The Northern Ireland Pointer Club held it’s Summer Open Stake on Slieveanorra today 16th July 2005. The Judges for the day were both A Panel Members Sammy Morrison and Andy Law. There were 25 dogs on the card with one withdrawl, no less a personage than Alan Rountree. The day was warm and bright with a gentle but consistent wind the whole day.
Awards:-
1st Kim’s Dream Robert Simpson’s Red Setter Bitch
2ndPepperstown Rascal of Craigrua Dr Steven Clarke’s R & W Setter
3rd Craigrua Osprey Desi Lintons R & W Setter Dog.
4th Glynlark Playfair. Carol XCalvert’s Red Setter Dog
This was a disappointing trial both personally and generally. The only positive note was that both my dogs performed well in trying conditions, quartering wide, flat, and with pace. Having been congratutaled by the gallery ( not that the gallery’s view counts for much ) for both my performances I was disappointed not to get back with either dog, but for different reasons. I thought Jump had done more than enough to warrant a second run, and even though Judy was way ahead of him, in my book, she took a cut at a snipe that flushed behind her, only a little cut, but a cut none the less.
Generally the good work was done in the first round. All dogs made a good fist of running up a steep bank in warm conditions, several dogs were eliminated for failing to back, or stealing points, but only one dog flushed birds, not much more than starling size.The whole thing seemed to fall apart in the second round. The only dog that appeared to improve it’s position was the winner, with a good clean run. Two of the leading contenders that finished up 2nd & 3rd had a poor second round, running together. They just never got going. There were no birds found in the second round. My view has always been that you put the dogs that have done enough to warrant an award in the correct order so I have no gripe with the overall awards. There was however, general dissatisfaction that any awards had been given other than the first placed dog, and this included the people who owned two of the minor placed animals.
