Tuesday 10 July 2012

SSAA NATIONAL POINTER & SETTER FIELD TRIAL 2012



WGAA’s marquee event, the SSAA National Pointer & Setter Field Trial, was held on the weekend of 23rd & 24th of June in the Victorian Wimmera.
The judges for this prestigious event were the very experienced Denis Everard (Vic) and the internationally recognised Robyn Gaskin (NZ).
A large field of 17 dogs that included pointers, English setters and Irish setters came from four states to compete. Two of the competitors made the long drive across the Nullarbor from Perth (3 days) whilst another travelled all the way from Port Macquarie in New South Wales (2 days).
Cover for the National varied from self sown barley to wheat stubble that had recently been seeded. Fortunately the rain during the week had moved on and a cold, sunny day with a nice breeze ensued.  Birds proved to be difficult early in the day and were moving far in front of the dogs, but as the day wore on some excellent work was produced. Fast quartering and textbook ground coverage combined with stylish finding and efficient relocations and good productions, together with some snappy retrieves made for a top exhibition of pointer and setter work.
At around 4pm in the afternoon a decision was made to award the title of National Field Trial Winner to Joe Camilleri’s pointer bitch WALTEELA AWSOME ASSASIN (Gesy). A close run second was Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Irish Setter dog GAMEMASTER EVANS (Brandy). Third place also went to Joe Camilleri’s pointer bitch WALTEELA LITE FIELD (Fly). The Best Novice Award went to John Kersley’s English Setter bitch MASTERFIND GEMMA (Gem).
Sponsorship for the National event was generously provided by SSAA National and PetSafe Australia.
The SSAA awarded medals for the placegetters, trophies in the form of commemorative engraved leads and collars and a SSAA swag. Not to be outdone PetSafe Australia presented the winning handler with a SportDog SD-400 remote trainer and a retrieving dummy for every competitor.
The following day the John Nash Memorial trial was held in a rough grass paddock. A cold foggy start for judge, Joe Camilleri and assistant judge, Robyn Gaskin saw dogs working fast and wide for their birds and some exciting tussles ensued. A feature of this event was that dogs were rewarded for fast ranging and quartering. Birds were not as plentiful as the day before and those dogs that went to their task with speed and determination were rewarded. Stylish backing, often at great distances, was another feature of this event. Note must be made of the fact that the judges over the two days were always up with the action and willing to allow dogs to show their best.
Fittingly, this was a day for the Irish. John Nash was from Ireland and would have been pleased to see the Irish setter dog of Denis Everard RUSSETRAY REMINGTON (Rem) take first place with Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Irish setter dog FT Ch RUSSETRAY ROYAL FLUSH (Scotch)being awarded runner up. These two setters are litter mates, congratulations are due to the breeders – Anne and Denis Everard. Denis’ dog was also awarded the Jim Oliver Bael Bael trophy for the Best Finding Dog and the Graeme Lack Brodruggan trophy for the Best Setter. No third place was awarded.
The Best Novice Award went to Alan Willey’s English setter bitch RUNANSET ALONGFORTHERIDE (Polly). 

For more photos please click HERE  and wait for the slideshow to load.

Monday 9 July 2012

Training Day - July

The next training day will be held on Sunday 15th July 2012 at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins St. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. Please note all training days from now until November are on the third Sunday of the month.

NSW (Closed Season) Pointer & Setter Field Trials

The dates for the New South Wales Pointer & Setter (CS) Field trials are 21 & 22 July and 11 & 12 August. Contact Andrea Melisi 0419 166 965 for details.