In Australia, there is very little interest from sporting shooters and trial enthusiasts for Flat Coat puppies to be used as working retrievers. Whilst we realise that opportunities to shoot over retrievers in the field are increasingly limited and most triallers will choose one of the brilliant and readily available Labradors, we believe it is crucial to our breeds well being that some Flat Coats are bred, selected and trained to fulfill the purpose for which they were originally developed. The goal of our working Flat Coat program is to produce Flat Coats that are consistently competitive in A.N.K.C.   retrieving trials, for it is only at this elite level that the performance of a gundog breed can be tested and accurately measured.

Although our working program is still in its infancy, we have enjoyed some success. We have Qualified, Placed or Won in trial stakes with Ch. Almanza Temptation for Bushman(Imp. Swed), Lussac Moody Blue(Imp. UK), Ch. Almanza I Shot    The Sherrif (Imp. Swed), Bushman Blaze O Glory, Aust. & NZ Champion Bushman Burning Ambition and of course, Grand Ch Bushman Burn Eternally NDR "Blaze".  Blaze in particular, is probably unique in the gundog world, being a Grand Show Champion and also holding a Retrieving Trial title. He is quite special in that having proven himself in the field, he is also   a multiple Specialty and All Breeds Best in Show winner.

Currently, Blaze's son- "Shadow" (Bushman Blaze O Glory), has won his first Novice Stake, and is placing consitently in trials. ***LATEST NEWS****Shadow wins a Retricted Retrieving Trial Stake and has now gained his Novice Retrieving    Dog Title!!

Well done Pete & Shadow, keep up the good work!! Two generations of Working Titles for Bushman!! Peter also has in training our beautiful bitch "Bushman Be So Lucky", Kylie, who is showing great promise in the field and although lightly shown, won Reserve Bitch CC at the Flat Coat Championship Show in October 2005. Our energy and expertise is directed towards improving the temperament, soundness, type and working ability of the Flat Coated Retrievers we breed, show and work.