Do show-winning spaniels ever compete successfully in trials?

GUNDOG TRAINING TEST & TRIALS
Paul Rawlings
In more than 30 years of competing and judging, I have never seen a show-bred English springer spaniel compete in a field trial.

I have seen several compete in working tests and show spaniel field days for the show gundog working certificate.

Some have performed admirably, though not to the same standard that is now required to win awards in a spaniel field trial.

It would be great to see more dogs from the show world working in the field, and there are a few who keep this aspiration alive by working their dogs on shoots and entering the gamekeepers classes at Crufts each spring.