Retrieving Trial 28th July 2019

Foggy morning, smoke from the campfire, runs all prepared the previous day, everything in readiness to kick off WGAA’s July retrieving trial at Nagambie. Bill Allen was the Intermediate judge and Andrew Yeomans the Advanced. Some committee members and competitors had camped overnight whilst the rest of us travelled up in the early hours of Sunday morning. A welcome bacon and egg breakfast was served up to everyone. All set for a great day.

Due to recent rains the property was in great condition. Both stakes consisted of 2 land runs and a water run to test the dogs. 14 dogs were entered in the Intermediate stake and 9 dogs in the Advanced stake. A word from the judges about their expectations and all went off to the various runs where the crack of shotguns soon echoed around the trial site.

Good performances, not so good performances, commands called out, nervous handlers … by 1.30 the last bird was thrown and we all made our way back to the campfire to hear how the judges saw things. 

Foggy start to the day

Phillip & Bella

Steve & Meg

Jamie & Charley

Fred & Zuzu

Sam & Scout

Shane & Slim

Alex & Buddy

Kevin & Hooley

Nick & Marley

Joe & Ollie

Sam's lab Scout

Intermediate Stake - Judge Bill Allen

1st place - Shane & Slim

2nd place - Neville & Raider

3rd place - Joe & Ollie

                                                                               
                                                    Advanced Stake - Judge Andrew Yeomans

1st place - Joe & Ollie

                                                     

2nd place - Nick & Marley

3rd place - Steve & Meg

Results:

Intermediate - Judge, Bill Allen

1^st Shane & Slim – 163 pts

2^nd Neville & Raider – 162 pts

3^rd Joe & Ollie -   157 pts

Equal 4^th Sam & Scout, Alex & Buddy – 154 pts

Advanced - Judge, Andrew Yeomans

1^st Joe & Ollie – 168.5 pts

2^nd Nick & Marley – 168 pts

3^rd Steve & Meg – 158 pts

4^th Phillip & Bella – 156.5 pts

5^th Sam & Scout – 155.5 pts

June Training Day - Sunday 16 June 19

Our next training day is this Sunday the 16th of June.
Training will start at 9.00, with a bbq lunch and soft drinks at 12.00.
Directions:
Meet at the Emu Creek Bridge on Konagaderra Rd, Clarkfield.
To get to the Emu Creek bridge head North West on the C743 through Bulla. Turn North onto the Melbourne-Lancefield Rd. Travel 13km then turn right onto Konagaderra Rd and it's about 1km along that road to the bridge.
Anyone with a gundog is welcome. We cater for beginners, puppies and experienced handlers.

WGAA Pointer & Setter Field Trial – 26 May 19

WGAA’s Pointer and Setter (All Pointing Breeds) field trial was conducted on a cold, wind-swept day. Two Brittanys, a lone English setter and five pointers presented for the Judge, Robert Whinnen (SA). With winter obviously here handlers and dogs were certainly tested by the weather as well as the game.

Some 45+ birds were seen throughout the trial, but the hawks that followed us everywhere combined with the ever- increasing strength of the wind meant that they were difficult to find and often loath to break cover. Several times birds were seen racing well ahead of the dog along tracks in the stubble but were not seen again.

After doing their best the dominant dog on the day was the pointer bitch Rip Rap Roxy (Marley) owned by Nick and Annette Guida and handled by Nick. Throughout the morning Marley carded 5 finds, 2 retrieves and 2 backs – a dominant performance given the conditions. This was a tough event, thanks mainly to the wind, which always made things hard for dogs – and handlers.

Nick Guida & Marley

Inaugural Non-Indigenous Game Bird Trial - 28 April 19

WGAA’s inaugural Non-Indigenous Game Bird (NIGB) field trial attracted a field of eight competitors - Henry Foster (pointers), Fred Briffa (GSP), Steve Luck (GSP), Barry Oliver (pointers), Joseph Camilleri (GSP), Danny Alimic (GSP) for Michael Zandona to cast his judicial eye over. The action was slow to start but soon gathered pace once the dogs switched onto the Californian quail. The dogs seemed to settle down to the fact that these birds were different to stubble quail and throughout the day a total of 20 finds were carded. Some unsteadiness to the flushed bird was the main problem encountered by the dogs, but this was the first attempt at hunting these birds by handlers and their dogs, and in what has been the driest start to the year in recorded history. The released game NIGB trial format looks to have a bright future by providing the opportunity to continue trialling when conditions are far from ideal. Well done to both the handlers and their dogs.

Henry & Bailey, Jason - Assist Judge, Michael Zandona - Judge and Fred & Zuzu

A staunch point by Zuzu

Joe Camilleri & Ollie

Ollie makes a good retrieve

Richard Chan & Jazz

Blaze makes a stylish find.

Barry & Kio, Michael - Judge, Henry & Jack

A good vantage point.

Jack - backing 

Barry & Kio

Sam & Kevin

Joe & Ollie

The day was a huge success.

Duck Opening Training Day - Mar 19

The traditional 'Duck Opening' training day was held only a fortnight after our last training day, nevertheless a large turn up greeted the instructors on what was an extremely hot day. Not to be deterred handlers and dogs threw themselves into the duck-themed training session. Cane grass, plenty of water, duck blinds and an array of decoys set the scene for a successful morning's training. Training was followed by a barbeque and a raffle which appropriately featured duck shooting 'stuff'. Another successful event for WGAA.

Ollie on the way to making a retrieve.

Brian & Millie

Garry & 

Phil's dog eager to retrieve.

Shane & Slim

Blaze navigating the course.

Taking it easy, Jamie & Charley

Richard takes aim while Jazz pays attention.

Kevin, Jamie & Charley

Aussie makes a splash

Training Days - Jan & Feb 2019

WGAA has kicked off the year with two very successful monthly training days. Hot weather and drought conditions prevailed, however, the location at Riddells Creek was up to the challenge as the pics show. A large expanse of water together with retrieving runs of varying difficulty provided the ideal scenario for both beginners and more experienced dogs and handlers.
WGAA welcomes and encourages new comers and their dogs at all our training days and indeed at the Feb training day we had some 50 plus handlers, many of them first timers.