The Irish Pointer Club held it’s Confined Stake under Irish Kennel Club Rules and Regulations on Sunday 13th August 2006. The trial was held on a piece of the Liffey Head grounds not often used. I don’t know who had the balls to make the decision but it was a successful one. Some where between 20 – 30 grouse were made use of in the trial. Mostly pairs and singles. Judges for the day were Tom Hayes and Fr. S. O’Neill. The breeze was still from the north but we had bright sunshine and it was quite warm once the early morning chill had gone.
Some people were of the opinion that bits of the ground were difficult running but I think that the ground was just about perfect. Heavy enough to test the dogs’ guts with enough birds to reward the brave.
1st Knock Dante Michael Murphy’s Pointer Dog.
2nd F.T.Ch. Sugarloaf Bold Des O’Neile’s Pointer Dog
3rd Knock So So Charlie Nielson’s Pointer Dog.
Jalad :- I don’t think I will run him in any more open stakes this year. Just novices. He set off in great style, put up a lark, chased it, put up another and chased it and I am informed that in the middle of all this he pointed a grouse that he didn’t chase. I will leave him bye, at least until the snipe are in.
Judy :- Took in a lot of ground in her first round and went like stink in the heavier bits. Her pattern was very even. Most of the heather in her second run was up to her shoulder but she made it look easy. Unfortunately she managed to run into a hollow that held a grouse and gave her no chance.
Jump :- heavy ground for his first run. Didn’t get a full run but he did enough to get back. I managed to call him off deer that jumped up about fifteen yards in front. The other handler wasn’t so lucky as his dog was hunting the deer scent and missed a bird. Calling Jump off deer, that’s a first!. Second run was on the same beat as Judy came to grief on. He had a great if short run that ended with an absolutely stunning find on a covey of six birds (?) with his brace mate putting him under pressure. He didn’t need handling he just went forward produced the birds, dropped to the shot and cleared his ground.
There was than an extension to the second round and Jump was in it. He hadn’t run enough in total over the day. There were deer about and I kept him to my side, in sight of me and out of sight of the deer. This one sidedness moved us from the top spot, but a deer chase would have removed us completely.
I thought we had done enough to win this one but I did see the winner’s run and it was impressive even if he was sticky in his production.
This was Irish Trialling at it’s imperious best. Tough ground to test the dogs and enough birds to sort out the placings. The weather played no small part in the proceedings as well. Only negatives were the deer. Even if contact with them doesn’t eliminate the unfortunate dog they disrupt the run and it isn’t fair that some dogs have to deal with them and other don’t. Still I suppose that would be a luck factor. Great day, well pleased with Old Dog.
I came upon the post I made about going to this trial with “serious intent”. I certainly went with serious intent and nearly won it……………………..with the wrong dog!
