Ulster Gundog League – Open – Pointer & setter – Saturday 7th March 2009

The Ulster Gundog League Pointer & Setter Section Hon. Sec Laurence McAlister organised an Open Stake for A/v Setter & Pointers at Glenwherry on Saturday 7th March 2009. The event was run mainly on The Brunt and the Judges for the day were Jon Kean from Scotland and Davy O’Neill from Ballymena. The only down side to running at Glenwherry is that of late events there seem to have attracted adverse weather conditions. The wind was 2 < 4, gusting slightly, and we had foggy conditions for most  of the day and driving drizzle. In all other respects this is now firmly established as our best grouse trial ground, probably in Ireland. Pairs showed regularly and probably more importantly there was plenty of sign all over The Brunt. In the context of a grouse moor The Brunt isn’t a big area so this represents a good density.
In any conditions the dogs work was good but in the attrocious weather dogs seemed just as successful as usual in finding grouse, and snipe.
Results :-
1st Hallkirk Heather Laurence McAlister’s Pointer bitch by Rumsdale Blue X F.T.Ch. Allangrange Heather. (now F.T.Ch. Subject subject to K.c. ratification)
2nd Ardera Goldie Paddy People’s E.S.D.
3rd Gortinreagh Clancy Gerald Devine’s I.R.S.B.
4th Int.F.T.Ch. Craigrua Osprey Desi Linton’s I.R&W S D.
From the minute Laurence’s bitch shook off her less than inspiring start and took the bull by the horns eventually having a good clean find and production way out on the right she was in a strong position. While on Glenwherry any competitor has a chance of a find, but to get the job done that early in the bad conditions puts a dog in a strong position. As mentiond above this make the bitch a F.T.Ch. subject only to ratification of her title by the Kennel Club. 
Basso.
Starting off well he had a point on a hare line. In the mist he tended to loose his direction but he was nice and flat and took direction when required. I was obliged to correct his tendency to head back out agian rather than cross the middle of the beat  but it was easily enough done. Have to admit to being disappointed that he didn’t get another run.
Jalad.
He was  running nicely but he was taking too big a bite although he was easy enough to call back in. Effectively I allowed him to exclude himself as I was uncomfortable about calling him in while our brace mate was working out in the middle of the beat nearby. I felt it would have been unsporting to disrupt the work out and in failing to control the dog he was technically forward of the bird and thereby excluded.
With the ground in such good nick and the more than adequet game supply this was an event badly spoiled by the weather.  The dogs were up for it, as were the competitors and the judges but the weather Gods declined to play ball.
My congratulations go to my good friend Laurence on winning the event and making up his first Field Trial Champion. This is a talented dog, well trained and in good form just now. Some people become a bit blase about a dog being made up, especially when talking about the achievements of somebody else, but if it was that easy everybody would do it, ………..with every dog!