David’s journey into Gundog training began remarkably early. At just 14 years old, he started training his first dog, quickly developing the skills and discipline that would shape his future career in the sport. Strongly influenced by his mother, Janice Cunningham who was herself an A Panel Judge for Spaniels and Retrievers, David grew up immersed in the Gundog community. Under her guidance and through years of commitment, he steadily built a reputation as both a talented handler and knowledgeable judge. Today, at only 32 years old, David has achieved what many spend decades striving towards, becoming one of the UK’s ...

We are delighted to welcome two highly respected figures in the gundog world as Retriever Judges for this year’s Four Nations at Scone Palace — Donald (Donnie) Leitch of Scotland and Michael Jones of Wales. Between them, they bring decades of experience in training, trialling, breeding, and judging at the very highest level, both nationally and internationally. Donald Leitch has spent a lifetime immersed in shooting and gundogs, inspired by his upbringing as the son of a gamekeeper. Over nearly 30 years, he has established himself as a leading figure in retriever work. As a Panel Retriever Judge, ...

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 ...

Scurries are an exciting way to showcase a dog's retrieving skills in a competitive setting, making them an ideal introduction to Gundog competitions. Scurries at The GWCT Scottish Game Fair These events are straightforward and accessible, typically requiring participants to simply show up, pay a nominal fee, and compete. The format is uncomplicated: a blank shot is fired to signal the start, and the timer begins when the dog crosses the starting line to retrieve a dummy, stopping once they return. This simplicity allows anyone, regardless of their dog's experience level or breed, to participate. Many newcomers have discovered that ...

Fundraising Success Stories from the UK Gundog Community The strength of the Gundog community extends far beyond the field. Across the UK, individuals involved in the sport are raising significant funds for charitable causes, united by shared values and a commitment to supporting others. Sharon Dingle of Bellspaddle Gundogs has raised more than £50,000 through a variety of fundraising initiatives. Her most recent campaign supports Keeping Abreast UK, a charity that assists women considering or undergoing reconstructive surgery following a cancer diagnosis. In partnership with Gamekeepers Goods, Sharon introduced a creatively redesigned pink training dummy, an initiative that has already ...

Kevin Doughty’s journey into the world of Gundog trials began in 1984, when he clinched victory in his first novice retriever trial. Since then, he has become a prominent figure in the sport, achieving remarkable success with Labradors and Golden Retrievers. Over the years, he has accumulated more than 36 trial wins, and has bred and trained dogs that have earned the coveted Field Trial Champion (FTCH) status. His current champion, FTCH Tideshot Vinny of Highseas, has qualified for the prestigious IGL Retriever Championship for the last three years, with hopes of extending this streak to four. But Doughty’s talents ...

Member of Team Ireland talks to us about winning the Top dog Award for the last 2 years and how he is hoping to make the team this year with his homebred dog, FTCH Balleyvalley Riley. Question 1 Tell us a bit about Riley? Riley will be 7 this July. He is homebred out of my Field Trial winning bitch, Balleyvalley Sam to Kirsty Cousin’s FTCH Dunjailin Rocky Rogue of Westerkames. Riley has been very easy to train from a young age. He has a lot of natural ability and a fantastic temperament. He is a lovely strong ...

Samantha Boyle has been a cornerstone of the Gundog and Scurry events for over a decade. Her journey into the world of Gundogs began 18 years ago, inspired by her parents, who trained and competed with Labradors. 15 years ago at The Scottish Game Fair, her son competed in the Junior Handlers event. Ten years ago, Samantha joined the Gundog committee, which then had about eight members. Today, the committee consists of Samantha, David Logan, William Drummond, and Iain Semple, working together to keep the Gundog events thriving. As the Gundog and Scurry Organiser, Samantha oversees every detail, from appointing ...