Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Trialling new ground
As championship time rolls round again, David Tomlinson explores the difficulty the Kennel Club faces in finding appropriate estates
FINDING SUITABLE ground on which to hold the various gundog championships is a considerable challenge for the
Kennel Club. Numerous factors have to be taken into account, such as accessibility, availability of accommodation within reasonable driving distance of the venue, supply of game and, most important of all, a landowner prepared to welcome such a major event on his or her land. HM The Queen was one of the most generous of hosts, and numerous championships were held at Sandringham and in Windsor Great Park, the most recent the Cocker Championship in January this year. Whether HM The King will be as welcoming remains to be seen.
The Kennel Club does have its own trialling ground on the Emblehope and Burngrange estate in Northumberland, but it has the disadvantage of being in a remote location, with insufficient accommodation close by to support the number of people who come to a championship. This is a great pity, as there’s little doubt that it would provide suitably challenging ground for the HPR Championship, if not retrievers and spaniels.
This year’s HPR Championship was due to be held at Ampton in Suffolk (site of last year’s Retriever Championship), but “due to unforeseen circumstances” (read into that what you will) it’s not only been put back a week, to 15 and 16 November, but relocated to the Westerdale and Rosedale estate in
North Yorkshire, where it was held for the first time last year. Covering 12,000 acres in the North Yorkshire National Park, this spectacular estate has a fine reputation as one of the top grouse moors in the country. Owned by David Ross, founder of Carphone Warehouse, it’s close to the market town of Guisborough.
Last year’s event was won by
Rory Major, handling a Hungarian wirehaired vizsla dog. Due to problems with qualifying during Covid, it was a low-key event, with just 15 runners, three of which were handled by Rory. To qualify, dogs must have gained a first or second place in an open HPR trial in the two preceding seasons, making it the simplest of all the championships to qualify for.
This year’s judges are Rob Gould and Maureen Nixon. Spectators are welcome, without the need to book in advance: given good weather, the
“This estate has a fine reputation as one of the top grouse moors in the country”
viewing should be excellent. Don’t forget to bring your lunch, your flask and your binoculars.
This year’s International Gundog League (IGL) Retriever Championship remains in East Anglia for a second year in a row, as it is returning to the Earl of Leicester’s Holkham estate in North Norfolk, where it was last held in 2004. The winner that year was John Dury with his labrador dog FTCH Tweedshot Kite.
This year the judges are Jayne Coley, Alan Rees, Steve Polley and Tim Brain — in 2004, Jayne Coley competed at Holkham, where she was awarded a diploma of merit with her bitch FTCH Waterford Covey.
Manageable numbers
Qualifying for the IGL is rather more complicated than for the HPR Championship. Last year’s winner is allowed to defend its title, while the winner of the Irish Championship is also qualified to run. All other dogs have to obtain either one A qualification (by winning a two-day open stake) or three B qualifications (by coming second in a two-day open stake or first in a one-day open stake) during the qualifying period. The IGL’S problem is usually too many dogs qualifying, and there has been debate in the past on how to ensure that numbers remain manageable.
When the championship was last held at Holkham the viewing was reckoned to be excellent, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be just as good this time. This is an event which invariably attracts a big gallery, with a lot of spectators from overseas.
Last year, with Covid still a serious concern, numbers were down, but I would expect the crowds to be back again this year, especially as North
Norfolk is such a popular destination, with a great choice of accommodation in the area.
At the time of writing the IGL is still to publish further spectator information for the event, but the website does state that this year spectators may attend without having to register in advance.
Last year at Ampton I registered as a spectator and was given a unique registration number which, I was told, I would need to provide at the entrance gate in order to gain entry.
Interestingly, nobody asked me for it on the two days I attended.
Having watched a number of championships, one thing is apparent: it takes not only a very good dog to win, but a big dollop of luck, too. Another factor that isn’t often discussed is nerves: dogs can sense when their handler is nervous, and this can affect their performance. It doesn’t seem to be a problem that the top professional handlers suffer from, which possibly explains why they are so successful.