THE Irish Flatcoated Retriever Society held a working test in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind at the home of Mr & Mrs John Agnew near Saintfield recently.
Over 60 entries were received for the event which included Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Curly Coated Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Flatcoated Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels.
Alan Hanna receives the David Carlisle Memorial Trophy from Mrs Pauline McKenna (Guide Dogs for the Blind).
The main sponsors were Countryside Alliance Ireland, Calor Gas and Sneyds Wonder Dog Food.
The tests were carried out in the three different classes - Prelim, Novice and Open - with a special award for best Flatcoat. Despite some inclement weather on the morning all dogs performed to the highest of standards and as they were put thought their paces on a challenging course, which included water retrieves under the expert eye of three judges.
The winners were:
Prelim Class: Labrador-Irish Princess - Handler - Gerard McKay.
Novice Class: Labrador- Stoneworks Ash- Handler - Herbert Malcomson.
Open Class: Labrador- Garrilyn Morpheus- Handler - Alan Hanna.
Best Performance Flatcoat: Walnut Farm Nula – Handler – Simon Parke.
Top Flatcoat on the Day - Walnut Farm Nula retrieving to handler/owner Simon Parke.
A scurry also took place which involved the retrieve of two dummies against the clock and the winner was Elmer Smith with his Labrador in a time of 30.46 seconds. The sum of £1000 was raised for the Guide Dogs for the Blind as a result of the admirable support from competitors, spectators and donors.
