2024

2023

HPR Working Test

Big Pit, Bleanavon, Saturday 4th June

by kind permission of Allan and Ashley Addis

Firstly I want to thank Allan and Ashley Addis for the kind permission to use this fantastic ground. Allan especially was a true gentleman and could not do enough to accommodate us. Also all the competitors who traveled far and wide some making a 4 hour plus Journey. Ashley also put his catering van on site for us this made one less job for feeding the helpers and judges. With out the help of the HPR folk who continue to help out with stewarding, dummy throwing and and general help around base camp.

A big thank you to Thomas Jones who turns up every year to throw dummies he did the novice and open water retrieves. Linda kirby and Paul Jones who did the novice retrieves ,Mac Mattravers who did the open retrieves and Marie Campbell who looked after the puppy group. I can’t thank our judges enough for travelling into wales and giving up their day for us. Our open judge was Nigel Wroe B panel 3727,our novice judge was Micheal Ede, puppy judge was Paul Jones and our water Judge who stepped up at the last minute Shirley Mattravers.

It was great to see so many local and Welsh HPRs in the awards, hopefully building the Welsh HPR community for the future. Thanks to Skinners and acme whistles for sponsoring the day.

The results:

PUPPY

1st R. Chellumbrun .HV. Vizellven Eks Vanilli 

2nd R. Bailey. HWV. Gwlithydore Katica

3rd T. Robinson. GSP. Mylo Boondocks

4th D. Aldridge. HV. Vizellven Eks Vision

COM. D. Morris. BDA Darcy Kestrael Dianell Moravia Imp Czech

NOVICE 

1st M. Pask. GSP. Quirkyquail Whooper. Swan

2nd R. Evans. GSP. Night Hawk Rocket

3rd R. England. HV. Lindenwood Gwydion

4th M. Crook. HV. Finnougric Fforest

COM I. Mccelallan. HWV. Woodwind Flyer at Calondraig 

COM A. Mead. HV. Swiftrusset fearless one

COM S. Northwood. HV. VizashCrisanto Del Acquadoro

OPEN 

1st M. Taylor. KG. Radipole Fear the Beard

2nd D. Belassie-Page .HWV. Miadsc Make a Wish at Lassanayi

3rd I. Jones. GWP. Ynyslas Deadly Accurate 

4th M. Taylor. KG. Radipole Chasseresse

COM I. Jones. GWP. Ynyslas Easypeasy

COM J. Ayling .GWP. Bareve Buffelsberg

COM A. Shaw. HV. Nemzet Kincse Gummybear at Magyar

COM D. Aldridge. GSP. Jorgei Ingo 

Hope to see you all next year.

2022

HPR Working Test

Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Sunday 5th June

by kind permission of Earl and Countess of Suffolk & Berkshire

Thank you to the Earl and Countess of Suffolk & Berkshire for allowing us to hold our Working Test at Charlton Park.

The results:

PUPPY

1st Karen Saynor LM Ekkolander Malbec

2nd M.Pask GSP Quirkyquail Whooper Swan

3rd Russ Hicks GSP Artlan Mojito

4th Marie Campbell HWV Haywire We Are Golden 

NOVICE 

1st Karen Saynor LM Ekkolander Malbec

2nd Susan Northwood HV Vizash Crisanto Del Acquadoro

3rd Fiona Briley SHRP Achouffe Fentons Fable

4th Mark Spearing KG Radipoole Coco

OPEN 

1st Andrew Farley GSP Warrendown Genesis

2nd Emma Carter GSP Pioro Zcudownego Lasu 

3rd James Reavil HV Rebelritsi Aurora

4th Adrian Shaw HV Nemzet Kincse Gummybear at Magyar

Thank you very much to the Judges, Hannah Spearman, Joe Taylor, Ian Jones; Mark Taylor, Simon Kirby and Richard Doran. Thank you very much to all the Helpers and to our Sponsors Skinners and Mae and Ivy Events. Thank you to or Working Test Secretary Simon Kirby and thank you very much Pauline Kirby and Vicky Nisbet for you hard work and support helping to organise this Annual Working Test.

Many Congratulations to our Award Winners and thank you to the Competitors for entering and supporting the day.

2020

Unfortunately, Covid-19 had other ideas for our club, committee, members and the sport in general. All 6 working tests had to be cancelled due to government guidance and restrictions, but thanks to our working test secretaries Simon Kirby, David Thomas and Jane Stenner who had planned some great tests across a number of lovely venues for the season. Thank you to the landowners who had permitted us to use their ground and to the judges who were willing to give up their time to support the running of our event. Thank you to Skinners and BASC for their sponsorship. We wish you all the best for what we hope will be a more promising 2021.

2019

What a year we have had in 2019 with our working test events. A huge thank you to our secretaries, Simon Kirby, David Thomas and Steve Erasmus who have done a brilliant job in organising these events for our competitors and have all kindly agreed to continue in their roles for 2020. Thank you to our landowners and sponsors, who without we could not run our events. Our appreciation to all our helpers throughout the season, many of whom have stepped in at last minute - without your kindness and generosity of committing your time to the club, our competitors could not run at our events. Finally, thank you to our competitors and their dogs who continue to support the club by entering our events, but also for braving the varying weather that the Welsh countryside has to offer. We wish you all the best for 2020 and look forward to seeing you all again soon.

HPR Working Test

Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Sunday 9th June

by kind permission of Earl and Countess of Suffolk & Berkshire

Our Judges for the day were as follows;

Puppy: John Cottrell

Novice: Francis Briley / Larry Wilks

Open: Eddie Hales / Larry Wilks

Water: Ian Jones

As always, the HPR provision at Usk Valley is always well supported and we welcomed 64 dogs to the grounds, with weather conditions being kind to us. We welcomed a number of applicants who had travelled 2 – 3 hrs to enter these events, so our appreciation and thanks to those that made the trek.

The day ran like clockwork and our extended thanks go to Mel Crook, Ashley Nesbet, Paul Jones, Thomas Jones, Mac Mattravers and Richard Doran who threw dummies throughout the day and supported with setting up and closing down the event. In addition, thank you to Vikki Kirby for cooking breakfast and dinner for the judges and helpers and kept the tent in order. Thank you to Pauline Kirby for overseeing the organisation of the day and to Mandy Hicks for her support with the scores and certification. Thank you to Skinners Dog Food for their sponsorship and all involved behind the scenes.

Thank you to Lord and Lady Suffolk who were present throughout the day and spoke with competitors. Thank you for presenting the awards at the end of the day, a lovely way to compliment such a great event.

Congratulations and well done to all our competitors, The results on the day were:

PUPPY

1st. Mapplehaze Lasanta @ Huwlindragon handled by Huw Kirby (GWP)

2nd. Cheynon Nandita Kishori handled by Christine Sterritt (WEI)

3rd. Dislarhill Apache handled by Micheal Rogers (GSP)

4th. Northen Arrows Merry Maus Von Trubon handled by Suzi Burton (WEI)

NOVICE

1st. Maplehaze Lasanta @ Huwlindragon handled by Huw Kirby (GWP)

2nd. Tweed Mull handled by John Bennett (HWV)

3rd. Indijazz Nothing Compares handled by Phillip Parker (GSP)

4th, Harrigoss Summer Sun handled by Claire Jones (HWV)

OPEN

1st. Stairfoot Sky handled by Steve Pudney (GSP)

2nd. Ismeya Saint Isaac handled by Andrea Wyatt (HV)

3rd. Northen Arrows Merry Maus Von Trubon handled by Suzi Burton (WEI)

4th. Moonrunner Isla @ Gilleyfield Handled by Louise Holmes (GSP)

Unclassified Class for FCI Breeds

1st. Nutella De Yannigean handled by Brenda Moss (EPA)

Young Handler Award

Adam Reddish

A huge congratulations and well done to first place in puppy and novice, who’s dog is only 11 months old and to third place in the open who’s dog is just 12 months old. This is a great achievement for both handler and dog, well done.



Thank you once again to all those who are involved in making this event the success that it is. Our extended gratitude to Brenda Moss and Larry Wilkes who have volunteered hours of their time prior to the event to support setting the tests and ensuring that the day will run smoothly.

2018

We are not sure where 2018 has gone, but the time flying by would not be possible without the support of our committee, officers, landowners, judges, sponsors, helpers and most importantly our competitors. Our working test season has been a busy one and our thanks and appreciation is extended to our test secretaries... David Thomas (Retrievers), Jane Stenner (Spaniels) and Simon Kirby (HPR) who have worked tirelessly before, during and after the events to ensure that we can all enjoy our sport and can have a bit of fun along the way. This year we took the gamble to change some of the classes run across our test events, which has paid off and next year promises to be more testing, exciting and we hope to host on a number of new grounds.

David and Simon will continue with their roles next year, but unfortunately, Jane has taken the decision to step down from her role as Spaniel Test Secretary. Jane will continue to support the events and we would like to thank Steve Erasmus, who has offered to take on the role of Spaniel Secretary for 2019. Thank you Steve and good luck.

We are always looking for willing volunteers to assist us at our events. Not only are you supporting us, but this is an opportunity for you to observe the sport up close and personal, meet like minded individuals and gain some invaluable experiences. Please let our WTS know if you can help at any time, we will welcome you with open arms.

We wish you all the very best and look forward to seeing you all again soon.

HPR Working Test

Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Sunday 4th June

by kind permission of Earl and Countess of Suffolk & Berkshire

Well what can I say, I am stuck for words! Myself and Pauline Kirby did our first Gundog working test for Usk Valley Working Gundog Club today. First of all I am going to start with the dummy throwers and stewards you where awesome! Our judges, you where awesome! Everyone who ran today, you was awesome! A massive thank you to Lady Suffolk for the permission to use beautiful grounds and to Brenda Moss for liaising with Lady Suffolk. My judges where great . Thanks to our chairlady Debra Bird who came and supported the day and has also provided me lots of support leading up to the event. Thanks also to Jane Stenner who also come from the committee, again supporting all the way thank you. I can’t thank the club enough for the support and encouragement for this great day.

Here are the results:

PUPPY

1st Wendy Pearson - lady hawk dizzy miss lizzy

2nd Simon Bennet - Twegomull 

3rd Racheal Hiscox - Lilli Maja 

4th Roger Meadows - Bryanscroft Hazel 

NOVICE

1st Austin Lindley - Trining Harleigh Trojan

2nd Deb Bowns - Sigourney Maverick

3rd James Ayling - Bareve Buffelssurg

4th Phillip Parker - Indijazz Beautiful 

OPEN  

1st Mark Firmin - Everswell Quince

2nd Michelle Ansell - Madrellath Escavatre

3rd Andrea Wyatt - Ismeya Saint Issac 

4th Hayley Beardshall - Lanolin Dorottya Schm

On behalf of Usk Valley Gundog Club I would like to say well done to all that was in the awards and thanks to all of the competitors the judges and the dummy throwers that made the day such a success. Thank you!   

2017

A huge thank you to all our landowners, judges, helpers and competitors who continue to support our Club to go from strength to strength. We have come to the end of our working test season and extend our thanks to our working test secretaries, Mr Johnny Morris and Ms Jane Stenner, who have worked hard to ensure that the working tests have been successful before, during and after the events. The Retriever "Skinners Fleece Challenge" has been rolled over into 2018 due to seven competitors on pole position. Points will be carried over and we hope to announce the winner at the end of the last Retriever Test 2018 - GOOD LUCK! 

At the end of 2017 Mr Johnny Morris will step down as Retriever Working Test Secretary but will continue to support the Club and Mr David Thomas who has kindly offered to take on the role for 2018. David has been competing and assisting at club events for a couple of years and has been very proactive since joining the Committee. We wish him every success and hope you will welcome him with open arms and show him support.

Finally, we are excited to announce that Mr Simon Kirby has joined the Committee and has offered to take on the role of Acting HPR Working Test Secretary for 2018. Simon has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is well supported inside and outside of the Club. We are looking forward to growing our HPR provisions and are sure that along with the Committee our members will welcome Simon with open arms.

Wishing you all the best for the continuation of your season.

2016

On behalf of Usk Valley Working Gundog Club Committee, we would like to extend a huge thank you to Tyrone Axford and Glyn Hillier for their roles as working test secretary over the last few years. They have both done a great job in organising and coordinating our events and have decided to take a step back for 2017 to work their own dogs, but will remain on the committee and continue to support our events. We wish you both every success. 

Congratulations to Nigel Probert and Slipside Danzy Jones on winning the Skinners Fleece Challenge 2015/2016!

Competitor Feedback:

HPR Working Test, 26th April 2016

"Many thanks to the Usk Valley Working Gun Dog Club for the HPR working test on 26 April 15. I had the nicest day I can remember having at a test. The setting was idyllic, being at Big Pit and the ground was delightfully natural and varied which my dog very much enjoyed. Plus the organisation was faultless, making for an unusually slickly run event. I was already excited about the day as all the judges are people I respect highly and enjoy competing under and they, together with the very friendly stewards, dummy throwers and other competitors made the atmosphere wonderfully relaxed. I am looking forward to the next one!"

Thank you again,

Angela Miles

Retriever Working Test, 29th March 2016

"Hi, just to say 4 interesting tests for the dogs and handlers to have a go at. If a dog can do well on the big Pit ground it can do well anywhere. Couple this with yesterdays weather then those dogs/handlers can cope with anything. Speaking for myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of yesterday. Well done."

Regards,

Roger

2015

The Usk Valley WGC Tests have now drawn to a close following a very successful season for 2015. We were privileged to have the opportunity to visit some fantastic grounds around the county and were highly supported on all occasions. This year Skinners sponsored Usk Valley with the "Skinners Fleece Challenge". Due to the cancellation of our 3rd test, it has been agreed that we will carry over the "2015 Skinners Fleece Challenge into 2016".