The UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), will once again host the gamekeepers’ classes at Crufts this weekend.
The competitions, which are open to gamekeepers, owners of working gundogs, gundog teams and young handlers, will be held on Gundog Day, Sunday 11th March 2018, at the NEC in Birmingham.
The BASC gamekeepers’ classes are unique to Crufts because they give handlers the opportunity to show working gundogs in their prime.
The top individual dogs owned by gamekeepers will go head-to-head in a final show in the main arena for the ‘Best in Gamekeeping Class’ title – and the chance to win the Northesk Memorial Trophy.
Alex Farrell, BASC’s game and gamekeeping officer, said: “After a busy season it will be great be able to showcase these working gundogs to a global audience at the biggest dog show in the world as they compete in the BASC gamekeepers classes.”
Ian Grindy, a member of BASC Council and chairman of the association’s game shooting and gamekeeping committee, said: “Crufts provides us with a fantastic opportunity to show off the skills of gamekeepers and their working dogs on a worldwide stage.
Apart from being a great event for the participants in our classes and visitors to the event, it allows us to educate people on the role of gamekeepers in the countryside and the importance of having a well-trained working gundog.”
The gamekeepers’ classes will be held in rings 25, 26 and 35 in Hall 5 at the NEC.
Anyone who has entered can check the running order of the BASC rings here: https://0ld.basc.org.uk/gundogs/basc-at-crufts/order-of-judging/