East Midland Gundog Clubs First Cocker Novice Trial
16 Dog Cocker Novice Field Trial Held at the Edmondthorpe Estate 12th November 2007
The East Midland Gundog Club ran it’s first ever Cocker Novice Trial on the 12th November at the Edmondthorpe Estate in Leicestershire by the kind invitation of Mr John Pochin. The estate nestles in the heart of the beautiful Leicestershire countryside and boasts the densest population of Grey Partridge in the region.
I was fortunate enough to be present as a result of a last minute cancellation in the running order, which meant that my 14 month old black cocker bitch was invited for her first novice trial.
Proceedings commenced with the club’s field trial secretary, Mr Craig Horwill, addressing 
the competitors with regard to the day’s schedule and introductions, first of all the judges for the event, Mr. John Carter of Somerset and Yorkshire’s Mr. Gary Smith of Ivangar Gundogs. Formal thanks were then paid to the steward of the beat Mr. Trevor Ash who had taken care of planting the cover crops specifically for the trial and who was also taking care of organizing the guns and marshalling of the trial.
After a brief welcome speech from our host Mr. John Pochin, we embarked on our short journey to the mustard cover crops were the trial was to take place. The field of mustard cover strips bordered by ditch and hedge had been planted specifically for the EMGDC. The night had been cold and frosty, and despite the morning sun the temperature was refusing to budge from chilly so the birds were still sat tight in the mustard cover.
We were advised by the judges that the game would have a tendency to run forward 
along the furrows in the cover strips and also that there would be numerous hares, ample temptation for the cockers to chase, and not the sort of news you really want to hear when you are running a young dog.
The trial was underway and as expected, the ground was very demanding and excellent test for the dogs. Hares were seen in abundance though, as this was a novice trial, the retrieves were restricted to the birds only.
By lunchtime the field had been narrowed down to six dogs as the trial entered it’s final stage. Craig Horwill whose excellent organizational skills had made the day go very smoothly marshalled the remaining dogs into position. The dogs were to work the hedge at the base of the field of mustard crop. A dog was positioned on either side flanked by a pair of guns 
and the hedge was worked up from each side. The standard of the remaining dogs was excellent and it was a joy to witness such a high standard of working and indeed retrieving.
Every dog completed the final stage and at the conclusion, the two judges made their deliberations before heading back to the farm where our morning had began.
The presentation of the trophies commenced with the club secretary formally thanking the host Mr. Pochin for his kind hospitality and Mr. Trevor Ash, the steward of the beat for his hard work in making the day such an excellent success.
The awards were then announced starting with an award for fourth place to Mr. Martin Deacon with his bitch Woolpitts Peanut. In third place was Mr. G. Evans with Dardnell Dew and in second was Mr. P. Morley with Blue Dot Izzybelle. First place was awarded to Elan Katie owned by Mr. John Prentice and handled today by Mr. David Chudley. The first prize was the Deacon Novice Cocker Trophy, an impressive piece of silverware that the winner keeps until one month prior to the next EMGDC Novice Cocker Trial.
An Award of merit was presented to Mr A. Creed with his solid liver bitch Kaz Choc 
Nightmare, and the Gun’s Choice was presented to the winner. Mr. John Pochin presented all of the trophies.
After the presentation was completed the day was concluded by the two judges praising the field and once again thanking the host and Steward of the Beat for the excellent day and also, a resounding thank you was offered to Craig Horwill the club secretary for his excellent organization today and throughout the year on behalf of all of the members of the East Midland Gundog Club.