A Taste of the Trials

[Susan Stone]

Glen admiring the Cairngorms.

No Crufts for us... we had decided to head north to the Scottish Spring Trials this year. Imagine my surprise when I heard Glen was at Crufts! Not caged or benched, but larger than life and full of enjoyment together with his Pointer friend Beckett.

Unknown to myself (the KC says their email to me must have got lost) the photograph I had sent in for the KC photo competition had impressed the marketing department and was chosen for the KC's 'Breeding for the Future' stand at Crufts.

Thank you Hredar & Elin for sending me this fantastic photo:-))

On the weekend following Crufts, Glen and I were in Reeth for the KC training course in Yorkshire, trying for the Working Gundog Certificate. The training was fantastic, but none of participants for the WGC were lucky this time. Glen, who had behaved perfectly during training, finding & pointing grouse on the Saturday, dropping to flush, decided to have fun on the day of the test...  Admittedly the conditions on Sunday were very difficult and birds were scarce, scenting condition bad and the grouse not sitting tight. In the end after three runs with no find Glen just lost his nerve and decided to chase the one pair of grouse that he found!

Glen and I, setting off for the WGC. Thank you Diana for these photos.

Glen hunting...

Glen roading in on scent.

Next we drove North to various trials in Scotland. A record warm spring made this trip very memorable: we were sitting out in the garden of our B&B eating ice cream! The trials were most enjoyable and despite not being placed this year we had a wonderful time. Glen ran better at each trial, had some excellent finds and pleased me by backing his brace partners really well. OK, he was not always helped by his handler... ;-) We were running in the novice trials that took place on alternate days to the Opne trials. We went to watch the open stake and I was extremely impressed by the standard of these top working dogs. The ease, speed & style with which they hunted the rough heather was breathtaking.

A working bred Irish Setter. 

Glen backing a Pointer at a Novice trial.

Glen taking his job seriously!

 Glen backing, Gordon on point.

Dropping to flush.

We headed home on Sunday.. by Monday Sotland was covered in snow!

[Cheryl Gorey]

The glorious Glen!! Great photos as always, Susan.  Thanks for sharing.

[Peter Hennig]

ask the KC for the poster, how neat would that be on a wall at home

[Susan Stone]

Thank you for your lovely comments. Peter I think you are right, I must somehow get hold of the poster when the stand is no longer needed - but tell me how to get that back to Switzerland??? Never mind finding a wall in our house big enough... I suppose that means we need a new house!!!

[Ellen Turberfield]

lovely photos of Glen, especially liked first photo (",)

[Marta Magi]

What a huge poster from Cruft's, wow! Incredible adventures you must have had on the trials too and wondeful photos that I enjoyed to look at ..... again! :-) Many congratulations!!