NEFRA Shared Venue 37th Open and 18th Championship Dog Shows – York

With an arrangement similar to 2024 we are once again hosting an event this year where we will have two rings being judged side by side. One for our open show and one for a championship show. Entries for these shows are now open and we look forward to seeing you there with our famous warm northern welcome.

To be held at: The Exhibition Hall, York Auction Centre, York on 4th May 2024

Championship Show Judge Mrs J.B. Campbell (Ronevorg)
Fosse Data Entry Link

Open Show Judge Mrs C. Simons, nee Smith (Whirleymere)
Fosse Data Entry Link

Les Geoghegan

NEFRA members will be saddened to hear the news of the recent death of Mr Les Geoghegan.

Les and his wife Liz had been in Flatcoats for a number of years showing under the affix Fenfleet and they were regulars around the show ring.

Les’s connection with NEFRA’s committee occurred almost by accident, in 2010, Liz a founder member, decided to stand for the position of secretary, tragically she died suddenly before this could happen. Les then decided to stand for the post in her place enabling him to keep his links with flatcoats and the friends they had made over the years. Les turned out to be a very efficient secretary and he served for 9 years retiring in 2019 when he was made an honorary life member of the Association.

Les died a few days ago after a short illness, he leaves no family but many friends and our thoughts are with them at this time.

Update: The funeral will be held at 1pm 29th January 2025 at West Lancashire Cemetery & Crematorium, Pippin St, Burscough, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 7SP

Annual General Meeting 2025

The thirtieth annual general meeting of the Northern England Flatcoated Retriever Association was held on Sunday 16th March 2025 at Fritchley, Derbyshire with the very kind permission of Mrs Paula Goulette.

Our new Hon. Secretary, Mrs Mel Salt was elected. Mrs. Kathryn Trevor was re-elected as Vice Chairman and Mrs Kate Jubb was re-elected to the committee. 

We thanked Mrs Margaret Melrose and Mr Steve Jubb as they retired from the committee and presented them with gifts as a token of our gratitude for their years of service.

Annual Awards were presented as follows:

President’s Cup – awarded to Mrs Mandy Romeo-Dieste for Hopevalley Morning Xanadu JW
Ceilidh Cup – awarded to Mr Andy Sweeney’s for Maddistream Black Powder of Wolfthistle
Inca Trophy – awarded to Mr Chris Hewison for Casblaidd Mirror Lake
Nellspeace Plate – awarded to Mrs Dawn Woodiwiss

PLEASE NOTE THAT 2025 SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE DUE ON 1ST OF JANUARY 2025 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

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NEFRA 17th Championship Dog Show – Biddulph

Held on 3rd November 2024 at: Biddulph Leisure Centre, Thames Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, ST8 9HL

Judge (Dogs) Miss Kelly Holland (Flatcharm)
Judge (Bitches) Mrs Jan Egginton (Pajanbeck)
Referee and Judge for Special Members Stakes, Baby Puppy Classes and Brace – Mr Dominic Salt (Levelmoor).

Our major award winners were as follows:

Left to Right as follows:
Best In ShowSh Ch* Hopevalley Morning Wicked, (Mrs M E Romeo-Dieste)
Reserve Best In Show
Best Opposite Sex
Best Liver in Show
Llantrussa As Big As The Ritz, (Mrs L & Mr L & Mrs C Nicholls & Nicholls & Price)
Best Puppy in ShowHopevalley Morning Xanadu, (Mrs M E Romeo-Dieste)
Best Veteran in ShowTelurn Can’t Touch This SGWC, (Mrs B Reynolds)
Best Special Working in ShowBenvellyn Marakele Into Casblaidd JW, (Mr C & Mrs C Hewison)
Best Baby PuppyAffinity Promises Kept for Woodfinch (Mrs R Bellamy)
*subject to KC confirmation
Dog Challenge CertificateLlantrussa As Big As The Ritz, (Mrs L & Mr L & Mrs C Nicholls & Nicholls & Price)
Reserve Dog Challenge CertificateHightyne Night Train (Miss M Hall)
Bitch Challenge CertificateSh Ch* Hopevalley Morning Wicked (Mrs M E Romeo-Dieste)
Reserve Bitch Challenge CertificateWindyhollows English Holly at Llantrussa (Mrs Ca & Mrs L Price & Nicholls)
Best Puppy DogFlattie Symphony Lor Elrond (Mrs V Kralj)
Best Veteran DogTelurn Can’t Touch This SGWC (Mrs B Reynolds)
Best Liver DogLlantrussa As Big As The Ritz (Mrs L & Mr L & Mrs C Nicholls & Nicholls & Price)
Best Special Working DogSatinbaze Cracksman for Blacktoft (AI) JW SGWC (Mrs H M Fox)
Best Puppy BitchHopevalley Morning Xanadu (Mrs M E Romeo-Dieste)
Best Veteran BitchCaehaidd Lets Go Crazy with Braemist JW (Miss L S Jones)
Best Liver BitchShashkrox Never Grow Up (Mr P & Mrs S Holliday)
Best Special Working BitchBenvellyn Marakele Into Casblaidd JW (Mr C & Mrs C Hewison)
*subject to KC confirmation

Full results: https://www.fossedata.co.uk/show-results/northern-england-flatcoated-retriever-association-november-2024.aspx

Photo collection courtesy of Harry Vasey: https://adobe.ly/4hxKcQZ

NEFRA Shared Venue 36th Open and 16th Championship Dog Shows – York

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:

Best In Show77 – Windyhollows English Holly at Llantrussa, (Mrs Ca & Mrs L Price & Nicholls)
Reserve Best In Show44 – Sh Ch Braemist Witches Fire, (Miss L S Jones)
Best Opposite Sex107 – Lizzlog Shotgun Harry JW (Mrs L Walker)
Best Puppy in Show101 – Levliann Big Bang, (Mrs L Varty-Lindsay)
Best Veteran in Show22 – Hoedun Alexandra of Denmark, (Mr P Dunnett)
Best Liver in Show103 – Levliann Waited for You, (Mrs L Varty-Lindsay)
Best Special Working in Show63 – Ronevorg Dark Angel at Lussac JW Kcwgc, (Mrs S May)
Dog Challenge Certificate107 – Lizzlog Shotgun Harry JW (Mrs L Walker)
Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate33 – Ronevorg I Believe in Santa at Montechor (Mrs M Hessing)
Bitch Challenge Certificate77 – Windyhollows English Holly at Llantrussa (Mrs Ca & Mrs L Price & Nicholls)
Reserve Bitch Challenge Certificate44 – Sh Ch Braemist Witches Fire (Miss L S Jones)
Best Puppy Dog101 – Levliann Big Bang (Mrs L Varty-Lindsay)
Best Veteran Dog48 – Stranfaer Get over It JW (Mr D & Mrs K Joyce)
Best Liver Dog103 – Levliann Waited for You (Mrs L Varty-Lindsay)
Best Special Working Dog63 – Ronevorg Dark Angel at Lussac JW Kcwgc (Mrs S May)
Best Puppy Bitch106 – Lizzlog Naughty Nun at Night (Mrs L Walker)
Best Veteran Bitch22 – Hoedun Alexandra of Denmark (Mr P Dunnett)
Best Liver Bitch54 – Gemswin Goody Two Shoes (Mrs S, Mrs G & Mr M Knight & Jacobs)
Best Special Working Bitch62 – Lussac Winter Witch JW Sgwc (Mrs S May)

Our Open Show major award winners were as follows:

Best In Show66 – Hopevalley Morning Wicked, (Mrs M E Romeo-Dieste)
Reserve Best In Show83 – Lizzlog Tittle Tattle, (Miss H S Walker)
Best Opposite Sex in Show90 – Bitcon Alliance with Bluewaters (ai) JW, (Mrs J Wild)
Best Puppy in Show72 – Steelriver Isle View Pippet, (Miss S Stevenson)
Best Veteran in Show71 – Sh Ch Plainfire’s The Captain of My Heart Is Steelriver (Imp Che) ShCEx, (Miss S Stevenson)
Best Liver in Show82 – Levliann Waited for You, (Mrs L Varty-Lindsay)
Best Working in Show40 – Ch Moonstruck Macadamia Sgwc, (Mrs S, Mrs G & Mr M Knight & Jacobs)
Best Dog90 – Bitcon Alliance with Bluewaters (ai) JW (Mrs J Wild)
Best Bitch66 – Hopevalley Morning Wicked (Mrs M E Romeo-Dieste)
Reserve Best Dog41 – Kulawand Callisto (Mr & Mrs R S & Mrs P Lane & Lane-Ridyard)
Reserve Best Bitch83 – Lizzlog Tittle Tattle (Miss H S Walker)
Best Puppy72 – Steelriver Isle View Pippet (Miss S Stevenson)
Best Puppy Dog80 – Levliann Big Bang (Mrs L Varty-Lindsay)
Best Puppy Bitch72 – Steelriver Isle View Pippet (Miss S Stevenson)

Joyce Ryder

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.

Joyce is pictured here at our first championship show in 2008

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.

Good Citizen Testing Day

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.

Annual General Meeting 2024

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

Clandrift Bring Me Sunshine JW. Winner of the 2023 NEFRA 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

Mr Andy Sweeney – Maddistream Black Powder of Wolfthistle

Winning the Nellspeace Plate

Mrs Helen Fox being awarded the Nellspeace Plate by Charlotte Simons and Anne Haley

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.

KC Working Gundog Certificate, Roby Mill, Wigan 10th February 2024

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.

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