Simon Capstick
My name is Simon Capstick, and I’m from a small town called Barnoldswick in Lancashire, located in the North West of England. I have been involved with working dogs since I was a schoolboy and transitioned to retrievers in 2016, starting my Labrador kennels under the affix Gunnerspeg. I am a Kennel Club B Panel Judge and compete throughout the test and trial season in the UK. I have also been a member of the England Gundog Team.
Together with my wife Nicola, I run a luxury boarding kennels and cattery. I regularly judge field trials and working tests, and I also run training groups and provide one-to-one lessons in England as well as in several European countries.
I love the sport of shooting, field trials, working tests, and everything related to gundogs—it’s an addictive passion. I especially enjoy breeding and training young dogs, watching them improve through their education and training, and ultimately developing a puppy into a Field Trial Champion (FTCH).
We are fortunate to be part of an amazing sport that allows us to make friends across the world.
To date, I have made up two Field Trial Champions and have been fortunate enough to qualify for the IGL Championships eight times with three different dogs. In 2023, I was awarded a Diploma of Merit with FTCH Gunnerspeg Apollo, who was also part of the winning England team at the Skinners World Cup in 2023.
I am very much looking forward to coming to Belgium to judge the IWT. I’m excited to work with my fellow judges and to enjoy what promises to be a tremendous few days.
Fons Exelmans
I bought my first Labrador in 1987 to have a pleasant companion. With this dog, I attended obedience classes and followed a course on hunting for retrievers. That’s how I discovered the world of working retrievers.
I run my dogs in working tests and field trials and have made up several Belgian and international Field Trial Champions. I take special pride in representing my country at international events. Winning the Coupe d’Europe three times with the Belgian team is something I truly cherish. In recent years, I’ve been a member of the Belgian team at IWTs, where we placed second twice and won in 2022. So, I am quite familiar with the thrill of competing at an IWT.
I am regularly invited to conduct seminars or training days. I believe the foundation of training is building confidence in a dog by carefully taking small steps toward the ultimate goal.
Picking up with friends and our dogs during the hunting season brings me great joy. I particularly love retrievers that hunt their area thoroughly and with determination, while still responding well to guidance from their handler when necessary.
Judging this IWT in collaboration with renowned judges from Great Britain is an honour. I wish all competing teams a challenging and rewarding competition. Let’s enjoy our shared passion for retrievers, which brings us together at this international event.
Sara Gadd
My first season competing was in 1996. I managed to get a minor award and was completely hooked. With two young children, my time was limited, but I loved training my Labradors and Golden Retrievers.
My Birdsgreen affix comes from the hamlet where my family lived. In 1998, I won my first open trial with a homebred dog. Since then, I have been fortunate to make up three Field Trial Champions and also breed two champions.
I enjoy judging, and as an A Panel Judge, I’ve had the privilege of judging in seven different countries, including the championships in Denmark, Sweden, and Italy, as well as the IGL Championship.
In the autumn and winter, I spend my time trialling and picking up on local shoots, giving my dogs plenty of experience picking game. In the spring, I enjoy competing in working tests as well.
My thanks go to the Belgian Labrador Retriever Club for inviting me to judge the IWT. I’m looking forward to watching your dogs work. I know how much effort goes into producing a dog to such a high standard, and I wish everyone the best of luck.
Kevin Haynes
I began competing in field trials in 2014 under my affix, Cairngryffe, winning in my first season and every season since. This has seen me qualify four times for the IGL Championship with multiple dogs. I have made up three Field Trial Champions and achieved success in both novice and open tests. I’ve also had the privilege of representing Scotland as a member of the Scotland Team.
In 2019, I turned my passion into a career, and my success continued as I won trials with multiple American-bred dogs. I made history by winning and making up the first American-bred Labrador to become a British Field Trial Champion. More recently, I’ve found success with Golden Retrievers, winning an Open trial on my first outing in Scotland, while also breeding Labradors and achieving wins with my own lines.
I am an A Panel Judge and have judged trials and tests in Scotland, England, and Europe. I’ve had the honour of judging several trials for the Royal Kennel Club, tests at the Scottish Game Fairs, and organizing and judging selection tests for new handlers at The Game Fair.
Outside of tests and trials, I enjoy shooting and working my spaniel and Labradors. This is what I love most, as it’s where my journey began. I find great reward and enjoyment in training and problem-solving to bring out the best in each dog, as well as helping others train their dogs, resolve issues, and watch their progress in the sport.
It is a great pleasure to have been invited to judge the 2025 IWT. I look forward to an enjoyable weekend alongside all the competitors and my fellow judges in Belgium.
Mike Tallamy
Firstly, I would like to thank the Belgian Labrador Retriever Club for their invitation to judge the 2025 IWT. I consider it a great honour to be asked. I have previously judged the IWT competition four times, and this will be my fifth.
My kennel runs under the affix Brindlebay and has produced 12 FTCHs, 9 of which I have made up myself. With one of them, FTCh Bringwood Bobby of Brindlebay, I won the IGL Retriever Championship in 2002.
I have been an A-panel judge for over 25 years. During this time, I have had the privilege of judging the IGL and Irish Retriever Championships, as well as the championship in four other countries.
I am really looking forward to seeing the best dogs and handlers competing at the highest level. We are in for two wonderful days, thanks to the experience and expertise that the Belgian Labrador Retriever Club will provide.
Good luck, and most importantly, enjoy your competition and your dogs!
