The Arfon Working Gundog Club held their Open AV Spaniel (exluding cocker spaniel) Stake on the 22 November 2018 at a new venue for them The Vaenol Estate, Nr Bangor, Gwynedd. by kind permission of Mr M & Mr K Jones. Trials have been held in the past at Vaenol but not for many years.
In his book The Working Springer Spaniel,Keith Erlandson states ” that a Spaniel trial was held at Vaenol Estate in 1871 but not under Kennel Club Rules at the Kennel Club was not formed until 1873. The first official Spaniel Trial under Kennel Club rules was not held until the late 1890’s”
The judges were Mr Steve J Charlton and Mr John L Semmens.
The guns were Rhys Roberts, Eifion Roberts, Glyn Evans and Howard Latham.
Steward of the beat was the keeper Clive Jones
The trial started out on the Tower Drive named after a stone tower at the far end of the drive where you can enjoy view along the Menai Straights onto Anglesey. The area consisted of mature trees with ground cover of brambles which tested the dogs for hunting ability and most dogs had flushes and retrieves. We then moved onto another drive where the cover was mostly rhododendrons and then brambles again in mature woodland the trial was completed in this area, and our hosts generously provided some liquid refreshments for all at the end.
We would like to thank our hosts, the judges,guns, helpers and the competitors for making this such a successful day. Thanks also to our sponsors CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds and Gary McCarthy of Gundog Gear for their continued support.
Results
First – Mick Walsh handling Stephen Fords Hollydrive Pretty Polly ESSB
Second – Jon Bailey with Andriana Girl ESSB
Third – Ian Openshaw with FTCH Rytex Riggle ESSB
Fourth – Craig Lewis with Happy Boy Harry ESSD
COMs – Adrian Slater handling Robert Fairhurst’ s Rheasmooar Under the Gun ESSD
Liam Griffiths Autumnwillow Ice ESSB
Photo shows Mr Keith Jones our host presenting the winner Mike Walsh with the Bill Williams Memmorial Shield
