The 2011 gundog events saw a fantastic reception from handlers and their gundogs from across the board, with all those taking part in the Working Test and the Scurries producing some remarkable displays. After the successes of the gundog events at all of the 2011 game and country fairs, next year's season brings two new exciting events to the fold, including 'Double Double' and 'Mark & Blind.'

Organiser of the gundog events, Laura Bacon will once again oversee the gundog events, including the ever-popular Mitsubishi Motors World Series Gundog Championship. As in last year's line up, 2012 will see the return of popular scurries such as Pick 'em at your Peril, Pot Black, Partridge Pen, Long Retrieve, Up & Over Scurry, Pontoon and Novice Scurry and of course the new scurries for the year, Double Double and Mark & Blind, which sees handlers and their dogs test themselves against a whole other set of challenges and obstacles. Here's a sneak peek of the two new scurries for next year…

Double Double - Designed to test your dog's ability to retrieve and to fight distraction, this scurry will put your dog through his paces and challenge him to two 'straight forward seen' retrieves. As with many of the scurries, Double Double will test your dog's ability to fight distraction in the way of the double mark, including two low fences that will test your dog's memory and marking ability. Both dummies are to be picked in either order and the clock will be stopped in between retrieves.

The Rules
Your dog will sit unrestrained whilst two marked dummies will be thrown in.
The two marked dummies are to be picked up in the fastest time.
The clock will be stopped in between retrieves.
The dog is to be sat unrestrained in the designated area.
Do not send your dog until the Steward tells you to.
Any dog that 'runs in' will be disqualified.
The dog that retrieves the two marked dummies into the designated container in the quickest time will be the winner.
The clock will be stopped when the dummy has been delivered to hand.
No bitches are to be run in season.
A time limit of two minutes is allowed.

Mark & Blind - This scurry will test your dog's natural hunting ability whilst challenging him to retrieve both a 'straight forward marked' retrieve and one blind retrieve. To make this scurry a little simpler, the blind retrieve will be placed in the same place as the marked retrieve, however, the blind retrieve will actually be a tiny dummy, testing your dog's intellect whilst making sure he uses his innate hunting skills too!

The Rules
Your dog will sit unrestrained whilst one single marked retrieve will be thrown in.
The dog is to be sat unrestrained in the designated area.
Do not send your dog until the Steward tells you to.
Any dog that 'runs in' will be disqualified.
Whilst your dog is returning to you a second small dummy will be placed in the designated area.
You can send your dog in your own time for the blind retrieve.
The dog that retrieves the seen dummy and the blind dummy in the quickest time will be the winner.
The clock will be stopped when the dummy has been delivered to hand and placed in the designated container.
No bitches are to be run in season.
A time limit of two minutes is allowed.

Countryman Fairs organise 5 award-winning events across the UK throughout the year, each showcasing the very best in country life. For more information on all of Countryman Fairs award winning events visit the website at www.countrymanfairs.co.uk and join us on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news and developments as they happen.