The Northern Ireland Pointer Club held its Open Stake for A/v Setter & Pointers on the moor at Slieveanorra on Saturday 24th February 2007. Judges for the day were Michael Houston and Ned Butler. The Steward of the Beat was Fred Quinn. The breeze was the usual, down the length on the Big Valley. Weather was dry but slightly humid. Because of the forestry there is no burning done on this hill but there is a week of swiping done each year and it has tamed the reputation of one of the most feared hills in Pointer & Setter Trialling. Where it has been swiped it is very walkable, and today the patchwork looked good.
Twenty five dogs took the hill and we were into grouse almost right away. Birds showed regularly and plenty of dogs had opportunities but as usual only some availed. Bird work on the whole was good but control was lacking for some and mostly the lines run weren’t particularly good.
Awards :-
1st Lefanta Kiera (Now F.T.Ch.) Gerald Devine’s English Setter Bitch.
2nd Int.F.T.Ch. Craigrua Osprey Des Linton’s Irish Red & White Setter Dog
3rd F.T.Ch. Koram Joe Patsy Duncan’s Pointer Dog. Handled by James Coyle.
Jalad :- Started off OK and was quartering well. He had a nice natural back when Alan Neill’s Pointer had a find on a snipe. Thereafter he pulled harder and harder and then wouldn’t handle and we were called up, and out of the trial. He will be hearing the drop whistle in his dreams.
Judy: – We had three runs in the first round Each time there were birds. First time Judy stayed nice and flat in uneven ground and the winner Kiera pulled forward and had a find. Judy failed to back but didn’t steal the point and we had a sort of a joint find, but she as hard to hold. Then we ran against one of Alan Neill’s Pointers. Judy did a nice long cast to the right, Alan’s dog bored up the beat in heavy ground and flushed a bird. We were then braced against Kiera again. Both dogs were giving it a great go. Judy was too far forward for my liking so I called her in and sent her out the other side. Kiera came down on the same line as Judy,…………………………………you guessed? She had another find. This time Judy was going to go past her but surprise! I tripped in the long heather and fell on top of Judy stopping her movement.
It so happens we got through to the second round, hanging on by the skin of our teeth, but in there all the same. First brace with one of James Coyle’s Pointers. Judy did one nice cast to the left, another to the right and on the way back came on point. James’ dog backed. There were two birds in front of her and they flushed. She remained steady to the shot. I didn’t know the reason she moved at first but there was another single twenty yards further on which she eventually pointed staunchly, however her movement forward was construed, quite rightly, as unsteadiness, an eliminating fault. She should have dropped to the whistle, something she also will be hearing in her dreams.
This was a bitter sweet day. Slieveanorra coming back to something near its best, reasonable dog work but we are unlikely to be allowed to run another trial this year. The ground is in an area earmarked for Hen Harriers and is to be left alone till October.
