The Northern Ireland Pointer Club held it’s summer Open Stake today Saturday 18th August 2007 at Glenwherry by kind permission of Lord Dunluce who was represented on the day by his grouse keeper Lee McMenamin who also acted as gun. The judges were the vastly experienced and highly regarded duo of Patricia Woods MRCVS and Sammy Morrison who although in Pointers & Setters a lifetime had never judged together before.
The conditions were dire in that we had rain, mist, more rain, drizzle, a dry half-hour and then more rain. Not great dogging weather. We did the low ground below The Brunt and birds were scarce at first, the first seen being an apparently barren pair walked up while walking back to take the wind. As we neared The Brunt birds started to appear in coveys but unfortunately none were made use of and quite a few experienced dogs were eliminated in failing to take their chances. By the end of the first round there were no finds in the book and only four brace were called back for a second round. Roxy wasn’t one of them and as I was soaked through I retired to my vehicle to talk nonsense and dogs with Wilson Harrison and Desi Linton.
The four brace that made the cut were run across the very top of The Brunt and two of the dispersed coveys were found and made use of.
Roxy.
After proving her ability to take birds in worse condition than we had today I rather fancied my chances. She knew there were birds about but she just wouldn’t handle. On this form I won’t be heading to the Irish Championship Stake next weekend. She will have to handle in training before I will take her.
Result :-
1st Irish F.T.Ch. Glynlark Flynn Carol Calvert’s Red Setter Dog.
2nd Lagopus Yogi Lawrence McAllister’s Pointer Dog.
I didn’t see the second round but I saw a few glances when the awards were announced, so maybe some had this result reversed, still nice to get a result on such a poor day weatherwise.
Later.
This makes Carol’s dog an International F.T.Ch. subject to Kennel Club ratification. Carol competes with four dogs out of this litter. Two are now Int.F.T.Ch’s, another is an Irish F.T.Ch and the fourth has won at least one open stake. A successful litter? You bet.
