A successful Spring Pointing Test for Sam in snow and gales at Trimm's Green -when he was graded "Good" and best of the ‘Junior’ entry. News today is of another aircraft crash - this time with engine failure at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport - and yet more people died.
The dogs had slept well overnight, but I had been late to bed and then restless thinking of the meeting and problems of dog clubs and training. If Jim had not been with me, I would have thought seriously of giving the club events a miss. However, today was all set for him to do well as his pointing achievements with Ben were due for recognition.
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I was just concerned about keeping Sam in check as he is inclined to run amok. Up early and with time after breakfast for us to take a run over the Mill Meadow opposite where I wanted to try a regime of stricter control with Sam before this afternoon's pointing test. He did quite well, even with Ben as a distraction at one end and a bitch in season being walked on the other! Then to the car and on our way. We arrived at Sawbridgeworth in good time and some exercise for Sam and Ben before the off.
Attendance was not very good but there were sufficient to make it competitive; particularly with nine entries on the Junior side. I had the very chairman of the meeting last night as the host and main judge for my group this morning and could only hope that he had not taken too much offence! The weather had started sunny and fine again as yesterday but then the wind got up, the clouds came over and we had another dose of sleet and snow as well as the gales to put judges, dogs and handlers under almost impossible pressure. I was running last and thankfully sat in the car and followed the action around until it was my turn.
No dog had found a bird and pointed it in these conditions and then, the young dog in front of me even found the conditions too much to hunt and did not want to know. I stepped forward with Sam knowing that I could not disgrace myself. With a strong and cold wind full in our face, I cast him off and was pleased that he ran well and fairly flat for once. He covered the ground fluently with head held high and had no concern for the wind that, if anything, held him back under control nicely. He turned well into the wind at the end of each movement and cast out well and then, as his first run was coming to an end he came solidly onto point as I was trying to get him over to the other side of the field.
Both judges winced as I whistled him away and thus interfered with his good efforts. A brace of partridges flushed and I dropped him to the flush after a few paces. I still had some ground left uncovered to my right and so I called him over and set him off again. In no time, he had come to another solid point again and I walked up to him and, by sheer inexperience came in at the wrong angle and flushed the bird myself accidentally! Even so, Sam had done well and, after the blanks of the others and in recognition of his youth and my greenness, the judges awarded us a grading - "Good" - and, even though Sam only had this one run and the others up to three chances to try and find game, this was the only one today for the Junior Class; a notable achievement.
Well done Sam! The only other runner to get a grading was one of the judge's adult bitches who was very experienced and got a "Very Good". Sam had triumphed in harsh conditions and had not been put off where others had thrown in the towel. A better meeting this time for the de-briefing and a certificate presentation for me to end the two days on a positive note. Then the long drive back to Norfolk, dropping Jim and Ben off at Wymondham and coming back to Harnser for the night. Horror of horrors,
I had left the Harnser keys at home and had to raise poor old Jack for him to let me in. Up late writing up these last two days' journal and then a bath and tired to bed. News today is of another aircraft crash - this time with engine failure at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport - and yet more people died. The French government backed down today and the soldier veterans will get their pre-booked hotel places for the "D-Day" commemoration dates after all. The third Tory MP now called for John Major's resignation, calling him a ventriloquist's dummy!