The Ulster Gundog league – Open – Pointer & Setter – Saturday 10th October 2009.

The Ulster Gundog League held an Open Stake for pointers and any variety setter on Saturday 10th October 2009. The trial was held under Kennel Club Field Trial Rules & Regulations and the judges were Declan O’Rourke and Laurence McAlister. The season is changing and it was cooler than before but it never ceases to be hard work walking this bog and it was relatively easy to keep warm. There was just a slight breeze that was constant in direction and strength.
Fifteen brace of dogs took the field. The first few brace seemed to miss birds that were subsequently seen on the ground but after that birds showed regularly. With birds showing regularly the trial moved apace and this gave the judges the opportunity to be understanding about some handling issues.
Results:-
1st Int.F.T.Ch. Lefanta Kira Gerald Devine’s English Setter bitch.
2nd F.T.Ch. Gerensary Digger Alan Neill’s Pointer dog.
3rd Ir.F.T.Ch. Pallasgreen Harriett Jim Sheridan’s Red & White Setter bitch.
COM F.T.Ch. Koram Joe James Coyle’s Pointer dog.
Chris.
Set off nicely and after several nice flat cuts pointed on the left. Couldn’t produce so the dogs were put together again. After another few good cuts he pointed on the left again but further out. Asked to produce he followed a drainage channel a good forty yards before the running cock flushed. Unfortunately Chris chased the bird a good two hundred yards, pointed it again and then pegged it when it couldn’t flush from the long white grass. Thank you and good night!
In general terms the dogs are doing better ground work but there are a few that are getting worse instead of better.
All together a well organised and well run event made enjoyable by considerate judging and of course the weather played its part.