Minority Gundog Challenge
28th July
Held at The Game Fair, Blenheim Palace
A team of 3 Welsh Springers represented The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club in this year’s Minority Gundog Breed Challenge held at The Game Fair, Blenheim Palace on Sunday 28th July. The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club Team were kindly sponsored by Skinners, who donated polo tops.
Team Captain, Tina Smith, along with Charles Dixon and Ruth Waller ran their dogs. The test was judged by Gerry Meehan who put the handlers and their dogs through a simulated shooting scenario. Dogs had to hunt, be steady to shot, retrieve and demonstrate they could enter water and retrieve.
All 3 dogs performed well. The Team was placed 4th out of 5 teams of Welsh Springers, Spanish Water Dogs, Clumbers, Sussex Spaniels and Lagotto Romagnolo.
Congratulations to Tina Smith with Pete, Charles Dixon with Steffie and, to Ruth Waller with Nerys, who stepped up to run her dog at very short notice.
Spring Assessment Test
20th April 2024
Held at Racomitrium Gundogs Training Ground, Peterborough.
By kind permission of Paul Gripton, Racomitrium Gundogs
Our Spring Assessment Test for any variety spaniel (excluding ESS and Cockers) took place on Saturday 20th April 2024 at Racomitrium Gundogs Training Ground, Peterborough, by kind permission of Paul Gripton, Racomitrium Gundogs.
We had a great day with 20 running overall. A lot of good dog work was observed with the Open Dogs put under demanding test conditions with a blind retrieve over a ditch.
The weather stayed dry with a biting, cold wind that swirled across the flat fenland.
Our grateful thanks to our hosts for allowing us to use their ground and to our judges Claire Knowles and Fiona Stevenson. Also, thank you to the generosity of our sponsors AK Gundog Accessories and Sneyds Wonderfeeds for providing prizes to the winners.
Finally thank you to the Working Sub-Committee and others who helped throughout the day, assembling tables and gazebos, topping up refreshments, throwing dummies, selling raffle tickets and taking photographs of the day.
Congratulations to everyone who were placed and thank you to everyone for entering and having a go, particularly those who are new to gundog tests.
We look forward to seeing you again at our Autumn Assessment Test in September. Further details will be available soon.
| SPECIAL BEGINNER |
| 1st LENDEVERS ALL BETS ARE OFF Spanish Water Dog, handled by Isabelle Capille. |
| 2nd EIRIANDYLIS GEORGIA MOON D Welsh Springer, handled by Adele Brook. |
| 3rd WHISSGIG BASIL Clumber, handled by Maggie Loughran. |
| 4th JANAMORIO NORTHERN IZZY Spanish Water Dog, handled by Aarron Kehoe |
| Best Hunter Special Beginner - EIRIANDYLIS GEORGIA MOON |
| PUPPY |
| 1st MEADOWSKYE MR BRIGHTSIDE Clumber, handled by Kevan Hawkes. |
| 2nd LENDEVERS YOU SNOOZE LOSE Spanish Water, handled by Rachel Capille. |
| 3rd LENDEVERS ALL BETS ARE OFF Spanish Water Dog, handled by Andrew Capille. |
| 4th CAERGRAWNT WIGHT WILLOW WITH ECHOPHY Welsh Springer, handled by Sue Morphy. |
| Best Hunter Puppy - MEADOWSKYE MR BRIGHTSIDE |
| NOVICE |
| 1st VALENTISIMOS WISE OWL Spanish Water Dog, handled by Linda Meakin. |
| 2nd MEADOWSKYE MR BRIGHTSIDE Clumber, handled by Kevan Hawkes. |
| 3rd LENDEVERS YOU SNOOZE LOSE Spanish Water, handled by Rachel Capille. |
| 4th LENDEVERS ALL BETS ARE OFF Spanish Water, handled by Rachel Capille. |
| Best Hunter Novice - VALENTISIMOS WISE OWL |
| OPEN |
| 1st CHANDERHILL GIANT GAMBLE AT LENDEVER Spanish Water Dog, handled by Andrew Capille. |
| 2nd SH CH ZORRAZO CHEEK BY JOWL WITH CHANDERHILL Spanish Water Dog, handled by Kate Hodgkinson. |
| 3rd SEDGEHURST EGTON OF PARKFORTH Clumber, handled by Brian Rogers. |
| 4th ZORRAZO X FACTOR AT LENDEVER Spanish Water Dog, handled by Rachel Capille. |
| Best Hunter Open - CHANDERHILL GIANT GAMBLE AT LENDEVER |
| Best in Test - CHANDERHILL GIANT GAMBLE AT LENDEVER |
Videos from the day – courtesy of Julie Frost
Main Winner Images – courtesy of Julie Frost
Candid Images – courtesy of Julie Frost
