2025 Pointing Test Results

Bradfield Moor Grouse Pointing Test

14th March 2025
Judges: Mrs L Holmes (BP 3885) & Mr L Bunn (NP 4173)

2022 Pointing Test Results

Frolesworth Pointing Test

12th March 2022
Judges: Stephen Robson and Tom Warner
By kind permission of Mr Bill Tallis & The Frolesworth Shoot

Drumochter Grouse Pointing Test

5th April 2022
Judges: Mick Canham and Darryl Elliot
By kind permission of Lady Nickson and Mr Alistair Finlay

Haworth Moor Grouse Pointing Test

31^st July 2022
Judges: TBC

No results

2021 Pointing Test Results

Haworth Moor Grouse Pointing Test

31st July 2021
Judges: Mr L Loveridge and Mr G Saint
By kind permission of Mr J.D.Standevan and the Haworth Moor Syndicate

No gradings awarded

Summary of test:

A favourable head wind and dry conditions on the day, unfortunately did not produce any grading’s.  The two judges Lee Loveridge and Geoff Saint acknowledged the encouraging standard of the junior dogs, which bodes well for the future of HPRs.  With appreciation to the Host and the keeper for allowing us to use the ground.

2019 Pointing Test Results

Thriplow Spring Pointing Test

6th April 2019
Judges: Stevie Allerton and Bambos Charalambous
By kind permission of Thriplow Farm Estate, Brigadier Dellor and The Thriplow Farm Sindicate

Summary of test:

A Spring Pointing Test was held at Rectory Farm, Thriplow on 6th April 2019 by kind invitation of the Keeper Mr Barry Stanford, the Thriplow Farm Estate, Brigadier Dellor and the Thriplow Farm Syndicate.

Judges were Stevie Allerton and Bambos Charalambous – Jim Bird stepped in on two occasions to co-judge dogs who had connections to the judges.

The weather was dry with a cold north easterly wind. Scenting conditions were good as was the general standard of handling.

Sutchest Gino:  J Bird. This GSP ran with passion. He had an excellent head carriage and nose. He held a very good point on a pair of partridges and was steady to flush. Graded Excellent

Zoldmali Anizs:  I Wearing. This HWV ran a big search, she was very biddable and very methodical. She held a point on a hair and was steady to flush. She was hunted on and had a point on a pair of partridges and again was steady to flush. Graded Excellent

Yockletts Cordiale:  J Izard. This GSP ran with good pace. She came on point to partridge and was steady to flush. Graded Good

Fassfields Crazy Diamond:  K Blackwell. A very promising young HWV. Her ground treatment was good coming on point to partridge twice and was steady to flush. Graded Good

Our thanks go to the keeper and the Estate for allowing us to run our dogs on this superb open ground, also to the GSP Club for the invitation to judge. A most enjoyable day.

Drumochter Grouse Pointing Test

7th April 2019
Judges: Mick Canham and Luise Janniche
By kind permission of Lady Nickson and Mr Alistair Finlay

Summary of test:

Another wonderful day on the grouse moor at Ralia estate on the Drumochter beat with kind permission from Alistair Findlay & Lady Nickson. We set out with a nice, light headwind and overcast sky, but dry. It was very cold from the start and difficult scent was expected.

Juniors

Very Good grade:

We graded one of the five juniors Very Good. This was Tomduchallan Merkel, GWP, handled nicely and quietly by Jane Harley. This dog ran with great enthusiasm and found game despite the cold conditions. She was nicely connected to her handler and a joy to watch. Adults In the

Adult group the standard was formidable. We graded six dogs.

Good grade:

Quintana Blae Berry, GSP, handled by S Symmers. This dog was worthy of a Very Good, but a couple of mistakes reduced her grading to a Good. She ran with great enthusiasm covering the ground, but when she put in a very long beat, she bumped a bird that we felt could have been pointed. However, she sat to the flush all that way out, which was impressive. She will certainly find game on moors with scarce density and she produced a perfect point on a pair. Tempted by a hare scent, she missed ground with birds, but then settled on a point with a single hen. A really good hunter that just missed the Very Good grade.

Very Good grades:

Jhebrons Talasigo, GSP, handled by N Haigh. This dog took your breath away. A big, stylish dog with the perfect combination of drive, yet careful with a sensitive nose. At this stage there were plenty of birds and they were moving a lot, so not an easy task for this dog. Yet, he produced three precise points with perfect flushes. A no-brainer Excellent, but then he suddenly pointed a pair and took off to flush on his own. We were forced to give this excellent dog a Very Good grading, but he is fabulous. Leif vom Vasserschling, GSP, handled by C. McDaid. Another big, impressive dog. A very stylish dog with a sensitive nose. He produced a point on a single bird, rock solid at 30 metres and also a nice point on a pair. A great hunter missing nothing. His only downside was maybe his sensitivity bordering on hesitation and quite sticky for flushing as the handler had to encourage him a lot to move in. Stubblemere Abbess, GSP, handled by C Kenney. A good hunter, perhaps not with the most impressive ground treatment, but she produced a point on a single bird in deep heather and had another point just off the pair, which had clearly moved. A nice, keen gamefinder.

Excellent grades:

Ipor von der Wrangelsburg, HWV, handled by R Buchan. This dog had everything! From the start he was totally hunting for his handler and with speed and accuracy in finding the game. An impressive and athletic dog. Systematically covering the ground and missing nothing. When he found his birds, he was still working with his handler through brief eye contact. Perfect flush and steadiness. Very well earned grading. Etlantis Browning, HV, handled by C Hill. What an end to the running order! This was virtually a pet dog taken to his first ever spring pointing test and what a surprise! He set off at full speed as if he was running along a ruler perpendicular to the wind about 130 metres either side of the handler. One peep on the whistle turned him when needed. He missed nothing and produced his first point on a pair. He scented the birds, stopped, relocated slightly and waited for the flush command. After the flush he carried on in same style till he got scent and then sight of a cock bird sitting up. Again, solid on point and was able to be sent for the flush on the handler’s command at 20 metres distance. Great performance. It would be nice to see this dog at a field trial.

Judges: Mick Canham (A) and Luise Janniche (NP)

Haworth Moor Grouse Pointing Test

27th July 2019
Judges: Mrs P Pickstone (A Panel) and Mr S Pleasance (B Panel)
By kind permission of Mr J.D.Standevan and the Haworth Moor Syndicate

Summary of test:

Weather conditions:

Dry morning and very wet in the afternoon

Scenting conditions:

OK but very short  

Type of ground, quantity and species of game:

Undulating open moorland with sufficient grouse and an odd pheasant.

General standard of work and handling:

Some promising dogs hampered by over handling

Judges Critique of Graded Dogs

FT Ch Stubblemere Cawdor. GSP (B). Adult – Handled by M Canham A very experienced dog showing what it can do.  Hunted a steady pace, covering its ground well.  Located grouse on the edge of tall heather.  Held the birds until the handler was close, then moved on command to flush a brace.  Was steady throughout.  Ran on to locate a single bird from the same covey, which it again flushed in full control.  Graded Very Good.

Stubblemere Tystie. GSP (B).  Junior – Handled by M Canham A positive hunting dog ran a cheek to head wind.  Pattern was a little off so missed pockets of ground.  Had no birds on first run.  Had a second run, this time it hunted wide and located and pointed a nice covey.  Flushed with handler and was steady throughout.  Nice piece of work for a young dog.  Graded Good.

Stubblemere Abbess. GSP (B). Adult – Handled by C Kenney Started a little erratic with a large back cast.  But settled into a pattern moving steadily.  Located an area where a covey had just moved from.  Got a little bogged down on residual scent.  Cleared the area then moved on with pace to re-establish contact with moving birds.  Eventually located the covey, a stylish point and flush on command with good steadiness.  Graded Good.

Sanjon Brier. GSP (B). Adult – Handled by J Herbert This fast dog was soon into its beat and located, pointed and flushed a covey, and was steady throughout.  It was then cast out on the other side of its beat where it ran very wide with little interruption from the handler.  No further birds were located.  Graded Good

Deepthatch Rocket. GSP (D). Adult – Handled by R Webster Strong dog, that moved through the heather well, covering the undulating ground well.  Located a brace unsighted from us, lifted one bird.  Was steady, then flushed the second on command.  Moved across its beat and located another brace which it pointed and f lushed.  It then indicated on an area where a bird had just lifted out of sight of the dog.  Graded Good.

Our thanks for the success and enjoyment of this trial are due to all those who helped to organise it and in particular to John Standevan and The Haworth Moor Syndicate, Paul Thurtle the ‘keeper, Janice Hawkes the FT Sec for running the day so efficiently and to my co judge Penny Pickstone.

Steve pleasance

This is an additional comment on the day, following on from my co-judge’s report. These matters would normally have been covered at the end of the test, but as the weather was unkind (rain like stair-rods) we were all extremely wet, and cold through to the bone, so the post-test discussions were cut short.

Haworth is a good HPR moor – that is to say, it’s difficult, therefore, the dogs need to hunt effectively, the birds are wary and wily, and don’t come readily. It can only be worked in one direction, to the right the ground slopes away, so in very wet conditions as these were, the majority of the birds would have been in longer heather and sheltering under the slope. Furthermore, grouse will crouch in the heather, leaving no indication of their presence, so are easily missed. Generally, a lot of the information the dogs receive tends to be from where the broods have been; dogs will therefore work out these scent areas and then establish where the broods have got to. This is not a process which benefits from handler intervention, other than ensuring the dogs don’t get bogged down in scent (by moving on not by resorting to whistle and voice).

To compound the difficulty on this day, the wind was a right hand cheek, blowing up the slope, and clearly pulling the dogs in that direction. From the available evidence, when the dogs got within say, 50 yards, the scent dropped in to the heather and was lost, except to those dogs who lowered their heads and read the ground.

For the handlers, this was a conundrum – and various approaches seemed to be: follow the dog and miss ground? Slow down and let the dog work out what was going on? Tell the dog where to go? Restrict the dog’s outrun and focus purely on getting a point (no point, no grade, being the mantra)? Ignore everything other than letting the dogs work into wind (that’s into, not across it)?

We estimated that overall just under half the available ground was not touched, because handlers, with some exceptions, just followed the dog, and didn’t ensure that the dog was given the opportunity to work the wind and ground effectively. The most productive work on the day was by dogs sorting things out with their handlers trusting them to get it right and simply making sure they covered their ground.

There is an increasing tendency in HPR work to limit the beat these dogs take. This is not a good practice. The beat and its extent is determined by the ground. Let them work, handlers, and you focus instead on ensuring that the work they do is sound and productive. They’re not spaniels, and they’re not labs.

Here endeth the lesson.

P Pickstone

2018 Pointing Test Results

FROLESWORTH LODGE POINTING TEST

7th April 2018
Judges: Jean Robertson & Peter Szalai
By kind permission of Mr K & Mr M Wells

Judges Critique:

Ground:

Mainly Rape but some Winter Wheat.

Weather Conditions:

Dry, Chilly in the morning and very changeable wind direction

Game: Partridge and Pheasant

Many thanks to the Club, Janice Hawkes and the committee for the invitation to judge their SPT in this lovely ground and also thanks to Jean Robertson for judging with me. I think both of us agreed it was a very difficult day especially for junior dogs and their handlers as the wind was changing and coming from all directions in one particular field of rape. Even though the conditions were not ideal we saw some very good dog work and quiet handling from some of the juniors but unfortunately, we were not able to grade any but I hope the day was educational for all the competitors who took part of this event. When we got to the adults we saw some brilliant work but of course they would be more experienced with the changing wind conditions.

Adults

Stubblemere Beauchamp Running in rape was a pleasure to watch. Hard running strong hunting dog who read the wind perfectly and worked the given ground evenly. Did not take long for him to catch up with the scent of a pair of partridge what he worked out well after a point as they were running. He did not flush the birds they lifted but he stayed steady on a whistle. He carried on working and located and pointed a single partridge which also lifted on approach the dog sat to the whistle once again so was graded VERY GOOD.

Stubblemere Gutherie Worked her little paws off in the rape fields and came across Hares, Partridge and Pheasant. Steady and watched a hare away in her first minute and carried on hunting with good speed and desire to find game. Covered her ground extremely well and stayed in contact with her handler responding to the whistle well. She came onto point when asked to produce she flushed a hen pheasant and stayed steady, but partridge also lifted close to this.  On the second run she carried on working with speed and great ground coverage and locked on point close to the end of the field. Another pheasant. Straight to the next field she found another one after a few minutes hard hunting. On her 3rd run she finally came across a pair of partridge one lifted on approach but she held point but that also lifted without being flushed she stayed steady and watched the bird away. The pair graded a well-deserved VERY GOOD.

Mystic Maid Started off on the rape field where the previous dog finished her run so the scent of the bird pulled her nose to the ground for a while, but she covered a fair distance either side of the handler. This dog worked the ground on a slower pace but the handler made mistake not to push her enough and made her back cast a few times but I’m sure it will be corrected. No game in her first run so the pair got the chance to run again on a similar ground. On this run she quartered much better turning into head wind with only minor little mistakes and in the very end of her run came onto a nice point. Unfortunately, as we approached the pair of Partridge lifted but the dog stayed completely steady and therefore was graded GOOD.

A very enjoyable day by all I believe. Many thanks to Jean to judge with me and for you all competitors to reward us with some nice dog work. Thanks for Mr. K and Mr. M Wells for providing the ground and hospitality and wish you all a good time with your dogs.

Hope to see you all again in the field.

Peter Szalai

DRUMOCHTER GROUSE POINTING TEST

8th April 2018
Judges: Jackie Hay and Daryl Elliot
By kind permission of Lady Nickson and Mr Alistair Finlay

Judges Critique:

Junior Group

Juniors ran into a light head wind

Jhebrons Talasigo This dog was first to run and was challenged from the start when a single grouse lifted very close moments before the dog was cast off. The dog dealt with this initial distraction well and was cast off into a very light head wind resulting in 3 separate points during the run which the dog and handler managed   very well producing the birds in a calm unrushed fashion. Graded VERY GOOD.

Jhebrons Haven This enthusiastic bitch opened up from the start of its run into a slightly  stronger head wind, after a few minutes we had to stop the dogs run and restart it again after negotiating a difficult steep gully, the dog then recommenced its run but ran straight into a pair of grouse at no fault of the dog or handler , the dog was run on and soon acknowledged scent drawing forward with a high head carriage to come on point, the birds were moving which the dog soon realised and relocated them in style and produced them  very nicely. Graded VERY GOOD

Tomduchallan Merkel This young dog started its run cautiously into a light head wind but was soon rewarded with a stylish point on a single grouse which the dog and handler managed well.  When cast off again this young bitch opened up nicely covering its ground with growing confidence and pace.  Graded GOOD

Adult Group

All adult dogs had a back wind on their beats

Seasham Flash Gordon This dog covered its ground very thoroughly under good direction from the handler and was rewarded for its diligent work with a very stylish point and nice production of a pair of grouse, this dog did open up during the remainder of its run and covered its ground well. Graded GOOD

Angy Ailka at Culdrein This bitch started its run cautiously in a swirling back wind making the undulating ground ahead more tricky.  The bitch soon acknowledged scent in a small sheltered hollow, the dog then moved forward a short distance and came on point in a very stylish manner with a high held ridged tail, the handler approached the dog carefully and the pair of grouse were produced slightly to the dogs right demonstrating the difficulty in dealing with swirling wind.  This bitch also nicely acknowledged a snipe shortly after this well executed run in tricky conditions. Graded GOOD

As always, a total privilege for the GSPC to come to Drumochter for their grouse pointing test, many thanks to Lady Eira Nickson and Mr A. Finlay for their continued support.   A big thank you to Alasdair and his keepering team for putting on a perfect supply of grouse and also for their understanding of what is required for our dogs. The end of day food is always a treat and many thanks to all involved in putting on a great spread.  Phil kept the day flowing and directed us all immaculately.  It was a pleasure to judge with Jackie and spend the day watching all the dogs show off their skills some of which were unfortunately tripped up, a few dogs found the temptation of the hares to much which is always a challenge, but all the dogs had grouse on their beats which made everyone’s day a superb one.

Darryl Elliot

THRIPLOW FARM ESTATE POINTING TEST

Saturday 29th April 2018
Judges: Costas Wilkinson and Bambos Charalambous
By kind permission of Thriplow Farm Estate, Brigadier Dellor and The Thriplow Farm Sindicate

Judges Critique

A Spring Pointing Test was held at Thriplow, Cambridge by kind permission of the Thriplow Farm Estate, Brigadier Dellor and the Thriplow Farm Syndicate. Judges were Costas Wilkinson and Bambos Charalambous. A cold and windy day with good scenting conditions. The general standard of work and handling was good.

Quintana Qin Qiau handled by Maureen Nixon The dog ran with pace and had a good head carriage. She pointed a moving pheasant and was steady to the flush. She was steady to a hare on her second run. Graded GOOD.

Trubon Grafyte Treve handled by Suzi Burton From the moment the dog started his run it was text book work. Systematic search and a staunch point on partridges with a high head carriage. Steady to flush with no command on two separate occasions. It was a pleasure to watch the dog and handler. Graded EXCELLENT.

Stubblemere Abbess handled by Caroline Kenney A very good run. The dog pointed three hares and was steady to flush. She took a line on a moving partridge and at the end of the field had a solid point. She was steady to flush without command. Graded VERY GOOD.

Thanks go to the hosts, the new gamekeeper, the Field Trial Secretary Janice Hawkes, all the participants and the German Shorthaired Pointer Club.

HAWORTH MOOR GROUSE POINTING TEST

28th July 2018
Judges: Mrs P Pickstone (A Panel) and Mr P Pearson (A Panel)
By kind permission of Mr J.D.Standevan and the Haworth Moor Syndicate

Judges Critique

2018 will go into the record books and for those of us who work dogs, for all the wrong reasons. Extreme heat does not suit us, but more importantly, does not suit grouse, as the low populations on UK moors this year will testify. On some of the moors I know, the first broods did not survive. It was therefore extremely generous of the estate and the keeper to allow this day to go ahead.

To the conditions first. On 27th July, the weather broke, so the very young grouse (presumed 2nd broods) had to put up with drenching rain and strongish hot winds. As we met in the morning, it chucked it down for 20 minutes, a mix of rain and hail, before easing off giving us a mild, mainly overcast day, with strong winds, with only one other 10 minutes or so of rain and hail well into the afternoon.

Scenting conditions varied considerably throughout the day, often low and short, sometimes non-existent as the dogs’ bewilderment at times showed, occasionally long. This moor can only be worked in a particular way because of its shape and location, so the dogs had a cheek wind throughout.

Some general observations: the birds were widely scattered, the broods small, the young birds very young indeed. To find, dogs needed to get way out, and work the ground accurately, plus handlers needed to keep quiet. Too much whistle did more harm than good, plus on quite a few occasions, interrupted the dog’s pattern and concentration and forced back casts and missed ground.

To avoid any damage to these young birds, Juniors were instructed to put leads on their dogs when they came into point and work the point out on lead. Not very satisfactory but needs must.

There were 12 dogs running, 9 Juniors and 3 Adults. Of these, 6 were graded – one Excellent, one Very Good, and four Good.

Graded Excellent:

Questor Alder – Adult Dog flowed over the ground, taking very long casts, accurate to wind and territory. The handler was almost completely silent. The dog came into a scent area which she worked out with great care and attention to detail, finding and producing a pheasant in thick heather. Working on, she lifted her head, indicated birds some 40 yards above her up the hillside, which she then pointed and produced. A class piece of work in exceptionally difficult conditions.

Graded Very Good:

Sigourney Safara – Junior Very long outrun, as conditions dictated, handler commendably silent. Worked ground back, took scent, solid point to produce a covey of 8 birds. A nice piece of work.

Graded Good:

Quintana Cloud Berry – Junior This dog ran number 1, an area entirely devoid of anything but sheep and leverets. Albeit puzzled, and a little thrown by the clear preponderance of ground scent, she worked her ground out with persistence. On her second run however, she came into grouse, a covey of 9 somewhat jumpy adults, which she found and pointed and held her ground even though the birds lifted almost as she came to them.

Quintana Qin Qiao – Junior This dog took a while to get going on her first run, looking as though she expected to get straight into game, but on this day and in these conditions, persistence and diligence and covering to a distance were needed to find. On her second run, she was rewarded by finding fairly quickly, a cheeper which had run out of bare ground into heather, and was startled by the dog, flying up into her face as she came into point.

Stubblemere Gutherie – Adult Dog’s ground was on a rise at the foot of a hill. She took off like a rocket, came straight into scent at the edge of some thickish heather, pointed to produce a couple of cheepers and was clearly in the middle of a covey of same – no sign of the parents. A short run but did all that was needed.

Tournesol Iagan – Adult Diligent and careful dog, and although clearly not used to the ground, and sometimes struggling in deep heather, stuck to the task, and was rewarded by taking scent on the hill above which he worked out, found, pointed and produced. A pleasure to see a dog this determined but working for and with his handler.

End note: The difficulty of the conditions cannot be emphasised enough, but HPRs are made to learn from same and then to succeed, when handled with intelligence and understanding. GPTs are in many ways the epitome of HPR work, and the rewards (sorry to be a purist) are in what the dogs learn rather than the grading.

Many thanks to the keeper, Paul, for his time, scrupulous management and company, to Mr J.D.Standevan and the Haworth Moor Syndicate our hosts for the day, and to the GSPC for looking after us, and giving us the opportunity to judge dogs on such testing ground.

P.J.Pickstone

2017 Pointing Test Results

FROLESWORTH LODGE POINTING TEST

8th April 2017
Judges: Di Arrowsmith and Paul Dark
By kind permission of Mr K & Mr M Wells

Judges Critique:

Scenting Conditions:

Morning Fair, Afternoon Good/ Very Good

General Standard of work:

Juniors. It was very pleasing to watch some very promising young dogs work and as they gain more experience on game everything should fall into place with the correct input from the handler. Adults. There was a definite split in the ability of the adult dogs, several very good dogs and several needing a lot more experience in the field on game.

Juniors

Stubblemere Beauchamp. GSP (d). This dog had good pace right from the start, it back cast on several occasions on the left but soon found its pattern. Its head was a little low and seemed to be ground scenting. The dog slowed up approaching the hedge and sight pointed a cock Pheasant that had flown into the hedge earlier but it took flight again. A pair of Partridge lifted from the base of an Oak tree and doubting the wind favoured the dog in this area , we gave the dog the benefit of the doubt and ran him on. The rest of his beat proved to be barren. On the dogs second run it ran a perfect pattern for the ground it was on but no game was found. On its third run the dog ran a very good pattern up hill. The dog indicated that there was something about, it worked far out to the right about 70 yards and came on staunch point the handler was asked to produce and the dog produce a cock Pheasant on command dog was nice and steady even when a second bird lifted. Graded GOOD.

Stubblemere Abbess. GSP (b). This dog was a little slow in finding its pattern but when settled down it found good pace. It ground scented a bit too much and had a very low head carriage on its run. But as a whole the run was good but no game was found. On its second run which was up hill the pattern was very good and turned into the wind on every cast. The dog indicated and worked on a few yards and came on point on a pair of Partridge. Graded VERY GOOD.

Amirick Chasing a Dream. HWV (b). This dog was cast off down wind and settled into a good pattern before entering a cover crop (rape). The dog came on point and was nice and steady. When asked the dog flushed on command a cock Pheasant. The dog was brought out of the cover crop and asked to continue its run out in the open. It had good pace, pattern and a nice head carriage. Graded GOOD.

Adults

Seehof Krysia. GSP (b). This dog ran with pace and style and had a perfect head carriage. It ran its beat perfect and came on point out to its left. The handler was asked to produce, the dog was asked to produce but was very hesitant on the flush. The handler had to encourage the dog to flush and a partridge was produced. Dog was steady to flush. Graded VERY GOOD.

Hawkwise Berkutchik. Brit (d). This dog had good pace and covered its beat. It had a good head carriage. The dog came on point but a partridge lifted, the handler worked the dog on out of the immediate area and when it worked back into the area of the first bird a second bird lifted. The dog acknowledged the bird but carried on working in front of it where it came on a solid point. The dog produced a pair of partridge. Graded GOOD.

I would like to thank the club for the invitation to judge at this very good ground. I would also like to thank my co judge Di Arrowsmith for a very relaxed and most enjoyable day in the sunshine. Finally I would like to thank all those involved in organising the day and all of the competitors for turning out and supporting the club.

Paul Dark

DRUMOCHTER GROUSE POINTING TEST

9th April 2017
Judges: Suzi Burton and Daryl Elliot
By kind permission of Lady Nickson and Mr Alistair Finlay

Judges Critique:

We were privileged to spend a day judging HPRs at Drumochter, on this well stocked and prestigious grouse moor. Many thanks to our Hosts,  Lady E. Nickson and Mr A. Finlay,  for their continued support of the GSPC and HPRs. We were also grateful to the Field Trial Secretary, Janice Hawkes, for inviting us to judge and for organising the day, supported by Mick Canham.  Thanks to Gina Canham for the lunches, Margaret for keeping us all under control and of course Duncan, the Keeper, for having a great understanding of what the dogs required and directing us to a part of the moor that had a perfect density of pairing up Grouse.  It was helpful that there were no animated cock birds distracting the dogs, which can be challenging, especially for the Juniors.  The ground was such that we couldn’t walk into wind so we had an occasionally changing left cheek to diagonal cheek/back wind on the way out to Loch Ericht for the 9 Juniors, turning back on fresh ground on mainly a right cheek wind with the 5 Adults.

Junior Group

Rina II vom Entenpfuhler Forst Of Huwlindragon. Handler  J. Tunley This bitch hunted with pace, ranging well when required in varying wind and terrain and altering her pattern accordingly, all done with very quiet minimal handling. She touched scent and briefly came on point twice on the left flank, and then impressively carried on working downhill and behind her, tracking off the wind briefly, before skilfully and carefully relocating the moving grouse back in to wind, in a very stylish and staunch point.  This precise piece of work was topped off with a beautiful production and complete steadiness. Working on, this was followed shortly after by a firm and low point on what turned out to be a hare, which she produced enthusiastically with the handler behind her, and immediately dropped on the flush. Stunning work. Graded EXCELLENT.

Culdrein Annys, HWV. Handler R. Buchan. This bitch was first to run and had a difficult bit of ground with hollows and rises with an unpredictable wind swirling round the contours. A single grouse lifted, followed by a snipe at the beginning of the run at no fault of the dog. The handler worked her into the cheek wind on the left flank and she hunted with purpose and drive and was handled well, resulting in a reward of a productive point on a single grouse at the bottom of the hill. The young bitch was hunted on and did point some residual scent a little farther on which may have been the second of the pair which had already departed. Graded GOOD.

Quintana Cloud Berry, GSP. Handler P. Nixon This one-year-old GSP bitch ran third, hunting with lots of drive and requiring handler input to keep her in the desired area. She flash-pointed a single grouse near a mound, remaining steady, then recast and produced its pair from behind the mound. Hunting on into the left cheek wind, the bitch stopped to a hare, then finished her enthusiastic run with a productive point on a hen bird up a slope nearby, remaining steady. Graded GOOD.

Jhebrons Haven, GSP. Handler R. Hall At just a year old, this GSP bitch was the youngest dog on the day and was stylish and pacey in her work. She came on point into the left cheek wind, soon in her run. The handler approached sideways on, causing the pair of grouse to lift, although the dog remained steady. The handler worked hard to keep in touch with this keen youngster and the bitch did demonstrate a careful approach when around scent. She was rewarded with a stylish point and production on a second pair, remaining steady throughout. Graded GOOD.

Adult Group

Essen Nazia Razzmatazz,  GSP. Handler A. Hamilton Working a tricky back/cheek wind and uphill after the turn away from Loch Ericht, this dog was the third adult to run and proved to be a stylish and reliable game-finder. He hunted with minimal input from the handler. After finding a cock bird early on, the dog went left handed and out of sight to the handler, but on reaching the top of the hill we could see the dog on point to the right of the beat, in a very stylish manner. A pair of grouse lifted as the handler caught up with the dog, but the dog remained steady during this find and flush. Running on, this dog showed his experience and was rewarded with a second point on a pair of moving grouse which he acknowledged several times before pinning them down to finish a very solid run. Graded VERY GOOD.

Zoldmali Hera   HWV. Handler  P. Williams This bitch ran with passion and slowed her pace to a staunch point on a pair of grouse early in her run but didn’t quite pin them down and they lifted to the side of where the bitch was pointing. She ran on with lots of determination and was found to be on a stylish point on a backwind, over the brow of the hill and at a good distance from the handler. She remained rock steady on the long approach and flushed enthusiastically on command. Graded GOOD.

Suzi Burton and Darryl Elliot

FULBOURN POINTING TEST

15th April 2017
Judges: Nigel Cox and Jim Bird
By kind permission of Mr Allan Bullen

Summary of test:

Weather:  

Bright with warming sunshine

 Wind:       

Light with changing wind direction

Scent:       

Good Crops:      

Wheat Game:      

Partridge and Pheasant

Fulbourn is a jewel in the crown ground on which to run HPR’s for a spring pointing test.  Large open grounds of cereals with a very healthy dusting of paired partridge.  Every dog young and old had the chance to strut his or her stuff across the pure green fields of wheat at a decent healthy height to hold game for the dogs.  The wind on the day was slightly changing in direction but in the main we set a course ahead and both myself and co judge Nigel Cox enjoyed our day together judging. We had a large group of juniors and we felt in the main that inexperienced handlers and dogs committed a few minor offences that could easily be rectified with training.  I think it is important to say or at least remind people that we must maintain our dogs as hunting dogs.  You might ask what I mean by that and to explain I mean a breed of AIR scenting dogs designed to hunt the wind with pace and style.  There is an ever growing trend to keep our hunting dogs short to the handler, slow with little enthusiasm to hunt and find game.  They should work with the handler, nose and head up,  but without the constant need to stop and look around at the handler for instruction.  We risk our wonderful HPR breeds descending into little more than a breed in the UK that walks along a hedgerow with its head on the ground pointing whatever it comes across.

Juniors

Stubblemere Beauchamp An impressive looking male GSP quite clearly built to hunt and he wasn’t about to disappoint.  Sometimes you can just tell with some dogs that they can and will “do it”.  He set off with a decent head of steam covering his ground with enthusiasm, checking scent early on it was clear this dog had a nose that worked and he quickly came onto point, indicated the bird was moving, and the partridge flushed of its own accord.  We ran him on a little but he was showing signs of being just on the edge of controllability. Graded GOOD.

Adults – Judged by Nigel Cox and Janice Hawkes

Sutchest Fraser This male GSP attacked the ground to good effect.  On his first run there was no game to be found but he quartered fast and wide.  On his second run he pointed a pair of partridge.  The birds flushed as we approached and the dog remained steady.  All in all an impressive performance. Graded VERY GOOD.

Zoldmali Aniz at Genlusa A very pleasant HWV covering her ground with decent pace and good head carriage.  Her first run was blank but on her second run she worked a nice pattern spoilt by the constant stop start looking for direction instead of a flowing run into wind without stopping.  She soon came onto scent, stopping, and with encouragement went forward to staunchly point a pair of partridge. Graded GOOD.

Our thanks go to the GSP Club for the kind invitation to judge this Spring Pointing Test and also to the host and all who helped make the day a success.

Nigel Cox and Jim Bird

THRIPLOW FARM ESTATE POINTING TEST

Saturday 29th April 2017
Judges: Penny Pickstone and Alix Johnstone
By kind permission of Thriplow Farm Estate, Brigadier Dellor and The Thriplow Farm Sindicate

Judges critique:

Thanks go to the Thriplow Farm Estate, Brigadier Dellor and the Thriplow Farm Syndicate for their permission to hold this Spring Pointing Test on their ground.   The dogs were worked on several large fields of wheat around the farm.  On the day we saw 4 Juniors, all GSPs; and 12 Seniors – 5 GSPs, 2 Weimaraners, 2 Brittanys, 1 Large Munsterlander, 1 Hungarian Vizsla and a Bracco Italiano.

The wind was very light and variable with a couple of junior dogs having a complete 180p  change to cope with.  The extended period of dry spring weather had resulted in almost drought – like conditions with cracked ground and a short crop. Consequently, progress through the fields was noisy, and birds and hare ran on ahead.

Inevitably scenting conditions were very poor as scent dissipated quickly and the light wind dropped to minimal.   Despite the extremely difficult conditions, every dog tried its utmost to find its quarry but, for various reasons, could not be graded. We were able to give two adult gradings:

Hawkwise Berkutchik handled by Mr W Tyler This Brittany dog immediately impressed us with a measured and efficient pattern of working resulting in very competent ground treatment.  He had the advantage of a more consistent wind but was unlucky to have a blank run.  With 20 yards of starting his second run he pointed staunchly and a pair of partridge was produced. Graded VERY GOOD

Sutchest Fraser handled by Mr T Bird This GSP dog hunted with a mature careful style and a good pattern.  He coped well with a wind change from head on to coming onto our right cheek, and covered all the ground on his beat.  The dog indicated directly ahead, moved on carefully, indicated again and pointed positively.  Two partridge rose in front and the dog was steady. Graded GOOD

Our thanks to the GSPC for the invitation to judge the day and to Janice and Roz who looked after us with lots of coffee and lunch; and for their efficient stewarding through the day.  We were also indebted to the ‘keeper Mick Webb who gave up his day to take us round the farm and ensured that all the dogs had an opportunity to work birds.  Lastly, thanks to the competitors for their patience on this difficult day.

Alix Johnson

HAWORTH MOOR GROUSE POINTING TEST

29th July 2017
Judges: Penny Pickstone and Alex Johnson
By kind permission of Mr J.D.Standevan and the Haworth Moor Syndicate

No further details

2016 Pointing Test Results

FROLESWORTH LODGE POINTING TEST

5th March 2016
Judges: Nigel Cox and Stevie Allerton
By kind permission of Mr K & Mr M Wells

Judges Critique:

This Spring Pointing Test on Partridge took place at Frolesworth Lodge by kind permission of Mr Bill Tallis.  My co-judge was Mr Nigel Cox.  8 Juniors and 7 Adult dogs were run, the Juniors being judged on their ability to point pheasant as well as partridge, the Adults on partridge only.

It was a very early start to the Spring season this year, owing to the weather conditions in the previous few weeks, leading to the oilseed rape growing rapidly and the partridge starting to pair up and establish territory.

It was a bitterly cold day with a hard Northerly wind, although the sun did start to make an appearance by 10.00am and as the ground started to warm up we were rewarded with some good scenting conditions. 

We worked every dog into a head wind as far as possible, to give them every chance to show what they could do. We were able to grade 8 dogs during the course of the test, which were given a verbal critique along with their awards at the end of the day.

 Juniors:

Withamfriary Tallahassee, GSP bitch, handled by Paul McDonald. First to run, her low head carriage gave an indication of where the scent was at that time in the morning.  Indicating scent strongly, she came on point three times and worked on each time, when we eventually saw a partridge lift at the bottom of the field ahead, way in front of the dog.  A steady biddable bitch, she cast off again and got into a decent pattern before coming on point to a single partridge that flushed on our approach.  Pilot error had caused the dog to back cast a couple of times, but a steady competent performance earned her a grading of Good.

Sazmallin Isle of Skye, Bracco bitch, handled by Paul McDonald. This bitch strayed off her beat during the first couple of minutes, in reaction to scent, and came on point.  She held this for a long time until we got to her, and when asked to produce she flushed a hen pheasant very positively.  Steady to the bird going away, we then brought her back onto the allotted beat and worked her on for the remainder of her 10 minutes.  She quartered the ground and hunted with style, and was graded Very Good.

Ninebanks the Swarm, HV dog, handled by Stuart Webster. This young dog lacked confidence away from his handler and constantly looked back for re-assurance at the start of his run, which took place in the rape at the side of a small copse.  We felt the handler was giving the dog too much input and over-handled him a lot of the time.  However, eventually the dog found that if he used his initiative and reacted to the scent he found, he could actually hunt and find game.  He had a lovely find and staunch point on a hen pheasant, which he held well until asked to flush.  He was steady to the bird going away.  We felt that the dog had potential and were happy to give him a grading of Good.

Adults:

Sh Ch Allezweck Felicia, GSP bitch, handled by Denise Gatliffe. This bitch set off covering a wide front, quartering with style and at a good pace.  She indicated scent and came on point briefly before resuming hunting.  A snipe was seen to get up well ahead.  Casting off again, she came on point out on the right of her beat, holding a single snipe this time until asked to flush.  Working on, a single partridge lifted well ahead of the dog before she was in a position to have pointed it.  Working on to the bottom of the field, she was eventually rewarded with a staunch point on a pair of partridge.  A lovely, positive dog in her attitude to hunting, we awarded her a Very Good.

Questor Alder, GSP bitch, handled by Janice Hawkes. This bitch demonstrated how it should be done, putting on a superb display of hunting and game finding.  From the minute she was cast off she got the line of the wind exactly right and never once turned her back on the wind, always maintaining contact with what scent there was to find.  The handler let the dog flow, with minimal interference.  Whereas some dogs had a tendency to dwell on residual scent, it was pleasing to see this dog reacting, quickly ascertaining whether scent was “hot” or not, then resuming her quartering pattern at a wide, fast pace.  Right at the end of her allotted time she was rewarded with a stylish point on a pair of partridge that she held nicely until asked to flush.  A faultless performance that could not have been improved, it was a pleasure to watch.  She was given an Excellent grading.

Quadet Dita at Whisperbrook, Wei bitch, handed by Pete Brooks. This bitch produced steady work, demonstrating her very good nose and ability to find game.  She quartered a reasonable distance from her handler, taking the line of the wind correctly.  She had a find on partridge early on in her run, pointing across a slight dip towards a rise in the field.  The handler walked her in to the point, but she became unsure of the location as she came down into the dip and lost the scent, resuming the point as she came up to the rise in the ground again.  The bird lifted a good way ahead, probably in response to the handler’s profile appearing over the horizon.  We reckoned she had taken the scent and pointed at 30 – 35 yards away.  Working on, she quartered competently to complete her run and gain a grading of Good.

Hawkwise Berkutchik, Brittany dog, handled by Will Tyler. It was difficult to believe this dog is 10 years old, as there was no indication of age or lack of soundness in his ability to quarter and hunt at pace! He worked out wide on either side of the handler, having some unproductive points at the start of his run but quickly resuming his hunting pattern, showing a lovely style and passion for the job in hand.  Eventually his work was rewarded with a find and staunch point on a single partridge, producing it and remaining steady to the flush.  We awarded him a Very Good grading.

Barleyarch Beetle at Tequesta, GSP bitch, handled by Dawn Elrington. This was another good run, the dog setting off fast and wide, but always responsive to the handler.  Very reactive to scent, she had a tendency to dwell on residual scent and needed reminding from her handler that she should move on.  We noticed that she was running a very flat pattern and maybe didn’t make as much forward progress as would be ideal.  Nevertheless, she had a good find and point on a single partridge, got a bit distracted by residual scent from the second bird of the pair that had previously vacated the area, then found and held point on a cock pheasant which she flushed very positively.  We graded her Very Good.

Many thanks to the GSP Club for inviting us to judge at this most enjoyable test, and to all those involved in making the day a success at this excellent ground.

Stevie Allerton

FULBOURN POINTING TEST

25th March 2016
Judges: Mr P Pearson and Mr S Pleasance
By kind permission of Mr Allan Bullen

DRUMOCHTER GROUSE POINTING TEST

10th April 2016
Judges: Anne Johnson and Craig Graham
By kind permission of Lady Nickson and Mr Alistair Finlay

Judges Critique:

The weather started fairly cold with a light breeze that didn’t favour the direction we had to take on our allotted piece of hill. With this in mind we decided to start with the Adult group giving the Juniors the possibility of a stronger wind and better conditions on the higher ground.

The adult dogs had a capricious wind, sometimes non existent, and often from the side or even behind. Not ideal pointing conditions but unavoidable. The terrain was undulating at times making it difficult for the handler to keep the dog in sight.

We lost two adults and one junior to the delights of “following” the hare.

Several very experienced dogs seemed unsure of their birds and failed to lock onto a solid point. It was a difficult day and handlers and dogs struggled to cope with the conditions.

Adult Group (8 entries, 6 Gsp, 2 HV)

Colin Franklin’s GSP Bitch, Piper of Spey Bay. Very Good. The first real partnership of the day with the handler working to help the dog use the wind. The dog responded well to commands. Sensitive nose work from a staunch point resulted in the dog producing a grouse that had moved a short way behind the dog. Very good work on a difficult piece of ground.

Junior Group. (7 entries, 4 Gsp, 2 HWP, 1HV)

Steve Sargent’s GSP Bitch, Duncansby Dieta. Excellent This partnership ran uphill into a reasonable wind and the dog made good use of it by immediately coming onto a staunch point and dropping to the flush of a pair of grouse. In the presence of scent, she took a short time to get into her stride and then covered her ground with speed and style. This girl always looked like a “serious” dog knowing exactly what she was looking for and never taking her nose off the wind. Another point in a depression saw her drop to flush and then handled out to the left to cover ground she had not yet covered. Further on a long draw onto scent resulted in a staunch point and a perfectly controlled flush. A very promising partnership.

Mick Canham’s GSP bitch, Stubblemere Ember. Good Running into the wind this very young bitch took a while to get into her stride due to the presence of a lot of scent. She had several points standing steady with tail wagging and waiting for her handler who took her forward in a controlled manner. There is no doubt that she knew the birds were there and that they were often a long way from her, indicating the sensitivity of her nose. The young dog has yet to judge the distance that the birds will tolerate her presence but this will soon come with further experience. Also pointing twice on hare this girl was very steady. I am looking forward to watching her progress.

Many thanks to Lady Nickson and Mr Findlay for allowing us onto their beautiful estate and for the charming Duncan who escorted us round with good humour all day.

Anne Johnson

HAWORTH MOOR GROUSE POINTING TEST

30th July 2016
Judges: Mr P Pearson and Mr S Robson
By kind permission of Mr J.D.Standevan and the Haworth Moor Syndicate

Judges critique:

It was an absolute pleasure to be back here on Haworth Moor, by kind permission of Mr J D Standeven and the Haworth Moor Syndicate.  Although not HPR men themselves, this annual test creates sufficient interest from the shoot that not only the keeper, Paul Thurtle, but Mr Standeven and other members of the syndicate also come along to support and spectate.

I was a stand-in judge for Stephen Robson, as he was recovering from a broken foot and greatly disappointed that he was unable to walk the moor.  My thanks to fellow judge Phil Pearson, steward Janice Hawkes and all those behind the scenes who contribute to the smooth running of these events.

The weather was dry and sunny with a good breeze cooling things down, ideal conditions for the dogs. We were able to make 9 awards today from the card of 11 Juniors and 4 Adults (all GSPs).

Graded Excellent:

Stubblemere Beachamp (Tim Wignall).  This Junior dog had a very good first run, getting out wide and hunting with drive and desire.  He’s a big dog but is very elegant and stylish, lovely to watch hunting.  He demonstrated all of the required attributes, never turning his head off the wind and running with real purpose, despite there being no birds on his beat.  We saw him for a second run later on.  Again, he demonstrated a passion for his work, covering the ground, responding to scent, checking, but not dwelling on residual scent and quickly resuming his work.  He was eventually rewarded by a find, point and flush on a covey, remaining steady as the birds vacated the area.  A super young dog, very promising.

Graded Very Good:

Duncansby Dieta (Steve Sergeant).  This Junior bitch set off with drive and purpose, treating the ground and the wind correctly.  She had a nice find and point on what turned out to be a very young brood, producing 6 birds before we brought the dog away, not wanting to tempt fate on such young “cheepers” that don’t fly too well.  Her beat re-aligned onto the left she completed her run without any further birds, but still demonstrating the desire to hunt and find scent.  Nice work.

Stubblemere Abbess (Caroline Kenney).  This was the first of three 15 month old litter siblings to run today.  My notes describe her as a “bag filler”, definitely one I would happily follow with a gun for some good sport!  She had a point on a rabbit near the start of her run, swiftly followed by points on two single birds sitting in the edge of the long heather  She was steady to flush.  In trying to get her across to cover more open ground on the opposite side of the beat she again had a find on a pair in the deeper heather.  Eventually she was able to be cast out to cover the wind and show how she could hunt.  An eventful run!

Stubblemere Ember (Mick Canham).  This young bitch gets out and really goes for it.  She didn’t have the easiest piece of ground to work, a long burnt strip between two areas of deep heather either side had the effect of making her tend to run out ahead in a straight line and back.  The handler however stuck with it and got her to cover the beat.  No birds were found but her enthusiasm never waned, working her socks off to try and find scent.  We saw her again later for a second run.  She set off in a much better pattern to cover the beat, using the wind correctly, and indicated scent early on, pointing and producing a large covey.

Ceannacroc Peel of Riffmuir (Ally Learmonth).  This Adult male had a point early on in his run, producing a very young “cheeper”.  We requested the handler to bring the dog away from the area to avoid mishap on what was obviously a late brood somewhere in the deep heather, re-aligning his beat to the left and resuming the hunt.  The dog covered his ground at a good pace and style, always turning into wind.  We did feel, however, that the dog was over-handled, excessive use of whistle and arm signals hampering the flow, rather than letting the dog demonstrate its’ natural style and initiative.

Graded Good:

Berriedale Vista of Riffmuir (Ally Learmonth).  The first dog to run and birds lifted immediately we set off, on the far right of the beat.  This Junior bitch covered the ground with drive, came on point initially on residual scent, worked on, then came onto a point which produced 5 grouse just over the brow of a hill, taking flight as we approached.  The dog was steady.  She was a asked to work on, became a bit distracted for a while by the presence of sheep on her beat, which interfered with her ground coverage, then had another point on a brood of 6 grouse.  She was rather sticky on point and the handler had to be very close up to her to get her to flush.  Again, she was steady to flush.

Seehof Krysia (Janice Hawkes).  This Junior bitch hit scent quite early on and treated it cautiously, hence her ground coverage from then on became a bit stop/start.  She firmed up on point on the right of her beat, where a cock grouse had recently lifted from, but her head carriage indicated that she had something a good way ahead.  She worked in and produced a single bird, sitting to the flush automatically.  She then worked the area out and produced another bird.

Withamfriary Tullsa (Gill Pillinger). This Junior bitch ran wide, a big strong girl who appeared to have plenty of power but who was running out of steam by the end of her 10 minutes.  I noted that she also had a tendency to run in straight lines out and back on one side of her beat, rather than always turning her head into the wind.  There were no birds on her beat so we gave her a second run later.  This was in cooler conditions and was much better, demonstrating good ground coverage and use of the wind.  After an indication of scent that lead to nothing, she worked on up a hill and came on point on a large covey sitting just over the brow.

Madcap Elderflower (Sue Hastwell).  This 14 month old bitch’s first run was in long heather, which she coped with fairly well. We felt she would have hunted more freely if her handler had let her!  No birds were on her beat so we gave her a second run later in the day.  This started with a point on a single bird left behind from a covey on the last dog’s run.  She hunted on well, stylish and with good drive.  She then indicated scent from quite a way off, roding in to firm up on point on a covey of 8.  A promising little dog.

2015 Pointing Test Results

FROLESWORTH SPRING POINTING TEST

3rd April 2015

DRUMOCHTER GROUSE POINTING TEST

5th April 2015

FULBOURN SPRING POINTING TEST

6th April 2015

HAWORTH MOOR GROUSE POINTING TEST

1st August 2015

Judges Critique:

Haworth is a smallish moor, long and relatively narrow, and no doubt difficult when the wind is in a difficult place. This day however, it was possible to work a more or less head or diagonal wind all day. But that was the only favour the weather gods did for us. We set off in drizzle under an overcast sky, by lunchtime were drenched as it chucked it down, then dried, then wet again. Despite this the scent seemed reasonably steady, although overnight rain had made the birds flighty and nervous. Plus conditions meant that handlers needed to read the ground accurately and suss out where birds might be at any one time. Ground treatment, casting off appropriately, ensuring all possible areas were covered, and if birds lifted, making sure the whole covey had gone – all these factors were critical.

There were 15 dogs, (all GSPs as these are the conditions set for this venue), running, 7 Juniors and 8 Adults. Of these, 6 were graded– one Excellent, one Very Good, and 4 Good.

Excellent

Questor Alder – J Hawkes – Junior Good flowing dog, with pace, style and width, accurate to wind and ground, and to a word. Almost immediately on being cast off, found an hen pheasant crouched in a reedy area, produced and then worked on, did not go back to mull over the pheasant’s territory, although could well have done as the bird had been poking about in crevices among the reeds so doubtless leaving scent traces. Opened up to cover the ground, came into a covey of 11, point, good production, steady. Very nice piece of work.

Very Good

Swifthouse Kirkoswald at Eshadwell – S Allerton – Junior Interesting dog, free flowing, terrific run, but found and worked out scent areas, not something that GSPs do that often so good to see. No birds on the first run, but had done more than enough to warrant a second, and this time, found, pointed and produced a singleton.

Good

Goosepoint Eiderdown – E. Hinchliff – Junior Good width and pace, started a little mechanically perhaps, good ground treatment with the handler making sure all areas were covered. 2 birds got up well ahead and flew back over the dog who acknowledged them and was steady. On her second run, the dog loosened and started to flow, showing considerably more hunger and drive and was rewarded with a find, point and flush. The 2nd run showed the potential.

Aarons Crop Run – R Kennedy – Adult Not the fastest dog on the day and needed possibly more accurate handling, and particularly as the dog came into an area with 3 coveys, and would have benefited from taking more ground to the back and right. Produced 1st covey, went through the middle of the 2nd, but stood well off the 3rd. Respectful of the game, but tending to be sticky.

Warrendown Thor – T Wignall – Adult Immediately on being cast off was clearly plunged into heavy scent which turned out to be a hen pheasant and her very young chicks, scarcely flying. A less careful dog might have done serious damage here. The dog worked on to find and produce a covey. On this occasion, was sticky, something the handler might need to watch.

Stubblemere Mey – C Kenney – Adult Immediately on being cast off the dog found and produced a covey to the right. Checking out this area, the dog spent some time in bracken, something the handler really needed to avoid as this proved to be a good running dog  with a profound game sense and would have benefited from being able to take more ground. Then came fairly quickly into game and ended the run with a good point and production, albeit, again, a little sticky.

Many thanks to the keeper, Paul, for his time and company, to Mr J.D.Standevan and the Haworth Moor Syndicate our hosts for the day, and to the GSPC for looking after us, and giving us the opportunity to judge dogs on good ground which suited the dogs well. A rewarding day.

P.J.Pickstone