27 October 2024
The recent South Western Gundog Club’s open show did our breed proud and made Laura Blabert VERY proud!
After winning best puppy in breed, Laura’s puppy, 10 month old Hemi (Oakmarsh Laurel) won best puppy in show under judge Dawn Hall (Ghilgrange). Laura says, “I did have a tear in my eye when she picked her, knowing this is a big thing for a Chesapeake.” And indeed it is! Well done Hemi, and well handled, Laura. A lovely photo of a very pleased duo, the Nova Scotia being placed reserve.
Many will know that Fleur Bament’s Chester (Pixiesrock Maestro Cadenza) had to miss last year’s shooting season due to a nasty hind leg injury, having been hit by a reversing lorry in the farmyard. Many followed his progress on UK Chessie Owners Facebook page, willing him a complete recovery.
Well, Chester hit this season running! And not only in the shooting field but following a day’s picking up and beating, off he went to win best of breed at the same South Western Gundog Club show! A true dual-purpose Chesapeake, as they should be.
For those who have come to the breed via the show ring, why not try working your dogs? Join a working gundog club or book a gundog training lesson for your dog and see how they love to do the job they were bred for. It doesn’t matter if you don’t shoot, there are plenty of ways to work your dog without actually shooting. Why not give it a go?
Also, make a note in your diaries for next spring as we are planning a Chesapeake working test weekend on 26/27 April 2025 in Salterforth, near Barnoldswick, Lancashire.
Zena Saunders writes to give us news of Aruba (Pixierose Ana), who was featured as a puppy on the 2019 Chessie Chat cover.
Aruba is a Pets as Therapy dog and is making a difference to patients having chemotherapy, which is such a worthwhile job. In between her hospital work, Aruba found the time to pass her Kennel Club Good Citizens Gold level certificate in just six months. A great achievement, big congratulations.
At the midweek United Retriever Club’s open show this past week, judge Tom Graham awarded best of breed to Cathy and Simon Broomfield’s Lyra (Glanniels Don’t Worry Be Happy) with reserve and best opposite sex going to Maddie Mahon, Joy Middleton and Robyn Haskins’ Susqudilla Bergelle Big Apple. Best Puppy was Watts and Mellersh Tetts’ Oakmarsh Land of Promise.
Please email your news to
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
20 October 2024
The lack of news this week has sent me sifting through my piles of Chesapeake information and articles, including this lovely excerpt from Kat Bennet in Bay Weekly Magazine. Which I hope you will find as interesting (and as amusing in parts) as I did.
By the late 1870s, geese and ducks had been over hunted. By 1918, the problem was so severe that the Migratory Bird Act was passed, restricting the hunting or sale of migrating ducks. The days of the commercial duck hunter were essentially over; duck hunting shifted from job to sport.
Sport hunting was not new. Throughout the 19th century, gentlemen and politicians flocked to the Chesapeake Bay seeking the best guides and dogs.
Every creek had a hunting club. Hotels rose all along the Chesapeake. At one hotel on Cobb’s Island, from 1874 to 1882, dude hunters from 27 states and Canada came to shoot ducks. For these sports shooters, birds were trophies. Ducking dogs delivered for the paying client.
So important were the dogs that most hunting clubs had their own kennels. At the clubs, Chesapeake breeders like O.D. Foulks helped standardize the breed. Shortly after the Civil War, Foulks was promoting his “red chesters,” boasting that they were the only real ducking dog bred for that purpose.
Joe Batt, an English researcher, found that between 1914 and 1933, Chesapeake retrievers and flat-coated retrievers had been bred into Labrador bloodlines. The records had been removed to obscure the out-crossings, especially in chocolate Labs. Other Chesapeake breeders regarded their bloodlines as a secret recipe.
Bob Sheppard has spent 22 years researching the Chesapeake retriever. “Even today, I can’t get some [local] breeders to talk about their dog’s lineage,” he says. “They just won’t say.” Distrustful of government, registrations and licenses, most old-time watermen never registered their dogs, and many modern men maintain that tradition.
Still, in 1878, through the efforts of Foulks and other sporting hunters, the American Kennel Association registered the first retrieving breed, the Chesapeake Bay retriever. That first dog was Foulk’s Sunday. The other retrieving breeds were recognized later: flat-coated retrievers in 1885, Labrador in 1903, and golden in 1932.
Chesapeake retrievers reigned as top dog for generations in many prominent families. Their more famous owners included our 26th president, Teddy Roosevelt. In his autobiography, the famous Rough Rider described his dog in terms that suited himself equally well.
Roosevelt’s Sailor Boy may have descended from ducking retrievers owned by General George Armstrong Custer, an avid hunter who even took his dogs to war. “Much the most individual of the dogs and the one with the strongest character was Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake Bay dog. He had a masterful temperament and a strong sense of both dignity and duty. He would never let the other dogs fight, and he himself never fought unless circumstances imperatively demanded it.” Gen. George Custer took his Chesapeake retrievers into battle with him. Legend holds that President Teddy Roosevelt’s own Chessie, Sailor Boy, was descended from Custer’s own dogs.
On the Bay, Dr Charles Tilghman bred dogs descended from Sailor and supplied ducking clubs along both shores of the Chesapeake including the Carroll Island Club where Duck, a descendent of the breed’s matriarch Canton, originated.
In the 19th century, the Chesapeake Bay was a maritime version of the Wild West. There were gunfights over oysters, waterfowl, terrapins and fishing. Crabs were restricted to local consumption, because they were too delicate, but with the advent of new canning techniques around 1865, crabbing also added to the industry mix.
Guarding skills made a hunting dog more valuable to the men who supplied oysters, fish and waterfowl for local and big-city markets. The Chesapeake Bay dog fit the bill. Still does, owners say. “You can tell a Chesapeake retriever to stay in the back of your truck and come back three days later and he’ll still be there guarding it,” says Jim Suite of Anglers Sport Center. “You may find an arm or two, but the dog will not appear to have moved.”
Throughout the 19th century, demand for Chesapeake retrievers remained steady. A good hunting Chessie commanded several hundred dollars in the mid-1800s, the equivalent of $1,000 or more today.
From 1860 through 1904, Jay Towner on the Western Shore’s Bush River advertised his dogs to hunters all over the country. He classified the colours of coats as light or dark and would ship either as requested.
But changes loomed. Just before World War I, western breeders of the Chesapeake retriever began focusing on upland game hunting, where the oiliness of the coat was less important. They favoured a smaller dog with lighter, dead-grass shades, better to blend in with the western grasses.
After the wars ended, many men found that hunting was a good outlet for their military training. Upland game hunters favoured Labs as their weekend gunning companions. The population of registered Chesapeake retrievers remained constant as the population of Labrador retrievers skyrocketed.
As Labs dominated, competitions changed to favour their skills. Instead of being free to retrieve all downed birds one after the other, new rules required a dog to retrieve one decoy, then sit awaiting direction.
Instead of ice-choked rivers and frigid conditions, water trials were held in sunny ponds during summer and fall. These trials did not fully test the Chessies’ skills.
“On a warm autumn day, with a plastic decoy, there is one sort of competition,” Butch Goodwin wrote in 1997. “But when it is windy, minus 10 degrees with three-foot seas and the goose is alive and unhappy about getting grabbed by a dog that is another test entirely.”
A Chessie doesn’t learn commands; it learns rules and routines and makes decisions. It needs to figure out how things fit together. Chessies think like a partner, not like a servant. Bred to work 10 or 12 hours a day, five to seven days a week, the Chessie needs a job. The marshy, choppy and sometimes frigid waters of the Bay have shaped the Chesapeake retriever.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
13 October 2024
Please read the information from Debbie Herring:
“The Working Minority Retriever Club has been invited to return to The Game Fair to organise and run the Minor Breeds Team Challenge for 2025. I am sure that most of you are aware of the Chessie Team’s success from this year, winning over the other breeds.
Moving forward, next year’s team must be selected and forwarded to the Minority Club to confirm their space at The Game Fair by 1 April 2025 so that the organisers will have time to print the programmes and plan the event.
An experienced trainer Trainer Viv Gatter, who did a very thorough team assessment and team training day last year, is based in Oxford and is happy to assist with the selection again for next year if we would like her to. With the help of this year’s team, we have come up with a list of criteria that we feel needs to be met for dogs to be suitable for this event. Luckily everyone in this year’s team has asked to be considered again for next year but we need to open this up for all and cover possible absentees (bitches in season, etc).
First, and most importantly, anyone interested will need to be available to travel to Ragley Hall for the day on Sunday 27 July 2025. Team members must also be Chessie Club members. If you would like for you and your dog to be considered but due to your location, you would not be able to make an assessment in Oxfordshire, please contact me (Debbie) separately to discuss.
Once I have a list of interested owners, a group chat will be set up to co-ordinate the assessment day. Please let me know your interest by 1 November 2024.
Dog must be able to achieve the following:
- Close Heelwork
- Steadiness in walk up
- Steadiness in distraction (they will need to sit and wait with three other dogs for 4 tests. There are no individual tests, your dog will need to quietly wait to be sent each time)
- Be able to run to you standing in a line of dogs to deliver to hand
- Be able to run towards a dummy near an audience/line of people
- Be happy to go over jumps, fences/bales
- Be able to hold an area to hunt
- Be able to stop and take directions backwards/ forwards/ left and right
- Be able to retrieve out of water without dropping to shake
- Be good natured when in close proximity to other dogs
- Be able to ignore other dummies in close range when retrieving
- Be able to cope with being in an area near large crowds, with loudspeakers and close-range shot (experience of demonstrations in public or of competing in scurries at public events is a huge bonus)
If you would like to be considered for this prestigious event and fulfil the above criteria (and yes, we all realise that dogs are dogs and never do everything perfectly every day!) then please email Debbie at debbie.herring99@gmail.com.
6 October 2024
Thank you to Fleur Bament for the following report.
Following a fun-filled Chessie weekend of training and the Chesapeake Club’s Autumn working test, some people stayed for an extra day to experience a live shoot training day that I had organised with Sunday’s judge Nigel Partiss.
The day was held at the glorious Orchard Wyndham Estate just the other side of the Quantock Hills from me and where our new shoot starts this coming season.
Nigel has done a fantastic job of getting this shoot up and running, and as a recognised gundog trainer, his shoot training days have been a huge success and fully booked. We were lucky that he put on this day especially for our Chessie Club members, knowing how far some of them had travelled, sailed and flown to be there!
Unfortunately, as predicted, the day was very wet, very wet indeed, but that didn’t dampen our spirits. We gathered at the shoot lodge and drove across the estate to where our training was to be held. We were in a large area of cover crop, extremely dense and high. It was unfortunate for us that there was no wind, very little scent and wet birds but that just made the day more challenging and Chessies, and their owners, are always up for a challenge!
Our group varied tremendously from young novice dogs to older more experienced ones, and each dog was catered for in a walked up scenario with three guns. Firstly each handler had an individual turn under Nigel’s guidance whilst the rest of us walked behind. After elevenses we worked as pairs, and then in two groups of three, finishing at the end of the day when we all walked as one line.
This training was invaluable for the youngest dogs who had yet to get out and experience a real shoot day. And, for the slightly more experienced dogs, steadiness (this absolutely means my own Chester) and polishing up everything. Everyone had several retrieves on live birds and much fun and banter especially when Mary’s dog eye-wiped Chester – the shame!
At the end of a long day, we all poured the water out of our boots, I unsuspectingly popped my head around the curtain to see two men changing their trousers, and everyone headed home with a smile on their faces because every single dog that day was exceptional.
I’m glad the smile was because of the dogs, Fleur, and not the trouser-less men!
Karen Preece writes to tell me that Toby passed his Silver and Gold KC Good Citizens test. That is now all three of Karen and Mark’s Chessies to have achieved this level – a fantastic record. Well done.
Karen added, ‘not whoop whoop show winners like some, but our little achievements,’ which made me reply straight away that actually passing a Gold Good Citizen is in my opinion much more of a whoop whoop than a show win where the dog is judged on conformation alone, so take the credit for your Good Citizen awards folks!
Any test that judges a dog’s obedience and training is something to be proud of at whatever level – high or low – so please let me have your news in this respect.
My grateful thanks to Gary Chambers in the USA who, as many will already know, hunts out and saves many historical Chesapeake articles and photos. Gary sent me this report:
‘In 1933 Anthony Bliss, the president of the American Chesapeake Club, sent a letter to the editor of The Field (in London) to introduce “A Little Known Breed.” The dog featured in the article and photo is Ch Busy B (American Kennel Club registration 710717), born 7 June 1926, Male, Sedge.’
The letter and photo of Busy B are on the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club’s Facebook page.
Christine Mayhew bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
29 September 2024
Great news from Sharon Baxandall who, with her new dog Connie (Battsrock So Fine) won BOB, 1st in stakes, and group 4 at the IOW Gundog Club Show. Not to be outdone, Sharon’s other dog, Isla (Sharbae Prettiest Star), won the reserve BOB.
I omitted to mention last week that at North Riding Gundog Club Lorna Murray’s now veteran lad, Takoda Nathan, went best veteran in breed. Congratulations all.
The Club is incredibly lucky having Fleur Bament as a member. Not only did she and her husband Mark offer land on their farm in Somerset for the Autumn working test, but she also arranged for us to use a nearby lake for the water retrieves, found the judges, the trainers for the training day, and an army of dummy throwers, all of which (and whom) are often as rare as hens’ teeth! Luxury indeed as an urn was kept boiling so as people could help themselves to tea or coffee in a lovely barn especially cleared for the occasion and furnished with sofas and seats. The icing on the cake was the use of an outside flush loo! Those of us who have attended numerous working tests will know that the normal arrangements are ‘find a bush’ – never ideal, especially for us ladies, and certainly an unpleasant experience in pouring rain!
The Saturday was for training. Sue Watkins and Jill Thorp, both very experienced gundog trainers, asked every individual handler about their dogs and their aims for the day before heading to the training field for some work. I am always interested to see trainers take a class and, over the years I have seen good, very good, bad and appalling, with a bottom category of appalling and not at all interested in Chesapeakes! Sue and Jill were fantastic! Not only did they really know their stuff, they genuinely wanted people and dogs to learn and explained things well to each individual, trying to overcome each ‘problem’ as it arose and emphasising the importance of acting immediately to correct the dogs.
We can ALL learn from watching or participating in a training session and we can never, ever stop learning. What I was particularly impressed by (and have never seen before), was that these two trainers worked as a team, and in the morning session, whilst Jill took each individual dog to work on retrieves, Sue was working with the watching and waiting dogs, going from one handler to another, instructing them on what they could do to correct any squeaking and impatience, and how they should react to their dogs as their dog waited. Instead of just standing and talking and ignoring their dog (inevitably on a tight lead – which is one of my pet hates), they could be training and teaching their dog the whole time. From lining up their dogs for a retrieve, to steadiness, and the retrieve itself, I hope people listened and absorbed their guidance because it was very, very good guidance in all respects. I was seriously impressed.
On to the Sunday which was test day, sponsored by Sporting Saint gundog training equipment, and Chudleys working dog food (both of whom provided some fantastic prizes for our winners). Our working test secretary, Dave Rigby, who had made up numbers and joined in the training on the previous day, then stepped into action. Lisa Murch, our treasurer but also a brilliant caterer, provided a delicious and plentiful lunch for the judges and workers. The workers being Fleur and Mark themselves, our previous working test secretary, Mark Straw, Mark Watkins, Maria Baynes and seemingly several generations of the local French family (my apologies if I have missed out anyone). Thank you all!
Our judges for the day were Nigel Partiss and Laurie Pittaway, both of whom were very fair in their judging, lenient with small errors (ie. dropping the dummy to shake), patient and helpful with advice. Perfect for our Chesapeake tests where the standard is not exactly field trial championship level!
The dogs were tested, as normal, on steadiness, heelwork, desire to retrieve on land and in water, and for the more advanced tests, direction control. The ground proved perfect for testing the dogs and handlers in all of these aspects, especially in the water which is so important to a wildfowling breed.
Banter amongst those waiting their turn was, as normal, friendly and jovial which is always a feature of our working tests. Long may it continue. Four tests for each dog and we made our way back to the barn for refreshments and to await the results. A very impressive raffle tempted us as we ate and waited. With the assistance of a hairdryer to part the wet pages of one of the judge’s books, the final scores were totted up and the results announced as follows:
PUPPY 1st Richard Playle’s Riptide Gentleman’s Relish 2nd Mary Murray’s Riverrun Honour (who also won the Judges Choice trophy) 3rd Angela Corcoran’s Oakmarsh Kingsley Adsila
NOVICE DOG/NOVICE HANDLER (only one place is given in this class) 1st Vroni Royle’s Battsrock Are You Ready
BEGINNER 1st Mary Murray’s Sea’n Land Master of the Sea for Riverrun 2nd Vincent Acheson’s Petros 3rd Cathy Acheson’s Great River Ticino of Eastering 4th Kevin Amaira’s Riverrun Gwen
UNCLASSIFIED OPEN 1st Mary Murray’s Riverrun Everybodys Friend 2nd Anthony Ciraolo’s Franeo Ebbing Tide 3rd Richard Playle’s Arnac Bay Grebe at Riptide (who also won the Best Veteran trophy) 4th Vincent Acheson’s Arnac Bay Grouse of Eastering
Useless but interesting facts are that Mary had come all the way from Ireland to compete. All the dogs placing in the beginner class were imported from different European Countries. The beginner winner’s breeder had come from Germany to spectate and to join in the training. All but one of the dogs placing have also been shown in the show ring. All of the dogs competing were owner-handled and trained.
I personally cannot think of how the day could have been bettered (apart from the weather) and a huge thank you was proposed by all present to all who made the day possible, especially our hosts, Fleur and Mark.
Not content with just the weekend, Fleur also arranged a live shoot training day for the Monday. Full report on that next week.
Christine Mayhew bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
22 September 2024
This weekend has been the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club’s Autumn Working Test weekend in Somerset, so our biggest Chesapeake news of this week will be reported on next weekend, once everyone has got home and dried off.
If you have any other Chesapeake news, don’t forget to send it to Chrissie at bobmayhewQhorses@aol.com.
15 September 2024
It was Richmond Championship Show the weekend before last and history was made when, for the first time, a Chesapeake went best special beginner in the gundog group, with her owner Angela Corcoran! Arya was bred by Kirsty Watts and went to Chesapeake owner Angela as a puppy – and how these two have had fun since.
David Bell was judging the breed at the show and awarded best of breed and the dog CC (his first) to the young import Susqudilla Bergelle Big Apple (Hudson), owned by Maddie Mahon, Joy Middleton and Robyn Haskin. Hudson then went on to the final eight in the group, handled by James Newton. Bitch CC went to Janet Morris’s Baymoss Tweed of Penrose, with the same owner winning best puppy with Penrose Visual Impact. Reserve bitch CC, handled by Emily Evans, was Mayhew and Middleton’s Sh Ch Arnac Bay Hebe.
It doesn’t seem too long ago that the wildfowling season ended and yet here we are again, with our Chesapeakes doing the stuff they are bred for, and the admiration for dogs, shooting skills, and guns has started off in earnest. The sport and the type of people involved never seems to change and the camaraderie and jovial teasing is the same at ground level in all forms of shooting, both here and in the USA. Long may it continue.
Don’t forget the autumn working test on Sunday 22 September in Somerset. Entries are now closed but visitors are very welcome to come and spectate. All details are on the Events page.
Kirsty Watts was judging and giving CCs for her second time, this time at Darlington Championship show this last weekend, where she gave the Best of breed and dog CC to Jason and Julie Hayes’ Tideflight Floki. This is his third CC and, subject to KC conformation, this will make him a show champion. This is an amazing achievement for Jason and Julie who bred Floki themselves, with Julie doing all the handling in the show ring with this energetic young lad. True to his breed, Floki is also a working dog both on the marsh and on the land. Big congratulations. Floki is sired by Penrose Marsh Gunner and out of Oakmarsh Faithful of Tideflight.
The bitch CC was won by Dallandor Jocasta, owned by Jo Coppin and Darren Davies Jones. I believe it was her first although I believe she has two reserves and I know that I gave her a RCC in her younger days. RCC was Janet Morris’s deadgrass puppy Penrose Visual Impact who also won best puppy, the same owner also winning the reserve CC with Penrose I Dream A Dream. Best Veteran was Caroline Griffin-Woods’ Sh Ch Migwell Solomons Puzzle.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
8 September 2024
As many of you may know, the annual American Chesapeake Club National Specialty is the largest show in the USA for our breed. Held this year in Wilmington, Ohio at the Roberts Centre (with hotel attached and hook ups for RVs) it was a perfect venue with masses of room and great air conditioning. With temperatures outside just below 100F, the hall was very cool, in fact almost too cool for my liking, but perfect for our breed.
The first day of the show was for obedience with 79 dogs entered, rally with 93 dogs, and 26 in agility. It certainly demonstrated how keen people are on training their dogs for one event or another. There was fancy dress for some teams in team obedience classes, with team names such as Team Neo Nerds (an interesting mixture of ‘bad taste’ outfits) and Team Pink Camo, self explanatory. The theme that amused me was the dogs with shark fins attached to their chests and handlers wearing T shirts with ‘blood’ stains as if they had been bitten, then ‘I’m fine’ written on the back, presumably in case someone went running for the first aid kit!
Also on the first day, Robyn Haskins, who judged our club show last year, judged the baby puppies 4-6 months old.
Next day was the sweepstakes classes, judged this year by Karen Anderson of Chestnut Hills kennel. Most of you will have some of her breeding way back in your pedigrees. With 111 dogs entered, Karen had her work cut out. The sweepstakes consist of various sections of ages up to 18 months old; the veterans in age sections; and finally the hunting/field trial dogs with an incredible entry of 39 dogs of both sexes. I was thrilled to see the eventual winner in the hunting section was GR Ch Next Generations the Object of my Affection, a litter brother to NG Arnac Arctic Storm (Joss) who I imported a few years back and who is in shared ownership with Lisa Murch.
Equally exciting for me was the 8-10 years veteran bitch winner Grand Champion Weatherdeck Arnac Bay Gudgeon, a litter sister to my own Buoy and bred by myself and Gina Downin. A different judge in the afternoon and Gudgeon again won 8-10 years bitches.
On Saturday the first classes were junior showmanship where these young handlers would put most of our adults to shame!
Then we were on to the regular classes with 240 dogs entered. Maddie, Joy and Robyn’s recently imported puppy, Susquddilla’s Big Apple (Hudson) had some close relatives at the show, with his sire Am Ch Susqudilla’s Dark Shadows (Barnabus) making the final cut for best of breed, and winning an award of merit. Hudson’s full brother won second in open dog and his half-sister Dorzo second in open bitch. It’s always nice to know that our imported dogs are closely related to lines that are at the top of the USA scene.
Then onto the regular classes which are similar to ours with age sections, but, unlike ours, the best of breed competition consists only of champions and the winners dog and bitch on the day. These compete for best of breed. 240 dogs were entered for the regular classes and the final class consisting of those Champions competing for best of breed always is so very impressive. A whole ring of champion Chesapeakes. On this occasion, 52 champions lined up and it took several cuts to whittle it down to the final few.
Next Generations kennel certainly had a lot of dogs present from themselves and others and it was good to see the similarity in type of most of the NG dogs.
The sight of 52 champions competing for best in show brought tears to my eyes – what a spectacle!
The cuts made, the finalists trotted around and the rosette (as big as a house) was handed to Devon Kipp Levy, handling multiple best in show winner and the top winning dog in standings at present, grand champion Next Generations Accelerate, owned by Melissa Shuman, Adam Levy and Dana Bliefer DVM, and bred by Adam.
Cota, as he is known, strode around the ring as if he owned it and demonstrated the strength and free movement of our breed.
A big congratulations to all.
There will be a longer report will be in the Chat but as I brought home a dose of covid on top of jet lag, the energy is waning!
If you are planning on coming along to the CBRC working test weekend later this month, entries close on Wednesday this week! Full details of the training day and test entries are available on the Events page.
Christine Mayhew bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
25 August 2024
A long one this week, so make yourself comfortable! Sue Worrall writes:
It’s some years ago now that Jason Mayhew started training weekends for groups of Chesapeakes, which have been so thoroughly enjoyed by those attending, that people have booked their places for the following year before even leaving the current one.
Unfortunately Jason’s birds (pheasant poults for his shoot) arrived a week early this last weekend, so it was Jason himself who had to pull out of the training. With so many being excited and prepped for the weekend, we decided to go ahead anyway, thanks to the ever generous hospitality of Molly and John Barker.
How did we do a training weekend without the trainer? Easy – we all helped each other. We each brought ideas for exercises, put them forward and took it in turns to lead the group, throw dummies etc.
As Jason would have done, we adjusted the exercises for the puppies and more experienced dogs. The weekend started with obedience, and progressed to marked retrieves, memory retrieves, blinds retrieves and three-dog walk-ups. We also introduced distractions by way of extra dummies thrown and by Sunday afternoon we finished with the ultimate distraction – a running rabbit! (not a real one but a training one on a length of elastic).
On the Saturday night we went to the local pub for dinner, which had efficiently been pre-ordered by Molly which meant the pub was expecting us and had our food ready!
All in all it was a great fun weekend with friends and their dogs. Thanks to Carole with Liebe, Caroline with Rina and the Migwell pack, Debbie with Horus and Ramses, Craig with Ralph, Dave with Ranger, Sharon with her new addition Connie, Rhian and Mark with Otto and Tain, and Anthony, Nicola, Theo and Frank with Ebb, for your company, training ideas, encouragement and throwing abilities. Most of all, huge thanks to Molly and John Barker for having us all to stay, feeding us, and leaving the paddock grass long for us! You are all wonderful people.
On the show scene, sadly Driffield Championship Dog Show had to be cancelled due to storms affecting the tenting at Wetherby Racecourse where the show-ground had already been set up. A great disappointment not only for the show society who had put a year’s worth of work into getting everything ready, but also to the exhibitors and, not least of all, the judge, Doug Telford who was looking forward to judging the breed.
In last week’s breed news when writing about the Working Gundog Certification programmes, I wrote:
As I have said before, passing this assessment is no walk in the park and should not be confused with the Kennel Club Show Gundog Certificate which requires far less of dog and handler.”
This prompted a response from a reader who wrote:
I have to disagree on the WGC (on dummies) being harder than the SGWC (held on an actual shoot day) though. If it was that easy we’d have lots of Champion Chesapeakes, not purely Show Champions, bearing in mind some Sh Ch have passed the WGC and not the SGWC.
I responded by saying that I hadn’t said, nor implied, that either was easy. Nor did I say that one is harder than the other. What I actually said was that the show gundog certificate requires less of dog and handler, and I will justify my opinion on this by comparing the two.
This wording is from the Kennel Club information on both tests and is readily available on their website.
The Working Gundog Certificate
The aim of the Working Gundog Certificate (WGC) is to provide credible proof that a handler and dog are a competent partnership, with the qualities to fulfil the general requirements of work on a shoot. The criteria being Control, Obedience, Temperament, Hunting and Retrieving.
This test requires a considerable amount of training as it is asking for:
Control: This will be considered throughout and concerns whether a handler has reasonable control over the dog. A dog unable to be controlled or control itself or the use of excessive or continuous noisy commands to maintain control would result in a ‘not ready assessment being given. Barking and whining are never acceptable, however a slight noise, which does not detract from the dog being a useful shooting companion, may be acceptable in some circumstances and according to breed standards.
Obedience: The dog should walk to heel, off lead, remaining reasonably close to the handler without running off. It should show steadiness by remaining at heel, staying in the sitting position, or dropping to shot when other things are happening around it such as other dogs retrieving, game moving or dummies being thrown. The dog should return to the handler on command.
Temperament: Working gundogs need to be able to mix and work with people and other dogs without showing any undue aggression. Care needs to be taken to ensure that any incident is viewed sensibly and in its entirety. For example, if a dog has been pestered by another and finally resorts to growling or snapping, this needs to be viewed in relation to the provocation and the dog’s overall behaviour. Dogs that are gun-shy would also be given a ‘not ready’ assessment.
Hunting: The dog must hunt effectively in difficult locations and on open ground. Handlers may give encouragement to their dog, but certain exercises are designed to assess the hunting capability. Clear refusal by a dog to enter cover, would be assessed as ‘not ready’.
Retrieving: The dog must pick up dummies or game from a variety of locations, over obstacles, from land and water and bring them to the handler. If a dog hunts well but does not find a dummy or game, a ‘pass’ could be given, provided retrieving is satisfactory when assessed on other exercises. Handlers will be able to encourage their dog but a clear refusal to pick-up and retrieve, or picking up and subsequently abandoning the dummy or game, will result in a ‘not ready’ assessment. Sloppy retrieving, or poor delivery, which could allow wounded game to escape, must not be condoned. However, if the dog puts the retrieve down briefly to readjust its grip, this may not be penalised provided that its retrieving overall has been satisfactory.
Water. The dog needs to demonstrate that it will enter water freely, swim and bring a dummy or game out of the water to the handler. A straightforward, marked retrieve should be set. A dog, which uses its initiative and enters or returns by an indirect route or needs encouragement by the handler moving forward, should not be penalised. Distractions on the water or dense reeds must be taken into consideration. However, refusing to get in or out of the water, putting a retrieve down on leaving the water for a reason other than to readjust its grip, failure to retrieve or return to the handler will be classed as ‘not ready’.
Obstacles. An obstacle may be a fence, wall, hedge, ditch, stream or other natural feature, which the dog must negotiate to retrieve a marked dummy or search for game. It is the confidence and ability to negotiate the obstacle that is being assessed, not individual brilliance to cover long distances or height. Therefore, dogs which find a way through, under, round or need encouragement by the handler moving forward, should be passed provided they do it effectively and without a clear refusal to work.
The purpose is to see whether the handler/dog partnership is ready for the shooting field. It is, therefore, essential that all the necessary qualities of a competent working partnership be demonstrated. The assessment may be taken either at a WGC day, a Gundog Working Test or on a shoot.
The Show Gundog Working Certificate
The purpose of the Show Gundog Certificate is to provide credible proof of the natural working ability of a gundog registered with the Kennel Club that has already proved it meets The Kennel Club’s breed standard by a qualification in the show ring. This regulation states: a gundog which has a challenge certificate or previously qualified for Crufts through a breed class may be entered for a Show Gundog Working Certificate.
Whilst the judges on the day are looking for natural working ability, for retrieving breeds it is expected that your dog has had experience of handling freshly shot game, will retrieve from water, and is not afraid of gunfire. It is also important that your dog is under sufficient control to undertake the test once the lead is removed.
Judges must be aware that the principal purpose of the Show Gundog Working Certificate is to assess whether a dog demonstrates a natural ability to hunt and, and retrieve, and they should take care to judge accordingly.
If suitable water is not available for the retrieving breeds at a field trial or show gundog working day, show gundogs will be permitted to undertake a special water test on a separate date and at a separate location.
Dogs which make a noise will not pass the certificate (subject to the breed standard).
A reasonable amount of control is expected at the discretion of the judges.
Where do the two tests differ? Both ask that dogs are not gun-shy, that the dogs hunt and retrieve, that they face cover, and are quiet in line (lined up whilst other dogs retrieve).
The WGC asks for dogs to be walked to heel, off lead, and be steady whilst other dogs work on dummies or game remain steady during a drive, return on command and hunt a certain area.
The SGWC does not ask for steadiness, and whilst the pass/fail is very much up to the judges’ interpretation of the rules, sufficient control once the lead has been taken off has meant in many cases, dogs were on the lead until actually sent for the retrieve. It does not ask for an obstacle or to face cover nor does it ask for the dog to be trained sufficiently to be ready for the shooting field.
As intended, one is showing an important degree of training necessary to work on a shoot day, the other to show a dog’s natural ability to do the job of work he is bred for, sometimes despite the inability of a novice owner/handler to train him to a good standard.
With regards to the reader’s statement, “If it was that easy we’d have lots of Champion Chesapeakes, not purely Show Champions, bearing in mind some ShCh have passed the WGC and not the SGWC.”
I could turn the tables on our reader at this point and ask why a show champion is described as ‘purely’ when it does take a good dog and a lot of effort to make a dog into a show champion – it is nothing to be belittled.
Back to the tests and both tests are held few and far between and normally very oversubscribed. The fact that the SGWC is held on a shoot day means that it naturally falls in the shooting season.
From a personal point of view I was always picking up 4/5 days a week during the season which I would much rather have been doing than travelling for hours to knock the Sh part off my show champions’ titles. I always said that if anyone doubted my dogs’ ability to work then they could phone the head keepers at the two big estates where I worked my dogs and ask them! It really wasn’t that important to me although I realise it is to others. Personally I would rather have been working the dogs all day and when you are working for a commercial shoot, it is a job so you cannot just take a day off and upset numbers. One ardent field trialler did just this and promptly lost his place on the picking up team.
The fact that I, and others have not taken the SGWC is most certainly not proof that the test is either hard or easy, that comment is hardly scientific. One would have to ask each individual for their reasons if anyone felt it really mattered.
Incidently, I did take the show test many years ago with one of my Flatcoated retrievers and initially failed as the judge found the retrieved bird’s chest to have been crushed. Luckily the breeder of this dog was present and pointed out that another dog who had failed to retrieve to hand had picked the same bird and put it down. My dog was given another chance and we passed. Needless to say, by that time I was a nervous wreck!
So to summarise, I still consider that the WGC asks more of dog and handler. If I still had the ability to walk without aids, I would happily run either of my present show champions in a show gundog working certificate. Would I run them in a working gundog certificate? Not without a lot of extra training and certainly I wouldn’t have had the steadiness required after a season of picking up. Those who know, will know what I mean!
Please let me have your thoughts.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
18 August 2024
A huge congratulations to Debbie Herring and her home-bred Indie who has just today passed her KC Working Gundog Certificate Assessment. As I have said before, passing this assessment is no walk in the park and should not be confused with the Kennel Club Show Gundog Certificate which requires far less of dog and handler.
There are several ways a dog can qualify for a WGC. It can be held on an actual shoot day where dog and handler are assessed throughout the day as they work their dogs. Or it can be held on dummies at a gundog test. Dog and handler simply have to get on with their job as they would on a normal test day.
Another option is a dedicated WGC day for dogs that retrieve, using dummies. In many ways, this is more exacting as handlers and dogs have to walk together to the start area with the dogs off lead and under control, before taking part in a simulated drive, with dogs assessed both in the beating line and waiting at pegs.
They will then be expected to hunt for both seen and unseen dummies after the drive. They will also be expected to perform a marked retrieve from water and there is a steadiness exercise where dogs are left together while handlers collect up dummies.
The assessors on a WGC day are either Kennel Club field trial judges or anyone with knowledge and experience of working gundogs who has assessed the certificate three times and has been approved by another qualified assessor. Indie now has the honour of being able to have the title WGC after her name.
The Welsh Kennel Club Championship show is held at the scenic Welsh Showground in Buith Wells, and yesterday Jill Peak judged our breed. Sadly not a huge entry for a championship show with only 12 dogs present.
Best of breed and the bitch CC was Cathy and Simon Broomfield’s homebred Glaneils Daydream Believer, aka Chilli, who is sired by Sh Ch Arnac Bay Huron at Bergelle and out of Sh Ch Petsalls Pride Beech at Glaneils. This was Chilli’s first CC, and with two Champion parents, I am sure that she will keep the winning ways in the family and gain her title.
Best male and the dog CC – which made him into a show champion – was David Rigby’s dark brown dog, Chesepi Waco. Bred by Molly Barker and sired by her Sh Ch Next Generations Chesepi Range Rider, Gunnar is out of Chesepi Pensacola. Gunnar, as he is to his friends, has been sitting on two CCs for some time and it is nice to see that his day finally came. Not to be outdone, his kennel mate, Trigger won best veteran on the day. Both of these dogs are Dave’s wildfowling companions.
Reserve CC in bitches was Kirsty Watts’ Oakmarsh Freedom, and Reserve CC in dogs was Janet Morris’s youngster Penrose Visual Impact, who also won best puppy.
More show news – this time points from open shows have accumulated for Caroline Pont’s veteran girl Sh Ch Oakmarsh Dancing Diva to gain her Veteran Warrant. This can be earned only at open (not championship) dog shows in AV veteran and stakes classes and has really helped to boost entries at open shows for the societies.
With a scale of points awarded to dogs over 7 years of age, Diva, who is only 7 years old now, had to accumulate 25 points in order to apply to have VW after her name. Points are not allowed from specific Chesapeake Veteran classes, nor from ‘not separately classified’ classes, so Diva really had to fight amongst the other breeds to gain this award which she achieved in just 10 shows. Big congratulations.
Please email me if you have any news relating to Chesapeakes in the UK. We all would like to read of your dogs achievements or stories.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
11 August 2024
Amazing news is that dog food company Chudleys have kindly provided a massive ‘30% off’ code exclusively to members of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club. This code has been provided strictly for members and has been circulated to our present membership. If you would like to join the Chesapeake Club and share in all activities and advantages, please the Membership page where an application form is downloadable. Current membership is only £10 per year.
It has been a week of championship dog shows with Chesapeake classes. The first was the National Gundog Show last Sunday at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, where we had a substitute judge in Richard Morris as our scheduled judge, Julie Condron, was unwell. We wish her a speedy recovery.
Best of breed and CC was won by Sh Ch Arnac Bay Hebe WGC ShCEx Ew22 (J & C Middleton & Mayhew), adding to her collection. Best dog and the CC winner for males was Jason and Julie Hayes’ Tideflight Floki, who has been knocking on the door for some time. This was his second CC, and hopefully the third won’t be too long in coming.
Reserve CCs went to, in the bitches, Hebe’s litter sister Sh Ch Arnac Bay Harvest (D & T Thompson); and in the dogs, Sea’nland Master of The Sea for Riverrun (D & M Murray). Best puppy was Janet Morris’s Penrose Visual Impact; Special Beginner was Oakmarsh Kingsley Adsila (A & S Corcoran & Jones), with Angela handling; and best Veteran, another from David and Thelma Thompson, namely Arnac Bay Gamble.
The following Wednesday we were all back at Malvern with the annual comments of ‘why can’t the two shows be held back to back?’ It would certainly be easier for exhibitors, instead of making the sometimes very long trip twice in 4 days.
This time it was the United Retriever Club’s Championship show where judge Anthony Allen gave Hebe the CC and her second best of breed of the week. This time the dog CC went to her litter brother, Sh Ch Arnac Bay Huron at Bergelle JW (MV & J & J Mahon-Hunns & Hunns & Newton).
Reserve dog was Pixiesrock Mr Tumnus by Bleyos JW (G & T Boyles), and reserve bitch was Sh Ch Arnac Bay Flax (C Mayhew) who also won best veteran.Then a repeat of best puppy with Penrose Visual Impact (J Morris).
It was good to see several Chesapeakes having a go at the scurry at this show. It was a double marked retrieve, and the fastest time by one of our own was Breeze (Sh Ch Arnac Bay Harvest) handled by owner, David Thompson. A video can be seen of her running on UK Chessie Owners FB page.
The last championship show (Bournemouth) had no Challenge Certificates. Joy brought Hebe out once again to win best of breed. Best dog this time was Vroni Royle’s Battsrock Are You Ready. The reserve best bitch was one we hadn’t seen for some time: Jo Coppin and Darren Davies-Jones’ Dallandor Jocasta, who also trotted around to win best veteran. Best Special Beginner was Mrs Laura Blaber with Oakmarsh Laurel who was also best puppy in breed.
How many times have those who show their dogs heard (or overheard) criticism of the judging on that day, or of judges in general? Of course we all know that judges of any kind are not born with the knowledge to make a correct decision when judging. They have to learn and whilst there are many hoops to jump through to become a Kennel Club judge of one level or another, every judge must also learn by experience.
We have a system in our Judges Education Programmes (for all breeds) whereby at one time climbing up the ladder, the judges are tested with five dogs, writing down how they would place them in a show and giving a critique on each dog to demonstrate their reasons for placing them as such.
We ran one of these assessments at the recent United Retriever Club’s show. It takes some organisation and quite a few volunteers to put this into place. So a really big thank you must go to our ‘volunteer’ handlers – Tracy, Maddie, Gemma, Vroni and David – for taking the time to let this student judge go over your exhibits (some were not handling their own dogs) in order to help to educate a future judge. A big thank you also to the assessors (KC championship judges) on the day.
So before any of you show folk criticise the judging on any particular day, please think: have you made any unselfish input into helping to educate our judges?
Many, many years ago I bought a copy of James Mitchener’s book ‘Chesapeake’ which is a historical novel based in the Chesapeake Bay. Being such a huge piece of work, I flicked through to the chapter titled ‘the watermen’ where I knew to find a story about Chesapeake dogs. Having read this, the book was then consigned to the bookshelf to collect dust. Recently, with more time on my hands, I revisited it and this time started at the beginning!
For anyone interested in the history of those living on the Chesapeake, I would certainly recommend it. Although the characters are not real, the history of the area and the way of life is very correct and well researched.
The chapter that enticed my interest initially involves a story of the competitiveness between the hunting men with their Chesapeakes when a new breed of dog first arrives on those shores – the Labrador! The descriptions of the feud between two men who each felt his breed to be the best is very similar to those comments you can often hear today (or read on social media).
The Labrador owner reckoned that his dog ‘is the finest hunting dog ever developed.’ ‘Can’t touch a Chesapeake retriever,’ says the Chessy owner whose Chesapeake was described as a well trained beast, a large surly red-haired dog specially bred to work the icy waters of the bay in fall and winter. The author writes: ‘These dogs were unusual in that they grew a double matting of hair and produced an extra supply of oil to lubricate it. They could swim all day, loved to dive into the water for a fallen goose and were particularly skilled in breaking their way through ice.’
Describing a competition between the two dogs the author continues:
The big Chesapeake showed what a marvellous breed he was by leaping into the free water, swimming swiftly to the edge of the ice, then breaking a way for himself right to the goose. Clutching the big bird proudly in his jaws, he plunged back into the icy water, pushed aside the frozen chunks and returned to the blind, entering it with a mighty water spraying leap. ‘That’s what I call a dog,’ said the owner proudly, and the surrounding men agreed.
The Labrador did not perform so well. He retrieved his goose alright but hesitantly and almost with protest. He didn’t want to leap into the water in the first place, he was not adept at breaking ice, and when he returned to the blind he ran along the ice for as long as possible before going back into the freezing water.
Don’t think that the whole chapter was all in favour of the Chesapeake – it wasn’t, but I think this excerpt perfectly describes the difference between the two breeds in a wildfowling situation.
This is purported to be in the late 1800s and those of us who have the history of the breed etched in our brains, will know that the two Newfoundlands who were the beginning of the Chesapeake were rescued from the ship ‘Canton’ in 1806.
News from Kirsty Watts is that litter sisters, Oakmarsh Land of Promise and Oakmarsh Little Acorn both recently passed their KC Good Citizens bronze certificate at the age of 5 and 6 months respectively. Quite an achievement so young. Kennel mate Oakleaf Manor Bay of Oakmarsh went up a notch from Bronze to pass her Silver.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
4 August 2024
Leeds Championship Show was held last weekend, with the Gundog Day on Saturday. Best of breed and the bitch CC was won by Mayhew and Middleton’s Sh Ch NL Ch Int Ch Arnac Bay Hebe WGC Ew’22 ShCEx.
The dog CC went to Tracy Boyles’ Pixiesrock Mr Tumnus By Bleyos JW. This was Gibbs’ first CC, having accumulated a pile of five reserve CCs, and, although he is still only young it’s so nice that his time has come. Here’s to the next two!
The reserve dog CC and the best veteran went to Molly Barker’s Sh Ch Next Generations Chesepi Range Rider, with the reserve bitch CC going to Caroline Pont’s Sh Ch Oakmarsh Dancing Diva.
Best puppy was Chris Hewitson’s Melseed Don’t Stop Believing – a first time in the best in show ring for an always smiling Chris. Congratulations all.
This BNW should really be titled the Game Fair issue. For the uninitiated, the Game Fair is held every year and is the main event in the yearly calender for the hunting/shooting/fishing community. With trade stands covering everything country that you can think of, it easily takes three days to get around – and still not see everything!
Picture galleries, clothing, dog food, equipment, guns (Gun-makers Row is amazing), food, vehicles, etc., added to demonstrations of all sorts in several different rings and arenas.
There is always a scurry for the general public and how thrilling that Anthony Ciraolo’s two boys came second and third in the scurry with their Chesapeake, Ebb.
A lovely report from Kay Camoccio who, along with others, manned the Sporting Dog Pavilion again this year:
Well summer finally arrived in full force for The Game Fair 2024, this year held in the beautiful grounds of Bleinham Palace. What a busy three days Team Chessie had. Thank goodness it was a team, as both dogs and owners needed breaks from the sweltering heat. Breaks always incorporated drenching the dogs one way or another. Luckily there was a random watering hole that a great many dogs enjoyed.
The Sporting Dog Pavilion was maybe one of the busiest times we have seen in recent years, possibly due to the location, and people passing to watch the gundog competitions. One of which I managed to get to see and was lucky enough to sit next to Richard Playle. He gave me my own private commentary which was very interesting.
One of the spectacles to watch is the Gundog Parade. All of the gundog breed representatives make their way to the Gundog Arena. We all file in and take turns to be invited into the middle of the arena. The commentator then gives a condensed outline of the history, qualities and general information about the breed. Back in the Gundog Pavilion, Lisa and Martin manned the stand with Joss and Odhran while other Chessies were in the parade. Usually we haven’t enough dogs to be present in both areas, so this was a special bonus.
Many thanks to Gareth, Danielle and Patrick Adger who bought along Mac, Brodie (the Lab) and a new pup Hooper. A tad over a year old, Hooper just went with the flow. Not fazed at all with the public’s attention.
Thank you Anthony, Theo, Frank and Ebb. Yet again the Ciraolo boys went home laden with prizes. Frank even got presented with a free walking stick from Simon Heath because … he showed an interest! Interested children are our future to keep the UK countryside thriving.
Thank you to Vroni’s daughters, Faye and Abi, who provided the dogs with ice cream out of their own pocket money. As you can imagine they were gratefully received. A mention must go out to these Chessie children, all getting to know each other a little more each year, enjoying the whole Game Fair experience, participating in the many countryside pursuits and also having time to play together.
Thank you to my Camoccio boys, Steve, Muddle and Mucker. Steve managed to run the creche this year. Looking after three children and several dogs. Muddle decided to ‘lie’ the flag for the USA rather than ‘fly’ it.
I will end here by saying, the goose flew high and with pride at the Chesapeake Bay Retriever stand.
Big thanks to Debbie Herring for this report on the Minor Breeds Team Challenge, organised by Judy Hempstead and run with support from members of the Working Minority Retriever Club.
This event was held within the sweeping landscape of Blenheim Palace, and with the clear water of River Glyme, it set the scene for the perfect ground to test the retrievers. Four teams were competing, namely Irish Water Spaniels, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers and Curly Coated Retrievers.
The Malborough arena had a landscape of tall reeds, long grass and grand oak trees with the river running alongside. This challenging ground produced an array of different cover types in which the judge, Roger Wade, could test the dogs’ ability for hunting, retrieving, steadiness (with a walk up to shot and falling game), steadiness on the peg and memory on marked retrieves.
The grandstand was full of very enthusiastic spectators, and the event gathered a large audience around the outside fencing. The arena was subject to constant shots above from the clay shooting area and the whistles from the have-a-go scurry behind, so the dogs had to be incredibly focused. If all that wasn’t enough to contend with, one of the Toller team was distracted by a child walking the fence line wafting a fresh beef burger in the air, which caused a few chuckles from the crowd.
The grass and reeds were so long, that in many places the dog and handler were working blind and could not see each other to handle, so there had to be a certain amount of trust involved with the dogs having to do their job and think for themselves.
Some dogs struggled with the atmosphere and noise, so different from a normal working test, but our fantastic judge took his time to let the dogs find their way and made sure that no dog was allowed to fail. Everyone completed their retrieve and the fun but informative commentary from Wendy Perrera along with cheers and claps from the audience helped to boost everyone’s enjoyment.
Once all teams had completed their individual tests, each breed team was called back into the arena. The judge explained that he wanted a repeat of the jump into reeds, water retrieve and jump into long grass and asked the teams to take a minute to decide which dog should do which test. This is where the breed teams really need to have knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of each dog and handler to select the best dog for each job.
This year saw the Chesapeake Bay Retriever team take the overall win with a score of 254/300. Second was the Nova Scotia Duck Tollers with 230, third the Irish Water Spaniels 226, and fourth, the Curly coated Retrievers with 140.
Our successful team members were: Anthony Ciraolo with Franeo Ebbing Tide, Fleur Barment with Pixiesrock Maestro Cadenza, and Kevin Amaira with Petsalls Canuck. Our reserve was Lisa Murch with Franeo Original Long Gunner at Pixiesrock.
After the competition, presentations were made by Franchesca Prentice from The Game Fair and we would like to thank the event sponsors, Harkila clothing, Skinners Dog Food, and Gamekeepers Goods for their support. The return match is at the 2025 Game Fair to be held at Ragley Hall.
Meanwhile in the main ring there was a demonstration of gundog training by Jason Mayhew and friends. Delighting the audience with his showmanship (which matches or even surpasses his training abilities), Jason’s ‘friends’ this year included the famous Anthony Ciraolo with his Chesapeake, and some chef called James Martin with his cocker spaniel ‘Cooper’ (whose claim to fame is that he is my cocker’s son and was conceived in the back of my Land Rover!) Added was a sprinkling of other handlers and breeds of dogs who are trained by Jason. It is always a great advertisement to have a Chesapeake in the main ring.
Another two of our breed also flew the flag, this time in the Euro Challenge where teams of different breeds of retrievers from various European countries compete against each other. There were two Chesapeakes present: Mary Murray with her homebred Cara (Riverruns Everybody’s Friend), who ran for Team Eire. Also running was Katherine Golze with her UK-bred dog Penrose Peat Bog Fairy, running for the German Team. This well trained dog, bred by Janet Morris, was the highest marking minority breed in the event. Well done.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
28 July 2024
When Madeleine Mahon and Joy Middleton hatched a plan to import a puppy from the USA, I don’t think that they could have anticipated how soon this little lad would reach great heights in the show ring. Hudson, as he is now named, soon notched up a collection of best puppy in breed awards at both open and championship shows, and added a couple of best of breeds at open shows. But the icing must surely have been last weekend when he not only went best of breed at Dukeries Open Show but, handled by James Newton, and at just over one year old, he stormed around the ring to win reserve best in show.
Hudson (Susqudilla Bergelle Big Apple) was bred by Kim Hitt Kasprzyk and came from Robyn Haskins (who owns and bred the sire, Barnabus) in New York State. Hudson is co-owned by Robyn, Madeleine and Joy. For those interested in pedigrees, Barnabus has the same sire as Molly’s Ryder and my Buoy, but with different bloodlines on all of the dams these three have/had a lot to offer in the way of increasing our genetic diversity in the UK.
This leads me on to another story of bloodlines travelling the world. Many of our readers will know that when I decided to breed Larch (Arnac Bay Arapahoe), I knew which dog I wanted to use but that dog was in the USA. And so it was arranged that I took Larch to Maryland, where the lovely Gina Downin would keep her and breed her to Jessie (Chestnut Hills Windjammer). Gina would then whelp the litter and be co-breeder, keeping a pup for herself. Luckily all went as planned and I kept a male from the litter (Arnac Weatherdeck Buoy) who I flew over to collect, taking a holiday in Arizona at the same time!
Buoy has, to date, sired seven litters in England and Ireland, and with the quality of pups he has produced I decided to freeze semen from him. I always regretted not doing this with Arnac Bay Jetsam who, like Buoy, was a nice looking, super temperament dog who sired really lovely puppies. As every breeder will know, not every stud dog sires good puppies and even some of the best looking dogs do not seem to pass their qualities onto their progeny.
Recently, following an enquiry, some of that frozen semen was shipped to Finland, via Germany, for a bitch in Estonia and I was delighted to be told by her excited owners recently, that she has been scanned in whelp.
So bloodlines from England (including several USA imported dogs a few generations back) went to the USA, back to England and now to Estonia. When I think back to my first three litters, all sired by the same dog as I had hardly any choice (there were only 6 Chesapeakes that I knew of in the whole of the UK), it really is a different world today.
Stop press … Our very own James Newton has just judged the Swedish Chesapeake Club Show where he gave BOB and best in show to Catharina and Kaj Lindstrom’s Susqudilla Doublecoats Mountain Man, a full brother (from a previous litter) to Hudson, mentioned at the beginning of this BNW. It’s a small world.
This year’s CBRC Autumn WT will be held in Somerset in September. An entry form and full details of the weekend are now available to download from the Events page.
Leeds Championship Show results and report next week.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
21 July 2024
With the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace on the very near horizon (26-28 July), the Chesapeakes will be in attendance and/or performing in all of the following:
Sporting Dog Arena
12.00 all three days – parade of sporting dogs
14.30 Friday and Saturday – Working Minority Retriever Club demonstrations
Sporting Dogs Pavilion
All three days, Chesapeakes and their owners in attendance. Please visit to chat.
Main arena
15.30 All three days – Gundogs with Jason Mayhew and friends gundog demo, which includes Anthony Ciraolo and his Chesapeake Ebb.
Marlborough Arena
9.30-16.30 Fri/Sat Euro Challenge which includes Mary Murray and one of her Chesapeakes running in the Irish team.
9.30-12.30 Sunday Minor Breeds Team Challenge
Please support our Chesapeake owners at the Game Fair by visiting and cheering!
Here is some news from Fleur Bament:
The Working Minority Retriever Club put on a superb training weekend in Shaftesbury with training on the Saturday and mock training tests on the Sunday. The Chessies were well represented with Mark and Karen Preece, Kevin Amaira and myself.
Saturday saw a cold, wet and blustery day but we had superb trainers, myself and Kevin spending the day with the infamous Nick Coates. What a privilege for us.
Sunday’s weather was hideous with torrential rain, hail and thunder. As it was mock training tests, the judges gave every competitor a run down on how they did, how they were judged and how they can improve. This was a fantastic opportunity for all of us, especially those of us due to compete in teams at the Game Fair later this month.
Despite the challenging weather we all kept our sense of humour and had a very sociable and fun time. It was a great weekend for learning and we are so lucky to have these events organised. Ultimately, in the Open, Kevin and Zoar came 2nd and Chester and myself were awarded a Certificate of Merit – a terrific result considering the conditions.
Show news from Vroni, who took Togo, aka Battsrock Are You Ready, to the Thames and Oxfordshire Country Premier Open Show where they had scheduled Chessie classes. Togo took first in a mixed limit class and then went on to win Best of Breed.
Meanwhile in Scotland, at the Gundog Breeds of Scotland, Lorna Murray’s Muireatai Miracle of Dreams (Kenzie) won 1st in the open Chessie class and Best of Breed, also winning a 3rd in Any Variety Gundog Post Graduate.
Whilst I reported last week that Sheridan Turner and her dog Mystery, had won the special beginners class at Boston Show, I hadn’t realised that she had a further major achievement in winning a Group 4 out of all the gundog special beginners at the end of the day. Certainly worth a photo!
Congratulations all
News from the Royal Kennel Club just this week is that they will not be continuing the Assured Breeders Scheme beyond the end of this year.
I think that there were only two members from our breed and, being one of them, I have to say that I had anticipated its demise some time ago. Whilst the original idea was impressive, there were too many glitches and the high standard of care and facilities expected of breeders was not being checked efficiently nor regularly according to many exposed tales.
All this whilst the paperwork we were supposed to hand out to new puppy owners was so long winded and explanatory that the scheme obviously thought we were letting our precious pups go to complete morons with no common sense whatsoever. Such is the way of the world these days.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
14 July 2024
Boston Championship Show and the big story is that a Chesapeake was fourth in the gundog puppy group which is really quite an achievement for our breed. Susqudilla Bergelle Big Apple aka Hudson, owned by Mahon-Hunns, Middleton & Haskin, was handled by Maddie in the breed and Joy in the big ring.
Best dog and best of breed was Sh Ch Arnac Bay Huron at Bergelle JW, owned by another partnership of Mahon-Hunns, Hunns & Newton, with best bitch going to his sister Sh Ch/Nl Ch/Int Ch Arnac Bay Hebe WGC ShCEx Ew22, owned by Mayhew & Middleton and handled by Joy.
I was delighted to learn that the reserve best dog was won by Jason and Julie Hayes’ Tideflight Floki, presumably handled by Julie, as this young dog has been knocking on the door of success for some time. The reserve best bitch was Caroline Pont’s Sh Ch Oakmarsh Dancing Diva who also won best veteran. Last but not least, Best Special Beginner went to Miss S Turner with her own Oakmarsh Haunting Melody. Big congratulations to all.
No other news in this week and so a repeat of an article first printed in Dog World many years ago:
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever, by virtue of his gundog sub-group is sometimes mistakenly likened to his more popular cousins; the Golden and the Labrador retrievers.
Whilst his job of finding and retrieving game is the same as all of the retriever breeds, he is designed both in conformation and character as a specialist in one field – that of
wildfowling.
His colour, any shade of brown or deadgrass (straw coloured), provides camouflage in mud and rushes. His webbed feet provide an increased surface for swimming in water and for walking on soft marsh ground. His slightly higher or level rear assembly and strong free moving shoulders, along with his powerful hind movement provide the outboard motors in water. His double layered oily coat is his overall hull, strong and water repelling. The bow is his strong head and pointed but strong muzzle, the rudder, his tail. He is a boat by design, and an icebreaker in severe weather.
The tenacity necessary to follow and find his quarry in the most punishing conditions make him a dog with determination and a natural instinct that is not ideally suited to the dictatorial obedience sometimes asked for in modern field trials.
He is utterly faithful to his master and family and would give his life to save or protect his human friends. I find his relationship with his master to be more comparable to that of a good German Shepherd than that of a Labrador or Golden Retriever.
He suffers strangers and will be friendly once introduced or if he is with his master. He is not extrovert or necessarily friendly when alone on his property and will guard in no uncertain terms.
This is a breed for the enthusiast – you either love them and would have no other, or you cannot relate to them. He is no snob and it matters not to him whether he lives in a mansion or a shack. He craves companionship, work, and an understanding of his special qualities. Given the right master he will never stray and will rarely leave even an unfenced property.
A Chesapeake has to admire you and accept you as his peer or he will walk all over you. A working relationship is formed on respect and disciplined lessons. Push him too far and he will quit on you and look for a master elsewhere as he has no desire to be totally subservient.
I love this breed and would never be without one or more, but I do not promote him as the ideal breed for everyone and I consider that I would be doing him a disservice to do so.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
7 July 2024
This week we have our last new committee member introduction – Anthony Ciraolo who writes:
I first became involved with Chesapeakes almost 14 years ago, when I was searching for the ultimate wildfowling dog to accompany me on my shooting adventures. I was looking into the different breeds of dog, not wanting one of the mainstream dogs but something a little different. The Irish Water Spaniel was top of my list and it wasn’t until I had arranged a viewing at a litter that I was told, ‘It’s not an Irish you after, it’s a Chesapeake!’ I did an internet search and found a wildfowling family over the border with a litter that were 3 weeks old. I arranged a viewing, picked a pup and the rest is history, as they say.
What attracted me to the breed was the fact that they were bred to be the ultimate wildflowers tool. I needed a dog I can take out in the worst possible weather conditions , icy cold water, wind, sleet and blizzard conditions. It’s not always like this but I wanted a dog that could cope and still want to work no matter how bad the weather would be when out chasing the fowl as these are usually the most fruitful times to be out.
I didn’t want to have to push my dog to breaking point as I’ve seen with other breeds. To this day I’ve not had to cut a shooting trip short due to the welfare of my dog, and that’s due to me making the right decision buying a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
A bit about my first Chesapeake. As I said, my first pup was from over the border from the North Solway kennels, from Kevin and Donna, both of whom shot the shore regularly and this was important to me when looking for my dog. I needed to know that the dog I was buying came from real working stock as you are more likely to produce a good hard working dog that’s trainable.
I called this pup Eider, after the hardy sea duck we find on our shore, and she lived up to her name. The stories I could tell you and the people she amazed when out shooting were countless. I couldn’t have asked for more. Having her got me into working tests obviously with help from the Club and she did really well considering I was a newbie and probably held her back. In reality, she didn’t need me. Unfortunately she had to be put to sleep last Christmas at 13 years old as she had cancer and is missed dearly.
My main interest within the Chessie world is in keeping these wonderful dogs working first and mostly in the field and on the shore but also in working tests and I think I can help the Club because of the knowledge I’ve gained through working my dogs.
I’m here to help promote the breed in the field, on the shore, and at working events whether it’s Club-run or at game fairs and county shows. Hopefully I can help push the working side of this breed and get more people to use them in the way they were bred for.
At the moment I’ve got Ebb, a Chesapeake I bred from Eider. I also have an old lurcher who’s 16 and a Bedlington who I also bred who is 10. All are working dogs and have all earned their keep and I’m hopefully going to have another Chessie join the family soon.
Windsor Show continued – So much in last week’s BNW that we didn’t have room for the photo of Richard and Tilly’s puppy, Roly who won best puppy in both the Championship classes judged by Sandy Hastings, and the CBRC show judged by Marion Sargent. Big congratulations Roly.
The show day itself ended with the three special award classes. These classes give up and coming judges chance to put their hands on, assess and place a number of dogs, which not only gives them experience but also helps them on their way to ticking all the boxes needed by the Kennel Club in order to progress further up the ladder towards their judging career. The classes on this day were judged by Ros Davies.
I was amused to hear that John Spencer-Smith recently jumped fully clothed (boots and all) into his swimming pool to ‘rescue’ his very old and wobbly Chesapeake, Curlew who had tottered in the wrong direction and fallen in. Of course, all Chesapeakes can swim and Curlew is no exception, but John acted instinctively and clothes or no clothes, the sides of the pool would not have allowed Curlew to get out of her own accord. Sadly I have no photos of this event!
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
30 June 2024
Fantastic news from Leslie Tregunno is that Mink (Arnac Bay Ibis) and Peter Clarke won a 2nd in West Berkshire Gundog Club’s open working test, the test having being run like a shoot day. It is always great news to hear of dogs of our breed running in AV tests and, believe me, it is quite an achievement to even win a placing in a test, so big congratulations Peter and Mink.
Another in the series of introducing new committee members, this time Gemma McCartney (nee Price). Gemma writes:
I first came across the breed when my Grandmother (Margaret Woods – Nunneyswood) decided to buy a Chessie to work on the shoots she picked up on, alongside the Labradors she bred. After growing up with both Labradors and Chesapeakes and doing obedience as well as showing both breeds, I soon realised what a special breed Chessies are. I truly believe the Chesapeakes we’ve owned within the family have taught me as much I’ve taught them. From watching my first very own Chessie dive after a wounded duck in a pond to showing her great granddaughter to best of breed in the show ring, they have been with me through so many special moments and can turn their paws to anything. Sensitive, stubborn and clever is such a fun package.
The first Chessie of my very own was Chelsea (Nunneyswood Chelsea – out of Wight Wizard at Nunneyswood by Arnac Bay Jetsam). She was born in 1995. We wondered what she was when she was first born as ash grey wasn’t a colour we had seen in the UK, but we kept her and her brother from the very first Nunneywood Chessie litter. She did everything with me from day one. She was my Show dog, junior handling dog, my first picking up dog, we did working tests, obedience and agility. She was special in every way, gentle yet protective, clever yet silly, a brilliant mother and my best friend from 1995 to 2007. She had multiple Championship Best of Breed awards as well as Best in Show at the CBRC club show (pre-CCs).
I love everything about the breed and I am a big advocate for the success and improvement of the breed itself within the UK, whilst retaining their working ability and working on health matters. I enjoy showing, working and agility but since losing my last Chessie last year, I have to live vicariously through others and the enjoyment from showing other peoples Chessies.
I am happy to put in hard work to the running of the Club. I have previously been on both show and executive committees as well having been a show secretary. I can generally turn my hand to most things within the dog world but also have skills in IT and social media that will be useful.
I currently have two Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (I only do breeds with fabulous names!): Freddie (Ch Soletrader Freddie Mercury JW) who is now 5 and Ed (Soletrader Ed Sheeran) who is 15 months, and hope the plans are for another Chesapeake in the future.
Show news and David Rigby tells us that Gunnar (Chesepi Waco) took best of breed at the recent Royal Cheshire Show last Wednesday under judge Su Carlin.
Sandy Hastings, of the Chesabay affix, has been a Chesapeake owner and breeder for many years although she no longer has a brown dog at home. This year Sandy judged Windsor Championship Show where, this last Friday, she awarded best of breed to Sea’nland Master of The Sea for Riverrun (owned by Des and Mary Murray). Yeats, as he is known, was born and bred in Germany by Claudia Breitgoff, imported as puppy to Mary and Des in Ireland, and made the quick visit to England to attend Windsor show. Certainly Yeats is a very well travelled lad and taking the dog CC and best of breed was a proud moment for his owner and his German breeder.
The reserve dog CC went to Mayhew’s veteran dog Sh Ch/Nl Ch Arnac Weatherdeck Buoy handled by Gemma McCartney. From a veteran to a youngster, with 13 month old Arnac Bay Jellico winning the bitch CC, her first. Jelli is sired by Sh Ch Arnac Bay Exe and out of Sh Ch Arnac Bay Hebe WGC ShCEx, EW22, bred and co-owned by Mayhew and Middleton, handled by Joy and then Emily Evans in the Challenge.
The reserve CC went to another first time recipient, namely Glaneils Don’t Worry Be Happy, this youngster being bred by Cathy Broomfield and owned by Broomfield, Broomfield, Mahon-Hunns and Newton, and handled by James Newton. Sired by Sh Ch Arnac Bay Huron at Bergelle, Lyra is out of Sh Ch Petsalls Pride Beech at Glaneils.
Best puppy was awarded to Playle and Thomas’ Riptide Gentlemans Relish (Roly), and best veteran to Mayhew’s Sh Ch Arnac Bay Flax. Last but by far from least, the Best Special Beginner was Oakmarsh Laurel, owned by Mrs and Mr L & Miss K Blaber.
On to the CBRC open show, kindly organised by Joy Middleton, where judge Marion Sargent awarded best in show to Mayhew and Middleton’s Sh Ch Arnac Bay Hebe, handled by Emily Evans, with the reserve best in show going to her daughter Arnac Bay Jellico (same owners).
Best male and best opposite sex went to a prancing Chesepi Waco, ably handled by owner David Rigby. Best puppy again was Riptide Gentleman’s Relish (Richard Playle and Tilly Thomas), and best Veteran was Sh Ch Arnac Weatherdeck Buoy. Our thanks to Josera food and Sporting Saint for sponsoring this show once again, as well as Eminala Designs, Joy Middleton and Lisa Murch for other goodies for the winners.
Special Awards classes were judged by Roz Davies. Full results and reports will be given on the Shows page once available.
Christine Mayhew
bobmayhewqhorses@aol.com
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