The Weimaraner in the Field
There are 13 breeds of Hunt, Point and Retrieve dogs officially recognised by the Kennel Club in the UK. The Weimaraner belongs in this sub-group of gundogs. The breed excels as a rough shooter's and deer stalker's dog and many are to found working on shoots up and down the country. WA Guide to The Working Gundog: Click here.
The Association encourages all owners to aspire to work them in competition. Indeed in the most recent field trial season, 25 awards were won by Weimaraners, the most awards in a season since records began and that was in 1955/56. So the dogged (literally) determination of these intrepid handlers has paid off handsomely. Please contact the WA FT Secretary for details on how you can join this happy band, whatever your experience level.
Competition:
Field Trials are competitions held under licence to rules laid down by the Kennel Club. The purpose is to access the working of gundogs to a standard in the field, with dogs working on live, unhandled game and where game may be shot. All breeds of HPRs compete against one another. There are 3 levels of competition; Novice, All-Aged and Open. The Trials are held all over the country during the shooting season, 12 August to 1st February, on various types of shooting ground, from woodland to open moorland, on a variety of game species. They are designed to show a dog's ability as if on a rough shooting day, but with discipline.
The dogs are expected to hunt with drive and determination, locate game,
point staunchly (snipe and hare excepted), flush on command, sit and be steady to flush, shot and fall of game, and retrieve tenderly to hand. A retrieve to hand from water is also required for the dog to receive an award provided, in the judges' opinion, it has merit. Kennel Club recognition is given to dogs placed by granting a stud book entry. Two wins for a dog in an Open Field Trial Stake leads to Field Trial Champion status. A Championship for qualifying HPRs is run by the Kennel Club annually. For Rules and Regulations on this sport check out the J Regulations available on line or in booklet form.
Contact the Kennel Club via our Links page. Click here
The Association encourages all owners to aspire to work them in competition. Indeed in the most recent field trial season, 25 awards were won by Weimaraners, the most awards in a season since records began and that was in 1955/56. So the dogged (literally) determination of these intrepid handlers has paid off handsomely. Please contact the WA FT Secretary for details on how you can join this happy band, whatever your experience level.
Competition:
Field Trials are competitions held under licence to rules laid down by the Kennel Club. The purpose is to access the working of gundogs to a standard in the field, with dogs working on live, unhandled game and where game may be shot. All breeds of HPRs compete against one another. There are 3 levels of competition; Novice, All-Aged and Open. The Trials are held all over the country during the shooting season, 12 August to 1st February, on various types of shooting ground, from woodland to open moorland, on a variety of game species. They are designed to show a dog's ability as if on a rough shooting day, but with discipline.
The dogs are expected to hunt with drive and determination, locate game,
point staunchly (snipe and hare excepted), flush on command, sit and be steady to flush, shot and fall of game, and retrieve tenderly to hand. A retrieve to hand from water is also required for the dog to receive an award provided, in the judges' opinion, it has merit. Kennel Club recognition is given to dogs placed by granting a stud book entry. Two wins for a dog in an Open Field Trial Stake leads to Field Trial Champion status. A Championship for qualifying HPRs is run by the Kennel Club annually. For Rules and Regulations on this sport check out the J Regulations available on line or in booklet form.
Contact the Kennel Club via our Links page. Click here
To date there have been two Field Trial Champions in the breed.
FT Champion Wobrooke of Fleetapple
owned by Di Arrowsmith
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FT Ch Quadet Caterin owned by David Pilkington
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'Fit for Function'
Pointing Tests are conducted in the Spring and Autumn and judged to a standard. In Spring they are conducted on partridge, pheasant and grouse, when they have paired up for breeding but before nesting. In the Autumn they are conducted on coveys of grouse. They are aimed at dogs classed as junior, between the ages from 6 months to under 2 years old on the 1st January of the year the test is held. Adults are also able to enter but preference is given to juniors. The terrain is open land so the hunting style and drive can be assessed by judges.
This is not an activity governed by the Kennel Club and only guidelines apply. They have been developed from those used in tests in continental Europe where HPRs were developed. Dogs are hunted into the wind to give them the best chance of scenting game. They are given two minutes to settle down to a hunting pattern. The dogs are expected to quarter the ground at least 100 metres either side of the handler, locate game, point staunchly, flush on command and be steady to game going away. No shot is fired. The dogs must also be steady to other game including ground game. But if a chase takes place you are given 50 yards to get your dog under control. No titles are awarded by The Kennel Club for these tests.
This is not an activity governed by the Kennel Club and only guidelines apply. They have been developed from those used in tests in continental Europe where HPRs were developed. Dogs are hunted into the wind to give them the best chance of scenting game. They are given two minutes to settle down to a hunting pattern. The dogs are expected to quarter the ground at least 100 metres either side of the handler, locate game, point staunchly, flush on command and be steady to game going away. No shot is fired. The dogs must also be steady to other game including ground game. But if a chase takes place you are given 50 yards to get your dog under control. No titles are awarded by The Kennel Club for these tests.
Gundog Working Test are competitions which, by artificially simulating shooting day conditions, seek to assess, without game being shot, the working abilities of the various breeds of gundog. Cold game and dummies may be used at the discretion of the organisers. They are mostly held between March and September. There are generally three classes, Puppy from 6 months old to 18 months old, Novice and Open. Many clubs run unclassified classes such as Special Beginner, Pre Novice and Graduate. The Kennel Club authorise subscribing clubs to hold GWTs but no titles are awarded. For Rules and Regulations check out the Kennel Club J Regulations available online or in booklet form. Contact the Kennel Club via our Links page. Click here
