2022 Championship Report

This year's Championship was held at the Holkham Estate by kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Leicester on 5, 6 & 7 December.

The judges were Tim Brain, Jayne Coley, Alan Rees and Steve Polley.

The Steward of the Beat was Mark Fitzer, the Head Keeper.

Awards

1st Kevin Butler’s FTCh Turpingreen Bohol awarded the Retriever Trials Championship Challenge Cup, the Lady Auckland Memorial Salver, the Hiwood Challenge Trophy and the IGL President’s Trophy for the winner and the Kingsford-Lethbridge Trophy for the breeder of the winner.

2nd Duchess of Devonshire’s Emmanygan Spring of Chatsworth handled by John Halsted awarded the FTCh Ulstare Style Challenge Trophy for the dog placed second

3rd Gary Wood’s FTCh Millbuies Ghillie awarded the Lorna Countess Howe Memorial Trophy for the best dog entered by an owner resident in Scotland

4th Paul Wheeler’s FTCh Willowrise Star Spinner

Championship Report

It was clear from the outset that this was to be a Championship where natural game-finding, marking ability, nose and temperament would be necessities. Scent throughout the three days proved as changeable as the weather that pushed through from the nearby Norfolk coast.

 All of the dogs in the awards demonstrated these qualities over the three days of the trial as other very talented dogs fell by the wayside. And, possibly above all others, the quality that shone through in these dogs was their temperament, their willingness to respond to their handlers’ commands and to continue to work with them as a team.

The 2022 IGL Retriever Championship, which is generously sponsored by Skinner’s, was held at the Holkham Estate by very kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Leicester.

And the Holkham ground was superb. An expanse of fodder radish mix, a winter cover crop planted to enrich the soil but also lending itself perfectly for Mark Fitzer, the Head Keeper and Steward of the Beat, and his hard working team to invisibly push in birds from the surrounding woods and copses. The supply of game was varied and steady, expertly shot by the team of guns, and allowed the dogs to show their marking ability.

Jayne Coley and Alan Rees judged on the right of the line, Steve Polley and Tim Brain on the left.

Day 1

Delcan Boyle and FTCh Knockyclovaun Ralph picked the first bird of the day, a single mark behind the line. Louie Robertson and FTCh Mitforton Onour looked very smart picking a hen pheasant shot off the end of the line and over the headland behind the first dog tried.

W L Steel’s Ash Lightning of Leadburn was taken across the line and efficiently picked a hen bird, the second of two shot on the right, behind Marlene Edvinsson’s FTCh Burrendale Dee and Kevin Haynes’s FTCh Adoraden Trevor of Cairngryffe.

George Buchan’s Fendawood Pioneer of Springfell was bought across the line and cleanly picked a hare behind Diana Stevens’s FTCh Isleofman Gorse of Wylanbriar and Greig Paterson’s FTCh Avonstream Aixinha.

One of the outstanding retrieves of the trial was a hen bird that hit the ground running and was clearly not going to hang around. Julia Reed’s Staverton Tarrogan had accurately marked the fall, some 90 yard in front of the line, and arrived there so quickly that that the bird had little chance to move and was picked almost immediately.

Gary Wood’s FTCh Millbuies Ghillie, the 2021 Retriever Champion, made easy work of a cock bird shot far in front of the line.

Late in the day HM King Charles III’s FTCh Buccleuch Bowhill of Sandringham handled by David Lisett took a bird some 30 yards from the fall area on the headland and back into the crop. There was a significant delay in sending while judge Alan Rees clearly established the fall area from the gun.

Day 2

34 dogs were taken through to the second day. The line stretched out some 150 yards wide, a long Championship line.

It was to be a day of success and failure, many handlers and dogs sadly experiencing both as the trial progressed.

Almost immediately, four dogs were lost on a pheasant shot off the left hand side of the line that the judges subsequently picked.

Kevin Butler’s FTCh Turpingreen Bohol needed no handling on a long marked retrieve of some 80 yards on a pheasant shot on the edge of a copse.

Similarly, the Duchess of Devonshire’s Emmanygan Spring of Chatsworth required no assistance on a long mark behind and across the line in the 3rd round.

A wounded cock pheasant went on over 150 yards before dropping into the crop off the far right hand side of the line. Unfortunately for handlers David Logan and Louie Robertson, their dogs were distracted by hares getting up as they attempted to make the area. Similarly, Declan Boyle’s dog fared no better in reaching the fall area. Emmanygan Spring of Chatsworth took an excellent line and some handling was required to pick the cock bird which proved to be deeper than described.

Godfrey Lowe’s FTCh Jogolo Dark Magic, the second dog tried, impressed picking a hen bird that had been shot off the end of the line out of the fodder crop and across the headland and then another area of cover crop and still some distance back into the wood beyond.

John Peach’s Derryhoar Martini made the fall of a wounded woodcock shot across the line which flipped leaving the dog unable to locate it. The other three dogs tried all hunted the fall area but failed to find and the judges walked out and picked it.

Gary Wood’s FTCh Millbuies picked a hen bird shot across the line that the first dog sent had failed to locate.

FTCh Turpingreen Bohol was the second dog tried on a pigeon across the line which did not appear to be giving off any scent at all. The dog settled quickly and persevered to pick.

At the end of the day George Buchan’s Fendawood Pioneer of Springfell was bought across the line to the left and picked, behind the first two dogs tried. A cock bird was then shot and ran in on the edge of the copse in front of the line. Tony O’Hare’s Burrendale Rambler was got off quickly. The bird was never located but Burrendale Rambler was not discarded  first dog down as the judges considered the dog took a line and persisted in an area where there were holes down which it was likely the pheasant had gone.  Unfortunately, Burrendale Rambler then struggled to settle on a hare behind the line giving Fendawood Pioneer of Springfell the opportunity to pick again.

Day 3

10 dogs were taken through to the fourth round where they were asked to pick one retrieve. As over the previous two days Mark Fitzer and his team continued to produce the game exactly as was required.

Emmanygan Spring of Chatsworth picked a mark in the conservation headland strip before the line proceeded into the oil seed rape ahead.

Kevin Butler was pleased to pick as he only just marked the bird as it went down on the edge of the wood.

No dogs were lost in the fourth round but that was not to be the case in the fifth.

Louise Munchaus Adsbol’s FTCh Skovager’s Six Mile Woodcock, who had been running a good trial, was called up only to pick on the way back in.

W L Steel’s Ash Lightning of Leadburn who had also been going well was distracted by a number of hares in the area of the one he was asked to retrieve. Emmanygan Spring of Chatsworth required minimal handling to pick.

Paul Wheeler’s FTCh Willowrise Star Spinner picked a hare behind Robin Drysdale’s FTCh Flagdale Sweep, a dog that had been efficiently picking to that point, had failed to locate.

Godfrey Lowe’s dog was sent on a snipe shot across the line and over the headland into the field beyond. He was called up after struggling to make the area and and Gary Wood’s FTCh Millbuies Ghillie tried. Once on the right side of the wind the dog feathered in from some 15 yards away to pick.

Kevin Butler and FTCh Turpingreen Bohol were impressive on a marked woodcock shot at the far end of the line. As the dog arrived at the fall another woodcock got up from the same area but FTCh Turpingreen Bohol kept to the task in hand to pick the bird as it flipped. This dog was then picked a woodcock shot behind the line which bought to an end George Buchan’s Fendawood Pioneer of Springfell’s Championship campaign, the first dog tried on this retrieve.

Four dogs were taken through to a drive in the woods to complete the final round. After nine retrieves in total, the judges called an end to the 2022 IGL Retriever Championship and unanimously agreed on the well deserved award winners.

2022 Championship Facts & Figures

This was the third time that the Holkham Estate has hosted the IGL Retriever Championship. It was first held there in 1996 when John Drury was one of the judges and was won by Mrs I Reid’s FTCh Linksview Jet handled by W G Steel; the second time was in 2004 and John Drury won with FTCh Tweedshot Kite. Jayne Coley ran at Holkham in 1996 with Jinksfield Fern of Waterford and in 2004 ran FTCh Waterford Covey and was awarded a Diploma of Merit.  This year Jayne is judging along with Alan Rees, who ran at Holkham in 1996, Steve Polley, who ran there in 2004, and Tim Brain.

Holkham 1996 was the first three day Championship since Sandringham in 1955.

50 dogs qualified and 48 competed for the title this year. 33 of the qualified dogs were Field Trial Champions. There were 12 bitches and 1 Golden Retriever dog, Nathan Laffy’s FTCh Think Twice Zero to Hero, previously awarded a Diploma of Merit at Glenalmond in 2019 and placed 3rd at Ampton in 2021.

Experience shows: seven previous winners qualified: Declan Boyle, Keith Broomfield, Leigh Jackson, David Latham, David Lisett, John Halsted and Gary Wood. A further eleven of the handlers qualified this year have been placed or awarded a Diploma of Merit at previous Championships.

W L Steel’s FTCh Kenue Fir of Leadburn was awarded a Diploma of Merit at Holkham in 1996, his FTCh Rockingstone Hope of Leadburn the same at Holkham in 2004. This year he qualified with Ash Lightning of Leadburn and was one of ten handlers to make it through to the third day. Annette Clarke came 2nd at Holkham in 2004 with her bitch FTCh Pointraire Cromwell. This year she is running the oldest dog in the competition, FTCh Castlemans Gobi of Garrenpoint, a dog has that has won five 2 day Open Qualifying Stakes.  Mrs C Finlan’s FTCh Scolopax Joe of Tagabea handled by John Halsted was awarded a Diploma of Merit in 2004.

John Halsted, competing at his 30th Championship, qualified 4 dogs; Simon Capstick and David Latham (his 22nd Championship) each qualified 2 dogs. Simon Capstick was hoping to run FTCh Gunnerspeg Apollo and its dam FTCh Drakeshead Casey but had to withdraw because of kennel cough.

Competing at the Championship for the first time were Oliver Bell, Louise Munchaus Adsbol, Tucker Munday, Eden Parish, John Peach, Julia Reed, Birgitta Staflund-Wilberg, Diana Stevens and Paul Wheeler. This season Paul has won his first two day open stake with Willowrise Star Spinner, then made up the dog to be his first Field Trial Champion and finally come 4th in the Championship!

Eden Parish is also a double qualifier with FTCh Tarnedge Flynn. Declan Boyle’s dog qualified out of novice by coming 3rd in an open stake earlier this season and then went on to win two more qualifying stakes.  This was the youngest dog in the competition this year; last year his dog, 2019 Retriever Champion Int FTCh Miller McDuff, was the oldest running. Sara Gadd’s was another double qualifier: FTCh Brindlebay Gertie Too of Birdsgreen is descended from FTCh Brindlebay Gertie of Birdsgreen (a five time qualifier for Sara at the Championship) and Mike Tallamy’s 2002 Retriever Champion FTCh Bringwood Bobby of Brindlebay.  Leigh Jackson’s FTCh Laggengill Dawn of Blackgrass won two 2 day Open Qualifying stakes this season and came 2nd in another. It was the fourth time this bitch has competed at the Championship; her sire is 2013 Retriever Champion FTCh Ellijas Danny.

Steve Richardson’s FTCh Sotherby’s Choice of Wedgnock was the only dog to qualify on three Bs.

The two most prominent sires were FTCh Asterix Aguzannis of Chatsworth (2015 Retriever Champion) and FTCh Copperbirch Paddy of Leadburn, each with 4 progeny qualified. Emmanygan Spring of Chatsworth, placed 2nd, was sired by FTCh Asterix Aguzannis of Chatsworth. FTCh Millbuies Ghillie, last year’s winner and placed 3rd this year, was sired by 2016 Retriever Champion FTCh Beileys Aguzannis of Fendawood, a dog that is also the grand sire of the dog placed 4th, FTCh Willowrise Star Spinner.

2022 IGL Retriever Championship Draw

50. HM King Charles III’s FTCh Buccleuch Bowhill of Sandringham handled my Mr David Lisett

1. The Duchess of Devonshire’s Emmanygan Spring of Chatsworth handled by Mr John Halsted

2. Mrs Julia Reed’s Staverton Tarrogan

3. Mr Declan Boyle’s FTCh Knockyclovaun Ralph

4. Mr Reuben Corbett’s FTCh Ticefield Dazed N’Confused

5. Mr David Logan’s FTCh Craigmaddie Mafusa of Bishopbrae

6. Mrs Louie Robertson’s FTCh Mitforton Onour

7. Mr Leigh Jackson’s FTCh Laggengill Dawn of Blackgrass

8. Mrs Sharon Dingle’s Bellspaddle Jock

9. Mr Philip Dyson’s FTCh Copperbirch Cabernet of Tallamelie

10. Mr Oliver Bell’s Eelburn Flavius

11. Ms Louise Munchaus Adsbol’s FTCh Skovanger’s Six Mile Woodcock

12. Mr Paul Wheeler’s FTCh Willowrise Star Spinner

13. Mr T D Friedkin’s Bluecreek Curtiss Cash handled by Mr David Latham

14. Ms Sara Gadd’s FTCh Brindlebay Gertie Too of Birdsgreen

15. Mrs C Finlan’s Emmanygan Summer handled by Mr John Halsted

16. Mr Simon Capstick’s FTCh Drakeshead Casey

17. Mr William L Steel’s Ash Lightning of Leadburn

18. Mrs Marlene Edvinsson’s FTCh Burrendale Dee

19. Mr Kevin Haynes’s FTCh Adoraden Trevor of Cairngryffe

20. Mr Tucker Munday’s Rustler Master

21. Mr Robin Drysdale’s FTCh Flagdale Sweep

22. Ms Eden Parish’s FTCh Tarnedge Flynn

23. Mr Godfrey Lowe’s FTCh Jogolo Dark Magic

24. Mr T D Friedkin’s FTCh Meadowlark Big Rock Fendawood handled by Mr David Latham

25. Mr Gary Wood’s FTCh Millbuies Ghillie

26. Mr & Mrs S Berry’s FTCh Berryshot Bernie handled by Mr Jason Mayhew

27. Mr Paul Dixon’s FTCh Balbirnie Logo of Thornship

28. Mr John Peach’s Derryhoar Martini

29. Mr Nathan Laffy’s FTCh Think Twice Zero to Hero

30. Mr Kevin Doughty’s Tideshot Vinny of Highsea

31. Mr Steve Richardson’s FTCh Sotherby’s Choice of Wedgnock

32. Mr Mark Demaine’s FTCh Breckmarsh Ethan of Caytonfell

33. Ms Philippa Williams’s Botcherghyll Elder

34. Miss Dawn Scott’s Diglake Napravnik

35. H O’Hare’s Burrendale Rambler handled by Mr Tony O’Hare

36. Mr Simon Capstick’s FTCh Gunnerspeg Apollo

37. Miss Diana Stevens’s FTCh Isleofman Gorse of Wylanbriar

38. Mr Greig Patterson’s FTCh Avonstream Aixinha

39. Mr George Buchan’s Fendawood Pioneer of Springfell

40. Miss Annette Clarke’s FTCh Castlemans Gobi of Garrenpoint

41. Mrs Birgitta Staflund-Wilberg’s Drumgoose Klinkhammer

42. Mr Kevin Butler’s FTCh Turpingreen  Bohol

43. Mrs C Finlan’s Brocklebank Skipper handled by Mr John Halsted

44. Mr Michael Corr’s IR FTCh Ringbarn Fletching

45. Mr Keith Broomfield’s FTCh Lowtrey Klay of Ticefield

46. Ms Kirsty Cousins’s FTCh Westerkames Rigline of Brogdenview

47. Mr Nigel Probert’s FTCh Drakeshead Drew of Llangynidr

48. The Duchess of Devonshire’s Buccleuch Bridgeknowes of Chatsworth handed by Mr John Halsted

49. Mrs Claire Raymond’s FTCh Nobsquinton Nettle

50. HM King Charles III’s FTCh Buccleuch Bowhill of Sandringham handled by Mr David Lisett