AMAZING SEASON 2009

Summary of activities

2009 vas the year where Guinness got his 1st prices in novice class Cold Game Test B, and where Bailey competed at international competitions in Holland and England. It was also the year where one of Bailey's progenies "Brown Hunt's Landlubber" got the official title Swedish Tracking Champion (SEVCH). Congratulations to Marlene Svendsen and Ronja! Unfortunately Bailey didn't get the last Field Trial certificate to become DKJCH (Danish Hunting Champion), but we are very happy with his DKBRCH title (Danish Working Champion) which he got in 2008 and which also gave him the "Dog photographer's challenge cup 2008" (Jagthundefotografens Vandrepræmie 2008).

Once again we must say that we are proud of Bailey and Guinness and their amazing results. They are outstanding labradors !

In February and March Bailey competed at two of "South Jutlands" qualification tests to the Danish Team Championship, and with 8 points he qualified to represent Team South Jutland at the Danish Team Championship. In March he competed at an unofficial Cold Game Test C in Dejbjerg (didn't get on the podium), followed by an unofficial Working Test in Ravnholt Estate, where he got on the podium as WT4. Due to the tough trainings to the spring's Skinner's Cup in England and the International Working Test in Holland, plus the Danish Retriever Championship, we decided to unsubscribe Bailey at the Danish Team Championship.

In April Guinness had his debut at official Cold Game Tests B, and competed two times; 1st time in Kulsoe where he got 1st price and 2nd time on Funen where he got 2nd price. On 10th May Guinness and Bailey competed at an official Working Test in Bjerregrav Mose; Bailey won the Winners Class and Guinness got on the podium as WT4 in Novice Class.

On 24th - 25th May Bailey and Bo represented "Denmark" at Skinner's World Cup Retriever Event at Highclere in England. They teamed up with Danny Fraser and Waterfriend Overawe, Steen Ludvigsen and Thirsgaards McAllen, plus Thorleif Riegelstrup and Trompeterbakkens Grace. This was a Working Test, where we competed in teams and were tested at the highest WT-level. A total of 44 dogs competed, representing 11 countries, and Denmark ended at a 10th place with Wales as the winning team. However an incredible performance by the Danish team. Bailey and Bo ended individually as the best Danish dog with 208 score points which gave a 9th place. Follewed by Thorleif and Grace with 205 score points (=11th place). Danny and Gipsy got 192 score points and Steen and Buddy 154 score points.
 

On 13th - 14th June Bailey and Bo represented "Team Denmark 2" at the International Working Test in Holland. They teamed up with Steen Ludvigsen and Thirsgaards McAllen, and Thorleif Riegenstrup and Trompeterbakkens Grace. The team ended on a 14th place (of 22 teams) and individually Bailey and Bo got a 9th place (of 66 dogs).

At the Danish Retriever Championship on 20th - 21st June, it was clear that Bailey didn't have much strengh left. Bailey passed the first day's tough competition but didn't have enough score points to pass on to the next day's competition. However, he rehabilitated his good name by winning the Dog photographer's challenge cup 2008" (Jagthundefotografens Vandrepræmie 2008) which was handed over during the Danish Retriever Championship. He got the cup because he was the most winning retriever on official Danish Cold Game Test B's and official  Danish Working Tests in 2008. The cup was a picture of a labrador in a wooden frame with a small silver plaquette with Baileys name and winning year. The picture is right now on our wall in our kitchen but unfortunately we have to take it down and give it further to the 2009-winner. We enjoy showing the cup to our family and friends and always tell a good story about what we use all our spare time on; which is being together with our two wonderful labradors and of course our two lovely boys, Simon and Tobias :-)

During the summer Bailey competed at an official Working Test at Feddet (to be more exactly it was on 16th July) and he got on the podium as WT5. On 26th July Guinness got 2nd price at an official Cold Game Test B in Mid-Jutland. This was one of the preliminaries to the 2009 DRK Youth Championship on 9th August at Loevenholm. Guinness went through extreme trainings and maybe Bo did put too much pressure on Guinness, but as Bo says: "when I was in the situation, I almost forgot what I promised myself. I am a very competitive person :-) and what I want the most, is to see my wonderful dog finish such an important competition as the Youth Championship".

On the DRK Youth Championship we had a great day in good company with dogsfriends. The competition posts were fantastic! Twelve dogs finished (out of 113 dogs) and Guinness was one of them :-) He got 1st price and ended on a shared 8th place. We are so proud of Guinness finishing this Youth Championship as it's not at all easy.

In autumn Bailey competed at the official Field Trial A's, and here he managed to compete on three competitions (Engstofte, Lerchenborg og Valdemar Castle). He got on the podium twice with a 4th winner with CK (=certificate quality) and a 3rd winner. Unfortunately he did not get his last certificate which would have given him the official title of Danish Hunting Champion, DKJCH. During autumn Guinness also went to two "pick-ups" (estate huntings), and he did well with steadiness so he looks promishing for the field trial A's.

Bailey is still able to mix with the best working retrievers, despite his age of 8 years old, and this only highlights that he is an outstanding labrador. Bailey didn't compete at further official field trials in this season, and we doubt that he can continue on this high level in 2010. We hope that Guinness can follow his fathers steps... :-)

We will begin year 2010 with an official DKK show in Fredericia with Guinness in Open Class so he will be ready for possible breeding, and further to this we will enter him in Open Class on official and unofficial Cold Game Tests/Field Trials, and possibly there will be some Working Tests for both Guinness and Bailey.