Two Day Open Qualifying Field Trial Held near Lydney on the 17 – 18th October 2008
Judges, Mrs. Heather Bradley, Mr. Graham Roberts, Mr. Vince Mitchell and Mr. Basil Smith

1st   K. Broomfield’s      FT Ch Maverick’s Goose
2nd   J. Halstead’s      Davoulin Fraser of Drakeshead
3rd   Helena Sully’s      Braidenvale Speiren of Quabrook
4th   Sandra Halstead’s      Levenghyl Silvercloud of Drakeshead

COM's
Barbara Kuen’s      Dippolodge Bronte
Chris Barin’s      Hillridge Flush
Elaine Kelleher’s      Jagdens Jude
Tony Griffiths      Olivertash Lilly

   The evening of 16th October was the most fraught I have experienced since becoming Field Trial Secretary. Until then only three people had pulled out but that night I rang over ten people to fill the stake! Some of these had perfectly valid reasons such as having won a Trial the day before however those who had accepted runs elsewhere and not bothered to let me know or couldn’t take time off work were difficult to sympathise with as I also had sandwiches to make, paperwork to check, the car to load and dinner with the judges at 7.30 pm and this only after I had attended to my own dogs. Thank Heaven for Elaine Kelleher who was staying with me for the Trial and who kindly and happily mucked in to help out. Never was help more appreciated!

   But former troubles were soon forgotten as the two days were gloriously sunny and the heavy overnight dews gave us good scenting conditions. The guns were all local boys and most of them are dog people themselves, a great asset when shooting for Trials. They shot brilliantly with the usual amount of good natured banter and enjoyed watching the dogs work all of which contributed to the pleasant atmosphere throughout. We saw a lot of very good dog work which must have made it a difficult job for the judges.

   The first eye-wipe was Thelma Salaman’s with Cordomsal Buzz over Huw Jones’ Caulliechat Rebel of Garngoch. Chris Brain’s dog Hillridge Flush impressed us with a far distant partridge, well out of sight of his handler as did John Halstead’s Davoulin Fraser of Drakeshead. Elaine Kelleher’s dog Jagdens Druid took a nice runner out of the beet into the hedge and in the second round, eye-wiped Vic Blemming’s Minterburn Villera Jake. Don James’ Llanover Willow also did some neat work including a nice retrieve inside the hedge. But the dog that stood out from the start was Keith Broomfield’s dog FT Ch. Maverick’s Goose who impressed us all with his outstanding game finding ability requiring little or no handling.

   The high quality of the dogs was reflected in the fact that no less than 14 went through to the second day. This included a duck drive outside the beet, over white grass and weeds where every dog had at least one retrieve. The Trial ended in roots once more and the judges awarded a fuller set of results than we have seen over the last five years.

   Many thanks to our judges, especially Graham Roberts who came down from East Sussex, to Heather Bradley and Basil Smith who were both trialling the previous day and to Vince Mitchell who proved an unusual and surprising after dinner entertainer with his disappearing chair act!

   Many thanks also to my good and faithful friend Hilary Smith who stewarded as well as making sandwiches and the usual superb cakes, to Elaine Kelleher once again who came to stay but ended up making sandwiches, judges’ books etc. and kept me sane when everything threatened to go pear shaped and to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude!

   To Parsi and Jan from Finland; Parsi helped out game carrying with Rosie Dickens who was attending her first Trial and did an excellent job and to Gareth Davies who took over on the 2nd day, many thanks to you all.