The English Setter Club of Ireland held it’s Summer Grouse Stake for Pointers & Any Variety Setter under Irish Kennel Club Field Trial Rules & Regulations on Sunday 6th August 2006. The venue was the Liffey Head and Kippure trial grounds. The judges for the day were Neil Ryan, Pat Rohan and Barry Cody. The weather ran from dire to awful and if there was a dry spell I at least can’t remember it. Mist and drizzly rain were our main companions. This had the usual consequences. Grouse sat up above the wet heather and and were away before we got near them. This manifested itself as many non productives on the haunts.I keep on saying this but all dogs ran with a fair bit of go though the quartering of many left a lot to be desired. The sad thing is that some handlers live in blissful ignorance of the need for good ground treatment as, while there are enough birds to run a trial, there are not sufficient to expose failures in ground treatment. I didn’t see any of the successful bird work as it was probably shrouded in the mist.
1st Lois Muhir Swift N O’Sullivan’s Red Setter Dog
2nd Sugarloaf Wolfe Joe Sullivan’s Pointer Bitch
3rd Lisdovogue Breda Owen Kelly’s Red Setter Bitch
Jump :- Was lame and was withdrawn. I think this was an “old dog ” situation and he was stiff and sore after his exertions over the previous two days.
Jalad :- Unqualified and didn’t get in.
Judy :- (I am getting uncomfortable writing her reports as I am sure some of you must think I am talking her up. I would only be fooling myself if I was) Judy was surperb and was the first dog on the day to be offered a third run. All the usual adjectives, fast, flat & wide apply. Handled a dream. Took back the forward cast when she needed to. It fell apart in her third run. She ran over a lark which erupted from between her front legs and took a snap at it, probably from frustration. Trust me, it was good, in fact very good up to that. The collective sigh from the judges when she ballsed up confirmed it. Still…………………..tomorrow is another day. Irish Pointer Club’s Open A/V Stake on Saturday with the Confined stake on Sunday. We are going with serious intent.
