Novice & Open Working Tests held at Westfield Farm, Burdale Lane, Fimber by kind permission of the landowner, Mr Andrew Baxter. 5th June 2026.

The 7 & 8th events of 2026 VOYWR’ s Working Test season, a Novice Test followed by an Open, were held at the beautiful Farthings Vineyard at Westfield Farm, Fimber,- probably the only working test in the world held in a vineyard!

It was a perfect weather, warm, dry & overcast with a good breeze; 28 Novice competitors, followed in the afternoon by a further by 29 Open ones were challenged by 3

interesting static Tests, and a “walk up” in the Novice with the challenge of a remote-controlled bolting Rabbit!

These scenarios were set by judges Sue Hales -Lowe (A Panel), Glynn Coupar (A Panel), Julie Campbell and David Houghton NP ‘s.

Glynn Coupar summed up the day on behalf of the judges. He complemented the winners on the high standard of dogs and handlers.

We are extremely grateful for a good team of Helpers including some new recruits.

Sincere thanks go to the very willing Committee Members who helped to make day go smoothly, did the raffle, provided refreshments, lunches, prizes, added up the scores, sorted out the awards and helped placing dummies on the tests etc – and also to clear up when all the excitement died down and everyone just wanted to get home.

There is no tangible way to say thank you to them but they certainly kept me sane

and it could not have happened without all of them.

We must also give a special thank you to Andrew Baxter who provided a bottle of his wine for the Novice winner and one of his Sparkling for the Open winner!

A big thank you goes to our sponsors Skinners Dog Foods who provided vouchers for those in the awards.

Congratulations go to the worthy winners. (pictures to follow)

Novice (28 competitors)

(There was a run off for 1st & 2nd place)

1st Esless Olson of Aggsdale Handler – Andrew Sharp

2nd Knappleton Heart Handler – Ruth Pople

3rd Woogra Love of My Life of Willownewt Handler – Abby Samuels

4th Tarnedge Run Riot Handler - Eden Parish

COM

Molesbreath Grace Handler- Sam Little

Open (26 competitors)

(There was a run off for 2nd ,3rd, 4th places)

1st Moscargrange Freya of Castlemans Handler – Phillippa Williams

2nd Lonicerium Ace Handler – Bill Emms

3rd Allmikamores Glorious Day Handler – David Latham

COM’s

Mikamores Fahrenheit Handler – David Latham

Deetons Gold Handler - Bob Bowes

Botcherghyl Eider Handler - Hannah Welsh

Maplecrest Nero Handler - Charlotte Brown

Unfortunately, Charlotte had to leave before the scores had been collated. She was in the run off for 2nd, 3rd, & 4th. As the standard of her Dog had been very high the judges felt it should be recognised in some way and awarded her a COM .

A big thank you goes to our sponsors Skinners Dog Foods who provided vouchers for the winners.

Mollie Lord

Joint WT secretary