Novice Field Trial on 15th November 2025

The Isle of Wight Gundog Club finished their competition year with a Novice Field Trial at Hill Farm, St, Helens, courtesy of the Lovegrove Family.  A lovely small family shoot in the Island countryside.  Thanks to Robert and Sheila Lovegrove for the shoot hospitality which catered for all on the day, providing hot food at the end of the trial.

Also our grateful thanks to the team of guns that were shooting for the trial and to the team of beaters and pickers and the markers and stewards for their work and support during the trial.

Our judges were Sue Hutton, Ken Green, Gill Gardner and Chris Marshall.

The first drive was a duck drive, with wild mallard and latterly in the drive pheasants.  The guns had a challenging task with the low cloud, and the birds appearing out of the gloom.

The dogs were all sat in line for the first drive with some challenges from birds landing close to the line.

We started with 11 competitors and for a variety of reasons lost 8 dogs and handlers at the first drive.

We went to the second drive, with the autumn sun blazing down and three dogs to finish the first round, which they did.  The second round saw another dog and handler out.

The trial ended after the third drive.

1st and winner of the Joss If Only Trophy and the Tony Sweatman Guns Choice Trophy was Nigel Probert with his Labrador dog, Llangynidr Alfred the Great.

There were no other awards.

We thank all our handlers for supporting the club and wish you all safe travels home, or onto other trials and look forward to seeing you in 2026.