The aristocrat of the marsh
Shooting Times & Country|January 13, 2021
A distant relative of the poodle, the Irish water spaniel combines supermodel looks and composure to match with the ability of an Olympic swimmer
SIMON GARNHAM
The aristocrat of the marsh

I first saw Paul and Pat Farrington’s Irish water spaniels in action when they were picking-up on a driven day. A partridge had been wing-tipped early in the drive and crashlanded well out on the marsh. As the tide rose the stricken bird found itself afloat and was a surprisingly good swimmer. A number of other handlers had tried and failed to gather it, so Paul was sent for with his peculiar-looking curly-coated companions.

Paul and Pat are both committee members of Little Oakley & District Wildfowlers, so a water retrieve across the saltings came as second nature. At Paul’s command, a tall, aristocratic spaniel sniffed the air, padded across the marsh and swam like an otter straight to the partridge.

The bird was not going to give up without a struggle and the dog had to dive to make the retrieve underwater. She eventually returned from at least 100 yards distance to present the sodden bird to her proud master and to the admiration of the collected field. She looked as though she could pull off similar feats all day long.

The Irish water spaniel was first formally recorded in the 1830s and is probably related to the now extinct English water spaniel as well as to the poodle. It is a liver-coloured dog with a distinctive smooth tail, long powerful legs, a topknot on its head and ‘beard’ at the throat. Its webbed feet make it ideally suited, as the name suggests, to working in water. So I was delighted to join Paul for an outing on the marsh to watch Bridie, his eight-year-old bitch, in action again.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 13, 2021-Ausgabe von Shooting Times & Country.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 13, 2021-Ausgabe von Shooting Times & Country.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS SHOOTING TIMES & COUNTRYAlle anzeigen
United we stand
Shooting Times & Country

United we stand

Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors

time-read
5 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Serious matters
Shooting Times & Country

Serious matters

An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
They're not always as easy as they seem
Shooting Times & Country

They're not always as easy as they seem

While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort

time-read
5 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Debutant gundogs
Shooting Times & Country

Debutant gundogs

There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting

time-read
4 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
When the going gets rough
Shooting Times & Country

When the going gets rough

Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique

time-read
5 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
Shooting Times & Country

The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition

In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make

time-read
4 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
A step too far?
Shooting Times & Country

A step too far?

Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work

time-read
6 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Two bucks before breakfast
Shooting Times & Country

Two bucks before breakfast

A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem

time-read
6 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Stalking Diary
Shooting Times & Country

Stalking Diary

Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill

time-read
2 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Gamekeeper
Shooting Times & Country

Gamekeeper

Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023