NEFRA in the awards again at the Inter-Area finals 15-Jul-2012
The NEFRA team were placed third at the Flatcoated Retriever Society’s Inter-Area Finals team even held near Christchurch.
Inter Area Final 2012
Author:FlatcoatChris
Training Day at Hesketh Bank 2012
Thirty eight dogs and their handlers were put through their paces by trainers at our training day near Preston. 18-Aug 2012
Our experienced trainers were Jim Tomlinson, Elaine Whittaker, Garry Ellison, Terry Sparkes, Warren Jones, Gill Awty and Peter Forster.
After lunch an informal test earned awards for Best Dog for Peter Griffin with his dog Finch, and Mark Brocklehurst with his dog Merlin.
Hope Show 2012
Hope Show Teams
NEFRA members were once again selected to represent the two competing teams of flat-coated retrievers at this years Hope Show in Derbyshire. Photos have been added of the two teams and a selection of action photos have been added to the website.
Team Liver Flatcoats: Cherry Wood, Ann Sparkes, Val Orme & Caroline Hewison
Team Black Flatcoats: Keith Aldred, Garry Ellison, Chris Hewison & Peter Griffin
NEFRA Cold Game Test 2012
Intake Head, Delph, nr Oldham
14th October, 2012
Judges: Mrs P Illingworth & Mr T Richards
14 entries, 2 absentees
- 1st Falconcliffe Trophy – Chesley Boughen’s – Echilhampton Guillemot
- 2nd – Garry Ellison’s Peacock Trophy – Ollerset Sparkling Nymph
- 3rd – Terry Sparkes – Lenyam Martins of Churchwood
- 4th – Caroline Hewison’s – Harvest Moon of Casblaidd
NEFRA Spring Working Test 2013
Wood Hall Hotel & Spa Wetherby, West Yorkshire
14th April, 2013
NEFRA members had a lovely day at the gorgeous Wood Hall Hotel near Wetherby, a very windy day with some tough tests and very worthy winners!
Judges: Mr Gordon Hodgson, Mr Warren Jones, Mrs Elaine Whittaker, Mrs Cherry Wood
Special Puppy
1st – Gill Awty’s – Venetian Red at Maddistream
2nd – Malcolm Peacock’s – Rondix Basha
COM – Caroline Hewison’s – Venus in Transit over Casblaidd
Novice Dog/ Novice Handler
1st – John Grainger’s – Eskwinds Dixie Darling
2nd – Peter Howson’s – Lone Lassie of the Wood at Devonbank
3rd – Peter Howson’s – Devonbank Dare to Dream
4th – Rob Ashcroft’s – Beanit Luka to Keepersway
COM – Jamie Lee’s – Innisbeck Celtic Charm
Novice
1st – Malcolm Awty’s – Maddistream Purple Lake
2nd – Frances Harding’s – Valentine Volturnus
3rd – Gill Griffin’s – Eskwinds Drake
Open
1st – Gill Awty’s – Rainbow Queen of Maddistream
2nd – Keith Aldred’s – Eskwinds Dare to Dream
3rd – Caroline Hewison’s – Harvest Moon of Casblaidd
4th – Pat Bell’s – Dark Samurai of Pallingforth
COM – Peter Griffin’s – Eskwinds Chaffinch
NEFRA Cold Game Test 2013
Llawr Y Pant Hall, Selattyn, Oswestry
13th October, 2013
NEFRA members had an enjoyable day, albeit a soggy one at the Cold Game test today, by kind permission of Richard Hughes at Selattyn near Oswestry.
Judges: Mrs Glenys Caldwell & Mr Paul Egginton
17 entries, 2 absentees
- 1st and the Falconcliffe Trophy – Caroline Hewison’s – Maddistream Indigo Jack at Casblaidd
- 2nd and the Peacock Cup – Garry Ellison’s – Ollerset Sparkling Nymph
- 3rd – Pat Bell’s – Dark Samurai of Pallingforth
First Live Training Day 9-12-2013
NEFRA members were delighted to have been invited to take part in a live game training day today on the grounds of Hy Fly game hatcheries in Lancashire. This event allowed handlers an opportunity to improve their dogs’ skills on retrieving game without any of the pressures of competition. We are very grateful to Kevin at Hy Fly for allowing us this opportunity.
Annual Trophy Awards 2013 (awarded AGM March 2014)
President’s Cup
Miss H Walker’s Lizzlog Sweeney Todd with 54 points
(2nd Mrs A Kilminster’s Sh Ch Withybed Blue Jeans with 50pts)
(3rd Mrs B Johnson’s Downstream Fait Accompli JW with 48pts)
Inca Trophy
Mrs Sally Collins with Steeplehouse Gift of Thyme with 37 points.
The Ceilidh Cup
Mrs Caroline Hewison’s Maddistream Indigo Jack at Casblaidd with 150 points.
(2nd Caroline Hewison’s Venus in Transit over Casblaidd with 113 pts)
(3rd Mrs Val Orme’s Elmstock Thyme to Dream with 65 points)
NEFRA Cold Game Training Day 2014
Thank you to everyone who came to our NEFRA Cold Game training day on October 13th 2014, we hope you all enjoyed it!
Thanks to our trainers Steve Burns, Trefor Richards and Garry Ellison for looking after us all, to Chris and Cherry for throwing and placing game, Val and Sheena for catering and Kath and Hilary for dog stewarding, and our hosts at Intake Head.
Trainers’ Choice awards went to:
Andy Sweeney and Daphne,
Val Orme and Freddie,
Sheena Wells and Ceili
Debbie Smith and Peat.
Thank you also to Caro from Working Line Images for photographing all our dogs!
Tributes to a gentle man
It is with great sadness to report that our President Mr Peter Forster passed away at his home in Staffordshire last night. Peter was a long-term supporter of the Association and was a familiar face to many of us.
Our thoughts are with his family at this time.
A tribute to Peter Forster by NEFRA Committee Member – Dennis Orme
We first met Peter in the late 70`s. Having just lost our family Labrador we were looking to get another dog and a friend told us about her vet who had these beautiful black dogs, which was our first introduction to Audrey and Peter. Audrey, a lady who said it as it was, and Peter, a quiet gentleman, and as we found out the perfect team.
Audrey once told me that with Peter “What you see is what you get “just how wrong she was, there was much more to Peter than met the eye. He was a font of knowledge and would give help and advice whenever he was asked for it, he was always an unassuming man who shunned the limelight.
Peter was always there for anyone at any time. He was our introduction to working the dogs. On many a wet dark evening, after a training session, he would still be talking at midnight having brought flasks of coffee and cups. He would never be rushed. His patient and gentle way with animals amazed us and many others whom he has helped over the years. I have seen him separate two beaters dogs, intent on killing each other, by kneeling down and talking to them. He took time out to treat injured dogs and would accept nothing in return. He arrived on the shoot one day and was limping and very withdrawn but wouldn’t tell us why. I phoned Audrey that evening to see how he was. She said that it was only his pride that was hurt because for the first time ever a horse had kicked him.
Whenever Peter judged we were interested to see what he looked for in a dog. When talking to him afterwards he admitted he never knew who the owners were but recognised the breeding lines and pedigrees of the dogs he put up.
I served as his vice-chairman on the NEFRA committee and learned much from him. He was always prepared to listen and help anyone. Our committee will be the poorer without him.
Val and I owe much to Peter and I am pleased that I had the opportunity to speak to him on the telephone a few days before his passing. I will miss a good friend and mentor and Val will miss her ‘Second Dad’.The breed will be the poorer without him and if we can only know just a small percentage of what he knew we will be much wiser.
Our thoughts are with Claire, Alison, Louise and their families at this sad time, the world is a richer place because of him.Peter, a true and irreplaceable GENTLE – MAN, who never had a bad word for anyone.
Rest in peace with Audrey, God bless, you will never be forgotten.