I spent yesterday on the final day of the SARDA assessment. Again it was an eye opening day.it wss a long weekend starting Friday night for Dogs, handlers, bodies and those organising the Assessment. There is huge pressure on all involved. There were many tired people and dogs at the end of of the weekend..
As President ( a great honour)) this is the second Assessment I have been to. The candidates are really pit through there paces it’s a pressured weekend for all.
The dedication of all is amazing and a true family atmosphere is everywhere. I had forgotten that this dedication is an amazing attribute of the no, The great thing is that many Mountain Rescue Teams are represented and this gives a great cross fertilisation of ideas.
It is great to see the many new handlers and dogs. Some changes also help the organisation move on. Never easy to achieve but needed as an organisation updates🐈⬛
We are so lucky to have so many good folk few get a mention in our voluntary organisations. They never seek attention but carry on week after week doing so much for others.
From SARDA Scotland
Huge congratulations to the dogs teams who passed our Annual Assessment this weekend in Glencoe and Glen Nevis.
Jamie & Dan from Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team upgraded to full dog. While Mark & Mac from Glenmore Lodge MRT, Sam & Bowie and Paul & Rogue from Braemar Mountain Rescue team were awarded Novice Dog Status.
Stephen & Ollie from Oban Mountain Rescue Team were also awarded their certificate for Novice Dog after been graded earlier in the year.
We also qualified Lynsay & Wallace from BASP on their journey to be an Avalanche search dog Glenshee Ski Centre.
All of our dog teams worked extremely hard in some tricky light winds and technical terrain to be graded.
Thanks to our external Assessors from Search And Rescue Dog Association – SARDA Ireland North, SARDA Southern Scotland and Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England for making the long journey to assist.
More photos to follow, so keep you eyes peeled.
Scottish Mountain Rescue
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My first meeting with SARDA was on a wild winters day in a remote corrie in the West Coast. I was amazed they were working alone with their dog. The thing that was unusual was their was a few lassies as this was umiak at the time.
We often ensured in the RAF MRT that’s their safety was supported by us. We built up a rapport and this was built up years ago.
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Old mans thoughts and tales. 