Kent and East Sussex

Despite some horrendous weather conditions during the past week, the Gods were on our side today to enable us to hold the UGS K&ES Interbranch Open Qualifier test at Penshurst Place Estate.

The grounds were waterlogged in places and we had to re-arrange a couple of tests at the last minute but we successfully got through 6 tests.

The grounds offered by the kind permission of Viscount De L’isle & the keeper Kevin Lickton created a variety of test scenarios.

Thank you to our judges for the day, Diana Harrison, Graham Stanley, Marianne Copp and Tracy Flood and to our wonderful helpers, for giving up your valuable time to support us all.

The top four competitors will represent UGS Kent and East Sussex in the Interbranch final to be held in June.

1st Place, winning the Stubbledown Trophy, Kerrabrah Nelly handled by Jan Abrahams
2nd Place, and the Ghilliedown Trophy, Drakeshead Ellis handled by Josefine Van der Dussen
3rd Place, Buryhill Back to Black handled by Ian Hamilton
4th Place, Rookhollow Dahlia handled by Beth Morgan
Joint 5th and 1 point behind the awards
Comm, Ringbar Flint handled by Manfred Abraham
Comm, Abney Infinity handled by Beth Morgan

Once again a huge thank you to all the helpers who turned up this morning despite fully expecting to get drenched. without helpers we cannot run tests.

Thank you also to all the competitors who were very patient at the start whilst we rearranged a few things around for the safety of everyone and especially our wonderful dogs

UGS K&ES held a Puppy and Novice working test at Hollow Wall Farm, Staplecross by kind permission of Neil Black. Hollow Wall Farm is a great venue offering a varied terrain of woodland, open field and cover crop as well as a good amount of residual ground scent as it also is a working shoot. Thank you Neil for making us welcome once again and helping out on the day.

There were 4 tests for both Novice and Puppy with the puppies running a simplified version of each. Although the tests didn’t appear too onerous there were plenty of bunkers to catch the dogs and handlers out giving a range of scores.

After a run off in the novice for both first and third places the results were as follows:

Novice
1st Place and the Stubbledown Trophy – Greenbriar Dublin of Beaconoak handled by Andy Parkin
2nd Place and the Ghilliedown Tankard – Klato Jackdaw handled by Roger Wade.
3rd Place – Metalbridge Gadbourne handled by Lisa Clements
4th Place – Ashlevel Willow handled by Keith Bianchi
CoM – Lovatnoir Lanner Falcon handled by Jac Mason
CoM – Troddenmills Fancy free – handled by Andrew Steggles

Puppy
1st Place and the Nick Potts Memorial Trophy – Wauniago Geoff Wheel handled by Sarah Nickels-Hawkins
2nd Place and the Edensway Tankard – Troddenmills Kriss Cross handled by Andrew Steggles
3rd Place – Kenzduo Slice and Dice – handled by Kevin Sheridan

We would like to thank our wonderful judges, Di Stevens, David Breach, Bill Gardiner and Jo Voke for giving up their time to judge for us. Thank you to Skinners for their sponsorship and lastly a huge thank you to all the amazing helpers; they really are crucial to the running of tests.

UGS Kent & East Sussex held their last working test of the season – Open Walked Up on FT Lines on 27^th August at Burstow Park Farm, Outwood by the kind permission of Jim & Nina Nicholson. The line today was organised and run by Alistair House and our thanks go to him for a well run day together with the stewarding skills of Wendy Harrison & her team.

Our thanks also go to our Judges, Barry Taylor, Liz Taylor, Kate Bollen & Tracy Flood who gave up their time to set the standard. After 4 rounds, a lot of leg work and some excellent handling they were able to award the following places.

We also made a special award, The John Croucher Memorial Trophy which is given to repay the support and loyalty from the most helpful non committee member at the end of the season. This year this trophy was award t Hayley Mack who has helped at every test this year and been a tremendous asset to our team. Well done Hayley and thank you for your support.

Once again a huge thank you all our other helpers, without whom we could not have run the test, for their dummy throwing, game carrying, stewarding and last but not least for Bren and Lesley for the catering. Thank you also to Skinners for their sponsorship of our tests throughout the season

I have enjoyed my first season as Working Test secretary and my thanks go to my committee who have guided and supported me.

The Veteran, Special Puppy and ND/NH Tests were held at Grovelands Farm by kind permission of Roger and Sheila Wade. We had a good turnout and thankfully our decision to not put up the gazebo paid off. A huge thank you to all our wonderful helpers without whom we could not run tests, and our judges Roger Wade, James Brindley and John Grace.

An extra congratulations to Megan Salter, winner of the ND/NH. This was Megan’s first ever test and she scored 20 on every test. I feel we will be seeing more of her and her young dog. Well done Megan!

Again thank you to all my team of helpers

UGS Kent & East Sussex hosted the UGS Interclub finals on 25^th June 2022 at the beautiful grounds of Windsor Great Park by gracious permission of HM The Queen, the Estate Commissioners and Peter Clayton. The four tests were very kindly set by John Stubbs and Alan Buckland which were well thought out giving a range of scores across the board. Judges for the day were Mark and Jamie Bettinson.

With only 16 dogs competing we were able to spend a relaxed day (timewise) and everyone was able to enjoy lunch afterwards provided by our wonderful ladies Bren van Laun and Lesley Williams without needing to rush off home. Four teams of four competed against each other for the Halday trophy; Herts, Beds & Bucks, Eastern Counties, West Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire and Kent & East Sussex.

A huge thanks to all the helpers from our committee who all had an early start and did a terrific job all day throwing dummies etc. Sarah Nickels-Hawkins & husband Matt, Jacqueline Mason Sime & husband Andy and Ian Whitfield

UGS Kent & East Sussex held their 2nd test of the season, Puppy and Novice on 21st May at Hollow Wall Farm in Staplecross with the kind permission of Neil Black. The farm offers a varied terrain of woodland, fields and slopes which enabled us to set tests that, although not particularly difficult, incorporated some interesting “bunkers” which resulted in a wide range of scores across the board.

Judges for the day were Diana Stevens, Sue Jordan, Jo Voke and Mandy Smith.

The club would also like to offer congratulations to Puppy Winner Mell Brooks who travelled north after the test to compete in the England Selection tests where she was successfully selected for the England Team for all 2022 International tests.

Finally we would like to thank the judges, Neil Black, our sponsors Skinners, all the wonderful volunteers who gave up their day to help run the day and Bren and Lesley who kept us all fed and watered throughout the day. Thank you