AV Retriever 12 Dog Open Stake - 8 January 2025

The Isle of Wight Gundog Club held its 12 Dog 1-2ay Open stake on Wednesday 8 January 2025 at Swainston Shoot, courtesy of the landowner, the Ball family.

The run up to the trial had been a challenge, but we had a full set of judges and runners on the day.

Grateful thanks go to Steve Dorman and keeper and his team of beaters and pickers who provided the team of guns, who were shooting for the trial, and were organised by Tim Pressey with a lovely showing of birds across both drives used for the trial.

The team of guns shot brilliantly, putting plenty of game on the ground and in the right places and some also doubled up as expert markers!

Our judges were Heather Bradley, Di Stevens, Peter Castleman and Chris Marshall and stewards were Gill Cavaciuti and Julia Ford.  Thanks also go to our markers for the day.

The day started dry and cold, and all dogs sat in line in the first drive, which was in an open field with some thick cover crop in front of the guns and a drive of mostly pheasant with some duck.  We lost three dogs in the first round, having gone out of an area, and picked birds.

9 dogs started the second round, with only one further dog out by the end of this round. We then moved to a second drive, which was primarily a duck drive, with more rough ground, a ditch and ground cover (bramble).  During the 3rd round the weather broke and it started to rain.

A further 3 dogs were lost in the third round leaving 5 dogs going into the 4th round.

We lost 1 further dog during the 4th round and after all remining 4th round dogs had been sent the judges announced trial over.

Results:
1st , winning the IWGDC Sub Committee trophy for first place and the Tess Stay Guns Choice trophy, Steve Richardson, Marstonprior Grenadier of Wedgenock
2nd, Chris Gore, Sorrelcott Nebraska of Brynambor
3rd, John Keegan, Geordieland Wolfie
COM, Colin Pelham, Norlands Seren

The winning owner/handler Steve Richardson gave an emotional speech thanking all concerned and announced that this win now made his dog into to Field trial Champion.

We are very grateful to our members who continue to support our club by entering events.  We are very aware of the cost of travelling to the Island and thank you all so much for continuing to visit!

We hope that you enjoyed your visit abroad and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.