All I can say is I trust the breeder/field trial guy who advised me, he's been running Britts fr decades for the love of it. Last time he hunted South Dakota he had trouble keeping his dogs on his side of the section until they tired a bit.
So he doesn't have control of his dog. That isn't a field/trial dog problem. That is a training problem.
He expected that, usually he's on horseback when the dogs are working. But his dogs win.
So take those dogs that win and hunt them after some training sessions as to what is expected of them. Like Battue said you can get a wide dog to work closer, but it is very hard to get a close dog to work wider.
My Chessie is a perfect example. She wants to be with you (whoever she is hunting for). Send her to fetch ducks and she is a rocket and gone no matter how far or near. Take her field hunting and you can't get her off your side.
Must be a reason the breeders I looked into in the region stress their lines are bred for foot hunting.
I see this a lot in EP, ES, and Brit's. To me it is a selling point/line. Because a lot of guys aren't seasoned bird dog guys. They hear stuff like you write and assume it to be 100% true, 100% of the time, period. Its NOT!
