Fixtures 2026-27 will appear here in due course

NURSERY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 2024-25

NURSERY CHAMPION Thomas Huddleston – Betty

Runner Up Phil Rigby – Summer Hill Grace

NOVICE CHAMPION  Peter Ellis – Tip

THE NURSERY AGGREGATE WINNER Tony Birkett – Jim

THE NOVICE AGGREGATE WINNER Dennis Purdham – Tilly

COMMITTEE CUP WINNER James Burrow – Maddie

NEW HANDLER Adrian Townson –

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2023-24 WINDERMERE NURSERY CHAMPION- TONY BIRKETT-BEN 92/100

2ND N. BENNETT – MEG 80

3RD D.PURDHAM – TILLY 77

AGGREGATE CUP WINNER 

D. PURDHAM – TILLY 26 POINTS

COMMITTEE CUP

S.METCALFE – MAX

NOVICE AGGREGATE CHAMPION

P. RIGBY – KIM 35POINTS

NEW HANDLER AGGREGATE CHAMPION

KATE NICHOLAS – ZEN

FIXTURES 2024-25 

17/9/24 – Otter Bank, Skelsmergh, Kendal. LA8 9AP. Follow sign to Whinfell , Patton off the A6

 26/9/24- Helsfell, A5284 Windermere Road, Kendal.          

6/10/24- Garnett Folds, Skelsmergh, sign posted from A6.

8/10/24- Totterbank, Crosthwaite. LA8 8HX

13/10/24- Bowers Farm, Sedbergh , LA10 5JP – Off the A684 Garsdale Road

18/10/24- Otter Bank, Skelsmergh

27/10/24 – Bowers Farm Sedbergh – A684 Garsdale Road

3/11/24 – Bottoms Lane , Silverdale

20/11/24 Shap (Katy’s) just south of Shap village . Signposted from A6

27/11/24 Bottoms Lane, Silverdale

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2025

5/1/25 –  Tailbert, Shap.

12/1/25 – Bowers Farm, Sedbergh

26/1/25 –  Bowers Farm Nursery and Championship. LA10 5JP.PLEASE NOTE: Limited Entry Nursery (entry details to follow)START TIME 9AM. Championship will be balloted after the nursery. 1st placed dogs from all previous trials are eligible to run in the Championship. At a trial where a dog has previously come 1st wins, then the 2nd placed dog will be eligible to compete the Championship.

All Windermere Nurseries begin at 9:30am unless otherwise stated. Last book in for 2 dogs per category 12:30pm. Last book in (1 dog) 1pm.    Membership £5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Nursery & New Handler £3 (New Handler. 1st year competing; also eligible for nursery class as long as they stay at the post.                                    Novice £5 per dog.  (Dogs that have not won a 1st or 2nd by the time they enter their 1st Windermere Novice Trial)                                                      Max. 2 dogs per handler per class.                                                                                                                                                                                                              All Windermere Nurseries incorporate a Novice and New Handler classes, unless otherwise stated.

24th September, 2023

1. TW Longton – Kip  78/100

2.A. Bradley – Rap       68 OLF (Outrun,LIft and Fetch)

3.TW Longton – Lucy  68  OLF

4. P. Rigby – Summer HIll Anja 68

5. TW Longton -Casper       67

6. A Parker     – Sid        64

Judge:- Trevor Smith

 Nursery dogs that have run at one Windermere Nursery are eligible to run and thereafter continue to enter Windermere Nurseries.

Champion: Chris Taylor and Peggy  86/100

Runner Up: Dennis Purdham and Jess 74

Aggregate Champion: T. Huddleston and Heath

Novice Champion: P. Ellis and Scott

Committee Cup: J. Burrow and Sweep

New Handler: C. Capstick

Was held on Kit Crag land, Selside, Kendal on 13th March.

Nursery Trial  preceding The Championship Results

1. Peter Ellis-    Scott  73/90                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

2.Thomas Longton   Castor     68

3.Joanne Bentham – Bob       66 OLF

4. Victoria Graham  -Teal        66

5.Tommy Rome –  Jess    57

6. Phil Rigby  – Fly       54

The Championship consisted of  competitors who have had a 1st or 2nd placing at this season’s Windermere Nursery Trials (Nursery Trials Class Only), including 1st and 2nd from the morning’s nursery.

Championship Results:-

1. James Burrow – Mia    80/100

2.Joanne Bentham – Bob    79 OLF

3.Richard Briggs  – Chip  79

Both trials were judged by David Harrison.

Novice

1st Jonny Elkin – Sally 76/90

New Handler :- Laura Elkin – Luna

I hope to announce next season’s dates in full, in the near future.

Due to the effects of Storm Arwen, Michael Glasgow judged a reduced field of 29 , in the first of two opens on Monday 29th November.

The running was on packets of four swaledale ewes.

After a hard frost and snow the morning running took place in a winter wonderland at a recorded temperature of -4.5 degrees c.

The sheep ran consistently throughout the trials and the early running was made by Peter Simpson who had a solid run which included a 400yrd outrun.

Each drive was 150 yrd followed by a pen and split.

Peter and Bella gained 80/100 to take an early lead by two points .

Several good runs followed with dogs gaining points in the high 70’s being placed in the top ten at the end of the day.

The stand alone run of the day came at run number 20 when Sandy McCulloch and Sam had a brilliant trial and set a standard of 90 points

which remained untouched for the rest of the day, despite a great effort from Ross Watson and Garry, followed up by Oliver Watson and Stripe with 82.

Day 1 Open (Championship Qualifiers) Results

1.S.McCulloch-Sam 90/100

2.R.Watson-Garry 85

3.O.Watson-Stripe 82

4.P.Simpson-Bella 80

5.A.Common-Roger 79 (OLF)(Outrun Lift and Fetch)

6.C.Mellin-Gyp 79

7.P.Rigby-Scott 78

8.C.Mellin-Ben 77 (OLF)

9.H.Svobodova-Troy 77

10.S.McCulloch-Maid 76

Helena Svobodova judged 38 dogs , on the trial field where the previous days snow and freezing temperatures had been replaced by drab wet ground , a light breeze and patchy drizzle. The triallers and their trusty companions had long since left the field before heavy rain swept in later that afternoon.

Again , the sheep ran consistently well through out the day, slightly pulling on the left hand drive as they began to realise where the exhaust field was; however , it didn’t pose a significant challenge for the open dogs taking part in this event.

Matt Fearon set the early running with a score of 71 points with Jill before David Henderson further set the standard with his bitch Mia with 78 points, with a lead that was only threatened by another great run by his old faithful, Star who gained 73 points.

David and his two dogs stood 1st and 2nd for much of the day until Dennis Purdham, running late with Tag, took the trial by a clear 6 points , finishing in 1st place with 84 points.

At the conclusion of Day 2 Trial , a ballot, performed superbly by Helena Svobodova and Jessica Saukkonen took place FA Cup style to decide the running order for the Championship to be held on Thursday 2nd December.

I’d like to report that the crowd there gathered, were spell bound with anticipation, but alas I can’t, as they seemed more pre-disposed to chatter than to silence!

Day 2 Open (Championship Qualifiers) Results

1.D.Purdham-Tag 84/100

2.D.Henderson-Mia 78

3.D.Henderson-Star 73

4.B.Common-Jimmy 72

5.M.Fearon-JIll 71

6.G.Fearon-Dave 70

7.T.Rome-Nell 67 (OLF)

8.S.Duckworth-Fleet 67 (Replaced in the final by D.Purdham and Kippi 11th placed)

9.J.Saukkonen-Gannon 66 (OLF)

10.S.Atkinson-Bob 66

Cock of The North Previous Champions 2019 Billy Common 2021 Philip Rigby 2022 Brendon Smith

The trial course was completely re-set, by Neil McNally and Andrew Graves (landowner) amidst a waterlogged field that had suffered from a deluge of rain the pre-ceding night.

The outrun was effectively split into two parts . The dogs set off on their 600 yard outruns on green grass but completed the last 200 yards or so, on stubble; the remains of a barley crop. This affected some dogs more than others, as more than one took uncharacteristic manoeuvres whilst working on this section of the course.

After turning the sheep in front of the handler and a left hand start to the drive section, the dogs would finish with a shed , preferably taking the last two of five sheep; a pen ; before finishing the course within 15 minutes, with a single , preferably taking the back sheep.

James Burrow judged the field of 20 dogs with Carol Mellin and Gyp kicking off proceedings.

The sheep ran consistently throughout and there were many good runs.

Sandy McCulloch and Sam took an early lead with the 3rd run of the day on 87.

Gavin Fearon and Dave stepped ahead by two points running at number 6 and held the lead until Billy Common gained 88 points with Jimmy at run number 11.

That lead lasted until at run number 16, Matthew Fearon gained 89 points with Jill.

Although I don’t like to over big myself up………with the second to last run of the day, Scott and I (Phil Rigby) gained 93 points to take “The Cock of The North” Championship.

Thanks , once again, go to Andrew Graves , Neil McNally and all those who helped in any way , to make this a very enjoyable three day event.

Thanks to Gerry, from South Africa , who travelled up from down south to spectate on Day 2 and The Championship day.

2021 Champion, Phil Rigby and Scott.

Click the link to view the Video

1.P.Rigby – Scott 93/110 points.

2.M.Fearon – Jill 89

3.B.Common -Jimmy 88

4.G.Fearon – Dave 87

5.S.McCulloch – Sam 85

6.R.Watson – Garry 80

7.A.Common – Roger 76

8.S.Atkinson – Bob 75

9.O.Watson – Stripe 73 OLF

10.C.Mellin – Ben 73