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News and photos from the gundog scene.

By Graham Cox

Tuesday, 03 July 2007

Whether you're an HPR breed enthusiast who has been busy toasting Rory Major's achievements last season, or someone anxious to find out more about the breeds which trade under that collective label, you should now be pencilling two dates into your diary.

ON SEPTEMBER 22-23 at Loton Park, Alderbury near Shrewsbury in Shropshire, the home and estate of Sir Michael Leighton Bt, who has been a lifelong German shorthaired pointer enthusiast, there is to be a packed weekend devoted to the HPR breeds. A highlight will surely be an International Gundog Working Test with teams from the home countries and Holland, Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic.

The tests planned will include a mix of UK and Continental type tests so there will be opportunities to see top dogs working the scent of a wounded deer as well as hunting, quartering and water work and, characteristically, the conformation of the dogs will also be assessed.

You'll have plenty of opportunities to take part with your own dog and, amongst a number of planned lectures and demonstrations, there will be a chance to see the Bringsel Method in wounded deer location. And having been an avalanche 'victim' in Switzerland, I have been a beneficiary of the Bringsel Method!

On the Saturday evening there will be a gamey dinner, after yet more lectures on all aspects of working HPRs. And if that has whetted your appetite you'll need to find out more.

So why not go to www.discoverhprs.co.uk or contact Nicholas Elder on info@discoverhprs.co.uk, or telephone 00353 598627281