Tests 2026

Open AV Retriever Working Test

Saturday 18th April

Held at: Thelveton Estate BKPO of The Mann Family

Judges: Peter Hurst, Karen Hurst, Mike Hamilton, and David Wall

1st - Birdsgreen Lyric of Bobwalden (Tammy White) [Dunlin Cup winner]

2nd - Anningtonbay Loyal (Cynthia Thackwell)

3rd - Hullabaloo Thunder of Thorchase (Vince Thorby)

CoMs - Pinfeathers Excalibur (Callum Raywood), and Pinfeathers Galahad (Callum Raywood) [Thomas Kidner Shield winner for youngest dog in the awards]

We held our Open Working Test at the beautiful Thelveton Estate BKPO of The Mann Family (thank you Georgina Mann for coming to support us). This Estate is beautiful and I was spoilt for choice when keeper Adam took me round to chose. I decided on The Larches which had the most choice of different types of cover and terrain and it didn't disappoint. Four sets of two retrieves in the morning including a mark down an avenue of trees, and a blind through reeds across the river through a hedge, this retrieve proved the undoing of a few dogs. A hunting exercise in thick bracken sending the dog back to the same area. A mark in long grass out of a wood with a blind under a large rhododendron in the wood, and lastly two long marks down hedge lines in thick lush grass. The dogs were given every chance to pick and most dogs did. My merry team of helpers were fabulous: Sam Daniels, Melanie Newton, Jane Digweed, Ollie, Phil Askew, Margaret Askew, Jac Garrard, and Gill Stebbings. They were excellent and very nice to get some newbies out helping. Big thanks to Essential Foods for their very generous sponsorship. Big thanks again to everyone, there was a really nice atmosphere all day, helped of course by the lovely weather.