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A very proud moment - Charlie & I were presented with our Working Gundog Certificate on Game at Crufts 2009

Charlie - well what can I say about my best friend; up until last year I hadn't ventured into the world of working my dogs but felt I owed it to him to have a go!.  Charlie's training was a priority in 2008 and we worked very hard. I am extremely grateful to Steve Eyeington (Meadowdale) and Joy Venturi-Rose (Leospring) for their time, advice and encouragement. 

I am extremely proud of the standard we have reached.  In the early part of 2008 we started building up our partnership and I had to work hard to build Charlie's confidence.  As his confidence grew so did mine and I started to feel that we could actually make quite a good team.  I had weekly one-to-one lessons and in between worked hard so that we were progressing all the time.  In addition to my weekly training with Steve I attended group sessions with Joy and this helped build on our skills and helped highlight any weaknesses that I could work on. 

As our abilities developed we were able to stretch ourselves and we attended numerous successful training days.  The highlight for me was attended two days training walked-up in Sugar Beet, with Top Field Trial Competitors Mike Tallamy & Sara Gadd.  Initially I felt self-conscious that he was 100% show-bred and that he wouldn't be up to it, but I soon realised that it didn't matter and he actually was up to it!  I was so proud with his performance and was extremely grateful for the positive tips I received.  It was at this point that I was interested to see how far we had come in our training so we took the plunge and had a go at our first Novice Dog/Novice Handler Test August 08, where we scored well.  There were 6 tests which were each scored out of a possible 20 - our final scores were  17, 18, 16, 16, 10 and a 0 on the walk up - he did his turn (we were first in line) lovely but ran in when 2nd dog went!! Steadiness still a training need!!

As the year progressed towards the shooting season we started to think about our ultimate goal - the SGWC.  I have been extremely fortunate to be able to attend numerous shoots throughout the 2008 season which gave us excellent experience.  Charlie has been a peg dog on the Larkins Shoot, Tonbridge, Kent - fantastic friendly group of people and a lovely day out.  Also I am fortunate to have the opportunity to go picking-up near Thorpe Le Soken, Essex which is much nearer to home but another lovely group of people.  All this helped give us valuable experience and finally;

After gaining his Show Gundog Working Certificate at Ampton, Suffolk in December 2008 where he was one of two Full Champions made up on the day, I am very proud that he has now been assessed and awarded his WORKING GUNDOG CERTIFICATE ON GAME (Jan 09).  I have not only trained and handled him to his show wins but also now to his working achievements.

Now the SGWC has been obtained my goals have slightly changed - onwards and upwards with our training!  2009 I am hoping to be able to compete in some further NDNH tests and start to consolidate all we have learnt.

2009/10 - training has continued over time and we have been in one or two ND/NH tests.  I have been fortunate to meet Sam Morley-Riches (Rushbrigg) who has been very kind in also helping me with training for Charlie, Willow & Rosie.  Both I and the dogs continue to love the great outdoors and I am delighted with their continued progress.  Charlie has also been very fortunate to meet Mark & Jamie Bettinson who are also top Field Trial Competitors and trainers. I continue to be VERY grateful for any training opprtunity received and have met some great people along the way!

Chloe and Charlie have gained their Show Gundog Working Certificate and now Willow is in training as well.  I have been training Willow alongside Charlie in 2008 and although, she isn't as advanced we have made excellent progress and her confidence is growing all the time.  2009 will see me have to divert some more attention to Willow in the hope of her gaining her SGWC!!

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