Novice cockers at Hartham
By Graham Cox
Thursday, 05 July 2007
Bristol and West Working Gundog Society novice stake.
NOT CONTENT WITH consistently showing birds which challenge even the most accomplished shots, Glynn Smith, headkeeper at Hartham Park near Corsham in Wiltshire, has been busy demonstrating field trials can sit alongside premium driven shooting grounds without compromising the effectiveness of either.
The Flatcoated Retriever Society and South West Goldens have enjoyed the estate's hospitality this past season and Glynn's great enthusiasm. The Bristol and West Working Gundog Society held a novice stake for 16 dogs on January 2 with championship judge Wendy Knight and soon to be Cocker Champion, Simon Tyers, assessing the work.
The conditions which greeted the card, equally divided between dogs and bitches, on the flat high ground at Square Cover were warm and blustery. And with the stubble turnip and mustard mixture offering little resistance, many dogs were inclined to pull on into the wind rather than settle into a controlled hunting rhythm.
By 12.30pm the field had moved to the Tyning, a hanging wood which normally presents superb birds to the guns standing deep in the combe below. The variety of its ground cover makes it a special forum for spaniel work as well. Divided by a broad ride, its mixture of boggy, rushy areas, bramble and brashings really gave the better dogs a chance to show they could produce for the gun.
None more so than Rowston Rachel, confidently handled by Dai Ormond, who did class work on a hen after Jack Davey with Proworthy Swift had collected two hens, the first of them an eye-wipe. He was not the only dog, however, to run the ride rather than cross into the difficult areas where birds were falling.
Lynn Randall, too, struggled before picking on ground which was always demanding, giving the judges every chance to assess hunting quality. They needed little deliberation before field trial secretary, Justina Verinder, was able to announce the following awards:
RESULTS
1st: Dai Ormond with bitch, Rowston Rachel, (owned by Andy Robinson).
2nd: Tony Read with dog, Dash of Duxford.
3rd: Lynn Randall with bitch, Wirewolf Lily of Randalyn.
4th: Jack Davey with dog, Proworthy Swift.
Gundogs Training
How can I stop my gun dog from dropping the dummy?
How do I stop my gun dog spitting her dummy out, I have tried placing ... Read more
Gundogs Events
Kennet Valley Gun Dog Training Society
The Kennet Valley Gun Dog Training Society held an open working test a... Read more
Gundogs Health
Kennel Mate Dog Bed
Whether it be in the kennel, vehicle, house, stable, tack room, barn o... Read more
Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Don't miss this week's fantastic 140-page Game Fair special issue! Plus your chance to win an £18,000 Abbiatico & Salvinelli shotgun, in association with Sportarm of Dorchester.
- Subscribe |
- FAQ |
- Contact us
Latest articles
Villages to become enclaves of the elderly and wealthy
The constant rise in rural property prices has made the building of mo... Read more
DEFRA to extend use of GB Poultry Register
DEFRA announces an extension of the Great British Poultry Register bey... Read more
WIN! A chance to meet Madness at the Sandown Races
Shooting UK and Sandown Park have teamed up to offer one lucky winner and a guest, the chance to win two tickets to the concert and also the chance to meet the band.
Comments