Page 130 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021
P. 130
The Association managed a grouse pointing marshalled around the ground for each of the
test in February 2020, after which the annual four constituent tests, with strict covid safety
working test was arranged for August 2020 in measures in place.
Wiltshire, but little did anyone know that the
However, the WA’s planned August working test
Wuhan disaster was going to hit the UK with
in Wiltshire could not be spread over three days
coronavirus, and with such virulence that it would
even with participant limits so had to be curtailed.
end normal life for goodness how long.
With the Government optimistic for bringing the
Covid Interruptus virus under control it was hoped to reschedule
for September. But to no avail.
The spring lockdown had barely ended, with
social distancing and hand hygiene measures HPR Field Trials Season 2020/21
to continue, and group of six measures to be
Thoughts then turned to what might be possible
enforced. So carefully laid plans for a water
for field trials, and it would take the sterling
training day by the WA Working Secretary had to
efforts of the BASC (and other countryside
be adjusted and covid risk assessed.
groups – NGA, CA etc.) to secure from DEFRA
an outdoor sporting exemption for shooting in the
countryside, covid safety measures permitting.
With the exemption now secured, KC FT HPR
representatives undertook an informal survey
of FT Secretaries to examine how much
enthusiasm there was for a resumption of field
trials.
For my part, with my enthusiasm for field events
undimmed, I asked the HPR representatives
to secure from the Kennel Club a framework
within which clubs could operate field trials
in compliance with the shooting exemption
conditions.
Resumption of Field Trials
At the 11th hour of the 11th day (well almost, at
least the 11th day), the day before the glorious
WA Water Day – Safety Measures
12th and the start of the grouse shooting season,
Pic: J George-Ainscough
the Kennel Club issued a formal operational
guide for the resumption of field trials. Under
But the event went ahead without incident and
this guide, which ran to seven pages of
proved to be a dress rehearsal of what could be
stipulations to minimise the risk of transmission
achieved with full and enthusiastic compliance
of or contamination by the virus, and subject to
by handlers and trainers with the covid safety
hygiene, social distancing, face coverings and
measures, (distancing, hygiene and test and
other precautions, and subject to bespoke covid
trace).
risk analyses for each venue, clubs would be
Working Test 2020 Curtailed licensed to run field trials.
A fellow HPR club led the way in the summer There were no Government imposed locality
with a three-stake gundog working test down limits to travelling at this stage, other than
in Romsey, Hampshire, held over three regionalised regulation in the devolved territories.
separate days with controlled bubbles of six
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021
