16 Dog All Aged Stake for AV Retrievers
at Brook Farm, Cuffley, Hertfordshire
by kind permission of Mr David Thomas
Tuesday 8th September 2009
Judges: Mr Paul Thorpe (142), Mr Grham Stanley (1920),
Mr Roger Ketley (2815) and Mr Steve King (2991)

Once again we had beautiful sunny weather for this driven partridge
trial. We were very privileged to have an excellent team of guns
who also appreciate good dog work. All dogs sat on the first drive
with some birds being dropped in some very dense cover and other
tricky places. Ron Jeffery’s dog had a particularly smart retrieve
into some thick cover. All dogs again sat the second drive which
proved even more testing with partridge being dropped onto open
plough. Scent deteriorated as the heat of the day increased and
dogs had to almost stand on birds in order to pick them. The third
and final drive had birds dropped onto open grassland and also into
a block of maize, retrieves which again proved to be difficult with
the result that some dogs were eyewiped by the judges.

1st – Mr R. Jeffery’s Faircotelabs Benriach
of Gablescroft (Lab dog)

2nd – Mr M. Tallamy’s Brindlebay Butler (Lab dog)
3rd – Mr P. Jenning’s Oakvalley Black Sabbath (Lab dog)
4th – Mrs H. Sully’s Braidenvale Speiran
of Quabrook (Lab dog)

Award winners at Brook Farm

The head keeper, his team of beaters and the pickers up must be
commended for the way in which they worked on such a hot day.
Thanks to our judges, to our team of guns and of course to our
host for allowing us to use his shooting estate.

Skinners Dog Foods kindly donated vouchers for dog food to the first three places.

The first three dogs automatically qualify for the
Utility Gundog Society All Aged Cup Finals in January

14 Dog Novice Stake for AV Retrievers
at Chippenham Park, Cambridgeshire
by kind permission of Mr E. G. Crawley
Monday 26th October 2009
Judges: Mr Malcolm Stringer (133), Mrs Lynn Stringer (132),
Mrs Dorothy Walls-Duffin (2457) and Mrs Christine Winfield (3124)

We were very kindly offered an additional novice stake and our
judges, who generously agreed to judge this trial at very short
notice, were Malcolm and Lynn Stringer, Dorothy Walls-Duffin and
Christine Winfield. Richard Webb kindly organised the team of guns
five of which were very experienced in field trials themselves.

As the Raynton Park Trophy for Guns’ Choice, presented in
recognition of the years of service Bob Hales had given to the club,
was being awarded for the first time, it was nice to have guns
shooting that had a particular interest in dog work.

The trial took place throughout the day walking up in sugar beet.
A very smart marked retrieve by Jim Collin’s ‘Brockaghs Aodhan’ as
we walked off got the trial underway. Caroline Heasman’s Lab bitch
‘Highroost Jasmine’ had a 2 dog eye wipe in the first round but
then failed first dog down on a running partridge on her next
retrieve. Keith Foster’s dog eyewiped a dog on a live bird that
came down an exceptionally long way off in what was the best
retrieve of the day but then his dog just moved on a rabbit in the
third round! ‘Gameflight Frazier’ did some really nice work,
eyewiping two other dogs but then was eyewiped by Robin Wise’s
‘Muddymile Guillemot’ on the last retrieve of the trial.

A great atmosphere prevailed throughout the trial with light
hearted banter amongst the guns and the gallery. The Head
Keeper was well known to most of the guns and he endeavoured
to drive game into the sugar beet wherever possible.

Sadly there was no winner.

Judges and award winners at Chippenham Park

2nd – Mrs R. Wise’s Muddymile Guillemot (Lab Dog)
CoM – Mr G. Taylor & Ms H. Drew’s Gameflight Frazier (Lab Dog)
Handled by Hayley Drew

Mr W. K. Foster’s Highroost Foresters Dream (Lab Dog)
Winner of the Raynton Park Trophy for Guns’ Choice

Guns’ Choice and the Guns

Thank you to Skinner’s Dog Foods for so generously donating
product prize vouchers.

16 Dog Novice Stake for AV Retrievers
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Saturday 16th January 2010
Judges: Mr P. Allen (3), Mr R. Wade (1704),
Mr G. Home (3200) and Mr M. Polley (3220)

As always a warm welcome awaited us for our Novice Stake by
kind permission of the Camfield Estate Company.

Despite the persistent rain at the start of our trial, we were treated
to a very high standard of dog work.

An abundance of game and excellent shooting by the guns meant
that the first round was completed for the 16 dogs on the first drive.
Birds were dropped mostly into the woodland and brambles where
good game finding ability was essential. The guns shot in woodland
for the second drive, dropping birds into the undergrowth and the
fast flowing stream that ran through the wood. The second and
third rounds were completed here but for one retrieve.

Eight dogs then went forward to the fourth round and the final
drive, again in woodland. Sadly two dogs fell by the wayside
leaving 6 dogs in the awards.

1st – Mr G. Vidler’s Leadburn Arron of Oysterbed (Lab dog)

2nd – Mr P. Truby’s Millershook Anna (Lab bitch)
3rd – Mrs J. Trowell’s Janfran Madhuri Mable (Lab bitch)
4th – Mrs G. Thompson’s Hullabaloo Willie Gunn (Lab dog)
CoM – Dr D. Heywood’s Trioaks Mouse
at Houndswood (Flatcoat Ret bitch)
CoM – Mrs H. Walton’s Wendearose Bobin
at Cantabrica (Lab bitch)

 

Our field trials have been very successful and we are very much
indebted to our hosts for the use of their grounds where we have
been made most welcome. Our thanks must also go to the guns
who have so generously shot for us and again contributed to the
success of our trials.

We also thank all the people who give up their days to judge or
come along to help at these events and make them run smoothly.