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Skinners dog food kindly agree to supply the dogs with food free of charge for the next year.
This is a huge help for the handlers and one less cost to worry about.
Thanks should also go to Rob Kneen at saddler agriculture who helped us achieve this.
Jims van will be pimped to reflect our current sponsors,photo to follow when logo's done and fitted.
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Andy and Max passed their stock test at Faraghers farm in Andreas on Sunday 25th April 2010. The stock test was observed by the farmer (Lesley) and jim Macgregor & Phil Diment from the committee. This proved a very tough test as max had to wait and observe while the sheep and lambs were rounded up so that Lesley could help a ewe give birth before the stock test could begin. Max was unfazed by the whole episode and showed no interest. Congratualtions to both who have now been officially accepted by SARDA IOM Committee as a trainee Search and Rescue Dog team. We look forward with anticipation to the future."
Congratulations to Andy Dunn & Max who have now passed their obedience test. This was observed at Peel on Tuesday 30th March by Jim Macgregor & two members of SARDA IOM Committee (Sarah Nixon & Gary Wright). Both did a fantastic job and now have just one more hurdle to go with a stock test which will hopefully be done in the next couple of weeks. This will allow Max to then become an official trainee search dog with Sarda IOM where the hard work will begin. Congratualtions to both!
Image: Donation by Peel Charity shop
For the second year running Peel Charity shop has donated £1000 to SARDA IOM. This donation allows the Search Dogs to continue their high cost of training and will allow the handlers to replace some worn out clothing.
Pictured are on the left Dawn Webb (Chairman SARDA IOM) with the committee of Peel charity shop and handler Jim Macgregor with Star.
Sarda IOM currently has two qualified search and rescue dogs which are trained to find people through air scenting. This takes a great deal of commitment and dedication but is also very rewarding and enjoyable. The organisation is currently looking to expand.
Could you:
Train a dog up and become a handler?
Be prepared to navigate for a handler in an emergency situation?
Assist with the training of the dogs by hiding?
Help out with the committee?
IN PARTICULAR WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW HANDLERS TO TRAIN UP DOGS.
There are certain requirements but if interested either:
call Jim on 428847
look at www.sardaiom.org
E-Mail j.macgregor@snhs.sch.im
Or let us know and pop along to one of our training sessions to see what is involved!
"Jim Macgregor & Star recently took part with SARDA Wales and the RAF in a winching exercise in the Llanberis Pass. The team went through a sequence of familarisation of the helicopter with lots of praise from handlers and the crew of the helicopter. This involved the intial landing (photo 1). Then the dogs were taken throught the helicopter with the engines off (photo 2) then with the engines on and finally with the blades turning. All the time the dogs were given lots of praise. The team was then winched up (photo 3 & 4) and taken on a short flight around Llanberis and winched back to the field. Finally the ruck sacks were picked up and the teams were lifted to a Cwm on the slopes of Snowdon where they completed a search down the valley. A big thanks to SARDA Wales and their bodies for the opportunity and the RAF from Valley."
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Recently 10 members of Civil Defence with two support drivers completed the three highest peaks in England, Wales & Scotland under 24 hours. A guess the time to complete the walking section was held and a total of £1080 has been raised for SARDA IOM. Thanks greatly to Civil Defence and its supporters for raising so much money.
Recently the Manx Lottery Trust has funded SARDA IOM for two GPS units for the handlers and two smaller units for the dogs. Also we have purchased a copy of memory map. This system a will greatly help with the training of the dogs and can be used to show the police areas searched during call outs. Thanks greatly to the Manx Lottery Trust for their support.
Image: Civil Defence volunteers that completed the challenge!
Isle of Man Civil Defence is once again showing its fantastic support to SARDA IOM through one of its latest fundraising events. 10 volunteers including Jim MacGregor one of SARDA IOM dog handlers, are completing the 3 Peaks Challenge in May, raising money for SARDA IOM and many other causes by climbing the biggest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland in less than 24 hours.
The volunteers will summit Snowdon in Wales, then Scafell Pike in England, finishing with a trek up Ben Nevis in Scotland. One of the ways to help support this challenge is by filling out the sponsorship forms that are going around or emailing sardaiom@manx.net to pass on monies to the challenge.
Thanks to everyone involved and from everyone at SARDA IOM, all the best of luck!
Image: The Civil Defence volunteers involved in 3 Peak Challenge
Isle of Man Civil Defence Homepage
Jim Macgregor and Star have passed their assessment at the end of March in Snowdonia and are now have full search dog status. They were required to search an open hill area, a woodland and an industrial estate. Assessors were looking to see the area was searched efficently and that all the bodies were locted in each of the areas. Jiim says " I would like to thank all of Sarda Wales for their efforts and patience for me and Star to qualify. In particular Richard and Kev who have done a great deal on area coverage and effective use of the dog." The status of the team will need to be re-graded in three years time but there is hope to progress through the mountain stages in the near future.
Image: Jim & Star after the assessment! Looking worn out!
A huge thank you too all of the staff of the Isle of Man bank of Lloyds TSB bank who very kindly donated £100 to SARDA IOM through various fundraising events, this money is going towards getting the dogs new GPS compatable jackets, thanks once again!
Jon Whiting has been doing a sponcered slim down, losing weight for money! It may have something to do with our latest trainee dog, Vector who Jon is training to hopefully become the latest qualified Search Dog on the Isle of Man.
So far Jon has raised £335 and the total is climbing. Many thanks for everyone that has given money in and Jon for his efforts!
Image: Jim & Star
Jim and Star covered varied search areas during the excerise from steep plantation, to open areas, buildings, private housing, rivers, dense ferns and open tracks. To see more photos, please see the photo gallery section.
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Image: Jim at the finish line!
Jim Macgregor completed the London Marathon in a time of 4 hours 49mins 24 secs. Running all the way in a dog suit loaned by SARDA Wales (pictured) encouragement was given by the crowd with renditions of "who let the dogs out?".
The final amount of money raised through "guess the finish time" was £550 which was shared between SARDA Wales & IOM. We are all extremely grateful for the level of support we gain from SARDA Wales with our regular training weekends.
There were 7 winners in the guess the time competition all guessing 4hours 50mins. These were:
Ruth - Meal for 2 at Ciapellis (thanks to Ciapellis and Moore Stephens)
Stephen - £50 Euromanx vouchers (Thanks to Euromanx)
Kirsty - £25 nail voucher (Thanks to Digits)
Ellan - Meal for two at Clinches (Thanks to Clinches & Steve Quinney)
Diane - Kettle and filters (Thanks to Strix)
Daniel & Calum - Both recieving photos of the Isle of Man (Thanks to Lissa Barklie)
Thanks you to everyone who guessed and donated prizes, the money raised will help SARDA greatly.
Image: Jim's suit!
Image: Jim & Star
Image: Richard, Jim and Kev with the certificate!
Jim & Star graded to novice search dog status on 11th November 2007 in North Wales.
This now means that they are qualified for call outs all across the Isle of Man and in lowland areas in Wales.
Matt and Lola attended the SARDA Wales assessments in Snowdonia at the end of March. After gruelling assessments, consisting of 5 mountian areas in 3 days, they successfully upgraded to Full Search Dog Status.
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Upgraded: Search Dog Lola
Lola made a life saving find on the evening of Monday the 6th November. This was her first live find and it is clear that had she not located the misper when she did that the outcome would have been a tragic one. We are all very proud of her. Follow this link for details
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