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Team Events

Inter-County Team Event 2010

Written by Alana Coombes

Friday, 02 July 2010

Inter-County Team Event - The Kelly Memorial Trophy

18^th April 2010

As we drove from our hotel to the event, the whole of Cheshire seemed enveloped in a thick mist. By the start of the first test though, spring had returned. And we had a bonus; no airplane noise, just birdsong thanks to THE volcano.

After a few changes to our handlers and dogs the team this year was Sara Gadd with ‘Gertie', Matt Ager with ‘Lola' and Steve Polley with ‘Bea'.

Of the six tests some were very difficult, and others allowed us to achieve good scores. Our first test, a mark retrieve in woodland turned into an unseen, dropping into thick cover with little or no scent. The second, a long mark retrieve down a track with a ‘halfway' unseen to be taken first was polished off nicely, as was the third test a very difficult unseen-to-shot through coppiced woodland over rough uphill ground. We enjoyed the fourth test, a complex team walk-up including a horrendously long mark retrieve over drifting scent. The fifth test, two marks and a blind over a river with a bank more like a cliff face tested the younger dogs, but we were clear by that point. Just before lunch a pair of mallard caused a major distraction during our final test over water and this dropped us well behind the leaders.

We stopped for a jolly picnic in the sunshine, and after a few stragglers completed their round the announcements were made.

The Kelly Memorial Trophy Team Event, organised by Mary Roberts and the 2009 winners Clwyd Retriever Club was held this year at the Bostock Estate by kind invitation of Richard Thompson. The winners were East Midland Gundog Club with the SEGS team second by two points. Nobody went away empty-handed as we were all given a generous goody-bag to keep hunger at bay for the four hour drive home.

Mike & Edwina

Southern Inter Club Match

Written by Alana Coombes

Tuesday, 29 June 2010

Arun & Downland Gundog Society

2010 Southern Inter Club Team Match

This year's event was hosted by United Retriever Club (Essex Area) at The Auberies Shoot near Sudbury in Suffolk on Sunday 13^th June, by kind invitation of Nigel Burke and Chief Steward Tom Lowe. The day was pretty well perfect for testing the teams, warm with sunny spells and a good breeze.

Six tests were set around a picturesque lake, the grounds having been carefully prepared for the day's sport. Judges were Kevin Doughty, Steve Ellis, Sara Gadd, Caroline Heasman and Mike Tallamy.

Our team was this year led by our brilliant captain Wendy Glue with her yellow dog Wilson, with Sonja Rosell's Mia (B Lab B) running as Novice, and Jane Boyle stepping in at short notice as Novice Handler with Fonzie (B Lab D).

After bacon butties we set off in groups of three teams. Our team wobbled a bit to start with, caused by early nerves but these soon settled down as we got into our stride. Wendy and Sonja coped easily with the long retrieves, with Jane keeping a really clear head in support. Some of the tests were by coincidence almost identical to those we had seen in training and this seemed to boost the team's confidence. The three dogs ran their little legs off for us, each working tightly with their handler, while the girls seemed to be flying. After a break for a picnic lunch we resumed with our final test, a drive followed by three blind retrieves taken nicely enough.

While we were waiting for the prize-giving over tea and cake, with dogs in cars asleep, a run-off was announced... between our team and UGS Kent & East Sussex branch! Wendy nominated herself to run against Nick Potts for a very long blind over a ditch alongside a lake and into woodland. Both succeeded and it was difficult to score between them. The results could go either way.

The final announcement was a surprise to all of us. We had won by a whisker! Not only that, Wendy received the Top Open award with 111/120, and our team had gained the highest points 54/60 for the all important teamwork.

In 1994 The Arun & Downland Gundog Society introduced the Southern Inter Club Match and organized the first ever event. Now in our Silver Jubilee year, the shield has finally returned home.

Scores:

1^st Arun & Downland Gundog Society 299 +54 =353

2^nd Utility Gundog Society, Kent & East Sussex 306 +47 =353

3^rd Utility Gundog Society, Eastern Counties 301 +49 =350

4^th Utility Gundog Society, Surrey W Sx & Hants 298 +45 =343

Please see album for photographs

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