Level 2
1 Helen Hepple & Marcus – 100
2 Anne Glennon & Missy – 99.8
3 Lisa Finney & Brew – 99.8
4 Cath Seddon & Reaper – 99.8
5 Rachel Richards & Chip – 99.7
6 Julie Bytheway & Jess – 99.7
7 Jackie Hodge & Kona – 90
8 Helen Hankins & Sam – 89.6
9 Liz Burton & Artie – 89.6
10 Sue Ellis & Poppy – 89.55
11 Mandy Wade & Fred – 79.75
12 Anne Johnson & Ellie – 79.45
13 Deb Atkins & Belle – 79.25
14 Pam Butcher & Willow – 78.85
Level 3
1 Hannah Crook & Quin – 99.9
2 Christine Cummins & Teasel – 99.8
3 Ellen Lindley & Meg – 89.9
4 Alan Clancy & Rhum – 79.5
5 Mandy Rigby & Reenie – 69.4
6 Rachael Fox & Logan – 69
After the issues with venues earlier in the year, I’ve had to take a break from running trials until I could find somewhere suitable, and Killock in Walsall looked set to be close on perfect. A nice sized car park, a waiting area, a large hall, and a little dead-end road which looked perfect for external and vehicle car searches. There is even a café next door for anyone wanting a sausage butty while they wait.
Unfortunately the café owner was less than impressed at our attempt to use the little dead-end for searches, so we had to improvise and use the middle of the carpark – less than ideal, but I take my hat off to the competitors who worked around it with forbearance.
Our morning trial was level 2 and despite the car issue went really well, and pleasingly all teams qualified. Helen Hepple with Marcus took first place, with Anne Glennon and Missy coming second. Congratulations to Lisa Finney with Brew and Cath Seddon with Reaper for gaining their excellence.
The afternoon trial was Level 4 and comparatively very small, with just 6 competitors; we made a merry bunch. Helen Hepple kindly stepped in as Trial Manager so that I could run my dog. Hannah Crook with Quin took first place, with Christine Cummins and Teasle taking second.
Harry Latusek and Felicity Ashford were fantastic judges, who made the day a joy to host. Jo Welch, Alun Clancy and Cath Seddon were our brilliant scribes, without whom the judge’s have a much harder job, and Brenda Ward was our ever efficient and helpful tea-lady for the day. Thank you all for putting up with the cold to help – it’s not the warmest of venues and I hope you didn’t take too long to thaw out. A trial is only as good as the helpers involved – and I have been blessed with some amazing help! Thank you all.
Finally a huge thank you to Penny Harris who loaned me her vehicle for the car search and trustingly handed over the keys for the day while she went to work!
Harry Latusek
Let me begin by thanking Ellen,for inviting me along to co judge levels 2 and 4 at this new venue,near Walsall.My co judge on the day was,Felicity Wilash.A Thankyou also to my scribe,Jo Welch who did a wonderful job throughout the day.It was a pleasant day,sunshine and a light breeze.A white dog was used prior to all of the searches.
VEHICLE SEARCH level 2
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I lined the three vehicles,nose to tail,along the centre of the car parking area.I hid the cloves scent in the tow bar electrics of the 1st vehicle,directly in front of the start cones.The gun oil I hid on the front near side wheel of the 2nd vehicle,pushing it into a wheel nut to prevent it being retrieved.I am pleased to say that we had 100% success,with all 14 teams correctly finding both.Some lovely searching by Anne and Missy,in a time of 41 secs,closely followed by Jackie and Kona in some 42 secs.
EXTERIOR SEARCH level 2
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This was set up in the corner of the car park area,on a tarmac surface.The cloves scent,I hid in a smoke alarm,immediately to the front left of the start line,and the gun oil in a wall clock,placed on the perimeter,to the right.This was not an easy search area for level 2 dogs,with leaves abundant and a grass verge nearby.However,this caused no problem whatsoever to the majority of the teams,who went about thier business with ease.10 of the teams correctly finding both scents,the others finding one.Some excellent handling,and quick times by,Rachel and Chip,Anne and Missy,Jackie and Kona and Liz and Artie,in 11 secs,39 secs,40 secs and 44 secs respectively.
The overall standard was very good for level 2,and I am sure many of the teams will progress quickly through the levels.Congratulations to our eventual 4 rosette winners.
1.Helen and Marcus,2.Anne and Missy,3.Lisa and Brew,4.Cath and Reaper.
Well done to Cath and Reaper,gaining thier Excellence.
Level 4
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Following a short lunch break,it was on to level 4 in the afternoon.I was tasked with judging the boxes and luggage and tables/chairs and perimeter searches.The distractions scents were coffee and shampoo.
BOXES AND LUGGAGE
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I placed the gun oil scent in the zip of a black bag,positioning it immediately to the left,in front of the start cones.the cloves scent was hidden in the zip of another black Bag and placed in the centre of the search area.The distractions,coffee,was hidden in a small box to the left and rear.The shampoo,in a black bag,to the far right.We had 6 teams competing,only 2 of these were successful in finding both scents,a couple of the remaining teams falsely calling on the shampoo.Excellent searching and handling by,Hannah and Quin and Christine and Teasel,both in around 25 seconds.
TABLES/CHAIRS AND PERIMETER
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I placed the distraction scents as follows,the shampoo under a stool on the left of the perimeter and the coffee under a chair,to the left of the table set up.The gun oil,I hid in the bottom seam of a fire door,which was situated on the left hand side, at its furthest away point from the start line.The cloves scent was hidden in an air vent,on the right hand side of the perimeter wall.4 of the teams found both,the remaining 2 only finding the scent hidden in the fire door.Lovely teamwork shown by Hannah and Quin,finding both in 79 secs.
All round,I saw some excellent searching and handling,it was a pleasure to watch.
My congratulations go to the eventual 4 rosette winners.
1.Hannah and Quin,2.Christine and Teasel,3.Ellen and Meg,4.Alan and Rhum.
I wish you all success in your future trials and look forward to meeting some,if not all of sometime soon.
T&C - A/F T&C - H T&C - T ES - A/F ES - H ES - T VS - A/F VS - H VS - T B&L - A/F B&L - H B&L - T Marks Time
A/F = Alert Find H = Handling T = Time (seconds)
Tables & Chairs Exterior Search Vehicle Search Boxes & Luggage Totals
Level 2 A/F H T A/F H T A/F H T A/F H T Marks Time
1 Helen Hepple & Marcus 20 5 51 20 5 40 20 5 74 20 5 54 100 219
2 Anne Glennon & Missy 20 5 49 20 4.9 39 20 5 41 20 4.9 76 99.8 205
3 Lisa Finney & Brew 20 5 104 20 4.9 76 20 4.9 83 20 5 25 99.8 288
4 Cath Seddon & Reaper 20 4.9 142 20 4.9 92 20 5 112 20 5 28 99.8 374
5 Rachel Richards & Chip 20 5 31 20 5 11 20 4.8 105 20 4.9 61 99.7 208
6 Julie Bytheway & Jess 20 4.9 70 20 4.9 68 20 5 95 20 4.9 84 99.7 317
7 Jackie Hodge & Kona 10 5 68 20 5 49 20 5 42 20 5 50 90 209
8 Helen Hankins & Sam 10 5 136 20 4.8 88 20 4.9 127 20 4.9 66 89.6 417
9 Liz Burton & Artie 10 4.9 141 20 4.8 44 20 5 109 20 4.9 93 89.6 387
10 Sue Ellis & Poppy 10 5 40 20 4.8 71 20 4.75 141 20 5 79 89.55 331
11 Mandy Wade & Fred 0 5 42 20 5 64 20 4.75 141 20 5 43 79.75 290
12 Anne Johnson & Ellie 20 5 89 10 4.75 55 20 4.8 106 10 4.9 98 79.45 348
13 Deb Atkins & Belle 20 4.7 138 10 4.75 72 20 4.8 84 10 5 44 79.25 338
14 Pam Butcher & Willow 10 4.8 180 10 4.75 114 20 4.5 269 20 4.8 67 78.85 630
Level 4
1 Hannah Crook & Quin 20 5 79 20 4.9 62 20 5 119 20 5 50 99.9 310
2 Christine Cummins & Teasel 20 5 214 20 5 65 20 4.8 69 20 5 25 99.8 373
3 Ellen Lindley & Meg 20 5 190 20 4.9 120 20 5 142 10 5 85 89.9 537
4 Alan Clancy & Rhum 20 5 187 20 4.8 180 10 4.7 185 10 5 61 79.5 613
5 Mandy Rigby & Reenie 10 4.8 300 20 4.8 55 10 4.8 100 10 5 49 69.4 504
6 Rachael Fox & Logan 10 5 171 20 5 94 20 5 158 0 4 84 69 507