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I have been involved with pointers and setters for thirty three years and gundogs in general for forty two. I have always considered myself a “Dog” man first and not blinkered in any way when it comes to breed characteristics or abilities. As a practical shooting man I have been fortunate enough to enjoy firsthand the companionship of some great dogs in the field but in some instances for the wrong reasons. I never saw myself as a bird dog owner until I walked the wilds of Donegal in pursuit of grouse, wood cock and snipe. Ok yes, snipe. A lifelong fascination.
The killing team in those days were Norman, his Springer bitch Judy, Danny, Ardoon Daniel, my setter and me. Danny was the first dog I trialled and even before I retired him from competition I shot over him. I have therefore lived with copper coloured wraiths wafting across heather to freeze on point, not just read about it. Big Will and I used to tour round the crossroad bogs of North Down on Saturday mornings accounting for enough snipe for a late Saturday evening supper, on toast!
As the friend of a setter man I couldn’t ever see myself owning a pointer but then Will bought two litter brothers. Innistona Slay and Duke of Maytown. I actually preferred Duke, a dog that Keith Erlandson eventually won the Yorkshire Gundog Club’s novice stake with but after a short sad time with Innistona Pearl, a daughter of Ghillie’s (Innistona Slay) I ended up owning Ghillie as the day Will emigrated to the Isle of Man he called at my house and put a lead in my hand. Ghillie was mine.
A lot has happened since then but I have striven to maintain the quality of our native pointers and even dare I say it improve them by bringing in dogs from Italy and Denmark.
I write this mid July 2009 on the verge of the new season. Just today (Saturday 11^th) I had one of the best training runs, or should that just be runs, I have experienced for some time. I therefore look forward to the season with high hopes, as ever, but will this wave of annual enthusiasm launch me to a year of winning or dash me on the rocks of failure, once again. Whatever the outcome it won’t be for lack of trying.
The reason I started this site was to give some hope, and maybe even inspiration to those who want to compete with their dogs at the highest level but who like me aren’t blessed with access to the moorland and game usually, and incorrectly in my book, thought mandatory to polish a gem of a dog into a champion. Oh! Undoubtedly they make it easier but they aren’t one hundred percent necessary.

 Banner Photo. Des O’Neile.
” Chris giving it a bit of wellie.” Black Mountain 2008

uTube Video.
Jalad points a pigeon.

Blast from the past. ( A post that I really enjoy in some way, even if it is only how I enjoy it when I stop banging my head against a brick wall.)

  A typical trial. click on the link to read

Dogs at stud.