The pace was steady as the red and white dog weaved methodically through the brambles beneath lines of tall pine trees. I was 30 yards behind the spaniel, a Welsh springer. Closer to the action was a judge with a notepad, a steward with a radio and Jane Sutherland, whistle between her teeth. We were flanked by a small team of Guns. On the lee side of the shelterbelt, a Clumber spaniel bobbed in and out of view. It was my first experience of a minority-breed field trial and, as somebody more accustomed to the frenetic, bustling action of dogs in a beating line or picking-up gang, I couldn’t help but note how quiet things were.
Then, just as the cold wind began to bite and I wondered whether I’d be better off on the other side of the