KC GUNDOG WORKING CERTIFICATE
Judges:
MR Jack Iliffe KC (2497) - A panel Judge
Mr Mick Cleverley MBIPDT
List of
Sue Millward – Kenmillone Gemma – English Cocker Spaniel
Paul Williams – Antonine Lord of the Ring – Clumber Spaniel
Sue Millward – Waterlilly of Newland – English Cocker Spaniel
Sandra Bell – Glanhafon Gwennol – Welsh Springer Spaniel
Mary Evans – Sycharth Catrin – Welsh Springer Spaniel
Julie Shawyer – Fiergen Silver Spirit – Welsh Springer Spaniel
Jan Rees – Sh Ch. Typica Goldigger – Welsh Springer Spaniel
John Rudbach – Clumbadane Sirius – Clumber Spaniel
Judith Harris – Thandiwe Druid – Field Spaniel
Both Mr Jack Iliffe KC A panel Judge and myself Mr Mick Cleverley MBIPDT were kindly invited by the Clumber Spaniel Club to carry out Assessments for the KC Gundog Working Certificate. On 27 August 2007, At the Merevale Estate, Atherstone Warwickshire by kind permission of Mr Mathew Dugdale.
The day started at around 10.00 with both Jack and myself walking the training ground with Chris Page Field Trial Secretary for the Club which was mainly open woodland with plenty of bracken ideal Spaniel ground, we also had use of a nice pond for the water work. After a quick brief by Chris we decided how we would carry out the various elements to be tested. After returning to the meeting point, the formal introductions were made by Chris. Jack and myself gave a simple brief informing the Nine Handlers on what lay ahead, the test would be as near possible to a normal shoot day.
Testing HUNTING, CROSSING OBSTACLES, STEADINES, and WATER RETRIEVE.
HUNTING
Numbers had already been drawn to decide the running order. We split the group of 9 dogs:
1 - 4 act as beaters, 5 – 9 act as pickers up in the gun line.
When the drive started 2 dogs would walk to heel off the lead and act as beaters while the other two dogs were allowed to hunt up, at a given signal by the assessor a walking gun would drop a blind dummy retrieve behind the line followed by a single shot from a starting pistol testing for sit to shot, steadiness from all four dogs, after given direction to the handler the dog being tested was then sent back for the retrieve. We would carry on testing all four dogs the same way.
When about twenty yards from the Gun line we would stop the line to act like a flushing point with lots of noise, handlers and dogs were expected to sit and watch. Jack and myself then moved forward to asses the picking up dogs, the walking gun would then throw forward dummies while the guns fired blanks to simulate a drive, then the picking up dogs were each sent for a given marked retrieves. The roles were then reversed and we started again with dogs 5-9 taking on the role of hunting.
OBSTACLE CROSSING
The aim of this test was to see if the dog would cross a natural obstacle for a seen retrieve out in front.
The dogs were called forward in numerical order and instructed to sit with lead off, about 5 yards form a natural ditch in the wood, at a given signal a standing gun about 30 yards in front, to the right of the handler, would fire a starting pistol and lob a dummy in to small clump of brashings, in view of both handler and dog, the laid branches hid the dummy out of sight to simulate a bird tucked up.
On instruction from the assessor the handler had to send his dog out for the retrieve this tested the following:
Sit to shot
Steadiness
Marking
Retrieving
Delivery
Control
Any corrections needed either by voice, whistle or hand signals.
STEADINESS
In this exercise the dogs were lined, one to four out on a hard surface track facing in to a wood. Leads off watching forward. From their right a simulated drive started with the normal banter and noise from a beating line with shots fired and dummies thrown forward, the beating team just before the first dog, were pulled out.
The handlers were called to go forward individually and leave their dog sat up and collect a retrieve and walk back to their dog. The roles were then reversed with numbers five to nine completing the same exercise.
WATER RETRIEVE
In this exercise we found a nice gradual entry point into the pond, all dogs were called forward in numerical order.
The brief was, to sit the dog and remove the lead, when ready the standing gun would fire the pistol and a dummy would be thrown out into the water, after a given time, a tap on the shoulder by the assessor was the signal for the handler to cast off his/her dog for the retrieve.
This concluded all the elements of testing on the day. All that remained was for the assessors to agree who had passed and those not ready. Then came the dreaded task of completing the extensive paper work that goes along with the certificate. Chris presented the certificates to the competitors, followed by a few words by Jack and myself. Sadly three teams did not make the grade on the day.
Congratulations to all the participants. All the handlers and dogs worked extremely well on the day and showed how committed they were to owning a highly trained working gundog.
Once the compulsory photo shoot had taken place, to remember the day. We embarked to the local hostelry for a meal and light refreshments.
KC GUNDOG WORKING CERTIFICATE 2007