Curly Comms
Breed Representation at Sandringham Country Fair, 12 & 13 September 2026
Curlies were represented at Sandringham this weekend – Jo & Brett Clayton with Clover & Sorrel, Nigel & Sandra Spraggins with Cerys, Nornie, Merry & Hoolit, and Rachel Arnold & James Dobson with Kopis.
They had a brilliant time talking ‘Curlies’ all weekend to the general public and taking part in the gundog training demos with Judy Hempstead and the Working Minority Retriever Club.
They even had a visit from Hoolit’s litter sister Cooper and her humans.
Rachel told us, ‘The team were very busy throughout the weekend with a lot of new fans as well as regulars who come to see the curlies every year. The number of curlies and people who want to work curlies wildfowling in the area grows every year. There were two breed parades each day with Nigel giving the potted history Saturday and me returning the favour Sunday, as well as a gundog demo each day that me and Kopis and Jo and Sorrel took part in. All dogs and humans did very well. Nigel and Hoolit also dipped their respective toes into a bit of gundog work with a play in the pen after hours. One more country fair left in the season, curlies will be attending the South of England Autumn Show in Ardingly, West Sussex the last weekend of September. Hope to see you there….‘
NEFRA Autumn Working Test, 27 September 2026
The Northern England Flatcoated Retriever Association has contacted Vicki, our Club Secretary, to invite entries of Curlies for their annual Minority Breeds Test. They have invited each of the minority breeds to join them for the test.
It takes place on 27 September 2026 and will be held at Red Hall Farm, Betley, Crewe which is a fairly central location and provides some great ground for the test. It was also the venue for their Spring Working Test and Minority Breeds test this year.
Entries close Sunday 20 September 2026. For more information visit https://nefra.co.uk/autumn-test-2026/
Richmond Championship Show, 11 September 2026
There were 24 Dogs, making 22 Entries for Breed Judge, Mrs Kathy Moores and Richmond Champ Show at Loseley Park, Nr Guildford. This was the last time the show would be held at this venue, from 2027 it moves to The Kennel Club Building at Kenilworth. The main winners were:
Best of Breed: STEPHENS, Mr & Mrs J & M B Sh Ch Ravenho Up Town Girl For Brightmeadow JW
Dog CC: CLACK, Mr & Mrs Stephen & Elaine Bazzy Inti Anka At Molokain (Cze Imp)
Reserve Dog CC: STEPHENS, Mr & Mrs J & M B Brightmeadow Rumour Has It JW
Bitch CC: STEPHENS, Mr & Mrs J & M B Sh Ch Ravenho Up Town Girl For Brightmeadow JW
Reserve Bitch CC: CLACK, Mr & Mrs Stephen & Elaine & EDDERY, Mr Edward Sh Ch Molokain Hocus Pocus
Best Puppy: DAVIES, Ms R & BRADSTOCK, Mr L & THYGESEN, Mr J S & HANSEN, Mr S T Skaringen’s Isinglass VIII Con Redanimo (Imp Nor)
Best Veteran: CLACK, Mr & Mrs Stephen & Elaine Bazzy Inti Anka At Molokain (Cze Imp)
Huge Congratulations to Roz, Lee, Jostein & Simon as Antar – Skaringen’s Isinglass VIII Con Redanimo (Imp Nor) has won Gundog Puppy Group 1 under Group Judge, Mrs Patsy Hollings.
The full results can be found here on the Show Results Page.
Sheringham & District Kennel Association, 13 September 2026
Judge: Gina Fresle (Daisyhome)
Puppy (0)
Special Yearling (1/0)
1 Tusepo Miss Scarlett (Mr N & Mrs SD Spraggins), BOB
Limit (0)
Open (2/1)
1 Tusepo Amazing Love (Mr N & Mrs SD Spraggins), RBOB
Exeter & County Canine Society, 12 September 2026
Judge: Mrs Jackie Price
Class 248. Post Graduate (2/1
1st 418 – Brightmeadow Man of Steel (Mr M & Mrs M Edworthy), RBOB
Class 249. Open (1/0)
1st 416 – Maycourt Cover Shot (Miss D M Courtier), BOB
AV Gundog
Class 291. Champion (4/1)
Judge: Mrs Jackie Price
2nd 417 – Sh Ch Maycourt Take Me to The Top JW, Breed: Retriever (Curly Coated) (Miss D M Courtier)
Hamilton Canine Club, 12 September 2026
Judge: Tania Gardner (Danwish)
AVNSC Gundog – Open
3 Maycourt Island Girl For Breichside JW (Mrs J Cummings & Mr C Stokes)
Isle of Wight Gundog Club, 12 September 2026
Judge: Lewis Nicklin (Wythnick)
Post Graduate
1 Foxriever’s The Sorceress (Mr A M & Mrs D J Whitehead) BPIB & Best In Show Puppy Group 3 under Group Judge, Mr Keith Groom (Grunjagen)
2 Foxriever’s The Seeker (Ms B Millichamp, Mr A & Mrs D Whitehead & Mr P Miller)
3 Stoic’s Chamber Of Secrets At Foxriever (Imp Usa) NAF TAF (Mr A M & Mrs D J & Mrs E & Mrs K Whitehead & Whitehead & Sutton & Holcomb)
Res Foxriever Fire Cracker JW (ai) (Mr D & Mrs S & Mr AM & Mrs DJ Pavitt & Pavitt & Whitehead & Whitehead)
Limit
1 Foxriever Immortal Spirit JW (Mrs E & Mrs DJ & Mr AM Sutton & Whitehead & Whitehead)
Open
1 Foxriever Sea Fyre JW (Mr AM & Mrs DJ & Mrs E Whitehead & Whitehead & Sutton), BOB
AV Gundog Minor Puppy Stakes
Judge, Mr Keith Groom (Grunjagen)
MPD
2 Foxriever’s The Seeker (Ms B Millichamp, Mr A & Mrs D Whitehead & Mr P Miller)
AV Gundog Puppy Stakes
Judge, Mr Keith Groom (Grunjagen)
PD
1 Foxriever’s The Seeker (Ms B Millichamp, Mr A & Mrs D Whitehead & Mr P Miller)
Lothian Canine Club, 12 September 2026
Judge: Wendy Holehan-Green (Loganrish)
AVNSC Gundog – Open
2 Maycourt Island Girl For Breichside JW (Mrs J Cummings & Mr C Stokes)
Last week’s edition was such a bumper issue, we have lots of activities to catch up with, you’ve all been really busy…
Fun Dog Show
Aly and Jacques attended a local fun dog show in aid of Cuan Wildlife Rescue. She told us ‘we had a lovely time at a local fun dog show where Jacques won the most handsome dog (1-7) class and second in junior handling with his big bro we certainly bagged some decent prizes. It was lovely to educate people about the breed, he was certainly a star showcasing himself.‘
Rally
Rachel Jack & Gunner have been competing this weekend, Rachel told us, ‘So pleased with Gunner. Our first level 3 and level 4 rally obedience (so off lead!) competition and he got an excellent score in both levels, as well as a 6th place in level 3 which involved a run off, and a 4th place in level 4. Still lots to work on but chuffed with how he went today…’
The Working Curly
Beverley Snudden & Olive have had a new experience this week, she told us, ‘Today, we completed our first AV Working Test – there are still a shed load of things to work on & much room for improvement but this dog truly makes my heart sing.
Olive retrieved & delivered all but one, steady on three tests but not the water with shot & THAT nose of hers, took her off-piste a couple of times after she had picked the dummy! She returned to me with absolute delight written all over her face, knowing she shouldn’t but couldn’t resist the lure of those enticing smelly woodland swamps, especially after much hanging around! I had an aromatic drive back to the ferry.
There will be a time when everything will slot into place, so many elements to pull together in her training journey. She’s a delight, sometimes frustrating but her progress over the past few months has made me very proud of my beautiful Curly. Next years competitions will be upon us before we know it ………!‘
Sue Margerison has been getting back into training ready for the shooting season, she said, ‘we did Flint and Denbigh Agricultural Show parade of the Gundog dogs, Clwyd Retriever Club do demos for the show and asked if I would like to join them so I did and it was great fun, River and Dusk took part. The day after Penny and I set sail for The Dog Fest in Northumberland to do demos with the SIWSC , they were asked to do it for the first time, it was a great success and have been asked again next year. Curlies were there doing the scurry and parading around…’
Agility
There were actually lots of Curlies at Chatsworth Country Fair in Derbyshire this year, but one lady was there for a very special reason. Lorraine and Jason were competing again in the Agility Competition. It was great to watch you both, and Jason did so well. Lorraine was so pleased with his run…
Scent Work
Shirley Buchanan, May & Glory have been busy doing all sorts of Scent Work related activities…. Shirley said, the other ‘weekend we were learning how to Truffle Hunt. It was mainly done with Glory but it turns out that May hadn’t forgotten how to do it, whilst Glory decided she really liked it and had a great time.‘ Last ‘weekend May had a go at Nosework Games but we need to do a bit more training with that…‘ May also ‘went to the Himalayan Gardens to help the Lost Dog Tracking Network – North Yorkshire with their Dog Day. So been quite busy…‘
Well done gang, you always get up to some really amazing activities – love the idea of learning Truffle Hunting….
National Gundog Association, 2 August 2026
Breed Specialist Judge, Liz Lacey’s critique is now available here on the the Show Results Page.
Newton Abbot & South Devon Canine Society, 29 August 2026
Judge: Elaine Bradley (Highforce)
PG (2):
1. Jack’s Maycourt I’m Still Standing almost 2Y liver D, lovely masculine head of the correct wedge shape with a slight stop, lovely gentle expression, correctly set ears framing his head, strong neck with a slight arch leading to well laid shoulders and a good front assembly, well boned legs down to super feet with nice short nails, well angulated and muscled with good depth and width of thigh, coat of lovely crisp curls, he kept his strong topline on the move holding his tail correctly, on the move he has a habit of looking up at his handler which throws his front but when he concentrated on where he was going he was straight and true, covering the ground well, BOB
2. Edworthy’s Brightmeadow Man of Steel another liver D of almost 3Y, rather long on leg and not the balance of 1, head ok, could be a little broader, ok for angulation, strong topline & correct tailset, coat of lovely tight curls, moved ok
O (2,1):
1. Courtier’s Maycourt Cover Shot liver B rising 4Y, nice head with correct eye colour giving a soft expression, excellent depth of chest & spring of rib, strong topline and correct tail set, enough bone, feet ok, nicely angulated all round, movement was a little erratic as she was with a completely new handler but showed enough once settled RBOB
North Devon Canine Association, 22 August 2026
Judge: Matthew Yorath (Witco)
Post Graduate (2/0)
1 Miss R Jack, Maycourt I’m Still Standing, BOB – A lovely dog with good shape head and good slight stop and a nice muzzle nice and clean from the throat that flows in to well laid shoulders with a deep chest and body and good top line who moved well.
2 Mr M & Mrs M Edworthy, Brightmeadow Man Of Steel, RBOB – A nice dog with a good head and neck and good shoulders and topline to match a good body bone and moves well, just a little tall for me.
Open (1/0)
1 Ms D Courtier, Maycourt Cover Shot – A nice bitch with a good head and length of neck in to good shoulders and body (a little to well) that hid its topline on times moved well in her class.
