Report & Results on the VYWRC Novice & Open Working Tests held at Westfield Farm, Burdale Lane, Fimber on 15 June 2025 by kind permission of the landowner Mr Andrew Baxter

On a lovely summer’s morning at the beautiful Westfield Farm, with its pristine vineyards, 26 Novice competitors, followed in the afternoon by a further by 26 Open competitors were challenged by 4 Static Tests set by the judges: Godfrey Lowe (A Panel), Paul Hasney (B Panel), Helen Smith and Andrew Curtis – massive thanks go to them for giving up their day.

We are also extremely grateful for the team of helpers who threw and placed dummies, climbing up and down the steep slopes with bags of dummies - a real challenge in the hot sun.

We were very short of helpers in the afternoon as it was Father’s Day!  We definitely need to avoid that next year - a lesson learned.  The tests from the Novice, therefore, had to be adapted, not only with respect to the Open competitors but also the limited help.

Many thanks go to the very willing Committee Members who made the registration process go smoothly, did the raffle, provided refreshments, lunches, prizes and added up the scores, sorted out the awards etc – and who also helped 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.

The standard of dogs and handlers were appreciated by the judges who took time to encourage those that struggled with some of the tests.  Godfrey Lowe summed up the day including putting out a huge plea for helpers going forward.

We must also give a special thanks to Andrew Baxter whose hospitality was second to none and included an impromptu wine tasting of his wine produced from his Vineyard

Congratulations go to the worthy winners which were as follows:

Novice Award Winners (26 Competitors)

There was a run off for 3^rd 4^th and COM

1^st       Cardueae Lilac                  Handler – Rebbeca Thistle

2^nd      Maplecrest Resolute          Handler – Charlotte Brown

3^rd      Cardueae Kahli                 Handler – Mia Jobson

4^th      Molesbreath Grace            Handler – Sam Little

COM  Tarnedge Run Riot            Handler - Eden parish        

Novice Award Winners

Open Award Winners (26 Competitors)

There was a run off for 3^rd, 4th and COM

1^st      Littlegill Harry of Hillybrocks         Handler - Anthea Shelley

2^nd      Routengill Raven                         Handler – Paul Stogden

3^rd      TIdeflow Endless Love                 Handler – Stephen Townsend

4^th  Tarnedge Flynn                           Handler – Eden Parish

COM  Livercroft Billie Jo                        Handler – Sheila Tait

Open Award Winners

A big thank you goes to our sponsors Skinners Dog Foods who provided vouchers for the winners and to John and Nina Halstead who donated a month’s subscription to their Gundog Academy for the Open Test winner.

FOR YOUR DIARY

VOYWRC‘s next event are Novice and Open Working Tests at Higher Close Farm, Salterforth by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Simon Capstick on 13 July 2025

Hope to see you there!

Helpers are desperately need needed please do contact me if you can.  Please use my mobile 07973 805123 (unfortunately I cannot obtain a Facebook account)

There are lots of other jobs if you cannot chuck Dummies.

With very best wishes

Mollie Lord

Joint WT secretary