Page 131 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021

Event Practicalities

With being responsible for the season’s first
two Open trials, it fell to me to distil the KC
Operational Guide into a practical risk mitigation
protocol, to set out strictly how, as designated
“Covid Safety Officer” (CSO) I intended to run
field trials for the WA.

As CSO I made a safety announcement at the
start of each trial, explaining and reinforcing the
KC’s guide, our risk mitigation protocol, and the
consequences of non-compliance, in the sternest
terms possible. It was stated that the day was
more than a field trial but was also a stern test of
whether the HPR field trialling community could
Blenweim Sweet Lady of Bastillian
adhere to these strict safety protocols.
Pic: N Wroe
At what turned out to be the last HPR trial of the
season, the WA Novice FT went ahead in Kent/
Sussex on 19th December 2020.

Later that day the south east of England would
be placed into the new tier 4, and the planned
relaxation of Christmas travel restrictions
between tiers would not go ahead.

Given the discovery
of a mutation to the
original coronavirus,
which was more
contagious, and
in the light of
the emphatic
Pic: Alfee Images
Government
restrictions on travel
As it happened the measures were
between tiers, on 21st December 2020 the
enthusiastically embraced by all participants and
Kennel Club requested the curtailment of all
at the trials run under my protocols, there were
remaining field trials and the 2020/21 HPR Field
no undue incidents reported to the Kennel Club,
Trial Season had thus ended.
and none requiring Test and Trace notifications.
Weimaraners in the Field 2020/21
The WA Open field trial took place on 15th
October to great success at Great Wakering, Given the much-reduced complement of
Essex. trials being made available, it is remarkable
and should be celebrated that one handler,
Further field trials were scheduled for November
Jean Byrne, secured a field trial award for her
and December. But November brought a second
Weimaraner Ch Enryb Singles Party JW, a
national (England) lockdown, so trials had to be
Certificate of Merit in the GSPA Novice FT at
rearranged for December. And then in December
Radbourne on 19/10/2020 under judges Mrs I
the 3-Tier system was introduced, further
Alcock and P Nixon.
complicating the calendar for HPR clubs.
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021