Wow! What a wonderful response we had to our long-awaited 25th Anniversary Weekend celebrations.  There was a great atmosphere for our members (and many non-members).  Thank you for all your very positive comments.

Over the course of two days there were opportunities to participate in so many events: our open show, our novice and open working tests, the stakes classes, gundog demonstration, scurry, quiz, scavenger hunt, rally, fun dog show, KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme, film screening, children’s activities.

There are so many people we wish to thank for the weekend, our judges, stewards, caterers, committee members and of course our fellow flatcoat enthusiasts for making the event so very special.

There were also many unsung heroes, volunteers, family and friends who were roped in to help out – to these people please know that your efforts did not go unnoticed. As we left the site on Sunday evening we were proud to say how tidy everything was and this was thanks to the band of helpers.

There were also donations to support the event – from the large donation from the Flatcoated Retriever Society; Steve and Kate Jubb’s wonderful hog-roast, bubbly and cake; many raffle prizes and rosette sponsorships.

We must extend our thanks to the landowners at both Hayes Farm and Abbeyfields Farm for allowing us to hold our events on their land.

Results from the Open Show Saturday 7th May

Judge Mrs Ros Tierling

Best In Show and Best Dog Hewison’s Casblaidd Island in the Sky KCWGC SGWC
Reserve Best in Show and Best Bitch Gale’s Willowswind Nette Lark JW

Best Puppy in Show Hewison’s Selloana Monoceros
Best Veteran in Show Fox’s Black Mica’s Likes It Hot at Blacktoft JW (IMP SWE)
Best Liver in Show Hopkinson & Trevor’s Trevorsilk Galaxy Alzato
Reserve Best Dog Fox’s Black Mica’s Likes It Hot at Blacktoft JW

Reserve Best Bitch Haley’s Skybrook Honey Honey
Best Veteran Bitch Hewison’s Donascimento Danilo from Casblaidd KCWGC SGWC
Best Liver Bitch Hewison’s Casblaidd Tea Leaf
Best Brace Mrs M Romeo-Dieste

Stakes Classes
Judge Mrs Val Orme

Puppy Dog or Bitch Hewison’s Selloana Monoceros
Open Dog or Bitch Bellamy’s Sh Ch Woodfinch Masquerade
Veteran Dog or Bitch Hewison’s Donascimento Danilo from Casblaidd KCWGC SGWC

Well done to all, all the results can be found here

Saturday’s Scurry results

1st Sue Rodgers and Signy  10.96 seconds
2nd Carol Ball and Fell  11.31 seconds
3rd Jo Hewison and Landy 11.61 seconds

Results from the Working Test Sunday 8th May

Judges Steve Crookes, Anne Crookes, Elaine Whittaker
Chief Steward Cherry Wood
Abbeyfields Farmhouse, by very kind permission of Mr Andrew Duffin

Novice (20 entries)
2nd David Foster with Kenyten Styx
COM Andrew Sweeney with Wolfthistle Mr Miracle
COM Fred Newton Jarvo Supermoon

Open (7 entries)
1st Gill Awty and Venetian Red at Maddistream

A huge thank you to all the helpers and to our sponsors Skinners. There was a really lovely atmosphere at the test, thank you to all for entering

Rally

A level one Rally competition was also held on the weekend, a first for NEFRA.
Judge Tony Lewenz, Scribe Kate Wykes
27 Entries (19 Worked. 14 Qualfiers. 3 Non-Qualifiers. 8 Aosent)

All the results can be found here

Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Awards

Gold (2 Awards)

Silver (3 Awards)
Chris Hewison & Mira, Kathryn Trevor & Yvaine, Emma Shepherdson & Murphy

Bronze (8 Awards)
Rochelle Richards & Doris, Scarlet Sisley-Smith & Eeui (Finnish Lapphund), Mandy Romeo-Dieste & Frodo, Mandy Romeo-Dieste & Buffy, Charlotte Smith & Wispa, Charlotte Smith & Chance, Sonya Jenkinson & Skye, Carol Ball & Fell

Gundog Demonstration

Fun obstacle course

NEFRA’s Open Show
As a part of NEFRA’s (postponed) 25th Anniversary Celebration Weekend
Venue: Hayes Farm, Newstead Village, NG15 0BD
Judge: Mrs R Tierling (Karaholme)

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STAKES CLASSES – Judge’s Critiques

Firstly I would like to congratulate the NEFRA committee and all the helpers for all their effort in putting on such a wonderful event. It was lovely to see everyone enjoying all the different activities with such a lovely atmosphere. 

It was a pleasure to be able to judge the stakes classes and I was very pleased with the lovely entry of quality dogs some of whom unfortunately had to go cardless but could easily have changed places on another day. 

CLASS 26. PUPPY DOG OR BITCH ( 3, 1A )

1st. HEWISON`S SELLOANA MONOCEROS  At 11mnths. old this lovely young bitch is showing plenty of promise . Correct size for age with well moulded feminine head, kind dark eye with soft expression and neat well set on ears. Lovely well balanced overall shape with good angulation front and rear. Good reach of neck and level topline. Moved well.

2nd. HARLEY`S FRIIA LUSUN BRING ME SUNSHINE NAF  This 6mnth little girl is still very much a baby, but having said that she was not at all phased by being in the ring and stood very well for me to go over her. She has a lovely head with appealing expression, good construction throughout, level topline and ever wagging tail. Moved well around the ring .

CLASS 27. OPEN DOG OR BITCH ( 15, 5A )

There were some lovely dogs in this class which made it hard to chose and was splitting hairs n my final decisions. 

1st. BELLAMY`S SH.CH.WOODFINCHMASQUERADE A 3yr.old dog who I did well in the virtual Open Show that Nefra held in 2021 so it was nice to be able to put hands on and reaffirm what I had seen last year. He is a well constructed dog with a lovely balanced outline. A handsome young boy with king eye. Prominent forechest with good bone and lovely tight feet . Moved well with drive. 

2nd. GALE`S WILLOWSWIND NETTE LARK JW  6yr.old bitch with a lovely head and soft expression. Good front assembly and gradual spring of rib to well angulated hind quarters with correct bend of stifle. Another with excellent tight feet, moving freely round the ring. 

CLASS 28. VETERAN DOG OR BITCH  ( 4 ) 

A lovely class of veterans who belie their age .

1st. HEWISON`S DONASCIMENTO DANILO FROM CASBLAIDD SGWC KCWGC A lovely 9yr. old bitch of correct size. Pretty feminine head with kind eye. Presenting a lovely balanced outline. Well constructed with good front and rear angulation , good depth of brisket and prominent forechest .Well muscled hindquarters.  Moved soundly with drive. 

2nd. EGGINTON`S PAJANBECK I PUT A SPELL ON YOU  Another lovely bitch of 7yrs. She has a lovely feminine head with dark kind eye. Good reach of neck into well laid shoulder and level topline, correct angulation to front and rear with moderate bend of stifle . Moved well but not quite the drive of 1.

Judge- Val Orme

On 10th April, 2022 NEFRA gave members the opportunity to train their younger and less experienced dogs and offer handlers help and support.

A huge thank you to Garry Ellison, Andy Sweeney and Gill Awty for taking the training sessions in the morning

The afternoon was dedicated to a working test.

The day was held with very kind permission of the estate management and the gamekeeper

The working test was judged by Garry Ellison and Gill Awty. A big thank you to them and to all who helped throwing dummies, stewarding and generally helping the day to run well, it is very much appreciated indeed.

The results were as follows:

Puppy (8 entries, 2 abs)

1st Mrs Sue Rodgers Signy Never Touching Ground (Imp Che)
2nd Mr Casper Jonsen Casblaidd Espionage
3rd Mrs Carol Tinker Bramatha Lockdown Blues

Novice Dog/Novice Handler (4 entries 1 Abs)

1st Mrs Sonya Jenkinson Skybrook Rock Me
2nd Miss Kelly Holland Woodfinch Highland Fairy for Flatcharm

If you are interested in attending our training days in May 2022 please contact our Working Secretary, Caroline Hewison

14th May – Knutsford area – puppy and beginner training – limited numbers

29th May – Buxton/Leek area – novice and intermediate training.

30th July – Leek / Buxton area

If you are interested please return this form to our working secretary – Caroline Hewison.

3rd June 2022 – Once again we are delighted to have been welcomed back to the regular training ground at Hesketh Bank courtesy of Sam Slinger, Ribble Bank Field Sports.

If you are interested in attending with your dog please complete this form and return it to our working secretary – Caroline Hewison.

It is with much sadness that NEFRA has been given the news that our friend and colleague Maggie Hammersley passed away on Monday 28th March 2022. She had been a committee member for several years and currently had responsibility for the NEFRA shop.

Maggie’s dogs meant the world to her. She enjoyed showing “her boys” as well as having a keen interest in gundog training with them. Anyone who was a friend on her Facebook page will certainly miss her posts of the infamous Moses and Robin and their hilarious antics. In particular Moses kept us all entertained from sitting in the middle of the dining table to climbing on a bench to look over the fence at what the neighbours were up too! Typical flatcoats: “Naughty but Nice”. She was certainly devoted to them and they to her.

Very much a family person she was married to Steve and had two children and three grandchildren who she loved spending time with. Her youngest grandchild, Bella, certainly kept her spirits up during her illness.

Maggie was a very thoughtful and unassuming person who disliked fuss of any kind but she had a great sense of humour underneath her quiet personality. She was a genuine friend to all who new her.

To Steve, Jude, Tom and the rest of the family we send our deepest condolences. Maggie will be greatly missed by her many friends within our flatcoat family. May you rest in Peace Maggie.

Please note: understandably the family would appreciate we respect their privacy and not contact them directly at this very emotional time

Our first AGM since the Covid-19 pandemic gave members the opportunity to gather once more to celebrate the activities that we have been able to arrange in what have been quite difficult circumstances logistically.

Our chosen charity for the coming year has been announced as:

The NEFRA Annual Awards have been announced today

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Annual awards are as follows:

President’s Cup – Sue May’s  Ronevorg Dark Angel At Lussac JW 

Ceilidh Cup – Jeni Lawson’s Donascimento Aldair

Inca Trophy – Sharon Tamblyn’s Atherbram Jacob

– our congratulations to the winners, we hope to have photos of these dogs with their trophies soon

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Honorary Life Memberships were bestowed upon Mrs Kate Jubb and Mrs Kathryn Trevor as a gesture of thanks for their dedication to the Association over these past 25 plus years.

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The Code of Ethics was modified

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President’s Cup Final Standings 2021

Place	Points	Dog	Owner
1st	57	Ronevorg Dark Angel (Jw)	May, Mrs S
2nd	51	Blacktoft Caress Of Steelriver	Stevenson, Miss S
3rd	43	Gloi Dubh Just One Look	Walker & Roberts, Ms E J & Dr L
4th	41	Almanza Lara O’Grady (Imp Swe)	Armstrong, Mrs K
5th	39	Coedylan Bambino Caro	Simons, Mr D & Simons, Mrs G
5th	39	Blacktoft Dancing The Blues	Mrs H M Fox
6th	38	Flatcharm Bianca Del Rio	Holland, Miss K L
7th	37	Woodfinch Masquerade	Mr & Mrs D & R Bellamy
7th	37	Plainfire’s The Captain Of My Heart Is Steelriver (Imp Che) (Shcex)	Stevenson, Miss S
8th	34	Black Mica’s Likes It Hot At Blacktoft (Imp Swe) (Jw)	Fox, Mrs H M
9th	33	Padend Just The Way You Are	Miss K L & Mrs M A Gogarty
10th	32	Ballyriver Snow Flake At Thurwhitt	Thurgood, Mrs S

Ceilidh Cup Final Standings 2021

Place	Points	Dog	Owner
1st	891	Donascimento Aldair	J Lawson
2nd	432	Innisbeck Moss	J Lawson

A first for NEFRA this year is a chance to compete in – open class level one rally – limited to 46 dogs. Organised by Stoneleigh Rally.

Rally is a fun way to compete with your dog around a course of various exercises not too different from obedience made up of a set course of 18 stations, when you arrive at a station you perform an exercise as directed by a instruction board.

The Kennel Club website has more information here

The class is now open for entries, first chance being granted to NEFRA members now. We have been advised that the places for these competitions fill very quickly.

Click here for our schedule and entry form.