Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2017 i Shooting Gazette

IS YOUR WC or study groaning under the weight of old issues of Shooting Gazette? If you’re getting as much grief from your other half as your floorboards are from driven shooting’s finest journal then our new, specially made binders, capable of holding a year’s worth of magazines, could be just the thing you need. We’d like to think the gold embossed lettering on the spine would make your bookshelf even more presentable, too. Binders are priced at £9.95 + P&P each, with a discount for larger orders. To order your binders email: leeanne.wright@timeinc.com…

On the back cover of this book the author writes: “Hammer guns are not an affectation, they are the best guns ever made and they are still better to use than anything else available, if you apply yourself to their use and ownership in the right way.” In truth there won’t be many readers of this magazine who regularly shoot with a hammer gun and perhaps many would question the veracity of this statement. However should you take a while to peruse these pages you will be left in no doubt about the author’s love of hammer guns and everything which surrounds them. This is his third book, following Vintage Guns for the Modern Shot and The British Boxlock Gun & Rifle and there is no questioning his breadth of…

Back in November we asked our Facebook followers a simple question: Side-by-side or over-under? We had a phenomenal response from our followers, with over 100 comments made and almost as many photographs shared of various wonderful shotguns to boot. Here is a selection of what you saidÉ Graeme Rawlings posted: “You do not see world champion clay shooters using a side-by-side. You should use the gun that you kill the cleanest with, it’s nothing to do with tradition it's about respecting your chosen quarry.” Millie Moore posted: “I was a side-by-side man and used a number of English guns by Grant, Woodward, William Evans and Westley Richards. I went over to the dark side and started using an under-over when we got into mega high driven pheasants as we soon…

Arthur Cadman’s writings on deer and wildfowl have entered the shooting world’s hall of fame, not only for their depth of knowledge and experience, but also for the passion and enthusiasm for the stories they relate. Cadman was a deputy surveyor of the New Forest, and his position allowed him to study deer at close quarters at a time when the majority of roe management was still being undertaken with shotguns. The New Forest was the first area in Britain where control of a large herd of wild fallow deer was put onto a selective basis, and Cadman was a driving force behind this move to improve management to a stage that we might recognise today. As you might expect, Dawn Dusk and Deer has a woodland theme, with several…

Q: In light of the huge delays in processing shotgun certificate renewals in some counties (Lincolnshire for example) what is your advice to help speed up the process? I call and call but just get fobbed off… A: This is a widespread problem. Whilst some forces are excellent others are woefully inefficient. Lincolnshire in particular has a poor record for firearms licensing. BASC’s firearms team deal with an enormous number of queries about delays in both the grant and renewal of Firearm and Shotgun certificates more than on any other subject. There is little that an applicant can do to speed up the process sadly. The real danger is in fact in the case of renewals where tardy service by the police can lead to certificate holders being in possession…

THE AUTHOR of the Letter of the Month will receive a pair of Wexford boots from Dubarry of Ireland (RRP £325). The knee-length side-zip boots– designed for both men and women – are handcrafted from waterproof Dry Fast-Dry Soft™ breathable leathers. The high quality of the boot is reinforced throughout with an insulated GORE-TEX® lining that wicks moisture away from the foot, ensuring the wearer remains dry and comfortable all day. Dubarry’s new hard-wearing durable outsole gives maximum grip whatever the ground conditions.…

Shoots are relatively unusual as businesses because they require a substantial deposit with order and the balance before the goods are used. Like holiday companies, I suppose. Partly this is because it is beneficial to have a separation between the commercial and the fun aspects of the transaction. However, as most of the costs are incurred before the day, it is vital for the shoot cashflow to get a decent deposit. For a shoot that doesn’t own the land, there are precious few assets against which to secure a sizeable overdraft. There is more than cashflow to consider. A deposit shows commitment from the guns and reluctance to pay it flags up early if there is a problem with the team. Being able to put pressure on in April/May for…

“The drizzle did nothing to dampen spirits... in fact it whetted the appetite.” Wildfowlers are privy to a landscape denied to the followers of other fieldsports. These lucky few, who spend their spare autumn and winter hours in the flat expanse below the sea wall pursuing waterfowl, know and embrace the solitude and severity of this unique backdrop – in the harshest of climates. It is only in such immersion that the realities and rawness of nature promotes a close reciprocity between wildfowler and the creatures that inhabit the marsh. Wildfowling is more than just another form of shooting. Its rewards are usually, to the uninitiated, inadequate for the efforts expended and the discomfort endured. The men that frequent this hostile wilderness are those who are fascinated by wildfowl on…

SPORT ABROAD Special features on hunting in New Zealand, deer stalking in Mauritius and bird shooting in Argentina YOUNG AND POWERFUL The next generation of movers and shakers in shooting HEMINGWAY’S HUNGER FOR HUNTING Why he preferred the rifle to the written word DOWN TO THE WOODS The unique appeal of February roost shooting THE RETRIEVER CHAMPIONSHIP Full report from Ampton A ROYAL DAY OUT Exclusive report from a special gundog day at Windsor THE FEBRUARY ISSUE GOES ON SALE ON THURSDAY JANUARY 26…

absolutely indistinguishable, and both share the same blacked section of fore-end iron and fore-end release lever surround which distinguish the 690 model from the 686 series guns. Construction is excellent as you would expect, but differences in terms of wood and engraving are quite significant. Mechanically, the guns are quite clever and are very reliable indeed so you should have no concerns over picking one up and using it quite hard – they will certainly take very hard use. Currently, this gun is available only in 12 bore with 28” or 30” barrels with multi-chokes. Chambers are 3” long. One would imagine smaller bore guns can’t be too far behind, and given the 690 series’ already excellent overall weight and balance they are likely to be very popular guns indeed.…

Q In the last month of the season should I be thinking about increasing pellet size or shot load? Or is this a bit of an old wives' tale? A The debate on shot size is always an interesting one and many people, particularly of my father’s generation, grew up shooting nothing but Eley Impax 28gram No.7s at everything. Now I come across lots of people who shoot nothing but 36gram No.4s as their standard load, from September partridge to January pheasants! The key thing when choosing a cartridge is to make sure it is fit for purpose, no matter what the time of year. I think there is little debate that as pellet size increases striking energy and overall knock down power increases. We do need to take care…

IN THE Labrador Retriever Club’s centenary year it held a very successful novice field trial at the Hopton Shoot in Hopton Wafers near Ludlow, Shropshire, by kind permission of Peter Vale and Law Plant and the Hopton Shoot, writes Gaynor Bailey. The trial was judged by Steve Richardson and Leigh Jackson on the right, with Tim Brain and Paula Cullis on the left. The whole trial was driven and run on a single, very prolific drive, halted four times to allow dogs to work. It produced 70 head of game – a mix of partridges, pheasants and ducks. Sarah Miles with Sault Samish of Meonvalley completed a fourth dog eye-wipe, picking a dead partridge on stubble that the previous three dogs all seemed to make good on the same ground…

ESSEX-BASED schoolgirl Zoe Blackburn won the inaugural Independent Schools Association (ISA) Gundog Challenge at the Midland Game Fair at Weston Park. Hosted by The Gundog Company, the ISA Gundog Challenge is designed for beginners to raise awareness of handling and training of gundogs. The competition is open to all primary school children aged from three to 12. In total 54 children from 27 schools nationwide competed in the final. A student at Coopersdale Hall in Essex, nine-year-old Zoe impressed judges with her natural aptitude for gundog handling. Organiser John Robertson commented: “Zoe was a real stand-out candidate. Using our spaniel Lizzie, she completed a long-distance retrieve using all the correct signals. We hope this achievement will spark an enduring interest in gundog handling.” Sponsored by Red Monkey Play, Zoe won…

THE NGRA held its first trial of the season – a 14 dog novice stake for a.v. retrievers at Broughton in north Lincolnshire by arrangement with Gordon Holt and the NGRA team of guns, writes Phil Wagland. The judges were David Probert, Philip Smithies, Steven Burns and Sharon Kitson. The sponsor was Alpha Dog Food. Most of the trial involved a walk-up through a large field of sugar beet with a fairly steady supply of red-legged partridges. Running were 11 labradors, two golden retrievers and one flatcoated retriever. Our seven guns shot accurately and walking the beet produced marked retrieves. One dog ran in; one failed on a runner and two were eye-wiped. With one further failure, nine dogs progressed to the third round. However a long retrieve to the…

The end of our trialling season is almost upon us, all that’s left are a few one-day open stakes and the odd novice or two. This was my first full season campaigning my open dog, and keeping him in tip-top condition without him becoming trial wise has been a big challenge. A three-year-old turbo-charged “Ferrari” in the hands of a learner driver is always going to result in a thrilling ride. We certainly had to buckle up on a few occasions! A large proportion of the two-day stakes I ran in were not on traditional shooting estates. However, quite a few novice trials are being held on really good testing ground and for free. So why not use these grounds for 12 dog opens? (I realise that it would be…

BASC IS offering its members the chance to win a Beretta Jubilee worth £15,750 in its Winter Gun Draw. The winner will be able to choose a number of features to personalise their shotgun including a choice of engraving and barrel length. Nick Glazebrook, BASC’s head of business development, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to win a superb gun from Beretta’s premium range. With an array of options available, the winner will be able to choose the ideal gun for his or her favourite shooting discipline. And with a choice of seven stunning game scene engravings they would win a gun that will give them enormous pleasure for years to come.” BASC’s Winter Gun Draw is open to UK residents only who are 16 years of age…

15% The rise in the number of breeding pairs of golden eagles (now 508) in Scotland (Scottish Land & Estates) November 16th Date Eley Hawk’s new website went fully live (Eley Hawk Ltd.) 13 number of dates in The Schools Challenge calendar in 2017 (TSC) 2 age of a dog from Doncaster who won the Kennel Club English Springer Spaniel Open Stake 2016 in Lincolnshire in November. (Kennel Club) 910 number of phone calls dealt with by BASC’s specialist firearms team during October (BASC) 01244 573 028 contact number for the BASC South East team’s new office in Horsham, West Sussex (BASC)…

The first would have to be the late Archie Coats, father of modern pigeon shooting. He was like a sporting father to me as friend, tutor and influence, for better or for worse. He was a superb shot using his Webley 700 boxlock, side-by-side, with nimble footwork, fast reactions and intense concentration for the opportunity of a safe shot at whatever quarry entered his air space. His dear wife Prue would of course be invited to accompany him. The late John Ransford was a fanatical pigeon shot in his home county of Shropshire and broke Archie’s record of 550 with his 561 in a day. He was a great character and I enjoyed many wonderful days pigeon decoying with him on rape stubbles. Back in this life for a day…

After four years getting a stiff neck painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo was asked by his chiropractor how he had previously approached the task of carving the statue of the biblical hero David? “Simple”, said the great man, absentmindedly picking flakes of cyan blue and gold leaf out of his hair, “I started with this lump of Carrara marble and just kept on knocking bits off that weren’t David.” Lately the antics of some surrounding us have been trying to do much the same thing to rural life, but without the artist’s nuanced approach to retaining the good bits. Take a recently emerging group of activist vegans and vegetarians whose members are urged to bear witness to the final moments of farmed animals en route to slaughter.…

Surely you must have the dream job? “You're right. I’m fortunate that during the season I get to spend some time on beautiful sporting estates attending the various working dog championships that we sponsor. I recently attended the HPR Championships, which was held at Tollishill by the kind invitation of Mr Wilson Young. It was fantastic spending two days walking the hills of the Borders watching good guns shoot and fantastic dog work.” Does it help your shooting, watching people shoot like that? “I suppose it does subliminally. It certainly sets you a challenge and gives you a bit of assurance sometimes... that you are doing the right thing, or as far from the wrong thing as humanly possible.” I've been lucky to watch you work your dogs on several…

TRAVEL Temple sits on the south side of the Castle Hill Estate in Filleigh. The shoot is easily reached by taking the A361 after leaving the M5 at Junction 27 near Tiverton. The railway station at Tiverton is an option for those coming in by train from London or via Bristol Temple Meads (national-rail.co.uk). If you’re considering flying into this wonderful pocket of the South-West then Exeter has a dedicated corporate aviation facility (exeter-airport.co.uk). STAY With Temple being so close to Hall and not too far away from Affeton, visiting guns have a number of choices, not least our firm favourite, Highbullen (highbullen.co.uk). We stayed in the modest gatehouse lodge of Huntsham Court, and a night’s stay at the big house would be well worth it if you can round…

THE DRIVEN shoot day is a team effort and by no means the least important team consists of the beaters. These men, women, boys and girls turn out in all weathers mostly not for the money but because they enjoy what they do. However on some shoots it would seem the beaters are not being given due consideration when planning the day. One example I will now relate from a shoot I beat for. The weather was atrocious when we all met in the morning in a woodland parking area. They have a barn that we could meet at but it is preferred that we wait where we park our vehicles. After about 45 minutes we piled into the vehicles and set off to be dropped off at various points…

“We all want to shoot well don’t we, because that’s where the thrill comes from.” Last month we featured Lord Ripon and some of his extraordinary shooting feats, not least his lifetime bag of more than half a million head of game. These days the focus is not purely on numbers, and I haven’t met many game shooters over the years who judge a day purely on the size of the bag at the end of it. After all, if you really just want a numbers game then why not shoot clays? Or you could travel to the Czech Republic where the old hunting habits of the Austro-Hungarian Empire die hard. I once attended a pheasant shoot at one of Archduke Ferdinand’s former hunting estates where the keeper and his…

Human A fundamental requirement in the training of a dog to the gun is that the dog should not be afraid of the sound of gunfire. Accordingly it is the advice of expert dog wranglers that the pup should be introduced cautiously to progressively louder noises over an extended period. A handclap will be enough to be going on with when the pup is very young; followed perhaps by the bursting of a paper bag. Then matters may proceed via the firing of blank cartridges from a starting or training pistol through to the actual discharge of a sequence of weapons, beginning with light cartridges in small-calibre guns to the standard-issue 12 bore shotgun in due season. Throughout the process the pup must be given continuous reassurance so that it…

“Euphoria continued at a steady 24 per box of cartridges, and then two dropped dead for one shot.” There are two difficulties for me in writing this story. Firstly, while readers love tales of everything going wrong, this happens to be an unashamed success. Secondly, while it is immodest to write about one’s own performance, this was so extreme that, like an out-of-body experience, it was not me but someone in my dreams shooting in my hide on the day in question. In late October my pigeon shooting colleague A.C. had arrived early to check if there were pigeons on two large barley stubbles near to him. A phone call at 8.30am had him babbling with excitement about a lot of birds and asking how soon I could get there.…

“PAYE and RTI requirements can be onerous for hiring in ‘casual’ labour.” Many shoots on farms and estates, with just a modest number of shoot days taken by family and friends, will be run as private affairs and very much outside the scope of tax and VAT. But there may also be thoughts as to whether the shoot could make money if placed on a commercial footing. Points to consider, apart from tax, include marketing, what to charge, cost control, and whether the gamekeeper is able to take on the task. The tax implications of going commercial are broadly as follows... VALUE ADDED TAX The VAT treatment of the shoot income is often one of the biggest tax considerations, as customers will rarely be able to recover any charged on…

It is very hard to argue with the quality of the 690 series’ handling characteristics. Both instructor Bruce Marks and I were very pleased with the way the gun mounted and moved at Grange Farm, Wittering, with particularly linear swings and a fine trigger pull. Recoil was well controlled and the overall operation of the gun was very pleasing, with satisfying movement on the top lever and safety catch. In all ways then, the 690 Field I is an extremely pleasing gun to shoot. Despite its relatively light weight it feels extremely solid and all the moving parts do so with satisfying clicks and firmness. Inevitably a lot of modern Berettas share the same distinctive trademarks aesthetically and in terms of handling. This is unsurprising since the feel and character…

With a new year pretty much upon us we have put the farmland market and the wider agricultural industry under the microscope and taken a look at some of the opportunities and risks which may emerge during 2017. The £3,000,000,000 of subsidies provided by the Common Agricultural Policy each year can no longer be guaranteed to underpin farm incomes over the longer term. They are, however, secure until 2020 and in the short term, the depreciation of sterling will boost their value in sterling - potentially supporting demand for farmland. Meanwhile, low commodity prices are putting pressure on some sectors of the market and we envisage the patchy local demand leading to the wide range of prices recorded across the land market, which was such a strong feature of 2016,…

Q On my local shoot I seem to be the one who makes the most noise while picking-up! Others seem quite calm but I feel the need to get stuck in and encourage my dog. Any advice? That is great, I like enthusiasm. It gets the dogs going and makes for a fun day. But there is a transition from exuberance to displaying more confidence and control in that group situation. Those early learnings from puppy classes and numerous books about encouraging a young dog, advises us (quite rightly) to exaggerate everything, praise massively and generally leap around with excitement. This habit can be quite difficult to lose as the dog gets older. We remain animated and it becomes part of what we do without realising it. I see quite…

A LABRADOR retriever from Kingennie, Dundee, has won the Kennel Club’s novice 16-dog a.v. retriever trial at Bowhill Estate in Scotland, having previously taken second place several times. The trial was held by kind permission of Stuart Riddell and at the invitation of John Castle and the guns. The judges for the day were Messrs A. Schofield, M. Demaine, J. Bailey and A. Latham. Lubbecke Grappelli of Omachie, known as Brad and owned by Mike Forbes, was awarded first place at the trial, which saw talented working retrievers tested on their natural working ability. Mike said: “It felt fantastic to win. I have had a lot of second places and being new to trials it was a pretty special win. Out of all the trials this is the one I…

ONE OF Britain’s biggest gundog events reached its climax at The Big Gundog Weekend in Betley, Cheshire, when 20 finalists competed to become the BASC Chudleys Scurry League Champion for 2016. More than 1,200 individuals entered the competition, which ran at shows throughout the spring and summer. The winner in a closely contested final was Dave Ross with his labrador Jack who scored 103 points, narrowly beating Charlotte Wilkinson who took second place with her labrador Kiwi on 98 points. Third was taken by Kevin Warburton and his labrador KD with 82 points. Following a run-off, Carolan Smerdon was fourth with her labrador Tamber on 80 points, and Jo Irons was fifth with her English springer spaniel Buzz on 80 points. The finalists were those who had accumulated the highest…

When should your phone be on/ off during shoot day? Discretion is key. You can have it on in the vehicle perhaps, if essential. But certainly not in the line, unlike one of the guns last year who sent me a text during the drive. He is having a 'rest' this year. What's your most treasured piece of shooting kit? Probably my great grandfather's Radcliffe side-by-side 12 bore. Would you prefer to stay over the night before a shoot day or the night after? Having been born in Inverness with a father who was in the whisky business, it is dangerous for a Highlander to stay the night before for obvious reasons. It has to be the night after. Which friend do you dread being pegged next to? Simon Fordham…

Woodcock Caesar Salad SERVES FOUR PEOPLE Ingredients • 8 woodcock breasts• 4 baby gem lettuces• 16 anchovies• 20g shaved parmesan• 10g fresh chopped chives• Garlic croutons• Caesar dressing• Cornish sea salt• Milled black pepper Method Season the woodcock and sear in a hot pan for two minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and allow to rest for a further two minutes. Once rested slice in half and place into a bowl. Add the lettuce, anchovies, chives and croutons and season well. Place the salad into bowls and add the shaved parmesan and caesar dressing and serve whilst still warm.…

Dear Uncle Giles, I have organised a shoot for myself and some work colleagues of mixed shooting abilities. The bag size is relatively small as I didn't want to make it too expensive or challenging for the novice shots. I have been advised a couple of the guns have previously taken more than their fair share of the bag and I'm worried that if they don't pick their birds it won't be as much fun for the less experienced shots. What's a chap to do? WHJ, by e-mail Uncle Giles writes I don't imagine your colleagues are either naturally rude nor complete strangers to the wonders of arithmetic. Of course, if they are both rude and stupid then you are in a bit of a hole, I must admit. However,…

For your chance to win a bottle of Taittinger Champagne for Picture of the Month, send us a team photograph or a picture of something unusual from your shoot. Send high-resolution images or prints with captions to Shooting Gazette Gallery, Time Inc (UK) Ltd, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF or email: will.hetherington@timeinc.com. Pictured are the beaters, pickers-up and gamekeeping team from the Temple shoot in Devon. The Schools Challenge run by the Oxford Gun Company saw more than 1,000 youngsters take part in 2016, culminating in the Winter Series. There was welcome sponsorship from Edgar Brothers, Croots, Rib Eye, Evolution eyewear, Jack Pyke, Armex, Seeland and CCI. Winter series results: Prep high gun - Tiernan Goodman (183). Senior high gun - Billy Baughan (195). Girls high gun…

“Within a fortnight I was out trying to flight pigeons... the wood was coming alive.” My parents’ farm lies in the steep, rolling hills along the Galloway coast. They can see right across the Solway to Skiddaw and the Lake District from their kitchen window and the Isle of Man peers over the sea on a clear day. It’s the kind of landscape that has not changed for decades, and the level of low-intensity grazing by sheep and cows throughout the year provides quite a margin for wildlife. Surrounded on almost every side by woodland, the farm draws even more nature value from the sheer variety of trees and plantations around the boundaries. There are massive avenues of gorgeous beeches, fuzzy stands of blackthorn and dark, gloomy banks of spruce…

“This ordinary gun case instantly became extraordinary when I delved into its history.” I don’t think I have ever written an article on a gun case before, particularly one that is absolutely standard. However, the subject of this article is indeed such an item, which I spotted at a Gavin Gardiner auction recently. It is a lightweight leather case of the type known today as a motor case, has red baize lining and bears a late 19th century label of John Dickson & Son, Edinburgh. Although an ordinary gun case, it instantly became extraordinary when I delved into its history and a tragic and fascinating story unfolded. What sparked my interest were the initials “E.B.B.T. Gordon Highlanders” stamped on the case. I find sleuthing fascinating and thought it would be…

“I recently produced one of my worst days for many years.” What makes our game birds fly well one day only to perform poorly the next? No one wants low birds that present little challenge and result in an inedible carcass along with a feeling of ‘really, what is the point?’ At the opposite end of the scale, the cruelty of excessive-range shooting is not only unacceptable but leaves a similar ‘what is the point’ feeling for a good number of participants. However, the thing about high-bird shoots is that regardless of weather conditions, they rarely struggle with poor-flying game. If you drive your birds off a cliff, over a valley or the side of a mountain, chances are they will open their wings and provide a testing shot. Some…

It is a natural human instinct to have favourites - even when we are told we really shouldn't. Though you might happily wear a smile and tell your difficult teenage daughter that of course she's your favourite child as she attempts to shake you down for an extra £20 for the weekend, we all know that if it came down to it you'd probably only go back into a burning building if there was a chance you could save the dog. For many, it's a similar tale when it comes to shotguns; yes, you've got that lovely bespoke side-by-side from a big London name, perfectly fitted to you and as beautifully engraved as a Louis George clock - but it's always Grandpa's battered old Birmingham sidelock that seems to find…

The Strathspey Challenge from Macdougall & Co of Grantown on Spey (1900); the Special Waterproof from Graham of Inverness (1927); the Champion from Knowles & Cumming of Nairn (1927); and the Glen Moray from David Emslie of Elgin (1927). The Pheasant from John Macpherson of Kingussie (1927); the Perth from A. McGregor of Perth (1910); the Clan from Alexander Henry & Co of Edinburgh (1900); and the Special from MacNaughton of Edinburgh (1900). The Dougall Sixteen from J.D. Dougall & Sons of Glasgow and London (1900); the Pheasant from R. Climie & Son of Greenock (1900); the A.Loreburn from W. McCall & Co of Dumfries (1900); and the Royal Sixteen from Charles Kerr of Stranraer (1910). BOX OF OLD TRICKS A box of 25 hand-loaded cartridges from Alex Martin from…

SPECIFICATIONS 3.0 First Edition 300PS AWD Auto Price: £65,275 Top speed: 150mph 0-62mph: 5.8 seconds Combined: 47.1mpg CO2 emission: 159g/km Looks are a pretty subjective thing. As an example, Mrs S tells me she doesn’t find me entirely physically repugnant, but the vast majority of womankind struggles to keep their lunch down whenever I hove into view. I love the looks of my Bristol Brigand but I might be the only person in the world who does. However, pretty much everyone I have met while driving the Jaguar F-Pace reckons it’s a corker. It’s made it worth the wait for a Jaguar SUV, a delay caused by its sister company only building off-roaders. Many of the suits in Coventry will have been wondering how many sales Land Rover would lose…

EIGHT YEARS AGO a stunning German shorthaired pointer called Jura came into my life. Not only is Jura my shooting companion, she is my constant companion and joins me in the vehicle every day to work and on most business trips as well. I acquired Jura from my good friend Andy Cullen MBE of Laochin Gundogs. Andy had brought Jura in to train up for field trials but she did not settle well into life in the kennels and so Andy offered her to me. We met at Cromlix Estate and I watched Andy work her on the hill and on retrieve work before I had a go myself. I found quickly that she is an intelligent dog and eager to please, but what struck me most was her temperament.…