Fun Day & BBQ
Piplye Ponds, Horsted Keynes, West Sussex
by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Rory Clarke
Saturday 1st August 2009

This is the second year that the UGS K&ES Branch have run the
‘Fun’ day and in spite of the rotten weather there were over 150
entrants in four categories – Young Handler, Pre Novice, Novice
and Open.

Ten tests were set – 5 for Young Handler and Pre Novice and 5 for
Novice and Open. Splitting the categories meant that the queues
were eliminated and many competitors went round more than once,
with the first score to count. All judges and helpers officiated for
either the morning or the afternoon, which meant that they all had
the opportunity to run their own dogs.

14 young handlers entered the tests, and 12 joined the Club on
the day. Membership for the under 16s is free as the Club feels
that it is imperative that youngsters are encouraged to participate
to ensure the future of not only gundog training but also of
shooting. Given the opportunity to ‘have a go’ on an informal day
such as this obviously did the trick.

13 year old Imogen Boath beat all comers to win the Victor
Ludorum trophy, the trophy is awarded to the competitor, in any
category, with the most points gained from the 5 working tests
and all the scurries.

Imogen who was running Julie Elborough’s 3 year old black
Labrador bitch ‘Geordie Land Dixie of Woodruff’ (aka ‘Covey’)
gained maximum points (5 x 20 points) for the working tests and
excelled in the scurries.

Some of the ‘Fun Day’ award winners

A magnificent all day barbeque was provided by Ben Van Praagh
and his helpers, which was very welcome after a stint of dummy
throwing!

The heavens opened, as they did last year, at lunch time, but in
spite of the ‘monsoon’ a large crowd stayed to hear the results at
the end of the day.