Hethe Village Hall, Hardwick Road, Hethe, OX27 8EY
Start: 9am – L3, L5 – 1.30pm
Entry Fees: £28 per dog.
Contact: Heather Donnelly heather.donnelly6@btinternet.com
Trial Manager and Judges Reports
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Sun 15 May 2022, Hethe
Levels 3 & 5: Judges - L3 Julia Edwards & L5 Nigel Wilkes
Unfortunately Saturdays beautiful weather didn’t run over to Sunday where I was lucky enough to be asked to judge the Level 5 Trial at Hethe. I arrived just as the morning teams where receiving their awards and that gave me a chance to scout the areas that I was going to use for the afternoon trial.
The first search was in the main hall itself and I decided that there were to be 5 hides with five minutes due to the size of the hall. The hides were on the first table on the left leg, the bar by the corner, the wall in the skirting board, the radiator and the children’s play cube and slide. Most teams appeared to struggle a little but Ruth and Mint found all hides and in the end were worthy winners.
The outside search started in the dry which was good for Yaz and I! There were 4 hides with 3.5 minutes allowed the hides were by the brick, two on the patio door and one on the metal cover. Luckily there were few dogs out being walked so this left the teams to get on with finding the hides. 8 out of the 10 found all 4 and they all worked brilliantly and finished just before the rain came back!
Our final search was in the toilet areas where there were 3 hides with 2.5 minutes. One in the orange cover over the fire extinguisher, the blue wooden frame and the door /frame behind the door to the toilets. This being a very tight area, does have it problems with dogs, handler, scribe and judge trying to keep out of each others way. Again most of the teams did very well in finding all 3 and a couple where unlucky. At the end of the day we had a result with Ruth and Mint coming first, Helen and Skylar a deserved second, Paula and Bonniejazz 3rd and Kevin and Renko 4th. We did have one dog that had to withdraw due we think to sting, unfortunately this was Linda and Fletcher and we hope he is better soon. Well done to all those that qualified and commiserations to those who didn’t, but dont be downhearted as your dogs worked well.
I wish to thank Heather for asking me to judge and Yaz for putting up with me again as scribe and of course she did this on her Birthday!
I always enjoy judging trials and seeing new teams competing and it was lovely to see Alison & Ellie working together so well and sure they will do very well in the future. There were losts of other good teams too so well done to all the other qualifiers . Fortunately for you all I didnt bring Joshua or you woud appreciate how good your dogs are!
Some of you struggled outside and mostly that was to do with the wind making the dog know the scent was there but not indicating quite correctly – as a working trials person I have learnt to go round the other way if you think they are close as they then may then clock it. There are always distractions outside in a public place so just remember that if you have a dog that is likely to sniff or be interested in the surroundings maybe keep them on the lead for that search to keep them with you
The last inside search was boxes and luggage and everybody was fantastic so they all recognise the odours and all can do it so good luck to you all
on future trials and now for that glass of wine !