Graded Dog Teams

Dave Benson & Moudy (Kirkby Stephen MRT)
Ollie Benson & Kitt (Langdale Ambleside MRT)
Laura Connolly & Jake (Cockermouth MRT)
Kaz Frith & Dottie (Penrith MRT)
Mick Guy & Ginny (Keswick MRT)
Mike Hadwin & Fly (Cockermouth MRT)
Penny Kirby & Pippi (Wasdale MRT)
John Leadbetter & Skye (Duddon & Furness MRT)
Andrew McNeil (Cockermouth MRT)
Rick Outhwaite & Alpha (Cockermouth MRT)
Roger Pickup & Beinn (Langdale Ambleside MRT)
Les Telford & Kess (Kendal MRT)
Steve Walter & Rosie (Wasdale MRT)
Dave Watt & Dynamite / Flash (Kirkby Stephen MRT)
Elly Whiteford & Mac (Keswick MRT)

Dave Benson and Moudy
David and Moudy graded in May 2003. Moudy is a Bedlington Terrier / Greyhound cross - a breed commonly used for hunting game and a very unusual sight on the fells. David (known for his dry humour) is a member of Kirkby Stephen MRT, works as a Health and Safety Advisor for the YHA in the North West and is an Assessor with the Association.

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 a Development Training Consultant at Brathay Trust and when not working all over the world, 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.

 

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 a Trainee Assessor. Her and Dottie share a house (and Kennel) with trainee handler Daryl Garfield and puppy Dram

READ DOTTIE'S DOG BLOG HERE

 

 

 

 

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.

Penny Kirby and Pippi
Penny Kirby is a member 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). Both Ben and Mif have retired, and 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!

Penny is also an assessor with the Association - in December 2007 she started formally training her fourth(!) dog Olli.

 

 

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 Augustr 2009

 

 

Andrew McNeil and Corrie
Are members of Cockermouth MRT - Andrew and Corrie graded at Pasture Beck, Hartsop in April 2003. Corrie was an abandoned pup rescued from a local police pound at 14 weeks old. She worked extremely hard for her grading and is well known as being the 'grumpiest bitch in SARDA'. Andrew has another rescued collie, Patch, who keeps the kennel warm whilst her mate is out working in the dark. Andrew is an assessor with the association.

 

 

Rick Outhwaite and Alpha
Ric is a member of Cockermouth MRT his two previous dogs Arrow and Bo (Spot the name connection!) served the association for many years. Ric now works with Alpha, a lively and mischevious 5 year old male border collie. Ric is an assessor with the Association and works for a Local Authority.

 

Roger Pickup and Beinn
Roger is the Deputy Team Leader of Langdale Ambleside team and a Professor of Molecular Microbial Ecology at Lancaster University and has been involved in Mountain Rescue for many years. Roger's searchdog Paddy died suddenly in 2005 - Paddy had attended many call outs over the time he was on the callout list. Beinn started training in April 2006, unfortunately Roger sustained a leg injury in Jan 2007 which put him out of action for a couple of months but on his return in July 2007 they resumed training. Beinn and Roger started their assessments in December 2007 and graded in March 2008. Roger continues to be an Assessor with the Association.

 

 

Les Telford and Kess
Les is a freelance translator based in Kendal and a member of Kendal Mountain Search and Rescue Team. An alumni of Cambridge University, Les is also known as 'WSB' (well spoken bloke), and can be relied upon to raise the standard of the conversation beyond the banal.

Kess and Les graded in April 2003, having survived the disruption to training caused by foot-and-mouth. At home, Kess is also in charge of Les's two other collies. Les is an Assessor and Stage 2 Training Co-ordinator with the association, and has also taken on the task of being the Secretary of 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.


Dave Watt and Flash & Dynamite
Dave is a member of Kirkby Stephen MRT and graded his third dog Flash in August 2006. Dave continues to work his second dog, Dynamite alongside.

Dave is also interested in advanced dog work - buildings and rubble, water searching and has even attended to rail crashes and the 2005 Glasgow factory disaster.

Dave was a founder of the Cumbria unit of 'Skywatch' in 2006 - part of the Auxillary Air Service Organisation which provides assistance to the police using local pilots and privately owned light aircraft . Dave is an Assessor


Elly Whiteford and Mac
Elly is a member of Keswick MRT. She works for the Environment Agency in Penrith and spends much of her spare time climbing, mountain biking and fell running.

Mac, a border collie, was adopted by Elly after being abandoned and half starved on a beach when he was young. He is a real gentleman and loves playing with his fluroescent frisbees. Elly and Mac started training in March 2005 and began their assessments in Summer 2006. Elly and Mac graded at Coombe Ghyll in March 2007. Elly started training her new puppy Meg in Nov 08. Ellie is a Trainee Assessor with the Association.


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 'between' dogs 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.