The Ulster Irish Red Setter Club held it’s Open Stake for Pointers and Any variety Setter on 17th September 2006 under Kennel Club Rules and Regulations on Murley Mountain thanks to the hospitality of the Hamilton-Stubber Family. The judges were Michael Houston and Desi Linton. It was foggy at the start but turned into a lovely sunny day even though there were a few small showers. The day was warm. We got an inkling of what was to come when a covey of ten lifted before the first brace commenced their run and grouse showed at regular intervals all day. We even did the most horrendous bit of ground behind the hut and still managed to find plenty of birds. For once in an Irish trial dogs had to do their ground correctly from the start as birds were everywhere and very unforgiving. I saw a nice piece of flat quartering from one of Alan Neill’s Pointers, some nice bird work from several dogs and I was delighted with Jump’s display of guts in his second round.
1st Craigrua Lucky Jim Sheridan’s Red & White Setter Bitch.
(The dog the judges would like to shoot over was Alan Neill’s Pointer dog Gerensary Digger and the best Red Setter was Carol Calvert’s bitch Rushfield Sheilin)
Judy :- I let her go far out on the right after she had been running for a while,she was really giving it a go, and she ended up taking too big a bite. The next cast was flatter but the damage was already done. Our bracemate went through the ground on the left that Judy had missed and flushed two birds. She was actually called for the second round but I pointed the error out to the judges and she was withdrawn.
Jump :- His first round was over before it really began. Starting off well in heavy and broken ground he flushed a hare that I was able to call him off (Is that a first?????) and was setting about his task when our bracemate spanieled up a grouse. The second round started off in relatively good ground but ended up in nearly waist high heather. He really is a tough old bugger. He stuck to his ground and handled well. He has more pace and drive in his tenth year that some dogs ever display. I was very proud of him and a little disappointed that he didn’t get a chance to show what he could do around birds.
