Last Updated on March 9, 2014 : :

ISCGB ALL AGED FIELD TRIAL 19/01/2004

 Melbourne Hall Estate, Melbourne, Derbyshire

 Courtesy of Lord and Lady Kerr

 

The Melbourne Park Estate is better known for its driven shooting and Spaniel Field Trials. We worked its woodland, mainly firs, but interspersed with deciduous trees, Rhododendrons and Holly and some thin bramble. In places it became steep as it ran down to a stream, overall providing an excellent ground for HPR work. We had a field of 11 dogs, with three Italian Spinone, two GSP’s, four GWP’s, one HWV and a Weimaraner. The weather promised much rain all over the country, but for the most part held off. We had a good breeze throughout the day and scenting conditions were good, as seen by the excellent work produced.

We had a most unusual pleasure, of all 11 dogs going successfully through the first round, including four who filled their cards. In the second run, we lost six dogs for a variety of faults, principally running in or failing to retrieve. We took five dogs to the water, but unfortunately two failed.

Awards

1st Allan Hender’s Bryanstcroft Skylark (GWP bitch) Her first run was along a thick strip of woodland, with a cheek wind coming through it. She had a staunch point and produced the bird, which was shot the other side of the woodland. She then made easy, a most difficult blind retrieve, back into the thick woodland, bringing the pricked cock bird gently back to hand, head up. On her next run she started by eye-wiping the previous dog on another blind retrieve. This was followed up by a further blind and then another good find, which she produced and retrieved without fuss. Her steadiness and her handler’s quiet handling were a delight.

2nd David Pilkington’s Quadet Caterin (Weimaraner bitch) She handled the tail wind through a brambly wood well on her first run. On the next run she started by indicating and then gently retrieving a pricked bird from a thick hedge, followed by a couple of blind retrieves, the first a long one of about 150 yards across pasture. She then continued and had a point with a tidy HPR. Her final run was along the slopes and banks rising up from the stream and she took point a couple of times from a good distance. Here she achieved a fine HPR. Dog and handler coped well with the pressure of late season birds not holding for too long.

3rd David Chambers Abbotsbourne Shooting Star over Coneycovert (GWP bitch) On her first run she came on point from on top of a bank – a long way back from the bird, which she then produced and performed a good retrieve. In her next run she was out of luck with the birds, but did have a good clean blind retrieve. On the final run she was also in the banks above the stream and had a good point, was steady and retrieved well.

The Guns shot very well and provided every dog with an opportunity, which the three dogs awarded, responded to at the highest level.

Our thanks to the ISCGB and the outgoing F T Secretary Stuart Griffin, our Chief Steward Liz Shaw, our Guns Tony Allerton, Mark Hunter and Nick Baughan, our Hosts – Lord and Lady Kerr and their Keeper Jack Illiffe, who as steward of the beat looked after us so well, ensuring good ground and supply of game throughout the day.

Keith Scattergood, Jonathan Shaw