NEFRA are hosting a full-day training day at Burton Salmon, kindly hosted by David Foster with Trainers Jim Christen & Samantha Whyte.
This will be a full day of tailored training, focusing on whatever you and your dog need to help progress your work.
The day will take place on a weekend in May, so keep your eyes peeled, the date will be announced very soon.
Roby Mill, The Lake House, Roby Mill, WN8 0QT
Enter online here.
This is a set of qualifications specifically for NEFRA members, to give them an idea of the ability of dogs who have these qualifications and also help them work towards an ideal working dog.
They are designed to begin at the beginning with very easy tests on dummies (Novice), progressing through to Intermediate with the possibility of extending the scheme to more advanced levels in the future.
The primary purpose of a retriever is to deliver the game to hand as quickly as possible in a pleasing obedient manner; whether a dog accomplishes its primary purpose is determined by its possession of a unique set of both natural abilities and abilities acquired through training.
The purpose of the tests is to test NEFRA flatcoats in order to determine their suitability and ability as shooting companions and basic ‘picking-up dogs’. A judge will therefore score the dogs on their:
From the standpoint of the breeder, natural abilities are of greater importance, while abilities acquired through training are of relatively less importance.
A judge must keep in mind that he is evaluating numerically a defined set of abilities and not judging a dog in relation to the performance aginst other dogs. A dog’s ability is scored against a set standard.
The initial judging system was modified so that in order to gain their certificate a dog should have demonstrated that it has been trained to a sufficient standard to perform well in a Novice Working Test whilst retaining its purpose of encouraging novice handlers to achieve success.
The scoring system will award points out of a maximum of 20 for each exercise as in a KC Working Test and novice judges are encouraged to read the Kennel Club ‘J’ regulations and these guidance notes to help them understand which attributes they should be looking for.
Test entrants will receive a Pass or a Fail. The cut-off will be agreed by the judges before the start of the judging
This test can only be taken once per session but you may attend as many sessions as you like in order to attain a pass.
The qualification of Novice Working Retriever Certificate will be awarded to a dog who has qualified in three set tests. Each of the first two tests gain the dog a rosette and the third one gains the certificate stating the qualification. The dog will then move onto the intermediate working retriever certificate.
Members are warmly invited to attend the NEFRA Annual General Meeting, to be held in Fritchley, Derbyshire, on Sunday 22 March 2026.
This is an excellent opportunity to come along, support the Association, and join us in congratulating the winners of our Annual Awards. Light refreshments will be available.
To assist with planning, we would be grateful if members could let us know whether they intend to attend.
All members should have received a formal invitation with their copy of Wagging Tails. If you have not received your newsletter, please contact us as soon as possible.
A reminder that points for the Annual Awards should be submitted without delay, as the closing date is fast approaching.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Please find below the details of the NEFRA Spring Working Test 2026. Entries are now open. In addition to flatcoated retrievers, we are delighted this year to welcome all eligible retrieving breeds.
Enter Online here.
Held on 2nd November 2025 at: Biddulph Leisure Centre, Thames Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, ST8 9HL
Judge (Dogs) Miss J Calverley (Gwenadillo)
Judge (Bitches) Mrs S Tagg (Oiyou)
Referee and Judge for Special Members Stakes, Baby Puppy Classes and Brace – Mrs M Romeo-Dieste (Hopevalley).
Judge’s Critiques:
| Best In Show | Thurgood & Holmes’ Finhamspride Clio |
| Reserve Best In Show Best Opposite Sex Best Liver in Show | Wild’s Bitcon Alliance with Bluewater (AI) JW Wild’s Bitcon Alliance with Bluewater (AI) JW Sullivan’s Wyrebeck Shockwave |
| Best Puppy in Show | Walker & Roberts Seaheart Frida at Gloi JW |
| Best Veteran in Show | Whitaker’s Sh Ch Evening Mist Black Brianta (Imp Cze) |
| Best Special Working in Show | Peers’ Tweedisle Lindores |
| Best Baby Puppy | Whitaker’s Touch of Power Black Brianta (Imp Cze) NAF TAF |
| Dog Challenge Certificate | Wild’s Bitcon Alliance with Bluewater (AI) JW |
| Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate | Mullins’ Everblack Booze Cruise at Dexanluc |
| Bitch Challenge Certificate | Thurgood & Holmes’ Finhamspride Clio |
| Reserve Bitch Challenge Certificate | Prior’s Blacktoft Avelino at Finnashember |
| Best Puppy Dog | Mullins’ Seaheart Fabian at Dexanluc |
| Best Veteran Dog | Joyce’ Stranfaer Get over It JW |
| Best Liver Dog | Sullivan’s Wyrebeck Shockwave |
| Best Special Working Dog | Hewison’s Casblaidd Island in The Sky SGWC KCWGC VW |
| Best Puppy Bitch | Walker & Roberts Seaheart Frida at Gloi JW |
| Best Veteran Bitch | Whitker’s Sh Ch Evening Mist Black Brianta (Imp Cze) |
| Best Liver Bitch | Bellamy’s Moonstruck I’m On Fire with Moontorn (Imp Swe) |
| Best Special Working Bitch | Peers’ Tweedisle Lindores |
Full results: https://www.fossedata.co.uk/show-results/northern-england-flatcoated-retriever-association-november-2025.aspx
Photo collection courtesy of Harry Vasey: to follow
🐾 Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme – Bronze, Silver & Gold Testing 🐾
📍 Location: Ambergate, Derbyshire
📅 Date: Friday, 11th October 2025
🕤 Time: Meet at 9:30 AM for a 10:00 AM start
⏰ Gold level testing will not begin before 12:00 PM
We will be running Bronze, Silver, and Gold level tests on the day.
£5 per dog – one test per dog only.
Important Notes:
💳 Payment Instructions:
Please pay £5 per dog via PayPal using the following link:
🔗 PayPal.me/NEFRAworkingsub
We look forward to seeing you and your well-trained dogs there!
Enter using this link.
Gundog Training Day – 21st September at Roan Lodge, Buxton, Quarnford by kind permission of Ms Lesley Morgan.
We’re excited to invite you to a Gundog Training Day on Sunday, 21st September at Roan Lodge, Buxton, with experienced trainer Steve Burns.
A big thank you to Lesley for kindly hosting us at Roan Lodge!
This event is a great opportunity to fine-tune your dog’s skills just a week before our Autumn Test. Whether you’re preparing for the test or simply want to see how your dog is progressing, we’d love to see you there.
Come along for a great day of training and camaraderie!
Enter using this link.
Please complete the form together with a cheque (payable to NEFRA) to:
POST: Ms Anne Haley, 54 Knowsley Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 8AP
or EMAIL: NEFRAworkingsub@gmail.com with payment via paypal.me/NEFRAworkingsub
(NB: please do not support the PayPal payment with your credit card – NEFRA would be charged – Select Family & Friends payment option) £15
Cancellation of Autumn Test, 28th September
It is with real disappointment that we announce the cancellation of our Autumn Test on 28th September, due to a lack of entries. This decision has not been made lightly, and it’s been incredibly difficult for all involved.
I, Charlotte Simons, your Working Secretary, am personally very saddened that we’ve had to cancel this event due to such low interest. We had introduced several new elements this year, including a Meet the Judges feature with photos and information, and even arranged a training session just 7 days before the test, all based on feedback from flatcoat owners about what they want from a working test and from their club.
Despite these efforts, the support simply wasn’t there, and I am disappointed it has come to this.
My sincere thanks go to:
– Our judges, who had generously given up their time.
– The landowners at Redhall Farm, for allowing us to secure this brilliant venue months ago.
– Anne and Sonya, for all their hard work in planning and organising these tests, even when it’s clear they’re not being supported as they should be.
– The NEFRA sub-committee, for the effort that went into trying to make this event a success.
We do still hope to run our Spring Test next year, but it’s clear that something needs to change. Entry numbers for working flatcoats have become too low to sustain these events as they currently stand.
Thank you again to those who continue to support us, your encouragement means a lot. Refunds will be processed in due course.
Charlotte Simons
Working Secretary, NEFRA
Schedule found here.
Don’t Forget Northern England Flatcoated Retriever Association (NEFRA) does have a litter secretary whom can be contacted to help share your litter information, should you feel that the help could ensure your babies find the right homes.
And obviously if you are after a puppy, the same details apply.
Contact Vanessa Burroughs on
01283 814796
or e-mail her on
v.burroughs@btinternet.com
NEFRA Hosts Kennel Club Bronze Good Citizen Test in Knutsford
On 24th August, NEFRA successfully hosted a Kennel Club Bronze Good Citizen Dog Scheme in Knutsford, Cheshire. A huge thank you to Charlotte Simons for the generous use of her field and to Chris Hewison for kindly assessing the dogs on the day.
Congratulations to all who took part, especially our seven successful handlers and their dogs:
Well done to everyone involved!
