Act now against Welsh government gamebird release restrictions, urges BASC
BASC is urging members and the wider rural community to stand up against the Welsh government’s proposals to restrict gamebird releasing.
Get information on the legal shooting season for mammals and birds in the UK.
Learn about our current conservation projects and how you can get involved.
Comprehensive information and advice from our specialist firearms team.
Everything you need to know about shotgun, rifle and airgun ammunition.
Find our up-to-date information, advice and links to government resources.
Everything you need to know on firearms law and licensing.
All the latest news and advice on general licences and how they affect you.
A Welsh springer spaniel has been crowned overall winner of the BASC gamekeepers’ classes on Gundog Day at Crufts 2023.
River, or Bowdonia Moon River JW to give her her full name, is owned by underkeeper Peri Burchmore from Peterborough in Cambridgeshire.
With entries to the BASC gamekeeper and other gundog handler classes up by almost 20 per cent this year, the event was hotly contested.
The top individual dogs owned by gamekeepers went head-to-head in a final show in the main arena, with Peri and River beating off competition from five other finalists to take the title of Best in Gamekeeping Class and the coveted Northesk Memorial Trophy.
Five-year-old River has reached the final for the past four years, finally taking the top spot yesterday, 9 March.
Peri, who has recently taken over as working secretary of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club, said it was “a dream” to have won with her “once in a lifetime” dog.
She said: “Winning the gamekeepers’ classes is something I’ve always dreamed of. River is an incredible dog. She goes beating and picking-up, she’s got a real can-do attitude.”
Peri and River were presented with their trophy by BASC Council member Ian Grindy.
Mr Grindy said: “Well done to all of the winners of BASC’s gamekeeper and working gundog classes and thank you to everyone who took part. The day was hugely enjoyable and have us a chance to show working gundogs to a huge number of people from all over the world.”
BASC’s head of game and wildlife management Glynn Evans said: “Congratulations to everyone who took part in this year’s event. It was great to see so many people taking part in our classes this year and we were delighted to have seen such an increase in the number of entrants.
“We are grateful to have once again had the chance to showcase how special working dogs are to tens of thousands of visitors and to have been given a platform by Crufts to show them on a global stage.
“Congratulations to all the winners of the Gamekeeper and Working Gundog classes and well done to everyone who took part.”
The gamekeepers’ classes are deeply rooted in the history of Crufts and BASC is proud to continue this strong tradition. The classes are unique to the event, giving handlers the opportunity to show working gundogs in their prime.
BASC’s three rings at Crufts were sponsored by Skinner’s, who also support the BASC gundog program.
BASC is urging members and the wider rural community to stand up against the Welsh government’s proposals to restrict gamebird releasing.
Martin Puddifer takes a closer look at non-traditional gundogs that are every bit as successful as the more common known ones.
It is a pleasure to share the company of a dog when stalking deer, but our four-legged friends are far from nice-to-have accessories, says Rod Greenwood.
Sign up to our weekly newsletter and get all the latest updates straight to your inbox.
© 2023 British Association for Shooting and Conservation. Registered Office: Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham, LL12 0HL – Registered Society No: 28488R. BASC is a trading name of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm reference number 311937.
If you have any questions or complaints about your BASC membership insurance cover, please email us. More information about resolving complaints can be found on the FCA website or on the EU ODR platform.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
More information about our Cookie Policy