ScentOps Club, Bronze and Silver Trial Breckenhill

Sunday 2 November 2025

Judge: Lesley Clements

1st Nicky Rodgers and Keefa 73 points

2nd Stacey Elliott Downs and Beep 72 .5 points

3rd Jemma Elliott and Arlo 71.5 points

4th Joanne Holland and Seamus 64 points

5th Geraldine Martin and Ellie 64 points (on time)

6th Katie Wilson and Leia 62 points

The club trial took place in a section of the bar area in a converted barn. Down the middle were some tables and chairs in a long row with various items along the sides…. rough cut benches and stools, a PA system, a folded up gazebo on its side, a screen etc etc There was a One of the perimeter walls had several floor to ceiling windows window plus a fire exit doorway and a normal double doorway.

The hide was located on a rough cut stool, hidden just under the seat. The stool had been located in one of the far corners, among some other items and adjacent to a natural stone wall. Most of the teams set off in an anticlockwise direction, working the perimeter first and ignoring the middle section. Only the winning team demonstrated a recognisable system.

Most of the dogs passed by the odour and picking it up along the stone wall and working it back to source so there were some unmistakable changes of behaviour. All teams found the odour with only one team having a false alert.

Some lovely new teams out on this one.

Bronze Trial - Breckenhill 2nd Nov 2025 Judges Report

Judge Janine Brownlees

The area was an upstairs room in a converted barn. It was currently being used as a hair/make up and dressing room for a small TV production and was filled with make up stations and costumes.

A very interesting search area and I was spoiled for choice with hide locations!

Many teams were attempting their first or one of their first Bronze Trials and there were many discussions on how to handle it when they walked the area.

Some were a little overwhelmed and some thoroughly embraced the challenge.

One hide was at the far end of the room on the base of a clothes rail and the other on a table about a third of the way in with various coats draped on top. This was a busy area with another clothes rail nearby and also a make up table. It proved to be the trickier hide and although many dogs showed interest in the area only 3 teams were able to locate it.

A real mix of ability in the teams that ran, with varying degrees of success but I believe everyone took away a positive experience and found it a great learning curve for their young, up and coming dogs.

I enjoyed watching you all search and hope my feedback helps you in your journey!

Silver scent ops trial - 2 Nove 25 - Breckenhill - Judges Report

Judges - Caroline Finlay and Patrice Kerrigan

Ist Janine Brownlees and Duster 97

2nd Lesley Clements and Tejo 95

3rd Mary Jane McBride and Mitch 84

4th Andrea Neuhold and Silver 74

5th Dawne Wilson and Reggie 71

6th Joanne Holland and Gertie 68

The search area was a large hall being used as storage for props for a TV show.

There were several instances where systematic searches were necessary, and having a search plan for the room proved very useful, ensuring that teams covered as much of the area as possible within the 5 minutes.

The first hide was inaccessible midway down the hall on the left-hand side. It was placed in a clip on a box, approximately 50cm high and 30cm from the edge of the box. The second hide was at the corner of a cupboard, fully accessible to the dogs, but at the very back of the hall, so some teams didn’t make it to that area.

Time management was key to success in this search! All teams showed great teamwork during this search, and the dogs that found the inaccessible hide worked beautifully to pinpoint the odour.

It was great to see improvement in so many of the teams that we hadn’t judged in a long time.