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The Game Fair at Ragley Hall

Writer's picture: Spanish Water Dog ClubSpanish Water Dog Club

Updated: Aug 8, 2023


Held on 28th-30th July 2023, "The Game Fair" is a very large game fair which hosts the European Championship gundog competitions, training demonstrations and many attractive and useful trade stands where you can equip yourself and your dog with anything you might require for your sport.

This year The Game Fair was held at Ragley Hall, Worcestershire. It was a very special year because this time there was a new competition aimed at Minority Spaniel club members and their dogs, The Minority Gundog Breed Challenge.


Three teams competed under Spaniel judge Tom Sheppard : Clumbers, Welsh Springers and Lagotto Romagnolos.

Sadly not enough Spanish Water Dog Club members were confident enough to compete, but now we have had a chance to see what the others have achieved, I hope next year we might enter a team to showcase our own breed.

This year the Clumber Spaniel team won, with the Welsh Springers and the Lagottos coming second and third respectively. After a sunny beginning to the day, it rained on them, but the competitors stuck it out and bravely showed both the judge and the spectators and supporters sheltering in the grandstand the working capabilities of each breed.



Each day there was a parade of the breeds, and the large main arena was only just big enough to hold the very well-represented gundog breeds, led in by the Pony Club riders. Spanish Water dogs numbered 13 altogether, with Linda and Jenny bringing theirs on the Friday to add to Sarah and Andrea's many dogs, and Jane with 3 more.

We even had 2 puppies in the mix, litter mates Ramon and Remo. Throughout the weekend we took turns on the breed stand in the special marquee to chat to the public about our dogs.


Do enjoy training your dogs to the gundog discipline, it is so worthwhile and improves that wonderful rapport you establish with any training together. Perhaps you might want to be in our team next year at Blenheim!


The next game fair we will be representing our breed at is at Bowood House, Wiltshire on 12th-13th August, a very beautiful setting.

Jane Appleton

SWDC Gundog Co-ordinator

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The Spanish Water Dog Club is proud to be  recognised as the only official Kennel Club Breed Club for the Spanish Water Dog in the UK.

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