Strathmore Working Gundog Club - Field Trials

31/03/12 

Our trials began in March as usual this year, with the Novice Any Variety Spaniel stake. As always, we were kindly hosted by Lord Airlie and his head keeper, Mike Nisbet, at the beautiful Airlie Estate in Angus. The day was cold but dry and the rabbits were patchy - as you would expect at this time of year. There were a few pheasants on the ground, and although they couldn’t be shot, they provided good finds for some of the dogs.

After some challenging dog work in a mixture of white grass, rushes and heather, the four judges, David Earsman, Richard Claydon, Martyn Ryan and Jamie Reid were unanimous in their decision. First place was awarded to myself, handling ‘Clarburgh Rhianna’, my two year old bitch running in her first trial. Second place went to my old adversary, Jim Clark with only one other award being given, a C.O.M to young Joe Hipwell.

06/10/12

On the sixth of October, our autumn season kicked off with the Novice A/V Spaniel stake at Errol Park estate in Perthshire. This trial was hosted by sporting agent Ben Kass and the owner of the estate, Jamie Heriot-Maitland.

We were in amongst game from the off with the two sides of the line split up working ditches and hedgerows. To say game was plentiful would be an understatement, with some dogs having six or seven flushes in each run. The two sides came together after about half an hour and stayed together for the rest of the day. We worked our way through some good woodland, some canary grass, and, much to some of the dogs’ disgust, a good few nettle beds!

After a fantastic day which would have challenged open dogs, Eddie Scott was delighted to be called as the winner with his young bitch, ‘Broomfield Dee’. Second was awarded to ‘Dawsonlee Delight’, owned and handled by Martin Smee, with third going to Andrew “Spam” Cunningham’s ‘Nederscot Lassie of Fife’.

Judges were Eion Robertson, David Lisett, David Hamilton & Jim Adamson

On the 9^th of October we were back at Airlie for the open English Springer Spaniel stake. This time rabbits were plentiful! The weather was again cool but dry and the ground for the trial was perfect: Rushes, heather and white grass - perfect cover for Spaniels.

The rabbits were sitting very tight on this occasion with some good dogs being eliminated for passing. Although, having said that, every dog in the trial was well tested with multiple finds and retrieves in each run.

This trial reminded me of “the good old days” when we always had loads of rabbits for training and trialling. Alas, no more!  At the end of what must have been the best rabbit trial of the year, our two judges, Ian and Wendy Openshaw, who incidently had driven up from Telford in the morning and were driving back down again at night, were in agreement that Eddie Scott’s bitch, F.T.Ch Broomfield Rosetta, a class act, was the winner followed by Anthony Morris’ Cheweky Gritsand of Glenfia. Anthony just missing out on his ‘maiden’ Open win. Third went to ‘Chinachgook Generous’, owned by Paul Matthews and fourth was Joe Hipwell, handling Eddie Martin’s ‘Spamvalley Cherry’.

23/10/12

For our last trial of the season, the Open Cocker Spaniel stake, we were again lucky enough to be at Airlie. Head keeper Mike Nisbet took us to the same area as he had for the open E.S.S, but we were a bit higher up the hill face. Rabbits were a bit patchier than they had been for the Springers, but were still there in good numbers - the dogs just had to work a bit harder to find them!  Probably, it was a combination of it being that bit later in the year and a good bit colder.

The little Cockers did not disappoint, producing rabbits from the most unlikely places and then putting them in the bag with ease. These little dogs really do have the hearts of lions! On this occasion our judges, John Dickson and Alec Coutts agreed that the outstanding dog of the day was ‘Whinhocklin Single Star of Tiptopjack’ (try saying that on the way home from the pub!) owned by Nigel Partiss and handled by Ian Openshaw. Second was awarded to Graham Clark handling his dog, ‘Heolybwlch Henson’, third was ‘Timsgarry Eagle’, owned and handled by Linda Hudson with fourth going to Eric Wilson’s ‘Broomfield Adrianna’

Winner - Strathmore

(posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2013)

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