Graded Dog Teams

Ollie Benson & Kitt (Langdale Ambleside MRT)
Laura Connolly & Jake (Cockermouth MRT)
Nick Fayers & Sam (Langdale Ambleside MRT)
Kaz Frith & Dottie (Penrith MRT)
Mick Guy & Ginny (Keswick MRT)
Joy Grindrod & Einich (Langdale Ambleside MRT)
Mike Hadwin & Fly (Cockermouth MRT)
Christyne Judge & Bute (Coniston MRT)
Penny Kirby & Pippi/Olly (Wasdale MRT)
John Leadbetter & Skye (Duddon & Furness MRT)
Steve Walter & Rosie (Wasdale MRT)
Elly Whiteford & Meg (Keswick MRT)



Olly Benson and Kitt
Olly is a member of Langdale Ambleside MRT with his gorgeous border collie bitch Kitt. Kitt is related to many of the searchdogs and trainees and exhibits their lovely temperament! Olly is training to be a Paramedic - he spends much of his time fell running and painting landscapes. Kitt passed her formal registration test in March 2007 and passed her last assessment in May 2009.

Laura Connolly and Jake
Laura is a member of Cockermouth MRT and works as a Physiotherapist. Jake started training in April 2006 when he was 2 years old. Laura was a dogsbody and then decided to train a dog. Laura (who has the distinction of being born at the National Mountaineering Centre in Wales) has always had a love of the outdoors and has even been mad enough to compete in some local triathlons and fell races. Laura and Jake graded in December 2008.

 

Nick Fayers and Sam
Nick is a member of Langdale Ambleside and is training his border collie Sam - Nick's previous searchdog Yana retired in 2007 after 6 years service to the Association. Nick is a Development Training Consultant at Brathay Trust and spends much of his spare time with his family. Sam is the son of Searchdog Beinn - another handsome boy!  Sam graded in 2010

Kaz Frith and Dottie
Kaz is a member of Penrith MRT and works for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service. Her border collie, Dottie started formal training in Sept 2005 and graded on the SARDA England course in January 2007 at just 2 years old. Kaz spends much of her spare time walking in the Lakes and Wales. She is the Equipment Officer for the Association and an Assessor. Her and Dottie share a house (and Kennel) with trainee Trailing handler Daryl Garfield and puppy Dram.

READ DOTTIE'S DOG BLOG HERE

Joy Grindrod and Einich
Joy is a member of Langdale Ambleside MRT and started training her beautiful (and wilful) border collie bitch Einich in 2008. Einich is Joy's second dog - having been partnered by Anna for 13 years. Joy is an artist and has exhibited widely (including at the National Mountaineering Exhibition at Rheged). Einich graded in April 2011. Joy is an Assessor with the association.

 

 

Mick Guy and Ginny
Mick is a member of Keswick MRT. He started bodying for SARDA in 1988, then became a trainee handler with Search Dog Spin who graded after 24 months of training.

Ginny, his third dog qualified in March 2006 when she was 22 months old. Mist his 2nd dog is now enjoying a well earned retirement. Mick is currently the Training Officer and lead Assessor for the Association.

 

Mike Hadwin and Fly
Mike has been a member of Cockermouth MRT for 20 years. He spent 3 years as a body before deciding to train a search dog! His graded dog Brin retired in March 2005 - 10 years after grading. He started training with his handsome border collie, Fly, in November 2004 - another handler had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and Mike took over Fly's training. Mike was always relied upon for his helpful advice and comments to his fellow trainees (Mike was previously the SARDA training officer and continues to be an Assessor). Mike and Fly graded in January 2007. Mike is the Chairman of the Association.

 

 

Christyne Judge (Coniston MRT) and Bute
Christyne is a member of Coniston MRT and is a Police Officer. Collie puppie bitch Bute was born in February 09 and has some big paws to step into as Christyne has already had a searchdog - Skye who has now retired and is keeping an eye on Bute. Bute started formal training in early 2010 and passed her final assessment in Jan 2011. Christyne is an assessor with the association

 

 

 

Penny Kirby and Pippi/Ollie
Penny Kirby is a deputy Team Leader of Wasdale MRT, and has been a member of SARDA since 1982. Penny works as an outdoor instructor.

Her first Search Dog was Ben, followed by Mif, (half sister of Ben). Her third dog Pippi was graded at the end of December 2003. Penny used an unusual 'reward' for Pippi - dried fish skin - a great hit with the dog, but not with the dogsbodies that went home smelling strangely after training! Her fouth dog Ollie graded in July 2010.

Penny is also an assessor with the Association

 

John Leadbetter and Skye
John used to be a SARDA Lakes body and member of Duddon and Furness MRT, then moved South and for a short while had started training Skye with SARDA England. John and his fiancee Clare moved back to the Lakes in Summer 2007 and he and Skye passed their initial registration with SARDA Lakes in August 2007. Skye showed great promise and started assessments in Sept 2008 - hoping to grade in 2009. Skye graded in horrendous weather on the Haweswater training weekend in August 2009.  John is a trainee Assessor with the Association.

 

Steve Walter and Rosie
Steve is a member of Wasdale MRT and works with Search Dog Rosie - (possibly the quickest thing on 4 legs!) - Actually, Steve isn't normally too far behind Rosie as he is supremely fit, being an Outdoor Instructor! Although Steve hadn't been on the callout list very long, he and Rosie had already notched up some finds. In July 2006, Rosie was diagnosed with a serious spinal injury and underwent major surgery and was therefore unable to work. After an incredible 15 months off, Rosie and Steve passed their re-assessment tests and returned to operational duties in Oct 2007.

Elly Whiteford and Meg

Elly is a member of Keswick MRT and Meg is her second dog. searchdog is a border collie bitch called Meg. It has taken a little while to get this timid little dog out of her shell but in November 08, Meg passed her introductory test and graded as a searchdog in April 2011. Elly is an assessor with the Association and works for the Environment Agency.

 

 

 

CHRIS FRANCIS - CALLOUT CO-ORDINATOR

Chris has been a member of Keswick MRT since 1983 during which time he graded two searchdogs. Both of his dogs have been Labradors (or 'proper dogs' as Chris would have it!) and he has attended over 700 rescues and 240 searches. At present he is training his 3rd dog Beck, but carries the important (and unenviable) task of co-ordination of any dog callout between MR teams and the Police throughout Cumbria and sometimes beyond. As a result, he is used to being woken up regularly in the middle of the night to call out the handlers - sometimes being on the end of some abuse! Chris is also an assessor with SARDA Lakes and a member of the management committee. Chris started training his new puppy Beck in early 2009 - who commenced assessments in 2011.