• Jan '10 Dulverton Open Stake for AV Retrievers.

The Retriever field trial schedule  for Monday 11th of Jan has been postponed because of the weather, and will now take place on Friday 29 Jan at the same place and the same time

 
• Jun '10 25th Anniversary Event

In June The Club celebrates its 25th anniversary - more details to follow.

 
• Oct '09 Field Trial Entries

 ** Stop Press - Field Trial Entries **

 
Entries must reach the relevant Secretary on, or before, the closing date to be put into the draw.  First class post does not guarantee next day delivery.  The first Club trial of the season has received a number of late entries.  Please post your entry in good time.
 
Novice Cocker Spaniel Stake - the closing date for entries is Tuesday 24th November
• Sept '09 Club Dinner

The Club Dinner at the Northgate Inn, South Molton proved to be another very good night when almost 70 members and guests sat down to a very enjoyable meal and social evening.  The food was very good, the company impeccable and generally well behaved! 

 
Presentations of trophies were made to those who had done particularly well in the training classes and gifts were made to retiring committee members Richard Turner and Jim Short.. The raffle was very well supported with some super prizes which brought in £190.
 
• Aug '09 The Club at the Devon Country Fayre
 
The Devon Country Fayre, held at Castle Hill, Filleigh in the third week of August proved to be a very busy three days for Club members.  The event was held in conjunction with the English National Sheepdog Trials and attracted very large crowds, particularly on the Sunday.  It was a great privilege to be involved, because the events were very actively supported by our President Lady Margaret Fortescue and her family with all proceeds going to the North Devon Hospice.
 
Ali Hunt, the event organiser, was absolutely delighted with the response from Club members who volunteered to help with the stewarding on all three days, as well as putting on morning and afternoon gundog demonstrations on the Friday and Sunday in the entertainment ring. 
 
In all, some fifty members were involved over the three days carrying out a great range of duties from car parking to taking entry money and programme selling as well as staffing the Club stand and running their dogs in the demonstrations.  The dogs were all stars and behaved impeccably, especially when the children were invited in to meet them at the end of the demos.

Selling programmes

Taking the money

 

Lots going on at the Club stand

A very attentive audience

The retrievers show how it should be done

For once, the dogs proved more popular than the ice-creams
 
• Aug '09 FUNDAY! 
A very successful water fun day was held at Wiscombe Park, by kind permission of Sarah Chichester, after a last minute change of venue.  Almost 50 entrants and their dogs enjoyed a super day in the glorious parkland surroundings, .  As well as some straightforward tests for both spaniels and retrievers, all had an opportunity of winning the scurry. 
A barbecue and  raffle rounded off the day.

Award winners, including young handler, proudly display their rosettes.
 
 
 
''• Best Young Handler at Clinton Estate July '09

Congratulations to Fiona Collins with her labrador dog Nunswell Bramble, who won the trophy for best young handler at the recent Club Working Test held on the Clinton Estate, near Merton, Devon.
 
'• The Helpers at Clinton Estate July '09

The willing band of helpers who all contributed to the success of the Club's recent Working Test held on the Clinton Estate.  No mean task when you consider that there were a total of 50 entries, an awful lot of shots to fire and dummies to throw!
 
 BASC Team Challenge '09

The Club spaniel team (left to right) Andrew Stevens, Peter Amor and Maurice Stanbury) were runners-up at the BASC Team Challenge, held at the Sherborne Country Fair, being just pushed into second place by the Westward Team'

Congratulations also to Club member, Alice Wise who took the award for the top dog, competing for the Cornwall team..

 
 
• May '09 Working Tests and Competition for mum!

 

Shown in this photo is Isla Kellaway, a very young handler spotted yesterday with her mum's dog.  Mum won the prize for 'new handler' but could soon have some real competition!

Results for all working tests can be found in the Working test section on the left and navigate to 'results'
 
• April '09 Training Programme.

An excellent turn-out at Filleigh Village Hall for the introduction to the Club Training Programme'

 
• Sep '09 AV Spaniel Working Test Dates.

The AV Spaniel working tests Novice and Open will be held on the 20th September, venue yet to be decided, Dave Rayner will be the senior judge. More info to be added as it becomes available.
 
 
• Jan '09 - Congratulations to the Championship Winners!
 

The Club heartily congratulates the owners and handlers of the 2009 English Springer and Cocker Spaniel Championships, all Club members.

 

 

The 79th Championship for English Springer Spaniels was held on the Belvoir Castle Estate in Leicestershire in early January.  A record 54 dogs competed and the stake was won by the four year old bitch FTCh Rosebay Bella, owned by Mr Pat Downes (pictured holding the Conygree Trophy), bred and handled by Aubrey Ladyman.  This was a particularly hard stake to win with five very experienced handlers and their dogs called up by the judges on the third day for a deciding run-off.

 
The 77th Championship for Cocker Spaniels was held on the Shadwell Estate, Norfolk when 27 dogs competed for the top honour.  Randalyn Black Jazz, a young bitch competing in her first full season had two dazzling runs and took the top award 'on ice'.  A great performance.  Well done to owner Josie Tudor and to the handler, Nick Gregory.