The last year brought further success for the Club, great teamwork from the Committee and other helpers combining to deliver what has become a regular pattern of training classes, working tests and a Field Trial.

While I was personally unable to play as full a part as I have before in the club’s events, the team worked in harmony to deliver training to a similar very large number of members, new and existing, as in 2016. It was great once again to see the progress made by those handlers who listened to advice and went away to train their dogs, little and often, before returning to subsequent sessions with clear evidence of progress.

Two unrelated issues became very apparent as the year progressed, the first involving venues and the second the matching of dogs to the levels of classes offered.

Sadly our access to Plumpton has become much more restricted as a result of more intensive use of the improved grazing by the landowner and we have not managed to mitigate this thus far.
Thankfully the welcome we receive from landowner John Harris and his gamekeeper at Brackenbrough has continued and we have increased our use of this excellent training ground. Nevertheless we will need alternatives in future and would be glad to hear for any members who might be able to arrange access to similar ground. Ironically, car parking is one of the key requirements given the large numbers of members for whom we cater each time.

The second area of concern remains mismatches between the assessment of training levels by handlers and trainers. In the first stage classes, for puppies and beginners of any age, this is less of a problem, but in Intermediate (novice) and Open the training classes were often held up by dogs which were not yet at the standard needed to benefit from the group training.

While it is understandable that owners will want to make the most of the classes on offer on the day, when this is at the expense of progress of all the other dogs in the group, it is unhelpful and frustrating for most of those involved.“I might as well put my novice dog into the open class while I am here” may well be a very unhelpful approach for the class involved.

How do you assess your dog’s suitability for each class?
In general terms we advise that Intermediate class dogs will stop on the whistle every time, are steady to marked retrieves and walk to heel off the lead in group situations. These are basic requirements and we are likely to recommend training in less advanced groups until they are achieved.

Equally, in the Open class we will expect that dogs will stop on the whistle every time, are steady, will walk closely at heel for long periods and will run out in a straight line to collect blinds as directed. Without these skills the dogs are likely to hold up the progress of the groups, and adversely affect other handlers.

Of course training is where handlers and dogs make mistakes and learn from them and we do not expect perfection, but the principle remains that certain levels are expected to allow others to progress through practice.

Our working tests this year followed a familiar pattern, the puppy/novice/open safari at Winster in June, followed by the puppy safari/novice walk up at Brackenbrough in June and the open walk up at Brackenbrough in July. We seem to have got our venues right though it is sad that we could not run the Open walk up at Plumpton. Numbers unknown in recent years flocked to the safari tests at Winster, capably organised by Matt Rowlinson and Richard Howson, stretching our organisation to the limit, but it was a successful day. All committee members and other helpers combined to deliver three tests of high quality, standards of organisation being the envy of some other clubs. It was good to see the success of Tony Appleby, one of our newer handlers, in the novice walked up test.

Our Field Trial
The basic training goals mentioned earlier with regard to training classes are tested most at our Field Trial, under the pressure of live game falling to shot in sight of the dogs. While the delivery of the trial in October, run by Steward of the beat Andy Jardine with gamekeeper Ian Banks on the Roeburndale shoot was once again a matter of pride, the performance of many of the dogs was a disappointment.

A large amount of organisation, including liaison with the Kennel Club, shoot and team of helpers, went into the day, largely carried out by our General Secretary Kirsty Howson, who also judged the trial. Once again the experienced panel judges were full of praise for the venue and structure of the day, but sadly at the end could only award a second place, the standard of the highest placed dog being insufficient to be awarded a qualification into Open Trials.

Poor heelwork, failure to stop on the whistle and whining were basic issues with too many of the entrants who had been lucky enough to get a run from a large field that were in the draw. It is disappointing that some members may have seen their dogs in an optimistic light when applying to run, but in reality they were not ready for the pressure of a trial. In doing so they denied a run to dogs further down the draw that were trained and ready to win given the chance.

Trials are suitable for dogs, some would say, that are ready to win, with plenty of game experience, secure heelwork and a calm temperament. Naturally they work by elimination, but handlers aware of disqualifying faults in their dogs should think twice before entering. We had a close call this year, but some other clubs with similar issues ran trials with no result, all dogs being eliminated before a winner could be found.

While this can happen from a combination of extreme circumstances, we would like to think that the hard work of the organisers, gamekeeper and generosity of the landowner would always result in a winner being found and a worthwhile day for all involved.

Code of behaviour
I would like to respectfully remind members of our code of conduct, published on our website. In 2017 there were no reported incidents and we would like to keep it that way. Respect and appreciation for the work and time of others to produce opportunities for us to train, test and trial our dogs is the least we should expect.

Media Use
The internet is a fantastic resource for all sorts of useful things. YouTube in particular can reveal a hundred ways of training your dog! However, with such access to gundog chat rooms, twitter etc many challenges also exist. We ask members to show restraint at all times and to remember that once in print, their messages remain accessible for ever. Thanks.

A large number of members, as well as the Committee, have given their energy and enthusiasm to achieve our noble aim of helping others train their dogs. I would like to thank them on behalf of the membership. Kirsty Howson has once again coped admirably with the demands of being our club secretary alongside her full-time veterinary commitment and we are all indebted to her. A special thank you goes to Pat Dixon who is retiring after a number of years as Treasurer this year. She has kept us more than solvent, in touch with our financial position at all times, and has exhibited just the right degree of control of spending. Her conscientious and unseen work for the Club is appreciated.

Message for 2018
Enjoy your dogs!

Paul Dixon
Chairman

The club’s final event of an excellent season was our Field Trial on Monday 16th October. The trial was a 14-dog AV retriever stake, walked up, and held at Roeburndale near Caton, by kind permission of Mr William Mashiter and family on whose farm the event took place.

Shooting tenant Ian Banks and Chief Steward Andy Jardine, together with spaniel handlers Tom Jardine, Fred Jardine and Miles Savage ensured a steady supply of flushed birds for the very good team of guns to deal with.

It was a windy day presenting some challenging shooting but as always Andy Jardines team of guns performed to a high standard. Unfortunately, we lost a number of dogs early on for heelwork and hunting at heel.

After a couple of nice retrieves Greig Paterson’s Avonstream Aransha was sent for a pheasant shot over a wall and out of sight, unfortunately he did not pick nor did the three dogs following him and they were all eye wiped by the judges. After this we only needed a couple of retrieves to finish the first round. Unfortunately for the competitors we came across some snipe which the guns shot impressively well at and as in the previous years a few dogs struggled with the snipe and were lost.

This left us with two dogs Helen Paterson’s Loisaba Gwyneth of Tayfordwood and Micheal J Raine’s Pike Law Driver going into the third round.

The next bird shot was a pheasant which floated down a long way behind the line over a wall presenting a tricky retrieve which the dogs could not mark. The hander’s were moved to send but unfortunately Helen Paterson’s Loisaba Gwyneth of Tayfordwoood got distracted by some live game and was subsequently put out. Pike Law Driver’s handler had lost his mark but picked after some handling to the area.

The final retrieve was a partridge off the end of the line again over a wall Micheal’s dog went out over the wall but got bunkered in a ditch on the far side after some handling he managed to push the dog back far enough and he hunted well from where the bird fell to pick nicely.

The judges decided they had seen enough and closed their books, with the result:
2nd and Guns choice awarded to Michael J Raine’s Pike Law Driver.

At the presentation, much appreciation was expressed to the judges Wayne Mitchell (A), Steve Hore (B), Tom Bushby (NP) and Kirsty Howson (NP). Our sponsors Skinners were thanked and special mention was made of the gamekeeper Ian Banks who had done such an excellent job in ensuring the regular supply of birds.

Almost all of the Burns and Becks committee, and some interested members were at the trial, helping in one capacity or another and the great success of the day was due in no small part to their enthusiasm and commitment.

We now look forward to remaining trials and the main part of the shooting season, and will see our members once again in March and April when training and tests resume.
Thank you to everybody concerned with the club for their support during a very successful year.

Kirsty Howson
Burns and Becks Gundog Club Secretary

Puppy Safari and Novice Walk Up Tests – 3 June 2017
On a warm, sunny and occasionally breezy day 13 puppies and 24 novice dogs were on the card at Brackenburgh, courtesy of our enthusiastic and generous hosts, the Harris family.

The puppy tests, devised by Andy Jardine and Miles Savage, were set on the edge of the heather moorland, and were designed to test at puppy level. Consequently just four failures from 52 tests were evident, and handlers and dogs were pleased with the level of challenge.

Test one was a mark thrown up a gulley, followed by a blind thrown in its place, generally completed well by all dogs. Test two consisted of a heelwork exercise, dummy thrown by handler, then dog sent back for the retrieve. This proved more difficult for some dogs, as did the third test, which was a blind placed about 40 yards down a track. The final test was a double mark, generally completed well by most dogs.

After a runoff for second place, the awards were as follows:
1st: Ros Mcilroy with Applebriar Duke
2nd: Kirsty Howson with Lunefirefly Somersby
3rd: Alan Lord with Drakeshead Cody
4th: Steve Burns with Lowforge Pebbles of Jollybrow

The Novice walk-up began without a breath of wind in relatively short heather, marks being thrown in front of the line and blinds behind. All retrieves in the first round were challenging and the dogs stepped up and hunted well in the heather to gain success. The judges, led by B panel Bill Liddell, were generous and only four dogs were lost at that stage. In the second round of just one marked retrieve per dog, deeper heather and longer cross retrieves began to separate the dogs and just nine dogs were taken forward to the third round.

Fortunately at this stage the breeze began to return and the line turned and moved over to a valley, the two sets of judges with dogs on opposite sides giving the opportunity for dogs to be handled over longer distances across the divide.
The remaining dogs having proved their marking prowess, the judges decided to test them with a final blind retrieve at some 100 yards across the valley. This proved decisive and the judges were able to close their books with an excellent winner and some very worthy award winners. It had been a tough but relatively even test and the quality of the better dogs eventually came through. Moreover, many club members and some of the judges had learnt a lot about walk up organization, a helpful preview of trialling.

At the presentation the judges, Bill Liddell, Ian Palmer, Marion Cairns and Grant Dawson were thanked for their sympathetic and helpful involvement and the large number of helpers who had contributed to the success of the day were appreciated.

Results:
1st: Tony Appleby with Sealpin Gopher
2nd: Polly Dunckley with Smithstead Gaze
3rd: Joanne Wilson with Shipka Hellebore Sorrell
4th: Nick West with Smithstead Layla
COM: Lauren Williams with Lunefirefly Barolo
COM: Mark Wilson with Verrao Firefly
View results list here

Kirsty Howson
Burns and Becks Gundog Club Secretary

14th May 2017: Puppy, Novice and Open Safari Tests
The club’s largest event of the year took place in sunshine and blustery wind at Winster, South Lakes, near Windermere, courtesy of landowner Mr Brian Scowcroft and his gamekeepers.

Test organisers Matt Rowlinson and Richard Howson made the most of the lake and undulating bracken banks to provide challenging and interesting retrieves in all three classes.
The overall entry of 103 dogs meant that an efficient delivery of the tests would be needed and stewards helped at each test to keep things moving.

In the puppy test judges Peter Spencer, Peter Ward, Scott Marland and Wayne Skett oversaw a traditional series of exercises designed to put the 17 puppies through their paces without straying into novice territory and these were well received. A blind placed about 50 yards down a track enabled all dogs to succeed, and a straightforward double mark with the last thrown picked first was achieved by most puppies. An interesting heelwork and steadiness test involving a dummy thrown by the handler was also completed by all dogs and the final test, a mark thrown into water, completed the set.

Darren Johnston’s yellow lab dog Masyaf Mina Salam was the winner, with 96 points, and there was a runoff for second place with two dogs on 95 points. Paul Dixon’s Balbirnie Monty of Thornship prevailed over David Abbott’s Applebriar Flint, and in fourth place was Nigel Barton’s Lindeth Fortune Smiles.
In the Novice test, 33 dogs were also give a range of challenges, including a long mark across the lake with some swans for added distraction. A double mark thrown in line down a valley to really test the stop whistles, a mark with a blind distraction which challenged a number within the field and a long mark.
In a tense runoff for first place, Polly Dunckley’s Crooklets Cedar was the clear winner over Neil Fazackerley’s Taboo Blackthorn with Polly’s Smithsteads Gaze third and Lauren Williams fourth with Lunefirefly Barolo.

With both sets of tests completed by noon, there was a short break for lunch before 53 Open dogs went into action on a series of very challenging retrieves. A single long mark about 150 yards in open ground, thrown towards the handlers was achieved by all dogs, some with handling. A double mark, one of which was thrown behind some trees, proved more difficult as the wind strengthened during the afternoon, as did the blind retrieve located through a narrow gap in trees down a valley.
The final retrieve, a blind across water, caused the most difficulty as the dogs were asked to swim parallel to the bank for some 100 yards and then swim back with the dummy. Many lost marks by taking the bank route, some both ways, caused partly by a shot distraction on the bank.

This did not deter the top dogs, including the winner Kevin Knowles’ black lab dog Greenbriar Waltz and second placed Gary Collier’s Thornyoaks Tanzanite, both of whom performed the water test perfectly. Amy Collier was placed third with her dog Brocklebank Vital after a runoff with her father – not something you see every day, concluded by a handshake!
Mike Nelson with Hawksgarth Indiana was placed fourth, and it was generally felt that in such a large field, with such demanding tests, these dogs had really earnt their awards.

With all tests completed by 5pm, the club was very happy to have provided such a good day for so many competitors in fair weather in classic Lakeland landscape. The Chairman praised the judges, the test organisers and all the dummy throwers and stewards who had made the day possible. View results list here.

Kirsty Howson
Burns and Becks Gundog Club Secretary

The club’s final event of an excellent season was our first ever Field Trial on Monday 17th October. Having worked on this for several years, to gain approval from the Kennel Club and to make sure the event would go smoothly, hopefully with a result, the day was an outstanding success.

The trial was a 12-dog AV retriever stake, walked up, and held at Roeburndale near Caton, by kind permission of Mr William Mashiter and family on whose farm the event took place. Shooting tenant Ian Banks and Chief Steward Andy Jardine, together with spaniel handlers Paddy Merrall, Fred Jardine and Miles Savage ensured a steady supply of flushed birds for the very good team of guns to deal with.

The best walked up trials are characterised by regular flushes of game and efficient guns and the trial made an excellent start, four or five retrieves being taken in the first few minutes. Despite driving rain at times there was excellent visibility and the dogs and handlers were usually able to mark birds down. As always there were early casualties and, after a successful first retrieve in front of the line, Kevin Butler’s Turpingreen Ando was eyewiped on his second, on a bird that had moved.

Over the first dry stone wall there was another casualty as Marion Cairns’ Churnsway Oak was eyewiped on a snipe some 30 yards in front , but Anna Licciardi’s Aniline Meg struggled with the bird and eventually dropped it, resulting in elimination.

A series of good marks and retrieves followed as game came readily to hand and the early dogs to impress included Neil Parkinson’s Ragweeds X-ample of Rockybrook and Adam Mair’s Cynhinfa Nathan of Piperdown. Paul Hasney and Nathan Laffy were also doing well.

However another stone wall junction produced testing retrieves just over the wall, out of sight, and Tom Jardine’s young bitch Lunefirefly Red Rum failed and was eyewiped by Nathan Laffy’s Isle of Man Dasha.

After a short break for lunch the trial resumed with four dogs and on open ground across a wide valley the dogs went into the third round with cross retrieves where possible. Adam Mair was unable to get to the fall of a bird shot over a wall, was eyewiped by Paul Hasney and eliminated and Les Earl, one of the guns, took a diversion, waist deep into an orange bog.

With a single bird needed to complete the third round Nathan Laffy was brought to the centre of the line and successfully retrieved a lively cock bird shot at the left hand end of the line.

The judges decided they had seen enough and closed their books, with the result:
1st – Nathan Laffy’s Isle Of Man Dasha
2nd – Paul Hasney’s Whitelass Buzzard of Tattney
3rd – Neil Parkinson’s Ragweeds X-Ample of Rockybrook
Nathan Laffy also won the trophies for gun’s choice and best runner.

At the presentation, much appreciation was expressed for the calm and helpful judging carried out by Lynn Mitchell (A), Keith Barnes (B), Nick West (NP) and Peter Thompson (NP). Our sponsors Davis and Bowring and Skinners were thanked and special mention was made of the gamekeeper Ian Banks who had done such an excellent job in ensuring the regular supply of birds.

Almost all of the Burns and Becks committee, and some interested members were at the trial, helping in one capacity or another and the great success of the day was due in no small part to their enthusiasm and commitment.

We now look forward to remaining trials and the main part of the shooting season, and will see our members once again in March and April when training and tests resume.

Thank you to everybody concerned with the club for their support during a very successful year.

CHAIRMANS REPORT FOR AGM 2016 (Reflecting on the 2015 season)

“What do you want to achieve with your dog?”

This is a question we ask more often these days when a prospective new member either rings Kirsty, or a member of the committee. This has come about because in our third year of Kennel Club affiliation the Burns and Becks Gundog Club has become more aware of what it is trying to achieve, and, to a certain extent, what it is not trying to do.

The result of reflection on our activities this year, including discussion of our strengths and weaknesses, and the identification of issues that at times hold us back, is a clearer view of our objectives. With this in mind the revised aims of the club, considered by the committee, are being put to the membership at the AGM and although they may not appear that different at first sight, there are significant emphases in the text:

1. We are a retriever training club.
Last year we held a popular spaniel training session led by Paddy Merrall and we have welcomed spaniel handlers but cannot at the moment provide the support to have an effective spaniel section with regular training. While this may be welcomed at some time in the future, at present we are restricting ourselves to training the retriever way.

2. We are a gundog training club aiming to help handlers train their retrievers either for picking up or other use in the shooting field, or for working tests, or both.

3. We are not an obedience training club, and although the early stages of training will consist of much steadiness and obedience, they are part of a programme to progress the dogs to become working gundogs or working test competitors.

4. With the award by the Kennel Club for next season of our first A/V Retriever field trial we are now providers of puppy, novice and open working tests and field trials, offering a pathway to our members as far as they may wish to progress.

5. A newly described aim, though always with us in spirit, is a wish to make a special effort to encourage new and young handlers. It is obvious that they represent the future of the sport and we should do more to promote their introduction and progression.
I will be very happy to discuss and debate these matters with members, and hope that we will receive support from you all in the coming year to the extent that we did last year.

Once again was a very successful season, with three tests, successful team participation in interclub tests and a mock field trial which went well, so our fifty year anniversary was well celebrated.

The six training classes were again very well supported and the income from them has enabled the club to invest in a trailer which will house all our equipment and double as a judges’ lunch hut and mobile office when the Cumbrian weather does its usual stuff.

A new record of numbers attending training was achieved this year, with more than 60 dogs with their trainers at each of the six sessions. Thanks are due to the volunteers who have attended each session to lead the groups, throw dummies, make the tea and cakes and organize each event. Recent deluges have dulled the memory of two training sessions and the Open Walk Up Test at Plumpton which were subject to the worst that Cumbria can produce – horizontal rain and snow with very strong winds, but we ploughed on with the benefit of Keith Barnes’ experience in running the line, and congratulations are due to Julia Johnson who won a hard-fought test with her lab dog Westmacott Lamp Sonius. Thanks to Polly Dunckley and Nicola Rudgard for being part of the judging team on that day, and surviving.

The second test in May at Winster was the annual puppy, novice and open safari, expertly organised by Matt Rowlinson and Nick West. Ian Glaister was the worthy winner of the puppy test with Lovable Leo and Alex Burke won the novice test, her first test win with Brigburn Dark Star (Teddy). The Open Test challenged a good field of dogs and Julia Johnson was once again the winner with Westmancott Lamp Sonius.

Our final test was the puppy safari, novice walk up at Plumpton in June. The puppy tests were once again masterminded by Andy Jardine, and Neil Appleton achieved another win with Inceley Dina of Applebriar.
The novice walk up was notable this year for the very high standard of dogs and the final round involved a long blind in cover up a gulley. Young handler Katie Williamson achieved her first test win with Smithstead Aura.

Our final training session in June included a buffet lunch, in the presence of two life members, former Chairman Harvey Roper and former secretary Penny Clover, to celebrate 50 years of successful retriever training by the club, founded in 1965. A toast to “The Burns and Becks Gundog Club” was made and the superb centenary cake complete with yellow labrador icing decoration was cut. Our training season had finished on an appropriately high note.

Interclub tests
The four way match in April was organized by NEFRA whom we must thank for an enjoyable day. The tests set were rather challenging and despite two members of our team being placed first within their retrospective categories we came in third overall.

The Five way test in July was hosted by the club at Brackenburgh. Challenging tests devised and judged by Steve Hore gave all the teams of four Open dogs something to think about, and consistent quality retrieving brought a convincing win for the Burns and Becks, to round off our centenary working tests in the most appropriate way.

Mock trial
Our final event of the year was the 16-dog Novice A/V retriever mock trial held at East Roeburndale near Caton, Lancs. Shoot captain Andy Jardine and gamekeeper Ian Banks were generous in inviting the club to trial on their walk-up shoot and an exceptional team of guns shot clinically throughout the day aided by some excellent spaniel handling.
In the end, perhaps as might be expected, three of the more experienced novices came to the fore, and although the trial was graced with an admirable runner taken over a wall and more than 200 yards up the fell by Neil Parkinson’s dog in the final round, it was Nigel Barton who was awarded first place with his lab Lindeth Fern.
We are most grateful to judges David Jackson, Nicola Rudgard, Tim Merrill and Matt Rowlinson who gave helpful advice to both handlers and organisers. The committee’s hard work, especially that of Secretary Kirsty Ranson, was been rewarded by a very successful day.

Thanks
We have received many compliments on the efficiency of our organization this season and it is down to this very successful and generous group comprising the committee that the year has gone so well.
Kirsty Ranson has been an very efficient and creative secretary, aided and abetted by her partner Richard Howson, and has coped with a great deal of administration, particularly in dealing with the Kennel Club.
Pat Dixon has kept a close eye on the finances and has enabled us to assess our position at any stage, and to use our resources for the benefit of all members of the club.
Andy Jardine has continued to promote the club with his committed no-nonsense approach and I am grateful to him for his support and enthusiasm for all that we do.
All members of the committee have stepped up at various times through the season to do something special for the club. On behalf of the membership I thank them for their important and valued contributions.

Sponsorship
I would also like to express our gratitude to our sponsors, Skinners, PV Dobson, Westmorland Vets, Penny Oates and Darren Johnston whose support has made a real difference to the club this year.

Landowners
The Club would be unable to function without permission to run our dogs in training and tests on the excellent land we have and we are especially grateful to Brian Atkinson at Plumpton, Brian Scowcroft at Winster and John Harris at Brackenburgh. The support of their gamekeepers is important to us, too.

Looking ahead
The coming year should provide greater opportunities for the club at a time of less financial pressure and lower fuel prices. We have a field trial to look forward to, and our tests will be in a different order. It remains to be seen whether our members will prefer the new arrangements, but we hope and expect that they will.
Thank you to all of you for your continued support for the Burns and Becks Gundog Club. Together we achieve a great deal of enjoyment for everybody involved.

Paul Dixon, Chairman