Surrey, West Sussex & Hampshire

UGS Surrey West Sussex and Hampshire Branch held an Open Qualifier and Intermediate working test on Sunday 7th April at Frithfold Farm by kind permission of Peter Locke.

Spring sunshine and a fair wind saw four good tests kindly judged by Louie Robertson, DI Stevens, Bill Gardiner and Sue Jordan.

A huge thank you to the judges, all the helpers and committee and a special thank you to Brenda Cox and Pro Perkins for, as always, excellent catering.

After a run off for 3rd and 4th in the open
Results were

OPEN
1st – Jennie Knight with Holmside Goose at Sunshimmer
2nd – Penny Morris with Beetle of Bucknotts
3rd – Hilly Hoar with Mitforton Orchid at Kirbyhall
4th – John Scott with Abbotsann Firefly
COM to Karen Handley with Peterspond Wader

Best Non Lab to Fay Drewry with Think Twice one shot

INTERMEDIATE
1st – Colin Coley with Bizzy Lucy
2nd – Mike Fleming with Troddenmills just a whim
3rd – Ben Alley with Jupiter Sunrise

Well done all!

On Thursday 23rd November, UGS SWSH held a AA 16 dog AV retriever FT at The Canal Game Shoot, Hawkhurst by kind invitation of Francis Briley. The Judges were Roger Wade, Di Stevens, Julia Smith and Bill Gardiner. The weather was overcast, but the clouds gradually broke into a lovely sunny day.

The Stake was walked up, with the possibility of a duck drive at the end if needed. Game, consisting of pheasant and some partridge, were flushed steadily throughout the day thanks to Frannie’s team of beaters and stops steadily blanking them into the cover crops. Guns shot brilliantly giving a steady flow of birds to try the dogs. Our thanks go to Guns Dave Bevan, Johnny Boscowen, Oscar Corbett, Martin Fuller, Matt Hawkins, Monty Malthouse and Jamie Shaw.

We set out on foot from the Beaters Hut and reached the first beat after a good walk. The cover was a low mixed crop and we lost five dogs fairly quickly.

Moving on to a long field of roots, another three dogs went as we completed the first round. Last to go, number 16 Jason Mayhew was asked for a hen pheasant across the line to the left which took some careful handling. The second round progressed quickly and a lengthy retrieve (in more ways than one) on a running partridge ended with Barry Harvey’s dog going out behind Charlotte Hammick’s yellow Muscatelle Calypso. Third round Stewart North’s chocolate dog Northglen Crumble claimed a two dog eye-wipe on a hen shot behind the line. He then followed this with a smart cast into the wood for another hen bird.

Moving on to the next field of roots, the Guns were shooting into the sun and we were down to just five dogs. One dog took a while to pick a partridge out to the left of the line and then a wounded pheasant caused quite a commotion for the remaining four dogs. Almont picked by Stewart North, the bird flipped and ran behind the line in the close cover. Reuben Corbett’s black dog Elmertown Blaser of Sussexsharp made a valiant effort to claim it as we held our breaths, only to be distracted off the scent by a live bird. Three dogs were discarded and Reuben was given one more retrieve to complete the trial.

I stood in for Mel Brooks due to her being unwell and took on the job of Dog Steward with great trepidation. This was quite unnecessary.

Paula Graystone had given up a run the previous day to manage the card and she and Lindsay Williams completed all the organising behind the scenes so that the day started really smartly. I was blessed with a team of helpers who were able to take on any job during the day and get it done without further reference. So I send warm thanks to Matt Dennis, Julia Peat, Andree Edwards and Pete Aston, and especially to Paula for being a constant backup in the gallery and of course our ‘number one star’, caterer Bren van Laun for the truly wonderful goody bags (my gluten free sausage pickle rolls were the best ever).

Results

1st Mr Reuben Corbett’s Lab Dog Elmertown Blazer of Sussexsharp, winner of the Gregson Challenge Cup

COM Mr Stewart North’s Lab Dog Northglen Crumble, winner of the Somerset  Perpetual Challenge Trophy for Guns’ Choice

COM Ms Charlotte Hammick’s Lab Bitch Muscatelle Calypso, winner of the Nook Shot Trophy for best looking Dog/Bitch in the Awards

COM Mr John Baker’s Wauniago Corbier of Jathmea, handled by Jason Mayhew, winner of the Simpson Perpetual Chaallenge Cup for the best Gamekeeper or Professional Handler, and the Loch Moy Challenge Bowl for the best Novice Dog or Bitch not the Winner.

– Matt Dennis

Held at Popes Oak Farm, West Grinstead by kind permission of Mrs Sheila Chessell on the 3rd September 2023 with judges Dave England, Ken Green, Ben Starns, Julia Smith and Jane Tydeman.

Many thanks to all of those who came along and volunteered to help throw, place and shoot pistols.

Puppy Result

1st Beth Morgan – Hardham House Moet of Woodland – Lab Bitch (The Davis Salver)
2nd Keith Bianchi – Ashlevel master – Lab Dog
COM Vicki Ruston – Jenberry Gutsey Monkey -Lab Dog

Novice Result

1st Paul Harwood – Astraglen Darling Diva at Berrytree (The Ron Sills Memorial Trophy)
2nd Terry Souter – Suthcharic Grigson
3rd James Brinley – Easthoath Beatrix
4th Frances Taylor –  Fletchingly Frisa
COM Henny Brown – Mitforton Muir

Sponsored by Skinner Foods

Held at Burstow Park Farm , Surrey by kind permission of Jim and Nina Nicholson.

Judges: Jane Carnaghan , Louie Robertson, David Breach, Alister House

A new ground for this club, which provided some interesting and challenging tests. We had perfect condition of sun and temperature, lots of lovely helpers and our catering corps of Pru and Brenda. Many thanks to all who helped and took part.

Held on the 4th of September at Popes Oak, West Grinstead by kind permission of Mrs Sheila Chessell.

Judges for the day were:
Joy Venturi-Rose, Chris Rose, Beth Morgan, Jo Voke and Ben Starns.

A good day was had by all at the last working test for the season. Many thanks as always to the judges, landowner and the band of helpers both on the day and behind the scenes, without whom all of this would not be possible.

Novice

Puppy

Photos of the day

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