Stauntonvale Gundogs

SPRING/SUMMER 2011 (working test season)


Sunday 31st July 2011 - DV Open Test, First & Third

Another double-whammy for Stauntonvale Gundogs!

Derek ran Jobeshill Lotta of Stauntonvale (Bea) in Dove Valley's Open Test, held at Moira, Leics. The test, judged by Mssrs. D. Capel, B. Clay & M. Fitch and Mrs. J. White, attracted a large entry of 46 dogs.

There was a variety of tests on land and over water, with 13 retrieves over the day for the dogs that made the cut. In the afternoon, there was a drive scenario and a walk-up.

Bea was awarded first place.

But, the awards didn't stop there. Laura ran Stauntonvale Story (Maud) as a late entry (because Pru had come into season), and not only did she complete all the tests, tackling everything that was thrown at her, but she came away with third place! At only 15 months of age, and only having competed in a puppy test two weeks before, Laura was delighted with Maud's performance.


Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th July 2011 - International Team Competition, First

England retriever team 'unbeatable'

Laura ran FT. CH. Jobeshill Octavia (Pru), as part of the England Team, in the International Team event, held at CLA Game Fair, Blenheim Palace. England not only won the overall competition, but had the best retriever team and top three placed individual retrievers.

For details of this event see England Gundog Team.



Sunday 17th July 2011 - MGS Puppy Test, Second

Laura ran Stautonvale Story (Maud) in the Midland Gundog Society puppy test held at Packington Park, Warwickshire. The test was judged by Mrs. C. Raymond and Ms. J. Lunt, and had a huge entry of 25 puppies. Once again, Maud was awarded second place.


Sunday 19th June 2011 - URC Area Finals, Third

Derek ran Jobeshill Lotta of Stauntonvale (Bea) in the Midlands Team at the United Retriever Club Area Finals, held nr. Bowness, Cumbria. The test was judged by Mrs. J. Coley, Mrs. H. Bradley and Mrs. N. Rudgard.

Nine teams competed in some extremely challenging tests, held on one of the most stunning test venues we have ever seen. The ground comprised rolling hills, lakes, bracken banks, stone walls, white grass and just about every type of bunker and obstacle you could hope to meet!

The Midlands team, comprising Derek Hill, Paul Wintersgill and Sally Plant were very pleased to be awarded third place. The event was won by the host team, URC Northern.


Sunday 5th June 2011 - LGS Puppy Test, Second

Derek ran Stautonvale Story (Maud) in the Leicestershire Gundog Society puppy test held at Normanton, by kind permission of Mr. W. Benbow. The test was judged by Mrs. S. Suzuki and Mrs. J. Jacombs.

Maud scored 99 points out of a possible 100, putting her in a 'run off' position for first place. Unfortunately, she was pipped in the run off, so was awarded second place. Derek was really pleased with how Maud handled though, and she is showing all the signs of being a very promising young dog now.


Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th June - KC Two Day Open Test, Second & Fourth

Stauntonvale Gundogs has both dogs in the awards!

Laura ran FT CH Jobeshill Octavia (Pru) and Jobeshill Lotta of Stauntonvale (Bea) in the Kennel Club's Two Day Open Test for 40 Retrievers, held at Chatsworth Estate, by kind permission of the Duchess of Devonshire. The test was judged by Mr. M. Stringer, Mrs. L. Stringer, Mr. D. Donnelly and Mrs. T. Lawrence.

Held over two days, and arguably the most prestigious individual test of the year, the event comprised 12 tests, with a 'walk up' on the moor and a 'drive' on the lake and surrounding woodland on the first day, and four static tests on the second day. The tests proved particularly challenging this year, with 22 of the 40 dogs having one or more failures on the first day, and further casualties the following day. The top eight dogs were given a final 'run off' retrieve, of a long mark on water behind a wall.

Laura was extremely pleased to be in the awards with both dogs. Pru gained second place and Bea came fourth, proving their consistency over the two days in the face of some tough tests.


Friday 3rd June - KC International Team Event, Third

For details of this event see GB Retriever Team.



Sunday 29th & Monday 30th May 2011 - Skinners World Cup Retriever Event, First

England Team wins World Cup!

Laura ran FT. CH. Jobeshill Octavia (Pru), as part of the England Team, in this world cup retriever competition, held at Highclere Castle.

For details of this event see England Gundog Team.


Sunday 29th May 2011 - Dove Valley Puppy Test, Second

Whilst Laura was away at the World Cup Retriever Event, Derek took the oppotunity to run Stauntonvale Story (Maud) in her very first puppy test at Dove Valley Gundogs. The test was held on new ground at Ednaston, Nr. Ashbourne, and was judged by Mrs.S. Suzuki, Mrs. J. Jacombs, Mr. I. Glover, Mr. R. Thomas and Ms. S. Kitson.

There was a large entry of 22 puppies, and Derek was pleased with Maud's performance, which earned second place.


Sunday 15th May 2011 - MGS Open Test, Third

Laura ran FT CH Jobeshill Octavia (Pru) at the Midland Gundog Society Open Working Test, held at Catton Park, Derbyshire, by kind permission of Mr & Mrs. R. Neilson. The judges were Mr. S. Richardson, Mr. P. Bruton and Mrs. V. Bruton.

Catton Park provides an excellent and varied ground, and the tests, set by Mr. Bert Stirling, are notoriously challenging! As well as a walk up in reed grass there were tricky blind and marked retrieves, and then tests on and over the fast flowing river.

It was a long and tiring day for both dog and handler (made even more so as Laura and Pru had been at the England Team practise in Lancashire for the day before). But Laura was pleased to be awarded third place with Pru.


Sunday 8th May 2011 - URC Midlands Open Test, First

'Back to work' just 8 weeks after having her pups, and Bea comes First!

Derek ran Jobeshill Lotta of Stauntonvale (Bea) in the United Retriever Club (Midlands) Open Working Test, held at Groby Lodge Farm, Leicestershire, by kind permission of Messrs. J. Barker & A. Warner. The judges were Mr. G. Bennett, Mr. G. Lowe and Mr. M. Smith.

The day comprised a range of static tests in the morning on land and water and, after a cut at lunch time, there was a walk up and one final static test.

Bea was awarded First place, and the Braeduke Cup for the highest placed yellow labrador.

Derek and Bea will go on to represent URC Midlands at the area finals, held in Cumbria in June.

Photos courtesy of Dranwedis.com

Saturday 16th April 2011 - England Team Selection

Laura & Pru selected for England Gundog Team!

Four days after being involved in a car crash (which wrote off Laura's Toyota Hilux), Laura and Pru attended the selection tests for this year's England Gundog Team, which were held at Drakeshead Kennels, nr. Chorley, Lancs.

John & Sandra Halstead invited handlers and dogs, who had already proved their ability to compete at the highest level, to take part in a series of challenging exercises designed to simulate the sort of tests that would be faced in the forthcoming international gundog events, including the Skinners World Cup Retriever event at Highclere and the CLA Game Fair.

The selection test was judged by John Halstead, David Latham and Paul Bates.

Throughout the selection day, the handlers and dogs were put through their paces both on land and across water. Each of the tests was cleverly engineered to put the handler under some pressure and to see how they coped with the scenario. The highlight was perhaps a 250 yard seen retrieve which had to be collected after the dog had collected an unseen retrieve, placed about 180 yards away, with a lot of challenging terrain in between. Far from straightforward!...

Once the tests were completed, this year's England Team was announced as follows:

Laura Hill running her five year old bitch, Field Trial Champion Jobeshill Octavia
Mark Demaine with his five year old dog, Calderhay Adder
Richard King and his two year old dog, Saxophone Brown Ale of Lincswold
Lee Hartis with his four year old dog, Lowforge Aragon of Leacaz
Annette Clarke and her six year old bitch, Field Trial Champion Garronpoint Liffey

Laura was also selected as the England representative for Team GB, at the new Kennel Club International team test, to be held at Chatsworth in June.


Sunday 20th March 2011 - EMGC Mock Field Trial (Open Test), Fourth

Laura ran FT CH Jobeshill Octavia (Pru) in the East Midland Gundog Club Mock Retriever Field Trial (an Open Test limited to 30 dogs). Held at Garendon Estate, Nr. Loughborough, the test was conducted on FT lines, mainly walked up in fields and woodland. The judges were Messrs C. Capel, D. Probert, S. McGrath and Mrs K. Smith.

Pru handled consistently throughout the day on a variety of terrain, and was awarded fourth place. It is a credit to East Midland Gundog Club that the test attracted a large entry, including several dogs from outside the area.