Month: December 2019
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Buy CP30 Price: £35.054 Golds, one silver and a bronze for Bowland Trails at the BSSF British Championships 2019
By Mary Carter
We just headed down to the BSSF British Champs..
Our dogs were entered in 7 classes (one of which, our second 4 dog team, was just for experience for the yearlings) and came away with 6 podium placings.
Gold for John Carter in the 8
Silver for me in the 6, with less than one second away from gold.
Joint Gold in the 4. First time ever this happened… with my time exactly the same as our friend, Keith Hutchon, who has one of the yearlings we bred on his team… His team also fed on CP30!
Bronze for JC in the 2-dog scooter with the first race for one of our yearlings.
Gold for George Carter in the 2-dog junior class
And Gold for Anna Williams with our boy Paddy again, in the ladies veteran Bikejor class.
See more photos from the 25.11.19 – BSSF Thorpe Forest by Matthew Shin
Arfon Working Gundog Club Report Open AV Retriever Trial
4 November 2019
By Gwilym William
The Arfon Working Gundog Club held its One Day Open AV Retriever for 12 Dogs at the Llys Dulas Estate, Dulas, Anglesey by kind permission of Mr Alec Pickering and Mr Nathan Midgley – Head Keeper.
This was the first time we had held a Retriever Stake at the Llys Dulas but we have held Spaniel Stakes there some years ago and have also held tests on the ground.
The Judges were:
- Lynn Mitchell
- Jamie Bettinson
- Wendy Glue
- Victoria Stanley
Nathan Midgley was our Beat Steward.
The Guns were:
- Leanne Deering
- Rob Jones
- Ken Owen
- Gerallt Wynn
- Eurwyn Roberts
- Tomos Wynn
The estate is situated on the North Coast of Anglesey with views over the sea. The first drive of mostly partridge with a few pheasants provided some testing retrieves, the second drive saw the beaters bring round a headland with three guns standing on the beach and the others standing at the base of the headland. This drive provided sufficient retrieves for the remaining dogs and when they had been retrieved the judges consulted and announced Trial Over.
I would like to thank our hosts for allowing us to hold this trial on the ground and to Nathan and his team of beaters for their patience, also our judges and guns and helpers and the clubs pickers up. Our sponsors CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds and Gary McCarthy of Gundog Gear.
After the awards the judges and contestants commented on the quality of the ground with plenty of game and a proper trialing ground.
Results
- First – Artistryn Usha handled by David Field owner Suzanne Bailye
- Second – Gwynteg Fyne – Stuart Arch
- Third – Greenbriar Tame – Stuart Marland
- COM – Jenkmosside Ghylll of Banjak – Tim Merrill
Photo Shows L-R – Victoria Stanley (Judge), Tim Merritt, David Field, Scott Marland, Jackie Owen (F.T.S.), Stuart Arch, Wendy Glue (Judge), Lynn Mitchell (Judge), Jamie Bettinson (Judge)
Report from the open cocker spaniel trial at Embelhope
From the Lothian and Borders Gundog Association
Judges: Stephen Winspear and Ben Watkins
1st – Mallowdale Shine (Endowood Cork x Mallowdale Georgi) – Ian Openshaw / Steve Stephen Charlton
Making the dog up to FTCH – congratulations to Ian and Steve 
2nd – Wolferton Drama – Ian Openshaw / HRH The Queen
3rd – Heolybwich Goose of Buccleuch – David Lisett / Duke of Buccleuch
4th – Mallowdale Quad – Wendy Openshaw
COM:
Matrixglen Aphrodite – William Brooks
G Dobbie
Emblehope and Burngrange Estate Northumberland
Open Cocker
Dark nights, muddy Moog – oh and Christmas too!
By Mark Laker
It’s that time of year again. It comes round quickly every year… I’m sure the years are getting shorter as it comes quicker each time. Yes you’ve guessed it dark nights, colder weather, wet muddy dogs and log fires….oh and Christmas too.
Until last month we noticed how much drier the climate is living on the Eastern side of the country. We don’t seem to get anywhere near the amount of rainfall we used to experience in the South. That was until this winter, then it all changed.
For the first time in five years the ditch around our field became a stream in full flow. For the first time we had our very own puddles and not far away the River Trent has burst its banks flooding 100’s of acres of farmland. After a few days of constant rain, even the dogs appeared to be getting fed up with being wet – except Moog, he loves the rain and adores puddles.
So that’s winter here then
We give our dogs a break from competition and serious training over the winter. If we do any competitions they’re generally local, low key competitions and more to keep us and the dogs practiced.
I use this time of the year to catch-up with planning for the next year
My coaching students have already started thinking about their 2020 objectives and we often have a few seminar’s planned in too. The dogs would do agility all year round. However, they seem to appreciate the rest, they look forward to their exercise walks and a different winter maintenance routine.
2020 is looking like another interesting year for us with some new projects and opportunities on the horizon.
I wish Ceri, all the CSJ Team and all our readers a very happy and relaxing Christmas and New Year. I hope you manage to stay warm and dry and enjoy some time with your families, friends, and of course your dogs.
Happy Christmas,
Mark
Team Manager of Agility Team GB
Mary Carter wins the WSA World Championship with the Santanta 6-dog team
MaryCarter powering out of the start chute with my World Championship, winning 6 at the WSA champs. Xenon & Copper, Promethium & Titan, Rod & Thor…. and I’m clean at this point! Photo by Christian Helm
By Mary Carter
The trail had something for everyone… trails meandering in open grass fields, narrow woodland trails, straights, chicanes, hills, winding fast downhills, grass, dirt, sticky clay, mud, hard packed trackways, chalk, and floods!
I ran our home bred team of 5 brothers: Xenon and Copper in lead, Titan and Promethium in team, with Thor at wheel along side their cousin, Rod.
All six are home bred dogs, raised and fuelled entirely on CSJ dog food… and supplemented with Racing Blue Storm.
Mary Carter & her 6 dogs coming into the finish… a bit dirty now! Photo by Christian Helm
Xenon, who is now 6 years old, has lead our teams to win Gold not only this WSA World Championship in England, but also:
- Gold at the IFSS European Championship in Sweden in 2018
- Gold at the IFSS European and World cup 2018/19
- Gold at the WSA World Championship in Italy in 2017
- Silver at the IFSS world championship in Poland 2017
- Gold in the IFSS European Championship in 2016
As well as leading our teams to be winning the British and Scottish Championships since he started racing. Such a special dog.
John Carter’s 8 dogs, heading out of the crowd lined start chute area on day 1 – Radar & Mani leading, 4 Yearlings Nessi & Lara at point and Zirco & Uri in team (the yearlings first ever race) Oz & Atomic at wheel.
John Carter takes bronze
John was running 4 of our yearlings, Zirco, Uri, Nessie and Lara, amongst some of our more experienced dogs, Mani and Radar running lead, with Oz and Atomic running at wheel in his 8-dog class. It was the first race for the yearlings and after the first heat John’s team were sitting in Silver Medal position.
John Carter heading to the finish on day 2
Our starting times were so close on the second day, which meant I would not be able to see his team back in.
John decided to not run the two youngest, Lara and Nessie, on the second heat, just running six, so that the little girls didn’t get spooked at the finish with no familiar face there to reassure them while they are examined and scanned by the vet team.
In spite of the reduced power, John still managed to stay on the podium and took a very respectable bronze, behind our fellow CSJ sponsored team, Pete Jones.
George with Avenir & Vitesse in the junior class at the WSA World Champs. Photo by Christian Helm
George Carter competes for the first time at the WSA World Dryland Championship Juniors
Our oldest son, George, was able to compete for the first time at the WSA World Dryland Championships in the junior category with two dogs.. Avenir and Vitesse.
His first day of racing did not go smoothly, with a tangle to sort, losing lots of time, but a clear run on the second day gaining the third fastest time on the trail in his category that day, but not enough to gain a podium, finishing 4th.
George at the WSA World Champs – Photo by Christian Helm
Lucy Van Zwanenberg and the four-dog team
We also had competing a four-dog team (two of our very experienced leaders, Neon and Clea, and two of our yearlings, Samari and Mercury) being run by our trusted friend and vet student, Lucy Van Zwanenberg.
Lucy VZ with four of ours that we lent to her to race at the World Champs. Experienced leaders – Neon & Clea in lead, with yearlings Samari & Mercury (Xenon’s son’s) running at wheel (their first ever race) Photo by Christian Helm
She had an absolute blast. She safely negotiated the trail, looking after our precious yearlings on their first race, and was delighted to finish a very respectable 8th place in the largest class of the event.
Anna Williams running our dog, Paddy in the ladies Veteran Bikejor class. Photo by Christian Helm
Anna Williams and Paddy
Massive congratulations goes to another good friend, Anna Williams, who was running another of our very steady and trusted leaders, Paddy, in the ladies veteran bikejor class.
Anna had competed in this category last season with Paddy’s father, Bear, winning the British Championship with him, so we had no hesitation in Paddy making his competative bikejoring debut with Anna at the World Championships.
Anna ensured that Paddy was reassured on the tough sections and likewise, Paddy kept a steady line on the technical parts where many had crashed and burned!
Anna Williams running our dog, Paddy in the ladies Veteran Bikejor class Photo by Christian Helm
We were all delighted to see Anna on the podium in Silver Medal position.
Thank you CSJ
Thank you once again for all your amazing support, allowing our dogs to perform so well at this level.
We look forward to seeing how our yearlings progress this season… As I write this we are travelling with them all again down to the first of the BSSF British Championship series in Thetford forest, England. Our aim is to give all of our yearlings a great first or second race experience, a solid grounding, building their confidence for their years of competing ahead.
Best wishes,
Mary
*CSJ note: Mary Carter feeds:
- CP30
- That’ll do!
- Adult Champ!
We’re so proud of all the team at Bowlands Trails.
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