LADY TRAINERS
Arriving home after a trip to Perthshire, it was an added pleasure to find The Field awaiting me containing the splendid article Belles and Whistles [August issue].
I have driven by Dunblane many times on my way to compete, or to judge field trials or to shoot. My mind always drifts east to the Cromlix Estate and Lorna, Countess Howe. The house is now a five-star hotel owned by tennis champion Andy Murray, where we enjoyed afternoon tea plus glasses of Prosecco on the lawn, my eye taking in the height of the amazing mature hard woods and superb undergrowth for a hunting spaniel.
Although my first judging appointment in Scotland was at Lord Forteviot’s estate south of Perth in 1978, as I was being driven past on the old, narrow, vergeless road my hosts regaled me with tales of bygone days at Cromlix and great field trials for retrievers, pointers and setters, and springer and cocker spaniels. Apparently, the hospitality was generous to an extreme – not just lots of game but lunch in the house for all officials, competitors and spectators. Countess Howe’s expertise was in shows and field trials, and she owned the dual champion labrador Bramshaw Ben.
Janet Menzies, herself an owner of field trial champion cockers, draws attention to the legendary Halstead family with a great photo of Sandra, in typical calm pose. This is followed by
The Duchess of Devonshire, affectionally referred to as ‘The Duchess’, owner of championship winning labradors and, until recently, an influential member of The Kennel Club Field Trial Sub Committee. She was the hostess at Bolton Abbey and at The Kennel Club’s Gundog Working Tests at Chatsworth. Last but not least the highly successful trainer and handler Wendy Openshaw is pleased to see “many woman coming into the sport”. What an example to others to follow.
Wonderful to see these top ladies in the limelight. May I mention there have been other very successful lady gundog handlers, Mary Rountree and Rachel Gosling among them. Hopefully Janet might enhance the magazine with more of the same, providing encouragement for female handlers to compete and strive to emulate. Perhaps a challenge to some who have the talent and ability. Let’s have more of the same, please.
Victor Mcdevitt Comber, County Down