Tara’s & Maxim’s first trials Trialling in England: That means to fill in a lot of entry forms! Tara for Novice and Maxim & Swift for Open. Then the waiting starts! There are about 50 to 90 entries for a Novice Trial (and 12 or 14 dogs can have a run) and for 2 days Open it is even worse: 120 to 170 competitors hope, that they will be lucky enough to be amongst the 24 who have been drawn by lot!  Example of a waiting list (PDF) On the Continent every dog will get a qualification at the end of the trial (unless he had an eliminating fault). In England the judges want to find the best dog of the day and if at the end of the trial more then one dog is “clean” (faultless), the judges will award a 2nd / 3rd and then a COM (Certificate of Merit). Another special award is “guns choice”, given by the guns if they feel enthusiastic about a dog.

Tara was the first who had the luck of the draw – the trial was in Northumberland, Middleton Tyas. And at her very first trial she came to the run-off and at the end she got a COM!

A click on the first picture will show it much bigger and with a story around. Afterwards, by clicking the arrows, you can navigate from one picture to the next. Have fun!

Callaly Castle

Maxim’s first Open Trial of this season was at Callaly Castle.

And Swift? 1st at an All Age und 2nd at a 2days Open Qualifying! But more later!!!