Pointer and Setter Field Trials report 2018
Well, we have now finished the trialling season for Setters and Pointers and is has certainly been one of mixed fortunes.
The tragic news of Alan Neill being killed in a road traffic accident with some his dogs killed and injured and one loose stunned everybody. The shock resonated at every trial in the spring and tears flowed at every tribute to a wonderful man, loved by all,. He will always be remembered for his Irish humour and his love of his dogs. He was a great sportsman who will be sorely missed.
The first 2 trials were cancelled due to bad weather. These should have been held in the North of England/Borders and as we moved further up North we thankfully found better weather.
The first Gordon Setter field trial awards came at the Pointer Club of Scotland’s Open Stake, held at Cawdor where Penny Darragh’s Gordon Setter dog Zetterjarns Optimal of Ensay (imp Swe) won the stake and became a Field Trial Champion.
One the following day in the Novice stake we had 2 Gordon Setters obtaining Certificate of Merits, These being: Barbara Smith’s Gordon Setter Bitch Yennadon Fairisle of Clacorick and Bob and Mary Whitworth’s Gordon Setter Bitch Clitters Caswyn at Breightonside.
Jumping to the Scottish Gundog Associations Novice Stake held at Lochindorb, Barbara Smith with the same bitch obtained another Certificate of Merit as did Maddy Raynor with her Gordon Setter Dog Wiscombe Glendullan.
The very next day ( the weather behaving beautifully up here!) we had Penny Darragh with the newly crowned Optimal awarded a 4th prize in the Open Stake hosted by the Scottish Field Trials Association held at Dalmagarry.
After a couple of weeks rest we were off to the Southern Spring Trials held around the Newmarket area of Suffolk on Partridge and Pheasant.
The weather this time was on the other end of the scale being very hot! Our first and only Gordon Setter award at these trials was a wonderful 1st at the Southern Pointer Club’s Open stake held at Fulbourn with Sara Chichester and her Gordon Setter Bitch Ft Ch. Little Treasure of Gawcott.
And so to the Summer Trials starting with The Pointer Club’s trials at Lauder in Scotland. No awards for Gordons until the Dukeries Open Trial at Lauder with a Certificate of Merit for Nicola Harris’s Gordon Setter Dog Clitters Teca.
At the next trial – Yorkshire Gundog, Jean Collins-Pittman obtained a Show Gundog Working Certificate for her Gordon Setter Bitch INT & VDH Ch Storskogens Amor Joy of Amscot (imp Swe).
Then we had a bit of a lull for Gordons achieving anything , coupled with several trials being cancelled due to high wind.
The next awards were at the Gordon Setter Field Trial Society Breed Stake – so only Gordons participating. 1st Penny Darragh’s Gordon Setter Dog Ft Ch Zetterjarns Optimal of Ensay (imp Swe) with Certificates of Merit to Jane Osborn’s Gordon Setter Bitch Amscot Country Pursuits of Boyers and John Naylors Gordon Setter Dog Pup Wiscombe Sucker Punch of Bitternboom.
We then moved on to the Scottish Summer Trials and at the first one held at Moy, Penny Darragh achieved a 2nd prize in the Novice stake with her Gordon Setter Dog Ensay Torak.
We then had a couple of stakes cancelled due to high winds again. It was the North of Scotland Gundogs Open trial before we saw some Gordons take awards again, this time , Certificates of Merit to Maggy Hallidays Gordon Setter Dog Yennadon Reiss and Fran Toulson’s Gordon Setter Bitch Warrenfell Skerry. Then Penny Darragh had a 2nd prize with Optimal again at the Scottish Gundog Associations Open stake held at Glenlivet. Tilly Thomas also was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the same stake with her Gordon Setter Bitch Chartan Treacle Tart JW.
The last award of the summer trials went to Nicky Harris’s Gordon Setter Dog with a 2nd prize in the Novice Stake hosted be the Scottish Field Trial Association at Tollishill.
All too quickly the Autumn trials arrived, held in and around Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The first trials were hosted by the Gordon Setter Field Trial Society and we had 2 Certificates of Merit awarded in the Open stake, both owned by Tilly Thomas, both Gordon Setter bitches (mother and daughter) Chartan Hermione Grainger and Chartan Treacle Tart JW. These were the only awards to Gordon Setters at these trials.
Tilly Thomas