Gundog Working Tests 2010 results
Annual Gundog Working Tests held on Sunday 1st August 2010.

By kind permission of: Mr IAN MACLEAN

Judges: MR J. WYLD. MR. B. KENT. MR B. WADE

Sponsors:

SNEYDS WONDER DOG c/o PINE TREE PET PRODUCTS
SPORTING SAINT

The annual K.W.C.A. Gundog Tests took place at Egypt Bay on Sunday 1st August. This year was exceptionally well attended with 80 entries, which was a surprise as early postal entries were down on last year, but on the day entries soon raised the numbers with handlers from Kent, Essex, Surrey and Suffolk making the journey to this excellent venue.

The puppy tests were the first to run and showed a huge variety of abilities, ranging from 10 month old youngsters out for the first time to some very accomplished 22 month old dogs.
The high standards can be seen in the results, with Gill Smith and her Labrador, Skye coming out on top after dropping just two points from all the tests. Leigh Eastwood and Labrador Debo were only one point behind and Ben Neville with Labrador Molly one point behind Leigh.
All three handlers placed in the puppy tests went on to enter the Novice and Open competitions with Ben Neville taking 3rd in the Open this time with ESS Tess and Leigh Eastwood contending for the Wildfowlers Trophy. Ben's excellent results earned him a special handler's award from the judges.

The Novice Tests with an entry of 43 proved quite a marathon, but the waiting proved well worthwhile to see Chris Brown and excellent Lab Tornado (last year's puppy champion) returning a perfect score of 60 to win, with Mandy Smith close behind with Labrador Fern on 58 and Lin Styles and Labrador Mole in 3rd place.

The open competition proved to be very exciting. The judges had put on some tests which were to give the handlers and dogs something to think about. Especially the long blind across a dry ditch with a distraction on gun shot. . The high level of handling and concentration reflects in the high scores with John Thompson running Labrador Tay taking 1st place with 57 ex 60. In second place was Ben Neville, his Springer showing the retrievers how pick the long blinds. In 3rd place were Lisa Snow and her beautifully stylish Flatcoat, Chester.

The Champion Wildfowlers Trophy is an award that only members of The K.W.C.A. may contend for. The scores put forward may be earned in any of the test categories. Leigh Eastwood and Debo scoring of 57 in the Puppy Test and with Barney Mills also gaining 57 when running Springer, Bob in the Novice a run off was required to separate them. After the closest run off I have ever seen Barney Mills was Champion for the 3rd successive year, but I think he will agree that Leigh really pushed him right to the very end.

Eric Howard and Dave Divers designed a scurry at which every dog could achieve, which is exactly what a fun scurry should be.
I was privileged to be there after "having a go" when Steve Bulled recorded an amazing 56 seconds with Labrador, Stig.
This really looked like a course where the Spaniels would have come into their own with four short blinds against the clock, but Steve and Stig proved every one wrong.

I would like to thank everyone that made this excellent (and long) day possible.
I know that I will miss someone out so I will apologize for that now.
Land owner Ian Mclean
Admin. Liz Jeffery
Judges. Jim Wylde, Brian Kent and Brian Wade
Dave Thorpe (everywhere)
Lyn and Jen on the desk
Out in the field all day, throwing dummies firing pistols and still there at 9pm
Martin, Clare, James, Karl, Evan, Megan and Ryan.

And our very kind sponsors.

John Forsey Guns, Sneyds Wonder Dog and Sporting Saint

Results for 2010

OPEN
Champion - Mr J. Thompson with Tay
Runner up - Mr B. Nevill with Tess
3rd place - Lisa Snow with Chester

NOVICE
Champion - Mrs C. Brown with Tornado
Runner up - Ms M Smith with Fern
3rd place - Ms. L Stiles with Mole

Puppy
Champion - Ms G. Smith with Skye
Runner up - Mr L Eastwood with Debo
3rd place - Mr B. Nevill with Molly

WILDFOWLERS CHAMPION
BARNEY MILLS with BOB

SCURRY WINNER - Mr S. Bulled with Stig in 56 seconds

JUDGES CHOICE FOR BEST HANDLER
Mr B. Nevill.