NEFRA Northern England Flatcoated Retriever Association

The NEFRA Shared Venue Show, comprising both the Championship Show and Open Show, was held on 3rd May 2026 at Thirsk Mart, Yorkshire, and proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable and successful day. The event showcased the friendly, welcoming atmosphere that makes NEFRA gatherings so special, with members and visitors coming together to support the Association and enjoy two well-run shows at a shared venue.

The NEFRA shop was a busy focal point throughout the day. Although homemade cakes weren’t available on this occasion, a great deal of hard work had gone on behind the scenes to prepare a tempting range of homemade dog treats, all created with Flatcoated Retrievers in mind. Options included cranberry and apple, parsley and mint for fresh breath, calming ginger and camomile, carrot and apple, antioxidant-rich blueberry and banana, sweet potato chews, and tuna with oregano and thyme. All treats were oat based, hypoallergenic and preservative free, and with limited supplies available they sold very quickly. Every penny raised will help to support NEFRA in its many activities, and thank you to everyone who stopped by and treated their dogs. Our new NEFRA badges were also available at the show, priced at £4 each, and were very well received.

Results from both the Championship Show and Open Show are available on the Fosse Data website, with links shared below.
Please note that one result does not appear on Fosse Data: Best Baby Puppy at the Championship Show was awarded to the dog Huyton’s Hightyne Hypasonic Missile, catalogue number 43. Baby puppy classes were very kindly sponsored by Eddy Harrison.

Thank you to our judges, Helen Osborne-Brown and Carol Moore, and to everyone who attended and supported our double show. A special thank you also goes to Harry, who took thousands of photographs over the course of the day.

This event also marked the first NEFRA show involvement for our new Honorary Show Secretary, Gill Smitherman. Gill worked hard behind the scenes to support the smooth running of the day, and her contribution was very much appreciated. We are delighted to welcome her into the role and look forward to working with her at many future NEFRA events.

Anne Haley was also present at the show and was happy to chat throughout the day about all things working. Whether attendees were just starting out with training or considering entering a working test, Anne offered friendly, practical guidance and encouragement. Many found it a relaxed and approachable introduction to working activities, and it may well have opened the door to new and exciting opportunities for both handlers and their dogs. 🐾

Championship Show – Top Results
Best in Show: Sh Ch Windyhollows Ragged Robin JW (Mr E W, Mrs P J and Miss N E Colson)
Reserve Best in Show: Hopevalley Morning Xanadu JW (Mrs M E Romeo-Dieste)
Best Opposite Sex in Show: Hopevalley Morning Xanadu JW (Mrs M E Romeo-Dieste)
Best Puppy in Show: Levliann Tit for Tat (Mrs L Varty-Lindsay)
Best Veteran in Show: Blacktoft Dancing On Ice with Windyhollows (AI) (Mrs P J and Ms H M Colson and Fox)
Best Liver in Show: Murphy’s Treat (Miss E Shepherdson)
Best Special Working in Show: Secret Blue Dress Basteta for Gemswin JW Sgwc (Imp Lt) (Mrs G and Mrs B Jacobs and Reynolds)
Reserve Dog CC: Ronevorg Dark Angel at Lussac JW SGWC ShCEx OSW (Mrs S May)
Reserve Bitch CC: Rainesgift Fair Play (Miss H M Watson)
Best Baby Puppy in Show: Huyton’s Hightyne Hypasonic Missile

Open Show – Top Results
Best in Show: Hopevalley Morning Xanadu JW (Mrs M E Romeo-Dieste)
Reserve Best in Show: Levliann Big Bang (Mrs L Varty-Lindsay)
Best Opposite Sex in Show: Levliann Big Bang (Mrs L Varty-Lindsay)
Best Puppy in Show: Culcrieff’s Ferntower Glen of Wetnoses (Mr D E J and Mrs M A Salt)
Best Veteran in Show: Everblack Booze Cruise at Dexanluc (Mr M and Mrs P Mullins)
Best Liver in Show: Murphy’s Treat (Miss E Shepherdson)
Best Working in Show: Kimberfield in Love Again (Mrs R Richards)
Reserve Best Dog: Everblack Booze Cruise at Dexanluc (Mr M and Mrs P Mullins)
Reserve Best Bitch: Satinbaze Tea for Two with Shelkaru (Mrs J Pacey)
Brace: 1st – Mrs J A McQuade

Full results can be viewed online at:
Open Show: https://www.fossedata.co.uk/show-results/northern-england-flatcoated-retriever-association-open-show-may-2026.aspx
Championship Show: https://www.fossedata.co.uk/show-results/northern-england-flatcoated-retriever-association-championship-show-may-2026.aspx

Open Show

Championship Show

NEFRA Full Day Training Day – 26th July 2026

NEFRA is holding a full-day training event on 26th July 2026 at a fantastic venue with trainer Garry Ellison.

📍 Venue: Geoff Saints Training Ground, Haighton, Cow Hill, PR2

This training day is primarily aimed at novice dogs, however we may be able to accommodate other experience levels where possible, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Please fill out the online form below to register your interest. Entry Form HERE.

Redhall Farm in Crewe is a fantastic venue, and we’re excited to be returning for another training day.

The full-day session will be led by Garry Ellison, offering an excellent opportunity to learn from an experienced trainer. To ensure a high-quality experience, the group will be limited to just 8 participants. Places are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will only be secured once payment has been received.

To reserve your spot, please enter online here.

At the recent AGM, Gillian Smitherman has agreed to try and fill the boots of the wonderful outgoing Show Secretary in Paula Goulette.

Gill has taken on the role with immediate effect, and with the support and help of the outgoing Show Secretary, and the rest of the committee, we are sure she will put her own stamp on the position and do a great job in taking NEFRA forward in the foreseeable future.

Gill brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, being a UK and Overseas Championship Show Judge, Breeder, Exhibitor with a good understanding of working events. She also has a strong fundraising background, which I am sure will also help her in the role, whilst running her own businesses, which I know many have bought items from.

Gill’s Family have long been associated with NEFRA, with her Mum being a founder member.

So we warmly welcome Gill to the team, and hope that there will be a thriving future for NEFRA

Good luck with this new challenge.

Farewell to Paula from her Show Secretary role.

At the recent AGM Paula Goulette stepped down as Show Secretary after a wonderful 15 years of dedication, hard-work and service to this NEFRA role.

Paula has been an amazing officer on the committee, and the rest of us are sad to see her step down, but with a wonderful legacy of great shows and events, Paula has decided that it is now time to do so.

Paula was presented with a memento of thanks from the club for all her amazing service as a NEFRA officer.

However, we have not allowed her full retirement, as due to Bob Allen stepping down from his role of President, Paula has kindly agreed to step into the role for the foreseeable future, until we decide on Bob’s Full-Time replacement.

This will also allow her to pass over all her knowledge and advice to the new Show Secretary, as we knew she would kindly do anyway.

Thank you for everything Paula Goulette.

At the recent AGM, there was a vote for committee member roles

With 7 applicants for the 6 roles available, the members and committee voted on who would fulfil these positions.

Four of the positions were three-year terms (Due to current terms expiring), and two were two-year positions, due to co option of two persons in 2025.

After a very close vote the following people were elected: –

Helen Fox and Dominic Salt-Both 3-year terms.

Harry Vasey and Anna Hazelton-Both 3-year terms (New Committee Members).

Ros Tierling and Anne Haley- Both 2-year terms.

Thank you to everybody that voted and good luck to the committee members filling these positions.

Anna Hazelton was voted in to her 3-year term on the NEFRA committee at our recent AGM.

Anna had been co opted into the committee role for the 2025 period and has started to learn various roles within the association. She has stewarded, helped with results uploading, sold raffle tickets, and worked on refreshments, along with many other jobs and roles at show and working events, and attending and helping out at other club events. Anna has learnt a lot in her time so far with NEFRA, and whilst owning, showing and working her Flatcoats has shown a big interest in the breed whilst maintaining an urge to learn more about our wonderful breed. Anna has provisionally agreed to take on the role of Wagging Tails Editor, with outgoing Wagging Tails Editor Melanie Salt and other Committee members help where necessary.

She has also agreed to continue her role uploading the Fossedata results at the shows, with the help of Chris Hewison.

Harry Vasey was voted into a 3-year term on the NEFRA committee at our recent AGM.

Harry had been co opted into a committee position for the 2025 period and learnt a lot in the process. Harry is a very experienced tech-based individual, with a wonderful knowledge of computing and photography. Many will have seen some of Harry’s photographs in the past, and he now becomes our official show photographer, aswell as agreeing to maintain and update the Facebook and Internet web pages, with the help and advice of Chris Hewison and other committee members. Aswell as show photographs, Harry has Stewarded at shows, and attended and helped at other events, taking part in working events, and has also been responsible for moving our communications forward within the committee and beyond.

We are sure that Harry will provide the club with young exciting ideas, along with his partner Anna Hazelton, and create a good base for the future of NEFRA.

We wish them both good luck and welcome them to their first 3-year term with NEFRA committee

We are pleased to be hosting a Kennel Club Good Citizen assessment day, offering all three levels, on Saturday 11th July at Park Lodge, Derbyshire.

🕙 Start time: 10:00am
🕤 Please arrive: 9:30am

Please note:

• Proof of previous awards will be required on the day
• Only one assessment per dog/handler may be undertaken

Further joining information will be sent out closer to the date.

🐾 Online entries are now open, please use the link HERE to enter.

At the AGM on Sunday 22nd March the 2025 winner of the Nellspeace Plate was deservedly presented to Mrs Rachel Pierce by Anne Haley

A wonderful tribute to the late Maggie Hammersley donated by Steve Hammersley, Jude Hammersley and family

At the AGM on Sunday 22nd March Anne Haley presented the 2025 Ceilidh Cup to Caroline Hewison for the winner

Casblaidd Island in the Sky SGWC KWGC VW

Owned by Mr Chris Hewison and Mrs Caroline Hewison

At the AGM on Sunday 22nd March the winner of the Inca Trophy for 2025, was presented by Trophy Sectetary Helen Fox to Caroline Hewison for the winner

Benvellyn Marakele into Casblaidd

Owned by Mr Chris Hewison and Mrs Caroline Hewison.