THE KENNEL CLUB SHOW GUNDOG WORKING CERTIFICATE 
FOR AV SPANIELS (EXCL IWS) 
15th November 2013

Judges Paul Rawlings & Mary Ward 

United Spaniel Association ran their Show Gundog working Certificate on 15th November and had 10 dogs running including 6 Welsh Springers, two Clumbers, one American Cocker and one Field Spaniel. The Venue was Norton Farm in Evesham by the kind permission of Norman and Sandra Onens, with fields of mangel wurzels (this is a form of fodder beet) on which English and French Partridge are the main game available. Both are ideal for Spaniels to hunt, flush and retrieve. 

The Judges were A Panel Paul Rawlings and non Panel Mary Ward and these knowledgeable dog people allowed the dogs the best chance to fulfil the requirements of the Show Gundog Working Certificate. Andy Gudger brought his able team of guns to shoot the birds and again they gave a good account of themselves and there were few missed birds.

The first dog was a Field Spaniel Mishules to Boldly Go at Vraibleu was first in line, but she was concerned by the closeness of the gallery and didn't hunt. She was taken out of line and brought back in after the second dog had run. She flushed a bird which was shot but fell the other side of a hedge, but couldn’t be found. When she went back in line the same problem with the proximity of the guns occurred and she was put out.

Mishules to Boldly Go at Vraibleu

The fifth dog was Wolliebourne Voom Voom, a Clumber Spaniel who hunted with drive and a successful flush of partridge was shot and though it was unsighted by the dog it was directed to the bird and completed a successful retrieve. 

Next was the Welsh Springer, Isfryn Lickety Split, who hunted steadily and when a bird was put up and shot was sent to retrieve it. It took a little persuasion to pick the bird as she was distracted by the game on the ground but successfully retrieved to

Sandy White had a second Welsh Springer Spaniel, Fierglen Private Dancer running and she hunted well and found a bird but sadly the bird was damaged by the time it was retrieved. 

This also happened to the next Welsh Springer, Menstonia Misty Dreams who hunted well and had a good flush but damaged the bird. 

Isfryn Lickety Split

Fiergen Private Dancer

By the end of the runs six dogs were still in the running for their SGWC and the event moved to the lake for a simple retrieve of a dummy from the water. Sadly three of the dogs wouldn't enter the water and that left just three dogs passing on the day.

The qualifiers were

Isfryn Lickety Split - Tina Smith (WSS)
Wolliebourne Voom Voom - Heather C Mayes (Clumber)
Bodlon Star Attraction by Bushwacker - Ian Ian Dixon (WSS)

Best performance of the day: Wolliebourne Voom Voom

Gun's choice: Bodlon Star Attraction by Bushwacker

New Farm, Norton, Nr. Evesham, Worcs 
With the Kind permission of Norman Onens 

The Show Gundog Working Certificate is a way to convert your Show Champion into a Champion. More importantly it gives an indication of the dogs working ability which is vital when there is a general push re fit for function. It is run in a similar way to a trial but dogs are run singly and they are not required to be steady.

Andy Robins took on the role of chief steward and kept all the runners in order and ensured that the day flowed successfully. Our General Secretary Gina Bowers took charge of the kitchen and ensured that coffee and cake were available at the start of the day and soup, sausage rolls and sandwiches were available for all for lunch. 

The second dog called in line was Clumber Spaniel, Chervoods Snow Charon of Knott who hunted well and eventually flushed a bird which wasn’t shot. She was pulled out to be called back for a retrieve later. She was called back in to retrieve a second bird shot when the American Cocker was running. 

The third dog was Welsh Springer, Fiergen Steamy Windows hunted steadily and had a difficult retrieve passed a partridge pen. Once the judges allowed her to move past the pen, she retrieved the bird to hand successfully.

The American Cocker, Cottonsocks Chase Me ran next and hunted well and found a covey of birds of which the guns successfully brought down two. Sadly the American Cocker failed to retrieve the bird. 

Fiergen Steamy Windows

Wolliebourne Voom Voom

The penultimate dog was Welsh Springer, Bushwacker Hotspot who hunted well and flushed several birds and retrieved nicely to hand. 

Bushwacker Hotspot

The last dog was Welsh Springer, Bodlan Star Attraction by Bushwacker, who was firstly called to retrieve a spare bird downed during the previous run. He was then asked to hunt and produced a covey of partridge that was flushed and a shot fired.

Bodlan Star Attraction by Bushwacker,