Kent and East Sussex

UGS Kent & East Sussex started off the 2022 working test season with an Open Qualifier at Burstow Park Farm by the kind invitation of Jim and Nina Nicholson. The judges set some challenging tests resulting in a wide range of scores across the board. The additional challenging factor today was the wind which gusted across the open fields throughout the day at great speed. The main casualty of this was our gazebo which decided it would rather be a kite and took off across an open field. Sadly it is “no more”.

Many thanks to our judges, Graham Stanley, Mark Polley, Alistair House and Jo Voke for giving up their time and also a huge thank you to our helpers; many of whom had not been to a test before, but gallantly offered their services. Without these lovely people we would not be able to run tests.

This was also my first test as Working Test secretary so a big thank you to everyone today for their support.

The first 4 places will represent UGS K&ES at the area finals. However, a qualifying place was available to the 5th Place competitor. As this was shared by 5 competitors a draw was made and this place went to BEETLE OF BUCKMORE handled by Penny Morris.

This years UGS two day open qualifying trial is held by the HBB branch at Ampton Estate on the 10/11 October.

Details can be found on any branch event page, or through the links below.

Two Day Open Entry Form
Two Day Open Schedule

Please find the Kent branch training Schedule linked below.

https://www.utilitygundogsociety.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/kes-22-training.pdf

– KES Committee

In memory of Peter Johnson, who left us a legacy, the UGS Eastern Counties branch are running a judging weekend on the 20th and 21st August.

The Saturday will be a practical day “in the field” at Hintlesham by kind permission of Kevin Doughty and will be a “scenario” based day giving “trainees” the chance to experience “sending”, “decision making” and “assessing” a number of usual and unusual situations that may occur when judging.

The day is aimed primarily at non panel judges (but panel judges will be welcome to attend), especially those about to start their judging career. This day will be overseen by seven experienced A panel “educator” judges, Kevin Doughty, Steve Polley, Phil Askew, Sara Gadd, Mike Tallamy, Rodger Ketley and Phil Highfield.

The Sunday will be a presentation and examination of the J Regs by Kevin Doughty and will be held at Woolpit Village Hall at a cost of £30. Applicants can choose to do one or the other or both. There will be spaces for 36 trainee judges on the practical day at a reduced cost of £20. Current members of Eastern Counties Branch will have preference.

We will also need 16 dogs and handlers of a good standard (at least open WT award winners) that are able to “hunt” their dogs in a specified area. DogsHandlers will be free of charge but will be able to listen in on the discussions but without input.

Please contact me, by email on julia.nigel@btinternet.com if you are interested. Help on the day would be appreciated especially if you’re a good dummy thrower!!

UGS Kent & East Sussex Branch held The All Aged Retriever Finals Trial on the 30^th December 21 at Wotton, Dorking, by kind permission of Laurence Matthews & Keeper David Smart.  We were very privileged to be invited to join the shoot syndicate on their fabulous ground. 

We started with a heavy drive on mostly open ground, which meant a lot of birds in area’s that needed skilful handling to pick the right bird.  The second drive saw the eventual winner pick a fantastic 250 yard runner, which was a over a ditch & where the dog had to work his nose onto the scent first.  We finished on a woodland drive, with the remaining 6 dogs needing to hunt in some very thick bramble cover & where the judges were able to conclude the trial. 

My special thanks go to Judges Robert Worrall, Barbara Kuen, James Bailey & Louie Robertson & to all our amazing team of helpers, you certainly make my role a much easier job.  Thank you to Laurence & David along with your guns & helpers, we are extremely grateful to all of you for allowing us to be there & for making us feel so welcome. Also congratulations to all of the competitors for qualifying for the stake & showing us some brilliant dog work, it was lovely to spend the day in your company.  We were also very lucky to have keen photographer Tony join us for the day who will forward photographs once he has had chance to go through them all.

With a lot of silver ware up for grabs the awards were as follows –

• First Place to Isleoman Gorse of Wylanbriar handled by Di Stevens also winning Trophies for The Best Labrador, Best Retrieve of a Runner, Best Game Finder of the opposite sex to the best game finder & Best Lady Handler at the trial

• Second Place to Ftch. Brockaghs Forba handled by Jim Collins also winning the Trophy for Best Looking Labrador competing in the finals

• Third Place to Annington Bay Maddi May handled by Mell Brooks also winning Trophies for The Best Opposite Sex Dog to the Winner & The Best Game Finder at the trial

• COM to Hollowgate Red Grouse of Rufriver handled by Allie Hogsbjerg

• COM to Ftch. Ticefield Dazed N’Confused handled by Reuben Corbett

UGS K & ES held our All Aged Qualifier Stake on the 20^th Oct at Hawkhurst. Despite some pretty horrendous weather at times, keeper Frannie produced some fantastic shooting for our excellent team of guns.

The trial was walked up in some nice cover, with HPR’S working in front of the line & flushing the game. It was really good to watch them work & made for a really interesting trial. We ended with a bit of a drive for the remaining dogs, with some lovely long retrieves & a fabulous strong runner which really lifted our overall winner. It was so enjoyable to watch some spectacular dog work.

Huge thanks must go to Frannie & his team, our guns & to Wendy Harrison our chief steward together with my amazing team of helpers. We are so grateful to our judges Roger Wade, Di Stevens, Mark Polley & Kelvin Nettleingham who kept the day moving so smoothly. Thank you also to Skinners for sponsoring the event.

Congratulations to everyone & look forward to seeing the top 3 dogs competing in the All Aged Final in December