Pointer & Setter Field Trials - 24 & 25 April

The Victorian Pointer & Setter field trial season kicked off with the traditional WGAA Anzac Day weekend. Two trials were held in the Wimmera and after last season’s complete cancellation due to drought; it was great to be involved in a trial with plenty of birds, good sportsmanship and good dogs. The Sunday trial was held in a paddock of self sown barley with plentiful game. Dogs were put to the test because of the warm conditions and birds that were inclined to be flighty. Every brace was given ample opportunity on game by judge, Joe Camilleri, in his first judging appointment. At the end of the day Denis Everard’s steady Irish Setter claimed trial honours over newcomer Cosmo Kostikidis’ pointer bitch, Paris – a great performance considering it was the first trial for both Cosmo and his dog. Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Irish Setter, Gamemaster Evans was a close third.
1st Denis Everard’s Russetray Rharnia (ISB)
2nd & Best Novice Dog, Cosmo Kostidis’ Paris (PB)
3rd Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Gamemaster Evans (ISD)

The Anzac Day event on the Monday was held in another paddock and a much higher standard of work was immediately evident. Dogs were able to pin game that was holding much better. Multiple finds were made by the dogs, despite the warm conditions (23 degrees celsius) and flukey breeze. Judge Taner Ozsehitoglu brought back 5 dogs after the mid morning break. There was now plenty of action with all of the dogs finding and retrieving/seeking dead. Some excellent was seen by Henry Foster’s young dog Rip Rap Marksman and Denis Everard’s Russetray Rharnia performed the seek dead of the day when she located a winged bird at some considerable distance. Congratulations to Joe Camilleri who pulled off first and second placings. Joe’s dogs showed great style and finding ability on the day, showing that they will be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the 2011 season. No third place was awarded.
1st Joe Camilleri’s Walteela Awsome Assasin (PB)
2nd Joe Camilleri’s Walteela Lite Field (PB)

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

2011 Pointer & Setter Field Trial Dates

• Sunday 24 April – WGAA (Vic) Judge: Joe Camilleri


• Monday 25 April – WGAA (Vic) Judge: Taner Ozsehitoglu


• Saturday 21 May – WGAA (Vic)


• Sunday 22 May – WGAA (Vic)


• Friday 3 – Monday 6 June WGAA (WA) -4 closed season trials


• Saturday 25 June – WGAA (Vic)


• Sunday 26 June – WGAA (Vic)


• Saturday 9 July - WGAA (SA) - National


• Sunday 10 July - WGAA (SA)


• Saturday 23 July – WGAA (NSW) Closed season trial


• Sunday 24 July - WGAA (NSW) Closed Season trial


• Saturday 13 August - WGAA (NSW) National Closed Season trial


• Sunday 14 August - WGAA (NSW) Closed Season trial

Judges for several trials are yet to be announced.

April training day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 17th April 2011 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 contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

Duck Opening Water Test

The ‘Duck Opening’ Water test was held on Sunday 13th February in preparation for the upcoming Duck Season. The event was organised by the Hunt, Point & Retrieve sub discipline of WGAA (Vic). The location was superb, the weather ideal and the recent rains provided good trial sites and much needed greenery after so many years of drought.
There were 45 entries on the day. This was an excellent entry and much appreciated by the club. The activity was frenetic for most of the day and the judges were kept busy. The club acknowledges the support of such capable and experienced judges. Although the runs conformed to trial runs the atmosphere was relaxed and new comers were helped and encouraged throughout the day.
The pre planning and hard work that went into organising this day meant that the trial ran smoothly and everybody had plenty of opportunity to give their dogs a good workout and access their training strategies. This event built on the retrieving training dispensed so expertly by Graham Hayes and the team at the monthly training days. The trial stopped for lunch and what a lunch it was, the stakes have definitely been raised.
The club thanks all those who helped put this event on, particularly the landowners, the erstwhile judges, the judges’ stewards, committee members, all those who manned the throwers etc., all those handlers who remained good humoured throughout the day and to everyone who helped pack up. What a day!
Placegetters:
Intermediate – Judge: Wayne Phelps
1st Luc Tomasino – L’Epagneul Breton
2nd Luc Tomasino – L’Epagneul Breton
3rd Bill Allen – L’Epagneul Breton

Advanced – Judge: Barry Kavanagh
1st Nick Guida - Pointer
2nd Michael Calleja – L’Epagneul Breton
3rd Fred Briffa - GSP

Open – Judge: Byron Kendall
1st Fred Briffa - GSP

Trial Manager : Hunt, Point & Retrieve Sub Discipline - Kevin Phelps & Alex Jevric

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

Next Training Day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 20th February 2011 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 contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.
Posted by WGAA Working Gundog Association of Australia (SSAA) at 20:12 0 comments

2011 Duck and Quail Seasons

Members will be pleased to know that a standard duck season has been declared for 2011. The season runs from 19 March 2011 to 13 June 2011. Hunters will be allowed 10 game ducks per day, including a maximum of two blue wing shovelers.

Quail season will run from 2 April 2011 to 30 June 2011 with a bag limit of 20 birds per day.

Contact the Minister and let him know what a good decision this is.
Details are as follows: The Hon. Ryan Smith, MP Minister for Environment & Climate Change ryan.smith@parliament.vic.gov.au

Duck Opening Water Test

The first event for 2011 will be the Duck Opening Water Test to be held on Sunday 13th February near Bacchus Marsh. For more details contact Kevin on 0407 091 221. New members are welcome.