Kennel Club Working Trial Championships 2025
16th - 18th October 2025
Thoresby Park, Ollerton, Notts.
Trials Managers report
Gary Martin
Thank you to The Kennel Club for giving permission to run the 50th Anniversary of the Working Trial Championships under this new format. We are grateful for both the financial and practical support given by them.
This is the first time this committee has run the Championships and we are fortunate to have been allowed access to the historic Thoresby Park to stage the event. This fabulous place was built in the 1500’s by the Pierrepoint family and incredibly is still in their hands. The surrounding lush park land was the venue for our trial and as trialists we do like a bit of lush grass to track on!
To have the main house as a backdrop made for dramatic pictures and really set the scene for the event. The owners ensured all livestock had been off this land for two months prior to our event, thus ensuring quality tracking land.
Sue Garner, a director of the KC and the chair of the Activities Committee was again there for all three days to add her support, just as she had done throughout the planning stages. Working Trials is lucky to have such a high profile supporter who gladly helps to drive our sport forwards.
The organising committee comprises of Nigel Hines, Linda Newbold, Charlie and Martine Taylor, Penny Bann, Kev Bryan, Barry Gilbert and myself. This group have relentlessly driven this concept on. They have worked tirelessly to ensure the event reflected the importance it rightly has in the Working Trials community. I am very grateful to each and everyone of them for their drive and commitment to ensuring these Championships were a success.
Linda and Kev, who found the venue for us were busy over all three days, setting up, guiding spectators around the park land and running the car park. Nigel, in addition to tracklaying, and Charlie as assistant Trials Manager were non stop throughout the trial attending to any issues that cropped up or needed attention. Everyone threw themselves headlong into ensuring all spectators and competitors had an enjoyable event.
Penny Bann was base steward with Wendy Magyar and it ran like clockwork as you’d expect. Penny has been heavily involved from day one in the organisation of the trial.
Huge thank you to all the Working Trials societies and clubs, and the individuals who generously gave us financial and moral support. It means everything to know the trials community is right with us. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Martine was busy taking a huge number of pictures to post on social media so those trialists unable to attend were kept involved as far as possible. Together with Jo McOuat they chaperoned the Kennel Club staff for whom this was their first time at a Working Trial. Both kept our visitors up to date with how the trial and exercises unfolded.
Louise Meakin organised the car parking and raffle- all prizes were donated by Linda and Kev at SmartK9's. Lou did a fantastic job on the day and saw that much needed funds were gained. Additionally Louise sourced all the gifts that went into the competitors bags for the presentation- thanks Lou, awesome job.
Tracklayers were ;
TD – Nigel Hines and Malc Snowden
PD – Charlie Taylor and Andy Magyar
Stewards ;
TD – Joan Snowden
PD – Linda Newbold (squares and C&A)
Lauren Marlow for Patrol round.
Protected Stewards David Barker, Tom Davies, Dave Marchant and Bob Murrell.
Each of these individuals gave every competitor the very best chance to succeed and get the very best out of their dogs. Every track and square was laid exactly the same for each team and I know Lauren did the same for each PD competitor. Each protected steward delivered the same test for each Dog, ensuring fairness throughout. It makes the trials managers job so much easier knowing that there are such trustworthy and conscientious helpers out there, thank you all.
The track watchers were, June Hines, Caroline Martin, Jo McOuat, Andy Magyar in the main. However several others took turns at this essential job. Thank you all.
Andy and Wendy Magyar were our scoreboard scribes. We took the decision that large scoreboards would be outside each field so once the competitors had been given their marks they would be transcribed onto the boards as they exited the field so all the spectators were kept fully engaged in the competition. This idea was well received, not only by the spectators but by the judges. The fact that there was some very close scores throughout added to the excitement.
Anne Thorpe judged the TD stake and Les Theobald the PD stake. They were such professionals and their commitment to delivering appropriate and challenging tests, is unquestionable. Both Anne and Les took the time to visit Thoresby three times prior to event to ensure they were familiar with the ground and its environment. Thank you both, it was great working with you.
The competitors were a fantastic bunch, really supportive and sporting. This event is, and should always be about them. These Championships are about giving the best teams of the year in both stakes the opportunity to show their amazing talents off. And they did just that. Three days of superb competition, showing what trials is about.
Finally the spectators- thank you all for coming along to watch these teams, supporting the best competitors in Working Trials and embracing this new format and venue. You were all very generous in both support and camaraderie throughout the event creating such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.