WGAA (Vic) Christmas 07 breakup

30 plus club members turned up for the final training day and Christmas breakup for 2007.

A free barbeque rounded off a day which was marked by beautiful weather and good cheer.

Springvale Range Open Day

The WGAA (Vic) gundog demo team performed at the Springvale Range Open Day in November to mark the opening of the new clubrooms. Once again Graham Hayes (Training Officer) and the crew put on a faultless display in front of SSAA members and members of the public.

WGAA (Vic) Retrieving Trial for Gundogs

TRIAL DATE: SUNDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2008

TRIAL MANAGER: KEVIN PHELPS

ENTRIES: ENTER ON THE DAY

ENTRY FEE: $12.00 per dog.

CHEQUES: Payable to WGAA
EVENTS: INTERMEDIATE RETRIEVING TRIAL - Vetting 9.30 am Start 10.00 am

JUDGE: GRAHAM HAYES

TROPHIES: Trophy and Sash for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place getters.

QUALIFICATIONS: INTERMEDIATE is a stake confined to Gundogs that have not won any stake other than two Intermediate (Novice) stakes.

VENUE: TO BE ADVISED

CATERING: B.B.Q lunch will be available

¨ ALL COMPETITORS MUST OBEY MANAGER’S DIRECTIVES
¨ NO ONE IS PERMITTED TO REVISIT THE TRIAL SITE
¨ NO ALCOHOL TO BE CONSUMED BY HANDLERS DURING RUNS
¨ BITCHES IN OESTRUM WILL NOT BE PERMITTED ON THE TRIAL GROUNDS
¨ ALL COMPETITORS MUST PRODUCE A CURRENT SHOOTING LICENCE.

NB: ALL PERSONS ATTENDING THE TRIAL MUST SIGN RANGE MEMBER BOOK

ALL SSAA MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO COME ALONG

AND ENJOY THIS NEW AND EXCITING ACTIVITY

WGAA (Vic) GUNDOG ASSESSMENT DAY

On Sunday 14th October WGAA (Vic) conducted its second Gundog Assessment Day.
Throughout the day the dogs were given the opportunity to complete 1 basic field run,1 basic land retrieve and 1 basic water retrieve. The event is not a competition, but each dog was given an assessment by judges at the different runs. Each handler was given a comment sheet at the start of the day that was given to the various judges at the start of each run.
The field run was over a course where dogs were given the opportunity to indicate ‘game’. On a signal from the judge, during the run, the handler gave the dog a recall and a stay. Dogs were assessed for general obedience, ground coverage and indication of game.
The retrieves were both be sighted retrieves, one on land and one in water.
As stated earlier, this event is not a competition. The aim is to give handlers and dogs experience in gundog field work in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.

RUNNING ORDER
1. Field work: Each dog will be run over a course of approximately 300 metres. Handlers will carry a gun loaded with a primer. During the run the judge will instruct the handler to give the dog both a recall and a stay. A pigeon will be planted on the course which will flush when located by the dog. The handler will fire the gun when the pigeon flushes.
2. Water retrieve: Each dog will be required to do a retrieve across water of approximately 60 metres. The dog will be required to commit to water and make the retrieve. The handler will carry a gun loaded with primers and heel the dog to the firing point. The handler will fire the gun at the apex of the flight of the game.
3. Land retrieve: Each dog will be required to do a retrieve across land of approximately 60 metres. The handler will carry a gun loaded with primers and heel the dog to the firing point. The handler will fire the gun as instructed by the judge.
SCORING: A = Excellent B = Good C = Satisfactory D = More training needed

First WGAA Retrieving Trial Champion

WGAA conducted its second Open Retrieving Trial on Sunday 9th September, 2007.

The Retrieving Sub Committee was pleased with the overall running of this event which was held in the Melton Area. The site offered plenty of obstacles for the Judge, Barry Kavanagh, to runs that were very testing and caused many anxious moments for the handlers.

Entries: Alex Jervic & Ellie (Brit), Graham Hayes & Shiloh (Lab), Tim Cloke & Chopper (Lab), Graham Hayes & Bridgette (Lab), Joe Camilleri & Gemma (GSP), Graham Hayes & Bomber (Lab), Andrew Yeomans & Ram (Lab), Norm Cloke & Knuckles (Wei).

First Run – a quail retrieving run consisted of a double mark and a blind retrieve. the handler left the dog in the stay position, walked 10 metres towards a rocky/boulder area which had been removed from a large dam.

The handler fired at a blind about 130 metres out, then called the dog. A clay (a sighted object for the dog) was then thrown from behind the rocks, landing about 70 metres from the dog and handler, about 60° left from the blind.

The dog was sent for the blind. Once passed the pile of rocks the dog had to be stopped, and a second sighted object was thrown from a trap, (the dog was looking over the area where the first sighted object had landed). This dummy landed about 125 metres from the handlers position, (about another 60° from where the first sighted object landed).

The dog then had to continue to retrieve the blind then retrieve the 1st sighted quail and followed by the 2nd sighted quail.

We lost Chopper, Bomber and Knuckles.

The Second Run - a rabbit run, consisting of a double blind and mark. Again the dog was left for steadiness behind a cyclone fence, the handler walked towards a large man made hill, some 200 metres away. There was a line of trees to the left of the handler and just an open paddock (which had been furrowed and let flatten) between the handler and the large mounded area.

At the base of the mound a rabbit blind was placed 150 metres from the dog and handler, 60º left of the dog and handler, a sighted rabbit was popped (from a remote launcher) about 130 metres from the handler, and another blind 60º left of the sighted rabbit amongst the rows of trees was placed at about 100 metres.

Only two dogs completed, Joe with Gemma and Graham with Bridgette. Off to the water.

The Water Run - was conducted on a large man made egg shaped dam, 180 metres long and 100 metres wide. The dam has a large drainage pipe placed in the retaining wall. The run consisted of a double mark and a blind duck retrieve.

The control and firing points were on the south/left hand side of the egg shaped dam less than half way along. The dog and handler were looking across the body of water to the first sighted retrieve, which landed about 60 metres in the water - five seconds later the second sighted duck was cast, landing on land in a straight line 145 metres on the same side as the dog and handler, the dog was sent for the first sighted in the water. On the return a shot was fired at the blind which was placed in the culvert pipe, (the pipe is situated at the top of the egg shaped dam).

The second sighted bird had landed 30 metres left and behind the bird in the pipe, the judge required a blind next, then the last sighted bird.

The two dogs completed the run. 1st Bridgette and 2nd Gemma.

This win was particularly meritorious for Graham as it resulted in Bridgette being awarded the title of Retrieving Trial Champion. This award is the first to be awarded in WGAA's retrieving trial history. Congratulations Graham and Bridgette.

WGAA Retrieving Trial 9th Sept 07

Graham Hayes & Shiloh

Tim Cloke & Chopper

Graham Hayes & Bridgette (winner)

Joe Camilleri & Gemma (runner up)

Andrew Yeomans & Ram

For Sale GSP pups

Whelped 17/6/07. From excellent working lines with many Field & Retrieving Trial Champions.
Sire: Pointgold Recommendable, a brother of Sal Briganti's 'Cassius', and son of Dual Field Trial Champion Pointgold Tolkus.
Dam: Cannawindra Zarsha. Grand-daughter of 3 Field Trial Champions.
Full Pedigree / Bloodlines available on request. Both parents can be viewed together.
Contact: Sal Briganti, ph 03 8647 0495