Latest Update 27 April 2026Now the field trial season is over, we are launching into our 2026 training programme with a selection of days at a variety of grounds.
Our 2026 schedule of training dates are below - scroll down this page to the HPR Training section to find the entry forms for these days. We are working on other training opportunities including more water training days and will advertise these shortly. FIELD TRIALS - GWT - POINTING - TESTS - TRAINING
Monthly training update - 2026 dates released: Sun 22nd February - Hunting training day, Penllyn Estate - COMPLETED Sat 28th February - Hunt/Point/Flush training day, Upton Pyne - COMPLETED Sat 7th March - Hunt/Point/Flush training day, Upton Pyne - COMPLETED Sun 22nd March - Land based training day, Penllyn Estate - COMPLETED Sat 11th April - Water training day, Penllyn Estate - COMPLETED Sat 18th April - Working Test Scenarios, Sholford Farm - COMPLETED Mon 20th April - General training day with Steve Kimberley - COMPLETED Sat 16th May- General training day, Sholford Farm - open for applications Sat 13th June - General training day, Sholford Farm - open for applications No training in July - instead we will hold our Gundog Working Test - TBC 15th August - General training day, Sholford Farm - open for applications 12th September - Cold Game training day, Sholford Farm - open for applications The training entry forms have been updated and you will find these on the button links under the Training and Water Training sections below. All levels of experience welcome Sholford Training days - £30 members / £40 non-members Other venues priced separately - see entry forms |
|
FOR HPR ONLY
|
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 2026:
Date: 12th July 2026
Venue: Graham Water, Gill Mill, Ducklington, Oxfordshire
Venue: Graham Water, Gill Mill, Ducklington, Oxfordshire
FIELD TRIALS 2026/27
|
Stake 1: OPEN
Date: Saturday 29th August 2026 Venue: Alston Moor, Cumbria Judges: Roy Cullen (A) & Coshy Kimberley (A) Closing Date: 10th August 2026 Draw Date: 11th August 2026 Entry Fees: £TBC members / £TBC non-members Stake 2: ALL AGED
Date: TBC Venue: TBC Judges: TBC Closing Date: TBC Draw Date: TBC Entry Fees: £TBC members / £TBC non-members Stake 3: NOVICE
Date: 3rd November 2026 Venue: Upton Pyne Estate, Exeter, Devon Judges: TBC Closing Date: TBC Draw Date: TBC Entry Fees: £TBC members / £TBC non-members Stake 4: NOVICE
Date: TBC Venue: TBC Judges: TBC Closing Date: TBC Draw Date: TBC Entry Fee: TBC We are requesting paper entries again 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
|
POINTING TESTS:
4HPR TRAINING Programme Summer 2026:
Training updates: Please enjoy our "rogues gallery" from Past years. We will post up-to-date photos as we complete the current schedule of training days for 2026.
The HPR section are happy to be able to provide a further schedule of training days for 2026 (see top of this page for the dates). General summer training will again be held at Sholford Farm in Somerset by kind permission of Julia and John Griffiths. Club trainers for this year will be Ray Davies, Mark Spearing and Christine Carpenter with regular guest trainers. We hope to organise water training at the Devon Lakes, Lenches Lakes and potentially at a new venue.
The entry form and all details are included on the "general training 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 2026 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 HPR section are happy to be able to provide a further schedule of training days for 2026 (see top of this page for the dates). General summer training will again be held at Sholford Farm in Somerset by kind permission of Julia and John Griffiths. Club trainers for this year will be Ray Davies, Mark Spearing and Christine Carpenter with regular guest trainers. We hope to organise water training at the Devon Lakes, Lenches Lakes and potentially at a new venue.
The entry form and all details are included on the "general training 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 2026 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.
|
|