Pure quality at Haverholme Park
Barton on Humber Gundog Club 16 Dog Novice Stake - A.V. Retrievers
13th October at Haverholme Park, Sleaford, Lincs.
The morning mist had barely cleared and daylight had just started break through the heavy grey sky over Sleaford as we arrived at Haverholme Park Farm. My red Labrador dog Max and I were the first to arrive at the pristinely kept farmyard which played host to around fifty young pheasants, which quickly dispersed as we entered, and within the space of one cup of tea from my flask, the rest of the competitors had begun to arrive.Preparations for the day ahead began to unfold as dogs and handlers disembarked their vehicles and went about the business of exercising after their journey and donning waterproofs to guard against the morning drizzle. It wasn’t difficult to sense the atmosphere of anticipation in all present with each competitor wondering if today would be the day when his or her luck would prevail and it would be their turn to go home with an award (and as anyone who has ever run in a trial will tell you, luck definitely plays a big part). Despite the competitive atmosphere, as with all Barton on Humber Gundog Club trials which I have attended, the sense of camaraderie between all present shone through and the rivalry was of the friendliest sort. People who I had never met before (and some of whom I knew only by reputation, and revered) went out of their way to welcome me and wish me luck, quickly putting me at my ease.
We were all promptly shepherded into order by BOHGC Secretary Stephanie Smith who issued us with our numbers and running cards. The Judges were introduced and the order of the day was then unveiled to us and proceedings were underway as we made our way to the first drive. The day was to be a driven day and the first drive was to be on driven duck. We all lined out between the guns and the game was on.
It very quickly became apparent that the standard of the competition was very high, making the judges job all the more difficult, with only two dogs out in the first round (unfortunately, mine was one of them). The area was wet and much of the scent was therefore masked, and some of the birds had fallen into the tall yellow grass which bordered the field making it even more difficult for the dogs to pick up a scent trail.
The second drive was a partridge drive on open arable land. An excellent show of birds by the Haverholme Park shoot meant that more opportunities were afforded to us on this occasion and these were exploited to the full by the BOHGC dogs. Once again the remaining dogs were asked to join the line of guns and the judges assessed there steadiness prior to commencement of the retrieving of the downed birds.
By the time we reached the third drive, only eight competitors remained and by this time, it was apparent that the judges were having to increase the level of difficulty of the retrieves which they were setting up for the remaining competitors so when the final drive came round, the four remaining contestants knew they were in for the severest test of all. After another very productive drive and a superb display of shooting from the syndicate guns, the judges positioned the dogs for their final retrieve of the day. The field was bisected by a ditch approximately five foot deep and thick cover. The dogs were positioned in one field in a manner which meant that they had to cross the ditch to collect the fallen bird from the field on the other side. The length of the retrieve was around a hundred yards and there were downed birds in the first field which meant that the dogs had to run past them on the way out to the field beyond (just to make things even more difficult).
With this final test completed the judges got together make their deliberations whilst the competitors returned to the farmyard where soup and sandwiches had been laid on by the club (and very nice they were too). The first prize was the beautifully ornate silver Brackenbelle cup which had pride of place on the refreshments table and once everyone had enjoyed their fill of soup and sandwiches, the closing announcements commenced.
The chairman thanked the Haverholme Park shooting syndicate for playing host the the trial and paid particular thanks to the shoot captain Mr Barry Callaghan who was presented with a bottle of sloe gin, which he assured us had found a good home! Next in line for our vote of gratitude was the Steward of the beat Mr Nigel Partridge, who had ensured that we had seen an excellent show of birds, and for their extremely fair and diligent adjudication the judges, Mr M. Tallamy, Mr B. Barker, Mr R. Daws and Mr R. King were then thanked.
Then on to the prize giving. Second place was awarded to Dalvoulin Fraser of Drakeshead, owned by Mrs Sandra Halstead and handled today by her husband Mr John Halstead. The first prize of the Brackenbelle cup and three bags of food from the club sponsors Sneyds were presented to Levenghyl Silvercloud of Drakeshead which was owned and again handled by Mr John Halstead of Drakeshead Gundogs. Mr. Halstead was invited to say a few words after the prize giving and very kindly thanked his fellow competitors for the friendly and sportsmanlike conduct and also thanked the Haverholme park shoot for and excellent show of birds and the superb performance by the guns, all of which contributed towards a thoroughly enjoyable day. Senior judge Mr. Mike Tallamy praised the level of the competition and remarked on how difficult judging such a high standard was, a sentiment which I wholeheartedly agree with. The standard of all the dogs on the day was quite spectacular, a real joy to behold.
As Max and I began our journey home, I can say in all honesty that, as with all Barton on Humber Gundog Club events which I have attended, I felt privileged to have spent the day among such genuine and dedicated people, all of whom take their dogs and their training to a new standard of excellence and made the day a truly memorable and thoroughly enjoyable one.