ENGLAND v SCOTLAND...

A title like this, at this time of year,  would normally bring to mind a six nations rugby match, but this was far far more important, it was a in fact a re-match of the Kirkbourne v Polmaise Trophy. 

Currently held by the Polmaise team after last years meet in Scotland, 2017 was Kirkbourne's years to host. 

The visitors arrived late Friday evening traveling down through some inclement weather, but once all safely here, everyone settled ready for a full weekend of gundog fun and competition. 

GUNDOGS ON TOUR

Saturday was dedicated to a days training in fabulous spring like weather that sadly was not to last the weekend and after an evening of frivolity it was time to get down to business on Sunday.

The Kikbourne/Polmiase Trophy Working Test 2017. 

Meet time was 9.30am and it was dry for around half an hour before the rain set in for the rest of the day.  But not to be deterred after a short briefing we were underway.

RETRIEVER JUDGES : DARREN KIRK / ROBERT JOHNSON

NOVICE RETRIEVER

Walk to heel. (Blind placed a starting point)

Send back for a short blind. 

Walk to heel. 

Shot fired, Marked Retrieve.

Walk to heel

Shot fired, blind opposite bank  over river

End

A nice set of three challenges to test the novice dogs.  Crossing the river for the seen mark adding an extra edge of difficulty. 

Learning the ropes in the Novice Retriever.

Michelle and Barley finishing their test.

 

OPEN RETRIEVER 

Walk to heel in pairs.

Mark into water. 

Dogs sent in turn. 

Walk to heel.

Shot fired, Mark into small wood

Dogs sent in Turn

Walk to heel

Shot fired

Blind across river 

Dogs sent in turn.

End

What a challenge, for both dogs and handlers.  In horrible weather conditions each element of the test was designed to push to the limits, and that it did.  For some it was the very first time they had worked as a pair and with only a few managing to complete the 130m blind out across the river the rousing support from the onlookers made every "stop and direction" worth it.

No one should be disappointed in how they did,  lots of positives to be drawn from the day.

Taking instruction in the rain

Open Retriever Water Retrieve

SPANIEL JUDGES - BARBARA MATHIESON / DAVID COCKING


NOVICE SPANIEL.

A short hunt up through cover.  

Stop at appropriate point. 

Marked Retrieve. 

Continue to hunt up.

End 

This was a great test, lots of nice cover to let the young dogs work through, and it was good to see spaniels getting their noses down and starting to really work for their handlers.

Louis hunting during his Novice Spaniel run.

Sara and Elsa watching the rest of the field are their fantastic run.

OPEN SPANIEL

Hunt up in pairs. 

Stop to shot, first dog retrieve. 

Continue hunting

Stop to shot, second dog retrieve.

Hunt to end.

Water Retrieve.

End. 

An opportunity  to hunt up in pairs  Great to see all four open dogs showing drive and hunting ability.    The water test proved more of a challenge with all the dogs pulling to come out of the water away from the handlers, but it was really good to see the dogs as happy in water as on the land.

Rocky with his Open Spaniel Retrieve.

Open Spaniel Water Retrieve

Once the spaniels had finished everyone headed back to the meeting point to wait for the "scores on the doors" and a chance to run in the scurry.

Events of this kind take a huge amount of organisation and huge thanks must go to those who give up their time to make them happen, from club secretaries to dummy chuckers, to scurry time keepers, everyone is important. 

Max taking times and keeping scores for the scurry.

Poppy ready for her run.

Willow the "Scurry Bandit" - one to watch for the future.

Whilst the competitive spirit is always going to be present in any event of this kind, what makes this meeting so special is the strong bond of friendship that is so very obvious- despite the miles.    Training and working together, sharing ideas,  training methods and training grounds, has such a positive effect on both dogs and handlers.  The pool of knowledge available to novice handlers is fantastic and no one is left floundering or feeling dejected and beaten,   and the support for one another during the very hard open retriever challenge needed to be witnessed.  The desire for others to succeed, where most had failed was a joy to hear .. and long may this continue.  

For those clubs that choose to stand alone, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to be a little more open minded, to group together, share resources and advice, after all, we are all working towards the same end.  

So onward to the National Gundog Competition in June, and then to the rematch in Scotland next year !!!

All the award winners - congratulations to all.

OVERALL TROPHY  WINNERS

"KIRKBOURNE GUNDOGS"

FINAL SCORE : KIRKBOUNRE 663   POLMAISE 626

Novice Spaniel

Sara Kinnon - Elsa

Open Spaniel 

 Rob Kinnon - Poppy

Novice Retriever

Michelle Cowan -Barley

 

Open Retriever 

Richard Kershaw - Sydney

Scurry

 Rob Kinnon - Poppy 

Congratulations to all those in the awards .

If you would like us to cover your club event, working test or field trial please contact us via the website : www.workinglineimages.co.uk

For more information on Kirkbourne Spaniels please visit their website : www.kirkbournespaniels.co.uk