Anzac Day Pointer & Setter Field Trial (All pointing breeds)

ALL POINTING BREEDS FIELD TRIAL - ANZAC DAY-SATURDAY 25th.APRIL 2009

The trial grounds were stubble and grassy rocky outcrops in Western Victoria.
There was a cool north westerly wind blowing and conditions were ideal for field trialing.
6Pointers , 1 German Shorthair Pointer and 1 Le’pagneul Breton made up the field.
Prior to the commencement of the trial one minutes silence was observed in respect to the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we could enjoy our freedom today in this country.
Throughout the day there were plenty of quail and in the first round there was a number of dogs that impressed.
Angie Bloomer’s GSP bitch was competing in her first trial and worked her gound and drew on her birds beautifully. She had 4 birds but none were shot at.
Henry Foster’s PD Major put in a quality run and filled his card.
Vince Pino’s PD Diesel handled well and had a stylish find and back and roaded his bird out smartly.
Panos Papas’s PD Oscar did enough with a couple of finds and backs to be seen again.
Neville Whaley’s young PB worked her ground and found impressively.She had 4 finds but I think Neville could not get his safety catch off. He did shoot on her last find but Patch broke.
Barry Oliver’s PD Striker had 3 good finds and 2 retrieves. However he failed to retrieve the last bird that was shot and was disqualified.
4 dogs were taken into the 2nd. Round.
Major had 2 good finds and a good retrieve.His search and ground coverage was as required and I was very happy with his productions. He was well handled and his obedience and control was without fault.
Diesel found well, produced his birds on command smartly and showed good style and intensity on point. Vince was letting the dog down with his shooting but eventually he completed his card by doing a good seek dead.
Oscar had a satisfactory find and retrieve.
Angie”s bitch failed to back when it had several opportunities.

1st. MAJOR (H.& L. Foster)
2nd. DIESEL (V.Pino)
3rd. OSCAR (P.Papas)
Best Novice Dog. ATDAWN (A.Bloomer)

Denis J. Everard. (Judge)

South Australian Quail Season

Gundog owners will be disappointed at the shortening of the quail season in SA. The Dept for Environment & Heritage website lists the season as starting on 28/3 & closing on the 31/5 - a mere 2 months. While the website gives a host of evidence for shortening the SA duck season - the Bureau of Meteorology, the annual DEH wetland and waterfowl survey, the National Agricultural Monitoring Service, and the Eastern Australian Aerial Waterbird survey conducted by Professor Richard Kingsford, University of NSW, no such evidence is given as to why & how the decision re the quail season was made. It appears that the quail season decision has just been tacked on to the shortened duck season decision.

This is just not good enough! Many Victorians purchase SA hunting permits and travel to SA for hunting & triallling. They deserve better than this no explanation decision. WGAA members have for years travelled to SA for trials - especially in July. Without any reasons being given this opportunity has now been removed.

Express your annoyance over this cavalier decision by writing to the
SA Dep't of Environment & Heritage
PO Box 1047
Adelaide SA 5001

Or email the Premier at
premier@saugov.sa.gov.au

Clean up Australia Day

WGAA members are again asked to help in Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 1 March. The venue is the Melton Tullidge Rd. Reserve where the training days are held at 9.00am. For more information please contact Graham Hayes 9743 7402.

Pointer & Setter trial dates

WGAA's 2009 Pointer & Setter trial dates are as follows:

25 April (WGAA Vic) - all pointing breeds, Judge D Everard.
26 April (WGAA NSW to be held in Vic) Judge V Guastella
9 May (WGAA NSW to be held in Vic) Judge A Melisi
10th May (WGAA NSW held in Vic) Judge TBA
23 May (WGAA Vic) Judge L Bailey-Hill
24 May (WGAA Vic) Judge J Kersley
29 May (WGAA WA) Closed season- all pointing breeds, Judge B Oliver
30 May (WGAA WA) Closed season - all pointing breeds, Judge H Foster
31 May (WGAA WA) Closed season - all pointing breeds, Judge D Dunn
1 June (WGAA WA) Closed season - all pointing breeds, Judge D Everard
27 Jun (WGAA Vic) Judge H Foster
28 Jun (WGAA Vic) Judge TBA

Whoa post update

Those who attended the Rick Smith seminar will remember that Rick mentioned a new whoa post article was about to be published. This article, in 2 parts, is now available on the Huntsmith website. Go to www.huntsmith.com and the two articles are currently available on the home page

Training days - March

WGAA training days continue on the 3rd Sunday of each monthat the Tullidge Rd Reserve, Melton, Melways ref: 337 D10. Training runs from 9 am until midday. Contact Graham Hayes: 97437402. All gundog breeds welcome. The March training day will be held on Sunday March 15th.

2009 Duck and Quail seasons

WGAA members will be pleased to know that common sense has prevailed and that the duck and quail seasons are both on. Duck season runs from 21.3.09 until 8.5.09, with quail season opening on 1.4.09 and closing on 30.6.09. Further information can be found on the DSE website.