HAREWOOD, CLA GAME FAIR – GUNDOG INTERNATIONAL.

ALAN REES – WALES GUNDOG TEAM CAPTAIN’S COMMENTS & THOUGHTS

Having been home a week since returning from the CLA Game Fair International Gundog Working Test, I have to admit it was an exciting competition, the best spaniels and retrievers in the British Isles competing for individual and team positions. There is only one stage for the ultimate professional and their quality gundog to compete and perform, it is this competition. The staff at Harewood did us proud – the best International track I’ve run on for years, very demanding on dogs and handlers with tests to trip you up in abundance.

As a team I was pleased to have a mix of youth and experience in the team – the Spaniel team in third place and the retriever team in second place –

SPANIELS                                                               RETRIEVERS

England —– 488                                                     England —— 513

Ireland ——-481                                                     Wales ——– 475

Wales ——–449                                                      Ireland ——–447

Scotland —–360                                                     Scotland —– 437

Our overall position was 3^rd  —– 4 points behind Ireland in 2^nd, 73 points behind England in 1^st place – remembering teams were marked out of 1,200 points. A very creditable performance from the Welsh Team.

I was delighted to see retriever and spaniel scores over 100 out of a possible 120 from Nigel Probert and Alan Rees for the Retrievers and David Williams for the Spaniel Team ending up in individual second place with 108 points running his young dog. Other members of the team put up very good scores under pressure, David Williams running his second dog and young David Gregory in his fist game fair for the spaniel team and Haydn Willmott in his first game fair for the retriever team. All the dogs and handlers gave a fantastic account of themselves in very difficult conditions.

Well again we were very well supported and I thank all clubs, societies and individuals for their well wishes at the event and the help received leading up to the event. We appreciate your support.

Leading onto our very special thank you – this thank you is for CSJ dog food for the continued support and sponsorship of this team. In economic times such as these it would be impossible for us as the Welsh Team to run at this most prestigious and highest profile International Gundog Event, we were delighted to have Ceri and Phil with us over the weekend.

DIOLCH I CERI, PHIL AR CWMNI

THANK YOU CERI, PHIL AND THE REST OF YOUR STAFF.

Alan Rees – Wales Team Captain.