England team announced for Skinner’s World Cup

England’s retriever team for the Skinner’s World Cup 2026 has been confirmed, with new team captain Kevin Doughty selecting four handlers and a reserve after what he described as a “very difficult decision.”

The team will be:

1. Simon Capstick
2. Lee Hartis
3. Jason Mayhew
4. Steve Richardson
5. Adam Snare (reserve)

Kevin [pictured below], who takes on the captaincy for a three-year term, has overseen significant changes to the selection process this year. For the first time, selection was opened up to any handler whose dog has won a field trial award or an open test – a departure from the previous invitation-only system.

Selection days were held in both the north and south of England, attracting strong interest – 27 dogs and handlers in the north and 34 in the south.

“I wanted to open it up to more people and give more handlers a chance of making the squad,” Kevin explained. “It’s a change that has been well-received. People have said to me what an honour it is to be involved and how proud they are to have a chance to go for England selection.”

He emphasised the rigorous nature of the process: “The standard for these selection days is set very high – far higher than normal.”

Kevin made no secret of his ambitions for the team’s performance at this summer’s upcoming events. “People want to see the trophies and I’m desperate to win them,” he said. “We have a very strong squad this year so I’m hopeful.”

The new captain has also established dedicated committees for both retrievers and spaniels as part of changes to England’s gundog programme.

Squads for both disciplines have now been finalised. While the Skinner’s World Cup retriever team has been announced, teams for spaniel and retriever events at Scone and The Game Fair will be selected nearer the time, following a series of training days over the coming months. “This gives us a chance to see how the dogs are performing over the course of the sessions and allows us to select those that are at their best closer to the time,” explained Kevin. In a move designed to ensure fairness for handlers across the country, the training sessions will be held on neutral ground in the Midlands.

Skinner’s has been confirmed as the team’s main sponsor for 2026, with Kevin expressing his gratitude for their “very generous” support.

You can keep up to date with the selection process and the team’s progress on the Facebook page, England Gundog Team.