Andrew Melisi & Similax Conte
The final Pointer & Setter trials of the year were hosted by the NSW WGAA Branch on the weekend of the 28th & 29th August. With no game bird shooting allowed in NSW, this was a Closed Season (CS) event. 13 dogs (all pointers) lined up for Judge Vince Guastella in a wet paddock of new crop about 40cm high.
Not a lot went right for Vince in this trial, dogs were inexplicably difficult to handle and the game was scarce. Two weeks earlier over 80 birds were seen when the paddocks were checked. To make matters even more unpleasant everyone was soon saturated from the knees down.
Around midday the only remaining dogs were Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte, who went on to win the event, and the runner up, Joe Camilleri’s Walteela More Gold.
Sunday’s event (12 dogs) was something of a turnaround with some good work being produced. Dogs were suddenly more responsive in the flukey wind conditions and some solid finding, hard running, backing and productions were seen.
After two rounds 3 dogs were called up for the retrieve, Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte, Joe Camilleri’s Walteela Lite Field and Barry Oliver’s Rip Rap Veeda, with Conte being given the nod and Lite Field and Veeda filling the runner up and third place positions respectively. Andrew’s win was especially meritorious with Conte qualifying for the title of WGAA Field Champion (CS).
The award ceremony marked the end of a long season that saw 9 Pointer & Setter field trials conducted in two States – WA & NSW. All South Australian and Victorian events were cancelled because of lack of game. Hopefully recent good rains will see the game situation return to normal next year.
Not a lot went right for Vince in this trial, dogs were inexplicably difficult to handle and the game was scarce. Two weeks earlier over 80 birds were seen when the paddocks were checked. To make matters even more unpleasant everyone was soon saturated from the knees down.
Around midday the only remaining dogs were Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte, who went on to win the event, and the runner up, Joe Camilleri’s Walteela More Gold.
Sunday’s event (12 dogs) was something of a turnaround with some good work being produced. Dogs were suddenly more responsive in the flukey wind conditions and some solid finding, hard running, backing and productions were seen.
After two rounds 3 dogs were called up for the retrieve, Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte, Joe Camilleri’s Walteela Lite Field and Barry Oliver’s Rip Rap Veeda, with Conte being given the nod and Lite Field and Veeda filling the runner up and third place positions respectively. Andrew’s win was especially meritorious with Conte qualifying for the title of WGAA Field Champion (CS).
The award ceremony marked the end of a long season that saw 9 Pointer & Setter field trials conducted in two States – WA & NSW. All South Australian and Victorian events were cancelled because of lack of game. Hopefully recent good rains will see the game situation return to normal next year.
For more photos click HERE.
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