CLUB TRIAL BRECKENHILL 15 FEBRUARY 2026

Judges Report

Judge: Antoinette Traynor

The club trial was held in a small section of the function room at Breckenhill. The section was cordoned off by a row of chairs that were not in play for the search. Entrance into the search area was through a large cased opening which was supported by H irons (the inner side of the irons was included in the search).

On entry to the search area (going right) was a large wooden barrel and picnic table, followed by more picnic tables as you turned left, plus two summer seats that were placed in a 'V' shape, which meant dogs were encouraged to push in towards the V. Beyond the summer seats, there was two small stools in a corner beside a metal door and then the cased opening.

The hide was on the underside of one of the stools.

Most teams got the hide, how quickly, depended on whether they chose to go left or right. Teams going left did find it quicker but when they came to the scent pool, it took slightly longer to go to source. The air movement at the door appeared to have caused it. The dogs who turned right at the start of the search ended up doing a larger search but most teams handled this really well and did great coverage of the whole area. However, when these dogs came to the stool they went to source very quickly. It was interesting to watch the dogs depending on which angle they had approached the stool from and how it affected going to source.

A really good standard of club level dogs

1st Sandra Haveron and Woody 91

2nd Mandy Ring and Kobe 88

3rd Lorraine Brownlie and Jules 87

4th Carrie Haveron and Buzz 85

5th Julia Patterson and Jasmine 84

6th Jemma Elliott and Arlo 65