
Meet the supreme athletes of the dog world
Labradors and spaniels might often steal the limelight, but pointers, setters and HPRs fill an important niche among our working breeds, as Martin Puddifer reveals.
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Crufts 2023 gets underway tomorrow, 9 March, with Gundog Day kicking off the world’s biggest dog show.
The BASC gamekeeper rings will take centre stage in hall 5 of the NEC, with rings 25, 26 and 35 hosting 20 classes for working dogs, kindly sponsored by Skinner’s.
This year has seen an outstanding number of entries across BASC-run classes at Crufts, which include young handlers, shoot teams and gamekeeper-only categories.
The winners of the gamekeeper classes during the day will go head-to-head for the coveted Northesk Memorial Trophy during the evening in Cruft’s main arena, competing also for the title of Best in Gamekeeping Class.
BASC’s gamekeeper rings and working dog classes are deeply rooted in the history of Crufts.
The classes provide the public with the opportunity to watch and learn more about gundogs, and offer handlers the chance to show their working dogs on the biggest platform in the dog world.
Glynn Evans, BASC’s head of game and wildlife management, said: “We are very much looking forward to this year’s event and seeing everyone who is set to take part in our classes, for which we’ve seen a big increase in the number of entries this year.
“Crufts provides a window through which the wider public can see working dogs on a global stage. It is the biggest dog show in the world and BASC’s rings at the event allow us to showcase how special working dogs are to tens of thousands of visitors. If you are visiting on Gundog Day, stop by and say hello.”
Labradors and spaniels might often steal the limelight, but pointers, setters and HPRs fill an important niche among our working breeds, as Martin Puddifer reveals.
It was the first time the Weston Park Country Fair has been held since 2019 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Judging in BASC’s gamekeeper rings at Crufts is a dream for many who have dedicated years to breeding and training working gundogs.
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