WELL DONE NIGEL

Today, the dogs fully tested the patience of  photographer Nigel Baker from Eastern Light Photography who was shooting a session which I had been given as a present.  Nigel, who usually photographs horses, took this “casual” snap !  the real McCoy I’ll share  later, but can you imagine 6 month old Karat’s intense interest in some training pheasants which we’d thawed from the freezer to use as props?  She was generally beside herself (literally) trying to reach them.  Well Nigel did finally triumph with some gorgeous pictures helped by playing his ring tone of a horse neighing !   Very clever Nigel.  Karat for a second was rendered immobile  🙂

 

THE DAY AFTER DORIS

There is nothing like a storm to stir up the wildlife. An amazing afternoon training today with Dora, Jerzi and Karat.  Great scent giving Dora lovely points on snipe in the thick wet grassland .  All the dogs pointed and watched away a roe stag with his seven hinds (the most roe we have seen together in our heavily arable farmland) and hares,  lots of hares chasing about, giving the pup steadiness training and one particularly superb point from Jerzi who, when I asked her to flush, brought me these little leverets,  two together.  So gently, it was not her fault, but they died of shock in a moment.  Thank goodness it is early enough for the doe to have more.

FEBRUARY FOG

No fog could dampen our spirits today at the Beaters day with the Tas Valley Syndicate Shoot.   Great sport and food.   Sharon, the biscuits and cakes were almost too good to eat !  but not quite. Karat came out for another afternoon of fun & socialisation

Best wishes  to everyone for a great summer looking forward already to us all getting back in September !

 

LAST HOME SHOOT

A bag of 11 birds  could not have been more enjoyed by guns,dogs or handlers. Our last day and some wonderful memories.   Like Dora’s superb hunting  in a field of roots and swinging round on point on a pair of partridge  and  James B. dropping the first and then cleverly dropping the second as  James H. missed his target.  And Jerzi’s unusual stance and point in the hedgerow which she forced into only to have a bright red fox run out on the far side between our guns.  Five meters and we decided to let him go, so beautiful and he later trotted past us as if he knew he was safe!

 

EARLY FINISH

Running Number 1 Jerzi had a lovely hunt and super HPR  on her first run at the WCGB  All Aged Trial in Kent but it was followed by an early exit when a fellow a competitor noticed her to be in season :( Our 4.30am start for the M25 and fog meant that we had also missed that she had come in.   Oooops, we've never done that before!  Apologies to the other competitors.   Grrr, 300 miles, but a great piece of work to finish the season, thanks Jerzi it was good while it lasted :)