2025 Shirley Radburn National Working Tests Report and Results

The 2025 Shirley Radburn National Working Tests for Novice and Open Flatcoated Retrievers took place on 31st May at Batsford Arboretum in Gloucestershire by kind permission of Lord and Lady Dulverton.

Our judges were Phil Bruton, Kate Smith, Ricky Maloney and Jenifer Thomas and we are grateful to each of them for generously giving up their time to judge for us. Graham Clelland was Chief Steward for the day, kindly enabling me to run my own dog.

For various reasons entry numbers were lower than anticipated this year with just 13 running in Novice (after three unavoidable withdrawals) and 12 in Open (again after one unavoidable withdrawal). Our setting on the Batsford Estate was stunning with gently undulating fields around a picturesque lake. Some challenging tests were set for the dogs by Phil Bruton, making great use of the ground available. The weather was warm with a cooling breeze, giving excellent scenting conditions.

The tests set were:

Test 1: for the Novice dogs, a double mark down a track, the first short mark to be picked first, then the long mark. The Open dogs had a mark then had to push the dogs back over the fall of the mark for a longer blind.

Test 2: for the Novice dogs was a marked retrieve on the lake and a marked retrieve on the bank, the water retrieve to be picked first. The Open dogs also had a mark on the water but had to pick a blind retrieve from the bank first.

Test 3: was a blind with shot, over a jump, across a track and out into a field of long grass. Both Novice and Open dogs had a similar test but the Open dogs covered a longer distance.

Test 4: was a two dog walk up with the dogs crossing the line to pick memory marks. The Open dogs covered a greater distance and had to turn their dogs to enable them to mark to the left and then behind.

The Novice tests ran in the morning and were hotly contested with two dogs tied for 2nd/3rd place. After a run off the following awards were made:

1st Andrew Sweeney with his bitch Wolfthistle Clementine

Andrew was also awarded the Nationals Novice Salver and the Houndswood Novice Trophy

2nd Jane Gould and her bitch Halangydown Tean

3rd Sue Rogers with her bitch Signy Never Touching Ground

COMs were awarded to Helen Fox with her dog Satinbaze Cracksman for Blacktoft JW (AI) and to Anne Kitching eith her bitch Casblaidd Angels Landing

The Open Tests were held after lunch (and a the unexpected delight of a fly past by the red arrows!)

1st was awarded to Anders Reitmaier and his dog Miss Mallorys Let’s Go Crazy, who had travelled from Sweden to compete in this event. Anders was also awarded the Nationals Open Salver and the Houndswood Open Trophy.

2nd Andrew Sweeney with his bitch Maddistream Black Powder of Wolfthistle.

3rd Vivienne Gatter with her bitch Larksease Black Bryony

4th Mark Johnson with his dog Wolfthistle Alfred Unus Est, and

A COM was awarded to Malcolm Awty with his bitch Maddistream Raj Red.

The tests were kindly sponsored by Skinners who provided vouchers for those placed.

Days like these do not happen without the goodwill and generosity of spirit of those who volunteer to help on the day, stewarding, throwing dummies, placing blinds or sorting out refreshments and catering. Both as a Working Test Secretary and as a competitor I am extremely grateful to the wonderful team of people who kindly gave up their time and enabled others to have a great time running their dogs. Thank you!