The breed stand in the gundog pavillion was hosted by Chris & Caroline Hewison and Steve and Kate Jubb where many visitors learnt about the breed and had a chance to meet their dogs.

by Gill Smitherman

I have always felt that it is important to preserve the ‘dual purpose’ ability of our breed and have always made some attempt to train my dogs; this has been more successful with some than others. Having passed the Show Gundog Working Certificate with Maisie (Ch Levelmoor Lanosa of Seaheart) in December 2007 I thought I would spend the next twelve months training for the FCRS Shooting Dog Certificate (SDC). The SDC is designed to assess the working ability of dog in the field and register those that are most likely to pass on the right inheritable characteristics to their progeny. Dogs are required to tenderly retrieve to hand, retrieve fur or feather, be steady and quiet whilst sitting in a line at a drive (to get an A they must be off the lead at all times and sit steadily without interference from the handler) Walk reasonably to heal, be able to hunt and pick game from open ground and cover, retrieve from water and be under control at all times.

For those of you that have seen Maisie at a show, you’re probably wondering why on earth I would think she could do this? After all at a show control is something she finds very difficult!! Maisie however is a bit of a Jeckyll and Hyde and is hardly recognisable as the same dog!!

So after 12 months of hard training we headed off to the Long Whatton Shoot managed by Gamekeeper Brian Twigger (Mr Dawn Hall to some of you!!) and with kind permission of Lord and Lady Crawshaw. As I arrived I met my fellow competitor, Casper Jonson with is young dog Sherlock (Vortex Tornado at Misticmaker) and we exercised the dogs before joining the beaters and picking up team for a much needed pre-shoot coffee. Judges Derek Capel and John Kahlow arrived and we headed off for the first drive, my stomach was churning and hands shaking, please Maisie don’t have one of your ‘doo’s’!! We lined up behind the guns, I went with John and Capser went with Derek at the other end of the drive, we were joined my Lord Crashaw and his two dogs and a couple of spectators!! In the distance we could hear the beaters and Maisie ears were about in the middle of her head eyes focused on the horizon. The first birds came into view and Maisie watched each one, head craning left and right to see where they landed, thankfully her bum stayed rooted to the floor!! The whistle blew and John instructed me to send my dog for a bird that had come down to our left, I sent Maisie and off she flew, picked a lovely cock bird and nicely back to had, Phew!! After picking a couple more birds we then walked towards the wood and along the hedge as the dogs hunted to find any un-picked birds.

After a couple more drives John and Derek took Casper and I off to test our dogs on the water, unfortunately it was frozen over and we were told we didn’t have to send the dogs in unless we wanted to, but as most Flatcoat owners know, Ice is not normally a deterrent for our breed and as it was not that thick both dogs obliged and passed the water test.

The final drive was a real test of steadiness, lined up across a filed we were again joined by Lord Crawshaw and his dogs, looking down the hill towards the gun and beaters, half way through the drive a hare appeared from behind the guns and slowly ran up the hill towards the dogs!! Maisie please stay was all that was going though my head!! But I need not have worried and all six dogs sat steadily and watched the cheeky hare run past along the line and up into the woods. With the rest of the shoots picking up team we swept the field, hedges and wood and then headed back to Whatton Hall.

The two judges had a quick chat and compared notes and that informed Casper and I that both dogs had passed and been awarded a grade A. I could have cried and must have had the biggest smile on my face. Maisie joins just a handful of Champions that have gained there SDC, the only other bitch being Helen Fox’s Wistosa Sings the Blues to Blacktoft. I am so proud of Maisie for demonstrating that she truly is a Dual Purpose dog and would encourage anyone to have a go, after all what have you got to loose?

Gill Smitherman and a very talented Maisie Moo

Judges report on the NEFRA Working Test 21.9.08 at Foremark

by David Field

On behalf of Peter Forster & myself this is a brief report about the test.

The tests were designed to be very similar to retrieves that would be encountered everyday in the shooting field. There were no tricks or ridiculously long retrieves, but we were looking for dogs that had a nose and could use its own initiative, but at the same time would take instructions and work with the handler when required.
The puppies, overall, were very pleasing and all showed a lot of natural ability, some however did have a tendency to go ‘self employed.’ A trait that did have a common thread throughout the day!!!

The top three dogs were very accomplished and on another day the placings could easily have been reversed. I do hope that they are able to push on and perform in novice tests next year. Three of the five awards were litter siblings.

The novice tests did seem to highlight an area which does require some work, namely for the dog to go where it is pointed and respond to the stop whistle, when required. A simple blind with a distraction did result in some failures and some poor scores.

On this test I watched some lovely dogs work really well, unfortunately they were no where near the retrieve.

My second test was a marked retrieve with dogs having to go down a bank and then pick the retrieve across another slope. The top dogs all did this well, but the test did require in most instances, the handler to react and use the whistle to help put the dog the right side of the wind. Many handlers failed to assist their dogs. The two top dogs were once again very smart and were certainly a credit to the breed. I believe the winning handler, until fairly recently had no knowledge of training dogs and this is her very first dog. I hope an inspiration to others to follow and keep working this breed. We had no hesitation in putting her through to open classes.

The open tests were of a similar vein, but we did expect the handlers to be more aware of the wind, and the necessity to help the dogs by getting them in the correct area to use their undoubted noses to the best advantage.

One of my retrieves was a blind, but placed in a position where the handler could see it. I had some real fun with this retrieve because virtually everyone tried to get their dogs straight towards the dummy, which was not easy, but was also likely to have the dog the wrong side of the wind. I had placed myself at the top of a slope, which gave views right across the undulating ground, which was just as well because most of the dogs covered Staffordshire & Derbyshire, before getting the right side of the wind for the dummy.

Once again the winning dog was very accomplished, but did benefit from a handler who used the whistle when required to help the dog.

It was a most enjoyable day and I really do hope that most of your members take the opportunities to work your breed, because it will be a shame if the breed is lost to its true origins as a working dog.

I do believe that if more handlers take the time and effort to increase their skills at working their dogs then there is still a competitive future for the breed in gundog work.

I am convinced that if the handlers do work their dogs they will also get far more enjoyment from the dog, and really enhance their relationship with their flatcoats.

Thank you for inviting us to judge, we had a very enjoyable day.

David Field judging with Peter Forster

RESULTS
Open test

1st Cherry Wood’s Cumberwood Cracker handled by Cherry.
2nd Mr & Mrs Ellison’s Blackflight Arrietta handled by Garry
3rd Prof & Mrs Bell’s Dutch Endeavour handled by Pat.
Cof M. Mr & Mrs Griffin’s Eskwinds Black Moss handled by Peter.

 Novice test

1st Gill Awty’s Rainbow Queen handled by Gill
2nd Mr & Mrs Hewison’s Casblaidd Hazy Daisy handled by Jo.
3rd Cherry Wood’s Cumberwood Clover handled by Cherry
CofM. Julie Matthew’s Astravia Saffron’s Spirit at Ollersett Handled by Garry

Puppy test

1st Mr & Mrs Hewison’s Casblaidd Little Archer handled by Jo
2nd Mr & Mrs Griffin’s Eskwinds Chaffinch handled by Gill
3rd Mr & Mrs Spark’s Lenyam Martin’s of Churchwood handled by Terry
CoM Mr & Mrs Aldred’s Eskwinds Chloes Boy handled by Keith
CoM Mr & Mrs Rees’ Eskwinds Chasing Moonbeams handled by Sandra

4th November 2007 mypetstop, Tingley
DOGS Mrs Elaine Whittaker (Falconcliffe) BITCHES Mr Jim Richardson (Darrochonna)
BIS Stibbe Willis’ Madison Wild Indigo JW

Judge’s critiques

14th October 2007
Riseholme, Lincoln – Gillian Stewart & Cherry Wood
by Kind Permission of Lincoln University Farms

1st – Whittaker’s Torwood Just in Case for Falconcliffe
2nd – Bell’s Dark Samurai
3rd – Jonsen’s Vortex Tornado at Misticmaker
4th – Showell’s Vortex Zephyr by Cleovine
COM – Winder’s Wingthors Charming Miss at Windstock
COM – Colson’s Ch Windyhollows Tumbling Ted JW

The cold game test on October 14″ went off very well though F/C entrants were poor in number again, perhaps because the shooting season had started and quite a few people were picking up the day before and felt 2 days out together was a litle much.
The day was ideal for working dogs being fine and dry with a very light breeze and the sugar beet not being too high.
The judges, Gillian Stewart & Cherry Wood were very pleased with the dogs work and felt there was a great improvement in general field work from previous years. The winner was Elaine Whittaker with Torwood Just in Case for Falconcliffe (Indigo Jim at Lathkill X Mabrian Bellara at Torwood), back on form after the lay off due to Elaine’s serious accident. She was only beaten by a lab entered NFC as it was an open dog, which means the Fc/s are well up to AV standard. 2nd was Pat Bell’s Dark Samurai 3rd Casper Jonson with Vortex Tornado at Misticmaker and 4th his brother Vortex Zephyr by Cleovine handled by David Showel.
2 COM’s were given to Colson’s Ch Windyhollows Tumbling Ted JW handled by Nicky and Jacki Winder handling her own Wingthor’s Charming Miss at Windstock.
After a late lunch those who wanted, could stay for a training session on the snipe, partridge and pigeon that were left and then take any unused birds home for further practice. In the afternoon, because a slightly different part of the field was used the dogs came across live rabbits, which proved a very interesting training session.

Gillian Stewart, one of the judges, writes:
Sunshine, a field of beet and good scenting conditions set the scene for the Novice Cold Game Test held at Riseholm Park Farms, Lincs on Sunday 14th Nov 07. Eight F/Cs and three Labradors, (non competitors) presented for the first round consisting of two marked retrieves on pigeons. Cherry Wood and myself had an easy time judging as dog, after dog went out with style and confidence and succeeded. Only one dog was lost through failure to pick game, however unsteady heel work gave a couple of competitors palpitations! For the second round, dogs were given one retrieve either a short blind, or a long remembered mark in front. Again the dogs made light of the task and the F/cs were a joy to watch when they struck scent and turned to find the retrieve. It was decided to divide the 3rd round into 2 parts with each dog competing individually. Heel work was assessed during a short walk in the sugar beet. This was followed by a shot acknowledging a pigeon that was thrown from behind a high hedge in an adjoining field. Dogs had to traverse the beet field, work through thick cover, cross a ditch and then work out of sight of the handler to find the bird. To the credit of both dogs and handlers everyone succeeded, but it was here that the eventual winner stamped her mark with a perfect retrieve.

Wagging Tails Winter 2007

NEFRA’s Open Show – 6th May 2007 – Woodford Community Centre, Stockport

Judges Dogs: Mr Ronnie Ross (Islstrom) Bitches: Mrs Jane Jones (Benvellyn)

BIS Griffiths’ Castlerock Magic Star
BPIS Danabie’s Glendaruel Going My Way
RBIS Townsend’s Springlindi Sullivan
BVIS Stevenson’s Steelriver Tradewinds

 

The Association held its 15th open show on 2nd November 2003 at Speedwell Rooms, Staveley, Chesterfield.. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to all those who achieved success in their classes.

JUDGES
DOGS Mrs Roz Townsend BITCHES Mr Joseph F Joller (Switzerland) REFEREE & JUNIOR HANDLING Mr David Bellamy

Best In Show was awarded to Barnett’s Steeplehouse Tess (REFEREE)
Reserve Best In Show went to Moor’s Clowbeck What a Cracker
Best Puppy went to Well’s Gilduffe Sinead
Best Veteran went to Barnett’s Steeplehouse Tess
Best Liver went to Colson’s Windyhollows Tumbling Ted

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Dogs

Minor Puppy 8 (1 Abs) – 1st Showell’s Yonsaff Rambler for Cleovine

Puppy 8 (2Abs) 1st Heath’s Eskwinds Best Kept Secret (BPD)

Junior 11 (5 Abs) 1st Coddington’s Bracsan Dancing Mystery

Special Yearling 10 (4 Abs) 1st Bellamy’s Lathkill Valid Vampire

Novice 10 (4 Abs) 1st Clark’s Stranfaer Liberator

Graduate 11 (3 Abs) 1st Coddington’s Harrendon Morse

Post Graduate 9 (2 Abs) 1st Burrough’s Elmstock Midnight Legend at Rokaness

Limit 6 (1 Abs) 1st  Shelley’s Castlerock Scandale Beck

Open 9 (1 Abs) 1st Moor’s Clowbeck What a Cracker (BD)

Veteran 6 (2 Abs) 1st Goodman’s Riversflight Neath of Beanit (RBD)

Special Liver 2 1st Colson’s Windyhollows Tumbling Ted (BLIS)

Bitches

Minor Puppy 8 (2 Abs) – 1st Goodman’s Rainesgift Serendipity at Beanit

Puppy 9 (2 Abs) 1st Wells’ Gilduffe Sinead (BP)

Junior 12 1st Fox’s Blacktoft Jazz After Dark

Special Yearling 13 (1 Abs) 1st Fox’s Blacktoft Jazz After Dark

Novice 12 (1 Abs) 1st Chapman’s Walnutfarm Blackberry

Graduate 12 (1 Abs) 1st Brook’s Gayplume Classic Design at Castlerock

Post Graduate  8 (2 Abs) 1st Coleman’s Shiredale Persusion

Limit 10 (5 Abs) 1st Watson’s Rainy Days and Sunday

Open 10 (2 Abs) 1st Egginton’s Pajanbeck Born Free (RBB)

Veteran 14 (3 Abs) 1st Barnett’s Steeplehouse Tess (BV BB BIS)

Special Liver 2 1st Forster’s Wizardwood Tawny Tweed

Our autumn working test was held at Farnsfield, Notts.  The judges were John Greaves (Open & Novice) and Jackie Winder (Special Puppy & Novice).

The day was fine and the rain that had been promised did not arrive. Unfortunately the water we were going to use had been taken over by the ducks (400 of them) so a stream caused a great diversion as the retrieves were all over the water and many dogs felt a trip up and down thew pleasantly rippling water a much more exciting option.  Around lunchtime, in this forestry commission land, a small fire broke out a few miles away in the tree tops, this showered us with black bits of fir tree to enliven everyone’s sandwiches!

Denise

Special Puppy

1st Garry Ellison’s Blackflight Arrietta
2nd Helen Fox’s Blacktoft Imagination
3rd Jo Montandon Waverton Chianti
4th Casper Jonsen’s Casblaidd Gipsey Briar

Novice (26 entries)

1st Caroline Hewison’s Spenbeck Circle of Life
2nd Ann Brook’s Culmquill It’s a Lovely Day
3rd Julie Matthews’ Eskmill Nymph
4th Roz Townsend’s Rainesgift Reiver

Open (12 entries)

1st Dr Diane Heywood’s Sumaha Shadow Dancer at Houndswood
2nd Cherry Wood’s Soft Breeze
3rd Cherry Wood’s Cumberwood Cracker
4th Fran Robb’s Meldorfer Mudlark