field trial season

[winewood]

Hi all,
 When does the spaniel/field trials start in the UK, I know winter but how early do you start beating/picking. Thinking about planning a trip to England, Scotland, Wales would love to be able to watch. Might just coinside with each area we visit Lived in Essex for a year when I was younger (a lot)  and have been back once more to visit relatives, this time want to go north OH born near Blackburn so would be visiting his relatives. Also delved into genelogy, family actually from Dingwall in Scotland so wouldn't it be amazing if the dog trials were on also

[Nicola]

Things usually start to kick off in September-October with November, December and January probably the 'busiest' months so if you plan for around then you should be able to catch a few trials on your travels  

[*jean*]

If you are in dingwall there is the moy game fair in moy near inverness in the summer they have gundog scurries and demonstrations of working gundogs also shooting competitions and all manner of game stuff.. all the gamekeepers come and they have competitions between themselves as well its a good day out.
 http://www.moyfieldsportsfair.co.uk/

and at glamis
http://www.scotlandscountrysidefestival.co.uk/

 there are local agricultural shows all over the place and although there are no gundog trials up here then there are loads of sheepdog trials all over the place. Ill post dates below.

http://www.blackisleshow.info/index.asp?PageID=13

list of  sheepdog trials..
May 12
Great Glen Open
Achindaul, Spean Bridge, Fort william, Inverness
Details: Iain McConnell 01397 722236

June 3
Drynie Double Lift
Details: R Watson 01349 863209

June 9
Monymusk Open SDT
Milton Farm, Kemnay
Details: Jim Riddell 01467 651799

June 10
Bennachie SDT
Edingarioch Farm, Auchenleven, Insch, Aberdeenshire
On B992 between A96 and A944
Details: Val McLeod, 2 Boat Croft, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire

June 16
Tomatin Sheepdog Society Open
Press Farm, Tomatin, Inverness
First 65 paid entries to Secretary (£4 per dog)
Details: Heather McIntyre 01808 511778

June 30
Lairg SDT
Details: J Cameron 01549 402012

July 7
Aultguish SDT
Details: R Watson 01349 863209

July 7
Fetlar Sheepdog Trial
Bydanle, Fetlar
Drive north from Lerwick to Toft, take ferry to Yell, drive north to Gutcher, take ferry to

Fetlar.
Follow signs to campsite.
Details: Isla Thomason. 01957 733202

July 14, 16-21 - Hebridean Circuit
14th: Waternish Details: K C Mackinnon 01470 532331
16th: Details: D MacRitchie 01851 810579
17th: Details: D MacRitchie 01851 810579
18th: Details: D MacRitchie 01851 810579
19th: Details: D MacRitchie 01851 810579
20th: Bernisdale: Details: K C Mackinnon 01470 532331
21st: Dunvegan: Details: K C Mackinnon 01470 532331

July 21
Gairloch SDT
Achtercairn Farm. Gairloch, Ross-shire
Details: D Grant 01445 712412

July 21
Northmarine SDT
North Roe, 20 miles north of Lerwick on the main north road
Details: Andrew Reidson 01806 544363

July 22
Aboyne SDT Open
Ballogie, Aboyne
Off South Deeside Road B976
Details: Ian Rigby 01467 642553 email ardachaidh@aol.com

July 25
Cowal Open SDT
Sandbank, Dunoon, Argyll
Dunoon is 30 miles west of Glasgow
Details: Margaret Davidson 01369 706587

July 28
Ardgay Details: H Mackenzie 01863 766033

July 28
Yell SDT
By ferry from Toft to Alsta. Turn left 4 miles for West Sandwich
Details: Mary Clarke 01957 722219

August 1
Lingwall SDT
Semnister, Gott, Lingwall
On the main norh road, 4 miles from Lerwick
Details: 01595 695985

August 1
Ardlamont Open SDT
Kilfinan Farm, Kilfinan, PA21
On B8000 Kilfinan road
Details: D Crawford, Craignafeoch, Tighnabrauh, Argyll PA21 2BU

August 4
Lochbroom
Details: S Renwick 01854 655209

August 11-18 - North Circuit
11th: Lochcarron Details: E Mackinnon 01520 766210
12th: Kincraig Details: P Fullarton 01540 661368
13th: Newtonmore Details: V Montgomery 01540 673502
14th: Kingussie Details: P Fullarton 01540 673502
15th: Nethy Details: 01479 872868
16th: Watten Details: W Gunn 01955 603443
17th: Mey Details: W Cormack 1847851274
18th: Golspie Details: D Murray 01408 621397

August 19
West Side SDT
Stump Farm Field
Take the main west road Lerwick-Walls. First left past Bixter, then continue 4 miles
Details: Marcus Georgeson 01595 860785

August 29
South Mainland SDT
On main Lerwick-Sumburgh road, 4 miles from airport
Details: Maurice Anderson 01950 460113

August 30
Mull Open
Near Gruiline, ISle of Mull
Details: Netta MacDougal 01688 302490

September 1
Rogart
Details: J Ross 01408 641238

September 1
Lockerbie & District SDT
Mainham Farm, Kettleham
Approx 5 miles from Lockerbie heading towards Annan
Details: J W Common Crossdykes, Lockerbie DG11 2QL

September 8
Edinburgh Open SDT
Laureston Farm, Silverknowes, Edinburgh
Details: John MacRae 0131 476 1844 john_n_erradale@yahoo.co.uk

September 8
Fort Augustus Open
Borlum Farm, Glendoe Estate, Fort Augustus
Half mile from Fort Augustus village on B862
Details: Jane Kackillop 01320 366532

September 29
Acharacle Sheepdog Trial
Open & Confined classes
Carnoch Farm, Strontian, North Argyll
Details: Mike Frith 01967 402138

September 29
Durness Open Sheepdog Trials
Keoldale Farm, Durness, Sutherland
Details: Mary Murray 01971 511255

October 7 (provisional date, to be confirmed)
Loudown & Galston SDT
Two miles east of Darvel on A71
Details: JM Seton 01560 320392 or 07932 112950

October 13
Tomatin Sheepdog Society Hill Trial
Moy Mains Farm, Moy, Tomatin, Inverness
Entries on field (£4 per dog)
Details: Heather McIntyre 01808 511778

[winewood]

Thanks so much for replies, I know I'm sneaky would love to watch the Gundog scurries could you tell me what exactly is involved.

Thanks Heaps
Val

[Cazzie]

Thanks so much for replies, I know I'm sneaky would love to watch the Gundog scurries could you tell me what exactly is involved.

Thanks Heaps
Val

First and foremost these scurries IMO are all about fun.    There are too many people nowadays entering for the wrong reasons.  A scurry is to have you´re dog retrieve the thrown dummies in the fastest time. Anyone can enter and I think it depends on which event you are at as to what dogs maybe entered but mostly any dog can.??   

Cazzie

[crazyspaniels]

If you let us know roughly when you are coming over then we can let you know whats on and where, depends on the game fair as to how good the scurries are, we don't have great ones in Scotland, but the big english game fairs have some amazing scurries fos serious prizes. In the UK it is good manners to ask permission to attend a trial unless its part of a game fair or public event, so if you see a trial and there is a secretary then phone them up and speak to them first.

[winewood]

Thanks so much for replies, so scurries, fairs summer then oct on wards trials. Hopefully we could make it Oct then we could see Scotland and not be snowed in and not to cold we are comming from Sydney how cold is it Inverness/Dingwall that time of year?

Also would love to know all the games played in the scurries would like to suggest fun day for the Cocker club here

[crazyspaniels]

http://www.thegundogclub.co.uk/scurries.htm
here is a good outline of some of them.
Willow loves the hay bale scurry, she is really good at that one, the other one we have done well will is a dummy thrower stands about 30 metres away in between 2 trees, he throw one dummy behind one tree and the other dummy behind the other tree, dog is then sent for the dummies, and has to fetch one and retrieve it and then remember where the 2nd one is

[*jean*]

 I dingwall october will be colder than you are used to.   it could be dry but there will be darker nights and autum leaves on the trees.if there is a good frost at nights you will get really good colours in the trees as the leaves die and fall. warm jumpers will be required..