Gwynedd Spaniel Club

Trial Report

Gwynedd Spaniel Club’s final trial of the season at Maer, by kind invitation of the Maer Shoot and the guns John Walker, John Worsley, David Woods and Kevin Robinson, who all shot brilliantly.

Headkeeper Peter Huggins was as usual in complete control, even arranged for a pleasant dry day, providing good scenting conditions.

The 11 ESS and 5 cockers started the day in a narrow strip of woodland that opened up to a nice wooded area which produced several birds, and we lost three dogs for various misdemeanours.

Then a strip of game crop was hunted out but failed to live up to expectations, just the odd bird. Next was cover on the banks of a brook which produced a steady quantity of birds.

We then moved to a old game crop which held a good quantity of birds and a rabbit which was flushed by Keith Dimilers cocker bitch Mallowdale Trouble, the rabbit was legged, and Trouble took a line through the cover and along a hedgerow, before catching it up and retrieving to hand, a lovely retrieve.

We then moved to a wood and game came to hand steadily, then to another wood and finished off in a strip of game crop.

The judges Malcolm Taylor and Steve Kelsall decided that no run off was necessary.

The following awards were made.

1st Mallowdale Trouble – cocker – Keith Dimiler

2nd Kening Amber – ess – Bill Peat

3rd Coedcollen Ivy – ess – Ken Jones

4th Helmsway Hinky – ess – Andy Bennett (guns choice)

Certificate of Merit

Beggarbush Ally – ess – Simon Blackman

The secretary thanked Peter for a wonderful day, done and dusted by 2pm at the end of the season is very good. Thanks were given to stewards, game carriers, stops etc.

Keith Dimiler thanked the judges on behalf of all the handlers, and for seeing it his way on the day.

Steve Kelsall was asked to say a few words, he said that both he and Malcolm had enjoyed the day, and thanked the club for asking them to judge, and Headkeeper Peter for all his effort.

Thanks were given to our sponsors Skinners Dog Food.

We look forward to next season.

Photos by V Selby