The Retriever Team Challenge 2026

Sponsored by Skinner’s & Gamekeeper’s Goods

The 30th Retriever Team Challenge at Sherborne Castle Country Fair has once again attracted many of the most highly qualified working retrievers and their handlers from across the country.  In 2026 the Retriever Team Challenge are very grateful to have much appreciated support and sponsorship from Skinner’s Dog Food and Gamekeepers Goods.

To win this year’s Challenge, teams of highly trained dogs with very skilled handlers compete in a number of carefully planned working tests.  Working tests are designed to be a test of the working ability of gundogs under competitive conditions, and are run under Kennel Club rules and regulations. 

Each team of dogs and handlers will complete a number of tests which have been set to replicate, as closely as possible, scenarios a dog and its handler might encounter during a day’s shooting in the field.  Working tests use blank gunfire and canvas dummies instead of game, and the handlers work their dogs to demonstrate their skill and efficiency hunting and retrieving both seen and unseen dummies across different types of terrain and in the afternoon, also from water.  Each test is judged and scored by a panel of Kennel Club Field Trial Judges.  The tests are fun to watch and gundog owning spectators can possibly pick up a few useful tips! 

The Retriever Team Challenge
(12 teams of 4 Open Standard any variety Retrievers)

In the morning, five tests will be run simultaneously in the Deer Park.  Spectators are very welcome and there is parking close to the Deer Park.  Spectators can walk from test to test to see the dogs in action (all non-competing dogs MUST be on leads).  In the afternoon, all the competing dogs head to the lake for a water test in what is always an exciting and challenging end to the day’s competition.

THE TEAMS

1          Wye Valley Retriever Club

2          The Lost Dummies

3          Lady & The Tramps

4          Hawkers Hopefuls

5          URC Hants & SW

6          Carmarthenshire Working Gundog Society

7          Southern & Western Counties Field Trial Society

8          Guildford Working Gundog Club

9          Exmoor Gundog Club

10        Gamekeeper’s Goods Retriever Girls

11        Westward Gundog Society

12        South West Golden Retriever Club

RESERVES

13        West Dartmoor Working Gundog Club

14        Mitforton Muckers

15        Chiltern Gundog Quartet

16        Arun & Downland Gundog Society

Judges:  Judy Rainey (A59), Matt Gould (B3776), Jess Latham (NP), Beth Payne (NP), Alex Brain (NP)

Organisers: Joanna Cooper, Christopher Le Hardy, Jane Monk, Snowy Snowden

Prizes & Trophies
(Challenge trophies to be held for one year only)

Retrievers
Sherborne Castle Country Fair Team Challenge Trophy for the Winning Team
Sherborne Castle Country Fair Team Challenge Trophy for the Top Dog

SKINNER’s and GAMEKEEPERS GOODS are very kindly providing dog food vouchers and prizes for the top dogs and the teams down to 3rd place.  This year, there will also be a prize awarded to the best dressed team.