A dry spring day on well grown wheat, small set aside and white grass areas and a well grown rape field.    Where possible all dogs were worked into the wind with the junior dogs running first.
From a full card of GSP’s, Weimaraners, Hungarian Vizslas, GWP, Large Munsterlander and a Korthals Griffon we had an enjoyable day and were delighted to be able to grade 5 dogs.

Junior Dogs
Karen Saynor – Large Munsterlander – Tarkanya Spikey’s Splendour – Very Good
This bitch was a pleasure to watch.  She covered her beat completely from edge to edge with style and the minimum of handling.   Clearly acknowledging scent she just dropped her nose and followed ground scent for a short distance and ultimately two running partridge burst out on the extreme right of her beat.   Hunting on she continued in a good pattern and once again indicated that she had birds ahead of her and came onto staunch point and on command produced a brace of partridge to which she was very steady.
Di Arrowsmith – GSP – Fleetapple Ophelia - Good
Another very stylish running bitch who showed great potential albeit a little over careful on occasions.   Quietly handled she covered her beat with pace and her ground treatment was good.   On her first run she did point at the boundary hedge and then carried on hunting the hedge but we were not in a position to see what was pointed.   Her second run was blank yet once again she covered her beat and was careful when hitting scent.    On her third run we ended up in a tall field of rape which she found at times a little daunting as the growth was very tall.  However she did come onto a staunch point and produced a brace of partridge on command – her steadiness was acceptable

Adult
Sheila Cunningham – Weimaraner – Peaklander's Solitaire - Good
This bitch had quite a scrappy set aside/white grass area which showed signs of a great rabbit population.   Her pattern and ground treatment could have been better as she did drop her head and repeatedly covered the same ground.  Moving onto an area of white grass she immediately picked up her head carriage and came onto staunch point.   On command she flushed hard covering quite a distance and a brace of partridge lifted to the left of where she finished her flush.
Rob Blacker Kyle – Korthals Griffon – Roclaire Amant Accord
Very Good
This dog had a huge wheat field which he set off with good pace covering a good beat.   Nicely handled he showed very good ground treatment which was a pleasure to watch.   Clearly indicating that he had game ahead of him he came onto point and on command the judges saw him produce a single partridge – the second partridge lifted behind the tree and this was not seen.  Dog was very steady to the flush.
Debbie Bowns – GSP – Swifthouse Morse - Good
Stylish running dog who had his first run in a white grass area surrounding a small wood.   Handler was a little noisy and at times she over handled which resulted in his ground treatment being a bit messy and un-natural.   On his second run in a similar white grass/set aside area he once again went off with great pace and style.  Due to the narrow piece of ground the handler kept him tight and at the end of his ground he pointed and produced a brace of partridge to which he was steady.

Many thanks to the HPRBA for inviting us to judge at their event and the organisation on the day which resulted in an excellent day and an excellent result.

Judge – Mrs Maureen Nixon and Miss Sharon Pinkerton