| Archive for The Brittany Forum For all friends of the versatile Brittany |
| Victoria |
Gundog Weekend, BuckinghamshireCan someone please explain what the advertisement for this weekend means by ...retrieves, scurries and pick-ups. |
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| Annie as admin |
Where did you see the ad, Victoria?
A Scurry is a speed competition to retrieve dummies. Sometimes there are physical barriers like straw bales etc. Fastest dog wins. Our Gigi used to win these all the time, she was a retrieveaholic. Regularly came back with hedghogs held by a foot poor things - and you try receiving one of those to hand 
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| Victoria |
Thank you Annie. Can I trouble you for a bit more information on the scurries...what distance would the retrieve be and how would the obstacles be placed. Your dog would be timed??? The advertisement is in The Field April 2007 issue; last year it was held over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of May.
www.purina-beta.co.uk Why I ask is that I want to or at least ponder organising a similar event 
No thank you, I do not want to catch a hedgehog!!! 
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| Annie as admin |
Don't worry, you don't send them for hedgehogs in a scurry. They are usually run as fundraising charity side events during a main event such as a Game Fair, Country Show, Working Test etc and are dead easy to st up. All you need is someone to take the cash and hand out a running ticket, also a stop watch, a reliable and authoratative person to timekeep(competitors will argue about their dogs' time), a piece of tape for the start line, a couple of dummy throwers and some dummies(competitors can bring their own if they want), and a couple of hand clappers and shouters (kids will do) to start every one else off in case they feel reserved - it's much more fun that way. You don't need obstacles, but if you do it's more interesting - they can be fairly easy to set up - a few bales of straw - different sizes and made into tunnels as well as jumps, low jumps( simple ones of a couple of plant pots and a garden cane), some brushwood etc for hiding dummies. You can have different distances from just a few yards for puppy, more for novice and some cover, and difficult courses for more experienced dogs (hidden ones, splits and blinds for these if you like) They are great fun, very popular, and draw a huge audience as friends and family will cheer their favourite on. You can have a small trophy and prize for the best time which is why they need tickets - to write on the dog's times. They can have multiple attempts - they just pay for every go.
Go for it, Victoria - you'll have good fun too! Annie Here is the description of the Purina one for everyone else. Spectator Events Scurries, Pick-ups and much more The scurries and pick-up competitions let dogs have some real fun just by doing what they do naturally – and there were some great prizes up for grabs open to all-comers, plenty of you came along and joined in. This year, the Water Test was back by popular demand, and the agility circuit, run by the Gundog Agility Team, also proved extremely popular. Any dog could have a go for £2 and over £200 was raised for the Canine Partners charity. |
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| johnhod |
But they're not running the event this year, lots of speculation as to why but there is general agreement that the week-end was just not making money. | ||
| Annie as admin |
Says on the website they are considering options to put it on next year though
viz
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| Victoria |
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANNIE Sounds like fun!! The BIGGEST problem I am having is finding a wretched venue...the one that would be ideal; has a good sized pond for water retrieve; is about 50 miles from the nearest town!! Dang! I can get sponsorship from a couple of the local hunting and fishing outlets; am confident that the local gundog clubs (trial and show) would come on board. But a venue??????!!!!!!!! The local showgrounds would be great but they are SO GREEDY and would want over $2000 for the weekend; they wanted $1800 for us to hold our local dairy goat show there...unbelievable. I am so keen to do this...
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| Annie as admin |
Remember, unless you have a large number of dogs a scurry on it's own wouldn't be very interesting. How about a mini game fair - invite food companies, horsey people, gun people, ferret people, country clothing firms etc and ask for fees for their stalls to offset the cots of the ground. Get a gundog display going too, and maybe some clay pigeon shooting? | ||
| Victoria |
Yes, I had thought of the 'sports shops' and food people and I had thought I would invite the show people as well...such as the lady with the Spinone puppy etc! We've also got a couple of pheasant breeders who might be interested in attending. We've got locals with the Irish Water, Flatcoats, Chessies. Would need to check with the authorities re the clay bird shoot. It would certainly need a lot of organising; but you only need the idea and a few people to share the vision and away you go...  !!!!!
How could it be worked without water; you really cannot have a gundog demonstration without a spaniel/labby/Breton water retrieve?? (as an aside, Dionee is wicked in the water; I freak every time Bryan takes her to the river but he assures me (after I have upped his insurance!!! cos I WILL murder him if anything happens to my gorgeous girl) that she is really 'on to it' and is a great swimmer!)...still cannot think of a suitable venue 
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| Annie as admin |
Know any kids with a very large paddling pool - or neighbours with a swimming pool 
If you have water nearby where Dionnee swims is there not a local venue that borders this? |
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| Victoria |
Do you think a river would be suitable?!! If it would be suitable I can think of a few venues which I could go and have a look  And ones that a re close to our twin towns.
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| Ghilliegumdrop |
Depends how deep and how strong the current is Victoria....I have visions of the dogs floating down river after the dummy 
How about a fun dog show as well  You could have classes for crossbreeds and pedigrees....usually 4 pedigree and as many as you can think up for the others 
Best 6 legs Waggiest tail Best sausage eater Best condition Dog most like it's owner etc etc |
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| Victoria |
EXCELLENT IDEAS!!!!! I think I have found a venue!!! Have also been able to find a couple of guys who make sticks and leatherwork! They are keen to attend...You can see how it could just grow and grow!!! Thanks heaps for your input...so appreciate your ideas
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| Annie as admin |
Well all we ask is some photos of the event! Good luck and I hope you enjoy it. Do you have a date in mind yet?
Annie |
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| Victoria |
Your June is our December so probably in November; just have to check show dates/trials etc so that it doesnt clash. And will also have to make sure the venue will be available then. Will keep you updated!!!!
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| Annie as admin |
You'll need a name for it - any ideas? | ||
| Victoria |
Did think of Gundog Sunday but nothing else is forthcoming yet!!!! | ||