Susan Hunton’s 2026 Championship Win

Bez may not have arrived as part of a long-term plan, but what followed was anything but accidental. This was a season shaped by thoughtful training, clear decision-making, and a handler who understood exactly what her dog needed to perform at her best. At the Championships, Bez’s temperament stood out as much as her ability. Long waits on the drop, interruptions in the line, and demanding ground never unsettled her. Whether sitting quietly in the gallery or working through heavy cover, she remained calm, attentive, and responsive.

Susan’s approach was straightforward: stay clean, trust the dog, and focus on the job in front of them. Day one delivered a blind retrieve on a cold bird and a clean contact flush. Day two brought an entirely different test — open, exposed ground with nowhere to hide mistakes — and Bez delivered again.

Prize-giving was where the scale of the achievement finally landed. Susan hoped for a top-four finish, fully aware that in field trialling you never see the full picture. When her name was finally called, disbelief gave way to relief — and then to pride. “My knees just went,” Susan recalls. “That was it — we’d done it.”

Susan’s Championship win with FTCh Spirocon Cassandra of Novaton (Bez) reinforces an important truth: there is no single route to success in field trialling. It comes from listening, learning, and having the confidence to do what works for your own dog — even when that means ignoring well-meant advice. For anyone considering the step into trialling, Susan’s season stands as proof that opportunity matters — but achievement is built through judgement, consistency, and trust.