Working Gundogs National Pointer and Setter Field Trial
27 June 2009

The SSAA Working Gundogs National Pointer and Setter Field Trial was conducted in the north-west of Victoria under ideal field trialling conditions. Nine hard-going dogs (eight pointers and one Irish setter) and handlers from three states vied for the title of National Field Trial Winner (NFTW). Trial entries have suffered a little this year, as a result of the drought, with many dogs not being ready, but those that have entered have been battle-hardened trial competitors and this event was no exception.

With a steady, cool breeze blowing throughout the event, dogs were given multiple opportunities to be tested on game and throughout the day, more than 25 finds were registered, many of which demonstrated the best features of pointer and setter work. In WGAA events, dogs must have at least two finds, two retrieves or seek ‘deads’ and back when a clear opportunity is offered. With the amount of game on offer in the vast stubble paddocks, these requirements were not a problem. What did cause problems, however, were the fast-running birds. In the thin stubble and direct drilled new crop, the birds were able to cover big distances in a short time - a fact which tested many dogs.

When lunchtime arrived, four dogs remained in contention for National honours - Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Brandy (ISD), Henry Foster’s Major (PD), Vince Pino’s Diesel (PD) and Andrew Melisi’s Conte (PD). The final two heats saw some excellent pointer and setter work from these four dogs - work one expects to see in a National event. The paddock we were now competing in was no cakewalk and birds were able to run and run, requiring a dog to be well up on its finds and to road and produce quickly and accurately.

The two top dogs on the judge’s card at this stage was the pointer Major and the Irish Brandy. Both of these dogs had done some breathtaking work, but, in the end, it was the more experienced Major, the import from Northern Ireland, that produced two more smart finds, productions and retrieves, which saw him take the honours on the day. Second place went to the Irish, which was also awarded the Best Novice Dog award. No third place was awarded as, unfortunately, Diesel, although credited with a total of nine finds on the day, was let down by his handler’s shooting.

Winner: Henry Foster’s F Ch (CS) Koram Kris at Innistona (Imp Ire) NFTW & NFTW (CS)
Runner-up and Best Novice: Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Gamemaster Evans

by Working Gundogs National Discipline Chairman Barry Oliver