Results from the second days action in the Gundog Scurries and Working Test at the Kelmarsh Game and Country Fair.

Results from the first days action in the Gundog Scurries and Working Test at the Kelmarsh Game and Country Fair.

It may not be Vegas, but the stakes are still high. Whether you call it Black Jack or ‘21s’ you’ll need more than lady luck to win in this devilishly tricky gundog scurry. In Pontoon it’s the dog that can collect the highest hand in the shortest time will cash in, and may be on there way to winning the Mitsubishi ASX Crossover worth up to £20,000LP!

The Partridge Pen Gundog Scurry simulates a retrieve that a gundog may be expected to make during the shooting season. As the name suggests, partridge pens are used for rearing young birds before they are released shortly before the start of the shooting season. The pens are typically 2.5 metres square, and about 0.75 metres high. When the birds are released the pens usually remain in situ and shot partridge will often fall into an open pen. Gundogs must be able to jump into the pen to make the retrieves. This is one of the more popular gundog scurries for novice handlers, as each of the 2 retrieves is “seen” or thrown when the dog is able to mark them.

The Long Retrieve Gundog Scurry is all about speed. Although it looks easy, your dog needs speed, stamina and a good memory to mark the long retrieve and bring it back fast. This is one of the most visually spectacular of our gundog scurries, and gives you a great perspective on the vast distances over which gundogs are expected to work.

At Countryman Fairs we recognise that while it’s important to celebrate the achievements of gundogs and their handlers who are at the very top of their game, it is essential that we encourage newcomers to the sport that we all enjoy so much. Each of our gundog scurries is simple enough for novices to enjoy, but also tricky enough to test the mettle of the very best. But sometimes a stress and pressure free environment is the best place to take your first steps. That’s where the Novice Gundog Scurry comes in.

In the Up & Over Gundog Scurry it’s a fast and furious scramble to bring back two retrieves over the obstacle course in the fastest time. The Up & Over is a little different to our other gundog scurries as it is run over a compact course, and usually only takes the fastest dogs a handful of seconds! However the compact nature of the Up & Over makes it a great scurry for novice handlers and younger dogs.

In the Pot Black Gundog Scurry, this unique game of “Gundog Snooker” challenges the skills of the handler and the receptiveness of the gundog. A popular scurry for spaniel handlers, Pot Black offers a variety of retrieves, with each one getting slightly harder as the points progress. As gundog scurries go, Pot Black is one of the most exciting as it requires a great deal of rapport between dog and handler. One slip, or colour out of turn and its game over!

Gundog Working Tests are competitions that artificially simulate shooting day conditions, in order to assess the working abilities of gundogs. Gundog Working Tests are effectively a simulated Field Trial, although our Working Test has subtle differences from other gundog events. Field Trials have been developed to test the working ability of gundogs in competitive conditions, and resemble, as closely as possible, a day's shooting in the field including the use of live game. No live game is shot during a working test, but organisers can choose to use cold game.