Fingal January Working Trial: W.D. track pattern...Judge, Miranda Moriarty
JUDGE'S REPORT
FINGAL DOG CLUB WORKING TRIAL
WD and CD Stakes – Saturday 7th January 2017

WD STAKE
Saturday 7th January last was an ideal day for a Working Trial – sunny, just a breath of wind, mild considering it was January, but best of all, it was dry, no rain – amazing! The tracking was on grass, quite lush and very clean. There were four competitors in the WD Stake, and I’m glad to say all four got around their tracks and found both articles. Two of the competitors did not complete the Control and Agility rounds but the two who did, did so very competently. Only a few marks separated the 1st and 2nd places, and it was a joy to watch these dogs working,
1st were Revloch in Demand, BSD Groenendale, and Karen Whiteley, qualifying Excellent with 193 marks, and winning the Best Track rosette. Zak gave a master class in tracking. Appearing to be on rails, he barely lifted his head from start to finish, enthusiastically plunging around the corners onto each new leg. He then went on to do near perfect Control and Agility, just losing a few marks on the sendaway. Very well done to the two of you.
2nd were Go Bellistic, GSD, and Bairbre Sharkey, qualifying Excellent with 191.5 marks. Belle also tracked magnificently and overall was very close behind the winner, just dropping the odd half mark here and there in the Control and Agility rounds. It was a pleasure to watch the quiet, confident accuracy of their work. Very well done to you both.
CD STAKE
Several of the original entrants in the CD Stake had withdrawn before the weekend, and the remaining three opted to do Training rounds, so no awards could be given out. However, it was encouraging to see these dogs working happily, under competition conditions but without the stress of trying to qualify, or having to attempt exercises with which they are not yet totally happy. I hope they, and their handlers, enjoyed the afternoon.

THANK YOU
Thank you to Fingal Dog Club for asking me to judge; to Diana Collie and Anne Collen for tracklaying; to Helen Dignam who laid the WD squares and stewarded the Control and Agility; to Sandra Meenan who was Steward for the CD; also to Caroline Walsh for the large slice of her lovely cake.
Miranda Moriart