Sunday 11th February 2024, 5pm – The Greyhound Inn, Shap, CA10 3PW
The Chairman and the General Secretary are retiring from their posts.
Nominations for Chair, General Secretary or for committee (in writing) or any items for the agenda (in writing) must be with the General Secretary at least 21 days prior to the AGM.
The agenda and the 2023 AGM minutes will be available by prior request from the General Secretary (debcrewe14@btinternet.comtext).
Open to all Club members. We hope you will be able to attend the AGM.
Over Spring and Summer, the Club has held four training days and three tests, which were all well attended. Thank you to all members who came and helped at these events with the various roles that these events require to make them a success.
Thanks also go to game keeper Tracy Howe for the use of Newton Rigg and to landowner Peter Hetherington and Kevin Butler for the use of Greenquarries. George and Polly Dunckley kindly allowed the use of their ground at Smithsteads for a test, which is much appreciated, and we are also indebted to the Winster Estate and keeper Nicky who made us welcome at Winster.
Sadly the 4 way match was not held this year, but it is hoped that it will be resumed in 2024.
Planning for our Field Trials this Autumn is underway and the dates for the Field trials have been confirmed as:
One of the biggest challenges facing the club is access to enough suitable ground for training and tests. A parking area and sufficient ground with cover is needed and anyone who might have a contact for access to such ground, especially in the Penrith area, is encouraged to get in touch with the Club.
A reminder that Membership subscriptions will increase from January 2024. The new fees will be single £15, joint £20 and overseas £20. Members are encouraged to amend their standing orders as soon as possible. An updated standing order mandate is available on the website, if it is required.
Members are also reminded that any subscriptions not paid by the end of February will result in the member being removed from the membership list.
Thank you most of all to the Committee who have once again worked hard to present such a successful programme, enhancing our reputation once again as a friendly, efficient, welcoming club. Long may it last!
Paul Dixon, Chairman
Now the shooting season is behind us we can focus on 2023 events and we are delighted to give details of those confirmed at the recent committee meeting, together with some decisions taken at the Annual General Meeting on 12th February 2023.
It is hoped that these small increases will help the club to break even in 2023. (The fees for Field Trials will be decided in due course when the cost of birds is known)
With best wishes to all our members, hoping to see them again this summer.
With the shooting season entering its last month we hope that our members involved in field sports have had a successful year. Despite the ravages of bird flu and shortage of game supplies for some shoots a lot seems to have been achieved.
We congratulate our member Kevin Butler in winning the IGL Retriever Championship at Holkham Hall in December with his dog FTCH Turpingreen Boho. He ran an excellent three days and kept calm to claim the title under very demanding circumstances. Inspiration for us all!
Our two field trials took place at Hifly, Preesall, Lancashire this year though we hope to return to Roeburndale in future. They were successful and details are included below.
January 2023
The Burns and Becks Gundog Club were pleased to host three other North Western Gundog Clubs to the rebirth of their annual four way interclub test on Sunday 17th July.
Guest teams of two puppies, two novices and two open dogs from the Lancs and Merseyside FTS, Pennine Training Area and Pilling Moss Gundog Club competed against the Burns and Becks team on the superb ground provided by Greenquarries, near Wigton. All were grateful to the host and to Kevin Butler whose training area formed much of the test.
Four static tests, each developed from Puppy to Novice and then to Open, were set and handlers had to overcome challenges of a walk up, swim, single mark on a hillside and single blind.
The puppies coped well, with just one failure from 32 retrieves, though delivery from water was an issue for some. Equally there was only one failure from 32 retrieves in the novice cycle, and the open dogs all succeeded, though the challenging tests gave most handlers something to think about. Only one 20 point score was achieved by the open dogs indicating the level of difficulty.
As the teams moved up the hill to the last test, the expected rise in temperature was coming, though the dogs had coped well during the morning. Scores were more or less level between the teams, and four further retrieves worth a total of 80 marks per team could make all the difference for the final result.
The two novice and two open dogs were asked to collect two blinds and two marks from an open hillside with ample grass cover, some over a low fence, and to declare which dog would take each retrieve.
Cool heads were needed in the heat of the day, and the Pilling Moss team, led by Keith Broomfield whose novice dog was the top scoring competitor, scored 66/80 to maintain the slight lead they had built during the morning. Though the Lancs and Merseyside equalled their score in the afternoon, they were unable to make up the deficit from earlier in the day.
Following a generous buffet provided by Pat Dixon, scorer Debbie Crewe was able to check the results . All were winners on a very good day of gundog work, but the marks achieved were as follows:
Paul Dixon, Chairman
The Club has resumed pre-covid activities very successfully this summer and three training sessions and two tests have been completed. With just the 4 way test at Greenquarries to go, the working test calender is nearly complete for another year.
While we are unable to return this year to Roeburndale for our two field trials, despite great difficulties in supply of birds for shoots and trials this year we have managed to book Hifly for the two days.
Details of the 4 way and field trials can be found in the Events section of this website.
The second training session at Greenquarries was very well attended and the excellent opportunities provided by such good ground were maximised. Some 50 dogs were trained and we are grateful to the landowner Peter Hetherington and Kevin Butler for their generosity and help.
Our final training day at Newton Rigg was also well attended and the puppy/newcomer session made use of the extensive grass fields. Later, the novice and open training took place in setaside game crop and this was an excellent test for dogs and handlers. We were especially grateful to guest trainer Keith Barnes who took an open class and was very well received by those who attended. We are very grateful to gamekeeper Tracy Howe for allowing us to use this very convenient and testing ground.
Paul Dixon, Chairman
We were delighted to see so many old friends and newcomers at our very successful first training day at Newton Rigg on 2nd April and look forward to seeing them again on 7th May at Greenquarries.
This new training venue is about 11 minutes from JCT 41 of the M6 and directions are to be found here.
Please note that the closing date for our puppy/novice test at Winster on May 15th is 2359h on 9th May. FTMS entry is preferred as it gives less work to our Working Test Secretary but paper entries are accepted. All are welcome to have a go at these tests.
Paul Dixon, Chairman
Following the Club’s AGM and Committee in early February we are pleased to send the following news:
Details of venues and further arrangements are available elsewhere on the site. Paul Dixon, Chairman
Now that the club’s events in 2021 have all been successfully completed it is good to look back on progress by the Club since the pandemic lockdowns and forward to 2022.
In the event we managed to arrange two training sessions in the summer, at Smithsteads near Longtown, courtesy of Polly Dunckley, and at Withets, thanks to Martin Wilson. These were not on the scale of recent years, but we are sadly no longer able to use Brackenbrough or Plumpton where we were able to accommodate larger numbers.
Next year we are looking at Winster and some other venues to recreate the training opportunities valued by so many of our members. Details of these will be finalised and communicated after our February committee meeting when we also hope to confirm details of two working tests.
Despite the spectre of Covid 19 hovering over us this year, our field trials were unaffected and it was an historic day when we stayed our first Open field trial in October. This was a significant advance in the Club’s status, as the winner was handed a letter from the International Gundog League confirming B qualification for the 2021/2 Retriever Championship.
Once again we held our novice trial and both days benefited from the outstanding trialling ground at Caton. The enthusiasm of keeper Ian and shoot organiser Andy have ensured that next season’s trials are already pencilled in. Full accounts of the trials were posted on Facebook and elsewhere on this site.
While we are blessed with enthusiastic and able committee members who work together well to put on our events, we still lack the grounds we need to expand our summer programme and would be grateful to hear from anyone with ideas or contacts which might help.
Meanwhile we thank members for their continuing support and encourage them to keep an eye on their emails and Facebook pages of Tests Trials and Trivia on which our working information will be posted.
Paul Dixon, Chairman
1st Labdom Barnacle Goose, owned and handled by Mrs Lynn Mitchell
Best dog on a runner: Latushall Pippin, owned and handled by Henry Carter
Gun’s Choice: Willowrise Star Spinner, owned and handled by Paul Wheeler
The Burns and Becks Gundog club gave grateful thanks to the judges, Keith Barnes, Nicola Reynolds, Simon Capstick and Paul Hasney who worked quietly and effectively as a team to give each dog the best chance to succeed. All present were able to sample hot food provided by Leon Whitehead of the Moon Restaurant at Kendal to round off the day. Good shooting and readily available game had combined with excellent organisation by Field Trial Secretary Kirsty Howson and many helpers from the club who gave their time to ensure the success of the day.
Since our last news item we had hoped to report on progress in providing summer events for our members. Sadly the third wave of covid in the Lancashire, North Manchester Merseyside and Tyneside areas has produced further challenges.
As clubs in most of the rest of the country have been able to work within the 30 max limit to organise tests and training, these local problems have impacted planning for our events between 21st June and 19th July. With great disappointment the Club has decided to postpone both the training session at Winster on Saturday 3rd July and the 4 way inter club test on Saturday 17th July. Both of these events would have involved contravention of the Government’s advice for only essential travel within areas affected by the covid delta variant.
We apologise for the disappointment this will bring to our members and those of the Pennine Training Area, Pilling Gundog Club and Lancashire and Merseyside Field Trial Society, and look forward to hosting the 4 way next year and making it a special occasion.
Decisions on the remaining Burns and Becks planned events beyond 19th July remain to be made and obviously will depend on circumstances. We very much hope these will take place:
We will confirm these as soon as we can.
Members will know that we intended to hold a face to face AGM but events have determined that we had to settle for an electronic meeting as specified by the Kennel Club. This took place on Thursday 20th May and in summary:
At the Zoom committee meeting that followed the AGM a small number of items were confirmed:
We wish all our members and readers good health and happiness and a speedy end to the uncertainty of what the future may hold.
Paul Dixon, Chairman
It is with great sadness that we report the loss of Katie on 12 February, 2021, a bright and cheerful member of our club, at the age of just 24. She bore her terminal brain cancer for four and a half years with great bravery and achieved lifetime ambitions in qualifying as a veterinary nurse and succeeding as an award winning gundog trainer.
Katie won an outstanding novice working test at Plumpton in a very strong field and her picture with her trophy will remain on our trailer, with her family’s blessing. She loved her dogs and, with great support from her family and Polly Dunckley, gained great comfort from breeding litters of puppies during her illness.
On behalf of the membership of the Burns and Becks Gundog Club we send our sincere condolences to her family, who are naturally devastated by their loss.
We hope you are all keeping well despite these strange times and your dogs are helping keep you sane! With the lack of events in 2020 and having to postpone our AGM we wanted to send you an update on what the committee are aiming for in 2021. We will provide an update with further details on this year’s events as soon as we can. We feel having an AGM in person (not electronically) is important for our club to allow members to input into the direction of the club. We will endeavour to hold this outside once government guidance allows, after a training event to give members every chance of joining us in a Covid-19 safe manor. We will contact you to confirm when and where this will be held.
All proposed events from March to May have been cancelled due to the national restrictions. However, the committee are working hard to develop a programme of events to run from June to August and we will provide you with further details in the coming months. We are also planning to host two AV Retriever Field Trials in the Autumn (hopefully something for everyone to look forward to).
Sadly all that we stand for at the Burns and Becks – training, testing and trialling our dogs together in a spirit of friendship – has been made impossible this year by the virus. However it has not stopped us from training our dogs individually and in small groups, but it is not the same.
With another lockdown to endure, here are some ideas for keeping up your spirits and your dog’s enthusiasm. If you have a pup and you haven’t already got a copy of Gundog Training Made Easy by Eric Begbie, time to order it online! It’s a great book, moving slowly through the training phases starting at about six months of age, and is characterised by insisting that you do not move on to the next stage until you have completed the current level. Little retrieving happens until heelwork and steadiness is perfect!
Some of us may have more time just now so there may be no excuse for putting in half an hour every day to keep your dog fit and work on its weaknesses. The stop whistle remains absolutely crucial to success and a memory retrieve with a sneaky second unseen dummy half way back just off the track brings an instant reward for a good stop to the whistle. A handful of dry food in tussocky grass can help tune your dog of any age into the hunt whistle. Even better at food time. Finally, to keep both your dog and you fit in your daily exercise, long memory retrieves across varied ground and obstacles are the name of the game.
It remains our fervent hope the next spring we will once again be able to meet up for communal training and tests, passing on the tips to help each other overcome those issues that every dog has during its training. Meanwhile we hope that at least the pickers-up among us can get back to the shooting field in December and January. Maybe even a trial or two.
If you or a friend might be interested in joining our committee please get in touch. We are keen to widen our scope and help from members with particular skills eg in PR, organising, training etc will be welcome.
With fingers crossed for an early resumption of our activities next year! On that note please see below provisional dates for working tests and training in 2021, these will obviously be confirmed in the new year.
Paul Dixon, Chairman
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)
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 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.
[su_spoiler title=”Burns and Becks Gundog Club Puppy Safari, Novice Walk up Test – JUNE 2018″ style=”simple”]
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
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
Kirsty Howson Burns and Becks Gundog Club Secretary
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.
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.
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
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