Success for Team GB at the World Championships of Practical Hunting for Pointing Breeds and the World St Hubert Championships

There was success for Great Britain at the 39th World Championships of Practical Hunting for Pointing Breeds and the World St Hubert Championships held from 27th - 29th October 2017 in Herm in the Landes region of France.

A number of countries compete in the World Championships of Practical Hunting for Pointing Breeds, each with a team of British Pointers and/or a team of Continental Pointers with from two to four dogs in each team. 

In the World St Hubert Championships, dogs are run singly with their handler and are judged on their relationship together, the training of the dog, their shooting skill and understanding of gun safety, their understanding and ability to hunt the ground respectfully and thoroughly, their choice of cartridges and handling of the shotgun. 

The Team GB results from the World Championships were as follows:

Day 1

British Pointing Breeds

  • Sara Chichester with Little Treasure of Gawcott, Gordon Setter, 1st with an Excellent.
  • John Naylor with Goddrib Bari of Bitternboom, Pointer, 4th with a Very Good – TB.

Continental Pointing Breeds

  • Linsey Whitley with Questor Llewellyn, German Longhaired Pointer, Very Good.

Day 2

British Pointing Breeds

  • Maddy Raynor with Bownard Carrabullawn of Wiscombe, Irish Setter, 3rd in her group with Excellent.

Continental Pointing Breeds

  • Linsey Whitley with Questor Llewelyn, 2nd in her group and RCACT.

Overall

  • John Naylor, Maddy Raynor and Sara Chichester, 2nd in the Team World British Pointing Breeds Championships with 19 points.
  • Linsey Whitley, 3rd in the Individual World Championship Continental Pointing Breeds awards with Questor Llewellyn.

The Team GB results from the World St Hubert Championships were as follows:

  • Maddy Raynor and Sara Chichester, 2nd place in the Ladies Team World Championship.
  • Maddy Raynor with Bownard Carrabullawn of Wiscombe, 4th in Individual Ladies category.

Team GB was sponsored by the Kennel Club and Skinner’s dog food and led by team captain Meryl Asbury. The team vet was Rob Gould.

Team captain Meryl Asbury said: “This is only the third time Team GB has taken part in this competition and we knew France would be challenging as the terrain is very different from what we usually run our dogs on in the UK. The area was wooded with Atlantic maritime pine with an undercover of heather and bracken. This could be high in places so all dogs ran with bells on so that handlers and judges knew where the dogs were – if the bell stopped everybody walked over to see if the dog was on point.

“Team GB knew we could not train for the event in the UK as it was impossible to replicate conditions, so most decided to go early and enter the Mediterranean Cup. This is a competition very similar to our pointer and setter trials in the UK with dogs run in braces. There were also field trials on the French circuit in the area so the team entered those as well. Not only did the dogs have to get used to running with a bell on but they also had to get used to running with another dog which may have a bigger and louder bell than their own. It was amazing how quickly they adapted.”

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “These results for Team GB are very impressive and we send our congratulations to all concerned. The dogs were working under conditions which were not familiar to them, so this just proves how adaptable these breeds are and also how strong their working instinct is. The ambience at both events was wonderful with all the competing teams mingling together. The different languages didn't seem to be a barrier, which is proof positive of how our mutual interest in dogs can bring us all together.”