North Western Counties FTA AV Retriever All Aged Field Trial

The writer was looking forward to this field trial as is was his first one of the 2011 season, business commitments had prevented him from entering competition during September.

NWCFTA have hosted great field trials in the past, so the writer fully expected it to attract some of the countries top gun dog handlers, I was not disappointed when looking at the running card with both John & Sandra Halsted (famous Drakeshead kennel) and John Drury (Affix Brenjon) who has also produced several field trial champions.

The Venue by Kind permission of P J Culley Esq was held at Mossborough Hall, Rainford near St Helens, Merseyside and Judges for the day were John Lees, Steve Richardson, Jimmy Swindlehurst & Lee Hartis. The chief Steward was the delightful Sue Schofield, who is also the associations secretary.

After brief introductions the field trial started with 16 Labrador Retrievers in a walk up, in very wet cover, which appeared to be a mixture of grass and wheat crop, with very few birds being presented.

After about 2 hours, the hosted decided to have a drive, which was not going to be easy with just 6 gun dogs after 2 hours of hard walking. The 16 dogs were divided up between the judges, numbers 1,2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14 went with John Lees & Lee Hartis and numbers 3,4,7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16 went with Steve Richardson & Jimmy Swindlehurst.

After the drive, the Judges sent number 1 for a wounded pheasant which had landed in the wood behind the guns, after a good attempt the dog was called up and number 2 was sent, which again had made a good effort but not produce the bird. The Judges then went out to inspect the area for the bird and to the competitors relieve the bird could not be found.

Number one was then sent for a bird in the barley field, which was successful and then number 2 was asked to pick a bird in a different direction in the same field which, after hunting the area number 2 was called up without the bird and number 1 was sent to the same area. After a short while number 1 was called up and dismissed for not making the area. The Judges again went out to inspect the area and no bird was found to the relieve of number 2!

Number 2 was then sent for another bird in the same field, which was successful. Number 2 was then sent to another area in the same field with a slightly longer distance which was also successful.

On the other side numbers 4 had been dismissed for not making the area and numbers 7 & 8 had been eye wiped by the judges.

At this stage is was noted there had been some mix up in procedure as number 6 had not been sent for the retrieve that numbers 7 & 8 had failed on.

The field Trial then proceeded with a further walk up, which again only produced the odd bird, during this period number 10 was put out first dog down and number 12 was believed to have ran in.

By 2pm the field trial looked like not being completed, so the host provided another drive, which produced a sufficient number of birds to complete the stake, but gave the Judges the difficult task of creating challenging retrieves in a grass field, fortunately the wind conditions were such, they created a few problems with dogs either swapping or failing to make the area efficiently.

In the second round number 2 was sent for a partridge, which proved difficult to pick in the wind conditions, but eventually the dog located the bird.

After the 2nd round a cut was made and I believe 6 gundogs remained numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 13, 15

They were all sent for a retrieve, with the wind behind us, the Judges then deliberated and ask just invited 3 dogs into the 4th round numbers 2, 6 & 15.

Number 2 was sent to an area and the dog went of the whistle, so was called up, and numbers 6 & 15 completed their retrieves.


Number 15 Mr. C Dinsdale was awarded 1st Place with Spinnerbeck Wagtail and Mrs. Sandra Halsted was award 2nd Place with Copperbirch Otto of Drakeshead.

The writer was pleased to get to the last 3 dogs, in his first trial but more training work still required !

This report is compiled by the writer who was present at the trial and is not always in the position to see every retrieve and is not party to the Judges decisions, if any of the above is believed to inaccurate, please email the correction for publication.