Working Test Season 2022

The 2022 test season started off to a real flier for the Aberglen team.

We were very fortunate to have Jasper win first time out in extremely good company at the URC Cotswold and Wyvern. Held at a wonderful estate just outside Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.

Despite a slightly scrappy start, the boy went from strength to strength throughout the day, culminating in a four dog run off and winning nicely. The run off itself was a cracking technical exercise, and something that helped us to demonstrate the depth of our preparedness. I was absolutely over the moon for him. Something he thoroughly deserved. Jasper has long been my right hand man out in the shooting field. It was just wonderful to see him perform in a competitive environment. Jasper was very hesitantly sold a couple of months later to a wonderful Cumbrian home and has gone on to win again. A dog that really did make his mark on me and one that I struggle to talk about even now. I miss him dearly.

Two weeks later, Martha finished third in the Usk Valley Open test held at the Glanusk Estate in Crickhowell, Powys. One mistake by yours truly really put pay to her chances of winning. A shame but she showed that she was certainly fit enough and ‘up for it’ despite having had her final litter only 3 months prior.

The team rolled on and next up was Faith, a petite, biddable female we had brought on for a Scottish owner. Faith was lovely to train with. Engaging, stylish, calm and quiet. I was desperate for an opportunity to show her off and she did just that in esteemed company again up on the top of the Cotswolds. Faith finished 3rd in a test of 39 dogs and really did run very well. It was a test that suited her nicely. Technical, long with challenging ground in parts. Faith picked her retrieves nicely and her stand out piece of work for the day was a standalone marked retrieve for Test 2. From a dramatically elevated position, down through a mini copse, over open ground up onto a mound on the other side. As we saw other dogs of note struggle, Faith picked cleanly without handling, much to the delight of my fellow competitors who appreciated her work. It was one of those scenarios where you can sit back and just enjoy watching the dog work. Just lovely. Faith is now back in Scotland and has had several runs with her owner in Novice Field Trials.

Martha also happened to pick up a CoM the same day in the Open Test in the afternoon. She really didn’t do much wrong. Picking a beautifully long blind across a fairly thick cover crop in the walked up test was her standout retrieve. Just a little bit ‘pip poppy’ as my mentor and confidante Mr Latham might say. 😊

May Bank Holiday saw us make the trip down to the inaugural Goodwoof Festival, held at the infamous Goodwood Estate on the South Coast. By very kind invitation of his Grace The Duke of, The Declan , Martha and I ran alongside some of the best of the best in an individual event made up of International handlers from all four countries of the UK and beyond. What a brilliant event and given the vision and level of investment courtesy of His Grace The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, it really could become a serious international event forthe calendar.

We have been invited to run again at Goodwoof in May 2023 which is super exciting. If you make it down to Goodwoof, come and say hello!!

We then had Faith place again, as did Martha down in the South West. This was followed by the Welsh Team Selection Test for the Game Fair 2022, which took place in West Wales. Luckily Martha did enough to be selected as part of the team of five to go to Ragley Hall. Having represented Wales several times at the Anglesey International Show and in 2018 at the Skinners World Cup, this was again another fantastic opportunity. What an honour to run for your country. (I was fortunate to do this when playing golf in a former life.) The honour and privilege has never been lost on me. It is fair to say I am a passionate competitor and extremely proud to be wearing the Welsh jersey.

Prior to the Game Fair we had Finn (Corrib Jameson of Aberglen) and Gunner (Omachie Jock Scott) ready to run. Finn ran first in the Cotswold and Wyvern Retriever Club. He picked his retrieves very smartly and despite some harsh critique, still figured in the awards. At this point, it is worth noting, I vividly recall being out on the moor training one Sunday morning just before his run with some close friends. “You won’t get much more out of him Dave” I heard from the other end of the line. Now on the face of it, I understand the comment. Finn shows his true self very rarely on dummies and even less so in company. He has been just the most intriguing dog to train. Sensitive, yet hugely driven. Delicate, yet big and strong. Slightly quirky on the face of it. Totally predictable if you know him. A dog that would happily live in my skin if you gave him half the chance!! I genuinely mean that. I wear Finn on my chest more than I walk next to him when we’re at home. (If you know us personally, you’ll know what he has gone on to do since. If you don’t, enjoy the next Blog!! 😊)

Gunner followed that up with a run with the Wye Valley Retriever Club over at Andoversford, Gloucestershire, again in stiff company. It’s all ifs buts and maybes, but this was some run. I touched the whistle three times for the entire Open Test and again figured in the awards. Whilst I am not one to cry over spilt milk, this was some performance and he simply lost me coming back on his penultimate retrieve over a brow. I was so so disappointed but also felt immensely buoyed by what I'd seen. Gunner is one special dog. A real handful but it just feels different when you run him. He's not the biggest of dogs, in fact he's quite small. But boy can he go. He absolutely flies. As is often said, we should be careful what we wish for. He can make you look a plonker just as quickly as he can a hero. It is certainly a roller coaster when Gunner is around!!

Then came the Game Fair. The Game Fair at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire. What an event. What an opportunity. It was just the most wonderful experience. Whilst we failed to come away with a red rosette (Wales finished third) I will always look back fondly on the experience. It is such an intense battleground yet the camaraderie of the teams and individual handlers really is a unique experience. A cauldron of emotion, pressure, fierce rivalry over a weekend in the Warwickshire countryside. I was amazed at the support I received from the stands and was extremely humbled. The level of support even from those I would never have expected, was just fantastic. It really is greatly appreciated. It is the epitome of what it means to compete with the dogs throughout the summer period. I learnt a lot and am desperate to get back there.

All in all, it was a very good Working Test season. Five dogs picking up awards in Novice and Open Tests with a good few miles under their belts. It was great to see the dogs putting the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together in competitive environments.

Next stop, the Glorious Twelfth, the grouse and the Angus Glens. Now this was some trip................