One of Britain’s biggest gundog events reached its climax at The Big Gundog Weekend in Betley, Cheshire, when 20 finalists competed to become the BASC Chudleys Scurry League Champion for 2016.
More than 1,200 individuals entered the competition which ran at shows throughout the spring and summer. The winner in a closely contested final was Dave Ross with his Labrador Jack who scored 103 points, narrowly beating Charlotte Wilkinson, who took second place with her Labrador Kiwi with 98 points. Third place was taken by Kevin Warburton and his Labrador KD with 82 points. Following a run-off, Carolan Smerdon won the fourth prize with her Labrador Tamber with 80 points and Jo Irons was in fifth place with her Labrador Buzz with 80 points.
The finalists were those who had accumulated the highest total of points at 12 events throughout the country involving various disciplines including obstacle scurries, water retrieves, long retrieves and pick-and-mix retrieves. The final involved six individual scurries over difficult terrains that included woodland, grass and rough ground.
Alex Farrell, one of BASC’s game and gamekeeping officers, said: “It was a great day and a pleasure to see all the hard work from competitors throughout the year pay off to reach the final. The standard of dog handling was excellent. We are extremely grateful to Chudleys for their continued sponsorship of this event and the BASC gundog programme.”
Ian Grindy, a member of BASC council and chairman of BASC’s game and gamekeeping committee, said: “Congratulations to all who took part. The co-operation between dog and handler is vital in sporting shooting and we know members quite rightly relish the chance to show off their teamwork.”
The main sponsor was Chudleys, who provided the winner with a year’s worth of free dog food, six months food for second place, four months food for third place, three months food for fourth place and two months food for fifth place.
The winners received a variety of other prizes, supplied by wildlife artist John Naylor, Lintran, Tuffies, Charles Wall clothing, Sporting Saint and Ogden’s Shooting Supplies.
All 20 finalists received personalised, commemorative glass trophies from Crystal Vision, a dog training vest from Sporting Saint and a game bag from Ogden’s Shooting Supplies.
Chudleys also supplied prizes of dog food vouchers and rosettes to participants throughout the duration of the league.