Burns and Becks Gundog Club held its fourth Novice Retriever Field trial on 2 November 2019 at Roeburndale, Lancashire, by kind permission of Stuart Mashiter and shooting tenant Ian Banks. The trial was led by steward of the beat Andy Jardine and dog stewards Debbie Crewe and Pat Dixon.
Judges: David Jackson, Steven McDermott, Matt Rowlinson and Kirsty Howson.

The ground was a mix of rough fields and open fell with walls, at elevation, with views of a cloud-topped Ingleborough. It provided a variety of challenges for the 16 runners and those present appreciated some good dog work.

The team of guns were on form, drawing exclamations of ‘Shot!’ from the gallery on several occasions especially on some fast flying duck.Rain held off for most of the day, though there was a cold wind.

The day began with a cock pheasant shot ahead and falling the other side of a wall, which proved trickier than it might have seemed.
The first three dogs tried and were called up, before Ian Wiberg sent his dog Meadowlark Victory and picked, putting the previous three abruptly out of the contest.

The next birds were retrieved without difficulty, until a cock pheasant was shot behind the line and glided over a wall and on a long way into a field. Les Earl’s Millbuies Gail was sent and eventually picked a live bird that had run into some rushes.
The next bird was shot not far in front of the line proving too much for a dog which unfortunately ran in.

A bird shot into an area of reeds beyond a wall on the rough fell proved the next challenge and four dogs were tried. The first, which went quickly to the area seemed to indicate a line, but none were able to locate the bird. The judges went to look, to no avail and all the dogs remained in.

Ten dogs went through to the second round and the next birds produced quick and efficient retrieves until one dog was lost after being sent for a cock pheasant shot in sieves over a wall, having been judged not to have come back by the most direct route, and another after failing on a pheasant shot and falling beyond two walls. Nigel Barton’s Lindeth Fortune Smiles completed that retrieve.

The party moved into a new field with boggy areas which sloped down to an autumnal wood in the valley bottom.

A hare was shot and unfortunately the dog was lost on this retrieve having been considered hesitant on the pick-up.

With the line spread across uneven ground, two more dogs went out on a pheasant shot in front of the middle of the line on a rise. The bird was not found by the judges. Three dogs were tried but only one made the area and was kept in.
Six dogs went forward into the third round and after an efficient first retrieve down the line, the party swung round, and prepared to move up the hill with the wood to its back, with the line cut into two halves by a big wall and gully running up the middle.

The competitors traded a series of business-like retrieves, making short work of the distance and obstacles including Polly Dunckley’s Gwynteg Sable of Smithsteads, Les Earl’s Millbuies Gail, Ian Wiberg’s Meadowlark Victory and Nigel Barton’s Lindeth Fortune Smiles.

However Meadowlark Victory was called up after trying for a pheasant shot across the gully and wall, behind the line at the far right. Nigel Barton’s dog made the pick, giving him his second eye wipe of the day.

By this time the drizzle had stopped, the wind dropped and the final challenge came when a woodcock was shot in front of the right-hand side of the line. Andy Brook, on the right, sent his dog Tullah Hugo, but on reaching the bird it flushed and flew over the wall where it was shot again by a gun on the left side of the line.  The dog was sent again, for what was now a longer retrieve over the wall and gully onto the grass beyond but he was called up without finding the bird.

It fell to Paul Hasney to take up the challenge. Tattney Arizona took a good line across the wall and gully and eventually reached the area. On making contact the woodcock flew up, only to be caught mid-air by the dog and retrieved cleanly.
It had been a hard novice trial with an exceptional standard of dogs and the judges closed their books with four open standard dogs in contention.

The awards were as follows:
First: Paul Hasney with Tattney Arizona
Second: Les Earl with Millbuies Gail
Third: Polly Dunckley with Gwynteg Sable of Smithsteads
Fourth and Gun’s Choice: Nigel Barton with Lindeth Fortune Smiles

Report written by Kath Smart (with thanks from the Committee for such a thorough report)

This year’s final test event of the season took place once again on the sandy heathland of Brackenbrough estate, near Plumpton, in a mixture of heather and bracken, through the continued generosity of the landowners, the Harris family.

Mid July can bring all seasons of weather but we were blessed with overcast and relatively cool conditions, though the wind was slight in the morning, increasing in the afternoon. It was the wind that proved the downfall later of many a good open dog.

Steward of the beat Paddy Merrall had assembled a professional team of dummy throwers and they were dispersed two in front and two behind in the first round, and the dogs in line proceeded either side of a wide valley through a largely smooth first round. Over the course of two rounds each dog was asked to collect two marked retrieves and one blind, each retrieve saluted with a launcher blank. Few dummies landed in the open and most had to be found in moderate cover with variable scenting conditions.

While few dogs were lost in the first round, everything changed when the field wheeled to the left over a brow and into a strengthening wind. The two sides were separated by a wide valley with deep heather and dogs on the left found particular difficulty with crossed blind and marked retrieves across the valley into the stiff breeze. So hard was the task that two groups of four dogs were lost at this stage, and only the best dogs which would handle into the wind, or which could mark well enough managed to survive to the end of the third round, when the judges called a halt.

Demanding retrieves and the conditions had sorted out the dogs without the judges having to make too many elimination decisions, and awards were made to all six dogs who completed three rounds.
There was no surprise when Simon Capstick was declared the winner, having already drawn applause from the gallery for two of his faultless long distance retrieves.

Results:
1st Place – Drakeshead Casey – Simon David Capstick
2nd Place – Dunehead Jet – Ian Metcalfe
3rd Place – Shadeoak Major – Christopher Joseph Pilkington
4th Place – Turpingreen Curry – Mike Nelson
COM – Abbotshall White Ermie – Helen Paterson
COM – Balbirnie Logo of Thornship – Paul Dixon

Following the presentations made by landowner John Harris, who we were delighted to welcome to our event in the afternoon, thanks were given to all who had made the day possible, especially our Secretary Kirsty and Richard Howson, Paddy Merrall and our four judges David Logan, Ian Palmer, Paul Stogden and Kirsty Howson.

With our AGM and committee meeting completed we are pleased to confirm another summer and autumn of club events. At the AGM all the club’s officers and committee were prepared to stand again and the stability that has been a helpful feature of the club over the last five years has been maintained. The club is financially secure and we have sensible insurance cover in place.
However it was agreed that the Secretary’s job that has expanded so much recently would be split into two, so Kirsty Howson has now become the Tests and Trials Secretary and Lauren Sykes has become the Membership Secretary. Richard Howson has agreed to take on the Treasurer’s role from Lauren and we are grateful to this team of committed officers we can rely on to take the club forward.
Hopefully you will have received the membership pack and will be aware of what is on offer this season. We begin with full club training at Plumpton on Saturday 9th March and our first test is the Puppy/Novice/Open Safari at Winster, South Lakes on Sunday 12th May.
The full details are elsewhere on this website. Please make sure that your dogs are adequately prepared for the intermediate and open training classes. Though of course we are here to train and improve your dogs and help you with your handling, certain basic essentials such as steadiness off the lead, stopping on the whistle and walking to heel off the lead will be needed. All of these can be practised at home so now is the time to shake off those cobwebs and get to work!
The club will also be represented at the 4-way Interclub Test kindly hosted this year by the Pennine Training Area on Saturday 11th May. If you are interested in representing the club at puppy, novice or open level, please speak to Andy Jardine at the first training session.
Finally, you will have noted that our field trial this season will be on Saturday November 2nd near Caton, at the usual venue. If you are interested in attending, and perhaps helping, please let us know in advance and you will be made welcome.
Meanwhile we look forward to seeing you all during the spring and summer.

New Beginnings!

The club held its third very successful walked up novice field trial at Roeburndale, in the windswept hills behind Lancaster and, as always there was a unique drama which unfolded as the day progressed. We had been threatened with storm force horizontal rain but, though the wind was very strong the rain held off until the trial was over.

Without any tree cover, the open reedy moorland presented the usual stiff challenge to novice dogs, especially when they were asked to face the wind. It was an equal challenge for the guns, as the birds were up and gone, or sometimes almost stationary into the wind. However they acquitted themselves well, contributing to the success of the trial.

With judges Steve Richardson and Peter Thompson on the right and Keith Barnes and Carol Clarke on the left, the first four dogs were lined out and the trial began, walking down the wind slightly uphill, into a wide valley with reed cover. Nick Mercer with Lanefoot Paddy made a good start with a marked retrieve collected promptly, though Joan Pavelyn’s Labbay Abbi was unable to cope with the pressure and was fairly quickly eliminated for heelwork. Penny Oates also made a good start with a clean retrieve of a mark in front by Lowtrey Dan, but Karen Parkinson’s Torrisdale River was lost running in to the next bird downed. Kevin Knowles, with Roman Oak Dale Head had a straightforward job to retrieve the bird some 30 yards in front.
As the line wheeled to the left a bird was shot off the left hand end and ran. Four dogs were eventually tried and although all more or less made the fall, none was able to find the line, and the judges were also unable to find. Nick Mercer was put out first dog down and Kevin Knowles was also lost for heelwork. In the next few yards a snipe was downed in front and Penny Oates made an excellent job of picking it although it flipped a couple of times. Sadly, and inexplicably her dog spat the bird at her feet and she was out. Trial pressure is a cruel thing at times.
As the line progressed into more open wet ground several snipe were shot at and missed, ramping up the pressure on the dogs in line. Finally one was downed close in front of the line on the left and Lauren Sykes with Lunefirefly Barolo was sent from the right. Her dog made a decent job of reaching the fall, picked but then continued to hunt, unbeknown to the handler. Another hard way to be eliminated.
As the line moved on, another dog was lost for heelwork before a bird was shot over a stone wall to the left . Mark Schiller’s Buffskin China Girl was sent but had not marked the bird and Mark struggled to make the area, the strengthening wind blowing his dog away from the line. Matt Rowlinson’ s Flagonhall Zeus was sent and ran a good line, with just one handle to pick the bird.
The line turned into the wind and split either side of a stone wall, the left hand side walking in a slightly sheltered valley. Tom Jardine, with Lunefirefly Red Rum, made short work of a straightforward mark in front but shortly afterwards ran in to the next bird shot in front.
Meanwhile Matt Rowlinson completed a marked retrieve in front without handling, and Dave Alker, did the same with Smithsteads Flame. Another bird was downed on top of the hill, thirty yards in front of the guns but Diana Orr-Ewing’s golden retriever Lymiecleugh Evergreen of Greenfoot marked another bird and struggled to make the fall, being eliminated despite eventually finding the bird.
There was a fair walk down a shallow valley into the wind before Dave Alker completed a convincing second marked retrieve, and David Sidwell had his first retrieve with Liverycroft Turbostar on a bird over a wall, working hard to overcome the wind in doing so.
Sonja Ludwig with her bitch Eshiels Tancredi was next in line and completed an efficient retrieve of a cock pheasant brilliantly shot in the wind. A further bird was downed behind the line and appeared to make it into cover by a wall. David Sidwell was sent but lost his dog away from the fall in the wind and was called up. The eyewipe was swiftly completed by Sonja Ludwig.
With the first round almost complete and second round dogs about to enter the line just five dogs remained from the sixteen starters. Mike Nelson had his first retrieve with Turpingreen Curry and picked a marked bird in front without fuss. Martin Wilson had his first with Contender Caisa, on a cock bird which moved, and he struggled to get his dog to the fall in thick reeds. Though the bird was picked on the way back he had already been called up.
As the line proceeded down a wide open valley with cover on a stream in the bottom being hunted by spaniels, further marked birds were downed for the dogs on either side. Mike Nelson’s dog overshot a fall but worked out where the bird was without help. Sonja Ludwig had another mark but was eliminated.
Matt Rowlinson re-entered the line for his second round retrieve and his fast dog also overshot a mark, one pip being enough to bring Zeus back to the fall for a rapid retrieve. Meanwhile Dave Alker was quietly and efficiently completing his second round with a good mark in front.
Just three dogs remained for the third round of two retrieves and Matt Rowlinson began with a long cross retrieve without a problem. Dave Alker matched this retrieve with a mark over a wall in front, while Mike Nelson was still catching up with a second round marked retrieve up the line as the guns approached a stone wall.
As the line turned uphill and split either side of the wall , Matt Rowlinson’s Zeus was sent over the wall from the right to a live partridge shot on the left. Despite both handler and dog failing to mark the bird, Zeus hunted hard and found the bird quickly about sixty yards away from the fall.
Dave Alker’s reply was also a bird over the wall in the other direction, but this time his dog struggled to get over, though the bird was eventually picked.
Mike Nelson, because of the usual vagaries of retrieves from the left and right, was now two retrieves behind and obliged with two excellent marked retrieves over the wall, though his dog struggled at the wall in a way that Zeus had not.
The runoff of one retrieve for each of the dogs was to prove decisive.
Matt Rowlinson was sent for a long bird shot in front of the line over a wall at the top of the hill. Taken over the wall to send, the bird was retrieved as a blind with speed.
While completing his marked retrieve in front, Dave Alker was sadly put out at the end for heelwork, the pressure of a very long time in line finally getting to his dog.
With just one retrieve needed to complete the trial, guns and dogs were climbing over a wall when a bird was shot in front, landing some distance up the hill and looking like it would run. Mike Nelson was taken forward and was not able to see his dog hunting away from the fall. When it eventually reached the fall he picked the live bird and the trial was over.
It was a close call but the judges eventually awarded first place to Matt Rowlinson’s Flagonhall Zeus, who was also awarded best runner, and second to Mike Nelson’s Turpingreen Curry, also awarded gun’s choice. Both dogs had performed impressively throughout the trial and were clearly of open standard.
With hot food provided by Leon from The Moon restaurant in Kendal, competitors, judges and helpers were revived after a cold and windy day and the many helpers thanked for their contributions to a very successful day. The excellent but hard ground, given by the Mashiter family, gamekeeper Ian Banks and shoot captain Andy Jardine was much appreciated as usual.
Special thanks were also given to Kirsty Howson, the club’s secretary, helped by her husband Richard, who had done so much to run the trial, and the committee of the Burns and Becks, almost all of whom were present in one capacity or another. The trial concluded another successful year for the club.

Following a day of two of local torrential storms following a fortnight of hot dry weather the club held its June puppy and novice tests at Brackenburgh in steamy overcast conditions. The excellent ground was provided courtesy of the landowner Mr John Harris and his keeper John Elliot to whom the Club is extremely grateful.

The puppy safari test was well supported with 14 entrants, and a series of four stretching tests put the youngsters through their paces. The first was a double mark, on mainly open ground, at a right angle. Most of the dogs managed the test, but few excelled.

In the second test a blind was placed about 50 yards down a track, to one side behind a small bush, without shot. The better puppies dealt with this well, with two scoring a maximum 20.

In the third test the dogs were walked out about 50 yards at heel, a dummy was thrown and they were left on the sit, before being recalled half way, then left again to eventually be sent back to retrieve. Only one dog struggled with this steadiness test which was generally completed well.
The final test involved a hunt for two successive blinds in a patch of heather about 25 yards in front of the dogs. This test was also generally completed well.
Though there was quite a spread of marks, the three top dogs were tied on 74/80 and it took a long mark in the runoff to separate them.
Amongst a very good field, Linda Scott’s yellow dog Brocklebank Carson was the winner, with Nigel Barton’s Lindeth Frank in second place and Helen Paterson’s Peallaidh Caledonia third.
The judges were equally impressed with the novice dogs in the walk up, which followed on, with 22 dogs contesting. Run on field trial lines, with eliminating faults applied, this took place under threatening skies on open moorland, with a mixture of long and short heather.
Four dummy throwers, two in front and two behind, set up the first round, with two marks for each dog. Little or no wind and deep cover meant that there were some casualties in the first round, but most dogs progressed to the second round which consisted of a blind cross retrieve. The dogs found this much more challenging and several were lost in quick succession from eyewipes and handling errors. At one point a blind was indicated and four dogs failed to find it. Two were eliminated for failing to make the area even though the dummy was not found by the judges, just the sort of scenario which might be experienced in a trial.
In the third round of two retrieves further dogs were eliminated and after five retrieves the remaining dogs that had demonstrated excellent marking and ease of handling in difficult scenting and cover conditions had risen to the top. Mike Nelson’s black lab dog Turpin Green Curry performed consistently well to achieve first place, with Tom West’s yellow lab dog Abbottshall White Ermine Of Westhala a very close second. Third place was awarded to Julia Johnston’s Dodbank Reifelson and Fiona Maclean’s black lab bitch Afinmore Aziva was given a COM for some promising work.
Thanks were given to judges Paula and Steve Cullis, Sammy Shankar, Paul Dixon and Nick West, and to Nick West and Mark Palmer who had masterminded the event. The challenging walkup was run by chief steward Matt Rowlinson, producing an excellent test which made the most of an outstanding venue.

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