|
Novice Field Trial 11/01/2008 |
|
|
Written by Annette Lee
|
|
Monday, 21 January 2008 |
|
The A & D Bereleigh Novice Field Trial 2008By Danny De Meulenaere One of the competitors asked me why we travel all the way from Belgium just to see a Field Trial. She didn’t know that we don’t…Any excuse is good enough for us to come back “home”. So you might see us on a Field Trial, a working test, or anything else. England really is Holiday for us. We were very happy to be able to see the Bereleigh Novice Field Trial on Friday January 11th. During the first drive, it rained cats and dogs as well as pheasant and partridge. Three dogs were put out for whining, there were plenty of birds down to give the remaining competitors their first round retrieves. Despite the rough plough, most of the dogs found their bird swiftly and brought it nicely to hand, the strong wind making for good scenting conditions. Soaking wet we all went back to the trailer. I think Judi didn’t make her Famous Blackberry Whisky last year… but some Famous Grouse was good enough to forget about the cold and the wet. Anyway, we still were wet through but we didn’t care anymore…The second drive was a bit similar to the first, though it stopped raining, and we even felt some sun on our back. Another great drive shown by Nick Canter, the Bereleigh Headkeeper during which there was a marvellous shot from one of the guns, who put down a pheasant, which was gliding very high and fast, “A hell of a shot”, every spectator said. The best was yet to come, as we had our luncheon break. Sausages, pork pie, delicious salmon sandwiches, fruit cake, ginger cake, soup, … this might be the real reason why we come to see a Field Trial…A decisive third drive was going to show us the best dogs. So into the trailer and up to ‘Windwhistle’. It seems to me that every year, there are more and more partridges and pheasants in this drive. Nick is really doing a good job at Bereleigh. The view up here is really spectacular, and especially this day: Butser Hill was covered in dark clouds, and we had some sunshine… fantastic. And so were the guns. Plenty of birds were put down, proving difficult retrieves for the dogs. There was a lot of cover and turnip, which makes retrieving hard. A very strong runner stole the show, and eliminated two dogs… Another dog ran off, completely out of control. Luckily Heather had noticed, and eventually it came back to heel. At the end, there was no winner of the day… which was a bit sad, because the Arun & Downland Field Trial Committee had done a marvellous job, and not being able to reward a winner is a bit of a drawback. Our sincere and grateful thanks go to Judi, Sue, Paula, Andrew and Romy and the whole A&D crew, Nick, the guns and the beaters for their hospitality, and for making us really feel “at home” year after year, not only on the Bereleigh Field Trial but even on cycling holidays!Really hope to see you next year!!! Danny, Els & Bram.
|
Field Trials 
