Team Italy take the win for the second year running in The Game Fair’s Euro Challenge 2025

The Euro Challenge competition at The Game Fair this year proved to be a tightly contested event, as always. The challenge is made up of both a team and an individual competition, with additional awards for Best Golden Retriever, Best Flatcoat Retriever, Best Labrador, Best Other and Commentator’s Choice – the latter being awarded the Martin Deeley Memorial Trophy. All entered teams are made up of a Labrador, a Golden Retriever and one other recognised gundog breed.

Split over two days, the dogs are put through a series of tests in a simulated shooting environment, with handlers and dogs demonstrating just how versatile these retriever breeds are. On the first day each team undertook six tests, with 120 points available per dog and 360 points per team. Today saw the dogs back in the arena for five more tests, with up to 100 points per dog and 300 points per team.

All communication between handler and dog is done entirely through whistle work and hand gestures – no small feat amid the hustle, bustle and distractions of The Game Fair. The competition showcases the true talent of these handlers, most of whom balance their love for the sport alongside their regular jobs and daily lives.

The tension of the competition was felt through the crowd as they watched the gundogs retrieve both visibly marked and blind dummies, navigating the beautifully arranged obstacles dotted around the arena.

 

After two days of tough competition, the overall team trophy went to Team Italy, who successfully defended their championship title.

The team was once again comprised of Martina Francescon and Bet On Gold Dangerous Flight Cloud (Nimbus) – Best Golden Retriever at The Game Fair in 2024; Antonio Di Somma and Groowebooster (Keaton), the team’s Labrador Retriever and last year’s top dog at The Game Fair; and Giulia Chiatti and Poker D’Assi Di Casa Toller (Scotch), a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and the team’s other breed.

“We come back to The Game Fair every year because we really appreciate the atmosphere – and, of course, the shopping,” commented Alessandra Franchi, Captain of Team Italy. “But what we find most fantastic is the spirit of the event, the camaraderie between the teams, and the fact that everyone is always smiling and displaying excellent sportsmanship.”

The Best Individual award, and consequently Best Labrador, went to Team GBR’s Shayne Price and Lucky Lupin of Nantygollen (Bella). Shayne shared that Bella won her first working test at just 14 months old. Although he began training her as a hobby, he quickly caught the bug and started competing in 2022, progressing to trialling in 2023.

 

The award for Best Golden Retriever went to Ireland’s Daniel Higgs and Reedmoor’s Brace Higgscroft (Brave). This marked a huge achievement for Daniel and Brave, as it was the dog’s first team event. Asked about Brave, Daniel described him as “a loving and gentle, but very driven dog. He is always trying his best for you.”

Best Flatcoat and Best Other were awarded to Belgium’s Ronny Rayen and Flatgold’s Nothing Else Matters (Nash). The pair won Best Minority Breed in 2023 and placed third with Team Belgium in 2024.

Commentator’s Choice, and the Martin Deeley Memorial Trophy, went to the Netherlands’ Martin Koers and Rygate’s All The Dirty Details (Ronja), on their third trip to The Game Fair.

Full team results were Italy taking the win, Belgium and Ireland rounding out the podium, with Netherlands, Great Britain, Switzerland and Germany in 4th – 7th, respectively.

The ring and competition this year was sponsored by Isuzu, Paws@Brooklyn (who supplied all dummies for the event) and Alpha Feeds.

Tomorrow sees the finals of The Home International competition for Spaniels and Retrievers, for timings, please find the timetable here.