Herts, Beds & Bucks

This years UGS two day open qualifying trial is held by the HBB branch at Ampton Estate on the 10/11 October.

Details can be found on any branch event page, or through the links below.

Two Day Open Entry Form
Two Day Open Schedule

UGS HBB held a Novice and Special Puppy Working Test on Sunday 10th April at Easneye Estate, Ware by kind permission of The Buxton Family.

Judges: Rodger Ketley, Mark Polley, Sue Berman and Charlotte Wilkinson.

We were very kindly sponsored by Skinner’s Field and Trial and Sporting Saint. A big thank you to the landowner, judges and helpers for all your hard work and for a great day.

UGS HBB held our Open Qualifier on Sunday 20th March 2022 at Cuffley by kind permission of Mr Dave Thomas.

Judges: John Stubbs (A0134), Colin Pelham (A2681), Tim Brain (A3226) and Josephine van der Dussen.

We were very kindly sponsored by Skinner’s Field and Trial and Sporting Saint.

A big thank you to the landowner, judges and helpers for all your hard work and for a great day.

In memory of Peter Johnson, who left us a legacy, the UGS Eastern Counties branch are running a judging weekend on the 20th and 21st August.

The Saturday will be a practical day “in the field” at Hintlesham by kind permission of Kevin Doughty and will be a “scenario” based day giving “trainees” the chance to experience “sending”, “decision making” and “assessing” a number of usual and unusual situations that may occur when judging.

The day is aimed primarily at non panel judges (but panel judges will be welcome to attend), especially those about to start their judging career. This day will be overseen by seven experienced A panel “educator” judges, Kevin Doughty, Steve Polley, Phil Askew, Sara Gadd, Mike Tallamy, Rodger Ketley and Phil Highfield.

The Sunday will be a presentation and examination of the J Regs by Kevin Doughty and will be held at Woolpit Village Hall at a cost of £30. Applicants can choose to do one or the other or both. There will be spaces for 36 trainee judges on the practical day at a reduced cost of £20. Current members of Eastern Counties Branch will have preference.

We will also need 16 dogs and handlers of a good standard (at least open WT award winners) that are able to “hunt” their dogs in a specified area. DogsHandlers will be free of charge but will be able to listen in on the discussions but without input.

Please contact me, by email on julia.nigel@btinternet.com if you are interested. Help on the day would be appreciated especially if you’re a good dummy thrower!!

UGS Herts, Beds and Bucks held a novice trial on the 4th January 2022 at Ampton Shooting Estate.

In Allan Hammond’s capable hands we were let through Fodder Raddish which kept the birds tight and brought them in a perfect position for the guns to shoot. The guns shot solemnly for the dogs and with challenging marks we took 9 dogs into the third round.

Longer retrieves and an unfortunate 4 dog eye wipe by the judges left us with the award winning 3 dogs.

Our gratitude goes to: the guns, the judges, Jim Gale, Phil Allen, Peter Fulcher and Jim Collins. Tammy White was judges-steward, Alistair Todd, Len Herbert and Chris Guest were the game carriers. Nicki Hunter was our picker upper!

Landowners Phillip Smit and Jeffrey Pearman have been generous to the club for allowing us to have working tests. This year was the first for a field trial. Slightly apprehensive at the start, but both men loved the day!

After dramatic and spectacular dog eye wipes, a judges eye wipe followed. It left Arthur being the last man standing and needing 3 retrieves to finish the trial. His dog chased a bird through thick cover and picked and then had 2 more retrieves in white grass.

Our gratitude goes to our judges, Colin Pelham, Brian Chesser, Lee Hayman and Charlotte Wilkinson, to the guns, Ben Smith and his team, to the helpers, Phil Allen, Claire McLaughlin, Tamsin White, Steve Coxell, David Sworder, Jim Collins, the beaters who got the birds in the right place and of course Phillip Smith and Jeffrey Pearman!