our HISTORY

The Usk Valley Working Gundog Club was formed, as with many other clubs, by a few individuals interested in training their dogs to a reasonable standard. The 'roots' of the Club were planted back in the early 1990's when two couples, Ron and Barbara Hempstead and Pat and Howard Williams, met every week to train their dogs. These 'training sessions' took place on Ron and Barbara's ground at Cobblers Plain, which is not too far from Chepstow.

As the weeks and months passed so the 'training sessions' became more popular, expanding to such a level that the 'founders' decided a club should be formed. The club was formed and the inaugural meeting was held on Sunday, 29th March 1992, where the first committee was elected from those 'members' present at The Carpenters Arms in Llanishen, near Chepstow. The club was then registered with the Kennel Club, and at the time boasted some 50 members. The first Chairman was Ron Hempstead, the Treasurer was Pat Williams and the Secretary was Julie Hanks. From that humble beginning the club has gone from strength to strength and now has a membership approaching 550.

The Club was awarded field trial status in 1996 and ran its first Novice Retriever and Spaniel Trials the same year. In 2003 the Club ran its first Open Field Trial for Spaniels, followed in 2004 with its first one day Open for Any Variety Retriever. In 2009 the Club was granted permission to run its first 2 day Open for Any Variety Retriever, the first trial being run in 2010. In 2019 the Club was granted permission to hold its first HPR Novice Field Trial and first Novice Cocker Field Trial and May 2023 gained permission to hold our fist Open HPR Field Trial.

As a club it still relates to its original concept, that of providing training for its membership. In the early days well-known trainers would be invited to come along to the club’s ground and give training lessons; these training events are as popular with the membership today as they were a decade or so ago. 

CLICK HERE to download our Club Rules.

our AIMS

The Usk Valley Working Gundog Club, which supports the working retriever, spaniel and HPR breeds, has the following aims.

• To promote interest in the working retriever and spaniel breeds
• Provide facilities for training classes under experienced instructors for both retrievers and spaniels
• To promote Working Tests for various abilities
• To organise and run Field Trials for both the working retriever and spaniel breeds
• To provide its membership with up-to-date information regarding club activities
• To encourage junior handlers
• To encourage members to develop judging expertise

Classified as Retrievers  

Labradors Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Flat coated Retrievers, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels, Curly Coated Retrievers, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Classified as Spaniels   

English and Welsh Springer and Cocker Spaniels, together with Brittany, Sussex, Field and Clumber.

Classified as HPRs 

German Shorthaired Pointer, German Longhaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Weimaraner, Hungarian Vizsla, Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla, Brittany, Large Musterlander, Italian Sponone, Bracco Italiano, Korthais Griffon and Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer.

If you are interested in applying to join our committee, please send an expression of interest to our Chairman Mr Julian Morgan via email: morganjl@msn.com

A minimum of 12 months membership with our club is required.

Your expression should detail current experience that you hold and what you can bring to the club.

We look forward to hearing from you.