For the third year running, Bill Ironside’s American Cocker Combleywood Party Piece at Belcrum won the Advanced Test at the annual Show Spaniels Field Day, repeating the 1999 success with the award of Best Performance of the Day.

The event, run by the Midland English Springer Spaniel Club, has been held at the Barholm estate near Stamford, Lincolnshire since 1980, by kind permission of the landowner Martin Trollope-Bellew who is now Patron and Honourary Vice-President of the club.

A new ‘full’ champion was made up when Melissa Duncan’s Welsh Springer Spaniel Sh Ch Highclare Storm Trooper gained his Show Gundog Working Certificate handled by daughter Kerry. Another Welsh Springer, two Clumbers, two English Springers, and a Cocker also ‘qualified.’

Results Show Gundog Working Certificates (21 entries)

Judges - Clarence Colclough (A panel) and Mark Clifford (B panel)

Duncan’s WSS Sh Ch Highclare Storm Trooper

Eyeington’s ESS Calvdale Guilty as Charged of Meadowdale

Franklin’s Clumber Greencourt Mister Boy at Clumsetter

Franklin’s Clumber Greencourt Hello Mister at Clumsetter

Geddes’ ESS Debanza Brigadier

Revill’s WSS Julita Regal Request

Walker’s Cocker Okell Our Blue Belle

Novice Tests Judge - Andrew McDonald (Northey) Dogs

1. Geddes’ ESS Debanza Brigadier

2. Guy’s ESS Fenaybrook First Knight

3. Pearce’s Cocker Humbar Crackers with Pearkim

4. Barkley’s WSS Sh Ch Parkmist Mr Frisk JW

Bitches

1. Hull and Cox’s Cocker Ashenberry Allsocks

2. Tully’s WSS Highclare Energizer

3. Geddes’ ESS Debanza Heilan Dancer

4. Clark’s ESS Sallidene Torfrieda

Best Novice overall was also the best qualifier

Alec Geddes’ English Springer Debanza Brigadier

Novice Teams

1.’The Queen’s Team’ of WSSs - Highclare Energizer, H Spin Doctor and H Trade Secret

2.’The Linfot Loonies’ team of ESSs - Larbrek Dark ‘n’ Delicious, Fenaybrook First Knight and Bellehall Believable

3.’Black Bombshells’ team of Field Spaniels - Dubldee Argusianus Argus, Mishules Geordi G Force

Advanced Test

Judges - Clarence Colclough and Mark Clifford

1. Ironside’s American Cocker Combleywood Party Piece at Belcrum

2. Revill’s WSS Julita Ruella

3. Shipton’s Field Shirmal Sally Ann of Mishules

4. Pearce’s Cocker Pearkim Parable

Gun’s Choice & Best Performance of the Day

Ironside’s American Cocker Combleywood Party Piece at Belcrum

Full report and photos next week