Photo Gallery

This page is regularly updated. We hope you enjoy some of the new photos we have included. All photographs are property of SARDA Isle of Man (unless otherwise stated).

NOTE: If you wish to use a photo, please ask permission first. We have recently had several of our photos lifted from our site and used on another website without permission.

Please email us at sardaiom@googlemail.com if you want to use one of our photos. We're very unlikely to say no, but out of courtesy we'd like to be asked first.

Ballacottier School Faire

SARDA attends, whenever possible, various faires and events to raise awareness of the local Manx charity and is equally good for boosting fundraising. Ballacottier School, kindly invited SARDA to put on a display of the dogs abilities which everyone enjoyed and heres a few photo's.

BPMRT Annual Exercise

We were recently invited to take part in the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team annual exercise. This involved 74 rescuers from 3 MRTs and 5 dogs, 4 from SARDA England and 1 from SARDA Isle of Man (Lola).

We were made to feel very welcome and had a great day out in the Trough of Bowland. We would like to thank all in BPMRT for their fantastic hospitality and great beer!

The BPMRT base the morning of the exercise.

Lola and Matt's search area was extremely difficult under foot, with deep heather, peat bogs and sink holes making progress slow. Lola was often buried by the heather. Look closely you can see the tip of her tail in this picture

The Lancashire Police Helicopter, also involved in the exercise, hurtling through the valley below

Having searched for over 2 hours, Lola pauses for a moment before continuing

Half an hour later and Lola has found the casualty. Rob from BPMRT, who was navigating for Matt, takes on the role of medic.

Moving off the hill top into a more sheltered gully.

The casualty's condition worsens (for exercise) so he is made comfortable and a stretcher team is requested

Waiting for a team to arrive to evacuate the casualty

Help arrives. BPMRT members assembling the stretcher

Securing the casualty

The team starting their evacuation by stretcher

A fence is just one of many obstacles the team must negotiate.

Lola squints against the wind as they make their way down into the valley in the background

It's physically demanding work, evacuating a casualty over this terrain

Lowering down a steep bank

A river is the last obstacle before the team arrive at a vehicle and the exercise is complete

Total time on the hill: 6 hours.

As part of a recent visit to SARDA Wales we took part in a day of urban and building search training at RAF Valley. We hope you enjoy the photos.

Anthony and Moss

A Sea King from C Flight 22 Squadron.

Later on, the same aircraft responds to a callout

Lola being rewarded by a body

Harold squeezes into the body's hiding place to reward Sam

Trailing Dog Rolf and Handler Gwen

Planning the search strategy

Lola works much closer to Matt during urban searches than she would on a Mountain search.

Lola strikes the scent of a body in the building. Her body language is quite distinctive.

Matt rewards Lola for finding the body

Searching an aircraft hanger

Dave preparing to get wet as part of Lola's beach search training

Off he goes.....bless!

Lola starts her search

Indicating to Matt

Barking at Dave, before going back again to tell Matt

Hurry up Dad

Don't make me come in and get you! Come on! Give me that toy.

Lola gets her favourite game. Tug of War!

SARDA IOM and LSDogs Southern joint training weekend Oct' 06

Matt discusses searching North Barrule, with members of LSDogs Southern.

Dogsbodies, making their way into the steep North Barrule area

Watching as the area vanishes behind the clouds

Bodies Rosie and Al, being briefed on where they are going to be positioned

Troy seemed to be enjoying himself

Body Lissa packing up to go into her area

Our elderly Land Rover. A true workhorse

In the family: The search dog sisters Flash and Lola with David and Matt See Latest News for details

Welsh and Manx Handlers taking part in the SARDA Wales September training weekend

We couldn't think of a funny caption for this photo, so again it's SARDA Wales and IOM taking a break from training for a photo opportunity

Dogs and Handlers unwinding after a hard day of training

Jim, nursing a Welsh hospitality-related hangover in Matt's van.

"If you think I'm doing another area today you can think again"

Jim and Star taking a break

Lola enjoying the sunshine and the view

At work during a search with the Fire Service

SARDA Lakes dogs, taken by Jim during their April training weekend

Don't worry Star, you'll grow into it

"What"?

The SARDA Olympic synchronised assessor’s team in action (Taken by Matt at the SARDA England assessments in January 06)

Lola, with Snaefell in the background.

Jim getting into position for some coastal search training. (He's enjoying himself really!)

Our static display at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show. Our friends David and Anette Watt from the Lakes helping out and providing some extra dogs!

It's hard work all this publicity. Two tired search dogs, Flash (Lola's sister) and Dynamite taking a break at the RMAS.

Matt, Lola and members of Douglas Coastguard after a cliff search exercise.

Having a bad hair day

Malcolm, Matt & David enjoying a post training erm....de-brief.