NEFRA Northern England Flatcoated Retriever Association

Held at Ribble Bank Field Sports, Hesketh Bank
With kind permission of Sam Slinger.
Judges Alan Fryer (A Panel), Steve Burns and Caroline Hewison

Puppy (2 entries)
COM Rachel Holt and Brookeoneden Chestnut
COM Vicky Sullivan and Autumnal Flame over Wyrebeck

Novice Dog/Novice Handler (4 entries)
1st Sue Sinnott and Millola Handsome Man
2nd Evelyn Lee and Innisbeck Keep it a Secret
3rd Vicky Sullivan and Rocknroll Star by Wyrebeck

Novice (12 entries, 2 abs)
2nd Julie Matthews and Ollerset Shining Nymph

Open (8 entries)
1st Gill Awty and Venetian Red at Maddistream
3rd Pat Bell and Gowran Hesperis at Pallingforth
COM Rachel Holt and Croftcloses Lucrative Boy
COM Andy Sweeney and Norfolkflyers Rosie’s Thorn at Wolfthistle

Despite a very wet start, the weather improved! Thanks to hosts, judges and especially all the helpers for making the day possible.

At the 22nd Annual General Meeting of the Northern England Flatcoated Retriever Association the following announcements were made:

Officials and committee members were re-elected / elected as on the ‘Contact NEFRA‘ page.

The Code of Ethics was modified: details in this link.

Honorary life membership was bestowed on Mrs Sheena Wells following her recent stepping down from long-standing post on the NEFRA committee due to ill health.

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Annual awards were presented as follows:

President’s Cup – Sandra Stevenson’s Steelriver Sun Kissed JW

2nd Strudwick’s ShCh Downstream Fair And Square for Burpham
3rd Laird’s ShCh Branchalwood Tamdhu of Daicheil JW

Ceilidh Cup – Wendy Battison’s Donascimento Bebeto

Inca Trophy – Jane Hedges’ Blacktoft Quickstep of Satinbaze

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PLEASE REMEMBER THAT MEMBERS SUBSCRIPTIONS NOT RECEIVED BY 30TH APRIL 2017 WILL HAVE THEIR MEMBERSHIP TERMINATED.

Well done to the flatcoat team for bringing home the trophy again for winning the Minor Breeds team competition today. The event was hosted by the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers near Wincanton in Somerset, against the Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, the Curlycoat Retrievers, and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

The Flatcoat team were Helen Ford with Percuil Nuvolari Tazio, Steve Ashby with Tunnelwood Phantom, and Charlotte Wear with Keveral Hen Harrier. Steve Ashby also won the Top Dog award. Well done team!

A walked-up training day was held today near to Sibbertoft, MARKET HARBOROUGH.

Thank you to everyone who came along today – special thanks to our hosts Jenny and Richard Jones and family for inviting us along, and for their truly wonderful hospitality in their home and on their land.

This was all very much appreciated by all who attended such and a lovely venue for training our dogs. As ever, a big thank you to Malcolm Peacock and Garry Ellison for taking the training, and also to Malcolm Awty and Chris Hewison for throwing the dummies for us. We hope you all had a good day.

There should be some photos of the day on their way from Emily Bibb who braved the rain with her camera – thanks go to Emily for taking these.

 

Well done everyone who came along to NEFRA’s Kennel Club Working Gundog Certificate day on 19th February 2017.

Held at Intake Head, Delph, Oldham by kind permission of Jean Buckley, and thank you to our assessors Steve Crookes and Philip Smithies. Thank you to Malcolm, Chris and Jeanette for throwing dummies, and thank you to Val as always for superb catering in the mud and rain.

The successful dogs were:

Andrew Baker with Saffronlyn Swift (Labrador)
Evelyn Lee with Garshake Eric at Innisbeck (Labrador)
Stephanie Hurstfield with Stac Polly (FCR)
Simon Fitzherbert Brockholes with Mosstarn Maiden (FCR)
David Bellamy with Flatcharm Chelsea Whopper (FCR)
Peter Griffin with Eskwinds Ebony Jay (FCR)
Gill Awty with Venetian Red at Maddistream (FCR)
Garry Ellison with Ollerset Sparkling Nymph (FCR)
Steve Burns with Eiderbay Fastnet at Jollybrow (Labrador)
Rob Ashcroft with Keepersway Adele (FCR)
Jenny Jones with Yonsaff Summer Sky (FCR)
Wendy Battison with Donascimento Ramires (FCR)
Lewis Holton with Castlerock First Angel (FCR)
Pat Bell with Artistryn York (Labrador)

Well done everyone and thanks for taking part.

At the NEFRA Annual General Meeting we award three perpetual trophies to members.

These are the President’s Cup – for achievements in the show ring,
the Ceilidh Cup – for achievements in the working field and
the Inca Trophy – for achievements in agility, obedience, flyball, working trials and heelwork to music.

The President’s Cup is calculated by the association based on championship show wins but the other two awards need members to calculate their points from the previous 12 months.

Please download the Inca Trophy and Ceilidh Cup claim forms and return them to NEFRA by the end of February.

A training day was held on 29th January in the Lake District.

NEFRA members were so grateful for the kind hospitality offered by the Curtis family at their South Cumbria home. The damp start early on cleared to reveal some beautiful scenery surrounding the land we had been offered to train our dogs.

This is the first time the Association has been invited to this land – which offers so much scope for setting up exercises for gundog training. Not only would we lie to thank the Curtis family for allowing us on their land all day, but also thank Garry Ellison, Gill Griffin and Sandra Rees for their help in offering training advice for the Novice and Beginner handlers.

We have planned to have some more of these days catered towards puppies and beginners in different venues around the North. It was lovely to see lots of new people having a go working their dogs.

Liz is the Flatcoated Retriever Society’s Breed Health Co-ordinator.  She has just been awarded the Kennel Club Breed Health Co-ordinator of the Year from a shortlist announced earlier this Autumn.

NEFRA would like to pass on congratulations to Liz and thank her for the work she does for the good of the health of our wonderful breed.

Read more here

Jane Jones, our referee at the Championship Show on Sunday, has written a very complimentary letter to our committee:

I write to thank you and your show committee for inviting me to be referee at your Championship show on Sunday 6th November, and for your superb hospitality.
I enjoyed the day immensely, and the little judging I did, and I would like to congratulate you and the whole committee on running such a well organised show. I know how much hard work is involved in making sure everything runs smoothly, no easy task, and I felt that there was a lovely atmosphere throughout the day.

My critique is attached for your records

Kind regards
Jane

Read the report here

This year’s NEFRA Championship show was held on 6th November 2016 at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke-on-Trent.

Dogs were judged by Dr R Barbour, who chose Kelly Holland’s ShCh Brightmoor Caught in the Act at Flatcharm (Imp) as winner of the Kennel Club Challenge Certificate (Dog). ‘Douglas’ was subsequently awarded Best in Show by both judges together.

Bitches were judged by Miss L E Jones, who selected Helen Fox’s Blacktoft Burlesque JW as winner of the Kennel Club Challenge Certificate (Bitch).

Major Award winners are listed below

BEST IN SHOW Holland Miss K L ShCh BRIGHTMOOR CAUGHT IN THE ACT AT FLATCHARM (IMP)
RESERVE BEST IN SHOW Fox Mrs H M Blacktoft Burlesque JW
BEST OPPOSITE SEX Fox Mrs H M Blacktoft Burlesque JW
BEST PUPPY IN SHOW Gale Mrs T & Miss C Willowswind Nette Lark
BEST PUPPY DOG Strudwick Mr R & Mrs L M Burpham Million Love Songs
BEST PUPPY BITCH Gale Mrs T & Miss C Willowswind Nette Lark

BEST VETERAN IN SHOW Goldberg & Keight Mrs V & Ms L ShCh Ballyriver Band of Gold
BEST VETERAN DOG Brook Mrs E A Culmquill Makin’  Whoopee
BEST VETERAN BITCH Goldberg & Keight Mrs V & Ms L ShCh Ballyriver Band of Gold
DOG CC Holland Miss K L ShCh BRIGHTMOOR CAUGHT IN THE ACT AT FLATCHARM (IMP)
RESERVE DOG CC Strudwick Mrs L M DOWNSTREAM FAIR AND SQUARE FOR BURPHAM JW ShCM
BITCH CC Fox Mrs H M Blacktoft Burlesque JW
RESERVE BITCH CC Grifffiths  Mr R E & Mrs G Castlerock Cosmic Hattie
BEST LIVER IN SHOW Lutner Mr R F & Miss K M Telurn Better Believe It
BEST LIVER DOG Jacobs & Holmes, Mesdames G & J Charming Melvin Oasis Of Peace (Imp Cz) JW
BEST LIVER BITCH Lutner Mr R F & Miss K M Telurn Better Believe It

For all other results follow this link
View a full set of photos on Caroline Hewison’s Facebook album by following this link

Any errors / omissions please email chris_hewison@yahoo.co.uk

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Referee’s Report:

JUNIOR HANDLING
6-11 years

1 Summer Berrisford – This young handler has a very good rapport with her dog, and showed her confidently. She showed her dog’s teeth correctly, and followed the instructions I gave her very carefully when asked to move her. Good potential for the future.

11-16 years – Two very competent young handlers, and it was a very difficult decision to split them, both showing great potential for the future. I will watch their progress with interest.

1 Georgina Mellor – Presented her dog skilfully at all times. Stood her dog well, and showed the teeth correctly. She listened carefully to instructions, watched me at all times and moved her dog with precision and at the right speed. Pleased to award her Best Junior Handler.

2 Meaylee Lewis – A very close decision for me as this young handler also performed very well. She was attentive to her dog at all times, and to me also. Showed dentition correctly, and demonstrated good empathy with her dog. Just not quite as neat as 1 when moving her dog.

BEST VETERAN IN SHOW

I was called in to referee as the bitch judge had handled the Best Veteran Dog recently. This was a close decision as they are both very good examples of our breed, and both were presented in excellent fit condition.

I awarded BVIS to the bitch, Mrs V Goldberg and Ms L Knight’s Sh Ch Ballyriver Band of Gold.
A bitch of correct size and type, presenting a balanced profile when standing. She has a lovely feminine head and dark eye which gives that soft expression. Good reach of neck, with well laid back shoulder and good length to upper arm, an excellent front. Level topline, strong rear quarters with moderate bend of stifle, and quality bone. However it was her movement that was the deciding factor for me. She moved straight and true both going away and coming towards me, with good profile movement.

Jane Jones

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