The Kennel Club Open Gundog Working Tests Victor McDevitt reports on the Spaniel Section Photos Provided by the Author Spaniel Competitors and Helpers In beautiful summery weather, The Kennel Club's Retriever and Spaniel Open Gundog Working Tests were held at the beautiful estate of Arbury Park Nuneaton near Coventry (Midlands) England on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June 2003, respectively. Lord Daventry had very kindly placed the estate at our disposal - together with the assistance of his gamekeeper, David Culton, and retired keeper, Owen Stainthorpe, who had prepared the ground to perfection. The Coventry and District Gundog Society were invited to assist The Kennel Club in the preparation of the ground and to provide the manpower needed to ensure the smooth running of the events. They produced a very professional team, kitted out in matching green shirts and caps carrying the club's logo. These club members, led by their Chairman, Michael Frazer-Allen, did an excellent and very efficient job over the weekend, all of which helped created an enjoyable gundog test - with a difference. Thanks must go to all of the society's members and, in particular, to Derek Capel for his smooth and calm organization as Chief Steward of the retriever section "Fresh ground, natural cover, fallen trees, broken branches and game scent would provide different problems for each handler and dog." Before entering the woodland where the competition was to take place, the twenty competitors for the Open Spaniel Test assembled for a briefing. Present with the competitors were the two Judges, Graham Mulligan and Martin Ford, together with the enthusiastic members of the Coventry Society functioning as Stewards, Dummy Throwers, and Crowd Control... plus a good number of friends and well wishers. Page 1 | Spaniel Journal | Next Page |