In a first for NEFRA we hosted two shows in one day at one venue.

Held at: The Exhibition Hall, York Auction Centre, York on 5th May 2024

Championship Show Judge Mrs Helen Fox ( Blacktoft)
Fully Marked-Up Catalogue.
Judge’s Critique

Open Show Judge Miss Abby Bellamy (Moontorn)
Fully Marked-Up Catalogue
Judge’s Critique

Our Championship Show major award winners were as follows:

Our Open Show major award winners were as follows:

NEFRA was sorry to hear of the death yesterday of Joyce Ryder. She was a member of our committee for a number of years and also held the office of show secretary for the Association.

It was Joyce who introduced the NEFRA Pup of the Year competitions and she organised these on our behalf for many years.

The committee and membership send our thoughts and condolences to her husband Arnold.

NEFRA held a KC Good Citizen Testing Day on Saturday 23rd March at a venue in Fritchley, Derbyshire

Fueled by coffee and cake, participants, both members, and non-members alike, engaged in bronze and silver assessments on the grounds provided by Paula Goulette. It’s worth noting that the cake and coffee served surpassed even NEFRA’s high standards, adding an extra touch of enjoyment to the proceedings.

Our assessor for the day was Helen Chambers.

Dogs that passed the bronze assessment were Amanda with ‘Lincoln’, Amanda with ‘Delorian’, Paula with ‘Merlin’, Margaret with ‘Sam’ and Lindsay with ‘Cosmo’

Dogs that passed the silver assessment were Claire with ‘Tilly’, Frances with ‘Skye’, Hilary with ‘Bryn’, Caroline with ‘Linnhe’ and Michelle with ‘Walter’

Many thanks to all who helped make this day a success. Congratulations on all the handlers and their dogs for their richly deserved successes.

NEFRA held their 29th Annual General Meeting of the Northern England Flatcoated Retriever Association held on Sunday 17th March 2024 at The Fenton Manor Sports Complex, City Road, Fenton, Stoke -on -Trent, ST4 2RR.

At the AGM the following awards were announced:

Winning the President’s Cup

1. Mrs V Bowen Clandrift Bring Me Sunshine JW
2. Mrs K & Mr D Joyce Stranfaer One Fell Swoop
3. Mrs V Davis & Mrs J Egginton Go With The Flow Dynamic Faithful (IMP NLD)

Winning the Ceilidh Cup

Winning the Nellspeace Plate

Treasurer (3 years)
Mr D Taylor continues as Treasurer for a further three year term.

Hon. Working Secretary (3 years)
Following her co-option to the post last year Mrs. C. Simons continues as Working Secretary for two more years to complete her three year term.

Committee Vacancies (5 posts)
Mrs. H Buckley, Mr C. Hewison, Mr G Richards, Mrs V. Burroughs continue for a further 3 year term and Mrs A Hayley continues for a two year term.

PLEASE NOTE THAT 2024 SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE DUE ON 1ST OF JANUARY 2024 AND IF PAYING BY CHEQUE THEY SHOULD BE SENT TO OUR HON. TREASURER:

MR D TAYLOR,
Cooks Lane House,
Cooks Lane, Bradnop, Leek.
Staffs. ST13 7HA

PLEASE NOTE SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE INCREASED IN 2021
(£15 joint, £10 single and £7 seniors)

PLEASE CHECK STANDING ORDERS AND AMEND THEM IF NECESSARY.
MEMBERS SUBSCRIPTIONS NOT RECEIVED BY 30TH APRIL 2024 WILL HAVE THEIR MEMBERSHIP TERMINATED.

Handbook

Link to the KC website

Nefra hosted a Kennel Club Gundog Working Certificate on dummies on the 10th February. Our assessors for the day were Mrs Caroline Hewison and Mr Phil Smithies.

We had 8 dogs entered and 5 passed. They were put their paces with steadiness, blinds, heel work and retrieves. A list of awarded dogs are below;

Sonya Jenkinson with flatcoat Skybrook Rock Me

Stephanie Hurstfield with flatcoat Thurwitt Chiquitita

Steve Burns with Labrador Tallamelie Sparkly Ring at Jollybrow

Cath Burns with Labrador Tallamelie Bridesmaid at Jollybrow

Helen Fox with flatcoat Satinbaze Cracksman for Blacktoft JW.

It would help our treasurer a lot if you could ensure your bank standing order matches the following rates:

• Single – £10
• Joint – £15
• Overseas Single – £14
• Overseas Joint – £20
• Senior Citizens / Gamekeepers / Juniors – £6

For full membership details, please follow this lnk

Ringtail House, 5a Ringtail Place, Ormskirk, Burscough, L40 8LA

Comments from Our Dogs Breed Notes 20/10/23

Paula Goulette reports “We had 19 people attend and it went very well judging by our feedback forms.  A very interesting breed talk from Louise Jones and Sandra Stevenson followed by MCE for those eligible* (10 out of 12 people passing).  Those who passed exam went over eight dogs after lunch with our four mentors, Louise Jones, Sandra Stevenson, Karen Joyce and Helen Fox.  Those who hadn’t taken the MCE but wished to stay after lunch had an informal hands on with Hayley Walker”.

Karen Joyce added “We had loads of committee help, there were 8 dogs for the afternoon mentoring session ranging from 5 months to 11 years of age, the majority of people attending were not flatcoat owners which made the wonderful feedback even more special and finally being NEFRA there was loads of cake!!

*To take the Multiple Choice Exam (MCE) candidates must have met all the requirements of the JEP** level 1

** for details of all levels of JEP requirements please visit https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/events-and-activities/dog-showing/judging-dog-shows/ 

It is with sadness that we have heard of the recent death of Peter Riches of the Solotown affix.

Peter was instrumental in the birth of NEFRA being the person who called and arranged our inaugural meeting at Harwood Village Hall. He opened and led the meeting until a committee and officers were voted on from the meeting floor, at which time neither he or his partner Sally were elected so he passed the meeting over to the committee to continue.

It was Sally who originally had the flatcoats, Peter becoming involved with them through meeting her. They also had whippets, Ibizan hounds and field spaniels in their later years.

A keen supporter of the show scene in the 1980s and 90s Peter later moved to Denmark with Sal where they continued to work and show their dogs making new flatcoat friends over there.

On our Facebook page Bente Sand commented:

Dear Peter Riches Facebook friends
Yesterday I received a call from the Danish police that Peter has unfortunately passed away 💔
The Danish authorities would very much like to get in touch with Peter’s family members, so those of you who are related to him or know of his family would you please be so kind as to send me a private message or contact me on phone no. +45 29855798
I know Peter is now reunited with his beloved Sally and all their beautiful Solotown dogs❤️

Nefra held our first training day of the year today at Welbeck estate near Clumber Park, Worksop. Our trainers for the day were Andy Sweeney and Gary Ellison.

We had an early novice/ beginners group in the morning, covering some back to basics and obedience exercises. And an Intermediate group in the afternoon covering a walk up exercise with marks in front and behind with some blinds and directional work also.

It was a breezy day so our trainers also spoke to the intermediate group about which side of the wind the dogs should be on to give them the best success.

Many thanks to the Welbeck Estate for having us and the trainers for giving up their time.

Our 28th Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday 19th March 2023 at The Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke-on-Trent

The annual awards presentations were made for the President’s Cup, the Inca Trophy and, for the very first time, a new award – the Nellspeace Plate.

A presentation and vote of thanks was also made thanking Caroline Hewison for her twelve years as our Hon Working Secretary.