Kindly sponsored by Essential Foods UK

All Aged AV Retriever Stake

Thursday 2nd October

Held at: Ampton BKPO Peter Rushbrook

Judges: Godfrey Lowe, Jim Collins, Jackie Smith, and Helen Burnie

1st - Bellspaddle Swiftly (Sharon Dingle)

Gun's Choice - Geordieland Yogi Bear (John Keegan)

The EALRC held it's 12 dog AV All Aged Stake at Ampton BKPO Peter Rushbrook. The line was run extremely efficiently by the legend that is Alan Hammond. The four judges: Godfrey Lowe, Jim Collins, Jackie Smith and Helen Burnie were fair and gave the dogs plenty of time. Guns were fantastic today: David Wall, Robert Lewis, Brad Pryor, Daniel Robert Martin, Johnny Foster, and Nigel Reed who shot a mixture of pheasant and partridge in windy conditions in tall mustard. The scent wasn't particularly good and dogs struggled at times to locate partridges especially. Thank you to the helpers: Susan Laflin (my fabulous dog steward), Sam Daniels who picked up, James Payne and Mike Hamilton game carrying, big thanks to them for their support. A massive thanks to Essential Foods UK for their sponsorship, they are extremely generous with their prizes.

Novice Labrador Retriever Stake

Thursday 9th October

Held at: Ampton BKPO Peter Rushbrook

Judges: Colin Pelham, Doug Susan Laflin, Judith Curtis, and Nikki Stranks

1st - Nathansgreen Duga (Mick Elsey)

Gun's Choice - Hinderwell Berlin (Tom Sage)

We held a 12 dog Novice Labrador Retriever stake at Ampton BKPO Peter Rushbrook. Alan Hammond ran the line for us in his controlled, calm way. Birds came perfectly to hand at a lovely steady flow giving judges, dogs, and handlers plenty of time to see them down, and wow were they down. Guns were on fire: Brad Pryor, Nigel Reed, Roger Bannock, Jac Garrard, Andrew Dearing, and Johnny Foster were a really good team. A really high quality stake, we were treated to some fantastic dog work. John Mason's bitch took two cracking runners in the first round. Some nice natural hunting work from Tom Sage and Karen Hurst and very nice to see a couple of chocolates running Jacqui Crew going out on her last bird with Tom and Karen. Mick Elsey's dog was consistent through the whole trial, very tidy and picked cleanly, a pleasure to watch. Thank you to my judges: Colin Pelham, Doug Susan Laflin, Judith Curtis, and Nikki Stranks. Also big thanks to my merry band of helper: James Payne and Mike Hamilton carrying game, and Sam Daniels picking up. These three have been absolute stars this season, stepping up to help at all trials, doing any job I ask them to do. Sue Laflin was missed today, so I did dog steward (I had forgotten how on the ball you need to be!). Thank you to the generosity of Essential Foods UK we had a range of fantastic prizes today. I can't thank Peter Rushbrook and Alan Hammond enough for what they do for our sport, I don't know where we'd be without Ampton!

Open Qualifying Stake

Friday 17th October to Saturday 18th October

Held at: Ampton BKPO Peter Rushbrook

Judges: Barbara Kuen, Jo Rollinson, Sharon Coby, and Julia Reed

1st & Gun's Choice - Scarningvale Donegal (Peter Abbs) [Philray Trophy winner, Birdbrook Trophy winner, Buckeye Retriever Trophy winner for gun's choice, and the Sparbrook Pheasant Trophy winner for the youngest dog in the awards]

2nd - Ftch Tideshot Vinny of Highseas (Kevin Doughty) [Ditchingham Smith Trophy for runner up]

The EALRC two day Open Qualifier Stake was held at Ampton BKPO Peter Rushbrook. We were delighted to be looked after by the lovely Alan Hammond (backed by his team of beaters and flag men). The game over the two days came at a perfect pace as we walked up in scrubland, mustard, and rape. The guns: David Wall, Nigel Reed, Robert Lewis, Ian Mitchell, James Hubert, Ian Brignell, and Mick Elsey over the two days were brilliant, shooting all pheasants and partridges. We took ten dogs through to day two, any one of them in with a chance. We lost several dogs on eyewipes by other dogs and were left after six retrieves with two dogs. A huge thank you to everyone who helped over the two days, especially to Susan Laflin my amazing dog steward, Mike Hamilton and Andrew Wells-Baker who stepped up and picked up for me at short notice, game carriers etc without who's help I wouldn't be able to run the day. We are sponsored throughout the season by Essential Foods UK who are extremely generous with their prizes of fantastic dog food, thank you so much.

Tests 2025

Kindly sponsored by Essential Foods UK

Open Test

Sunday 6th April

Held at: Warren Hills Farm, Oakley BKPO Andrew West & family

Judges: Steve Ellis, Sharon Dingle, and Peter Childs

Following a run off for 1st place

1st - Highroost Oak LabD handled by Simone Barratt [Dublin Cup winner]

2nd - Mitforton Neon LabB handled by Michael Crutchley

3rd - Brockaghs Ilan LabD handled by Steve Coxell

CoMs - Ravencote Crest of Ardmuir LabB handled by Jennie Hankie, Ruby’s Runner LabB handled by Tim Briggs, and Tudorcourt Elderbury LabB handled by Michael McInally [Thomas Kidner Shield winner for youngest dog in the awards]

The EALRC met for our Open Working Test at Warren Hills Farm, Oakley near Diss BKPO Andrew West & family. We were blessed with a glorious day with sunshine and a useful breeze on some stunning grounds. Thanks also to our judges: Steve Ellis (A672), Sharon Dingle (NP3423), and Peter Childs (NP3579) who set three challenging tests for the morning, another three for the afternoon, and a testing run off for 1st place. Many thanks Cliff Maidstone for coming to help today, your throwing skills were so appreciated. Our sponsor for the day was Essential Foods UK. Thank you for your generous donation from your quality range of foods, and for including some super raffle prizes. Gamekeepers goods were wonderful too for supplying our helpers gifts and donating some dummy balls for our raffle. Thanks to all who helped on the day. Congratulations to all our award winners.

Puppy/Novice Test

Saturday 19th July

Held at: Ditchingham Hall BKPO The Earl & Countess Ferrers, Viscount & Viscountess Tamworth, and keeper Nick Clitheroe

Judges: Phil Askew, Jennie Hankie, Mick Elsey, and Aaron Wright

Puppy Test

1st - Sirenbirch Gunnerside Gill LabB handled by Jennifer Hookham

2nd - Mistygreen Meadow Land GRD handled by Les Crompton

3rd - Birdsgreen Integrity LabB handled by Sara Gadd

CoMs - Bellspaddle Magic LabB handled by Ginny Wallis Miller and Birdsgreen Article LabD handled by Michael Tallamy

Novice Test

1st - Norse Raven LabD handled by Alice Trett

2nd - Brookhope Malachite LabD handled by James Payne

3rd - Bellspaddle Swiftly LabB handled by Sharon Dingle

CoMs - Willowdeep Dolly LabB handled by Gill Grummitt

Owing to an error in one of the judges scores the placings have been changed to put Birdsgreen Integrity Lab B handled by Sara Gadd into 3nd place.

The EALRC met for our Novice and Puppy Working Test at Ditchingham Hall BKPO The Earl & Countess Ferrers, Viscount & Viscountess Tamworth, and keeper Nick Clitheroe. We were blessed with much better weather than was anticipated and on stunning parkland. Our hosts could not have been more obliging and generous on opening their estate to us, thank you Nick Clitheroe. Thanks to our judges: Phil Askew (A2195), Jennie Hankie (B2273), Mick Elsey (NP3698), and Aaron Wright (NP). Thank you Phil for stepping in to help with our large entry. Thanks to all that helped on the day. Our sponsor for the day was Essential Foods UK. Thank you for your generous donation from your quality range of foods, and for including a super raffle prize. Gamekeepers goods were wonderful too for supplying our helpers gifts and donating some dummy balls for our raffle. Four challenging tests were set, and after a run off for 2nd and 3rd place in our Novice group.