We ran probably the last of our field trial training days on saturday, which was by far the one of the most successful, not only due to the quantity of game shot (6 pigeons, 4 phesants, 30 partridge), but the day produced some very challenging hunting, retrieves and obedience work.
On this occasion we had 8 guns including myself and 11 gundogs (7 English Springer spaniels, 3 Labrador Retrievers & 1 Golden Retriever) and 2 helpers Simon Fitzjohn and Jennifer Speake.
My Guns for the day were Ben Gilbert, Mark Woollisscroft, Tom Wilson, Stuart Conner, Steve Wicks, Mike Barley and Tom Queally.
My regular gundog handlers were Alex Hayes with Pop (ESS), James Gillings with Indy (ESS), Katie Evans with Biscuit (ESS), Mike Barley with Nelly (ESS), Pam Linsdale with Henry (ESS), we also welcomed two more experienced Spaniel handlers Jane Readon-Smith and Linda Shipley who both ran field trial award winning spaniels, during the day. Steve Wicks with Ruari (Retriever) Gillian Clarke with Tamar and Emma Adams with Purdey (Retriever).
I ran two dogs during the day Poppy & Tilley both Retrievers.
We started with a drive in the paddock, the retrievers were placed in line with the guns and the spaniels shared the hunting up on the rides and hedge rows. The first drive was dissapointing, although we had plenty of partridges to shoot at, two of the guns could not shoot safely as two of the handlers were not inline (first lesson!).
Despite this problem we had 5 partridges and a pigeon to retrieve.
We started with trying to retrieve a wounded bird I had shot, the handlers were given a area and the first dog was sent and was called up rather quickly, not having shown any acknowledgement over the fall, the next 2 dogs acknowledge some scent but neither of them produced the bird and were subsequently called up, we continued to try a further 3 dogs none of which produced the bird. I convinced myself it must have been a runner and having tried my own dog, which I eventually called up after not responding to a recall. I then went to inspect the fall and discovered the partridge was still there !
As I went to pick it up, it got up a flew back to the pen.
We discussed at length the retrieve and concluded none of the dogs held the area very well, almost all the dogs were hunting to fast, handlers failed to put on the brakes and I convinced myself it must be a runner... it just go to show how wrong you can be!
I will be producing a more detail report for the website over the next month.
