Gundogs galore at Crufts
As Crufts approaches, we look back on last year’s gundog day at the biggest dog show in the world and what to expect if you plan on going.
15th November 2023
BASC at Crufts
Crufts 2024
BASC is responsible for the organisation and running of the historic Gamekeepers’ Ring at Crufts, which takes place on Gundog Day – Friday 8 March – at Crufts 2024.
The Gamekeepers’ classes are about working gundogs. Every dog is judged to the breed standard, but major consideration is given to their appearance, looks and conformation as a working gundog. These requirements make the classes totally unique.
The Gamekeepers’ Ring is a historically important ring at Crufts. In the early days it was also one of the busiest, recognised by gamekeepers across the country as a signal to the ending of another shooting season and a focal point in the calendar.
The Gamekeepers’ Association used to hold their annual general meeting at the show. Before the days of youth training schemes this was the place where budding gamekeepers would be interviewed, where jobs changed hands and new beat keepers were engaged. Time moves on, but the passion for gundogs remains.
Entries for Crufts 2024 are open
Entries for BASC’s working dog classes are now open. All classes take place on Crufts Gundog Day, Friday 8 March, at the NEC in Birmingham.
You’ll find the full schedule for all working dog classes available to enter in BASC’s gamekeepers’ rings here.
How to enter
Download your entry form and enter online here. You can enter online until midnight on Monday 22 January 2024.
You can also enter by post, sending a completed entry form before entries close on Monday 8 January 2024 (postmark).
Post your entry to:
Crufts, c/o Fosse Data Systems Ltd.
4 Mitchell Court
Castle Mound Way
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV23 0UY
What to expect on the day
How the rings are organised
The important thing to remember is that the gamekeepers’ ring is not a breed class.
We recommend buying a catalogue on the day to follow what’s going on, which gives a schedule of entries in all gamekeepers’ classes.
Each class is judged completely impartially, with the judge not knowing the name of the dog or its owner and trophy presentations will take place at the end of the day’s judging.
The winners from each gamekeeper class will be judged again in the main ring to find the winner of the Best in Gamekeeper Classes, with the overall winner presented with the prestigious Northesk Memorial Trophy.
Crufts 2023: Peri and River sails to success at Crufts
A Welsh springer spaniel won the coveted Northesk Memorial Trophy as overall winner of BASC's gamekeepers' classes at Crufts 2023.
Meet the judges
Laura Hill
Laura Hill has owned and worked labradors for more than 20 years. Her affix is Stauntonvale. She has been a member of the England Gundog Team and is an A Panel judge for Retriever Field Trials.
She has qualified for the IGL Retriever Championship numerous times and made up seven Labrador Field Trial Champions (five of which are homebred). She also competes with her cocker spaniel in spaniel field trials.
She is the author of Advanced Retriever Training and is currently writing a second gundog book.
How did you get into working dogs?
My husband had two black labradors when I met him, so this was my first introduction.
How long have you been working dogs?
For more than 20 years. I started training for gundog tests when we lived in Zimbabwe, and then when we came back to the UK we trained our dogs for picking-up at a local shoot and competing in working tests. From there we moved on to competing in field trials.
What breeds have you/do you work?
We have five labradors and one cocker spaniel, all of which work both on local shoots and compete in field trials.
How many days do you work in a season?
That is a bit of a movable feast due to trialling, judging and teaching commitments. It is hard to commit to a particular number of days a week, but this year I have been lucky to work on four different local shoots, on some as a full-time team member and others as a ‘relief’ picker-upper.
What experience do you have with showing dogs/BASC gamekeeper classes?
I have attended local ringcraft classes and shown one of my bitches at Crufts in the Field Trial class.
Do you compete with you dogs in any events?
I compete in both retriever and spaniel working tests and field trials.
What is the highlight of your working dog career?
I’ve been lucky enough to have owned some wonderful dogs, I wouldn’t want to single any one of them out over the others. They have all been special and have each taught me so much.
What’s your background in shooting/gamekeeping?
I’m a long-standing member of BASC. I have shot when time and resources have allowed on a few driven game days and some walked up field trials.
Brian Twigger
Brian Twigger has recently retired as a gamekeeper, after a career of almost 40 years. A keen competitor in the BASC Gamekeepers’ classes, his dogs have won the prestigious Northesk Memorial Trophy three times – most recently, curly coated retriever Twister in 2020, and two of his flat coated retrievers in 2007 and 2013.
How did you get into working dogs?
I’ve been a gamekeeper basically all my life. My father was a gamekeeper and I followed on from him. I’ve always been around dogs and I’ve always been involved with dogs. I’ve put on several working tests for dogs. My wife is into showing and judging dogs, so we’ve done a fair bit of showing as well.
How long have you been working dogs?
I’ve had dogs since I was about 16 or 17. I started off with spaniels, labradors and terriers and eventually started working flat coated retrievers and curly coated retrievers.
What breeds have you/do you work?
While I’ve still got dogs, I don’t work them now that I’ve retired as a gamekeeper.
I mostly worked my dogs for general keepering duties for things like dogging-in and would sometimes work them for beating on shoot days if needed.
What experience do you have with showing dogs/BASC gamekeeper classes?
I’ve taken part in the BASC gamekeeper classes for about 15 years now. We last won it with our curly coated retriever in 2020 and before that, twice with flat coated retrievers. Every year we have attended Crufts, we have been placed and have gone on to compete in the main ring for the Northesk Memorial Trophy. We have always been successful, mainly with flat coated retrievers, and I’m proud to say the curly coated retriever was the first of her breed to win the gamekeepers’ classes for a long time.
What is the highlight of your working dog career?
Winning at Crufts with Twister was the ultimate for me! I don’t think I could top that. It was the same year I retired from gamekeeping, so I went out in a real high.
What’s your background in shooting/gamekeeping?
I’ve been feeding pheasants since I could crawl. I think there are some pictures of me feeding a clutch of chicks with my father and grandfather so I’ve spent the whole of my life keepering in one way or another. I’m very much a traditionalist when it comes to shooting. I spent the last 37 years of my gamekeeping career on the same estate and am very keen on the idea of newcomers to the industry tapping into the wealth of knowledge and expertise that the older, more experienced keepers can impart.
What makes the BASC gamekeepers’ classes so unique?
What’s different about the BASC gamekeepers’ classes is that they are not about show dogs, they are about working dogs. I would encourage people to bring along their companion dog who has just finished a season’s work for a good day out.
I would love to see some of the older keepers attending Crufts and taking part in the BASC gamekeepers’ classes. I’d like to find a way of encouraging them to come and have a go. To me, we aren’t judging show dogs, these are dogs we would like to take home from a keeper’s point of view.
Annie Jones
Annie Jones has owned, trained and worked gundogs for 23 years. She is an A Panel judge (HPR) and was recently a member of the England team at the HPR Home International 2022. She currently has a Large munsterlander and a German longhaired pointer.
How did you get into working dogs? How long have you been working dogs?
I have owned and worked dogs for 23 years since I got my first large munsterlander. He was a naturally gifted hunter, pointer and retriever (HPR) and it was through training and competing with him at field trials that I became involved with working gundogs.
What breeds have you/do you work?
I currently have a large munsterlander and a German longhaired pointer. They are worked throughout the season for guns who like to shoot over HPRs and compete in field trials as well as grouse counting in spring and summer. I also pick-up throughout the season on a local farm shoot.
What experience do you have with showing dogs/BASC gamekeeper classes?
I have shown my dogs at Championship Shows and at Crufts in the breed classes in the past and I have always been interested in the Gamekeepers’ Classes and followed the results keenly.
I compete with my dogs in field trials and was part of the England Team at the HPR Home International Competition at The Game Fair at Ragley Hall 2022. I am an A Panel Field Trial Judge (HPRs).
What’s you background in shooting/gamekeeping?
I have shot over my own dogs and on beaters’ days and I enjoy clay shooting, but my preference is for working my dogs rather than shooting.
What is the highlight of your working dog career or your dog of a lifetime?
Each of my dogs has been worthy of the title ‘Dog of a Lifetime’… they have all been a loyal part of the family as well as enriching my life as working and shooting companions.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about the gamekeepers’ classes at Crufts 2023, contact our team on 01244 573019 or email gundogs@basc.org.uk.
The power of friendship
Two ‘besties’ stole the show at Crufts when they took part in BASC’s Young Handlers classes at the world’s biggest dog show last week.
13th March 2023
Peri and River sail to success at Crufts
A Welsh springer spaniel has been crowned overall winner of the BASC gamekeepers’ classes on Gundog Day at Crufts 2023.
10th March 2023
FAQs
For specific advice on game shooting matters please contact us on: 01244 573019 or click here to email us
Crufts
Yes. However, it is important to know the times of each of the classes to which you have entered and be aware of any potential clashes.
If your dog was docked either in the UK or in a foreign country before 6 April 2007 then it may enter Crufts. If your dog was docked either in the UK or in a foreign country on or after 6 April 2007 it will not, under the law, be permitted to be shown at Crufts (where public are admitted on a payment of a fee).
No, dogs entered in Gamekeeper classes only do not have to qualify for entry into a breed class.
