Britmania
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Easter weekend = Jubilee Field trial ChampsEaster weekend has been the 75th Jubilee celebrations for the Canterbury Gundog Club - our local club. we have been members of the club since the early 1980's.
For us, the one to win was the Pointer & Setter championship,and all of the trials had the status of National trials (ie 2 challenge points were awarded to the winners in each championship category).
I am very proud to be able to say the Pointer & Setter championship was won by non other than, SPICE. She blitzed the rest of the field with a 12 point margin between her and second place. Barry was thrilled to bits and commented that it was one of the best trials Spice has ever done.
Sophie, despite having major problems again with the trap work, was placed 4th. It did not help that she found her first bird from at least 50 metres away and the judge asked for her to be "roaded in" (ie taken in closer). I cringed, knowing full well it is something she had not yet experienced, so knew she was in trouble. To her credit, she was able to do it reasonably well first time, but was still too far out - by the time she had been asked to move up three times, her concentration was gone and
when the WHITE pigeon flew, it was all on for a chase.
The official result is as follows:
21 March 2008 Canterbury Gundog Club 75th Jubilee Trial
Pointer & Setter Championship - Judge: Mr K.May (NZ)
8 Entries (1 scr 7 ran)
1st - Ch & FTCh Leaningrock Lanark Spice QC (Hill) - 2 CC's awarded
2nd - GWP
3rd - HV
4th - Ch Holmbrook Sophie Neveu (Hill)
5th - HV
Unfortunately, a GSP and Brittany, Leaningrock Lairg Castle (Arnold) did not complete the course.
We also got a mention from the judge in his comments at the prizegiving. He told his audience that he was in awe of the ability of the Brittany's. He said that for their size, they were great competitors and had the stamina to go and go and go throughout the course! He singled out Spice as an amazing little dog he would love to shoot over and Sophie as having tremendous talent that when harnessed will make her very competitive!
Needless to say, Barry and I were delighted.
During the evening, a slide show ran, featuring photos of the gundog trials over the years. One of the pictures had everyone guessing. It was of a GSP with several trophies, being held by a lady with curly hair. Eventually someone realised it was me with our GSP Sheik - some 18 years ago (when the fashion was for Farah Fawcett permed curls)!!!!!!!!
We certainly had a great weekend of celebration, reminiscing and catching up with friends from out-of-town, but Barry and I will remember it most for the weekend the Brittany's came of age and at last got public recognition of how awesome they are in the field!
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johnhod
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Wow!! Congratulations
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Victoria
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Congratulations, Chris and Barry. It is about time a judge commented on how great the Breton is. Wonderful that you are both recognised like that too. GO HOLMBROOK GO...
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Britmania
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Thank you John and Victoria.
I also must mention a very nice "touch" that also happened on the night of the presentations.
Last year, Jan aka Ghilliegumdrop, sent us a lovely picture of a spaniel she had done and asked us to present it at a trial some time.
We decided the Jubilee trial was a great place for it and had it framed professionally. We decided to award it to the Spaniel that scored the highest aggregate points in the minor trials (ie the Puppy, Novice and Limit classes -where the dog completes both a run over water and over land). This meant quite a few spaniels would be eligible for it.
The picture was awarded to Pat O'Connor, from Tauranga (in the North Island), whose English Springer Spaniel won the Novice trial.
After the official bit was over, Pat came over to us and asked that we pass on his special thanks to Jan for the picture , as his wife is ill with cancer and will be thrilled to bits to get a special suprise on top of their dogs win.
So many thanks for your donation Jan, your picture has gone to a new home where it is very much going to be enjoyed and admired.
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