If you love retrievers then you will have a ball at The Game Conservancy Trust’s regional gundog working tests and fun days, which are being held across the country this summer.

Over a thousand dogs including retrievers of every type, hue and age, working spaniels and even puppies will have the time of their life at these well-organised fun days for gundogs.

During these specially organised events, the gundogs will be given an opportunity to show off their retrieving and gundog skills through ability tests and exercises. Regional tests will take place in Worcestershire, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, Dorset, Cambridgeshire, Staffordshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the coming months. Winning dogs from the regional heats will then be automatically entered into the prestigious national finals being held on Saturday18 and Sunday 19 September at the Midland Game Fair at Weston Park, Shropshire.

Michael Fraser-Allen who has been running the Gundog working tests on behalf of the Game Conservancy Trust for the past five years said “The Gundog Working Tests and Fun Days have become popular events in the sporting calendar. We set special tests for the dogs to carry out, such as simulated exercises using dummies and competitions which show handling skills. The competitions do test the dogs’ abilities but they are certainly not too difficult to achieve, and of course the dogs have a wonderful day out in the open countryside and so do the handlers.”

The top three dogs in all four classes (open class, special puppy, novice and novice dog/novice handler) will be awarded a range of prizes in the regional heats, including Game Conservancy Trust rosettes and award cards. A special prize will be awarded to the highest placed Game Conservancy Trust member in each class. The fee for entering is £5 per dog.

Winning dogs will then be eligible to enter the National Fun Gundog finals at the Midland Game Fair in September. All competitors in the finals will be provided with a free ticket for the Game Fair and convenient car parking space. Prizes for the national finals will include:

Open class - The Shooting Gazette Trophy, Novice class - The Kilpen Novice Trophy, Novice dog/Novice Handler - The Weston Park Trophy and Puppy class - The Kissingtree Cup. Prizes, rosettes and award cards will be presented to 3rd place in each class.

For further information on the Regional tests, please contact:

County Venue Contact Date
Worcestershire, Dunnington Heath Mrs Sandra Onens 08/05/04
01386 870403
Oxfordshire Cornbury Park Will Organ 09/05/04
01295 277887
North Yorkshire East Harlsey Hall Mrs Margaret Pearce 16/05/04
01677 450983
Northamptonshire Barby, nr Daventry Michael Fraser-Allen 03/07/04
01788 822393
Cambridgeshire Church Farm, Wendy Mrs Robin Wise 04/07/04
01223 208485
Dorset Bere Regis Mrs Margaret Allen 04/07/04
01300 321381
Buckinghamshire West Wycombe Park Colin Malcolmson 18/07/04
01491 638212
Staffordshire Caton Park Peter Ball 18/07/04
01889 504327

For information on the National Finals taking place at the Midland Game Fair, Shropshire in September, please contact: Michael Fraser-Allen, Gundog Competition Adviser, Telephone: 01788 822393