News
February Assessments 2012
Re-post of NSARDA News Article
Dave Marsh spent a long weekend down in Kent as a guest assessor for NSARDA Cantech [Kent] search dogs who were conducting an assessment weekend.
Dave, who is currently the secretary for the National Search and Rescue Dog Association [NSARDA], journeyed down to a scout camp site just south west of Royal Tunbridge Wells, where he was joined by the NSARDA Chairman, Harold Burrows and the search dog training officer for Wales, Roly Leyland. Both Harold and Roly have many many years of training search dogs with their claim to fame as having attended the Lockerbie incident.
Over the course of the weekend, the three handlers and dogs going for Initial grading, were assessed undertaking a minimum of four assessments with a maximum of five taking in different scenarios which included footpaths, open area, forest, and dense woodland. Due to the depth of snow [150mm min] and with air temperatures between minus 4 daytime, down to minus 12 at night, problems which incurred were varied and wide to say the least.
However at the end of the tough assessments, Dave happily reports that all three handlers and dogs acheived their grading.
As a pleasant footnote, one handler, Mick, had saved his dog, Red, from a rescue centre where the dog had been in kennels for twelve months due to no one wanting the poor unfortunate animal. Mick aquired him and has now turned him into a delightful novice search dog. Well done that man
Kilimanjaro
Two of our unit are taking this unique opportunity to 'Climb the highest peak in Africa' and raise money for Kent Search And Rescue (www.ksar.co.uk).
During 2011 KSAR have attended over 40 searches, provided well over 2,000 man hours helping rescue 38 people. Jo, myself and our search dog bryn have been involved with the majority of these searches.
KSAR is completely reliant on public donations and needs our help.
As for the Trek - the total distance is 120 kilometres, over 6 days with a net height gain of 4,405 metres and passing through five distinctly different habitats – cultivated farmland, montane forest, alpine heath, semidesert and ice-cap. The temperature will generally be warm during the day dropping to an average minimum of 5 degrees. Summit morning however can be as low as minus 10 or 12 degrees.
Dominating the landscape like no other mountain, Kilimanjaro is the highest volcano in the world and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5895 metres, or 19,340 feet. It is one of the fabled Seven Summits, the highest peak in Africa and a great challenge for the adventure traveller and aspirant mountaineer.
We are taking the Machame Route. This is probably the most beautiful route up Kilimanjaro. This route (also referred to as the "Whiskey route") is a fantastic experience, from the late afternoon sunsets at Shira, to the misty revelations of Kibo at the great Barranco Wall, and the Machame route offers a stunning scenic slide show.
The trek takes us through five distinctly different habitats – cultivated farmland, montane forest, alpine heath, semi desert and ice-cap.
The temperature will generally be warm during the day dropping to an average minimum of 5 degrees. Summit morning however can be as low as minus 10 or 12 degrees.
Please help us by donating money to this cause.
Paws in the Park 2011
The team had a great time at Paws In The Park on 17th & 18th September this year. We ran our our famous 'Have A Go At Search & Rescue' and this all helped us raise some much needed funds.
We hope that everyone who had a go enjoyed themselves and congratulations to the winners.