![It’s been a massive honour to run Cider (FTW Marstonprior Grenadier of Wedgnock) for the England Gundog team this year a...](https://img5.voofla.com/044/989/1016846670449893.jpg)
15/08/2024
It’s been a massive honour to run Cider (FTW Marstonprior Grenadier of Wedgnock) for the England Gundog team this year at the Skinner’s World Cup, Scottish Game Fair and The Game Fair.
Now that the Internationals are over, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Skinner’s for their amazing support for the England Gundog team, and for our whole sport in general!
I’d like to thank England Team Captain Dave Latham for his leadership, organisation and support, and Louise for her hard work in the background.
I’d also like to thank my team mates for their support, (particularly when things didn’t go according to plan!), and good advice, it’s been an honour and pleasure running with you all.
It has been an awful year having lost Otto (FTCh Sothebys Choice of Wedgnock) in April, and then Cluanie (FTCh Birdsgreen Cluedo of Wedgnock) a few days after the Game Fair. To have to say unexpected good byes to two incredibly talented and wonderful dogs, (both of whom had been England Team Members since 2018), was heart breaking, they were like family members.
The thing that kept me going through all of this was the support of my lovely wife Sally, my friends, and my dogs, particularly Cider, because Otto’s his father, and Cluanie’s his grandfather, and so I still have both of them with me through him.
I knew Cider was special, (otherwise I wouldn’t have taken a two year old dog to England Team selections), and to be selected for the 2024 Skinner’s World Cup, Scottish Game Fair and The Game Fair teams was amazing!
I’m immensely proud of how Cider ran for the England Team this year, and I’m sure Otto and Cluanie will be too!
I’m glad to say that Otto’s son 18 month old Bluff (Shooting Vega of Wedgnock) is also coming on really well, so hopefully another chip off the old block!
Onwards now to the Field Trial season…