care. A raffle with some splendid prizes attracted a great deal of attention and raised over £200.

Altogether, a total of £420.25 was raised, before photo sales.

A great big thank you goes to Dawn and Gaynor for all their efforts organising this day and to Kirsty, Danii and Alex who kept the ball rolling for the raffle and the fun activities. It is much appreciated. Thank you also to Tish Ford and Graham Bird together with Gaynor Gent, they were all fantastic judges; clearly explaining each task and encouraging and helpful with their advice.