Field Trials 2024
Kindly sponsored by Essential Foods UK
Puppy/Novice Test
Sunday 17th August
Held at: Hill Farm, Hintlesham BKPO Kevin Doughty
Judges: Doug Laflin, Paul Wheeler, and Julia Reed
Puppy Test
1st - Carrigvales Paddy (Robert Collins)
2nd - Pinfeathers Galahad (Calum Raywood)
3rd - Pinfeathers Guinivere (Nick Barker)
4th - Clachenbeach Seaview Lucy (Jack Nice)
CoMs - Bellspaddle Swiftly (Sharon Dingle) and Gaberlunzie Black Pepper (Ash Holdsworth)
Novice test
1st - Fenbreck Tattinger (Jo Rollinson handled by Aaron Wright)
2nd - Elmertown Unity (Keith Townsend)
3rd - Willowmount Minstrel of Hedenhampark (Nick Clitheroe)
4th - Wauniago Huckleberry (Jean Hosking)
All Aged AV Stake
Thursday 3rd October
Held at: Shotesham Park BKPO The Bailey Family, and head keeper Mark Watson & team
Judges: Mike Jennings, Peter Hurst, Sharon Coby, and Paul Wheeler
1st & Gun's Choice - Scarningvale Donegal (Peter Abbs)
2nd - Raven Black Onyx to Elmertown (Keith Townsend)
3rd - Ftch Brindlebay Gertie Too of Birdsgreen (Sara Gadd)
We started off in meadowland along the river, then moved onto some stubble and rough grass with a mini drive. Through the estate we walked in white grass, sugar beet and ended up back where we started. Shot very well by the East Anglian team of guns on a beautiful autumn day. Thanks to Ed and The Bailey Family, the keepers Mark Watson, William Beckerleg, and their team of beaters and pickers, Susan Laflin my lovely dog steward, my game carriers Michael McInally and Catherine Bridgman, Nikki Stranks for taking the phone calls and our new sponsor Essential Foods UK who were very generous with their prizes. To the judges who were fair and kind thank you.
Novice Labrador Retriever Stake
Thursday 10th October
Held at: Shotesham Park BKPO The Bailey Family, and head keeper Mark Watson & team
Judges: Diana Stevens, Tim Briggs, Philly Pinn, and Julia Reed
1st - Lannakers Yogi Bear of Tofts (Glynis Hillier)
2nd - Gameshine Pluto (Jacqui Crew)
Gun's Choice - Dacljichy Top Notch Tay (Francis Hlisnikowski)
The trial was a mix of walk up and mini drives, a nice normal walk up shoot day which is the norm for Shotesham Park, orchestrated beautifully by the keepers. Two cracking three dog eyewipes by Glynis Hillier and Mick Elsey sorted a few out and one or two went by the wayside for different reasons and all of a sudden we were left with two dogs. Many thanks to my guns who shot well, judges and helpers Susan Laflin, Sylvie Smith, Peter Childs, Marianna Morris-Worrall, Michael McInally, and to the team at Shotesham Carr David, Andy Pleavin, Ginny and the keepers. Thanks also to the vast majority of competitors who stayed to the end of the trial, much appreciated. We were kindly sponsored by Essential Foods UK with bags of dog food, thank you to them.
Open Qualifying Stake
Thursday 24th October to Friday 25th October
Held at: Ampton BKPO Peter Rushbrook
Judges: Tom Lowe, Andrew Slingsby, Adam Holmes, and Vanessa King
1st - FTCH Brindlebay Gertie Too of Birdsgreen (Sara Gadd)
2nd - FTCH Roundcopse Flora (James Brindley)
3rd - Geordieland Wolfie (John Keegan)
CoMs - Willowrise Lilly (Paul Wheeler) and Drakeshead Finnigan of Tagabea (Paula Cullis) [youngest dog in the awards]
Gun's Choice - Brockaghs Ilan (Steve Coxall)
Day one saw us in thick wild bird mix where we lost a few dogs then on into white grass, rape, and sugar beet to finish on a mini drive. Some really nice work by several dogs but nothing outstanding on day one meant eleven dogs went through to the second day. Day two started with fog in a field of thick fat hen and a little bit of beet, a nice eyewipe by Paul Dixon on a running bird and one or two smart retrieves by other dogs then took us into stubble and rape. A three dog eyewipe by Paul Wheeler in some wild bird mix left five dogs in and we finished the trial in beet. Richard (under duress) ran the line very well for us keeping the guns on their toes. The guns Brad, Johny, Ian, Chris, David, and Guy (day one) and Nigel instead of Guy (day two) shot really well and we are extremely grateful for their contribution, without which we would not be able to enjoy our dogs. Big thanks to my team of helpers Susan Laflin, Doug, Peter Childs, Nikki Stranks, Liz Taylor, and the team at Ampton. Thanks to the judges who were fair, sensible and positive in their judging, particularly on day one on difficult ground. We are very generously sponsored by Essential Foods UK.