Scotland win the CLA International at Blenheim

What a wonderful time we had down at Blenheim Palace this weekend while attending the CLA Game Fair. CSJ was sponsoring the Scotland(!) Gundog Team for the third year running and we had been invited to spend as much time with the handlers as possible. We were made to feel so very welcome that we really felt part of the team - and what a team it was!

Phil and I missed the start of the competition on Saturday morning while stuck in the long queues getting into the show ground and then quickly roasted in the stifling heat while trying to find the gundog section BUT we saw every bit of the remaining 2 day competition.

Wales had got off to a disappointing start with a double zero score which virtually ruled out any chance of them winning but the competition was very very close between the other three home nations with Scotland taking an early lead - although slight through Davy Lisset earning himself a good score of 94. Sunday saw some exceptional running from both the spaniels and retrievers with three spaniels ending up with perfect scores of 60 for the Hunting section. This meant there was a run-off needed to decide the placings which resulted in Bill Leonard's Buccleuch Rosie gaining the title of Top Hunting Dog (see below). Brilliant! And even better news for CSJ is that this clever little bitch is fed exclusively on 'Champ!'

The final result for the Spaniel Team was that Scotland were the winners!

Following lunch, the pressure was really on father and son, Billy Steel Snr and Billy Steel Jnr to hold on to the slight lead Scotland had over Ireland. And they didn't disappoint! Both gained scores in the 90's with Billy Steel Jnr then needing to 'run off' for the 2nd place of 'Top Retriever' which he duly won!

The scores were really so tight that noone really knew for sure which team at won until the results were announced during the presentations. Talk about suspense!! Never mind! The wait was well worthwhile with Scotland ultimately declared the 'Winning Gundog Team'.

CSJ would like to thank each member of the team for all their hard work before and during the Championships - including Alison Sorley for keeping everyone organised and to Jim Clark (above) for being such a great Team Captain. Interestingly the last time Jim performed this role was 5 years ago - when Scotland last won the event!

The Scotland team

Bill Leonard

Jim Clark

(posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008)

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