Millomite Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Yesterday I took part in the North West Counties Field Trials Association Novice Cocker Stake at Blenkinsopp Hall near Haltwhistle. Despite being in Cumbria, a so called local trial, it still took me 2 and a quarter hours to get there. The joys of living in the most inaccessible cul-de-sac in England!I was out the door around 6:30am for a 9am meet, with the obligatory stop at Southwaite services for a coffee and bacon butty from Greggs before arriving at the meet point around 8:50am. Briefings and the raffle, which I didn’t win, were soon out of the way and we were back in the cars to make the short trip to the starting point of the trial.I was running at number 12 so thought I’d have quite a long wait, however, dogs number 2 and 4 hadn’t turned up so it wouldn’t be long before I was in. We started the trial in sieves with a rabbit and a few partridges getting up. The early dogs had quite long runs before we reached an area where there were 3 or 4 partridge pens which understandably meant there was a bit more game around.Dog number 10 was unfortunately put out, I think for failing to find a bird, and I was called over to run under Roy Ellershaw. It was a patch of dense sieves next to a partridge pen and I cast Fern off, immediately powering through with nose down and pace. She soon bumped two partridge up, one of which was shot approximately 20 yards away. It was a runner so Roy told me to send her almost immediately after the fall. She went out straight to it and picked it, she struggled slightly to find me in the number of bodies, or at least I though that’s what it was but more of that late, before delivering to hand.I cast her off again and she flushed another single partridge, sitting up whilst the gun on my right brought it down maybe 15 yards in front. Roy asked John Bailey who was judging the other side if he would like the retrieve as Wayne Parrington who was running under him needed one, so Fern sat patiently whilst that was brought back to hand. At this point Roy turned to me and asked which side of the bed I got out of this morning and I should go an buy a lottery ticket as all the other dogs had had long runs before their finds!I cast her off again and she flushed 3 partridge, two breaking right and one breaking left, both sides had shots, me and Fern focused on the one on the right which was missed, but it was the one that came down 40 yards to our left that we were to try and get. Neither me or the dog had seen it come down so I sent Fern back to try and get her on the right side of the wind, however she was pulling to the right towards another partridge pen.I stopped her and it took two redirections to the left before she was in the area, which to her credit as soon as she was she had it on the way back to me in no time at all. Frustratingly she circled me again before delivering, I couldn’t put my finger on why this was, she’s been fine in terms of delivering to hand. That was my run over under Roy and I was relieved to have got through it. Fern’s gears were continually going up and if she’d have had any more flushes I think I’d have struggled to hold her hunting, she’s a dog on the edge at times.The next few dogs again had relatively long runs, some going out for running in and failing on retrieves. It wasn’t too long before I was backing up prior to going in under John Bailey. Fran Ardley who was running before me had a long run before finally getting a flush on a rabbit and that was her run done, I was up!!I’ve entered a few trials now where John has been one of the judges, and I’ve never actually lasted long enough to get a run under him, something which I mentioned when I got called up. I let him know that I’d had three flushes and 2 retrieves under Roy and he jokingly put his book away and said “That’ll do you”. If only it was that easy!We were again in sieves, slightly less thick this time, and I thought it’d give Fern an opportunity to show herself a bit more and flow. As soon as I cast her off her nose was down, hunting with intent where the rabbit Fran had flushed had run through the sieves. We maybe hunted for a hundred yards or so before we came to the end of the sieve bed. It was lead on and a short walk over to another sieve bed to head back towards the partridge pens.We had another hunt of 200 yards or so as the only dog as there were only even numbered dogs left, all eyes were on us, before finally flushing a single partridge which was shot around 50 yards out to the left, which was also a runner. “Great” I thought to myself. I sent Fern back as she’d watched it away but pulled to the right towards a partridge pen with birds flapping around in. a quick redirect and she soon picked the bird and was on her way back. She stopped short and put the bird down. “Balls!” I thought to myself. A quick readjust and she came into me, but again circled me before delivering, what was she doing?!?!?!Handed the bird over to John and that was me done. I’d finished another trial, I was elated. Numbers 14 and 16 again had quite long runs before the trial was declared over, there was to be no run off and it was back to the vehicles for the presentations.I knew Fern had hunted very well, she was fast, thorough and kept her nose down with a nice action. However, her delivery had gone off the boil today and ultimately that cost me. If she’d have been clean with that I may have been up there.The dogs were read out from the winner first.1st: Steve Winspear – Kiltonbeck Cooper2nd: Simon Ryder – Clarburgh Ben3rd: Wayne Parrington – Whitebeam Frost Pocket4th: Hawksbeck Belle –John ParkCertificates of Merit:Fran Ardley – Crimson PromiseK Gaskell - Lisburn JudyFrances Brooks - Saxaphone BountyScott Mossop – Creechdale Phoebe of AmberquestGET IN THERE!!!!! I’d finally got an award. I had to help John out with reading the name out and he said I had to get it changed as it had taken him so long to write it out! I was over the moon. I’ve persevered with her and this is some reward for all the time, money and effort I’ve put into getting her this far.I spoke with Roy and John after the trial and they both couldn’t believe she was a bitch because of the power she has and said if the retrieves would have been clean I’d have been up there in the placings, probably not first as Steve Winspears dog was a cut above the rest from what I saw.The drive home was a happy one once again!! I’m starting to think that number 12 is my lucky number. I was number 12 when I got Guns Choice in the Gwynedd Trial a few weeks ago, I was number 12 yesterday, in my 12th trial with Fern, in December the 12th month of the year. I’m not one for being superstitious but I will now only be running if I’m number twelve in December trials haha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 (edited) Yayyy!!! Well done Scott, chuffed to death for you!! At least there was game around, last week the majority of dogs in our trial had two very long blank runs and we all walked miles trying to find game. Think there was only five or six birds shot in the whole trial. Well done again Edited December 5, 2014 by bigbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Well done, to you and Fern. It must have been a real sense of achievement. I've never seen a field trial but your write up conveys the drama and excitement really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Scott could you pm me a contact for membership for the North West Counties please? Not on fb and can't find one anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted December 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 North West Counties Field Trials Association Mrs S Schofield, 01706 213877, eastdaledogs@fsmail.net I dont think there are many more novice cocker trials this season, especially relatively local to me. Might take stock in the off season after the working tests and see how the pup is coming on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 That's why you've built the kennel so big, for 12 dogs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 That's why you've built the kennel so big, for 12 dogs? Who, Scott or me? LOL North West Counties Field Trials Association Mrs S Schofield, 01706 213877, eastdaledogs@fsmail.net I dont think there are many more novice cocker trials this season, especially relatively local to me. Might take stock in the off season after the working tests and see how the pup is coming on Thanks very much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 That's why you've built the kennel so big, for 12 dogs? Who, Scott or me? LOL Thanks very much You've been building a doggy palace too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Well done , the first of many I am sure . Out of interest what is a sieves ? it must be a local thing as I have never heard the term in that context before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted December 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 That's why you've built the kennel so big, for 12 dogs? Thats the one PERCE. Hopefully the 12th one will be a good one lol Well done , the first of many I am sure . Out of interest what is a sieves ? it must be a local thing as I have never heard the term in that context before. Rushes is what most people probably call them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 http://www.flickr.com/photos/29492623@N04/12723187143/in/photostream/ as Scott says, rushes. Also can be referred to as rashes or rashy ground. You'll be wanting to know what a Dougal is next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 (edited) Thats the one PERCE. Hopefully the 12th one will be a good one lol Get through enough of them & sooner or later one will come along with an engine & a brain Edited December 5, 2014 by PERCE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 You've been building a doggy palace too? Not as Palatial as Scott's unfortunately Kennels are getting a bit full and I might just...maybe....perhaps...... have bought another pup arriving in a couple of months out of my favourite bitch ever so a rethink will be in order!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted December 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Get through enough of them & sooner or later one will come along with an engine & a brain This ones got them., I just wish I knew then what I know now. Would have been a lot easier! Which dog is that Ali? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 I'll pm you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Well done a great achievement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Well done Thanks for sharing All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiny tim Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 well done,all the hard work paid off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michufc Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Made up for you matey one day I might be able to enter trials but with y business and small kids it will have to wait for now anyway. All the best mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Spot on mate, Well done to you both, Atb Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 As I've said already mate, really well deserved and well done. Onwards and upwards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beeredup Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 Well done Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 Congratulations! and great account of your run - really enjoyed that. On Fern's reluctance to deliver/give up the bird straight away, how you've described it is called "parading" in these parts. I take it that's never happened to you before? Often down to the judges being in close proximity to you when you're receiving game, and the dog being unsure of who they are and what "function" they're serving with their presence. You can try and replicate this scenario in training, with a couple of your mates standing in as judges, get some repetitions with delivery and presto!, the problem usually goes away. Congrats again on finishing and the much-deserved award! MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 Congratulations. Must be very rewarding for all your hard work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fal Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 Excellent write up! Well done, hard work paying off!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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