Innholdsfortegnelse for Nov-2018 i Shooting Gazette

Much as we’d like to we can’t be out in the field all of the time and if you’re in the same boat fear not, there’s plenty to get your teeth stuck into in this month’s issue of Shooting Gazette. We have shoot reports from Kedleston in Derbyshire, a shoot that has come on leaps and bounds since a new team took it on last year; there’s also Cricket St. Thomas, a shoot where the birds will, if you will excuse the pun, hit Guns for six over some cracking ground in Somerset. Elsewhere in this issue, David Whitby is examining what Guns on the ground should be thinking about when raising their barrels – or not as the case may be – to beautifully presented high birds. What is…

Game shooting good for gundogs Consistent across fieldsports magazines over recent months has been the need for all involved to tell of the positive contribution made by the existence of those sports. However, one positive story that has largely escaped attention is our care for our canine companions. As anyone who has sat in a vet’s waiting room or witnessed man’s best friend at large will report, canine obesity is a massive problem in British life but one that has curiously evaded the attention of animal welfare groups. Research suggests that 65% of adult dogs are overweight and 9% obese with worryingly high levels of obesity in juvenile dogs, statistics showing an increase over the past decade. Given the PDSA estimated that there were 8.6m dogs in Britain in 2017,…

In his excellent article [Rights and Privileges, August issue], John Walker lays out an interesting array of facts but, strangely, misses out on some salient points. There are 43 constabularies that have the power to issue shotgun certificates or firearms licences. It is generally understood that some of these provide a good service to those of us who use firearms either as part of our employment or for leisure and sporting interests. Others have chief officers who are known to be anti-firearms and against the personal ownership of firearms by private citizens. Interestingly, some of these constabularies have the worst record and reputation for service to gun owners. It is long overdue that the entire firearms licensing process should be removed from police control, and a National Statutory Licensing Authority…

Dear Uncle Giles, Be honest, does it really matter if you’re a rotten shot when your love for shooting and the countryside is boundless? Asking for a friend. JEM, by email Uncle Giles writes As a matter of fact, it does matter. Being a rotten shot can be remedied. There are people who have no co-ordination whatever and whose hands and eyes can scarcely ever be harnessed in the same endeavour and yet they strive to better themselves both as shooters and as people. Consider the extraordinary sporting achievements of disabled athletes and wounded veterans and then ask yourself why you are still a rotten shot. I have said before on this page — and doubtless will again — that the central tenet of game shooting should be, first and…

Game shooting would be nothing without the new blood coming into the sport each year, so it felt only right to give our picture of the month award to Connah Baker, who was recently awarded the NGO’s Frank Jenkins Memorial Trophy “in recognition of his passion, determination and considerable abilities” during his time as a gamekeeping student at Reaseheath College in Cheshire. Connah, 18, was a top student on his Level 3 Extended Diploma in Land and Wildlife Management course at Reaseheath and hopes one day to become a headkeeper on a grouse moor. He was presented with his trophy at the Midland Game Fair by NGO chairman Liam Bell. “Connah is a remarkably mature lad, whose love for the job shone through. The references from his college and work…

There is an interesting phenomena relating to the woodpigeon population in Great Britain. For some years most of my best bags have been when shooting on farmland near a town. I and my fellow pigeon fanatics, with whom I am regularly in touch, all experience the same situation. It was not that there were not good numbers of pigeons in the rural landscape living, nesting and roosting in woods and hedgerows, and so the disparity of town pigeons to country pigeons was not as extreme as seems the situation today. However, over the past few years the density of pigeons in the countryside seems to have significantly reduced while the urban population has grown ever greater. “Have buzzards caused more pigeons to move and colonise towns where buzzards are rarely…

“It is a very elegant little double rifle, its lines further enhanced by its rounded bar action.” Can you help gunmaking historian Donald Dallas solve a double rifle mystery? I received an email with a photograph attached of a Holland & Holland double rifle the other day, asking for my opinion on a very distinctive addition to the it. I puzzled and puzzled over the odd addition and all I could do was simply offer an opinion, as this little Holland rifle was a bit of an enigma. I would be interested in readers views about it. Holland & Holland .360 double hammerless rifle No.16117 was certainly a puzzle and in discussion with several knowledgeable colleagues we all agreed on one thing – we didn’t have a definitive answer but…

Due to the continuing unrest in India and the Sudan in the early 20th century, the British Government was forced to ban military calibres of .303 and .450. The locals in these areas had a collection of ex-military rifles and in an attempt to prevent their use they were not allowed to be imported. The .450 was the mainstay of the Holland & Holland heavy battery and the company was forced to find an alternative. It came up with a subtly different cartridge, the .500/.465 Nitro Express introduced in 1906. The cartridge was very similar to the now-outlawed .500/.450 Nitro Express. The case length was 3¼in and the bullet weight 480g. It was impossible to fire the new round in the old rifles. The firm gave the .500/.465 the brand…

I had previously used 20 bore Rizzinis that were balanced slightly in front of the hinge pin, so were a bit nose heavy. This improved the handling as it slowed you down and gave a smoother shot. It would be interesting to see how the test gun went with the heavier barrels which made the balance point forward of the hinge pin. To the 40ft tower first, accompanied by Bernard Moss, retired headkeeper of the Glympton Estate. Now that Bernard’s son has taken over as headkeeper, we employ Bernard as a freelance instructor. We both shot the gun on a variety of targets on the tower covering all the angles. It handled well and delivered some fantastic powdered clays. On to the high tower, where it did the job effectively…

“We want it to be a positive experience for dog and owner…” Behind the scenes at Pet Blood Bank UK “My trust – and all that training – was soon rewarded…” Gatherer recalls bringing on his new dog “Tom Sheppard was given a full ‘Mohican’ by demon barber Paddy Williams…” The spaniel fraternity gathers to raise funds for Richard Preest PLUS Reports from tests at North Owersby, Northants, Strines Moor and many more from around the country…

Special puppy  1 (& winner of the Fleetbank Shield) Helen Slingsby with lab.d. Hanrebor Black Jack 2 Mark Clover with lab.d. Delfleet Jester 3 Ann Sumner with lab.d. Boxthorn Jake CoM Helen Slingsby with lab.b. Hanrebor Black Magic Puppy  1 (& winner of the Melnola Shield) John Harlow with lab.d. Ettinsmoor Dingo 2Jill Parsons with lab.d. Ettinsmoor Kargaroo Joe 3 Gill Stewart with lab.b.Jogolo Elsa 4 Jess Burrows with lab.b. Quillismere Blossom CoM Casper Jonsen with lab.d.Jogolo Echo at Gypsy Bridge CoM Godfrey Lowe with lab.d.Jogolo Sail Veteran  1 (& winner of the Winston Shield) Gill Stewart with lab.b.Willowyck Harriet 2 John Day with lab.d. Middlegate Winter of Humbershot CoM Emelia Jonsen with lab.d. Lowsommer Columbo Tarf CoM Godfrey Lowe with lab.d. Froebelhouse Sam via Lowsommer Junior handler  1 (&…

Club: Utility Gundog Society (Eastern Counties Branch) Event: Open sugar beet test Venue: Loose Hall Farms Judges: Tom Lowe and Arthur Cook Sponsors: Dog & Field and Skinner’s We are indebted to Kevin Easey for stepping up when the original venue’s sugar beet hadn’t grown sufficiently because of the lack of rain. Twenty-two dogs ran in reasonable conditions. Ground scent wasn’t brilliant but a good breeze helped the dogs. The morning consisted of long marks, two in front for the first round, one right off the end of the line for the second round and a very long mark for the last retrieve of the morning. After lunch it had warmed up a bit and the competitors were kept in the shade, going in one at a time under each…

Veteran 1 Anne Blake with lab.d. Flypatch Lima 2 Caroline Hewison with fcr.d. Maddistream Indigo Jack at Casblaidd 3 Phil Wagland with gr.d. Pebbletoft Pepper 4 Geoff Dobb with lab.d.Woodcockhill Madoqua Intermediate/novice 1 Anita Beal with gr.d. Mars Ares at Roanlodge 2 (& winner of the Best Novice Tankard) Anne Blakes with lab.d. Bromleywood Romeo 3 Christina Robinson with lab.b. Highwalk Joy 4 Daryl Boldy with lab.d Garrenwell Colorado CoM Lucinda Southern with lab.d. Stephens Brother at Warrenbank (owned by Paul Birkbeck).…

When the invitation came to judge the Tyne Tees Tweed Field Trial Association all-aged retriever stake last year I was honoured and excited. It took me back to my first judging appointment at a county show as a National Federation of Women’s Institutes cookery and preserves judge. My training took the best part of three years and instilled in me that it is a privilege to judge someone’s work and the hours that they put into perfecting their entry should be respected. Trial day came. The weather was just right in the morning, with rain in the afternoon. The ground was terrific – undulating reedy hills and good stone walls, with birds coming nicely to hand. We had a good selection of quarry to test the dogs. I was on…

Veteran  1 M.Jarrod with gr.d. Lilleburne Ripple Reed 2 A.Jones with lab.b. Dealminster Twig 3 J. Gardner with gr.b. Copleybent Ballistic of Foxcote 4 S. Goode with lab.b. Poolmoor Luella CoM K. Pennell with lab.b. Kilpen Pekan Intermediate  1 Killy Pennell with lab.d. Kilpen Bertie 2 Pat Rogers with lab.d. Greenfox Ash 3 Kevin Phillips with lab.d. Fendawood Jacob CoM Trish Constantine with lab.d. Roxhart Red Rum CoM Debbie Polley with lab.b. Howgillhay Fennel of Gillhays CoM Trish Constantine with gr.d. Briabar Flaming Finale…

Congratulations to Hilda Douglas for this great photo of her spaniel taking time out. How to win For your chance to win either a Pintail Explorer smock (top) or a Seasons jacket (right), email high-resolution pictures to: katemaxim@outlook.com. Please put “Gundog Picture of the Month” in the subject line. The winner will be chosen by the Shooting Gazette judging panel. Good luck! The prize will only be posted to winners with a fixed UK postal address.…

I would like to ask you to censor the material in your magazine in future as the contents of the August issue had a noticeable effect on my Uncle Mark – and not in a good way. There is usually a bit of banter about who gets the first ‘flick’ through the new issue but as my uncle pays for it he got first go. Things were OK until he reached Donald Dallas’ auctions page, which featured a pair of Eric Clapton’s Purdey overunders; Mr Dallas revived the debate about who was the best guitarist – Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck or Eric Clapton – to which my uncle started raging about the forgotten talents of Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page. He recalled the time a journalist asked Eric Clapton if…

For as long as this column has been recording the political scene, change has been a given because that is the nature of government. It takes a bright politician to come over the parapet with a plan or decision, a brave one to admit that change might improve it. To mark Armistice Day in this the most evocative of years, the Royal British Legion has opted for a grittier and more widely deployed depiction in life-sized silhouette of a First World War Tommy holding a rifle, christened ‘the silent soldier’. A poignant reminder of a time that we should all remember. Enter the local councillors of the New Forest village of Brockenhurst, who decided that the sight of a soldier or, more particularly, his rifle might alarm or offend villagers.…

Established gunmakers shouldn’t be afraid to go it alone. It is hard work and daunting to begin with but the pros far outweigh the cons. Timing is important. I had always wanted to set up shop for myself but I felt it was crucial to do my time in the trade before I took the leap. Every business is different but I never really considered being located on a high street, I wanted premises off the beaten track where we could have a shop with character and a test facility. Customers with an old gun, ask yourself, what are you trying to achieve? You may have an older gun in need of a small amount of work so it can be used safely and reliably. Alternatively, you may want a…

TRAVEL Cricket St. Thomas is situated in prime shooting country in West Somerset. Road links are good as the shoot sits astride the A30, and the A303 lies just 20 minutes to the north; so on a good day it is around three hours to central London. Taunton lies less than an hour to the north. The county's railway network will get you close to the estate. Exeter Airport is also under an hour away. STAY The old manor house on the estate is now a hotel with stunning bedroom suites, leisure centre, spa, and swimming pool (warnerleisurehotels.co.uk). There is also the Lordleaze Hotel in nearby Chard, offering a warm and friendly atmosphere (lordleazehotel.co.uk). For something completely different, there are some very upmarket self-catering lodges on the estate called Swandown…

“Our sport is bursting with words and phrases we learn, treasure and proudly hand down to those who follow.” It’s hard not to feel a sense of pride when talking the language of game shooting. Brace, fore-end, eye-wipe, dogging-in, pegs, beaters and drives, our sport is bursting with words and phrases we learn, treasure and proudly hand down to those who follow in our footsteps. There are some words and phrases we’d rarely use in everyday life, ones where eyebrows would be raised if we used them in polite company and even ones that have been adopted by the outside world to be used as metaphors in everything from business to film. We all know them when we hear them, don’t we? Earlier this year I was having a conversation…

Engineering: 8/10 Rizzinis have no real issues; like any gun if you look after them, they will last the course. Trigger pulls were very good and the ejectors did their job Looks and finishing: 8/10 If this is where you place significant importance in making your purchase decision this maybe the gun for you, in particular the round action separates it from the mainstream offerings. The gun is well finished, darker wood than that on the test gun would be more to my taste, but the wood was well figured. Handling: 7½/10 On average speed and height birds the gun is more than capable, however, with some attention to the barrel weight, I believe that the handling would significantly improve. This would be more pertinent if the gun were to…

The new Suzuki Jimny has been unveiled to the media, and it is brilliant. Costing about £16,000, it will reach UK shores early next year. It is the first new Jimny in more than a decade but it has been worth the wait. It looks superb, with Suzuki’s designers nailing the baby G-class vibe. It still has all the good things about the old Jimny, such as a proper ladder chassis, four-wheel drive system and low-range box. It also has a few of the bad things — no boot space if the back seats are up, and you probably wouldn’t want to crash one too vigorously. But I love it, and will be camping outside Suzuki’s UK HQ until they let me drive one.…

Club: United Retriever Club (Midland Area) Event: URC Area Finals 2018 Venue: Cottesbrooke Estate, Northants Judges: Tony Parnell, Phil Bruton, Jennie Hankey, Lisa Harris and Charlotte Jeffrey Stewards: Cath Elsey and Jackie Smith Sponsors: Westaway Motors of Maidwell, Skinner’s, Maurice Fitch Tree Works, Heygates of Bugbrooke Mills and Sporting Saint The 2018 Area Finals were held by kind permission of Alastair Macdonald-Buchanan. The tests had been set by Steve Newitt and Dave Probert, but Dave unfortunately developed some health problems and Pete Goddard stepped in to work with Steve. Nine teams of three dogs represented the nine URC Areas and worked their way round the tests. Test one was a walk-up with marks and blinds in front and behind interrupted by a bolting rabbit which proved too tempting for some…

Q I like the idea of training my puppy to take out on a shoot but I have quite a lot of commitments. How much time will it take? A I hate that question. Training your puppy should be a joy, a journey and a great learning process with a reasonable amount of effort and commitment. Something that is fascinating and that you develop a passion for. It is not a full-time job but it does require time and effort and you get something special along the way. Gundogs should not be another accessory and, unfortunately, many are viewed that way. People like the idea of a fully working companion but it is not a quick fix to get an acceptable level of behaviour in a shoot environment. I regularly get asked…

My two black cockers are canine sports cars – wonderful but not particularly suited to daily life. Two years ago, I decided to find a more 4x4 sort of dog. So when my daughter found a promising litter in Devon, I asked the breeder what he was aiming for. “A working cocker for a working man,” was the reply. There was one puppy left – a white dog with chocolate freckles. Mr Whitey came home the next day. On a road walk 18 months later, he suddenly retrieved a partridge from a flooded ditch. Partly because of this spontaneous demonstration of prowess, even though he was still very silly around people and other dogs, I was tempted to take him picking-up. Which was, of course, very silly of me. Luckily,…

More than 200 shoots have signed up as members of the British Game Alliance (BGA). Among them is Castle Hill in Devon, which has joined the likes of Eaton Estate in Cheshire, Perrystone in the West Midlands and Raby Estate in Durham in becoming members of the fledgling alliance, led by managing director Tom Adams. “I have been a gamekeeper for 54 years, and I see shooting under attack more than ever,” said Castle Hill headkeeper Brian Mitchell. “When the BGA was launched I wasn’t sure it could work, but over the past year the progress made… has changed my mind completely. We have joined because if there isn’t a market for the birds we shoot, it will be one of the factors that will finish off shooting. “We need…

THE AUTHOR of the Letter of the Month will receive a pair of Wexford boots from Dubarry of Ireland (RRP £325). The knee-length side-zip boots – designed for both men and women – are handcrafted from waterproof Dry Fast-Dry Soft™ breathable leathers. The high quality of the boot is reinforced throughout with an insulated GORE-TEX® lining that wicks moisture away from the foot, ensuring the wearer remains dry and comfortable all day. Dubarry’s new, hard-wearing, durable outsole gives maximum grip whatever the ground conditions.…

What’s the most challenging aspect of running a shoot day? Ensuring all Guns have some good sport. The range of topography here is well suited to shooting and I am in constant conversation with my headkeeper so we can change drives depending on wind and weather. Which single aspect takes up the majority of your time? Many of my Guns are repeat visitors so it is important for me to try and vary their day. I have 14 drives, so I should be able to give people three completely different days. Some guns prefer shooting in Willey’s parkland while others prefer woodland shooting. I try and bespoke days to the clients’ wishes. What’s the one question you wish more guns would ask of their shoot hosts? About the history of…

I am at home whatever I shoot but I do like to see game shot cleanly and used in the food chain. It is nice to have bigger days but a well-organised DIY shoot has its attraction. Whether for vermin or game, I just love it all. For my dream team’s treat I would love them to experience a day in the grouse butts in Derbyshire, my home county. First on my list would be Jack Hargreaves. His presentation of the countryside in his television series Out of Town and Old Country was an insight to me as to what was around the corner, having been born in the city of Derby and moving out into the country at an early age. Next would be Jack Charlton. Being given a…

For your chance to win a bottle of Taittinger Champagne for Picture of the Month, send us a team photograph or a picture of something unusual from your shoot. Send high-resolution images or prints with captions to Shooting Gazette Gallery, Ti Media Ltd, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF or email: martin.puddifer@ti-media.com. CLAY SHOTS RAISE £8,000 FOR MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Warwickshire-based Springbrook Gun Club raised £8,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support at an event during the summer. LONG-SERVING GAMEKEEPERS RECOGNISED BY NGO Also at the Midland Game Fair, four gamekeepers received NGO Long Service Awards. David Wharton, Tony Goodhew, Martin Moyers and William Young have notched up more than 210 years in the profession. William Young (left), Tony Goodhew and David Wharton are pictured with Connah Baker (winner of…

TRAVEL Kedleston Estate is one of the easiest shoots you’ll ever get in and out of. Kedleston Country House, where guns gather at the start of the day, sits north west of the city, in between the A52 and A6. The shoot is just a short drive away. The M1, which sits between Derby and Nottingham, is around 10 miles east, while the M6 near Stoke sits just over 30 miles west. STAY Kedleston Country House oozes rural comfort and character, it’s just a pity there are only five rooms available (thekedleston.co.uk). Far larger is the Makeney Hall Hotel, a 46-room Victorian mansion set in six acres of landscaped gardens with views of the Amber Valley (makeneyhallhotel.com). The Coach House, a seven-room boutique B&B just off the A6, is also…

All kinds of gloomy press releases now coincide with the first fall of woodcock. It is clear that our breeding birds are undergoing horrible declines, and the arrival of foreign migrants never fails to raise a discussion about the sustainability of shooting. The GWCT now recommends that no shooting should take place until the Scandinavian birds have arrived, in a bid to protect native British birds. At this, some of my shooting pals have panicked and vowed not to shoot woodcock ever again. Others have shrugged and claimed that shooting one or two makes no difference anyway. “What would be the point in a sport based entirely on released birds? It would be a sad husk of its original self.” What’s clear is that in many cases, shooting is not…

Clynelish: My favourite distillery, and one which has quite a cult following. The 14-year-old expression is a fantastic example of a Highland malt with a waxy, mouth-coating texture. It is one of the main components of the Johnnie Walker blend. There is always an excellent distillery-only expression available, if you happen to be passing by. Royal Brackla: Independent expressions can be hit or a miss, but a recent rebranding and relaunch for this distillery, situated just a few miles from historic Cawdor Castle, resulted in the release of a single malt in 2015. Royal Brackla was the first whisky to be granted a Royal Warrant, back in 1833. The Glenrothes: A Speyside malt that is now starting to become more prominent. The Glenrothes has always had an excellent reputation for…

Holland & Holland has a large number of patents, probably more so than any other British gunmaker. From its first patent in 1861 to the last in 1950, it has registred some 51 patents. In addition it has used a profusion of trademarks and brand names again probably top of the list amongst British gunmakers. In 1906 the firm took out a patent for a bullet that granted it the trademark Velopex. In patent no. 8845 of April 12, 1906, Holland & Holland patented this unusual Velopex bullet. The introduction of cordite at the close of the 19th century had been a quantum leap in rifle development and rifle makers continually strove to achieve yet higher velocities with flatter trajectories. The Velopex was part of this development and was a…

The review this month is on the Rizzini RBEM de Luxe 12 bore which has come to the market recently in time for the game season. Batista Rizzini began his company in the heart of the Italian gunmaking industry Brescia in 1966. The company produces game and clay guns and double rifles that are popular with wild boar hunters across Europe. Rizzini shotguns have been in the UK market for some time but have not hit mainstream numbers; they remain within a niche market and are imported and distributed by ASI, which is also responsible for the AYA brand. We do see Rizzinis come through the shooting school but they seem to be predominantly in 20 bore, they seem to be reliable and give few problems to their owners. This…

Q Where is the best place to shoot a high pheasant — should your barrels ever go past 90°? A This is a question I am frequently asked and my answer is always the same: when the bird is at its most vulnerable. When the bird is approaching you, there will be a point at which the bird’s vital organs are on show – basically the front end of the bird and in particular the head. I would never take a shot at a high bird if I could not see the head as this is always my point of aim. Leave the shot too late, either overhead or out to the side, and you risk not being able to hit a vital organ and as a result a wounded…

The appointment of Sir William Worsley as the Government’s first Tree Champion is welcome news in the face of our country’s ailing woodlands. Tree planting in England is at its lowest level for a generation and latest figures from the World Bank show that coverage is now down to 13 per cent in the UK, far lower than the European average of 38 per cent. The Government’s recognition for the need to do more to support our woodlands was brought to the fore in 2015 when a pledge was made to plant 11 million more trees by 2020. However, by this time last year the Forestry Commission reported that fewer than 2.5 million more trees had been planted since the target was set. The lack of progress has been attributed…

THE BIG BEE HONEYCOMB SHOOTING SOCK BY THE SHOOTING SOCK COMPANY £54 shootingsocks.co.uk PLUS FOURS BY BUTLER STEWART £195 butlerstewart.co.uk LEATHER CARTRIDGE BAG BY FARLOWS £445 farlows.co.uk NORFOLK TWEED SHOOTING JACKET BY FARLOWS £695 farlows.co.uk GEELONG JUMPER BY CORDINGS OF PICCADILLY £130 cordings.co.uk TEVIOT TWEED GILET BY OLIVER BROWN £195 oliverbrown.org.uk BURY FLEECE-LINED SHIRT BY ALAN PAINE £79.95 alanpaine.co.uk TECHNICAL TWEED COAT BY JAMES PURDEY & SONS £895 purdey.com LOCHNAGAR SHOOTING SOCKS BY HOUSE OF CHEVIOT £49.95 houseofcheviot.com…

Team event 1 Border Counties and Cotswold including C.Baker with The Windbreak Whisperer of Arcklebear; J.Dimmock with Millerise Leo at Lyanmoreshot & N.Jordan with Hollowbrook Saker 2 Hampshire & SW including K. Green with Autumn Willow Tag; J. Manley with Lenyam Just In Time & G.Yates with Lubbecke Simone 3 Essex including R. Ketley with Birdsgreen Eclipse of Highroost; S. Searle with BirdbrookWisp & J. Collins with Brockaghs Forba 4 Southern including H. Hoar with Mitforton Orchid at Kirbyhall; R. Smallman with Helnorall Magnum & G. Marshall with Mitforton O’Lordie Lordy The Atherbram Cup for highest individual was awarded to G.Yates with Lubbecke Simone. The Shooting Times Trophy for individual runner-up was awarded to R. Smallman with Helnorall Magnum.…

Club: United Retriever Club (Border Counties & Cotswold Area) Event: Veteran and intermediate working tests Venue: Stonehill Wood Judges: Kelvin Selway and Roger Ford Sponsor: Skinner’s Our tests were held by kind permission of Mrs S. Kilmorey. The first was the same for both groups and was a double blind without shot. The first dummy was straight along a track, the second was at the same distance but to the right, placed in a ditch. Test two was a hunting exercise in the wood for both groups. Four dummies were placed in an area with no shot, and the judge required dogs to pick two retrieves. The third test was a long mark with shot over a ditch and into an area of long grass cover. A distraction was thrown…

The Gundog Trainers Academy has become the first organisation in the UK to offer specific courses to budding professional gundog trainers. The Gundog Club has invited the Gundog Trainers Academy to be its preferred education partner and will incorporate its training courses into its instructor accreditation process. The academy has also applied for accreditation to the Animal Behaviour Training Council, which sets the standard for ethics and welfare in training and is working closely with DEFRA to bring legislation into animal training in the UK. The Gundog Trainers Academy is the brainchild of Jules Morgan and Helen Phillips who are experienced gundog trainers and specialise in using choice-based, motivational and positive reinforcement methods. There are huge numbers of people owning gundog breeds in the UK mainly because they are notoriously…

The Centrewalk Test Day, held at Brandhouse Farm, near Tetbury, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Regis was a huge success, writes Maurice Stanbury. The event brought together a large number of people from the spaniel fraternity and the wider sporting world to show their support for Richard Preest and his family, following Richard’s spinal stroke. The good news is that he is now out of intensive care and has been moved to the nationally recognised Spinal Injuries Rehabilitation Unit of Salisbury Hospital. But he still has a long way to go. Later in the day, his daughter Georgie was able to give us an update on his situation and played a short video from Richard thanking everyone for their wonderful support. The morning was devoted to working tests…