2025 Newsletter
Club members received their 2025 Newletter in October, packed full of articles from U.K. barbet owners from the past 12 months.
BARBETS NOW ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IN WORKING TESTS AND FIELD TRIALS.
Great news that The Kennel Club Board has approved the Field Trial Committee’s decision to include the Barbet in the Spaniel sub-group, meaning that the breed can compete in Any Variety Spaniel field trials and gundog working tests in the 2025/26 season and beyond. The classification will take place with immediate effect (MAY 2025) – see KC full announcement for further details. Text below.
It was a great day, despite the very wet weather. There were ten dogs of a wide range of ages that took part in this important event and thus they become part of the history of the Barbet in the UK. As Chair of the club I’d like to personally thank all the owners who gave up their Sunday to be part of this day. They can be proud of how their dogs performed and behaved. Also to Jon (Kilo9) for taking some fantastic photographs.
JULIE MCDOUGAL Chair, Barbet Club of GB
This is a link to the rules etc for competition:- https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/about-us/about-the-kennel-club/the-kennel-club-rules-regulations-and-codes/code-of-best-practice-for-spaniel-field-trial-competitors/
KC announcement
Barbet Allocated to Gundog sub-group
Published on20 May 2025 at 5:05pm
The Kennel Club Board has approved the decision to include the Barbet in the Spaniel sub-group, meaning the breed can compete in Any Variety Spaniel [Excluding Spaniel (Cocker)] field trials and gundog working tests.
This decision was taken following an assessment at the Packington Estate, near Coventry in September 2024, during which dogs from the breed proved their ability to use the wind to hunt and quarter naturally, retrieve dummies, and act responsively to commands given by voice or whistle.
The assessors were of the view that the most suitable sub-group was the Spaniel sub-group as neither the Hunt, Point, Retrieve (HPR) or Retriever groups were considered appropriate. The breed has been allocated to this subgroup for a three-year period after which the position will be reviewed.
The Barbet is a French retriever and water dog whose origins can be traced back to at least the 1700s. Intelligent and loyal, traditionally the Barbet was used to flush and retrieve waterfowl in the marshes and lakes of France, and it is thought that the breed was used in the development of other breeds like the Poodle and the Curly Coated Retriever.
The Kennel Club Board noted that in previous years two other import breeds – the Lagotto Romagnolo and the Spanish Water Dog – had been added to the Spaniel sub-group and it was agreed that the Barbet would be a competitive addition when entering Any Variety Spaniel except for Spaniel [Cocker] and Spaniel [English Springer] trials, also referred to as the ‘Minor Breeds Spaniel’ field trials.
The classification will take place with immediate effect and Barbets will be eligible to compete in working tests and field trials in the 2025/26 season.
Further information about the allocation of the Barbet can be obtained by emailing gundogs@thekennelclub.org.uk.
Annual Gundog Import Register Special
The 7th May 2023 saw the Barbet Club of GB hosting the annual import gundog register breeds match at Birmingham National Championship Dog Show at Stafford Showground.
This event took much planning and preparation, but thanks to a fabulous team all ran smoothly and the sun even shined for most of the day!
Our judge was the lovely Carole Wood (Marada) who has had over 50 years involvement in the gundog breeds.
The match is split into 4 categories Puppy, Open (for adult dogs), Special Champion (for dogs who are Champions or have three or more BOB BOS wins at UK Champ shows) and Veteran for dogs aged over 7.
The atmosphere both inside and outside the ring was fun, supportive, and absolutely lovely. There were cakes aplenty and many smiles.
Our winners were :
Best Puppy – Westaway’s Portuguese Pointer Nancy, Reserve Best Puppy Fox’s Portuguese Pointer Pendragon
Best Open – Gorian and Henry’s Portuguese Pointer Raine, Reserve Best Open Blair and Spencer’s Korthal’s Griffon Olive
Best Special Champion Taylor’s Portuguese Pointer Raine and Reserve Best Special Champion Gorian and Henry’s Portuguese Pointer Bonito
Best Veteran Blair’s Korthal’s Griffon Sage and Reserve Best Veteran Finch’s Portuguese Pointer Hallie
Thanks so much to everyone for help, support and entries – this event will be held again next year, but hosted by a different club, it is well worth entering.
Club Flags
The new club flags are ready for our 2023 events. They will be flagging our stand at Discover Dogs, Crufts 2023 – March 9th to 12th.
UK Parkour Title Holding Barbets
DPUK – BEFL1 title currently held by Zelda (Awelymor Maelee Avec Muddiwarx), Mousse (Muddiwarx Link to The Past), Bruin (Wookieebev A New Start Han Solo), Olive (Awelymor Miele at Barbamor) and Flora (Barbamor Starting on Monday)
DPUK- UEFL1 title currently held by Zelda (Awelymor Maelee Avec Muddiwarx) and Bruin (Wookieebev A New Start Han Solo)
DPUK – NEFL1 title title currently held by Zelda (Awelymor Maelee Avec Muddiwarx)
DPUK- FL1ex title currently held by Zelda (Awelymor Maelee Avec Muddiwarx)
DPUK- BEFL2 title currently held by Zelda (Awelymor Maelee Avec Muddiwarx)
The first Barbet ever to win a Best In Show!
A fantastic achievement for the Barbet breed.
Flora (Barbamor Starting on Monday) won Best AV Import / Best Puppy in Show and Best in Show on Sunday 16th February 2020.
The Limit show was hosted by Welsh Northern Counties and Colwyn Canine Society, 73 dogs were entered. Flora was handled by Kevin Davies.
Flora, 7 months old, a beautiful girl with a loving personality, has been consistently placed at all the shows she has entered in 2020.
BARBET CLUB OF GB 