The Donegall F.T.A. held it’s Summer grouse trial at Bragan near Scotstown Co. Monaghan on Friday 1st Augut 2008. The trial was held under Irish Kennel Club Rules and Regulations. The judges were Michael Houston, Jim Sheridan and Pat Dooley.
This was one of those days in two halves. The morning was bright hot sunshine with temeratures in excess of 20c. It matters little about the wind because it covered nearly all parts of the compass, as is usual when the wind is light, and it changed through 180 degrees by the afternoon.
As we left for the afternoon session it was spiting and this drizzle turned into heavy persistent rain. Just the one shower, but it lasted about three and a half hours. Grouse were seen sporadically but none were made use of successfully in the trial.
Although Bragan is open ground and makes for good running it is also on the soft side and it takes a measure of guts for a dog to shine. Quite a number of dogs showed the determination to perform in these difficult conditions.
Results:-
1st Shinilogue Fionn Davy O’Neill’s Irish Red Setter bitch.
2nd Ardera Goldie Paddy People’s English Setter dog.
3rd Craigrua Rascal Vincent Flannelley’s Irish Red & White Setter dog.
4th Tullycroman Jack’s Surprise Paddy People’s English Setter dog
(All graded excellent and all finds on snipe)
I spoke to Michael Houston the next day and he told me that when I wrote this report that I was to include his view that the winner was “Nothing short of brilliant.”
Chris.
I was delighted with the big dog’s effort. He ran hard in heavy ground and great heat. It was unfortunate that because he wasn’t handling he was very one sided and in addition he turned back (as opposed to back cast) on almost every occasion. He also made it back to the center of the beat on quite a few occasions but he only made it past the right hand judge on three occasions. Eventually his bracemate pointed ( a lark it so happens) and Chris at first appeared to back but then flashed on to point and then ran in and flushed the lark.
Judy.
First round was a good bit of work. The right hand side of the beat was very high grass but she did it and the good short heather on the other side as well in a very methodical manner. Our bracemate eventually had a fairly unconvincing find on a snipe and that was the end of the run. She set off in good style in the second round but the run was short as our bracemate had what I thought was another unconvincing snipe find. I assume the judges thought the snipe was there for Judy as well.
Roxy.
Ran a good first round covering a lot of ground, running nice lines and handling well. She got a lovely bit of ground for the second round and did a great bit of work but unfortunalely there was no bird for her.
This was a well organised and run event spoilt only by a relative shortage of game and attrocious weather in the afternoon. Everybody put up with a lot but the biggest disappointment would be the lack ok the right game for the award winners. You are probably aware that a trial won on snipe, even if graded excellent, does not attract the coveted four green stars or points that are necessary to make a dog a champion.
