A local field trials specialist has come out ‘top dog’ with one of his own pooches at the prestigious British Championships.

The 87th British Working Cocker Spaniel Championship was held at Abbeystead Estate in Lancashire on January 4 and 5, and Dai Ormond, a native of Tenby, took home first place.

Dai, who lives in Red Roses with his wife Andrea, has been running cocker spaniels in field trials since 1981, and has made up numerous cockers to champion standard previously, including coming runner-up in the British Championships.

However, this time Dai and his three-year-old spaniel Byrbwll Dotty, brought home the top prize, beating the competition of 40 or so other competitors, all of which had to win open stake events throughout the UK.

The trophy was presented to him by the Duke of Westminster Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor, but it’s not the first time that Dai has rubbed shoulders with royalty, as he was a judge at the British Championships when the were held at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in 2009, with Her Majesty present to enjoy the day.

Field Trials were developed to test the working ability of gundogs in competitive conditions, with trials resembling, as closely as possible, a day’s shooting in the field, with dogs expected to work with all manner of game.