Minor Breeds Test 2014
In April three of our members were selected to run in the annual Minor Breeds Test (this year hosted by NEFRA at Codsall Wood, near Wolverhampton). This event was for three dogs of each of the following breeds: Irish Water Spaniels, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Curly-coated Retrievers and Flatcoats.
Congratulations go to our team who were the overall first prize winners, the team members being Garry Ellison, Gill & Malcolm Awty.
Top Dog on the day was a Chesaeake Bay Retriever handled by Mary Murray all the way from Ireland.
Photos from the event on the Working Line Images website
Our winning team
Minor Breeds Test 2011
Game Fair Belvoir 2009
NEFRA members help run gundog events at the CLA Game Fair
The CLA thanked NEFRA members for helping run their gundog events at the recent game fair. Special thanks go to Cherry Wood for her organisation at this event.
photos and report by Cherry Wood
The Game Fair 2009 was held at Belvoir Castle and NEFRA was invited to provide stewards for a new working test to be held on Friday July 24th.
Some of you may have heard of Joan Hayes whose father, Edgar Winter started the Staindrop prefix 80yrs ago, and she wished to honour this by presenting a Challenge Trophy.
This test is an invitation team event consisting of 1 retriever, 1 spaniel and an HPR. Because of the uniqueness of this test, putting it together was a challenge in itself.
Initially I was only required to find stewards, but soon got involved in setting the tests. As retriever folks it soon became apparent we needed help with spaniel work and especially the HPR’s
After a lot of hard work by the main organisers and myself the day went very well, the judges were very helpful and our NEFRA stewards in their special shirts did an excellent job helping to make the day a huge success.
We all enjoyed this event so much it was suggested that NEFRA could put a team together for next year.Although there were no Flatcoats in this test there were a few in the Euro Challenge held on the same day, and also the Saturday and Sunday mornings. At both these events a flatcoat won best individual in the minor breeds.
There was a lovely little liver 2yr old bitch in the demonstrating team for Hearing Dogs. Her heel work was a joy to watch! Yes folks ‘flatties’ can walk to heel!
I look forward to seeing some of you having a go at working your dogs. Till then have fun whatever you do with your Flatcoats.
Four Way Match 2014
In April 2014 NEFRA members travelled up the M6 to Whittington, Lancashire in the Lune valley to compete in the annual Four-way Match with teams of six dogs from each of the following clubs: Pennine Training Area, Pilling Moss Gundog Club, Burns & Becks Gundog Club and NEFRA.
NEFRA members selected for this team were Andrew Sweeney (4th placed puppy), Keith Aldred (2nd placed puppy), Chris Hewison, Rachel Holt, Peter Griffin and Garry Ellison. Pilling Moss hosted the event and took the award for best team on the day. NEFRA are due to host the event in 2015.
Four Way Match 2011
Four Way Match 2010
In a four-way match against three other local clubs the NEFRA team succeeded in winning third prize overall. We would like to thank Pilling Moss Gundog Club for hosting the event which was held at the Abbeystead Estate. NEFRA are to host it in 2011
Inter Area Final 2014
Flatcoated Retriever Inter-Area Team event – June 2014
The NEFRA team competed in the Inter Area Team Challenge at a venue near Cheltenham. They had a good day and were second overall, with nine teams taking part.
The team were Julie Matthews with Ollerset Shining Nymph (and Top Puppy overall)
Rachel Holt running Croftcloses Lucrative Boy and Gill Griffin running Eskwinds Drake (both novice dogs) and Caroline Hewison with Maddistream Indigo Jack at Casblaidd (open)
Well done team on an excellent result
Thanks to organisers, judges and helpers for a good day.
KC Working Gundog Certificate Day 2014
On February 23rd 2014 NEFRA hosted a KCWGC day at Intake Head by kind permission of Jean Buckley. Huge thank you to our judges Mr Steve Crookes and Mr Philip Smithies for assessing all the dogs. Thank you to all who very kindly came to help. Even the weather was better than forecast. The successful handlers and dogs are listed below:

Mrs Caroline Hewison Mrs Val Orme Mrs Rachel Holt Mrs Wendy Battison Mr Garry Ellison Mrs Jeanette Findlow Mr Jamie Lee Miss Julie Matthews Mrs Pat M Bell Mrs Gill Griffin Mr Ken Rees Mrs S J Wells Mr Peter Griffin Mr Keith Aldred | Venus in Transit over Casblaidd Elmstock Thyme To Dream Croftcloses Lucrative Boy… Donascimento Bebeto Ollerset Rainbow Roughyeds Echo Elsie (Curly Coated Retriever) Aphrodite Love In A Mist over Innisbeck (Labrador) Ollerset Shining Nymph Gowran Hesperis at Pallingforth Eskwinds Drake Eskwinds Chasing Moonbeams Ir Sh Ch Gilduffe Ceili Eskwinds Chaffinch Eskwinds Dare to Dream |
Hope Show 2009
NEFRA Members in successful team display at Hope Show, Derbyshire on Bank Holiday Monday
Eight NEFRA members put their dogs through their paces at the annual Hope Show organised by U.R.C. (North Midland Area). Our ‘Team Black Flatcoats’ won 4th and Livers were 6th.