Field And Stream

Field & Stream Spaniels & retrievers working class heroes

Spaniels and retrievers were in their element when they took part in the new Working Test Challenge to widen participation to amateur enthusiasts ahead of the Game Fair at Sherborne Castle. Andrew Webb and his dogs Ace and Ted came first and second in the retrievers section while Ty owned by Margaret Cox took first place in the spaniels section, followed by Percy owned by photographer Nick Ridley. Andrew, Margaret and Nick will now be paired up to compete at the national finals to be held at the Game Fair. Supporters of the Sherborne Castle Country Fair will remember the Game Fair originated with a Retriever Team Challenge and later International Retriever competitions. The fair itself was started by a small group of volunteers in 1996 which has grown exponentially over two decades, raising £1.3 million for children’s charities. The South West Regional Qualifier for the Game Fair, forms part of brand new competition for working dogs and their amateur owners which has been designed to open the sport up to more people. Christopher Le Hardy said: “We were delighted to see some younger dog owners take part, gaining confidence The South West qualifier was strongly supported by the Sherborne Castle Estate, Jurassic Coast Meat, providing bacon for the refreshments and a willing and hard-working team of volunteers who organised the event, providing refreshments, judges, stewards and covid-19 compliant security measures.” The finals of this national competition, split into spaniels and retrievers, takes place on Friday, July 23 in the International Gundog Arena at the 2021 Game Fair at Ragley Hall Warwickshire. Dogs do not need to be Kennel Club registered and their owners should be amateurs. Two spaniels and two retrievers from each qualifying round will be invited to compete for the grand title at the Game Fair. Both the champion spaniel and the champion retriever will be awarded £2,000. Steve Smith will be leading the gundog activity at The Game Fair in 2021 and he said: “We have never seen prize money like this. We have consistently attracted the top dogs and handlers to the Game Fair with world class competition. The new Working Test Challenge is aimed at amateurs – it will be very exciting to see who comes out on top.” Some of the industry’s bestloved brands have got behind this year’s Gundog Area at The Game Fair as it continues to grow. With a range of experts on hand to offer all manner of advice, a long list of breeds on show in the Sporting Dog Pavilion plus competitions and demonstrations in the Working Dog Ring, it is always an exciting place to be.

TOP DOGS: Dogs and owners at the Game Fair Picture: Nick Ridley Photography

Warm weather has brought out the ticks

THE FIELD

with Tria Stebbing

Be careful what you wish for! So, the warmth and sun arrived in time for the Bank Holiday, and so did the ticks. Despite treating the flock, we have seen an increase in ticks this year already, which is a miracle given the rubbish start to the growing season that we have had. The castor bean tick is a European species of hardbodied tick and can live for three years or longer. In lambs they can cause anaemia and, in some sheep, louping ill, a nasty viral infection of the central nervous system. The irony is that we were so busy looking out for and spraying against flystrike that I came home with ticks on my legs-even though covered they had got into my clothes. This week’s drama was one of the ewes catching her ear tags on some fencing. She was probably a bit overzealous with the head scratching and had done a good job of ripping the ear tag half out, leaving her ear in a bit of a mess. Affectionately known as 63, she is the friendliest of the flock, no ginger biscuits were required to catch her and sort out the wound. Her ear looks a mess, but it was swiftly seen to, such is the luxury of having a small flock. We are eagerly now watching the grass grow to see which paddock to cut for our small bale hay. Once the sheep are shorn, June is a quiet time at the field in which we can finally sit down and enjoy our surroundings. My harvest of sloes last year led to some lovely sloe gin so I have been collecting suitable jars and bottles to go into greater production this year, I am hoping that nature supplies the same abundance (if not the neighbours will be seriously disappointed). With the anticipated lifting of lockdown later this month it will be good to once again be able to use the field for family to get together and those precious moments with grandchildren where memories are made. I am sure when him-outdoors bought the field, his nearest and dearest thought he was mad wanting a place to conserve nature, to unwind and to find tranquillity, I can’t help but think he had amazing foresight for what lay ahead for us all, and we just appreciate it a bit more with every sweet bale that it provides.