Gundog Challenge held at Cowdray raises over £4,800 for Midhurst Palliative Care

A Gundog Challenge involving some of the best gundog handlers from the UK and across Europe took place in the Deer Park at Cowdray on Saturday 25th April with over £4,800 being raised for the Estate Charity Midhurst Palliative Care, funding the Midhurst Macmillan Service.

Hundreds of spectators attended the Gundog Challenge which consisted of 23 teams each comprising of four retrievers. There was also a fun scurry open to all dog owners, which is a timed test to retrieve a dummy, and the quickest dog back with it wins. An auction and prize giving took place at the end of the day.

Organised by Cowdray’s experienced and award-winning gundog trainer Jason Mayhew, the Cowdray gundog challenge has become the biggest team test event in the UK. It involves highly trained dogs working with their experienced owners to complete several controlled challenges and demonstrations with each team being scored throughout the day by experienced judges. 

Cowdray Gundog Trainer Jason Mayhew said: “We were absolutely delighted with how the day went, and very pleased that the sun was shining. It was amazing seeing so many competitors, dogs and spectators in the picturesque setting of the Deer Park.

“Many people were involved in making the event such a success, from volunteers to Estate staff, who have all worked together to create a special day and to raise money for the worthwhile cause of Midhurst Palliative Care, that does an amazing job helping those in need.

“The Gundog Challenge at Cowdray is now in its fifth year, and each year it becomes bigger and bigger. This year we had 23 teams, 92 dogs, six tests and six judges – thank you to all who took part.

“This year was also made more special as we were being filmed for a BBC programme about dogs with Matt Baker, which is exciting.”

There was a record six teams crossing the channel from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and beyond. The judges travelled from Wales, Cornwall, and Suffolk along with others from nearer the area.

The top dog came from Germany, Benno, who had spent a week on the Estate being trained alongside Jason Mayhew. The winning team was “2 Miserables and 2 Happy Men’, an international group made of two English handlers, one Belgian and one Italian.

Cowdray’s Gundog trainer Jason Mayhew has also been selected for the England team at this year’s Skinners World Cup. The competition will see 12 international teams go head-to-head over two days in May, with teams of four dogs taking on a series of working tests designed to simulate a shooting day.

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