Rowan’s run goes on

THERE WAS uncorking of champagne in the Tomlinson household last month, celebrating spaniel Rowan’s 16th birthday. English springers are generally regarded as enjoying, on average, one of the longest lifespans of any of our sporting dogs, with a life expectancy from 12 to 14 years. Not many make it to 15 and even fewer reach 16, so the occasion was well worthy of a bottle of my finest fizz.

Of course, long life in a dog depends on a number of factors. Luck is perhaps the most important element,