Cumbrian men and their dogs have done themselves proud as they claimed three of the top prizes in the national field trialling championships.

Jaseon Atkinson and his three-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Lily, claimed third place and guns choice in the 87th Cocker Spaniel Championships hosted by The Kennel Club.

The intense two-day competition, which was held at Abbeysteads Estate, in Lancashire, saw 48 dogs - the winners of as many open stakes where a total of 768 dogs competed - tested on their ability and precision in hunting.

Meanwhile Simon Dixon, of Cleator Moor, bagged first and third place at the English Springer Spaniel Championships held last week at Byrd’s Retreat, Evesham.

Jaseon, of Dalston, near Carlisle, explained that in the sport their successes are a huge achievement.

Added to his third place and guns choice, Jaseon and Lily were awarded a trophy from the Cocker Spaniel Club for the most points awarded over the season.

"With Cumbria, we are a small community when it comes to the trialling world, compared to the likes of Scotland, Wales or Ireland, and for two lads to actually finish at the top of their game for a small place like Cumbria is quite a thing really," he said.

"There are not many working men finish in the top four. Because you have to dedicate that much time to the sport, it's a lot of people who do it professionally but fortunately I've got an understanding boss at work and wife."

When it comes to training the 45-year-old, a painter and decorator for Retreat Lodges at Kirkbride, who also owns Dakota Kennels, said: "It's immense. It's every single day.

"The easiest way to describe it is if you have a shooting dog it would be like Carlisle United.

"Whereas you have a trial dog which would be like Real Madrid or Barcelona.

"The standard has got to be perfection basically.

"The pressure, sometimes is unbearable."

But it's an obsession for Jaseon, who is also a field trial judge. He has been trailling for five years and this was his third championships.

His training tips are to show dogs affection, keep them healthy and warm in both indoor and outdoor kennels, and keep them guessing in training by visiting different places.

He continued: "You get a lot more downs than you do ups.

"The standard you're looking for is perfection and trying to get perfection out of an animal sometimes is frustrating.

"But I love the training part of it and I have some fantastic farmers that give me permission to go.

"Training is the fun bit. Getting a puppy and seeing it progress over two years up to a standard can be mind-blowing.

"The retrieve Lily pulled off at the championship was amazing."

For Jaseon it's been a particularly special achievement having made it with one of his own dogs.

"There's not many people actually to breed a dog and then to make it up to champion is a very special accolade to have," he added.

Lily, a field trial champion, is one of several spaniels Jaseon has bred to train.

She won her 1st novice - the Mid Norfolk Gundog Club - aged just 16 months in December 2014.

It was an AV - any variety - stake.

"My little Cocker actually beat 15 Springers.

"The way to describe that is that a Springer would be a six cylinder engine and a cocker would be a four cyclinder.

"It's got to be a special Cocker to beat the Springers," said Jaseon.

In the trialling world the dogs must win a novice stake before they can be entered into an open.

If it wins an open it can run in the championships of season it wins the open.

Last year Lily qualified for the Cocker Spaniel Championships at an open in Scotland.

This time round Lily and Jaseon won their qualifier in Dorset.