We have now published our schedule on the Fosse Data website. Entries can now be made. We are looking forward to seeing you and your dogs for what promises to be an exciting celebration weekend.
Author Archives: FlatcoatChris
NEFRA Annual General Meeting 2022
Members will have received the notice of the AGM in the latest copy of ‘Wagging Tails’. Here are links to the minutes of the 2021 AGM (held via Zoom) and to the agenda for this year’s AGM.
The twenty seventh Annual General Meeting is to be held at 11:00am on Sunday 20th March 2022 at The Fenton Manor Sports Complex, City Road, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2RR (Gallery Suite – 1st Floor)
Nominations are now closed for officers and committee positions. Only matters on the agenda can be discussed at the meeting. Members wishing to attend the AGM must be fully paid up members of the Association
PLEASE NOTE THAT 2022 SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE DUE ON 1ST OF JANUARY 2022 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
MEMBERS WHOSE CORRECT SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NOT RECEIVED BY THE AGM WILL BE UNABLE TO VOTE AND MEMBERS SUBSCRIPTIONS NOT RECEIVED BY 30TH APRIL 2022 WILL HAVE THEIR MEMBERSHIP TERMINATED.

NEFRA’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Weekend
Somewhat delayed, yet eagerly awaited – NEFRA will be holding their 25th celebration weekend on 7th-8th May 2022.
This will be at Hayes Farm Hucknall Rd, Newstead Village, Nottingham, NG15 0BD. Google Maps.
Signs to the location will be out on the day, just off M1 junction 27.
The weekend is fun-packed and full of things to keep you entertained.
Catering available over the weekend for snacks, burgers, chips etc. including vegetarian options & breakfasts.
Bar facilities will also be available throughout Saturday and Sunday. Not only selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks but also tea, coffee, cakes & soft drinks.
We will hold raffle on both days with some lovely prizes.
NEFRA is very grateful to the kind support offered by The Flatcoated Retriever Society to help host this event.
The timetable of events is planned as follows:
Open Show (contact Paula Goulette for details) with our breed specialist judge Ros Tierling, stakes classes to be judged by Val Orme (schedule available).
ENTRIES CLOSED: 21st April

Scurry – test your dog’s speed against the others on our retriever leaderboard.
Rally have-a-go with Stoneleigh Rally Club. The Kennel Club Rally Information SIte. Link to Stoneleigh Rally Website
Working Gundog Demonstration with NEFRA members Andy Sweeney & Sue Rodgers.
Evening entertainment
- film show – suitable for families
- treasure hunt
- quiz
- BBQ & Hog Roast
Camping/caravan pitches are available (contact Paula Goulette for details).
Novice and Open Working Test (see our separate post) at nearby Abbeyfields Farmhouse, Newstead Abbey grounds with our judges Steve and Ann Crookes, Elaine Whittaker & Malcolm Peacock.

Rally One open class level one Rally – click here for schedule. Organised by Stoneleigh Rally. Limited to 46 dogs.
The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme the ability to take bronze, silver or gold tests Link to the Kennel Club Site explaining the scheme.
Bronze open to anyone – Silver and Gold subject to proof of having gained previous levels.
Fun Dog Show with 10 classes open to anyone – entries taken on the day per class with our judge Hilary Buckley.
For any further details please look out for further updates on the NEFRA website and on our Facebook Page.
NEFRA Anniversary Working Test Schedule Now Published
Postponed from last year, we are delighted to have been offered the use of some land very close to Hayes Farm where our anniversary weekend will be held on May 7th & 8th.
The test will be held on Sunday 8th and we will now accept your entries. Please note that this is a Novice and Open Test. We will hold our Puppy & Novice Dog / Novice Handler test on a separate date.
As always, we would prefer you PayPal payments to be supported by your Paypal Balance or debit card. Please don’t support the transaction with your credit card or NEFRA will be charged.
NEFRA’s 25th Anniversary Championship Show – November 2021
We were delighted that exhibitors entered so many dogs at our Championship Show today for our judges Mr & Mrs Goodman. Our new venue in Biddulph allowed us to use their sports hall to celebrate our 25th anniversary – there was cake for everyone and such a friendly spirit in the air.
Many thanks for your entries – we were delighted to see you all after such a long break imposed by the pandemic. Congratulations to all our winners.
MAJOR AWARDS | |
BEST IN SHOW RESERVE BEST IN SHOW BEST PUPPY IN SHOW BEST VETERAN IN SHOW BEST LIVER IN SHOW BEST SPECIAL WORKING IN SHOW | STRUDWICK SH CH BURPHAM MILLION LOVE SONGS JW LONG STRANFAER TAKE IT EASY TO KEEPERSWAY YOUENS RIVERGLIDE SECRET REPRIEVE WALKER SH CH LIZZLOG KISS ME QUICK JW ShCM HURSTFIELD THURWHITT CHIQUITITA HEWISON CASBLAIDD ISLAND IN THE SKY SGWC |
Full Results – complete with absentees
Dog Judge’s Critique
Bitch Judge’s Critique

Strudwick’s Show Champion Burpham Million Love Songs JW
BEST IN SHOW
Strudwick’s Show Champion Burpham Million Love Songs JWJudges:
Dogs: Mr P.A. Goodman (Beanit) — Bitches: Mrs S.C. Goodman (Beanit)RESERVE BEST IN SHOW and BCC
Long’s New Sh CH (subject to KC approval) Stranfaer Take It Easy to KeeperswayReserve Dog CC
Stevenson’s Sh Ch Plainfire’s The Captain Of My Heart is Steelriver (Imp CHE) ShCExBEST PUPPY IN SHOW
Youens Riverglide Secret ReprieveReserve BCC
Walker’s Lizzlog Fanny by GaslightBEST VETERAN IN SHOW
Walker’s Sh Ch Lizzlog Kiss me Quick JW ShCMBest Working in Show
Hewison’s Casblaidd Island in the Sky SGWC KCWGCBest Liver in Show
Hurstfield’s Thurwhitt Chiquitita
NEFRA Autumn Working Test 2021
NEFRA held a working test at Castle Howard today by very kind permission of the Howard family and Clive Harrison the gamekeeper.
Once again we are indebted to the wonderful staff of the Castle Howard Estate near York. They once again offered to host our test in their stunning setting in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A huge thank you to everyone who supported the event, some travelling a very long way to attend, we very much appreciate your commitment!
A few eleventh hour changes on Friday night with the loss of two judges, a few competitors and several helpers nearly meant it didn’t go ahead at all.
We thank Philip Smithies for stepping in at the last minute to ensure we had a panel judge for the day and so the open test could go ahead. Garry Ellison did a sterling job as always having set all the tests a couple of weeks ago, and also stepped in at the last minute to be the fourth judge, who, along with Casper Jonsen and Theresa Jonsen ensured all the dogs had a fair chance at the tests.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped on the day whether that be dummy throwing, stewarding, placing blinds and catering. We really cannot manage without your help. Lastly thank you to Chris who also does so much behind the scenes and helps make the day a bit easier to manage.
Well done to everyone in the awards, lovely to see so many newcomers, and I hope everyone enjoyed their day!
Results:
PUPPY (3 entries)
1st Sue Rodgers with Signy Never Touching Ground TAF
2nd Fred Newton with Jarvo Supermoon
NOVICE DOG/NOVICE HANDLER (6 entries)
1st Anne Haley with Castlerock Return to Sender at Skybrook
2nd Rochelle Richards with Hopevalley Morning River through Kimberfield – also winning the Yonsaff Cup for Best Newcomer
3rd Sonya Jenkinson with Skybrook Rock Me
COM David Foster with Kenyten Styx
COM Janet Botterill with Frankie Be Good for Gracie
NOVICE (18 entries, 2abs)
1st Not Awarded
2nd Andy Sweeney with Wolfthistle Mr Miracle
3rd Caroline Hewison with Casblaidd Island in the Sky
Judge’s Choice Janet Botterill with Chanangel My Swallow
OPEN (8 entries, 2 abs)
1st Caroline Hewison with Donascimento Danilo from Casblaidd
2nd Andy Sweeney with Norfolk Flyers Rosie’s Thorn of Wolfthistle
Judge’s Choice Amber Nicholls with Featheringay Raven Prince
Well done everyone, hope you all had a safe journey home.
Working Retriever Assessment – Wigan
NEFRA held another Working Retriever Assessment today at Roby Mill by very kind permission of Sarah Marflow.
Thank you to our judges Lisa Mappin and Chris Hewison for novice, and Gill Griffin for the intermediate. We were blessed with lots of willing volunteers to help, so thank you to you all too!
Passes at novice level were awarded to Garry Ellison running Ollersett Shimmering Nymph and Ollersett Black Diamond.
Two dogs passed their third stage and were awarded their novice certificates.
Well done to
Anne Haley with Castlerock Return to Sender at Skybrook
Mags Brayfield with Keamarola Private Dancer
Well done everyone and thank you all for coming!
Working Retriever Assessments – 7th Aug 2021
NEFRA visited Roby Mill near Wigan today to run the working retriever assessments.
Many thanks to Sarah Marflow for her wonderful hospitality, she looked after us so well. Despite the rain we all had a lovely day.
Thank you to Chris Hewison and Lisa Mappin for judging the novice, with helpers Peter Griffin and Caroline Hewison.Thank you to Gill Griffin for judging the intermediate, with helpers Peter Griffin and David Foster.
Passes in the novice level were awarded to:
Anne Haley and Castlerock Return to Sender at Skybrook
Gill Griffin and Ravencrag Illusionist
Al Moore and Sachbash Prince Olly Moore
Garry Ellison and Ollersett Black Knight completed their third pass and were awarded their novice certificate.

In the intermediate level, two dogs were awarded passes:
Caroline Hewison and Casblaidd Island in the Sky
Sue Sinnott and Millola Handsome Man
Well done everyone and thank you all for coming on such a wet day! Details about the water training sessions at the same venue, for the pups and beginners who have booked on next week, will be sent out early next week.
Working Retriever Assessments – Garstang
NEFRA held the first Working Retriever Assessment of the year today. Grateful thanks to Simon Fitzherbert Brockholes for hosting at Garstang, a really good day!
Lisa Mappin and Caroline Hewison judged the novices this morning, and Gill Griffin judged the intermediate dogs this afternoon. Huge thank you to the helpers Simon, Alan and Peter for throwing dummies all day especially in the rain this morning!

Charlotte Smith and Castlerock First Glance at Whirleymere
Passes and rosettes in the novice levels were awarded to
Julie Matthews and Ollersett Black Diamond
Mags Brayfield and Contar Skeggles Water.
Two dogs passed their third stage and were awarded their novice certificates.
Well done to
Chris Hewison and Casblaidd Mirror Lake
Charlotte Smith and Castlerock First Glance at Whirleymere
In the intermediate level a pass and a rosette was awarded to
Chris Hewison and Casblaidd Mirror Lake.
Well done everyone! Hope you enjoyed the day!
The next assessment is at Roby Mill, Wigan on 7th August. Let me know if you would like to come.
Water Training Day – Roby Mill, Wigan
Beginners & Novice Dog/Novice Handlers , limited to 6 dogs am and 6 dogs pm
Contact Caroline Hewison