Kent and East Sussex

Gill Sweeting, Sam Butchers, Jes Milton represented UGS Kent & East Sussex in the Southern Interclub team Challenge which was hosted by UGS Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire and held at the Isenhurst Estate. 16 clubs each entered a team of three dogs and handlers; comprising of a novice dog/novice handler, a novice dog and an open dog. There were 5 tests for each team with the retrieves tailored to the experience of the dog. There was also a joker that could be played on any of the tests which would double the points scored for that test.

1st – Utility Gundog Society. Kent & East Sussex
2nd – South East Gundog Society
3rd – United Retriever Club Southern
4th – Utility Gundog Society Herts, Beds & Bucks.

There was also an award for the highest scoring dog in each category. The award for the highest scoring ND/NH went to Jes Milton and his lovely dog Fletchingly Maree won with a fantastic 97/100.

We ran 4 tests; Special Puppy, Veteran, ND/NH and also a Young Handler at Haxted Farm by kind permission of Robert David Spratt. We ran the same tests for each of the 4 classes with each one tailored to suit. We had a short mark and replacement in long grass, a hunt up exercise, a mark into the river followed by a blind and walk up using mown strips in long grass.

There were a good range of scores across the board very ably judged by Joy Venturi Rose, Chris Rose, Sam Kirkham and Jac Mason who was dipping her toes into “judging”water.

It was a delight to welcome two young handlers to the competition as they are the future of our sport and they did extremely well.

Once again our thanks go to our wonderful helpers, without whom we cannot put on tests, our sponsors, Skinners, Gamekeepers Goods and brown bag crisps (if you haven’t tried their crisps, you really should!) and our judges.

RESULTS:

Special Puppy.
1st – Anningtonbay Lemanie handled by Mell Brooks
2nd – Jenberry Lucky Bee handled by Vicki Ruston
3rd – Swantonwood Black Bramble handled by Reece Merry
Joint 4th – Jenberry Funky Monkey handled by Vicki Ruston and Blackenvoy Tic Tac handled by Ben Starns.

Veteran.
1st – Pandapaws Angus handled by Sue Jackson
2nd – Troddenmills Filthy Blonde handled by Liz Bridger

Young Handler.
1st – Turnerbrook Princess handled by Evelyn Mills
2nd – My Friend Freya handled by Lily Turner

ND/NH
1st- Hardhamhouse Pineau handled by Paul Dunningham
2nd – Thealefarm Moonshine handled by Jane Dunningham
( husband and wife running mother and daughter !)
3rd – Fury’s way handled by Lizzie Byne
CoM – Ashport Pennylane of Herndon handled by Georgina Bryant
CoM – Meddrrows Primrose handled by Jeanette Lithgo
CoM – Colquite Mary Poppins of Blackenvoy handled by Sarah Cox
CoM – Rossclyde Vital Spark handled by Linda Saunders

We were certainly blessed with glorious weather for our Puppy and Novice test held om 11th May at Hollow Wall Farm by kind permission of Neil Black. Thanks must go to our wonderful helpers, without whom we cannot run tests.

Our judges for the day were Di Stevens, Sue Jordan, Kate Bollen and Jan Abrahams. Thank you ladies for giving up your time for us.

Thanks must also go to our sponsors:

Skinners: Certificates and winners vouchers
Gamekeepers Goods: Winners Vouchers and designing specific gift bags for our judges gifts.
Brown Bag Crisps: Helpers snacks

Awards:

Puppy:
Only one award was given
1st, winning the Nick Potts Memorial Trophy Blixemby Amarok and Ben Almey

Novice:
After a run-off for second place the results were:
1st, winning the Stubbledown Trophy – Hectorkirk Nine and Charlie Cerullo
2nd, winning the Ghilliedown Tankard – Wauniago Geoff Wheel and Sarah Nickels-Hawkins
3rd, Jubilee Bakewell and Lois Richardson
4th, Rookhollow Daisy and Keith Townsend

Com, Rectoryoak Comanche and Nicola Grainge.

Utility Gundog Society, Kent & East Sussex held their qualifier for the UGS interbranch finals at Haxted Farm by kind permission of David Spratt. The weather gods were on our side today and we had a lovely sunny, albeit a tad windy, day. However, the ground was still not dry enough to be driven on so elevensies were delivered by tractor! We ran 4 tests which gave us a range of scores across the board and a run off for 1st Place.

Thanks must go to our judges, Roger Wade, Diana Stevens, Paula Graystone and Jennifer Thomas who rattled through the tests quickly enabling us to be done and dusted by early afternoon and also to our wonderful helpers who, as we all know, are a crucial element to any working test.

After a very close run off the results were:-

1st – Beetle of Buckmots handled by Penny Morris
2nd – Abbotsann Firefly handled by John Scott
3rd – Kerrabrah Nelly handled by Jan Abrahams
4th – Blue Mist of Hillside -handled by Nick Patsias
Com – Holmside Goose at Sunshimmer handled by Jennie Knight
Com – Jenberry Mystery Heritage handled by Vicki Ruston

Good luck to the team who will represent UGS K&ES at Hintelsham on 15th June

The John Croucher Memorial Trophy was created in memory of John Croucher who had been a great Stalwart of the club. For many years John helped out at every training session and test throwing dummies, rarely running his own dog in order to help. He also took some of the training sessions when necessary. He was a tremendous supporter of the club so when he passed away the club created a memorial trophy in his name.

This trophy is awarded to repay the support from the most helpful non committee member during the previous working test season who has helped either at the working tests or behind the scenes.

This year the award  has been given to Jane Gray who has helped out at most of our working tests this season. Jane is usually one of the first to arrive on a test morning, even if she is competing as well, and been a tremendous asset to the team helping with the set up and making sure everyone gets a cup of tea and a bacon roll, which is most important. Jane also offers her support to other clubs so we really appreciate the time she gives up for us.

A walked up on FT Lines was our last test of the season. It was held at a new ground Haxted farm nr Edenbridge by kind permission of David Spratt. Despite the threat of thunder storms all day we dodged the bullet and stayed dry.

The day ran well under the control of our line man Kelvin Nettleingham and our stewards Marianne Copp, Hayley Mack and Sophie Mills.

After 4 rounds our wonderful judges;

Roger Wade, Chris Marshall, Reuben Corbett and James Brindley awarded –

1st place – Gwidigada Ivy handled by Jennifer Thomas
2nd – Tildaross Byron handled by Chris Johnson
3rd – Laborie Miss Molly handled by Julia Smith
COMMS were awarded to 4 dogs:
Anningtonbay Enchilida handled by Mell Brooks
Birdsholding Inkerman handled by Sophie Adshead
Holmside Goose at Sunshimmer handled by Jennie Knight
Nevilldown Jellybean handled by Sarah Nickels-Hawkins

A huge thanks to all our helpers today and our sponsor Skinners and Gamekeepers goods.