21st October 2008

Its been ages since I last posted on this training diary. I have gotten very lazy in my posting but I am back now with renewed enthusiasm (I hope). 
well it has been a great year with my Spaniel Molly. Both of us have learned so much and come a long way. Over the summer I ran her in 3 Working Tests here in Ireland. The first was in my local club North Tipperary Working Spaniel Club. I was very nervous that day I can tell you and I think it spilled over onto Molly also. It was a very enjoyable experience all the same and we made some new friends and received lots of advice. Following on from that I went to a few training sessions with one of Irelands best Spaniel Handlers Pat Brennan. The advice and encouragement he has given me over the summer has helped and improved us no end. Our second Working Test (novice) was run by the Clodagh Valley Gundog Club. I was less nervous this time following the training classes. There was a big improvement in both Molly and my performance. At the end of the run the judge complimented us on our progress. 
The final Working Test we entered was the National Working Test (novice) held at the National Game Fair in Birr Castle and run by the English Springer Spaniel Club of Ireland. The organiser Larry Taaffe is another person who was very helpful to me in the early days of Molly's training (and mine). Our run in this test went very well with a hunt up in very bare ground, a blind retrieve following a drop to shot, further hunt up with a long marked retrieve and another hunt followed by a marked water retrieve. After our run I felt we had done well after picking all our retrieves and hunting a decent pattern. I was delighted at the awards presentation to hear that we had received 3rd place. The feeling of joy and satisfaction I felt matched anything I every felt on the Hurling or Rugby fields. I am hooked! 
I have now send off entry forms to a couple of novice trials coming up in November so hopefully we will get a run in a few before the end of the season. I can't wait. I will try and post more regularly over the winter and will definitely report back on any trials we manage to get a run in.