I hope I have found all of the BASC Gamekeeper Class results. Traditionally these classes were for the British breeds of retriever, which they still have, with Labradors and English Springer Spaniels having their own breed classes. Today Flats, Curlies, Chesapeakes, Goldens and Nova Scotias lump together in the Any Other Variety Retriever classes, with 7 spaniel breeds, Logottos and Spanish Water Dogs all competing in the Any Other Variety Sporting Spaniel classes, HPRs have their own classes. There are 3 sections with classes for gamekeepers, best dog and best bitch. There are also team competitions and more recently Best Young Handler. There is no best overall, except for the Gamekeeper classes where dogs owned by bone fide gamekeepers/beat keepers come into the main ring at the end of the day to be judged for Best Gamekeeper Dog.
These classes are becoming evermore popular. This year there seemed to be more Chesapeakes entered than in other years making 17 entries, 10 of these were in the Working Gundog Best Bitch class. The only qualification is a gamekeeper/beat keeper/shoot captain would verify in writing that your dog has worked on their shoot during the season. Several years ago when I judged the BASC Dog classes owners would tell with pride unprompted how many days their dog had worked last season. One would expect that all of the dogs would look like working gundogs, which are normally sleeker and carry less weight. They may not have the breed characteristics called for in a breed standard, this said there are many people who enjoy dual purpose dogs. In one of the classes I judged, Any Other Variety Spaniel, in came an American Cocker Spaniel in full and floating coat, the owner in sequins having dashed from a breed ring. In 50 years I have yet to see one of these Spaniels in full coat work on a shoot day. I placed the dog 2nd out of 3, it moved well, was well made, had excellent muscle and correct scissor bite. The person who came 3rd was very displeased telling me he did not think the ACS could work. I told him I was judging the different dogs, there was no question that any of them could or could not work, reminding him that the dog had already been certified by a gamekeeper that it was!
Fosse Data have only published 1st to 3rd of the results and not in all classes. So it has taken a little bit of searching to find them. Some of the classes had entries of over 30, so even to be short listed is nice. As Max Boyce would say, speaking of an eisteddfod, you never come last you would come somewhere. So well done to everyone who entered, took part or was placed, making a good show of the breed.
AVOR Dogs, 2nd Baments’ Pixierock Maestro Cadenza; VHC Royles’ Battsrock Are You Ready. AOVR Bitches, 1st Blabers, Mellersh-Tett & Watts’ Oakmarsh Land Of Promise. BASC Gamekeepers AOVR, 2nd Poulton’s Passione Knightspool; VHC Watts’ Oakmarsh Little Acorn. The Oakmarsh team came 2nd in the Gamekeeper Team class and 4th in The Working Gundog Team class. Oakmarsh representing the Bergholt Hall Shoot got the Special Award Trophy for the smartest team. Well done to Cara Blaber coming 2nd in the BASC Junior Handling class with Oakmarsh Laural. I believe I am correct in saying Middleton & Mayhew’s Arnac Bay Jellicoe JW placed 3rd in the Working Gundog Best Bitch class. I apologise if I have got any of this wrong or if I have missed any results out. Please let me know if anything needs correcting.
Now a small matter which I was disappointed to hear. Two different people have told me that they saw some element of unsportsman like behaviour when watching dogs run in the ring. I am sure we have all seen at times some handlers who might run too close or overtake dogs in front when a group of dogs are being run at the same time. This is bad sportsmanship; however it can be extremely frustrating to a handler of a fast running dog.
Running all of the dogs or a section of the dogs in the same class can be unfair to some of the exhibitors. Most judges will run all or part of a class at the same time assessing side gait and carriage against each other and not individually against the standard. The ring will move at the speed of the dog in front, with the others that may bunch up behind. Dogs constructed differently will move at different speeds and slow-moving dog in front will impede the movement of a longer striding dog in the rear. This is really a bone of contention with me and has been for many years. I will always remember exhibiting one of my bitches that had exceptionally good balanced angulation with reach and drive that she did not seem to touch the ground but glided around the ring. She won her class and we later came in for the challenge, there were 2 other class winners in front, one was an elderly veteran who trotted passively around. I held back giving my dog room to move but even this ended up in almost a walk. My bitch did not place any further which was disappointing but fine until I read the judges critique – a man with vast national and international experience cited that my bitch lost her drive in the challenge! I was very furious in this judge’s lack of understanding between the different speed dogs can move. It is entirely at the judge’s discretion how we are asked to move each dog, but we should all be given the same opportunity and should not be held back, overtaken or interfered with by another dog.
I have had 3 dogs come for sheep training. At present we have 70 yearling ewes that have become so quiet among my own dogs that they follow when going for a walk. If you want any help introducing your dog to sheep please let me know before you go.
Janet Morris
01873 880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com