Success at ESS Championship 2009
The Buccleuch Kennel continued its trialling success at the 2009 British English Springer Spaniel Championships held at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, by gracious permission of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, on 8, 9 and 10 January.
David Lisett, Buccleuch Kennel Manager and Handler, competed with FTCh Buccleuch Jazz, IFTCh Annickview Anna and Open Stake Winner Buccleuch Isla. All three days of the Championships were held in woodland full of bramble which was quite testing on the dogs. The weather was cold and dry and the dogs really had to work hard to find the game.
Buccleuch Jazz started her trialling this season as a Novice and won her first trial out so qualifying to Open standard. She again won her next two trials giving her Champion status and securing a place at the Championships.
FTCh Annickview Anna, a veteran of the trialling field, was given a further chance to qualify for the Championships this year and she did just that in the first trial she entered.
FTCh Buccleuch Jazz (Kim) gave an average performance for her first run. She had two finds on pheasants and two retrieves and made a good job of both of them. On Kim’s second run on the second day, she was on fire, attacking the thickest of bramble with vehemence. The big problem, when she is in this frame of mind, is that she is a hair’s breadth away from being out of control. Kim got a find on a grey squirrel but the Guns didn't manage to shoot it. Then she found a rabbit but they didn't shoot that either. Finally, she had a good find on a hen pheasant and she made a real smart job of it. A very exciting run all round.
IFTCh Annickview Anna had two good runs. Anna could have made a better job of a woodcock shot in the wood but at this level in the championships, it was just enough to keep her out of the top places.
Open Stake Winner Buccleuch Isla (Poppy) started off very well hunting the brambles. David was walking along a path hunting both sides and unfortunately missed a small patch of brambles on the left. A hen pheasant suddenly flew out of this small patch. This means Poppy passed game on her beat which is a major fault and that was the end of the championship for her.
Buccleuch Jazz got into the run off on the third day against five other ESS out of a field of 63 dogs. Kim ran off first with another Buccleuch dog called Buccleuch Dawn. It was an awkward piece of ground and Kim was so revved up she was pulling about and taking in too much ground.
At the end of the championships, Kim received a Diploma and won Gun’s Choice and IFTCh received a Diploma. Interestingly, Buccleuch Dawn, owned by Mr A Patterson, won 3rd Place. IFTCh Annickview Breeze was the mother of both Buccleuch Jazz and Buccleuch Dawn but out of different fathers. It was good to see that other Buccleuch bred dogs can compete at the top level.
The winner of the championships was No. 18, FTCh Rosebay Bella, owned by Mr P Downs.
All the Buccleuch dogs, under the watchful eye of David Lisett, have worked really hard in their training and will now enjoy a few weeks of rest. back | 
