Latest Update 19th May 2025Entries are now open for our Gundog Working Test on 5th July, near Taunton, Somerset. Scroll down to the GWT section where you will find the button links to the schedule and the entry form.
We are pleased to announce our 2025 schedule of training dates below - scroll down this page to the HPR Training section to find the entry forms for these days. Before you do though, here are some of the comments made on recent days by the handlers and guest trainer: Boy did Mark help me. I was quite nervous, thinking I only really see him working with the open level dogs and handlers and he is going to think “what on earth”, but that could not be further from the truth, he was so helpful. With his tips and advice, including last weekend at the water day, we managed to achieve results and was a massive step in the right direction. I'm still buzzing. I learnt so much and your input with Christine's session was really valuable, a good team with really excellent explanations and visuals, so thank you. It was lovely to have the opportunity to work with two new trainers and to see some of the open level handlers working their dogs alongside us was really useful. I was so pleased with my dog in Mike's session, and she was brilliant, didn't run in on the dummies and delivered to hand. That I'm sure was down to the schooling we were able to do in the morning sessions and being shown and allowed to block. Mike set us quite a challenge on one of the exercises, so to be able to achieve that positive outcome was perfect. It was so wonderful to watch, learn and meet so many wonderful people and dogs. Ray was wonderful at explaining everything and so positive for the puppies, keeping it short and fun for them. Thank you for letting us join in with your session and to socialise our young pup. Ray was excellent with the pups and getting us involved. Thoroughly enjoyed the day. Our guest trainer said: It has been fantastic to see handlers and dogs progress so much over the last couple of years, really makes it feel worthwhile. Many thanks to you and the rest of the committee and helpers, BWWGS really have got something special here. We are working on our field trials for the 2025/26 season - details will be available soon in the field trial section below. We are working on other training opportunities and will advertise these as and when. FIELD TRIALS - GWT - POINTING - TESTS - TRAINING
Monthly training update - 2025 dates released: Sat 12th April - general training day - COMPLETED Sunday 11th May - water training at Devon Lakes, Nr Umberleigh - COMPLETED Sat 17th May - training for gundog working test scenarios - COMPLETED Sat 7th June - water training at Lenches Lakes, Evesham Sat 14th June - general training day Sat 9th August - general training day Sat 13th September - general training with possibility of cold game There is no training in July currently, but we will hold our Gundog Working Test on Saturday 5th July 2025. The training entry forms have been updated and you will find these on the button links under the Training and Water Training sections below. Water training at Lenches Lakes, Evesham will be on Saturday 7th June. Entry forms in the Water Training section below. BACS payments are preferred; all payment methods and details are included on the entry forms. All levels of experience welcome £30 members / £40 non-members |
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FOR HPR ONLY
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CORONAVIRUS:
The BWWGS will continue to follow any guidelines issues by Government and The Kennel Club for your safety. Instructions will be contained in the BWWGS Standing Instructions which are available to download.
The BWWGS will continue to follow any guidelines issues by Government and The Kennel Club for your safety. Instructions will be contained in the BWWGS Standing Instructions which are available to download.
GUNDOG WORKING TEST 2025:
Date: Saturday 5th July 2025
Venue: Sholford Farm, Huish Champflower, Near Taunton
Venue: Sholford Farm, Huish Champflower, Near Taunton
FIELD TRIALS 2025/26
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Stake 1: OPEN
Date: TBC Venue: TBC Judges: TBC Closing Date: TBC Draw Date: TBC Entry Fees : TBC Stake 2: ALL AGED
Date: TBC Venue: TBC Judges: TBC Closing Date: TBC Draw Date: TBC Entry Fees : TBC Stake 3: NOVICE
Date: TBC Venue: TBC Judges: TBC Closing Date: TBC Draw Date: TBC Entry Fees : TBC Stake 4: NOVICE
Date: TBC Venue: TBC Judges: TBC Closing Date: TBC Draw Date: TBC Entry Fee: TBC We are requesting paper entries for this field trial season. Our preferred method of payment is via BACS although cheques will continue to be accepted. Please see the Schedule and Standing Instructions for details of how to enter and make payment. Thank you.
Before entering a field trial please familiarise yourself with the Kennel Club J Regulations and Rules for Field Trials, the BWWGS Standing Instructions and our Risk Assessment. |
Courtesy of Clair Lister Huckle Photography
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POINTING TESTS:
4HPR TRAINING Programme Summer 2025:
Training updates: Please enjoy our "rogues gallery" below from last year's training. We will post up-to-date photos as we complete the current schedule of training days for 2025.
The committee are happy to be able to provide a further schedule of training days for 2025 (see top of this page for the dates). Summer training will again be held at Sholford Farm by kind permission of Julia and John Griffiths. Trainers for this year will be Ray Davies, Mark Spearing, Christine Carpenter, Mike Ede, Peter Szalai and Julia Griffiths. We hope to have other guest trainers too. Water training will be held at Lenches Lakes and at the Devon Lakes again, with other more specific training TBC.
The entry form and all details are included on the "training day entry form" button above.
For details of the water training days, please see the details and entry forms below in the Water Training section.
If you would like to join us for any of our 2025 training sessions, please either complete an entry form or, if you have any questions, contact us via messenger on our Facebook page or email Sue Wagstaff at [email protected] - follow us on Facebook too for updates.
The committee are happy to be able to provide a further schedule of training days for 2025 (see top of this page for the dates). Summer training will again be held at Sholford Farm by kind permission of Julia and John Griffiths. Trainers for this year will be Ray Davies, Mark Spearing, Christine Carpenter, Mike Ede, Peter Szalai and Julia Griffiths. We hope to have other guest trainers too. Water training will be held at Lenches Lakes and at the Devon Lakes again, with other more specific training TBC.
The entry form and all details are included on the "training day entry form" button above.
For details of the water training days, please see the details and entry forms below in the Water Training section.
If you would like to join us for any of our 2025 training sessions, please either complete an entry form or, if you have any questions, contact us via messenger on our Facebook page or email Sue Wagstaff at [email protected] - follow us on Facebook too for updates.
WATER TRAINING:
SHOOTOVER TRAINING DAYS:
Warning: ALABAMA ROT
HAS RISEN ITS HEAD AND CAN BE FATAL
It's a condition with no real cure and occurs in very wet conditions. It breeds in boggy, wet grounds and if dogs lick themselves they can digest it. Sores can appear on the paws and body. ACTION: Wash your dog down and dry off and get your dog off to the vets. (Wash towels in disinfectant).
HUNT POINT RETRIEVERS:
After the Second World War this sub-group of gundogs known as Hunt Point Retrieve breeds were imported into Great Britain. At the present time there are just thirteen of the many continental breeds recognised by the Kennel Club in the UK. These are the Bracco Italiano, Brittany, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Longhaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Hungarian Vizsla, Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla, Korthals Griffon, Italian Spinone, Large Munsterlander, Small Munsterlander, Slovakian Roughhaired Pointer and the Weimaraner.
These breeds today are mainly used for rough shooting on game, falconry and deerstalking but can adapt to make a useful peg dog or beater’s dog. If used for deer stalking they would be expected to point unseen deer, track to dead deer or track and hold wounded deer at bay and then inform the stalker when it is located by giving tongue.
The different breeds within the group were originally bred to work the game or terrain of their specific region and therefore developed different styles of working, but basically they all perform to the same outcome. Some were originally used for boar or deer; others for fur and feather. Now, they are all expected to hunt any terrain put before them: moorland, wetland, scrub, woodland; and adapt their pace accordingly. Apart from the Brittany, they are all basically the same in structure but not necessarily the same in character.
When hunting open ground, the dog would be expected to quarter into the wind taking in ground from 50 to 150 metres either side of the gun. When working woodland they adapt to a closer pattern and keep in touch with the gun. They are expected, on locating game, to point and hold that point until required to flush. These dogs are air scenting and have a higher head carriage thus they have less need to enter thick cover. By using the wind, these dogs have the ability to pick up scent at a distance.
As in other breeds, game is expected to be retrieved gently to hand. They are for the most part keen swimmers once they overcome any initial reluctance.
These breeds today are mainly used for rough shooting on game, falconry and deerstalking but can adapt to make a useful peg dog or beater’s dog. If used for deer stalking they would be expected to point unseen deer, track to dead deer or track and hold wounded deer at bay and then inform the stalker when it is located by giving tongue.
The different breeds within the group were originally bred to work the game or terrain of their specific region and therefore developed different styles of working, but basically they all perform to the same outcome. Some were originally used for boar or deer; others for fur and feather. Now, they are all expected to hunt any terrain put before them: moorland, wetland, scrub, woodland; and adapt their pace accordingly. Apart from the Brittany, they are all basically the same in structure but not necessarily the same in character.
When hunting open ground, the dog would be expected to quarter into the wind taking in ground from 50 to 150 metres either side of the gun. When working woodland they adapt to a closer pattern and keep in touch with the gun. They are expected, on locating game, to point and hold that point until required to flush. These dogs are air scenting and have a higher head carriage thus they have less need to enter thick cover. By using the wind, these dogs have the ability to pick up scent at a distance.
As in other breeds, game is expected to be retrieved gently to hand. They are for the most part keen swimmers once they overcome any initial reluctance.
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