Tawd Vale Draught Test Weekend - 6th & 7th March 2010
This spectacular location boasts 90 acres of private woodland and an abundance of features that are perfect for draught work at all levels. Woken each morning by the sound of woodpeckers and pheasants, Tawd Vale is the kind of place I want to retire to when I grow old.
A beautiful bright, frosty winter afternoon when we arrived at Tawd Vale Scout camp to set up for the 2nd Draught test our group has held at this venue.
Friday was a day to relax our dogs and let them wind down a little as they are always excited when they know they will be working. After a couple of hours of play time we set the 2 draught arenas up and collected wood for the traditional non stop fire we have burning while at Tawd - a bit like the Olympic Torch! At dusk we had enough wood to see us through the first of 3 very cold frosty nights, so Les lit the BBQ and everyone was welcomed to what was undoubtedly their first BBQ of 2010. A few hot toddies and an early night was called for - ready for day one of the tests.
Saturday Level 4
Passes: Winnie & Rachel, Sandra & Willow, Jude & Yogi Bear4 dogs entered into this the highest of the draught levels, with 3 going through to the haul. Our judges Pete and Jen Lewin had a fantastic course lined up, which was challenging and full of features for the teams to work through from start to finish. All three teams passed the test with flying colours, but special congratulations MUST go to Rachel and Winnie (who has no sight) who showed absolute trust and devotion to each other every step of the way. I was truly honoured to watch such a wonderful achievement and felt very humbled.
Saturday Level 2
Passes: Missy & Sarah, Jules & Paddy, Dorothy & MontyStraight back from the demanding Level 4 haul, Rachel & Jude then had the Level 2 test to judge together. A good mix of 1st, 2nd and 3rd timers on the test, all of whom did really well on the control section, but the down stay meant that our new star Troy wasn't able to go on to the Haul as he had far too much fun running round the ring doing a lap of honour with a marker cone. Henry H Barber also joined in the fun and the 2 youngsters just wouldn't settle enough to pass this element of the test. Exceptional teamwork was shown in the 3 passes - congratulations and keep up the good work to progress to higher levels. Special mention in this test must go to Dorothy who declared 'Pensioner Power' on the haul as she single handily picked up her cart and carried it across a huge ditch!
Saturday Level 1
Passes: Dorothy & Monty, Mick & Troy, Mick & Trooper, Jude & Paddy, Jules & Paddy, Sarah & Missy, Les & Murphy, Rachel & Tally, Sandra & Daisy, Pete & BorrisAlison's first judging appointment with co-judge Sandra Constable meant she was in good hands and had all the support you could wish for on your first test.
A few of our new members entered this for the first time, along with old timers and more experienced dogs using Level one as a warm up for the weekend. Just a couple of dogs not making it through today - we all have off days!
Everyone had worked so hard on Saturday working their dogs and helping out one way or another that after hot Cottage Pie served by the fire most people were ready for another early night. Les and I were celebrating our 3rd Wedding anniversary and were presented by 2 lovely Chinese lanterns by Sarah, so we wrote our wishes on them and watched them drift away into the dark of the night.
Sunday Level 3
Passes: Jude & PaddyOut of the 5 dogs entered in level 3, only 1 made it through to the Haul - Me and my Paddy Pants. We've had our issues with Paddy and to pass this Level was the highlight of the weekend for me. Paddy loved every bit of the challenge and it was great to be joined on the haul by Paddy Tate Hall who hadn't quite passed the control section but came along for the experience. Jules and Paddy TH had a fantastic time on the haul and really enjoyed the challenges.
Sunday Level 2
Passes - Alison & Henry, Dorothy & MontyA total of 4 entries for Level 2 on the second day with 2 going on to the Haul. Troy boy was in for his second attempt but just preferred to run and play with anyone who would take him on, rather than lying still for 2 minutes out of 24 hours! Level 4 dog Deifen also gave the judges lots of entertainment as he behaved like a complete newcomer and Sandra and I couldn't write the deducted marks down quick enough! Having said that he performed the perfect recall and down stay parts of the test, but it just goes to show that as mentioned in Saturday Level 1, we all have our off days and sometimes the dogs just want to play.
Sunday level 1
Passes - Mick & Troy, Dorothy & Monty, Jude & Murphy, Rachel & Jeli, Sandra & Bramble, Rachel & Deifen, Rachel & Casper, Chris & Yogi bear, Rachel & TallyPhil had the pleasure of his first judging appointment with Jen Lewin who stepped in to cover for Pete who was still out on the Level 3 haul. Again, a good mix of dogs from the newcomers to the oldies, all passing today with flying colours.
Special well done to Jeli for staying still and then completing a lovely recall, & for getting up again when she sat down on the pull section and completing the task, in spite of the handler Rachel ignoring her owners instructions on how to get her to do it. Oh She's a princess...
All in all the weekend was a huge success, dogs and owners leaving having had a great time and promising to come back next year...
Jude Moulsdale
Lancashire Rescue Bears
Tawd Vale Draught Workshop - Saturday 6th February 2010
The season kicked off with the LRB Draught workshop at Tawd Vale, an idylic 80 acre scout camp near buscough in Lancashire.
It started on friday afternoon with set up of camp, a clear and starry friday night was time for a great meal a la Jude (as usual!!) followed by a couple of well earned drinks (never been great at counting while drinking)and a couple of sing songs around a camp fire with friends.
A misty Saturday morning began with bacon & egg butties by Sarah, and arrival of members and potential new members and their lovely Newfoundlands (the people weren't too bad either).
On a serious note, the workshop's aim is to welcome Newfoundland owners to our Newfoundland training group and the natural carting abilities of the breed. This is started with a good general obedience session to get dogs AND handlers in the right frame of mind.
Our experienced members then showed people new to carting, how to harness their dogs and then safely walk their dogs around a field whilst observing the dogs behaviour and reaction to the cart attached and pulling behind them, it's great to see new dogs and owners carting for the first time!
To give everyone a well earned break, we had trays of lovely hotpot and peas, everyone enjoyed this as it didn't last long, not bad considering we were in the middle of the field.
After a break of chatting with new people, and admiring many newfs it was back to the matter in hand, carting, this time its the turn of the owners. We loaded the carts with bottles of water then set off on a short haul with people pulling the cart behind them through the kind of abstacles that are used on tests. I'm sure the beginners think this is nothing more than a giggle at them (well we did a bit) but honestly it's so they can feel and experience the cart behind them as the dog would, we've all done it and it just makes you understand what the dog endures and why it has to be done with all the safety and welfare of the dog in mind.
After another break for drinks, it was time to take the new dogs and owners out, so dogs harnessed up and carts attached, a line of undoubtedly nervous handlers led by the mega talented Murphy set off along a track through the woods, Jude would then instruct which way to go and what obstacles to navigate using Murphy and me to demonstrate; I thought everyone did very well for the first time, but most importantly, hope everyone had a lot of fun, especially as the weather was really good to us for early feb'.
After the haul, we held a quick raffle and more chatting, as always about newfies - and Beau, of course, our honanry Alaskan Malmute who had a slightly different set up for the day. he ran most of the way pulling a small sled and loved every minute of it.
Saturday evening after most had gone home, and the fog started to roll in, we decided to go to Tesco in Burscough for hot chicken and top up on drinks, whilling the night away in front of the camp fire (no idea how much wood Les cut for that fire over the weekend) having a couple more drinks and chatting about the day we had, hoping that all the new visitors had, most importatntly felt welcome and had a good day.
Sunday morning, the pack up day is always a bit of a downer, but we did lighten the start with sausage and bacon butties (we do eat well at LRB)and slowly we cram everything back into our vans and caravans, all looking forward to our next event.
Julian Hall
Lancashire Rescue Bears