Cork F.T.A. – Open – Pointer & Setter -1st March 2008

The Cork Field Trial Association held an Open Stake for Pointers & Setters under Irish Kennel Club Rules & Regulations at Kinnity, Co Offaly on Saturday 1st March 2008. Judges for the day were Jim Crotty & Ned Flannelly. This was the first event organised by the new Hon. Sec. Patsy McCarthy. He managed to get all the admin items organised in an admirable fashion but he has a lot to learn when it comes to organising the weather. The day started clear but cool with a steady if slightly too strong breeze but from the late morning the conditions deteriorated and by the end we had frequent rain squalls and rolling fog. Ironically as the conditions worsened the number of finds seemed to increase. Drawn in the last brace of the first round, and with all dogs following on I should have been in a good position to report on this event but the conditions made spectating difficult and the amount walking required because of the direction of the wind meant I was often left behind. I regret to say that for these reasons I have little to report on what took place in the first round and I retired to the car when my run was over and didn’t see the second round.
Results :-
1st Boston Jingo Paddy Collin’s Pointer dog. Excellent.
2nd Koram Banner James Coyle’s Pointer dog. Excellent.
3rd Craigrua Rastas Vincy Flannelley’s Irish Red & White Setter dog. Excellent.
Roxy
Started off in good style and rode her luck to not be excluded when she ended up forward of the other dog which had a non productive. Cast off again she eventually had a find on a snipe but whereas she handled the bird OK she seemed unsure of herself. Cast off yet again both dogs were virtually side by side when a snipe flushed near them. In my book the other dog had flushed the bird and been eliminated and Roxy was out for being unsteady to wing.
This trial could have been a great trial but it was badly affected by the weather. It was, however, an illustration of what good dogs can do, even in horrendous conditions.