SARDA Wales

Dog find for Helen & Cluanie

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 20:20:00 +0000

Well done to Helen and Cluanie who had a dog find on Snowdon this evening. The pair were supporting Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team who had been called to find a missing male on the mountain. The weather was poor, the light fading and the only info the team had to go on was that the male was on Snowdon. The pair, supported by LLMRT members, located the missing man on the Llanberis Path and he was pleased to see them! Well done both!

November Assessment

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 09:03:00 +0000

Last weekend was the SARDA Wales annual assessment. Congratulations are due to Gareth and Indy who upgraded to a Mountain Search Dog Team, Biffa and Foxey who qualified as a Lowland Team and to Richard and Scout who upgraded to a Full Mountain Search Dog Team. Well done all!

Many thanks to body Richard and trainee Ester for the great shots!

Video from a dog rescue on Snowdon last night

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 18:51:00 +0000

Llanberis MRT were called to the aid of local sheepdog Chip yesterday, here is the story!

Photos from our training weekend

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 17:26:00 +0000

Here are some doggy snaps from this weekends training session.

Find for Sally & Spin

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:40:00 +0000

On Wednesday this week SARDA Wales, together with NEWSAR, were called to assist in the search for a missing male from Colwyn Bay. Sally & Spin found the male during the afternoon. The male was deceased and our sympathies go to the friends and family.

Two New Trainees

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:04:00 +0000

Congratulations to Bob and his dog Freddie who passed their stock and obedience tests at the weekend. to become new trainees with SARDA Wales. We all wish you the best of luck.

A sad day for SARDA Wales

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:36:00 +0000

Over this weekend we heard the sad news that retired trailing dog Rolf has passed away. Our thoughts are with his handler Gwen and her partner Richard. Rolf made an important contribution as one of the first qualified trailing dogs in SARDA in the UK and he will be greatly missed by all.

SARDA Wales on the television

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:13:00 +0000

Last night SARDA Wales featured on a program on National Parks, presented by Caroline Quentin. Caroline volunteered as a body and was found by Search Dog Skye underneath Lliwedd here in Snowdonia. You can catch it in ITV Player here: https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/caroline-quentin-s-national-parks/series-1/episode-2

Find for Sally & Spin

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:53:00 +0000

Well done to Sally and Spin who had a mountain find on the Glyders in the early hours of this morning.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation requested the assistance of the Search Dogs shortly after midnight to help find two walkers who were several hours overdue. The walkers had gone to ground in white out, blizzard conditions and were found taking refuge in a group shelter. The walkers had got lost, had no torch or crampons and had been out on the mountains for 7 hours over their due return time. They were cold and tired but thanks to Sally & Spin, the OVMRO team members and 22 squadron (who lifted them off the mountains) they are safe and well.

New Trainees

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:31:00 +0000

Over the last two training weekends we have been fortunate to welcome three new dog teams to the training list. Geraint and his black Labrador Ben passed their stock and obedience tests this weekend to start training as a trailing dog team whilst last month Esther and her Collie Izzy and Paul and his Collie Mist passed theirs to start air scenting training. Welcome on board to all.

Max Retires

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:06:00 +0000

From Max~

After nine years of loyal service it's time for me to call it a day. Failing health and old age have made the decision for me. This leaves me free to concentrate on P.R duties and a budding media career.

I think I've done my bit...5 finds!! (yes only 5) .... not bad for a fat Lab..

I will hand over the mantel to my overeager and sometimes rather annoying younger stepbrother Indiana Jones.

Thank you for all your support over the years ....and remember...KEEP SMILING!!!

by: Gareth Wyn Williams

Celyn retires

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:01:00 +0000

After 10 years and 3 months it is time for Search Dog Celyn to hang up her search jacket. Celyn and Richard first qualified back in November 2002 at novice search dog, within 24 hours they were Called Out on their first search for a missing despondent in Llangynog near to Oswestry. After four hours of searching, the search was called off when the missing man was spotted near a telephone box outside the village, so off we went home in the early hours of the morning tired but pleased that Celyn had worked really well.
Within a month of qualifying we had our first find for a despondent on Harlech beach, the Coastguard had been searching for most of the night. Within an hour of us starting the search we had found a man, and he was sent on his way to hospital. In March 2003 we passed our novice mountain assessment, a year and ½ Later we qualified at full mountain search dog. Over the years Celyn has been on many callouts all over the country and even Ireland, in this time she has had five live finds and one dead find.
One of Celyn’s last callouts was down in Machynlleth searching for missing April Jones, she spent the day searching with many other volunteers whilst giving my new Search dog Scout the day off after 4 days of searching.
Celyn has worked hard over the years and has been very faithful to me and I am proud to call her my dog, I hope she enjoys her retirement, but I know she would rather be out searching.

Find for Kev & Nop

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:02:00 +0000

SARDA Wales were called out at 11:15 last night to assist NWP in the search for a male who’s car had been found at the Great Orme, Kev & Nop found the missing man's body in the early hours of this morning. Thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased, 05/02/13.

Find for Antony & Moss

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:22:00 +0000

SARDA Wales were called out at midnight last night to assist Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team in the search for a female dementia patient. Antony & Moss found the missing woman's body in the early hours of this morning in woodland. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased.

New MR Video on the role of MRT in England & Wales

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Thank you Rotary

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:28:00 +0000

In November the Rotary Club of West Derby,Liverpool held a charity evening at the Devonshire House Hotel in Liverpool.
SARDA Wales were nominated as one of the supported charities.
Today we are very pleased to announce the receipt of a cheque for £1000.
We would like to extend our thanks to the President and members of the West Derby Rotary Club and everyone who supported the event for this very generous donation.
From all at SARDA Wales we would like to wish them a very merry Christmas.

November Assessment Success

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:17:00 +0000

This weekend was the SARDA Wales autumn assessment here in Snowdonia. Congratulations are due to Gareth and Indy who qualified as a lowland search dog team in their first assessment. (Indy is Gareths second qualified dog). Congratulations also go to Kev and Nop who passed their upgrade to a Novice Mountain dog team and to Anthony and Moss who were regraded as a full mountain search dog team. Well done to them and many thanks to all of the bodies, assessors and catering team who contributed to the assessment weekend.

Left to Right: Kev with Nop, Gareth with Indy and Anthony with Moss

Thank you to the people of Machynlleth

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:07:00 +0000

Whilst the Police search for missing April Jones continues in Machynlleth, our Search Dogs, handlers and Search Managers have now had to return to their normal day to day lives. I am sure I can speak for the whole team, because every single one of them has been operational in the search for April, when I say that not a day will have gone by without April, her family and friends and the people of Machynlleth being in our minds.

The search for a missing child is always hard, especially as the clock ticks and time goes on. As volunteers we hope against hope that we will be able to help bring a positive conclusion. The hours, days and weeks of training we do in our spare time are for precisely this reason - to reunite a missing person with their family, friends and community. As the days go by and April is still not found a feeling of sadness enters our hearts as we methodically go about our searching, the whole time being positive for the dogs, willing them on to fight through the brambles, push through the forest, wade the rivers and climb the piles of slate and shale to rule out another area of open countryside.

The feeling of sadness, the overwhelming sense of being tired, the straggly dog with a coat full of thorns are all feelings and worries that are put behind us though when faced with the warmth, strength and generosity of the people of Machynlleth. Thank you to each and every one of you. Whenever we returned to the Leisure Centre to brief the Search Control on our search, hot food and drink was pressed into our hands. A constant stream of volunteers rallied around, looking after everyone committed to finding April. Complete strangers gave me a hug, fussed our dogs and brought them treats and snacks. Pink ribbons fluttered from almost every house, car, shop and lamppost in a visible sign of support for Aprils family.

Now for us life goes on. We are back at work, the dogs return to their normal day to day existence until the next call comes in or until the next training session. For Aprils family though life is on hold as the search continues and our hearts go out to them.

Thank you to the people of Machynlleth.

Rob Johnson, on behalf of all of SARDA Wales.

Working with the local business community

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:43:00 +0000

SARDA Wales acknowledges the support of Siemens and is grateful for the financial donation and their agreement to allow SARDA to train on its grounds in Llanberis.

Pictured are - Clive Lane, Helen Howe, Ian Robertson, Ed Farrell, Geraint Strello and Roland Layland

September Training Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 14:21:00 +0000

It has been a lovely weekend here in Snowdonia. SARDA Wales have been training all weekend in the sunshine, yesterday over by Rhyd Du and today in the Llanberis Pass.

A find for Sue & Nellie

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:14:00 +0000

Congratulations to Sue and Nellie who had a find last week in Bangor. SARDA Wales were called out at 2:00am to search for a missing vulnerable adult. Nellie is one of our trailing dogs and was given a scent article whilst the air scenting dog handlers were being briefed. Sue and Nellie then began a 500m trail that lead them to the missing person within an hour. The person was safe and well and hidden under trees that had previously been searched by people without dogs. A great result for all concerned.

A kind donation

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 08:47:00 +0000

A small group of dogs and handlers gathered at the Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis yesterday afternoon for tea on the lawn and to receive a cheque from the hotel to SARDA Wales. The hotel has a long association with Mountain Rescue and its Search Dogs and when it heard of our shortage of funds was keen to help. As well as a gratefully received financial donation the hotel has provided its grounds for training and has pledged display space in each of its rooms to spread the word on the valuable service the Search Dogs provide, and how to avoid needing them in the mountains! A sincere thank you to all at the Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis.

Tracy Salisbury (General Manager of the hotel) presents Helen Howe (Chair of SARDA Wales) with the cheque

From left to right: Helen Howe with Cluanie, Tracy Salisbury (General Manager), Gwen Owen (Meetings, Events & Sales Co-Ordinator), Rob Johnson with Skye & Roland Layland with Shadow

Helen & Cluanie checking out the hotel facilities

Man Found on Glyder Fawr

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 06:28:00 +0000

SARDA Wales have been operational since Wednesday in the search for a missing climber in the Ogwen Valley. Christopher Whitfield set off on Sunday to go climbing in Snowdonia, but failed to make contact with his family or friends.

Members of OVMRO, NEWSAR, SARDA Wales and RAF Valley MRT carried out an extensive search of the popular scrambling and walking routes, assisted by a helicopter from 22 Squadron. Unfortunately, no sign of the missing person was found so the search was called off in the late evening.

Three of our Mountain Search Dogs & Handlers and one of our trailing dogs continued the search over Thursday and Friday and on Friday afternoon Sally & Spin found a body under the main cliffs of Glyder Fawr in an area known locally as High Pastures. North Wales Police are currently carrying out a formal identification. The colour of his clothing and the consistently poor weather made the man very difficult to see and the find re-iterated the value of search dogs.

Members of OVMRO were called and arrived to carry out the man by stretcher, 22 squadron also provided assistance in taking the mans body to hospital in Bangor.

Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of the missing man and we send them all our deepest condolences. He was a member of our small community of climbers and mountaineers and died in the mountains that we all love.

Operational in Ogwen

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:07:00 +0000

Yesterday SARDA Wales were operational on a mountain search in Ogwen. A 42 year old male was reported overdue by 2 days from a walking trip in Snowdonia. His car was located in the Ogwen Valley, where it had been since Sunday afternoon so a search was started. Members of OVMRO, NEWSAR, SARDA and RAF Valley MRT carried out an extensive search of the popular scrambling and walking routes, assisted by a helicopter from 22 Squadron. Unfortunately, no sign of the missing person was found so the search was called off in the late evening. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-18623769

Jubilee Beacon

noreply@blogger.com (SARDA Wales) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 09:08:00 +0000

Here are a couple of photos from Monday night where dogs and handlers from SARDA Wales joined members of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team and Walking with the Wounded to light the Jubilee Beacon on the summit of Snowdon. There is also a great video of the Para Flares being let off after the beacon had been lit here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150832479197032&set=vb.520387031&type=2&theater