English Springer Spaniel Display by Neil Varney
Neil Varney and his team of English springer Spaniels will demonstrate many of the aspects needed to help make a gundog an able companion, from the basic training of puppies to the advanced regime which will prepare the dog for the shooting field.
Neil has been a gamekeeper in the Southwest of England for 20 years so his dogs are 'Tools of the Trade' being worked all year round.
Neil has been involved in training gundogs before he became a keeper, he has competed in national and local competitions winning various awards.
Neil is passionate about the countryside and his dogs and on two occasions has demonstrated both his and his Spaniels abilities at the Conservative Party Conference.
In 2007 Neil co-ordinated the working dog ring at the CLA Game Fair only for it to be cancelled at the last minute due to flooding, but has since co-ordinated it in 2009 and again the honour in 2010.
So with all this experience under his belt it is not just his dogs that have a good pedigree!
Mere Down Falconry
Falconry Display by Allan Gates
The Falconry Display by Mere Down Falconry prides its' self on providing an informative and entertaining insight into the world of raptors. Birds flown are Harris Hawks, a variety of Owls
and Falcons with the emphasis of each display firmly upon audience participation for example a Hawk flying through a tunnel of hoops or an Owl doing a fly over.
A static display of Birds of Prey gives visitors to your event the opportunity to discuss the
birds with one of our staff and take photographs of these magnificent birds.
Lurchers
Working Lurcher Display by Nigel Varney
Lurchers will be working alongside Nigel Varney as he demonstrates how versatile this type of dog can be, from pest control, catching rabbits for land owners to beating and picking up on driven pheasant shoots.
Nigel has been involved with working dogs for nearly 25 years and over the past 14 years has been in attendance at some of the most prestigious Game Fairs around the UK displaying the ability of his dogs.
Nigel has vast experience of Lurchers and for 5 years was Chairman of the National Lurcher and Racing Club which is the largest Lurcher club in the world and he is very proud of this.
Nigel spends much of his time promoting the good name Working Lurchers as over the years they have had a lot of bad press, which he believes is undeserved so he hopes when you have seen how trainable and loyal this type of canine athlete is you will have a different opinion than you had before.
Ferret Racing
Ferret Racing Team by Alison Gates
The Ferret Racing is performed by a Team of highly trained professional Ferrets.
The Louder you shout the faster they go is the saying ( if you believe that you believe anything ) this is a highly colourful part of the arena and often the loudest with the audience often cheering on there ferret to win and also includes the participation of the children in the crowd.
The ferrets are completely unpredictable and will excite, amuse and frustrate those watching
the fun.
Terrier Racing
The Loose Women Terrier Racing Team
A team of all women loving their dogs but very competitve in the arena.
If you know Terriers you know they cause Chaos and Terrier Racing promises to create total bedlam in the arena. This perky pack of chaos causing canines thwart every effort to demonstrate the country sport of Terrier Racing causing chaos trying to round up the turbo charged little horrors.
If time permits the audience can compete with their Terriers.
The Grudge Match
Lurchers versus Terriers
(The original and best)
This was an idea the team had to bring something different to any Countryside Area of a show. We wanted to make it fast moving and very entertaining, what we did not realise was just how popular it would be.
The first Grudge Match the team performed was at the Royal Show in 2008, we then took it to the CLA Game Fair that year and it has been one of the highlights of the working dog ring ever since.
So what is the Grudge Match. It is a racing competition between Terriers and Lurchers. We run knockout races until we get two dogs into a final, it could be two Terriers, it could be two Lurchers or it could be one of each, you never know what the Grudge Match will bring.
One thing it will certainly bring is lots of noise and laughter to your event!
