The Kennel Club’s 150th Anniversary Gundog Working Tests were held at Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire from 14 – 18 June. The event, which was kindly sponsored by Skinner’s Pet Foods, saw gundogs tested on their natural working abilities under their relevant sub-groups: Retriever, Spaniel and Hunt, Point, Retrieve breeds (HPR), and featured expertly-set tests which replicated scenarios found in the shooting field.
150th Anniversary Test
To mark The Kennel Club’s milestone anniversary, a special 150th Anniversary event was also held on 14 June, featuring some of the UK’s top dogs and handlers from the four home nation teams.
The teams were made up of two Retrievers, two Spaniels and one Hunt, Point and Retrieve breed, all working together to show off their hunting, marking and retrieving skills. The event was judged by Eddie Kania, Peter Avery, Louis Rice, Tim Brain and David Logan, and saw Ireland, England and Wales place second, third and fourth, respectively.
The winning team was comprised of:
Top Dog: Islawbraw Ash, German Shorthaired Pointer, owned and handled by Darryl Elliot
Meikleburn Dark Island, English Springer Spaniel, owned and handled by Alan Clouston
Craiwarn Sarabi, English Springer Spaniel, owned and handled by Darren Allison
FTCh Fendawood Pioneer of Springfell, Labrador Retriever, owned and handled by George Buchan
Millbuies Gilbert of Carnochway, Labrador Retriever, owned and handled by Roddy Forbes
Gundog Working Tests
The winners across the Gundog Working Tests were:
1st Open Retriever – Maderablanca Amarillo, Labrador Retriever, owned and handled by Mr S Le Voi
1st Novice Retriever – Klato Isaac of Flypatch, Labrador Retriever, owned and handled by Mr R T N Brain
1st Open Spaniel – Fuselea Harriett, English Springer Spaniel, owned and handled by Mrs Thatcher
1st Novice Spaniel – Osterlow Summer Rose, Cocker Spaniel, owned by Ms H Clarkson & Mr M Tibbetts and handled by Ms Clarkson
1st Open HPR – Bareve Best Foot Forward, German Wirehaired Pointer, owned and handled by Mrs E Carter
1st Novice HPR – Woodend Flyer at Calondraig, Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla, owned and handled by Mr I Mcclellan
International Retriever Team Event
Top Team: Labrador Retrievers, from United Kingdom captained by Billy Lundy, comprised of:
Top Dog: FTCh Fendawood Pioneer of Springfell, owned and handled by George Buchan
Stauntonvale Buckwheat of Llangynidr, owned and handled by Nigel Probert
Eelburn Flavius of Ballygillen, owned and handled by Oliver Bell
FTCh Fendawood Harold, owned and handled by David Latham
Katharine Broers, Field Trial Secretary at The Kennel Club, said: “Congratulations to all of the winners from this year’s Gundog Working Tests, and the 150th Anniversary Special Event, especially in such a significant year for The Kennel Club. Once again, the level of working ability on show was exceptionally high so all the handlers who took part should be incredibly proud of their dogs.
“We would like to thank our hosts, Sir William Bromley Davenport and Mr & Mrs Bromley Davenport, whom we were delighted to welcome for the prize giving ceremony, as well as our judges for their time and expertise, and our sponsors, Skinner’s, for their support.
“We would also like to extend our gratitude to all the helpers, without whom we would not be able to run such special events and finally to the extremely dedicated Working Party for their hard working in setting up and managing such an exciting course.”
For the full results and score sheets from each of the tests please visit The Kennel Club website.