Committee

PresidentRoger Wade
Chairman (Acting)Ian Whitfield
harvey2256@yahoo.com
Vice ChairmanSarah Nickels-Hawkins
ugskestraining@outlook.com
SecretaryMarianne Copp
mariannecopp@aol.com
TreasurerIan Vaughan
iansvaughan@gmail.com
Membership SecretaryCynthia Thackwell
ugsmembershipkes@gmail.com 
Field Trial SecretaryDiana Stevens
Wylanbriarlabs@aol.com
Working Test SecretaryGill Sweeting
gillsweeting61@gmail.com
Spaniel SectionVicky Payne
vicky@holisticvetsussex.co.uk
Training OfficerSarah Nickels-Hawkins
ugskestraining@outlook.com
Spaniel Field Trial SecretaryNicki Hunter
spaniel.sec@utilitygundogsociety.com
CommitteeJacqueline Mason, Hayley Mack, John Grace, Matthew Hawkins

Event Schedule

No event found!

Please forward news and results to update@utilitygundogsociety.com

Training 2024

Location: Grovelands Farm, Biddenden, Kent, TN27 8JQ by kind permission of Roger and Shelia Wade.
Dates: 14 May, 28 May, 11 June, June 25, 9 July, 23 July, 6 August, 13 August.
Times: Arrive by 6.30pm for 6:45pm start.

£10 per handler per session. Please bring along 2 clean and named large canvas dummies.
Open, Intermediate, Novice and Puppy and Spaniel sessions.

See the Training Programme for dates and details of individual sessions and special training days.

Contact Sarah at UGSKESTraining@outlook.com with any questions.

News and Results

27 August 2022 – KES Open Walked Up on FT Lines

UGS Kent & East Sussex held their last working test of the season – Open Walked Up on FT Lines on 27th August at Burstow Park Farm, Outwood by the kind permission of Jim & Nina Nicholson. The line today was organised and run by Alistair House and our thanks go to him for a well run day together with the stewarding skills of Wendy Harrison & her team.

Our thanks also go to our Judges, Barry Taylor, Liz Taylor, Kate Bollen & Tracy Flood who gave up their time to set the standard. After 4 rounds, a lot of leg work and some excellent handling they were able to award the following places.

1st – and the UGS Challenge cup went to Mitforton Quarrel of Cadenzahill handled by Carly Madgewick
2nd – Wadeshot Kite handled by Roger Wade.
3rd – Kerrabrah Nelly handled by Jan Abrahams.

We also made a special award, The John Croucher Memorial Trophy which is given to repay the support and loyalty from the most helpful non committee member at the end of the season. This year this trophy was award t Hayley Mack who has helped at every test this year and been a tremendous asset to our team. Well done Hayley and thank you for your support.

Once again a huge thank you all our other helpers, without whom we could not have run the test, for their dummy throwing, game carrying, stewarding and last but not least for Bren and Lesley for the catering. Thank you also to Skinners for their sponsorship of our tests throughout the season

I have enjoyed my first season as Working Test secretary and my thanks go to my committee who have guided and supported me.

31 July 2022 – KES Veteran, Special Puppy and ND/NH

The Veteran, Special Puppy and ND/NH Tests were held at Grovelands Farm by kind permission of Roger and Sheila Wade. We had a good turnout and thankfully our decision to not put up the gazebo paid off. A huge thank you to all our wonderful helpers without whom we could not run tests, and our judges Roger Wade, James Brindley and John Grace.

Veteran
1st and winner of the Wadeshot Salver- Pointhill Peregrine handled by Marianne Copp
2nd – Castletown Andante handled by Pat Elliott
3rd – Twitchett Nymph handled by Bren van Laun
Comm – Flaxenfox Little Plum handled by Charlotte Hammick
Special Puppy
1st and winner of the Stubbledown Trophy – Tullysedge Lone Star handled by Jon Debham
2nd and winner of the Stepedor Trophy – Easthoath Benedict handled by Marianne Copp.
Novice Dog, Novice Handler
1st and winner of the Luddesdown Trophy – Kentxwen Loa handled by Megan Salter
2nd. Lavotnoir Lanner Falcon handled by Andrew Mason
3rd. Halesrush Electra of Moortails handled by Sarah Martin
4th. Jazzenraga Countryman handled by Katie Aldred.
Comm. Rossclyde Vital Spark handled by Linda Saunders
Comm. Spanglewood Indie handled by Fiona Spencer.

An extra congratulations to Megan Salter, winner of the ND/NH. This was Megan’s first ever test and she scored 20 on every test. I feel we will be seeing more of her and her young dog. Well done Megan!

Again thank you to all my team of helpers

25 June 2022 – KES Interclub Finals

UGS Kent & East Sussex hosted the UGS Interclub finals on 25th June 2022 at the beautiful grounds of Windsor Great Park by gracious permission of HM The Queen, the Estate Commissioners and Peter Clayton. The four tests were very kindly set by John Stubbs and Alan Buckland which were well thought out giving a range of scores across the board. Judges for the day were Mark and Jamie Bettinson.

With only 16 dogs competing we were able to spend a relaxed day (timewise) and everyone was able to enjoy lunch afterwards provided by our wonderful ladies Bren van Laun and Lesley Williams without needing to rush off home. Four teams of four competed against each other for the Halday trophy; Herts, Beds & Bucks, Eastern Counties, West Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire and Kent & East Sussex.

1st place and winner of the Halday Trophy – Kent & East Sussex
Beth Rayner, Rob Smallman, Tracy Flood and Penny Morris
2nd place – West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire
Mell Brooks, Shirley Carew, Mike Flemming and Ellena Nunnneley
3rd place – Herts, Beds and Bucks
Jim Collins, Sharon Dingle, Lesley Crompton and Stewart North
4th Place – Eastern Counties
Jacqui Crew, Kim Prentice, Keith Foster and Arthur Cook

A huge thanks to all the helpers from our committee who all had an early start and did a terrific job all day throwing dummies etc. Sarah Nickels-Hawkins & husband Matt, Jacqueline Mason Sime & husband Andy and Ian Whitfield

21 May 2022 – KES Novice & Puppy

UGS Kent & East Sussex held their 2nd test of the season, Puppy and Novice on 21st May at Hollow Wall Farm in Staplecross with the kind permission of Neil Black. The farm offers a varied terrain of woodland, fields and slopes which enabled us to set tests that, although not particularly difficult, incorporated some interesting “bunkers” which resulted in a wide range of scores across the board.

Judges for the day were Diana Stevens, Sue Jordan, Jo Voke and Mandy Smith.

Puppy
1st and the winner of the Nick Pots Memorial Trophy –
Welige Lady Sybil of Wight, owned by Bryony Hamilton and handled by Ian Hamilton.
2nd and the Edensway Tankard – Fletchingly Rhum handled by Sam Butchers.
Novice
The Novice test was decided by a 3 dog run off for first place
1st and the Stubbledown Trophy – Anningtonbay Ellielicious handled by Mell Brooks.
2nd and the Ghilliedown Tankard – Lovatnoir Ouzel handled by Cynthia Thackwell
3rd – Goldrobber Cracker Jack handled by Julia Mitchell.
4th – Sorrelcott Nebraska handled by Chris Gore
Comm – Blackharn sleet – Pauline Tiplady
Comm – Kentixen Daring Danburite – Norman Weeks

The club would also like to offer congratulations to Puppy Winner Mell Brooks who travelled north after the test to compete in the England Selection tests where she was successfully selected for the England Team for all 2022 International tests.

Finally we would like to thank the judges, Neil Black, our sponsors Skinners, all the wonderful volunteers who gave up their day to help run the day and Bren and Lesley who kept us all fed and watered throughout the day. Thank you

23 April 2022 – KES Open Qualifier

UGS Kent & East Sussex started off the 2022 working test season with an Open Qualifier at Burstow Park Farm by the kind invitation of Jim and Nina Nicholson. The judges set some challenging tests resulting in a wide range of scores across the board. The additional challenging factor today was the wind which gusted across the open fields throughout the day at great speed. The main casualty of this was our gazebo which decided it would rather be a kite and took off across an open field. Sadly it is “no more”.

Many thanks to our judges, Graham Stanley, Mark Polley, Alistair House and Jo Voke for giving up their time and also a huge thank you to our helpers; many of whom had not been to a test before, but gallantly offered their services. Without these lovely people we would not be able to run tests.

This was also my first test as Working Test secretary so a big thank you to everyone today for their support.

The first 4 places will represent UGS K&ES at the area finals. However, a qualifying place was available to the 5th Place competitor. As this was shared by 5 competitors a draw was made and this place went to BEETLE OF BUCKMORE handled by Penny Morris.

1st Place and the Stumbledown Tankard – ABNEY AFFINITY handled by Beth Rayner
2nd Place and the Ghilliedown Trophy – CAITLIN PRIMROSE handled by Robert Smallman.
3th Place – VALLEYEND KATE handled by Barry Taylor
4th Place – LENMORE HEATHER handled by Tracy Floor
1 2 3 4 5 6 7