Working Gundog Association of Australia WGAA: WGAA in the WEST

History was made in July with the first ever WGAA Pointer & Setter Closed Season field trials, the Jack Pontin and the Bob Dean memorial trials, being conducted by the newly formed WA Branch of WGAA. Brett Davidson, Alan Willey and Sandy Peter’ka had worked hard to overcome several problems and difficulties in order to get their Branch, and the event, off the ground. However, with support from both the SSAA’s National President, Bob Green & the WA State SSAA President, Ron Bryant, support that included negotiations with Government departments and the highest levels of the canine world, things came together and on the weekend of the 7th & 8th July the inaugural event was held.

8 dogs from WA, NSW, Vic & SA entered in Saturday’s Jack Pontin Memorial for judge, Barry Oliver, and assistant judge, Waine Dick, from New Zealand. The event was scheduled as an All Pointing Breeds event and one pointer, two Brittanies, and 5 Irish setters made up the field. The venue was initially a vast stubble paddock and later in the day a paddock of native grass and timber.

Overall the standard of the work was very good, considering that for most of the dogs and handlers this was their first trial. Some nice ground coverage, finds, productions and excellent backing characterised the day.

On the day the pointer bitch, Ywurrie Rani, owned and handled by Allan Willey, was the stand out victor. With the necessary two finds notched up, several backs, consistently good running and a nice retrieve, this bitch was a clear winner.

On the Saturday evening a stylish dinner was held at which the following awards were made:
Winner: A Willey's Ywurrie Rani (PB)
Best find: L. Brown's Quailbanders Aisa (ISB)
Best back: A Willey's Ywurrie Rani (PB)
Best quartering dog: A Easton's Quailbanders Ali Mai (ISB)
Best pointer: A Willey's Ywurrie Rani (PB)
Best setter: L. Brown's Quailbanders Aisa (ISB)
Best hunt, point & retrieve dog: M Casadio's Huntingvale Dashing Toby (BSD)
Best novice: Fyledalens Peregrin (Imp SWE) (ISD)

The following day saw 2 pointers, 2 Brittanies and 5 Irish setters line up for the Bob Dean Memorial, judged on this occasion by NZ Judge Waine Dick and Assistant Judge Kathy Oliver. Another 2 large stubble paddocks were provided for the dogs to show what they could do on what was a beautiful, crisp morning. However, things got off to a slightly tricky start when the game situation seemed to dry up a little. Fortunately the second paddock was more productive. Two dogs, Allan’s pointer and the Irish, owned by Sandy Peter’ka and handled on the weekend by Denis Everard, went through to the last round.

A return to one of the paddocks used on the first day was decided upon in order to secure a result, and the pointer and the young Irish gave a nice demonstration of good quality pointer & setter work. Both dogs then completed their retrieves in fine style and Alan’s pointer was again declared the winner with the Irish runner up.

Barry Dean who especially flew over from Victoria to watch the weekend's trials presented the winner, Ywurrie Rani QC, (PB) with the trophy, sash for best Pointer and tankard for best backing dog. Fyledalens Peregrin (Imp Swe) (ISD) was presented with the sash for Runner Up & also sash for best Setter. Best Novice was Kilsheelan Paprika (IMP NZ) handled and owned Rob Clay.The event was supported by competitors from 4 States, and an international judge – not bad for a new kid on the block. Well done to all concerned with this initial venture – and no doubt there will be more to follow.

With pointer & setter trialling now established in the West, WGAA has competitions running in 4 States – Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. This represents a pleasing development for gundog trialling and for the SSAA.

Competitors watching the action.