Guildford Working Gundog Club
Kennel Club ID No 700
Field Trial results - 2025/26
Novice Field Trial - 8th January 2026
On 8th of January, Guildford Working Gundog Club held our second Novice event and the final field trial of the season. We were at Ampton by the kind invitation of Peter Rushbrook and in the expert hands of Alan Hammond, who stewarded the beat. The weather was far better than feared: diffuse sunshine and light winds for the first walk-up through the mustard cover, though still only a few degrees above freezing.
The Guns (Dave Arnold, Andrew Bailey, James Bailey, Paul Marsh, Colin Pelham and Grayson Snelling, captained by Chris Geal) immediately provided a steady stream of partridges and pheasants with a few hares too. That gave our judging teams - Kim Jinks and Kevin Doughty (As) and Patti Money-Coutts and Adam Snare (NPs) - plenty of opportunity to start testing the dogs. Heelwork and steadiness proved the early undoing of several dogs, as is often (and unfortunately) the case at Novice level, underlining just how essential those foundation skills are. A number of dogs also struggled with what looked like straightforward retrieves. But, as ever, the best dogs and handlers showed admirable hunting in the mustard, finding game even when it had moved on from the fall.
Several retrieves defeated multiple dogs - and later on, the judges too - with the pickers-up only locating the birds afterwards. Even so, the judges soon had the extra birds they needed to finalise their books and the remaining dogs performed well to close the day.
Our sincere thanks go to our judges for their time and expertise throughout the day and to everyone who helped behind the scenes to ensure the trial ran so smoothly - stewards, pickers-up and helpers alike. These days simply don’t happen without you.
Many congratulations to the award winners:
1st Place, receiving the Hydonsdown Bowl and The Bratton Shield, £70 and a Skinner's voucher - Hectorkirk Nine, owned/handled by Charlie Cerullo
2nd Place, receiving The Pheasant Decanter, a Skinner's voucher and also winning The Gala Vase for the Youngest Dog in the Awards - Millgreen Basil of Wadesmill, owned/handled by Andrew Wright
Guns' Choice - Tildaross Ouse, owned/handled by Peter Hurst
Our thanks also to our sponsors, Silent Pool Gin and Skinner's, for their generous support throughout the season.
Novice Field Trial - 27th November 2025
We held our first Novice AV trial of the season at Englefield Park on 27th November 2025 at the kind invitation of Lord Benyon and the Englefield Estate.
With surprisingly warm weather, a gentle breeze and dampness for scent, Head Keeper David Wiggins and his skilled team of beaters set up the first drive. With the estate donating two of the guns' fees to charity, and the birds flying well, the guns had a spring in their step (Messrs Peter Clayton, Chris Geal, Ken McDiarmid, James Meade, Tony Rolfe and Tim Weston), providing plenty of game for the trial.
The thick woodland cover immediately tested the novice dogs with only intermittent opportunities to handle and lots of reliance on the dog’s own drive and hunting ability - which of course led to the downfall of some and the ability to shine for others in front of our expert judging team (Colin Pelham, Matthew Gould, Sue Berman and Lisa Murrell).
The guns excelled in the second drive in woodland, with high bracken and challenging terrain giving plenty of options for the judges to stretch the ability of the handlers and dogs, including steadiness as several birds dropped close to the off lead dogs sat at heel!
One more drive was enough to get through the last round with some great marking from the helpers, giving the judges the opportunity to take a last look at the dogs remaining, compare books and determine the final placings.
We then retired to the shoot-shed for some much needed lunch - prepared by our expert cooks on the GWGC committee who fed not only the judges, guns and helpers but competitors too, such was their industry.
Many congratulations to all the award winners:
1st Place, receiving The Guildford Cup, £70 and a Skinner's voucher - Allmikamores Glorious Day, owned/handled by Louise Munchaus Adsboel who was also awarded The GWGC Tankard for Guns' Choice
2nd Place, receiving the Guildford Vase, a Skinner's voucher and also winning the GWGC Youngest Dog in the Awards Tankard - Newwood Sankuru, owned/handled by James Scott
CoMs were awarded to:
Famfish Crincle of Casper, owned/handled by Colin Coley
Crickmay Atlas, owned/handled by Alice Dowling and
Eadiespools Rosefinch, owned/handled by James Prout.
Huge thanks, as always, to our sponsors, Silent Pool Gin and Skinner's who do so much for our sport and for our club.
Open 2-day Field Trial - 3rd/4th November 2025
We held our 2-day Qualifying Open stake at Windsor Great Park on 3rd and 4th of November 2025 by gracious invitation of HM King Charles III and the Crown Estate Commissioners.
Peter Clayton, Headkeeper and Steward of the Beat, together with his fantastic team of beaters and assistants, were exemplary hosts for the guns and competitors alike throughout the two days, adjusting plans to optimise the flow of retrieves.
John Stubbs and Colin Pelham organised a first-class team of guns who had their skills thoroughly tested on a very gusty day One, which allowed the birds to really stretch their wings. Our thanks go to all the guns for their efforts and camaraderie - Messrs Dave Arnold, Terry Betts, Aaron Edwards, Gary Edwards, Chris Geal, Colin Pelham, Grayson Snellling and Barry Taylor.
Our judges comprised Heather Bradley, Liz Taylor, Peter Castleman and Karen McCarthy. They worked very effectively as a team, ably demonstrated on day Two when they seamlessly switched retrieves side to side in the large rape field to highlight the best dogs.
Despite a very pessimistic forecast just a few days earlier, we avoided anything but a slight drizzle on day One when we had a series of drives and walk-ups, culminating in a duck drive. Competitors were able to showcase their abilities but were also challenged by the judges, culminating in 10 dogs remaining after the first day.
Day Two and we were rewarded with the sun breaking through, which only made Windsor an even more wonderful location to be trialling. This was followed by an impromptu, cheerful wave and "Good Luck" from the Princess of Wales, out walking her spaniels.
Soon, the line was established across a rape field and the guns, in great form, gave the judges enough retrieves across a series of walk-ups and mini-drives to establish the placings.
Guildford's committee and membership yet again provided all the skills and enthusiasm to establish a marvellous team of helpers across the days, including Lisa Murrell as Dog Steward, Audrey Howie and Luke Nightingale as Judges' stewards, Stuart Mainwaring, Amy Jobson and Christina Bluhme game carrying with Belinda Bainbridge, Sue Booker, Chris Davies, Rosie Heath and Hannah Shergold as markers and Bob Marcham kindly picking up. Huge thanks, as always, must also go to the club's wonderful sponsors - Skinner's and Silent Pool Gin.
Thanks must go to the competitors for their continued support of the club and its FT events. This year, we had two entrants from Belgium in the trial, which lent a continental air to the proceedings and, if anything, added to the camaraderie and sportsmanship.
1st Place, awarded The FtCh Deerbridge Alex Trophy, The Cornwood Salver, £100, a Skinner's voucher and a place at the 2025 Championships – Gunnerspeg Gambler, owned/handled by Simon Capstick. This win makes Gunnerspeg Gambler up to FtCh, subject to KC confirmation. We wish Simon the very best of luck in the Championship.
2nd Place, awarded The Curtis Trophy and a Skinner's voucher – FtCh Kilpen Nightcap Of Waterford, owned/handled by Jayne Coley. Jayne was also awarded Guns' Choice, winning The Foxhanger Mascot Tankard.
3rd Place, receiving a Skinner's voucher – Willowrise Lilly, owned/handled by Paul Wheeler. Paul was also awarded Best Retrieve, winning The Norlands Trophy.
4th Place, FtCh Stauntonvale Margay Of Rushbrigg, owned/handled by Samantha Morley-Riches.
