Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2011 | Page 86

COUNTRY LIFE

Terry and Prince top dogs!
Terry Souter with
Prince, Rip and Snipe

86

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The Isle of Wight Gun
Dog Club held its first
Island members’ working
test challenge in memory
of the late John Kingswell
at Gatcombe Mill Farm, by
kind permission of Mr and
Mrs Robbie Hobart.
The event was open to
Puppies, Novice and Open
gundogs. The dogs had to
complete six tests based on
a shoot day, and mainland
judges Dave England and
Michael Mapes were drafted
in for the event. Their job
was to assess the dogs on each
test for style, pace, hunting,
steadiness and handling.
The Open dogs were set
longer distances, Novice
slightly shorter and Puppies
shorter still. Each element
was marked out of a possible
20 points allowing for the

standing of each dog. The
17 dogs entered were three
spaniels, 13 labradors and
one Irish water spaniel.
The day produced a very
fitting clean sweep winner in
Terry Souter with his spaniel
Prince the top dog overall.
His Labrador Rip was second
and his Labrador puppy
Snipe third with Lily Renouf
and her Labrador Janet
fourth.
The tests were very well
thought out by gamekeeper
James Kingswell and club
member Paul Cuff.
The Club holds weekly
gun dog training and
show training and anyone
interested should contact Gill
on 01983 853521.