Judges report by Keith Clowes.
Level 4 competition at Hethe on the 30th January 2022.

Heather Donnelly trial manager kindly asked me to judge the level 4 trial.

For this trial I judged all 4 searches. There was some really excellent handling throughout the searches, although a few had problems with the distraction scents (Tea and Shampoo).
Table, Chairs and perimeter. I put one scent in full view on a table leg and every dog searched all the chairs but only a few checked the leg. I also placed a scent in a door frame, nearly all the dogs found that without any problems. I believed it helped as the draft was blowing the scent out, making it easier to air scent.
In the items search I placed a scent on a car warning sign and the dogs found that easy enough. Secondly, I placed a scent in a log and a few completely ignored the log, so please check everything in a level 4.
For the other 2 searches, the handlers did not have any problems apart from the odd distraction scent. But as I said before, there really was some excellent handling.
I would like to congratulate the following top four:

1st Hazell Williamson with Cedar. They also got their Excellence.
2nd Denise Pile with Oddbob. They also got their Excellence.
3rd Lynn Bell with Google.
4th Sarah Connatty with Prince.

I would also like to congratulate all the others that qualified and to thank all competitors for being such a fantastic bunch. I would also like to thank all those who helped and in particular Yaz Whitehall my fantastic scribe.