SCENT OPS BRONZE TRIAL BRECKENHILLSunday 21 December 2025

Judge: Elizabeth Mitchell

1st Joanne Marshall and Harry 89 points

2nd Jillian Marshall and Humphrey 88 points

3rd Laura Kirk and Munchie 83 points

4th Dawne Wilson and Reggie 71 points

5th Irene Scott and Luna 66 points

6th Karen Crawford and Tillie 63 points

Other competitors, some just narrowly missing on the ribbons, in no particular order were:

Esther Thorpe and Max

Sandra Haveron and Woody

Joanne Maybin and Kim

Amanda Latimer and Thelma

Jo Holland and Gertie

Jemma Elliott and Arlo

The Breckenhill venue was looking very Christmassy. Judges and timers were appropriately dressed for the season with Santa hats etc! The wood burner was on, there was party food to nibble and some seasonal games for competitors to play while waiting for their turns.

The search areas were also Christmas themed. The morning Bronze was a long narrow room on the first floor in a converted barn. The landing was available for an overlap search and was used effectively by many handlers so that the dogs were already searching when they entered the room. The whole room was in the search area and the search commenced when the dog’s nose crossed the threshold. There were several windows at a low level, a fire escape door, which was closed, to the outside at the far end of the room. There were trestle tables and chairs in the centre of the room with materials including greenery for making Christmas wreaths. Piles of greenery and tubs with greenery, as well as some other items like Chrismas decorations, were located on the floor along the periphery walls. There was another table and several plastic containers near the entrance on the right-hand side.

Seven teams worked with gun oil, four with clove and one with truffle oil. Both hides were accessible to all dogs. A threshold hide was placed on a plastic container under the rim at the top on the right-hand side. Several dogs working with gun oil had difficulty working this hide to source – the scent tracked along under the rim. Those placed allowed their dogs to work the hide back to source rather than calling immediately while the dog was still working it. The second hide was on a tub containing greenery near the far end of the room. Most dogs worked this to source very nicely but some handlers did not trust their dog’s indication and called their dogs away or were slow to call the alert.

Most handlers allowed their dogs to free search or started on a line and then freed the dog for the rest of the search. Some handlers showed evidence of having a clear plan for a systematic search covering all areas including the tables in the centre and this contributed to their success.

All dogs located at least one hide. Most dogs found both hides. All teams worked really well. It was nice to see teams which had competed before and showing learning from their previous trial experience.

Well done everyone, lovely teamwork!

Special thanks to Carrie Haveron for timing and calling up, helping the morning to flow more smoothly.

Club Trial 21 Dec 25 at Breckenhill

Judge: Lesley Clements

1st Ken Hall and Sammie 82

2nd Janine Brownlees and Maverick 79.5

3rd Jemma Elliott and Arlo 77

4th Tania Carron and Forest 77

5th Julia Patterson and Jasmine 76

6th Joanne Holland and Seamus

The whole venue had been dressed up with a festive theme and both judges and competitors had been encouraged to dress up (not the dogs….at least while they were working!). This applied to each search area as well, including Club.

The area was a sectioned off part of a converted barn. Some of the outside furnitue used for summer weddings had been brought into the barn to dry out and be refurbished so there were a number trestle picnic tables to work with. These were brought loosely together and dressed up in a Christmas theme.

The hide was placed on one of the trestles between the planks forming the seat but with the odour fully accessible to the dogs. This was towards the back of the search and to the left.

The are area required the handlers to have a system rather than a haphazard approach in order to cover the search within the time and early on this became very apparent. However, all but one found the hide….some quite quickly if they began on the left and searched methodically.

Well done to all who competed!

Club Trial 21 Dec 25 at Breckenhill

Judge: Lesley Clements

1st Ken Hall and Sammie 82

2nd Janine Brownlees and Maverick 79.5

3rd Jemma Elliott and Arlo 77

4th Tania Carron and Forest 77

5th Julia Patterson and Jasmine 76

6th Joanne Holland and Seamus

The whole venue had been dressed up with a festive theme and both judges and competitors had been encouraged to dress up (not the dogs….at least while they were working!). This applied to each search area as well, including Club.

The area was a sectioned off part of a converted barn. Some of the outside furnitue used for summer weddings had been brought into the barn to dry out and be refurbished so there were a number trestle picnic tables to work with. These were brought loosely together and dressed up in a Christmas theme.

The hide was placed on one of the trestles between the planks forming the seat but with the odour fully accessible to the dogs. This was towards the back of the search and to the left.

The are area required the handlers to have a system rather than a haphazard approach in order to cover the search within the time and early on this became very apparent. However, all but one found the hide….some quite quickly if they began on the left and searched methodically.

Well done to all who competed!