Hi All,

Have any of you lovely people attended the above. We are thinking of going next weekend and taking our ESS. Never been before is it worth going?

Dee

It's well worth the effort. Plenty to see (And plenty to buy!) There is always demos going on in the main ring, plus gundog competitions. The Finals of the Game Conservancy Gundog Working Tests are held there.

Your dog will love it provided he is not bothered about gunshot because there is a very large Clay Pigeon shoot going on and also a muzzle loader demo so plenty of noise. He is not too young I hope because there is so much to see which means lots of walking!

Best wishes, John  

Yes I have been many a time, even had a go at the "over the bales and bring the dummy Back" with my Borders John, gets a few strange looks, I can tell you!

Worth a visit, not going tomorrow though, only 20 minutes from here but a wee bit busy, if you go have a great time.
DAwn.

You might have got some strange looks but I bet the Borders enjoyed it Dawn! I won't be there this year either. I've not qualified this year, in fact I never even worked in a qualifying round this year! but I have had great fun there in the past.

Best wishes, John

If the weather is nice it will be a great weekend.  The only hitch we find with 'The Midland' is traffic chaos if you arrive too late therefore it's best to go for the whole weekend and camp!

There are always plenty of bargains to be had as it's the end of the Game Fair season so it's well worth haggling!  I came away with bargains galore last year all at knock down prices.

I shall be in the gundog tent both days with my LH Weim, so come and say hello!

TOHME...............see you there then on Sunday.
Me? look for a black dog and a crooked stick?????

BB

Hi

You'll have a great time, we will be going with our GWP pups (6 months) great for socialising. Roads are very busy though so give yourself plenty of time.  We only live 10 mins away but it can take over 1 hour for us to get there.

Tracy

I might just pop down myself on Sunday with Anton and Lastar if I can get up early enough :d  Won't be able to do much with them as I won't let Lastar off a lead yet, may have a go at something with Anton though he's done no training at all !

I've just been looking at the map of the site in Shooting Times. The stands are all grouped in the middle but the real dog interest is around the outside.

Looking down at the showground the big house is to the north (12 o'clock) this includes The Stable Bar and Restaurant, a miniature railway and an adventure park.

Still using the clock face for directions, in the 2 o'clock direction is the "Temple of Diana" and it is in this area where the Game Conservancy Gundog Scurry will be taking place.

At the 3 o'clock direction is the airgun range and slightly further south is the European Field Target Championship

At 4 o'clock, beside the road to the Lichfield gate is the Game Conservancy Gundog Trials Finals. Slightly nearer the centre of the clock face and directly behind the BASC Arena is the BASC Gundog Competitions.

At around 5 o'clock and bordering the Game Conservancy Gundog Finals is the BASC Dog and Gun Competition

At 6 o'clock (Due south) is a massive Clay shoot with a number of different competitions going on throughout the day.

The other side of the roadway to the Tong Gate at approximately 7 o'clock is Lurcher racing and simulated Coursing

More Clay Pigeon shooting lays in the 8 o'clock direction

From there continuing to the 12 o'clock is disabled parking.

There are a number of Arenas (rings). The main one is located at the southern end of Gunmakers Row and amongst the attractions there is a sheepdog demo by Katy Cropper, always worth watching!

Heading on around the stands in a clockwise direction is the BASC arena already mentioned. Next comes the Falconry arena then the Terrier and Lurcher arena

Beside the Terriers and Lurchers is the Gundog arena which stretches across the showground and below that is the Equestrian arena.

Heading back north now up the other side of the show and at the opposite end of the gundog Arena to the terriers and Lurchers is the Pet Dog Show arena.

Continuing up the northern side you will come to the Stationary Engine Arena (one for the boys!) and beside that, the Countryside Alliance arena.

If you stop to look at that little lot you won't have much time to spend your heard earned money!

Have a lovely time all you who are going, John

Thanks to all who replied. We are going to go on Sunday, really early. I'll look out for 'tohme', he'll recognise me, I'll be the one being dragged around by an over-excited black & white ESS. Looking forward to it no end.

Ok, will ring my brother who sorts out security there, and Warn them that all you rabble are coming LMAO Make sure he gets more security in!!! te he he he he he
Lea :)

I'm taking Phoebe - so if you see a brindle dane with a dark haired woman looking around anything to do with horses you will know its me :D

Just got back from a great day at the Midland Game Fair, we now have 4 very tired GWP's.  Even entered some of the fun competitions with Briar, although she failed in the retrieve over the bales, everytime she heard gun shots from the shooting range she stopped on top of the bales looking into the sky, had fun anyway.

Tracy

She knows what gunshot means Tracy! I wish I was there again this year, there is always so much to see and do.

Best wishes, John

I really enjoyed it too - wasn't it busy!! I spent most of my time watching the horses and the sheepdogs and spending money - was brill :D

Yep, have to agree, really good Game Fair.  It took us 3 1/2 hours to travel up Friday night from Portsmouth to the Holiday Inn in Telford, then took 2 1/2 hours to get into the show Saturday morning.  The traffic was terrible but we had a really good day.

2 GSP's very tired at the end of the day but they love to meet all the other dogs.

Juliet