South-East Queensland Working Gundog Retrieving Trial 2007
21-22 July 2007

Branch members assemble for the group photograph. There are a few raised eyebrows when our branch is mentioned. Few shooters are aware of the connection between Working Gundogs and sport shooting. Working Gundogs originated in hunting and conservation. The smart shooter worked out that running after downed game used a lot of energy and wasted opportunities for another shot. The gundog allows the shooter to concentrate on the next shot and not worry whether the previous one will be lost. By use of its enhanced senses, the dog can find game that will elude the average shooter and at the end of the day, the hunter can return with all the game shot.

The skills involved require training to direct the dog’s natural ability towards the requirements of the shooter. Retrieving Trials are a progression from just training your dog and talking about its abilities to showing your mates that your dog is better trained than theirs. Our branch was formed to provide opportunities for shooters to see the benefit of a well-trained gundog and assist them in obtaining, training and improving their dog’s ability to work with them in the field.

The Beginners Test. The United Field & Retrieving Branch has officially commenced operations in Queensland. From the initial formation meeting on May 28 this year until the Inaugural Retrieving Trial weekend of July 21 and 22, it is hard to believe so much has been achieved in only two months. It has taken four general meetings with keen participation and hard work by all members. We even found the time to send two representatives to the Zone 1 AGM on July 25.

At present, United Field & Retrieving is concentrating on the Retrieving discipline, but plans are underway to take up the other disciplines. Our crowning glory is the Inaugural Retrieving Trial. The ability to hold retrieving trials in the public arena is an objective we have cherished for years and it is a reality at last.

Retrieving trials are conducted under the national rules of the Working Gundogs Association of Australia and from the start we planned to include all levels of competition on each day of the Inaugural Trials. We believed we would attract a number of visitors to have a look and wanted to cater for all levels in the discipline.

There are restrictions on the minimum number of competitors per stake (level of competition). Fortunately, we exceeded these requirements. There are three levels of competition and a Beginners Test under the rules of the Retrieving discipline.

A Springer spaniel struts its stuff. Beginners Test
The Beginners Test is designed to test the level of the dog’s training prior to serious competition. A dog that wins this test is capable of basic field work under benign conditions. Most beginners start well below that standard and the test is a way to check the progress of a dog and handler team. Training is important at all levels, but particularly so with the beginner; a bad start can turn a potential retrieving competitor away from the sport.

The Beginners Test judge for both days was Fran Jones. Fran has been competing under ANKC rules for many years in retrieving, obedience and tracking. Fran has commenced our judges training program and is the coordinator of our retrieving training days. The next training day for this year will be held on November 11. The winner of a Beginners Test must move up to the Intermediate Stake where the serious competition begins.

Intermediate Stake
The Intermediate Stake is designed to test the retrieving dog and handler at a basic level under field conditions. The judge is able to construct the test using any available terrain. At this level of competition, a handler could be confident to handle most retrieves in any hunting situation.

The Intermediate Stake judge on Saturday was Terry Grice, a long-time trialler, judge and shotgun enthusiast. On Sunday, the Intermediate judge was Rob Price - another long-time trialler and judge, as well as hunter and conservationist. Terry and Rob have a vast reservoir of knowledge and helpful tips for the novice competitor.

Open dog returns to handler with one
of the three items to retrieve. Advanced Stake
The Advanced Stake is designed to test the retrieving dog and handler under most field conditions. The judge can test the dog and handler using the terrain as encountered in the field. Any hunter with a dog at this standard should be pleased; it is unlikely that any shot game will elude ending up in the bag.

The Advanced Stake judge on Saturday was Jim Cattermole, a hunter, shooter, military and dog trainer since the mid-1970s. On Sunday, the Advanced Stake judge was Jim Jeffrey, who too has a history with dogs since the 1970s. He has a fondness for the Pointer and Setter discipline, probably due to an early exposure with Irish setters and a keenness for the Spaniel discipline.

Open Stake
The Open Stake is the top-level competition in the Retrieving discipline. Championships are run at this level. To gain the Retrieving Trial Champion Dog Title, a dog must have won at least one trial at this level. If you are fortunate enough to have such a dog, it will be the ideal shooting companion.

The Open Stake judge on Saturday was Sam Haigh, an experienced trialler and judge. He is also involved with the Hunt Point and Retrieve discipline or Utility Dog trials under the ANKC rules. On Sunday, the Open Stake judge was Bob Bishop. Bob’s experience began in the 1970s, when he had Springer Spaniels. He has much experience of judging in all disciplines.

Saturday 21 July Results
	Handler	Dog			Handler	Dog
Beginners Test (Judge: Fran Jones)				Advanced Stake (Judge: Jim Cattermole)
1st	Nereida Gilbert	Avokah Hazzman		1st	Jackie Price	Adlijager Desert Storm NRD AWARD IRTD
2nd	Allira Jefrey	Lindenjude Callme Asher		2nd	Jim Jeffrey	Voyager Anzac piper (Imp NZ)
3rd	Merle Hovey	Instinkz Dare To Dream
Intermediate Stake (Judge: Terry Grice)				Open Stake (Judge: Sam Haigh)
1st	Judy Price	Avokah Yaphett Bundi		1st	Bryan Pritchard	RtCh Kadnook Drop'O' Blakmagic AWARD ARTD
2nd	Jim Jeffrey	Lindenjude Wheres Wally		2nd	Trevor Lodder	DualCh(R) Tenarda Firecracker
3rd	Di Lynch	Lowther Highland Molly		3rd	Jackie Price	RtCh Bromhund Major CDX ET

Sunday 22 July Results
	Handler	Dog			Handler	Dog
Beginners Test (Judge: Fran Jones)				Advanced Stake (Judge: Jim Jeffrey)
1st	T Jeffrey	Maplehurst Jess Scarlet of Lindenjude (Imp NZ)		1st	Jim Cattermole	Springhi Princess Leia RRD AWARD IRTD
2nd	Jim Cattermole	Ch Springhi Fernwood Lass		2nd	Anne White	Dupur Lonesome Girl UD RRD ADX JDX
3rd	A Jeffrey	Lindenjude Callme Asher		3rd	Bruce Wilson	Dupur Black Douglas CD AD NRD JDX
Intermediate Stake (Judge: Rob Price)				Open Stake (Judge: Bob Bishop)
1st	Julien Bielewicz	Tallowood Moorlandangler		1st	Laurelle Draper	Lydstep Tanner CDX AWARD ARTD
2nd	Greg Meeve	Binglebah Benny		2nd	Trevor Lodder	DualCh(R) Tenarda Firecracker
3rd	Di Lynch	Lowther Highland Molly		3rd	Bryan Pritchard	RtCh Kadnook Drop'O'Blakmagic