24 Dog Open Field Trial For A/V Retrievers 8th & 9th September 2025
Held at Gladestry, Powys by kind permission of Will
Duff-Gordon and family and the invitation of Head Keeper Mr Aaron Brookshaw
The principal winners with the Judges, Guns, Helpers, and Field Trial
Secretary Richard J. Edwards
We were pleased to be able
to run our 2 day Open Qualifying Stake at Gladestry in Powys again, by kind
permission of Will Duff-Gordon and family and the invitation of Head Keeper Mr
Aaron Brookshaw
After an early start
followed by introductions to our judges who travelled from Hertfordshire, Devon,
Deepest Darkest Cornwall and Wiltshire, it was my pleasure to welcome, John
Keegan, now one of a very few A panel judges in both Spaniels and Retrievers,
Mrs Mary Jane Opie A, Mr Keith Sandercock B and Mr Martin Bagg B. We drove to
another side of Ireland Moor where Will’s guns shot some very fast, high
partridge that landed in various game crops, lakes and white grass and deep
ditches. This ground is both very natural and testing and we only lost a few
dogs from what was a very strong field of quality dogs.
We then returned to
Gladestry area and picked up behind the guns on a very steep sided tricky gorge
with a stream flowing down the valley. The dogs were sent up steep bracken and
heather banks that proved tricky and tested the dogs in very different terrain
that most dogs on ‘normal picking up’ days would not have experienced
previously. Partridges shot at height in a fast wind were a challenge for the
guns, but they were skilled enough to provide enough game for the trial to
conclude the third round on day one. We took 14 dogs through to the second day,
which reflected the quality of the dogs running at this trial.
After a delayed start for
the hill mist to clear we returned with our own guns, under captain Richard
Podmore to shoot three more drives in the Gilwern valley.
The judges asked dogs to go
up the banks and into the river to pick specific birds, which was the undoing of
one or two. A ryelock fence next to the river added to the degree of difficulty
and whilst it was fair to say that retrieve distances were shorter than most
Open trials, the complex nature of the ground was testing enough. The judges
dropped a few dogs for minor issues and took 7 dogs through to a final run off.
Whilst the guns went higher up the valley gorge to shoot the final drive, that
we did not need for the trial, the judges after a deep and meaningful
discussion, declared the trial over. It was pleasing to see a few dedicated
competitors return to vehicles to collect other dogs to help pick up for the
guns on the third drive which was much appreciated by the keeper and guns alike.
We were blessed with a small
band of capable helpers on the first day, especially … Amanda, Lesley, Sandra,
Gillian, Karen, Barney last year’s winner, Rupert and Natalie, some of whom had
never been to a trial before, let alone helped! They were all brilliant and the
club is indebted to them for their very real contribution. Over the two days we
were assisted by Helen Barrett the Official Picker Up with her lovely yellow
labrador who managed to eye wipe an award winning dog in the final ‘guns’ drive
of the day. Richard L Edwards our President, carried game on both days and I
much appreciated the help that was offered by our official photographer Mr Chris
Lawrence of Earthdogphotography.com 07875
479916, who will have images of the dogs available in a few days via his
website. Competitors are asked to support Chris, as he will have an image or two
of you and your dogs.
Finally, we were delighted
to be provided with prize cards and product vouchers by Skinners who have kindly
sponsored our three trials this year.
The winners were 1st
– Leigh Jackson with FTCH Blackgrass Dougall, 2nd went to Ronnie
Laughton with FTCH Etomani Missouri, winner of the stake in 2023, 3rd
was awarded to Simon Capstick with FTCH Gunnerspeg Apollo, 4th was
Dave Field with FTCH Artistryn Dice and two COMS went to FTCH Nobsquinton Nettle
handled by Claire Raymond and Fieldbrooke Quinn at Quingrave handled by Steve
Newitt.
In summing up the trial,
John Keegan remarked that it was a very close decision with the final placings
and they had seen some quality dog work over the two days. I was delighted to
work with such a lovely team of judges, you made my two days a pleasure.
Richard Edwards FT Sec
Labrador Retriever Club of Wales.