Holland’s Gerda Companjen and her four-year old black Labrador Hanrebor Sir Patrick won the inaugural Individual Working Test at this year’s CLA Game Fair at Harewood House in Yorkshire.
Forty competitors from eight different European countries competed in the new competition which simulated the work of retrievers finding game on shoots, in this case retrieving dummies.
Each handler and dog were tested on marking ability on retrieves on land, over fences, in cover and from water. The judges also assessed how the competitors handled blind retrieves. Each retrieve was scored out of 20 points, with a maximum of 120 points. Gerda and Patrick scored an impressive 113 points to win.
Gerda commented: “I regularly attend the CLA Game Fair with my gundogs. In fact this is the seventh year that we have competed. It is great that the organisers have introduced this new competition for 2015, as it gives us European handlers another excuse to visit. Patrick worked fantastically today, I am delighted that we won, especially with so many talented dogs running.”
The CLA Game Fair’s Gundog Chairman, Jonty Lightowler added: “Phil Wagland, the organiser for the European Events at this year’s CLA Game Fair put on a well supported Individual Working Test for the eight European Countries who made the long trip to Harewood House. We were rewarded with some exceptional dog work and a six dog run-off. In talking to the European competitors they will be supporting this event again next year at Ragley.”
