12 Dog Novice Stake
Caversfield, Nr Witney, Oxfordshire
By Kind Permission of Mr Mark Firmin
Introduction
The Dukeries
Gundog club held a novice stake for all hunt, point and retrieve breeds on
Mr Mark Firmin’s farm at Caversfield. Nr. Bicester OXON.
Description of Ground and Game
The ground
provided excellent cover for pheasant and partridge. It consisted of
hedgerows, cover crop and some stubble. As in previous years, game was
plentiful consisting of mainly pheasants and some partridge.
Weather
A light breeze
persisted all day with variable cloud, temperatures mild.
The Trial
We started the
day with a full card accepting the first reserve in at No 9 & 2ND
reserve in at No.4. We also ran two Hungarian Viszla’s for their show
gundog working certificates.
There were: 4
GSP’s, 3 GWP’s, 1 Weimaraner, 3 Hungarian Viszlas and 1 Brittany.
At one time we
considered scent being absent such was the consistency of missing game but
some dogs eventually pointed. Sadly, we lost the whole card for
various eliminating faults including mouth, missing game, unsteadiness and
failing to retrieve.
Of the two show
gundog qualifiers, the first one down produced probably the best point of
the day on a single grey partridge on stubble but unfortunately refused to
pick it.
The second dog
proved to be our only success of the day. Spencer Digby’s Hungarian
Viszla Bitch Addaci Magic Spirit at Alsziv was quietly handled, made
good ground, had a point on a hen pheasant on the second run and retrieved
tenderly, a difficult blind (to the handler) retrieve. The entrant duly
completed the water and was, as a bonus, steady to flush, shot and fall.
It was with
great disappointment that we were unable to give any awards to the competing
dogs but the poor standard on the day prevented us from doing so. So the
only success of the day was to grant Addaci Magic Spirit at Alsziv a Show
Gundog Working Certificate
Our thanks must
go to Mr Mark Firmin for his hospitality and the birds he presented for his
guns, and to his guns for providing plenty of retrieves, to Rachel Herbert
for her support, efficiency and stewardship. Finally, to the Dukeries
Gundog club & Mrs. Di Arrowsmith for inviting us to judge.
Pete
Bakewell and Peter Howard (Judges)
Judges Peter Bakewell [left] and Peter Howard [right] presenting Spencer
Digby with the Show Gundog Working Certificate
Spencer Digby being presented with the Guns Award
Spirit carrying out her retrieve from the water.
All photos courtesy of Penny Simpson.
