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EVENTS OF THE HUNT, POINT, RETRIEVE BREEDS ASSOCIATION
Hunt, Point & Retrieve Breeds Association (Proposed) Gundog Working Test
 Report of the day by Joyce Parkes

Penny Simpson’s organisational skills were at their very best on Saturday as she ran the HPRBA’s first Kennel Club approved GWT at Cosby in Leicestershire. I have rarely been to one which exhibited such smooth timing, so few hiccups and was blessed with lovely sunshine at the same time. Maureen Nixon of the GSPA had stepped in at the last moment to be Chief Steward & test setter, so with such expertise at hand I was not surprised to have such a thoroughly good day out.
   I was judging the HPRBA’s Water Test for Novice, Graduate & Open with Richard Chellumbrum doing the puppy water as part of his brief. It was a lovely fishing lake but choosing just the right spot for a reasonable entry for Novice was slightly more difficult & in the end we chose to go in the same place as the Puppy test. I just didn’t fancy so difficult an entry that might encourage mass failure through the ranks of nineteen novice entrants. As I had a really strong and accurate dummy thrower in Phil Robinson with Mick Prince also on hand to fetch and carry, it proved a good choice. Not one dog failed to go in although there were a few who did the puppy paddle –all they need is a bit more practice as all managed to swim out & back with the dummies despite the windmill action. Judges for Novice were Gary Lee & Paul Gardiner & Open was judged by Fred Alcock.
   At the water, we had a more challenging entry for the more experienced dogs with a seen dummy on the opposite bank and a set of bushes to hide the dummy for Open. The graduate group –many of whom also were in novice also made short work of their task. However I must mention one small, young vizsla bitch (Daxpax Thorn Bird) who had been catapulted into graduate by winning a novice test earlier in the year on her first outing. Her owner was convinced she wouldn’t be able to get across the lake, never mind complete the task. I must admit, at the start, her small circles of puppy paddles made it look like he might be correct. However I noticed she was swimming properly for a few strokes and suggested he persevere. It was early in the day, so I felt she couldn’t be too tired and she was last in her group –no-one was waiting for a turn. With a mixture of paddling, swimming, odd plunges forward and with continued encouragement from her handler, Ped. Barnard, she made it there & back & brought the dummy to hand. It did take time but what a triumph! What a brave little trouper she was- I don’t know who was more pleased –the dog, the handler or the judge!
    I must say this HPRBA day continued to be a pleasant one –with a lovely soup & salad spread plus sweet for the judges & helpers, a fun raffle and a lunch time conformation test for anyone who wanted to have the expert opinion of Lyndsey Townsend. I was particular pleased to meet up again with Lyndsey as we remembered meeting at shows together years ago & she remembered my Weimaraner, Ben –SH CH Amyas Major JW & his difficulties with water training, It did take a long time for Ben to swim successfully as he depended on his Mum to fetch the dummy, only to take it off her when she reached the shore! He did swim successfully in the end but when he finally got off the bottom his windmill action had to be seen to be believed. As with everything we do with dogs, perseverance won the day so that he eventually could tackle a swift flowing river but it was preceded by many attempts on & off a rope lead, across a narrow canal before he became confident.
   Another lovely thing about the day was to see Di Arrowsmith, Chairman of the HPRBA out and about again after her major heart operation in the spring. She looked well but I expect she is not at quite full strength yet. Nevertheless I hope the day will have lifted her spirits & will help see her on her way to being in full action once more. She certainly tackled the raffle with gusto.
   It was also good to see Brenda Moss in action as she coached and encouraged the Special Beginner’s group-a small but select group who had the lucky chance to experience Brenda’s vast knowledge re working HPRs. And she was equally forthright in expressing her opinion that there was a great deal of talent to be had in the group – even if at one point she had a chase across a field to capture an errant Italian Spinone!
There was no one HPR breed which dominated here at Cosby today-but a good representation of breeds across the board. Some beautiful, newly acquired HPRBA cups were given out as well as the certificates for first to 4th place. The highest placed GSP & WEi. received the Fleetapple Cup & the Peaklander cup respectively. I am sure the lucky recipients will be pleased to have them as a reminder of a successful day out with their dog.