The Kronch Four Nations Spaniels Competition is a high-level team gundog event held as part of the Scottish Game Fair, where top working dogs from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales compete under UK Kennel Club rules.

Each national team, selected by captains rather than open entry, includes three spaniels (alongside retrievers for the overall event), and both individual and team performances are scored to determine winners.

What will the Kronch Four Nations Spaniel Judges be assessing:

How effectively each dog and handler performs on real working tasks in a simulated shooting environment.
They watch for qualities such as the dog’s ability to hunt and flush game efficiently.
Responding promptly to commands, remain steady and under control, and work in partnership with the handler.
Judges also evaluate style, pace, accuracy, and overall discipline, marking faults like lack of control, missed game, or poor handling.

Kronch Four Nations Gundog Competition 2026 Spaniel Judges:

Ireland Judge Ronan Gorman

Ronan Gorman has been immersed in country sports and gundog work from an early age, developing a deep-rooted passion for spaniels and field sports that has shaped both his personal and professional life. Based in County Derry, Ronan runs a private game shoot where he regularly hosts spaniel field trials, contributing significantly to the development and promotion of working dogs in Ireland.

Alongside his hands-on involvement in the field, Ronan has built an extensive career at leadership level within several of Ireland’s leading country sports and conservation organisations. He currently serves as Chief Executive of Country Sports Ireland, reflecting his ongoing commitment to the sector.

Running dogs under the ‘Commonshall’ affix, Ronan has been a consistent and successful field trial competitor since gaining his first award in 1998. His achievements include placements at both the Irish Kennel Club AV Spaniel Championships and the Kennel Club (UK) AV Spaniel Championships.

An ‘A Panel’ judge under both Irish Kennel Club and Kennel Club (UK) rules, Ronan has judged at the highest level, including the 2021 Irish Kennel Club AV Spaniel Championships, the 2025 Irish Cocker Spaniel Championship, and the prestigious 50th Irish Kennel Club AV Spaniel Championship in 2026.

England Judge Aubrey Ladyman

Aubrey Ladyman’s journey into gundogs began in the 1970s, following his enrolment on a gamekeeping course after leaving school. This led to a position at Thame Park in Oxfordshire, where he purchased his first English Springer Spaniel and quickly developed a passion for training and working dogs.

Spending every available moment honing his skills, Aubrey went on to run several small shoots, gaining invaluable practical experience and a deep appreciation for working spaniels.

With over 25 years of field trialling experience, Aubrey has enjoyed remarkable success, winning more than 60 Open Qualifiers and handling over 20 Field Trial Champions. His achievements include winning the Kennel Club AV Spaniel Championship twice—first in 2009 and again in 2024—firmly establishing his reputation at the very top level of the sport.

Aubrey has also proudly represented England on multiple occasions at the CLA Game Fair. His ‘Rosebay’ affix has produced numerous Field Trial Champions, further underlining his contribution to the sport.

He is greatly looking forward to judging the Four Nations Spaniel competition at Scone Palace and to seeing some of the finest dogs from across the home nations compete.

Ronan Gorman (Ireland)