The Newfoundland Club

Wow – what a weekend….
Following only a week after the August Bank Holiday and the various events and tests held that weekend, and also only a week prior to the SNC’s Jersey Water Trial weekend, I must admit to feeling a little apprehensive that our entries might suffer….. How wrong was I.
It is a long time since we have been forced to run both of our swims, let alone run them both on both days….. but that is exactly the format we found ourselves faced with, 38 tests on the Saturday alone.
A final entry of 61 tests across the weekend, and that was after 3 late withdrawals. Made up of Section A – 17, Section B – 18, Section C – 19, Section D – 5, and Section E – 2.
We welcomed guests from Terranova, WNAG, Rother, and Manvers all of whom enjoyed the comfort of our Luxury Lakeside Lodges for the weekend, they were all put to good use with plenty of stewarding duties. Many thanks for all of your help.
Our friends at SEWN kindly supported us all weekend, and we were very grateful to them for the loan of an engine when ours decided it didn’t wish to play.
What is most notable now, and particularly as this was one of the last Water Tests of the season, is that whilst most of the entries are from younger dogs as a consequence of the Covid Lockdown period, those dogs have since that time now graduated through the lower levels and are progressing through the more advanced levels…. When was the last time anyone had 19 entries at level C ?
At Section A – all of the entries passed
At Section B – the pass rate was 50 % - with 9 passes - for Rachel and Simon Saunders with both Crumble and Apollo, Beverley and Kevin Clarke with Gracie, Kim Rhodes with Izzy, Sue and Kevin Sanders with Millie, James Rogers with Teddy, Cathy Martin with Twiggy, Ken Richards with Valerie, and Jan and Graham Hill with Wilma.
At Section C – the pass rate was almost 50 % - with 9 passes for Rachel and Simon Saunders with both Crumble and Apollo, Chris and Clive Haylock with Georgia, Fran Hewson and Jay Rhodes with both Sully and Mike, Kay and Jeff Burridge with Marta, Carol and David Taylor with Sura, Ken Richards with Valerie, and Jan and Graham Hill with Wilma.
At Section D – we had 2 terrific passes from the 5 entries – whilst Wabana handled by Catherine Stovin has passed this level previously, it was delightful to watch Sully handled by Jay Rhodes achieve his 1st D pass.
At Section E – unfortunately neither of our 2 entries passed on this occasion.
After a heavy downpour on the Friday evening whilst we were setting up for the weekend, the weather remained comfortably warm and settled with little breeze all weekend, all of which helped to keep conditions good for the dogs.
In order to ensure we managed to sensibly get through all of the tests, Test Manager’s briefings were held on time at 9.30 on both days, and we were in the water no later than 10.30 on both days. Thank-you to everyone who perhaps had to set off a little sooner than normal to ensure we got through all of the tests. On both days we managed to complete the tests and clear away in good time.
On the Saturday we ran Section E first, and then once that had completed briefings for both Section C and Section A were given and both tests commenced at the same time in the two separate test areas we have.
On the Sunday – briefings for both Section B and Section D were given and again they both commenced at the same time in separate test areas.
To our Judges, the stewards, our entrants, and those guests who came along to observe, thank-you for your support over the weekend, and we hope to see you all again next year.

Our thanks to The Newfoundland Club for inviting Martin and I to judge at Grangewaters. Perfect day for test's with 18 entries, 9 passes all of a good standard.

More work needed generally in ensuring boat is closer to shore so that crew can safely get out of the boat in less than knee depth water.

More confidence from handlers in controlled swim needed, Trust your dog

This was the last water tests of 2023 and section 'D' was held in near perfect conditions this morning. We had five dogs entered and two very nice passes. The two sticking points were D1 taking the coil out and D2 jump from boat to stranger in the time allowed. We are confident these dogs will be successful in the future. Congratulations to the teams that passed.

Thanks to Alan for a superbly organised test and to all our stewards and the team at Grangewaters for their hospitality.