Meon Valley Working Spaniel Club

Webmaster - Chris Bridgwater chris@scherzando.co.uk

2008 - 2009 Field Trials [so far...]

Monday 1st December     Novice Cocker      Malshanger, Hants      Judges TBC and Glynn Smith

Friday 19th December     Open Cocker     Conholt Park, Hants

 December 27th December      Open ESS      Hartham Park, Wilts     Judges Jeremy Organ and Stuart Morgan

Meon Valley's Annual General Meeting was held on 20th April.

The unapproved Minutes will be in our next Newsletter.

Thanks went to Nigel Stirrett who took on the Secretary and Treasurer's job last year. He struggled through but didn't quite make the full year due to mounting business commitments. This left the Committee with a bit of a headache.. but with a bit of a (large) twist to the arm Chris Bridgwater was persuaded to take back the reins. Minutes and fully audited accounts were presented to the Meeting and a copy is available to members on request. Shelli Jones, very unselfishly as she had worked herself into the ground last season, resigned her post as FT Sec so that Chris took the job back exactly as it was until March 2007. Shelli remains as Chris' right hand woman and retains the organisation of the Training Days at Hamptworth and Test / Team co-ordinator.

Lady Colman kindly remains as our President

The committee present at the AGM were voted in as follows

Chairman - Ted Cleary michaelcleary@tesco.net

Sec / Treas - Chris Bridgwater chris@scherzando.co.uk

Shelli Jones f1intwell@btinternet.com

Phil Stubbings phil.stubbings@btinternet.com

Keith Roe keithroe665@btinternet.com

Gordon Bowers BGWB1@aol.com

Chas Lister chasbite@hotmail.com

Graham Heaney and Paul Smith also offered themselves for re-election.

All the above Committee are happy to make themselves available to any Meon Valley member should there ever be any queries or problems... from basic training to Trialling.

MEON VALLEY WORKING SPANIEL CLUB's VERY OWN

GUNDOG TRAINING CLASSES

IN ASSOCIATION WITH HAMPTWORTH GUNDOGS

PLEASE NOTE  6th July session has been moved to 13th which means there are two sessions on consecutive Sundays - 13th and 20th July

We have joined forces with Hamptworth Gundogs to bring you a long awaited course of gundog training classes starting in April 2008 .

The course will comprise of one 2hr group training session every fortnight lasting for a total of 12 sessions & concluding in October with a Working Test and Trial Training day, where your dogs will be judged and marked as if in full competition, allowing you to put all that hard work into practice and show off your new or improved handling skills!

There will be an Initial Induction Day (open to all) where you will be assessed and divided into two groups ‘Puppies & Novice Handlers’ and ‘Novice Dogs’.

Hamptworth Estate boasts facilities such as Lakes, Rabbit Pens, varying types of fabulous training ground, and the opportunity to shoot over your dog in a controlled situation.

INDUCTION DAY WAS EARLY APRIL

£15 per session Non Members      £10 per session Members

PAY PER SESSION OR IN ADVANCE

for more info please contact:

MV Contact Shelli Jones fl1ntwell@btinternet.com 02392 632858

Nick Gregory www.hamptworthestate.co.uk (select Gundogs)  07799 316037

SPANIEL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009

Cockers - 14/15 January Shadwell Estate, Suffolk

ESS - 8/9/10 January Belvoir Castle, Leicestedhire

There are new DEFRA Regulations that cover the welfare of the transportation of dogs

If you phone 0845 603 8395 they will send you a form for Authorisation of Transport

DOGS FOR SALE

e-mail chris@scherzando.co.uk  for further details quoting reference. Area of seller is shown along with date ad was placed

TO ADVERTISE ON THIS SITE CONTACT  chris@scherzando.co.uk
 

TRAINED Black Lab dog. No vices. Sound and steady, excellent cover basher and strong in water. Could Trial. Will keep til can be demo'd on shoot day. Ref - Chas April (Hampshire)

ESS l/w pups available mid-end May by OFTW Halaze Hickory of Edgegrove  ex FTAW Edgegrove bitch Ref - Shears April (Hampshire)

ESS dog and bitches mostly l/w but one b/w bitch - ready mid June  out of Glancarw Rhys bitch by Raven Quest. Ref - Roberts 4/5/08 (Oxon/Berks)

Golden Retrievers - Two six month boys (Parents hips / eyes etc) One 4 year old bitch fully trained for the peg. Ref Caroline 11/5/08 (Wilts)

Good strong ESS pups in Somerset - ready 12th July (ish) - Debbie and John Zurick  zurick@foxtwitchen.fsnet.co.uk  

Lab pups born early May yellow / black very well bred and far too cheap - Ref Swansea Farmer 23/6/08

Liver Cocker dog pup - - Ref Swansea Farmer 23/6/08

ESS b/w back to FTCh Follybreeze Pip docked/chipped/etc   Ref WendW e-mail 02/07 Kent

2 year old l/w ESS dog  by FTCh Steadroc Aker of Flintwood
Hard hunting, steady to shot and flush, good marking / retrieving skills
Make excellent shooting companion and has BAGS of trialling potential
£600 no offers now (June/July)   £800 August   £1000 September              ref- Shell / Hampshire

Two part trained yellow Labs - one bitch born May 06 and one dark (red) dog born March 05 picture below.  Both low hips and both by FTCh Tasco Rouble. Ref Kea 26/6/08 Devon

WARNING

Just as the Kennel Club offer no guarantees about pups on their website, neither can we.
All dogs ever advertised  come with "a fantastic pedigree" but that is all relative to the breeders knowledge / bias.
YOU PAYS YOUR MONEY AND TAKES YOUR CHOICE! NEVER BUY A TRAINED DOG UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN IT SHOT OVER FOR YOURSELF!
*  *  *  *  *  *
ALSO...     PLEASE BE AWARE THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE FRAUDULENTLY "CREATING" THEIR OWN PEDIGREES USING TOP DOGS' DETAILS - BEWARE!!

DOGS WANTED

We can add YOUR requirements to the Dogs Wanted list with your phone number!! Also it's possible to e-mail all of dogdom to see who has what - that might suit your purposes!!

100% steady and sound Lab bitch. Not dark yellow. Perfect home offered to the right bitch - distance no object to see her demo'd.   Ref Webmaster chris@scherzando.co.uk May 2008

For Docking Regulations... check DEFRA's site

Meon Valley's local Vet who will only dock working bred puppies is Mr Cartmell in Wickham 01329 834030

This wasn't specially set up - I took this picture myself !

 
Tail docked too long! ESS running in Trial January 2008

2008 ESS Championships

were held at Conholt Park, Hampshire Monday 21st - Wednesday 23rd January

Results are shown on http://www.thespanielclub.co.uk/chresults2008.html

2008 Cocker Championships

 with the gracious permission of Her Majesty the Queen were held at

Sandringham, Norfolk on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th January

Kintbury Team Event 2007

First Bristol and West's Team

Second Wiltshire Working Gundog Society

Third was a stunning Team from the Meon Valley

L-R Steve Shears, me (the Chief Cheer Leader), Shelli Jones, Alan Ward

L-R  Ed Hughes and Val Maskell,   Paul Rawlings,   Rod Chapple watches Shelli Jones,   Pete Castleman and Ed Hughes

THE TEAM TERRIFIC!!

April 2006 was our 21st Birthday Year!!

Sunday 15th October started at 4.00 pm
Greatest Field Triallers of our Time

at Malshanger Social Club near Basingstoke

Jack Davey   presented  "What happened was...."
His personal story of just how he got into the Field Trial game... when all he wanted was to buy a terrier.

Mike Budden presented his wonderful film...
"Spaniel Championships from the 1980s"

 Superb display of old photographs
and sound recordings

...of some of the departed great handlers.. listen to Peter Moxon, Joe Greatorex, Jimmy Wylie and Keith Erlandson
...presented by Pat Smith

Meon Valley Demonstrations were at CLA Game Fair 2006
in the Working Gundog Ring - every day at 3.30

Above - Meon Valley Demonstrators and Helpers getting ready        Below - Coke the 8 week old cocker

Mark Dowling, Nigel Stirrett, Chas and Sam Lister,  Karen Gamblin, Ian Graham and Sue Hewitt helped yours truly with demos of spaniel training from 8 weeks to fourteen years of age. I had an eight week old Cocker to start with who was as bold as brass, followed by a four month old ESS who tore around the arena like a demon after her initial debut shyness on the Friday. Then we had various youngsters - Nigel's ESS pup, Chas's cocker, Mark's ESS 14 mths. Followed by the fully trained dogs dropping to shot, flush, whistle; retrieving whichever dummy they were directed to and only on command. Mark's spaniels appeared all three days and Ian and Nigel shared the weekend. Ian had a lovely stamp of a dog that had passed thru' six pairs of hands before being rescued . Nigel's Piper went like greased lightening - must be a winner this season? Finally Ian's 14 year old and Mark's 12 year old showed just how a dog would remain a faithful obedient shooting companion right thru' it's twilight years. They were all SUPERB! A real credit to the Club.

Left - Don't you think the headset makes me look like Madonna?  Right and below - Nigel Stirrett handles Piper his ESS

I had a couple of slots myself to show retriever / spaniel training. Aided and abetted by Chas and Sam with their dogs.
My puppies were great - 8 week cocker and 9 week Lab. Then a 4 month old ESS quartered beautifully whilst I was heard to say "training a spaniel is soooooooo easy". (How much fuss can one person make?) I was banging on and on about the do's and don'ts of training such as "always building on firm foundations", and "never putting a dog in a situation where it could possibly get anything wrong", and "never giving a command if you are not in a position to enforce it" ....   My older ones were getting a bit wise by the Sunday morning.  Two of my so-called reliable / well trained / never put a paw wrong dogs decided to let me down BIG TIME - just when there was a good sized audience. David Tomlinson on hand complete with his Shooting Times camera.... oh well!

It was Chas' 50th Birthday on Sunday 30th and when anyone normal might have expected a lie in and  a day of pampering... he was up at the crack of dawn and running around like a lunatic all day. By the time we went out to celebrate with champagne he was whacked!

Leonberger pulling cart,  Cockers in Gundog Breeds Tent ,  two happy tri-coloured spaniels,  HPR shaking off the water

Working Gundog Ring,    Jim Clark in the Int'l Arena ,     Clumbers

Left - David Tomlinson's ESS Fleur by the lake                        Right - the International Arena's Grandstand

Pictures above from around the show by David Tomlinson - thankyou!!

Saturday 20th May 2006 - to be repeated 19 May 2007!!

We started our 21st birthday celebrations with a party at Highclere Castle. Tickets were sold in aid of the Countryside Alliance and there was fabulous entertainment.... Mike Rutherford, Eric Clapton, Brian Ferry, Dave Gilmore, Roger Waters, Georgie Fame, Gary Brooker, Band du Lac plus several support bands through the afternoon....... the final line-up was stunning. The guest list included many of the great and the good... even Jeremy Clarkson turned up on stage.

Joan Titchener, Mrs Happy and Ray Titchener

The sun went down over the beautiful Castle and the bands played on.....

Highclere Rocked that night indeed.......
I have some excellent video footage of various artists... files too big to send by e-mail.

*    *    *    *    *

Sunday 18th June 2006

Birthday Extravaganza with Barbeque

L - R   Shelli Jones waiting to go in, Paul Bone coming out.     Head 'Keeper Ed Hughes.     Martin Ashman.     Valerie Maskell with Fen.

 Pictured on the left is the superb BBQ area (yes that's me in the shorts) and this young Leveret, pictured on the right, was hiding only yards from it....

Although first discussed in 2005 and the Judges were orignally asked a year ago.... there was still a fair bit of last minute dashing around in the few weeks before the day itself. Competitors are notoriously bad at not entering 'til the last minute (that would include me) and catering was a worry to organise. We had secured the services of the Kintbury Gundogs' Catering Corps (Tracey and Andy) but... would we have enough mouths to feed to justify them coming all the way down?? How many burgers to order? How many rolls?? Drinks?? Oh well - it was a one off after all.

How many classes?? Novice? Open? For what breeds?? I'd organised enough Save The Children Test Heats and Finals in the past... this was only going to be spaniels and should surely be a doddle. But would we fill each class if I subdivided?? As the day approached closer and closer I hatched a plot. Send the announcement out and see what the response was like. I could always put on my thinking cap..

Several novices entered, including first timers, although it was billed as an Open. So I decided that I would chat to the Judges and leave them to mark the dogs according to the dog' status. That's exactly what happened. 

Wesley Thomas, Me, John Corps and Gordon Bowers

Bacon rolls were available for everyone as they started to arrived from 0830. The Judging would go ahead from 10.00 as planned. There was an official card but several people entered on the day, too. There were lots of committee and their friends as helpers which was a Godsend. Gordon Bowers (A Panel) oversaw a water test from a fishing pontoon whilst John Corps (B Panel) and Wesley Thomas were hunting dogs in pairs through young bracken with a gun saluting a seen retrieve for everyone. Most of the dogs hunted extremely well and retrieved promptly unless they had mismarked, as some of the puppies did.

We stopped for lunch when all dogs had completed one of their hunting tests and the water test. A very special mention for Paul Blakey (pictured below) and Rydanlue Elegance. The little bitch struggled trying to actually pick the dummy from the water and, after circling it a couple of times, started to return without it. Paul took his shoes off and looked as if he might be going to wade into the water to help her... not so. He launched himself like a train swimming strongly out 30 or 40 yards into the lake. He took his bitch alongside him, she picked the dummy and he swam back with her. A stunning performance and no bloomin' camera in sight.

L - R Tina Smith handling her Welshie out.    Paul Blakey - Marathon Swimmer!!!    ESS Winner flanked by Natasha and Tom

After a sumptuous BBQ lunch we were off again. An area of reeds was used for the afternoon's hunting test, again with a shot and a seen retrieve, under John and Wesley. There had been several geese seen there earlier in the morning but it was pheasants that were pushed out during the afternoon.

Gordon organised a separate test with a blind retrieve further up the valley for the dogs to finish on.

Back at the BBQ people topped up with burgers, hot dogs and a drink. The marks seemed to take forever to add up and sort out. We needed a calculator. Poor Shelli Jones' dog had his total added up wrong (we know how good he is, Shelli) but the results were finally announced as follows.

Top ESS Martin Ashman's - Dans Rex Glenmakie  - Trophy and £50.00

Top Cocker Alan Ward and Arthur McGregor's - Almazura Augustus of Rowansbourne - Trophy and £50.00

Top Minor Breed John Nettleton's Clumber - Deuchars Ruan - Trophy and £50.00

Best Puppy Chris Page's Cocker - Raycroft Dill at Mickelmess - Trophy

Best Novice Handler - Sophie Neary - Bottle of Wine

Can I thank ALL the helpers that threw dummies, fired guns, sold raffle tickets (which took £96) and particularly those that helped behind the scenes... several people came the night before - I hope they thought it was worth the effort. We more or less broke even which makes it even more fantastic! See you again soon....

Can I 100% recommend a website to you????   
www.thegundogclub.co.uk    

Have a look if you haven't already !

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR EXCELLENT TIPS ON INSURANCE

 http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1130761827,56015

HOUSE SITTERS!!

Maureen and Bernard Grove - 01628 559590 - UK or Overseas.

Or my wonderful Nina - excellent with all animals but expect to pay extra if you have a LOT of them!

Both of these are PERSONALLY recommended by me - any reference!!

Wood Burning Stoves

Excellent supplier based at Highclere, Hampshire

Phone Clive or Julie on 01635 278 768

Would you like a portrait of your dog??

Excellent work from photographs by Nathan
www.nathanart.co.uk
Please have a look at the detail - the pictures are absolutely fabulous

He has designed the logo for our new Banner - it will be at all our Events and on display at CLA Game Fair!!