"SPRING COTTAGE"
WORKING ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS
AND LABRADORS

                                                                                                         

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At Grathem on the Youth field trial Ghillie gained the qualification "Good" on 12 December 2022.
Ghillie gained the hunting certificate of the Dutch Spaniel Union on 3 September 2022. The brambles were no problem for him, combined with steadiness and a good retrieve.
25 May 2022: A sad day for our kennel. Archie "Saxaphone John Smiths"died at the age of 13. He had a wonderful life at our place and we are grateful we owned him. Thanks to his breeder Peter Burton. 

RIP Archie! 

20 maart 2022: The pups from Kayleigh x Paddy are born. For more information see pups page. 
12 March 2022: Together with Saskia Burghout and Greetje Mak and their dogs Deedee and Jixx, we run the team event in honour of Cees Mol. It is the 13th time this is organized. From 19 teams which are participating we finish at a nice 4th place. 

Hellendoorn, November: In the middle of the shooting season we are also busy with the practical things we need to do for our dogs. Three dogs went to the eye specialist and all the eyes were CLEAR (11-11-2021). Pleased with this result for Kayleigh of the Spring Cottage, Billie Jean of a Quiet Spot and the cocker Kira van 't Reigerskantje.  
Lohmar, Germany: 25 September. Hummer runs his last Open Working Test at the Retriever Trainings Treff in Germany. He gains a 7th place
Hungary, Sopron: 21-22 August. It is the second time we are qualified for the International Working Test. This time our team members are Jurjen Dijkstra with Sasawot Aranyu Sinne, Petra Vingerhoets with Heather of the Spring Cottage and Elly with Hummer of the Spring Cottage. We stay in a real castle and enjoy a luxurious stay. After the first day of competing we have enough points for the 8th place. The second day we were less fortunate with the tests and the end result is a 16th place! We are pleased with the result. In total there were 38 teams out of 14 different countries. 

 

17-07-2021: Putten. Mellow and Hummer in action again! It all went well and we picked all the dummies and gained two diploma's! 

27-06-2021: Borculo. In the morning I start with Mellow for the first Working test of his life. He runs nicely and he gains a certificate for a 4th place in the starters class. Very pleased with that as it is his first official diploma. 

In the afternoon Hummer of the Spring Cottage starts in a team test, which is also a qualifier for the International Working Test in Hongary. My team mates are Petra Vingerhoets with Heather of the Spring Cottage, Hummer's sister, and Jurjen Dijkstra with Sasawot Aranyu Sinne. The tests are most challenging and we had a few nice runs and a few not so nice. But in the end we finish at a 2nd place which is also a ticket for the IWT to run as Team The Netherlands 2. 

 

19-06-2021 Klundert. After a long period of doing nothing due to the Covid 19 restrictions, working tests start again. With Hummer I ran the Open Working Test in Klundert and he finishes at a 5th place.
11-08-2020: Again a place at a trial with Hummer, this time on geese and a lost pigeon. Difficult ground with many ditches to cross and heavy work for the dogs because of the weight of the Gray legs. We finished the trial, but not without struggle. Still a qualification "Good". I went home with my "Good" dog after a "Good" morning in the field. Very nice trial it was! 
27 July 2020: It wasn't my intention to enter any trials this year, but because we didn't have any Working Tests anymore due to COVID19, I decided to pick up "the old love" with Hummer when the trials started again. The first trial on pigeons I got a run and only four participants ended the trial. I was one of them and ended at a THIRD place with qualification "Excellent".  
7 March 2020: After a busy picking up and shooting season it is time to start with the Working Tests to stay in shape. The first OWT is held in Zeeland and Elly runs with Hummer in the Open Class. Hummer picks all the dummies and we gain a 2nd place! This means we are placed for the Dutch Finals which will be held in July. 
September 2019: A nice trainingstrip to the UK. Together with Saskia and Richard we trained in Chipping, Lancashire with Nathan Laffy. Very enjoyable days with nice food, good grounds to train on and lots of laughs. Hummer also makes a lot of memories. 

15 September: Our IWT team was invited to run at the Scottish Fair in Bilzen, Belgium. Because Jurjen's bitch is in pup, Greetje took his place with Jixx of the Spring Cottage. Griet and I are used to run in teams together and we tried to help Greetje as good as possible. She worked Jixx very well and together we picked all the dummies. With the prize giving it turned out we ended at the 3rd place. A very nice day, good weather and nice company. Thx ladies!

 

25 July: Good news about the health results from our two English Springer Spaniels LouLou of the Spring Cottage and Endless Spirit Robinson Nelson. Both have Hips A (FCI HD A) and both have their Eyes tested Clear. Two nice and healthy English Springers for the future of our kennel. 

17 June: Brasschaat, Belgium. This year seems to be the year of the Team tests for me. I have been asked for a few different events in teams and I really like to run in a nice team. This time Hummer and I ran in the Open Team test in Brasschaat together with Els van den Bergh from Belgium and Desiree Hurenkamp. Fifteen open teams competed and we achieved 4th place! 

14-15 June: Chatsworth UK. Together with Petra Vingerhoets, Leon Akkerman and Griet Dijkstra our team was selected to run at the International Team Test held at Chatsworth, UK. Our reserve and teamcaptain Richard van Kaam also joined us for a great weekend. As I have been there for the 4th time, I can say it was very difficult this year. Very long marks, blinds, walls and fences, everything was there to make it a real tough test. It went with ups and downs, we got zero's and we got 20 points, but we fought for every point and didn't let eachother down. We had a great weekend and in the end we ended at the 9th place. 

1-2 June 2019: Hengelo. After months of hard training it is suddenly there, the International Working Test for retrievers. End of March we qualified as Team 3 The Netherlands. Together with 40 teams out of 15 different countries we started early in the morning on the 1st of June, a very hot day for handlers and dogs. But it went quite smoothly, we picked all the dummies and after day one we were at a 3rd place. The next day we had to fight a bit harder, but still we picked all the dummies. The last test didn't go as planned and it were these points we needed! But in the end we achieved a 7th place and were Best Dutch team of the IWT. First place was for Scotland, second place for Finland and third for Italy. 

29 March: Rhenoy. Together with Jurjen en Griet Dijkstra, Elly takes part at the selection day for the IWT (International Working Test) which will be held in the Netherlands on 1 + 2 June 2019. The goal was to end with the first three teams to be selected for The Netherlands. And we did it. We gained enough points together to take part as TEAM 3 The Netherlands. We all have been training very hard for this, but still you have to do it on the day.

 

24 March: Dongen. The first WT of the season is a fact. Elly ran Hummer of the Spring Cottage in the Open OWT test in Dongen. It was a lovely sunny day and we picked all the dummies. After a run off Elly WON the WT. Nice to see that a daughter of Hummer, Vlaklands Lot, won the Starters class with her handler Betty vd Woude. 

9 March 2019: Bosschenhoofd. After a nice shooting season, the working test season starts again. For us it started with the Cees Mol Memorial competition, a very nice team contest in loving memory of Cees Mol. Elly attended with Jurjen en Griet Dijkstra who also live in the Northern part of Holland, so our team was called Team North. 24 teams with open dogs competed and a total of six tests had to be done. We managed to get all the dummies in together with eight other teams. In the evening there is a nice meal and after that the award ceremony. We were over the moon to be placed FIRST! Thanks team!

 

Unfortunately our English Springer Spaniel Topsy of the Spring Cottage "Cita" developed lung tumors. As we didn't want her to suffer, we had to let her go..

 

Goodbye Cita! (21-01-2008 - 07-09-2018)

In August Desiree and I have a few nice days training in England and Wales. We start with a nice day in the beets with Peter Elmy from Highseas Gundog training. Very difficult for us because we hardly train in beets in Holland. But we survived and the dogs did well. 

After this day we moved on to Wales. We love the countryside and the views. We stay again with Stuart and Janet which is almost our second home. We train two days with Wesley Thomas on the moors and we run the WT of the Usk Valley Gundog Club. Desiree ended at a splendid 3rd place and Hummer picked all the dummies and ended 7th in points. 

 

In July I go with Vanessa to the UK to train with David Latham. We had a lovely few days in splendid grounds and again we learned a lot. 

17 June: Brasschaat. Desiree and I run the Open Working Test in Brasschaat with our dogs Jobeshill Blue Nile and Hummer of the Spring Cottage. It is a tough test, although it didn't look like it, there is hardly any scent and the tests seem challenging. Many zero points but we stay in the numbers and pick all the dummies. We end at a 6th and 8th place and have a nice day. 
19/20 May: A great weekend in Wales. First day I joined the group of Sue Hutton for a nice training with Wesley Thomas. The second day Elly and Hummer ran the Open WT of the Labrador Club of Wales. After runoff we gained a Certificate of Merit.

   

12 May: Zichem. Hummer did a nice job in the Open class in Zichem, Belgium. He ended at the 8th place with 82/100 points. 
5 May 2018: Kropswolde. Elly runs with Kenny of the Spring Cottage the Mocktrial of the LKN which was held in Kropswolde. For the first time there was a starters class which we entered. Kenny gains the 2nd place with qualification "Good". In the afternoon it is time for the Open class. Elly entered with Hummer and stays in until the end which results in the 2nd place with qualification "Excellent".

April 2018: Elly was invited to train in Scotland with a group of English and Scottish handlers. We had a great couple of days with David Lisset. Thx Ellena for the invitation. Very much appreciated! 

28th March: A sad day for our kennel as we lost Badgercourt Coral "Dot" at the age of nearly 15. Never missed a day in the shooting season, never been ill for a day! 

Goodbye Dot! (13-05-2003 - 28-03-2018)

25 March 2018: Elly gained an Open WT cerificate with Hummer of the Spring Cottage at the OWT in Dongen and ended at the 7th place. 
Many nice stalking and shooting days, picking up days and beating days with our dogs. We enjoy every minute of it and eat a lot of game! Impression season 2017-2018

November 27: We have a place at the All aged fieldtrial of the Arun and Downland Gundog Society in West Sussex. Really an enjoyable day with nice people at stunning grounds. We managed to get till the last six but then had to call up. Another nice experience in England! 

September 17: At the CAC Championsclubshow of the LKN Kenny of the Spring Cottage got a qualification "Very Good". Also Haggis of the Spring Cottage, brother of Hummer, gained a second place with "Very Good" in the Gundog Class. Two happy owners!

September 11: We got a run at the Novice Fieldtrial of the Usk Valley Gundog Club in Wales. Very challenging grounds with fodder beets and high crop on partridges. Fourteen dogs enter the trial. Five stay in till the end, also Elly with Hummer. We get a "Certificate of Merit" and also Hummer gets "Guns Choice" for his good work he showed that day! Very pleased to gain that in Wales! 

September 6: Elly and Hummer gain a third place at the Open CACT Fieldtrial on ducks in Dinteloord.

 

Now that Archie has retired from running trials and tests, he still has a very busy life as he picks up everywhere we need him. He really enjoys it!
August 2017: Like almost every year Desiree and I went to Wales to do some training, having a dog holiday and run a working test. We stayed again with Janet and Stuart Morris which we are very grateful for having us. This time we have been training with Roger Philips in the beautiful area of Carmarthenshire. We had a lovely time and on our way back we picked up the new pup "Elmo" for  Desiree. 

   

June 24: De Steeg. The Dutch Finals were held at a beautiful area around De Steeg together with a nice outdoor Fair. Unfortunately we ran one zero so no placement. A good thing that day was the nice photgrapher Henk Eggink who made a few beautiful pictures of Hummer at a test. Thanks for that Henk!  

May 27: Zichem, Belgium. With the temperature rising over 30 degrees celcius we ran the Open WT in Zichem. The morning started with a fall where Elly got a knee injury. But thanks to the organization we could run every test because "the Zichem taxi" drove us around like the Queen. Very thankful for that! Hummer was awarded with the 3rd place in the end and we placed ourselves now also for the Belgian Finals! 
May 7: Kropswolde. At the Orweja Working Test in Kropswolde Elly ends at 4th place in the Open Class with Hummer. 
April 22: Borculo. At the Orweja Working Test in Borculo Elly gains a 6th place in the Open class with Hummer of the Spring Cottage. 
We got the results from our Kennelclub from "Grouse". His hipscore is HD A and Elbows free! Super pleased with that! 
April 8: Heerle. At the OWT Elly gains an Open diploma with Hummer and ends in 9th place. 
April 2: Terhills. Elly runs with Hummer in a team together with Mike Mulch with Clockwork Cornwall and Geert Scholten with Whispering Oaks Geronimo. We had a really nice day and we had no zero's. We finished in the fourth place with 276/300 points. 
March 18: Spaarnwoude. First Open WT of 2017 with Hummer of the Spring Cottage held by the Dutch Labrador Retriever Club. We gained a 2nd place and with this place we are qualified to run in the Dutch Finals which will be held later this year.

In the shooting season we have been beating and picking up with our dogs and we enjoyed every minute of it. 

December 17/18. Elly runs two Novice Fieldtrials in England with Hummer of the Spring Cottage. Both trials were held at Stoke Edith. First trial we got two A- runs, so at a certain point we got out because there were competitors with better runs. The second trial we made it to the last four dogs. One of the last retrieves was a pheasant who didn't want to be found. It was at the side of a stream and unfortunately Hummer and the next dog didn't wind it and got an eyewipe by the judges. We had two lovely days. We survived the "drives" and the dog worked hard. That's what we train for! 

December 2: First Novice FT for Hajo and his English Springer Spaniel Lannakers Pintail "Dillon" is a fact. He runs okay, went through to second round and made a good flush on a pheasant. Seven qualifications out of 15 dogs. He gains the qualification "Good"
November 20: At the Champions Clubmatch of the Dutch Border Terrier Club, Badgerbeck Phelan "Woolfie" became 2nd with qualification "Excellent" in the Open Class. 11 dogs were entered and as we hardly ever show anymore, we were very pleased with this result. See "Woolfie's page"
October 3. At the CACT fieldtrial on ducks in Dinteloord, Hummer of the Spring Cottage gained the qualification "Good".  
August 22: At the CACT Fieldtrial on pigeons held in Winterswijk, Hummer of the Spring Cottage was awarded with a qualification "Very Good".
In August Desiree and Elly go to England and Wales to do a bit of training and run a WT with their dogs. The first day we train with Kevin Doughty and Peter Elmy in Ipswich. A very nice training, very nice people. Sure we come again! In the afternoon we drive to Janet and Stuart Morris where we stay for a few days. The next day we run a WT at the Black Pit from the Usk Valley Gundog Club. We both run in the Novice and it was tough ground for our dogs who are not used to run on hills. Desiree picks all the dummies with Bobby and Elly wins the Novice WT with Hummer. Elly runs also in the Open class, Hummer picks all the dummies and we end up in the middle. So again a great day! On Monday we go for one day training with Mark and Jamie Bettinson what we do for several years now. Lovely few days, can't wait to go again! 

June 19, Terhills. On Sunday 19th the Team competition has been held in Terhills, Belgium. Richard with Flow, Desiree with Fitty and Elly with Hummer form a team called "RED". We pick all the dummies and we come to a 7th place with 267/300 points. Great day and good fun!  
Borculo, April 30: The second and last OWT of this year for us. Elly runs with Hummer in the Open class. Still very difficult for us but we managed to pick all the dummies. 24 dogs competed and we gained a 5th place with 80/100 points. Hummer is the youngest dog in the class, so pleased with our first OWT Open certificate! 
April 29: Luckely Elly got a place in the Special FT with Hummer. Eight dogs competed and only 3 qualifications. Elly got a 3rd place with Hummer with qualification "Good"
April 9/10. This weekend Desiree and I go to the Klaukenhof in Germany to have a nice trainingsweekend with Dirk Volders and a few German handlers and their dogs. We enjoyed it very much and had a really nice time! 

This year the International Working Test (IWT) will be held in Lubbeek, Belgium, at 1, 2 and 3 April. This year Elly is in team Netherlands 1 with Archie, together with Richard van Kaam with Flow and Desiree Hurenkamp with Fitty and reserve is Tom van de Linden with Finnley.  

Unfortunately we didn't run as good as we would have liked to do. The first day Richards dog "Flow" got injured. He had a deep wound at his hind leg. A vet who was there stitched him, but the next day he was still very lame. So we decided not to start the second day. Bad luck. 

The annual Cees Mol Memorial Trophy was held on March 12 in Bosschenhoofd. This year our team consisted of Richard van Kaam, Desiree Hurenkamp and Elly. It was a good possibility to train for the coming IWT. We picked all the dummies and finshed at the 2nd place!  
Koen Gouweloos has gained a super prize with Dane of the Spring Cottage. Dane became Best dog over all the Fieltrials ran in 2015 in The Netherlands, which gave him the titel Fieldtrial Winner 2015. Well done Koen and Dane. 

At the walked up CACT Fieldtrial in Vlissingen gains Elly with Archie a qualification "Very Good"
September 6. Elly runs at the Cold Game Test in Beerse (Be) with Hummer. We start in the Novice class. It is a nice test and two of the judges are Mark and Jamie Bettinson, good to see them oversees. Hummer ends at a third place. 
September 1. For the first time the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club organizes a Fieldtrial in Groenlo. Compliments for Frits Zwart who took care for most of the organization. It was quite difficult because the grain was not cut yet.   Elly took part with Hummer and gained a qualification "Good".

August 30: Balen (Belgium). Elly runs with Hummer and Archie at the Mocktrial in Balen. There were competitors from Germany, Holland, Belgum, Hungary and Finland. It was a lovely but very warm day over 30 degrees.. In the morning it is the turn of the Novice class. There were two drives and a walk-up. Hummer stays in till the end and gains a qualification "Very Good". In the afternoon it is Archie's turn in the Open class. Unfortunately one bad run so we were out with NC. 

August 21: Lucky we are to get a place at the CACT FT in the South of Holland. It was a very warm but beautiful day. Elly runs with Archie and again we gain a qualification 2 Excellent Reserve CACT. Very pleased that all the hours of training lead to good results. 
1/2/3 August: Desiree and Elly go to Suffolk and Norfolk to train in the beets with Sharon. But the first day of our trip we run a WT in Suffolk held by the Suffolk Gundog Club. It is an open test on cold game run on FT lines, so mainly walked up in beets. Elly got through the morning part and few dogs were taken to the afternoon part. Archie ran well and at the end of the day we achieved a "Certificate of Merit". Total results: 

Suffolk Gundog Club Open Cold Game Working test, Held at Naunton Hall Rendlesham, by kind permission of Sir Michael and Lady Bunbury, 2nd August 2015. Judges Mr S Polly, Mr T Lowe, Mr B Chesser, Mr A Mutimer.
Chief Steward Angie Musk.

Ist S. Gadd with Ftch Ranalagh Tomtain of Siversnipe.
2nd M Tallamy with Ftch Garrethall Quill of Brindlebay....
3rd L Hayman with Copperbirch Ross.

C.O.Ms to Mr & Mrs Elsey with Kayteens Kentucky.
L Ingram with Garrethall Ouka.
M Tallamy with Birdsgreen Taggart of Brindlebay.
A Wright with Wadesmill Snowdrop.
E Bos with Saxaphone John Smiths
S Dingle with Aquacadianes Moses of Bellspaddle
A Wright with Overthwaites Berwick
Many thanks to all the helpers, throwers, guns and game carriers that made for a superb Cold game test.

The next two days we spend in the beets training with our dogs.

July 28: Hummer of the Spring Cottage runs his second Fieldtrial. It is the Novice FT of the NRC held in the South of Holland. The trial was on pigeons. He gains again a qualification but this time a "Very Good".
July 21: At the Special FT of the NRC held in the Northen part of Holland mainly on geese and ducks, Willem Ties Oosterhuis, Ingrid v.d. Ven and Elly all got a place. For all three dogs it is the first fieldtrial and Willem Ties even never ran one himself. It was not easy with the young dogs but the results for us were good. Totally there were six qualifications. Willem Ties Oosterhuis won (!) with Dreamer of the Spring Cottage with the qualification First Excellent. Third place was for Ingrid v.d. Ven with Diddle of the Spring Cottage with qualification "Very Good" and Elly got a qualification "Good" with Hummer of the Spring Cottage. 
July 20:  Koen Gouweloos, Jur van Bijnen and Elly all got a place at the Fieldtrial of the Dutch Labrador Club in the South of Holland. After an exciting day we all received a qualification. Koen Gouweloos wins with Dane of the Spring Cottage. He gains the qualification First Excellent CACT.  Elly becomes second with Saxaphone John Smiths with the qualification 2 Excellent Reserve CACT and Jur van Bijnen gains the qualification "Very Good" with Chips of the Spring Cottage.

End of June we are invited by Sharon Dingle to join her and her group for a training with Mark and Jamie Bettinson in Wales. I took the sightseeing route and travelled with Archie and Hummer through Wales over the moors to end at our B and B where I met Sharon. The training was three days and it was really good. Archie did well in the Open group and in the afternoon Hummer ran in the Novice dog group. For him it was all new with all the shooting from the line and behind the line. The grounds are stunning but not the grounds we are used to train on in flat Holland. We have learned a lot again and are very grateful that we have the opportunity to participate in this training! Thanks again Sharon. 

June 21: Biddinghuizen. Elly runs with Hummer of the Spring Cottage in the Dutch Finals of the OWT's in the Novice class. Not easy for him as youngest dog in the class but he picked all the dummies and ends at a 7th place. 
June 14: The last OWT of this season before the Finals next week. Elly runs Hummer for the first time in the Novice class. He is the youngest dog in the class, but much to my surprise he wins the Novice class with 88/100 points.

 

June 13: The Dutch Retriever Club organizes a Mocktrial in Hengelo. Elly enters Hummer of the Spring Cottage in the Novice class and Saxaphone John Smiths in the Open class. Both dogs run very well in the morning with the walk-up. In the afternoon there is a long "drive" and Hummer behaves the way we like it. He sits quietly and isn't too excited. After the drive he fails at a difficult water retrieve. Simply too far for him at the moment. Archie has no difficulties at all and he wins the Open Mocktrial!  

First place Open MT Elly Bos and first place Novice MT Ingrid van de Ven

4-5 June: Elly runs with Archie in the Dutch team at Chatsworth in Derbyshire. The team who represent the Netherlands at the International Retriever Team Event consists of Ingrid van de Ven, Rob Schmidt and Richard van Kaam. After a tough competition of two days our team ends at a 5th place! 

May 31: The Dutch Labrador club holds its annual Champions show in Bennekom. Elly enters with Hummer of the Spring Cottage. He gains a qualification "Very Good". We are very pleased with that to achieve this with a working dog between all the showdogs.
May 23: In Lohmar (Germany) Elly enters at the RTT with Hummer of the Spring Cottage in the Starters class. Fourty dogs participate in this class. Again Hummer picks all the dummies and gets a total score of 87/100 points. Only at the RTT that is good for a 15th place! 
May 17: In Zichem (Belgium) we enter at a Team Working Test. The team consists of Desiree Hurenkamp with Garronpoint Fitty in the Open class, Tom van de Linden with Dual's Hope Lord Finley in the Novice class and Elly with Hummer of the Spring Cottage in the Starters class. The first test was a bit a mess, but after that it went better and better. We picked all the dummies and at the end of the day we ended at a 3rd place with only one point short for 2nd or first!

 

May 9: The Dutch Retriever Club holds its annual Working Test in Borculo. Elly enters with Hummer in the Starters class. He gains a 2nd place with 93/100 points. 
April 4: Elly runs with Hummer of the Spring Cottage his first OWT in Oostvoorne. He ends at a 4th place in the Startersclass with 89/100 points. 
28 March: Like last year, Orweja organized a selection day for retrievers to select the best dogs for the Dutch team to represent Holland at The International Retriever Team Event, which will be held at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire 4 and 5 June. Everyone who thinks is able to compete, is welcome at the selection day. The four best dogs are choosen by two judges after a couple of good and honest tests. Elly competes with Archie and he runs well. The Dutch team will be: 

  • Bubbles van de Voartkaant, e/v Ingrid vd Ven
  • Saxaphone John Smiths, e/v Elly Bos
  • Cerbel Ambassador, e/v Rob Schmidt
  • Archer of the Spring Cottage, e/v Richard van Kaam
  • reserve: Kroonkennel’s Javelin, e/v Ton Buijs
21 March: Schijndel. At the OWT in Schijndel Elly starts for the first time in the Novice class with Fernshot Cricket. 22 dogs compete in this class and 6 dogs succeed to pick all the dummies. Elly wins the runoff with Eveline Schlösser who runs Cracker of the Spring Cottage. Elly ends with Cricket in 3rd place and in fourth place Eveline. 
 15 February: Balen (Belgium): A couple of Belgian trainers organize a Mocktrial training day for Novice and Open dogs. A Mocktrial is a simulated Fieldtrial on dummies under Fieldtrial regulations. Elly participates with Hummer in the Novice class. It is all new for him, but he behaves nicely and has learned a lot.  
24 January: Hajo runs the CAC Fieldtrial in Tholen. He gets again a qualification "Very Good" with Flush of the Spring Cottage.
2015!!  10 January, Hulst-Nieuw Namen. Hajo runs the first FT of this year with Flush of the Spring Cottage. In very stormy weather he gained the qualification "Very Good". There were only five qualifications that day. 
28 December: Elly runs a WT with Hummer of the Spring Cottage in the Startersclass. It is a WT for a good cause, namely the Ronald McDonald Child Funds to raise money for children with cancer. This WT is organized by Henny Hertsenberg and his friends and family. It was a super day with many doglovers. All the entry fees, auction, lottery and consumptions were donated to charity. End of the day there was an amount of more than 12.500 euro. We wish Henny all the strength he needs to fight his own battle against cancer. 

Not so much news to tell. In the shooting season we shoot, pick up and beat. That's life!

20 October: Neede. Hajo gains again a Multiple Retrieve Certificate with Dash of the Spring Cottage, this time with 520 points. 
13 October: Hajo enters a Multiple Retrieve Test in Ommen with Dash of the Spring Cottage. There are only 7 B-certificates that day and he achieves a 3rd place with 535 points. 
30 September. In Geer (Belgium) Elly got a place at the International Fieldtrial on partridges with Saxaphone John Smiths "Archie". It was a very strong field with competitors, very experienced handlers. But we have trained very hard and managed to stay in the trial until the end and even got rewarded with a 2 Excellent and Reserve CACT/CACIT
29 September: Elly got a place with Archie at the CACT FT in Dinteloord on ducks and pigeons. We didn't come very well in the trial, but still we achieved a qualification "Very Good"
21 September: I went to a National Clubshow with Fernshot Cricket. He gained a qualification "Very Good" in the youth class. 
In September we have a few days picking up partridges in Belgium. We really enjoy doing that. At one Saterday we had a lovely day with Erwin Ketels, Desiree Hurenkamp and me. We worked with our six labradors all day.

19 August: At the CACT Fieldtrial on pigeons held in St.Jansteen Elly gained with Saxaphone John Smiths "Archie" a 2nd place with qualification Excellent and Reserve CACT
It is almost a tradition that Desiree and I go on a little trainings holiday in England every year. This time we went to Norfolk to train in the beets with the group of Sharon Dingle. We enjoyed every minute of it and thank Sharon for her kind hospitality. Pictures by Lesley Allgood.

1 August: The first Fieldtrial of the season on pigeons was held in Zeeland this year. It was very heavy for the dogs as the pigeons dropped mainly in potatoes and the temperature was very high. Elly achieved a qualification "Very Good" with Archie. 
29 June: The Final of all the OWT's in 2014 was held in Den Hout. Elly was invited to run with Archie in the Open class. The dogs who picked all the dummies in the first four tests, coul run a final test, test five, which was a walked-up with two marks. After five tests, only six dogs survived the day and Archie was one of them. Elly and Archie ended at the 2nd place! 

22 June In Apeldoorn Elly ran the first WT with Fernshot Cricket, now 14 months old. We picked all the dummies and he got his first certificate in the Starters class. 
 29/30 May: As a member of the Dutch team, Elly ran with Archie at the International Retriever Team Event, which was held at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. The other team members were Rob Schmidt, Ingrid van de Ven and Roy Ehbel. In total ten countries had sent their best dogs. The first day we started as last team of the morning at the walk-up. In the afternoon we had a "drive" where we all had to pick four blind dummies. We ran so well that we could finish the first day at a top position. 

The second day was more like a Working Test, but the tests were built up in a way it can go in a practical situation. One test we had a little bit difficulties and when all the points were counted before the last team test, we were 6 points behind the UK and Germany was third with only 7 points behind us. So everything could happen in the last test, where we could score 80 points in total. 

From the three of us the UK team had to run first and much to our surprise they scored a zero. Germany ran a solid team test, so for us it was now or never. With one zero we would finish behind Germany, with everything in, we were in a position to win. We scored 77/80 points for this last test!

For the first time a Dutch team WINS the International Retriever Team Event! Second place: Germany and third place: Team UK! Individual Rob ends second place, Ingrid third place. 

29 March: The Orweja organizes a selection day for the International team competition of the English Kennelclub which will be held end of May in Chatsworth. Four dogs will represent The Netherlands as a team. After a walk-up and a long drive, where each dog has to do three retrieves and a tricky WT exercise the two judges came to a decision. The team members will be: Roy Ehbel, Ingrid v.d. Ven, Rob Schmidt and Elly and the reserve is Joost de Fouw.

23 March: First WT in As, Belgium. Elly got a 6th place with Archie with 89/100 points.
15 March: The first OWT of this year was held in Krimpen aan de IJssel and organized by the Dutch Labrador Club. Elly ran with Archie in the Open class and gained a 2nd place. The first three dogs will be invited for the Finals end of June! 
14January, 2014: The first qualifications of 2014 have been achieved. In Kloosterzande Hajo ran with Flush of the Spring Cottage his first Open Fieldtrial. He is only 17 months old but he gained the qualification "Good". At the same trial Witchwillow Warrior "Pip" got a qualification "Very Good". 
A good couple of days beating in Wales with Pip and Flush. The dogs have seen more pheasants in a day than they will see in their lives in Holland! Thanks again Janet and Stuart!
A nice day out beating and picking up in Germany together with Jan de Jong. This time we had very impressive transportation through the field. 

17 December: Both Saxaphone John Smiths "Archie" and our young dog Fernshot Cricket are tested Clear/Free of SD2 (Dwarfism).
The litter of Dash of the Spring Cottage x Mulholland Skipper of Upperclaws is born on 13 November.  For more information see Pups. 
We are very pleased for Carsten Nissen with Jobeshill Olof "Brimson"that he won the Danish Retriever Championships of the "Retrievernes Jagthundeklub" held on 23 and 24 November. What a super dog! Congratulations Carsten! 
28 October: Hajo gets a place in the CAC Fieldtrial in Wijchen with Witchwillow Warrior "Pip". Pip is the youngest dog in the field and his run starts very well with a flush of a fox. But this doesn't count for the trial. Then he unfortunately misses a rabbit in very thick cover. So he gets a GPT as result. But at the end of the day the guns appreciated the work on the fox so much that he was "guns choice". 
16 October: After a moderate result at the WT of the NLV, it was time for a nicer day again. Elly got a place at the walked-up FT organized by the Golden Retriever Club. A day in the beets resulted in a qualification "Very Good" with Archie.
11 September: Elly got a run at the Open Fieldtrial organized by the Dutch Retriever Club in Koewacht. It was raining cats and dogs, wet wet wet! But besides wet we stayed focussed and Archie got again a qualification "Excellent"
 31 August: Hajo goes to the second KNJV-test (on cold game) with Dash of the Spring Cottage. This time the test is held in Uffelte. He gains another B-certificate with Dash with 72 points. 
18 August: Desiree and I go to Wales to run a Working Test and train with the Bettinsons.We stay at Janet and Stuart Morris' place which is always very nice. The Working Test was organized by the Usk Valley Working Gundog Club. Desiree runs with Garronpoint Fitty in the Novice Class in the morning. There are 35 entries and the level is very high. They lost here and there a few points, but picked all the dummies, so that was a good achievement. 

In the afternoon it is Elly's turn to run in the Open class with Saxaphone John Smiths. Around 30 entries in this class. We started with a long blind retrieve diagonally over water with a mark which the dogs had to ignore at first. Then a test with a mark and a very long blind line and our last test was a walk-up with four dogs in the beets with several marked retrieves and a long blind line to the hind. Good heelwork is essential in this test. Everything went well and at the end of the day, there was a runoff with four dogs, only not my dog. In the runoff the dogs had to pick two very long marked retrieves in the beets, the dogs all worked really well. After that we had to wait for the awards ceremony. Much to my surprise the runoff had been for the Com, 4th, 3rd and 2nd place. It turned out that I got the first prize with Archie! 

Janet had been to a show that day with her Chesepeake Bay Retrievers. She won the show, so in the evening we were all in a very good mood. The next day we went to Mark and Jamie Bettionson to do some training on cold game. Again we learned a few things! Then holiday over and with a bag full of experiences we went back home again. But we'll be back! 

16 August: Although I was 5th reserve I got a run at the Open Fieldtrial on pigeons in St. Janssteen organized by the Dutch Flatcoated Retriever Club. A good day with a lot of pigeons to retrieve. Elly wins the Fieldtrial with Archie with an Excellent qualification and Richard gets a qualification Very Good with Archer of the Spring Cottage. 
15 August: Open FT on ducks organized by the Dutch Retriever Club. Elly gains a COM with Archie and Richard becomes 2nd with Archer of the Spring Cottage with a Very Good qualification
10 August: In Delfzijl Hajo also gets a B-Certificate on cold game with Dash of the Spring Cottage. He becomes 2nd in the B-class.  
23 June: Mocktrial in Son en Breugel. In the Novice class Petra does it again very well. This time she gains a 2 Excellent with Didi of the Spring Cottage, also being the youngest dog in the field. Richard gets a 5th place with an Excellent qualification with Archer of the SC. In the Open class Elly becomes 3rd with a Very Good qualification. 

     Drive

9 June: At the Hunting event in Apeldoorn the NRC organized an OWT. In the Startersclass Eveline, Petra an Jur ran with their dogs and Elly ran in the Open class. With Elly it didn't go very smoothly but we managed to pick all the dummies and it was even worth a Certificate, we ended at the 9th place. 

Eveline ran much better and gained a 3rd place with Cracker of the Spring Cottage. Petra and Jur both ended at the 4th place with Didi and Chips of the Spring Cottage. With these results they all placed themselves for the Finals which are held 22 June. 

30/31 May: Elly runs at Chatsworth in a Dutch team together with Petra, Ton and Geert. The first day the dogs were tested like in a Fieldtrial situation. The first part was a walk-up with the team in which we all had to pick 4 dummies. The second part was a drive. There were shots and dummies thrown in front, on the side and with a clay pigeon machine they shot over the dogs. After that we all had to pick 4 blinds. 

The next day it was more like a Working Test. We had long marks, blinds and water retrieves, sometimes very tricky tests where the dogs had to listen very good because of the small angles. We picked all the dummies, but here and there we needed a little handling. The last test was a bonus test in which we unfortunately ran a zero on the long blind. We ended on the 7th place, England won, followed by Ireland and 3rd place was for Germany. We had two lovely days out working with our dogs and enjoyed eachothers company. Thanks Petra, Ton and Geert!

23 May: Elly shows Saxaphone John Smiths "Archie" in the Working class at the Champions Clubshow of the Labrador Retriever Kring. He gained a 2nd place with a qualification Very Good
18 May: In Lohmar (Germany) the RTT organized the Golden Retriever Jubilee Cup. In Germany there are many very good Golden Retrievers, but a small group of Dutch Labradors also competed. The terrain was very difficult and challenging by the deep valleys and rough cover. At the first test one third of the 31 competitors in the open class failed, so we were wondering what we could expect more. From the Dutch dogs only Herman Jeske en Elly stayed in and we also picked the rest of the dummies during the day. In the end Elly gained a 4th place with Archie in the Open class with 90/100 points. 

Richard ran in the Novice class with Archer of the Spring Cottage (Flow). Out of the 41 dogs who competed, Richard became 6th with 87/100 points.

11 May, 2013: The Dutch Retriever Club held its WT in Borculo and several dogs we bred entered in the Starters class. Marinus got a 5th place with Anna of the Spring Cottage. Jur became 6th with Chips of the SC. 8th place was for Dieter Gehrmann with Chutney of the SC and 9th was Eveline Schlösser with Cracker of the SC.

Same day Richard enters in Zichem (Belgium) with Archer of the SC in the Novice class. 31 dogs entered and only 5 dogs had all the dummies in. Richard became 3rd with 74/100 points.

13 April: Richard does very well in Lubbeek and wins with Archer of the Spring Cottage the Novice class with 98/100 points. Same day Elly runs with Archie in the Open class. One test didn't go well, so lost a lot of points. A pity as the rest went well and all dummies were in. So finally placed 13th

In Germany Eveline Schlösser got a 2nd place with Cracker of the Spring Cottage (Blue) at a Youth Test for Retrievers on Cold game. Also Chutney of the Spring Cottage (Hope) handled by Dieter Gehrmann got a well deserved certificate. 

7 April, 2013: WT Son en Breugel: Jur gains again a 1st place in the C-class with Chips of the Spring Cottage (Gipsy) and this time Ingrid was close with a good 2nd place with Diddle of the Spring Cottage (Zipper). Petra runs with Didi of the SC (Laï) in St-Katelijne-Waver in the Startersclass. She got a 9th place with 84/100.

Elly runs with Archie in the Open class at the Rupert Hill Mocktrial in Mariënheide, Germany. With 20 other dogs we tried to pick all the dummies in the best possible way. At the end of the day the 7 best dogs went to a "drive". Archie was one of them. When the drive was finished we were still all in. Archie gained a Certificate of Merit(pictures: G. Mittelbach)

 While others work hard in Almkerk, Elly goes with Petra, Heike, Eveline, Achim and Anja to England to train during the Easterweekend. We train two days at Gilly Nickols. In the morning we have training for the Novice dogs and in the afternoon we have training for the Open dogs. Although we are no unexperienced handlers, we have again learned a lot! Thanks Gilly!
30 March: The Dutch Retriever Club held its first OWT at Almkerk. In the Starters class the dogs gained very high points. Jur became 2nd with Chips of the Spring Cottage with 99/100 points. Then Mike became 5th with Dane of the SC with 93/100 points. Dane is only 16 months old, so very well done! Marinus gained 90/100 points and got an 8th place with Anna of the SC. In the Novice class Richard ended with Archer of the SC on a 10th place with 83/100 points. 
23 March: Another OWT (Orweja Working Test) this time held in Schijndel. Richard v. Kaam wins the Novice class with 91/100 points with Archer of the Spring Cottage (Flow). Again Jur makes a good job of it and wins the Starters class with Gipsy of the SC (Gipsy). 
17 March 2013: WT season starts again and Archie gains a 6th place in the Open class at the OWT which was held in Heerle. Jur van Bijnen comes to a 5th place in the Starters class with Chips of the SC (Gipsy). 
 

In the shooting season we do a lot of beating and picking up with our dogs in several Countries. 

10 November: Elly got a run with Archie at the CAC Fieldtrial in Koewacht. The trial was mostly driven. At the end of the day there were only three dogs still in the race. "Archie" was one of them and he gained a third place with a qualifcation "Good".
24 October: Elly runs the Walked up Fieldtrial with Archie, which was organized by the Dutch Golden Retriever Club. "Archie" gained a qualification "Very Good"
14 October: Jur van Bijnen wins with Chips of the Spring Cottage "Gipsy" the C-Class of the Working Test of the Dutch Retriever Club with 89/100 points. The WT was held in Simonshaven. 
13 October: Hajo gains a Multiple Retrieve Certificate with Squareclose Flint with a total of 523 points. This was enough for a second place.  
6 October: Squareclose Flint gains a Multiple Retrieve Certificate with 460 points.
29 September: Richard, Desiree and Elly entered the Mocktrial organized by the RTT in Lohmar, Germany. Richard and Desiree ran in the Novice class and they started in the morning with two difficult drives. At the end of the drives, five dogs were still in the race for the last part which was a long walk-up. After the walk-up the judges made their decision and Richard gained a third place with "Archer of the Spring Cottage (Flow)" and Desiree got a fourth place with "Conneywarren Cosimo (Teal)".

 

In the afternoon it was Elly's turn with Archie in the Open class. With the youngest dog in the Open we had to compete against older and very experienced dogs. We started with a long drive on woodland and partly maïs. A couple of dogs got an eyewipe and disappeared out of the field of competitors. But Archie stayed in and only five dogs were left for the second drive which was held in a deep valley. We survived again and only three dogs ran the last part of the day, a walk-up on a hilly field. After this the judges made their decision and Elly gained a second place with "Saxaphone John Smiths (Archie)". We are very pleased with that!   

 

29 August: Elly got a run with Archie at the CACT Fieldtrial on pigeons organised by the Dutch Labrador Club. The FT was held in Biddinghuizen. It was a very nice day, in the morning the guns already shot many pigeons which our dogs had to pick when it was our turn. In between they shot through and that gave nice long marked retrieves or difficult searches in the beets. At the end of the day we gained a qualification "Very Good" which was great! NLV, thanks for the excellent organisation. 
23 August: Elly got a run with Squareclose Flint at a Novice Fieldtrial on pigeons which was held in St.Jansteen. Luckely Desiree also got a run, which meant that we could drive together. Flint gained the qualification "Good", as well as Desiree with Teal. 
22 August: Elly got a run with Archie at the CACT Fieldtrial on ducks which was held in Wijhe. Archie did his best and he ended as fourth dog with the qualification "Very Good". Very pleased with that! 
15-19 August: Ton, Petra, Desiree and Elly go to England to train and run a Mocktrial. The first day we train with Guy Bennett. The opinions were divided in what we thought about it, but one thing we had in common, we all learned something and that is what it is all about. The next day we trained with Gilly Nickols. It was a relaxed training around the water, it was too hot to do anything else with the dogs and we all enjoyed it, especially the dogs!

On Saterday we could all run a Mocktrial organized by SEGS. It was again very warm weather which wasn't very good for the scent. We all survived the first round, which was a walked up with two long marked retrieves. The next round Ton and Elly's dogs were sent for a dummy which landed in a ditch with high cover. Because of the lack of scent we both couldn't pick it. Also another dog was sent for it, but couldn't find it either. Unfortunately it wasn't a runner dummy, so the Mocktrial ended there for all three dogs as the judge picked it out of the high cover. But Petra and Desiree were still in the race. They went well for the next two rounds. Then the judges decided that the best five dogs of the day would go through for a drive. But the competition was tough and both Desiree and Petra didn't go through to the last round. They finally got a Certificate of Merit which means they did a good job but not well enough to be placed. 

We all enjoyed our stay very much and the next day we went home with a bag full of experiences! 

11 August, 2012: In Delfzijl achieves Hajo with Squareclose Flint a first place on level B with the tests of the Royal Dutch Shooting Organisation. He had a total score of 76/80 points. 

31 July, 2012: Archie (Saxaphone John Smiths) gained a 3rd place with the qualification Very Good on a pigeon Fieldtrial which was held in Sint Jansteen. The trial was not easy because the pigeons fell in the beets, grain and on the stubble, so it was hard for the dogs to find them all. 

12-16 July: Desiree and I were invited to train two days with Annette Clarke in England. We went there on Friday and Saterday and we had a super time! The first day we trained in hilly terrain. This was very difficult for our dogs who usually work on flat terrain. They were exhausted from running on those hills. The next day Brandon Kelly joined us and we spend half a day training in the beets. Long marks and blinds and lines through the beets.

 

On Sunday Annette had entered us for a WT in Southport where we both ran Novice and Open. Desiree was better in the Novice class, but we both had all the dummies in and we both ended in the middle. Then the open class started. When we saw the distances we wondered whether we had been a bit over enthusiastic. Anyway, we started smoothly and we both had again all the dummies in! Archie had his day and finished at an 8th place with 73,5/100 points. It was all very close because the winner had 77/100. 

Monday we visited Peter Burton to do a bit of training with him and Archie's sister. She was really super and again we learned something. After a  nice lunch we drove back to Hull. A great experience richer and with a "you are welcome any time" we will definitely visit them again.

9th June 2012: Elly and Archie did well enough to be invited for the Dutch Finals of the Orweja Working Tests. The finals were held in Son en Breugel. The 15 best Novice dogs out of 5 WT's got an invitation to compete. We gained a 4th place with 80/100.
16th-20th May: Elly goes to Cornwall to train with 7 German handlers and their dogs with Keith Sandercock and Roy Tomlinson. For an impression click here.
12th May: At the Team test organized by the Dutch Retrieverclub Nico, Aleid and Elly gained a 6th place. Thanks to Nico and Aleid who both ran very good. For Archie it was a very difficult test. 
28th April: Elly got a 4th place in the Novice Class at the WT which held in Broculo.
7th April: Richard got a first place with "Archer of the Spring Cottage" in the C-class (49/50) and Elly became 8th in the Novice class with the OWT which was held in Almkerk. 
31st March 2012: "Archie" got a second place at the Novice Walked-up Mocktrial which was held in Groningen. 
14-15th December 2011: Holland wins Coupe d'Europe for English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels! 

Hajo and "Scotty" were selected by Orweja to run in the Dutch Team at the Coupe d'Europe. The team also consisted of Peter Tervoort, Marcel Dons and Jaap van Dam. This year the Coupe was held in Holland, for the first time since 25 years. The Coupe d'Europe is a two days event. Every day each competitor runs an International Fieldtrial. Every country can send in a team of Springer Spaniels and a team of Cocker spaniels. This year Spain, Italy, Belgium, France and Holland competed against eachother. The results of the two best dogs over two days count for the total score of the team. Also there is an individual classification. After two days the results were: First place......Holland. Second place: France. Third place: Belgium. Holland won because both Marcel and Jaap had very high scores. Marcel won the indiviual competition with his bitch "Megan". He also was awarded with the "Gerrit Visscher" Memorial Trophy for the Best Dutch English Springer Spaniel.

 

To make the joy complete, also the Dutch Cocker team won the competition as well as the individual competition. 

25th November 2011: Demmi's litter is born. For more information about this litter see PUPS
22nd October 2011: National (CAC) Fieldtrial in Wijchen: Hajo has gets a qualification "Good" with Scotty and Sasja Verstraaten gets a qualification "Very Good" with Tweed of the Spring Cottage. 
Demmi, Archie and Flint all tested Clear for EIC
27th September: Squareclose Demmi is mated by Jobeshill Olof "Brimson" from Denmark. 
10th September 2011: Auke Witteveen gained a Hunt Certificate with Youp of the Spring Cottage of the Spaniel Union of the Netherlands (SUN). Well done Auke!

Alex Lelieveld got first place on level C (49/50) with Yanick of the Spring Cottage in Emmen. 

27th August: Sefie Yehee gained a first place with Yup of the Spring Cottage on level C in Enkhuizen.

6th August 2011: Minouk Leferink gained with Willow of the Spring Cottage a first place on level C with the tests of the Dutch Shooting Organisation in Vriezenveen. 12th September Minouk and Willow  gained 79/80 points with a B-certificate in Markvelde and she did this again 24th September in Zwiep. 

9th July: In Lunteren Hajo got a B-certificate of the Royal Dutch Shooting Organisation with Squareclose Flint. 
21-22-23rd May: Desiree and I went to England to pick up my new labradorpup "Grouse". We had a lovely trip over the Yorkshire Moors, we went to Tesco to buy all the things we definitely need to survive in Holland like Yorkshire tea, Cheddar cheese and Golden sirup. After a huge Costa coffee and a big muffin we went back with a beautiful black dogpup who had to spend his first night alone on board of a ship which he perfectly survived. Rachel, thanks for letting me have him! 

 

18th May: Flo got her pups. She gave birth to 10 pups, five yellow ones and five black ones, three yellow bitches, three black bitches, two black dogs and two yellow dogs. Everything went well!
17th April 2011: Elly entered a WT in As, Belgium, with Archie. There were 33 competitors in the Starters class. We didn't expect a marked retrieve out of a walk-up over 65 meter broad water, but we managed. In the end 23 dogs had a NC (Non Classé) and 10 dogs had all the dummies in. Archie finally finished at the 3rd place with a total of 90/100 points. 
2nd April 2011: In Almkerk Archie finished at the 8th place with 83/100 points. This WT was organized by the Dutch Retriever Club. 
26th March 2011: WT Golden Retrieverclub: Archie got 78/100 points and he finished 7th.
19th March 2011: First Working Test with Archie. We entered in the Starters class. He got 81/100 points, mainly because we almost missed one dummy which was a pity. But despite that still all dummies in and we got our first WT certificate! 
12th January 2011: Cold Game Test in Gramsbergen. A day to remember... wet wet wet (photo: Aldo Winkels)   
29th January 2011: Last CAC Fieldtrial held in Beegden. Toon got a qualification Good with Vasco. A hard trial with brambles and very thick cover. 
24th January 2011: Youth Fieldtrial in Grathem. Toon gains a qualification Very Good with Vasco of the Spring Cottage and ends with one point too less at a Second (!) place in the race for the Dashhill trophy. This is the trophy for the Best Youth dog over all the Youth Fieldtrials held in Holland in the season 2010-2011. Well done!
15th January 2011: CACIT (International) Fieldtrial for spaniels in Kloosterzande. Hajo gained a qualification Very Good with Squareclose Chic and Toon Spoorenberg also got a qualification Very Good with Vasco of the Spring Cottage. Well done Toon as Vasco is just two years old. 
14th January 2011: CAC Fieldtrial for spaniels in Kloosterzande. Hajo got again a qualification Very Good with Scotty and this time Sasja got a 3rd place with Very good with Tweed of the Spring Cottage.
13th January 2011: CAC (National) Fieldtrial for spaniels in Hulst-Nieuw Namen. Hajo got a qualification Very Good with Squareclose Chic "Scotty" and Sasja Verstraaten got a qualification Good with Tweed of the Spring Cottage.  
  Dec. 2010: Elly came home and Hajo went the next day to Wales with his dogs to beat at several shoots. Like other years he stayed with Stuart and Janet who always give us a warm welcome. The dogs worked very hard again and Hajo and the dogs had a nice time in Wales. 
Tuesday 7th December until Thursday 9th December Elly, Minie and Desiree again visited the IGL Retriever Championships 2010 in England. This time it was held at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk by gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen. There were spectators from all over Europe and most of the time we were very close behind the competitors so it was nice to watch. This year 58 dogs qualified to compete at this three days Fieldtrial. Winner of 2010 was Mr. David Latham with his dog FT CH. Delfleet Neon of Fendawood (FT CH. Mediterian Blue x Delfleet Dawn Flush). For more information you can visit the site of the International Gundog Leaque  Retriever Society: www.internationalgundogleagueretrieversociety.org.uk

25th November 2010: At the Youth Fieldtrial which was held in Tilburg, Toon Spoorenberg with Vasco of the Spring Cottage gained a 3rd place with a qualification Very Good. Well done Toon!
19th November 2010: At the Fieldtrial for spaniels held in Beugen, Hajo gained the qualification Very Good. He entered this trial with Squareclose Chic "Scotty". He also got a nice prize for "Guns Choice". At the same trial Sasja gained a qualification Good with Tweed of the Spring Cottage. 
08-11-2010: Another Fieldtrial for spaniels in Hooghalen. Second place with an Excellent qualification was for Sasja Verstraaten with her dog Tweed of the Spring Cottage. Third place was for Hajo with Topsy (litter sister to Tweed) of the Spring Cottage also with an Excellent qualification. Hajo gained the qualifation Very Good with Squareclose Chic.  
22-10-2010 Toon with his spaniel "Vasco" gained again a qualification at a Youth Fieldtrial in Nieuw-Vossemeer. This time he ended on 3rd place with the qualification Good
16-10-2010: Elly got a First place with Amy at a Multiple Retrieve Test in Heerenveen. She got 560/600 points.  
11-10-2010: Hajo gained a 5th place with the qualification Good with Vlecky of the Spring Cottage at the Youth Fieldtrial for Spaniels held on the Maasvlakte. Toon with litter brother Vasco got a 4th place with the qualification Very Good!  
03-10-2010: Toon Spoorenberg with his dog Vasco of the Spring Cottage got a 3rd place and the qualification Very Good at a Youth Field Trial for Spaniels which was held in Mazy, Belgium. 
13-09-2010: Minouk Leferink with Willow of the Spring Cottage got a B-certificate from the Royal Dutch Shooting Organisation in Markvelde.
11-09-2010: Jeanet Niebeek with Vicky of the Spring Cottage gained a trainings Certificate from the Dutch Spaniel Union. 
10-09-2010: Squareclose Amy got a B-certificate from the Royal Dutch Shooting Organisation in Hulshorst and a week later the same in Leek. 
28th August: Sasja Verstraaten won with "Tweed of the Spring Cottage" the WT for all varieties of Spaniels which was held in Laren. She also won the challenge trophy for Best spaniel of the day. Well done!

Desiree got a second place with an A-Certificate on the same day in Uffelte. Gratulations for both! 

21th August:  Desiree and I went to Germany to run the WT "Tanz auf dem Vulkan" in the Open Class. The distances were very far for us and we were proud we passed most of the tests. We got a zero too, but we survived the most difficult tests. You have to learn from your mistakes and we learned a lot at this test and know again where we train for. 

 

14-15 and 16th August Desiree and Elly went to England to visit Ingrid. She lives in Surrey and on Sunday we went to Gilly Nickols for a training at her place. We had a lovely day with good talks about dogs and training. Ingrid, many thanks for your hospitality. 

 

Beginning of August we had a good day pigeon shooting. Demmi, Amy, Nemo, Skipper en Goose made a good job of picking up. 

9th August Elly organized a walk-up training in the beets. It stays difficult to mark in the big fields.  

12th June Elly entered the German RTT Working Test held in Lohmar. There were 34 competitors in the Novice Class. There was a very high standard of dogs. Normally in the first couple of tests a few dogs get a zero for a test, but this time everyone stood like a rock and stayed in. Also Elly got all the dummies in with Amy. At the end of the day the long waiting began, because everyone was curious about the results. We ended on the 7th place, the scores were all very close. But the judges rewarded Amy for her nice work. She got the prize for the "Most Stylish Dog". With a nice trofee and a gift voucher we went home again. 

 

29th May the Dutch Labrador Club organized a teamcompetition in a small place called "De Glind". 17 teams entered and every team existed out of a starter, a novice and an open dog. Elly also joined a team with "Squareclose Demmi" which was called "Fast and Furious". The other team members were Desiree Hurenkamp with "Lochmuir Casey" and Joke van Ark with "Zehra van het Muntenbos". We had never trained together before as a team, but it just looked a nice team to us to have a great day. We had a bit of struggle here and there, but also we had a very good performance with other parts, so we didn't know what to expect as end result and also we didn't know how the other teams had run. We were very pleased when we heard we gained a SECOND place of all teams that took part. 

Joke and Desiree thanks for the nice day which I very much enjoyed and the Dutch Labrador Club thanks for the wonderful organization.

After my nice trip to Scotland, life goes on in Holland. On 8th May Elly entered the WT organized by the Dutch Retriever Club in Borculo. Amy did again very well and gained the 5th place in the Novice class. 
24th and 25th April Mike Rolland invited me to come over to Scotland to run a couple of Working Tests. It seemed like a good idea to go to Scotland with my Scottish bred bitch Amy. On Friday I arrived and Mike and I had a good training together. I had no idea what to expect, but he assured me that I was good enough to run in the Novice class. And so I did. The first day 29 dogs entered this class and I did very well, much to my surprise. I got 5th place with 94/100 points.

 

The next day the WT was organized by the Strathmore Working Gundog Club. The grounds were very difficult for a Dutch trained dog, but Amy didn't let me down. From the 25 entries she got a third place. What a relief I didn't embarrass my Scottish friend and myself. It is a good experience to compete in the Country where most of my dogs come from. At least I can say that this is the most expensive ribbon I have ever won in my life! Mike thanks! 

3rd April 2010: WT Almkerk organized by the Dutch Retriever Club. Desiree entered with Lochmuir Casey and Elly entered with Squareclose Amy. Desiree got 1st (!) place and Elly 3rd place in the Novice class. In total 21 entries and only 4 combinations succeeded in getting all the retrieves. A deserved moment for all our hard work!
20th February 2010 Elly took part in the Cold game test organized by the Dutch Labrador Club in Numansdorp. 

 

First December "Squareclose Chic" got a qualification "Good"at a CAC FT In Hooghalen. 

 

On 26th November "Tweed of the Spring Cottage" gained a 2nd place at the Youth FT in Tilburg, he became 3rd at the Youth FT in Rotterdam. Sasja, well done!
On 25th October Desiree Hurenkamp with Lochmuir Casey and Elly with Amy competed in a RTT Trainings Workingtest in Lohmar, Germany. Only 9 dogs succeeded to get all the retrieves in. Elly was 2nd with Amy and Desiree 7th with Casey. A good result which we needed after a long trip by car.
10-10-2009: Elly became 3rd at a Multiple Retrieve Test in Leek with Squareclose Amy.
RAVivo photography

On 12th and 13th September I joined a super handling weekend organized by Korstiaan Kleywegt. He invited Mike Mulch (who was Tophandler at Highclere in 2008 and won several times with his team the IWT) to tell us how to handle our dogs. As always when you are open for it, you learn a lot. We all enjoyed this weekend. Korstiaan and Mike, THANKS!

29th August: Squareclose Amy got a B-certificate from the Royal Dutch Shooting Organisation.

6th August we joined a training given by Dr. Garreth Davies in Wales. This was very interesting.

4th and 5th August Desiree and Elly joined a training at the Bettinsons in Wales.

Beginning of June we joined a training from Mike Rolland, Dick Sorley and Ally Kennedy in Fife, Scotland, which we very much enjoyed.
3rd May and 16th May Elly joined a team at two teamtrials. The first was organized by the Dutch Labrador Club and here they became 10th out of 20 teams. The second teamtrial was organized by the Dutch Golden Retrieverclub. Here they gained an 8th place with their Labradors.

The team called "Yellow": Robert Bolsenbroek with Abbotsross Oak, Desiree Hurenkamp with Lochmuir Casey and Elly Bos with Squareclose Amy.

 

28th March: WT of the Dutch Labrador Retriever Club. Squareclose Amy gained a 6th place out of 40 competitors. 
Henk van den Ouweland with his dog Shock of the Spring Cottage had a very good year in the Youth Fieldtrial Competition. Overall he ended on the 3rd place in the 2008-2009 season.
2nd of August 2008 Squarclose Amy gained a C-Certificate from the Royal Dutch Shooting Organisation and on 20th September she also gained a B-Certificate. We were very pleased with these results because she was only 14 months old when she got the second certificate.

On 4th of October Powenargrof Glynys (Grace) got a Multiple Retrieve Certificate in the B-class.  She got all the 12 retrieves in time and ended on the 4th place.

On 13th September 2008 "Squareclose Chic" (Scotty) gained a Certificate from the Dutch Spaniel Union. 
At Beugen on the 16th of November 2007`Chasse of the Spring Cottage` wins the Fieldtrial with First Excellent CAC. The judges awarded `Chasse` for his will to find game and his will to take cover. `Chasse` had two good flushes on woodcock.
6th October - Sefie Jehee with "Banjer of the Spring Cottage" gained a Multiple Retrieve Certificate B. They also became Best Combination 2007 of the Region Hoorn based on all the good results they had in 2007. 
6th October - Bert v.d. Hof 3rd place with "Pepper of the Spring Cottage" at the working test for Spaniels at Krimpen a/d IJssel. 
On the 2nd of October 2007 Jan Luijendijk  with his spaniel "DeeDee of the Spring Cottage" became WORLD CHAMPION ST. HUBERTUS in Belgium. He entered this competition after he already had won the selection in Holland. Together with Gerrit Visser they became second in the teamcompetition.
 

Banjer of the Spring Cottage owned by fam. Jehee                             Zorro owned by fam. Keijzer (photo: Karin Vogt)

In September 2007 the Dutch Spaniel Union keeps two days in which spaniels of all variëties can show their ability to hunt. In the morning there are a couple of tests which shows the obedience and steadiness of the dogs. When this is o.k. then in the afternoon the hunting in thick cover, waterwork and blind retrieves will be tested. This year there were in total 32 competitors but only 4 awards for the English Springers and three for the Cocker Spaniels. Sister and brother "Pepper of the Spring Cottage" owned by Bert v.d. Hof and "Banjer of the Spring Cottage" owned by Sefie Jehee got this shooting award. Also another son of Squareclose Ranger "Zorro" owned by Kees Keijzer gained this shooting award. Gratulations to the owners of these dogs! 

Pepper of the Spring Cottage, owner fam. v.d. Hof (photo: Karin Vogt)

In August and September we entered with our Labradors several times field trial tests held by the Royal Dutch Hunting Associaton. Grace (Powenargrof Glynys) got in total three B-certificates out of three tests. Abbotsross Larch became in Uffelte best young dog with a certificate. He got at the age of 10 months a B-certificate! This year we didn't manage to get an A-certificate with Grace. Sending in the moor in Veenhuizen was still a bit too difficult for her and most of the other dogs. 29 dogs tried in Veenhuizen to come through the sending part of the test. Only three dogs succeeded.
On the 12th of January "Dribbel of the Spring Cottage" was awarded with first place (1 excellent) at the fieldtrial for young spaniels on Tholen. With this excellent result and the other good results at the fieldtrials "Dribbel" gained the "Dashhill-Award" for best spaniel at the youth fieldtrials. We congratulate Bert and Cora van der Graaf with this superb result.

Dribbel of the Spring Cottage owned by Bert van der Graaf.

Also at Tholen "Zorro" (Squareclose Ranger x Zillah Veertig Bundersberg) was awarded with third place at the fieldtrial for young spaniels. We congratulate Kees Keijzer with this splendid result with "Zorro" at the age of almost nine months.
On the 10th of January we were invited for the Mixed Pairs Working test in Münster, Germany. The meaning of this test is that a Spaniel and a Labrador work together like in a normal shoot, but now the handlers are dependent on each others working abilities with the dogs. As well for the Spaniel as for the Labrador there is a separate judge. When the day starts, you hear who will be your "partner" for that day. Koos Kommers with his labrador "Millers Square Famous Grouse" was my partner when I hunted with "Smiley of the Spring Cottage". When I was in the field with "Squarclose Ranger" my Labrador partner was Bennie Harmsen with his dog "Rosa v. 't Kieftendorp". Luckely for me Koos Kommers had the best Labrador of the day and I had a "Very Good" qualification with Smiley. So together we won (!) the Mixed Pairs test. Ranger was the best Spaniel of the day, and Bennie got with his dog a "Good" qualification. Together we had enough qualifications for the second place!

Individual Ranger was the Best Spaniel of the day and Smiley had a shared fourth place.  

       

Squareclose Ranger gained the qualification "Very Good" at the International fieldtrial Axel on the 11th of December. The judges praised him for his good style and hunting pattern even under the difficult circumstances (field and weather) on this day.
In November I went with Ranger beating in Wales on different shoots, for an impression click here
On the 10th of September Squareclose Ranger gained the hunting/working certificate of the Dutch Spaniel Union
On the 3rd of September our labrador Powenargrof Glynys (Grace) again managed to get a B-certificate of the Royal Dutch Hunting Association. This time the contest was held in Tijnje. She got 76 points (of 80) and became 3rd best dog of the day of all the B-certificates which were achieved. 
Smiley of the Spring Cottage and Powenargrof Glynys both gained a B-certificate of the Royal Dutch Hunting Association (KNJV) on the 27th of August at Uffelte.
On 28th of January Squareclose Ranger was awarded with first place in his serie at the CAC fieldtrial of the Sporting Spaniel Association in Vezon, Belgium. Judge Victor McDevitt praised his style and mentioned that we really worked as a team. At this same fieldtrail, but in the other serie, Badgercourt Coral was awarded with the qualification Very Good.
Also at Vezon, on Saturday 29th of January DeeDee of the Spring Cottage was awarded first with CACIT at the CACIT fieldtrial.
At Tholen on the 14th of January Chasse of the Spring Cottage won the fieldtrial for spaniels with the qualification Excellent. With this excellent result and his good results on the other trails for youth dogs, he became overall winner of these fieldtrials 2004/2005. We congratulate owner and handler Jan de Jong with this excellent result and with winning the Dashhill-Award.
On the same fieldtrail Squareclose Ranger became second with the qualification Very Good and was awarded with the Guns-Award.
DeeDee of the Spring Cottage

Int. and Dutch Fieldtrail Champion

(FtCH Chilview Ace x Galatsori Jane), 

date of birth: 8-2-2001, owner: J.A.P. Luijendijk.

Last December Mr. J.A.P. Luijendijk was awarded with his last CACIT's for "DeeDee" at French Fieldtrials necessary to become French Working Champion.

 

  e-mail: ofthespringcottage@gmail.com