The prestigious International Gundog League Retriever Championship is now held each year in late November/early December and the title is the most coveted in the world of competitive retrieving.
There are reports of past Championships below and you can visit the Photo Gallery for more photographs.
The 2023 IGL Retriever Championship was held at the Queensberry Estate, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland by the kind and generous invitation of His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KBE, DL on Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th & Wednesday 29th November 2023.
The judges were Nigel Carville, Greig Paterson, Steve Richardson and Mike Rolland.
The Steward of the Beat was Head Keeper Rab Clark.
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.
The Championship this year was held at the Ampton Estate in Suffolk by kind permission of the Turner Family and by invitation of Mr Peter Rushbrook of Box Tree Game Supplies on 29 November, 30 November and 1 December.
Judges were Jamie Bettinson, Mark Demaine, Kevin Doughty and Garry Ford.
Steward of the Beat was Alan Hammond, Head Keeper of the Ampton Shoot.
The Retriever Championship 2019 was held at the Glenalmond Estate, Perthshire by kind permission of Astrup Fearnley AS on 25th, 26th & 27th November.
Judges were Keith Bedford, Lynn Mitchell, Damien Newman and Phil Parkins.
Steward of the Beat was Glenalmond Estate Head Keeper Brian Dickson.
The IGL Retriever Championship was held at Packington Hall, West Midlands by kind permission of Lord and Lady Guernsey on 3rd, 4th & 5th December.
Picture: Marie-Eve Buchs
The Championship was very generously hosted on 4, 5 & 6 December by the Holden family at Out Rawcliffe in Lancashire where their Hy-Fly Game Hatcheries is well known not only for its long established game farm but also in more recent years for holding successful trials. During the course of the Championship he and FT Ch Buccleuch Xena impressed with the efficiency of their retrieving, picking stylishly in a seemingly effortless way and with minimal handling. FT Ch Buccleuch Xena is a dog that you want to watch all day long and it no surprise to learn that she has gone from Novice Field Trial winner to Retriever Champion in one season.
Picture: John Lupton
The 2016 International Gundog League Retriever Society Championship was held on 6th, 7th, 8th December 2016 at Ampton by kind permission of the Turner family and invitation of Peter Rushbrook. The Winner, for the fourth time, Mr David Latham with F/T Ch Beileys Aguzannis of Fendawood is shown below. Mr Latham is only the third person to have won the Championship four times.
The 2015 International Gundog League Retriever Championship was held on on 30th November, 1st and 2nd December 2015 on the Queensberry Estate, Dumfries and Galloway by generous invitation of His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KBE, DL.
First place and the 2015 Retriever Champion: Handler Mr J W Halsted with Lady Celina Carter’s F.T.CH. ASTERIX AGUZANNIS of CHATSWORTH (photographed with the The Duchess of Devonshire DL).
The 2014 International Gundog League Retriever Championship was held on 1st – 3rd December 2014 at Windsor by gracious invitation of Her Majesty the Queen and the Crown Commissioners.
Picture: Winner Richard King and Ft Ch Saxaphone Brown Ale of Lincswolds
The 2013 Retriever Championship was held at Lauder, Borders, Scotland, TD2 6QY by kind invitation of Mr. W. Young Snr., Mr. W. Young Jnr. and Eskdale Shooting Services.
Picture: 2013 Retriever Champion F.T.Ch Ellijas Danny with owner Mr L Jackson