FIELD ASSESSMENT DAY – 15th September 2013

On what turned out to be a fantastic spring day WGAA Vic’s Field Assessment Day was held at the Daylesford property that has hosted the event for many years.

Approximately 40 people made their way across the rickety bridge to the venue, accompanied by 24 dogs of a variety of gundog breeds. Once there the canine passengers strutted their stuff across water, over land and on the pigeon run. The aim of the exercise was to hopefully score well in each of the 5 categories that the judges were looking for – categories that make for a great hunting companion. The certificates assessing the dogs will be awarded at the next Melton training day.

Well done to all participants.

Please click HERE  and wait for the slideshow to load to see some more pictures.

WGAA POINTER AND SETTER CLOSED SEASON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The NSW Branch of WGAA conducted this year’s Closed Season National Championship for Pointers & Setters on Saturday 10^th August. This event is shared bi-annually between Western Australia and New South Wales.

Closed season events are run identically to open season events with one exception – no game is shot. This format suits those States that do not at the moment have open seasons as all other aspects of pointer & setter field trial work are expected. Retrieving is completed at the conclusion of the field work.

This year’s event was conducted once again in the New South Wales Riverina and was judged by Vince Guastella. For those competitors from States that had very poor trials conditions in 2013 this weekend’s trials were something of a revelation with excellent conditions and plentiful game.

The National was conducted in a canola paddock (something of a novelty) with all dogs having opportunities on game. The winning dog was B. Oliver’s pointer bitch F CH Rip Rap Veeda  NFTW  (CS) who carded 4 nice finds and completed the job with 2 good retrieves. Runner up was H. Foster’s pointer dog F Ch (CS) & FT Ch Rip Rap Marksman CM, NFTW (CS) who has been consistently on the podium this year.

The following day saw the final Pointer & Setter trial for this season, a season which commenced on a warm Anzac Day way back in April. Judged by Michael Zandona in another great trial paddock the standout performer was Andrea Melisi’s pointer dog F Ch (CS) Similax Conte.  Unhappily, he did not complete the retrieve satisfactorily and as no other dog had been brought through a ‘no result’ ensued.

Please click HERE and wait for the slideshow to load to see more photos.

Training Day August 2013

The next training day will be held on Sunday 18th August 2013at Darlingsford Lake, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins Rd. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome.

Retrieving Trial

Date: Saturday 5th October.
Stakes: Intermediate and Advanced.
Entry Fee: $15 each dog.
Entries close: 27th September, cheques payable to WGAA.
Post to:  Kathy Oliver
             11 Dreadnought St
             Sandringham 3191
             email: barryoliver@optusnet.com.au
Times:  Vetting 8.30am  Start 9.00am
Judge: TBA
Trophies: Trophy and Sash for 1st place.  Sash for 2nd and 3rd place getters.
Qualifications: Intermediate is a stake confined to gundogs that have not won any stake other than two Intermediate stakes.
                       Advanced is s stake confined to gundogs that have not won four Advanced Retrieving trials or one Open Retrieving trial.
Venue: TBA
Catering:  Lunch will be catered for - support your club and purchase lunch on site.

Trial Managers: Contact Luke Warner 0423 499 020  or Kevin Phelps 0407 091 221 for entry forms or more information.

Gundog Field Assessment Day.

Date: Sunday 15th September. (in place of September Training Day)
Venue: Daylesford.
Starting time:
Be there and registered by 8.30am.
Bring your own lunch - a BBQ will be available if you bring meat to cook.

Dogs are required to complete three basic tasks - a field run, a land retrieve and a water retrieve.  Certificates will be awarded.

The Field Assessment day is open to all breeds of gundogs of all abilities, young or old. The field and retrieving runs bear a direct relationship to real life hunting over your gundog.  Every encouragement is given by experienced trainers to help you and your dog improve even more. Beginners will be catered for.

For further details including exact location, please contact Kevin Phelps on 0407 091 221.

Training Day July 2013.

The next training day will be held on Sunday 21st July 2013at Darlingsford Lake, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins Rd. 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.

YEAR OF THE HUNTER – Victorian Pointer & Setter Field trial

After cancelling 4 trials because of lack of game, the Working Gundog’s Victorian Branch was fortunate to be able to conduct its Year of the Hunter trial in the same paddock that hosted the Anzac Day event.

Nine dogs presented to the judge Kathy Oliver on what was a mild day with a light north easterly wind. Birds were quite plentiful during the first round, but in what seemed to be a characteristic of this particular paddock they suddenly became scarce in the second round. However, a change of location resulted in a few more birds being found and once again this season Henry & Lyn Foster’s Pointer dog F Ch & FT Ch Rip Rap Marksman (Riley) showed how it was done with a top find to finish off what had been a strong performance throughout the day

Runner up was Denis & Anne Everard’s Irish Setter Russetray Rockford who ran a consistent race and clinched the place with a find late in the day. Rockford also bagged the Best Novice dog award.

Michael Zandona’s pointer bitch Duwellyn of Dawndale (Imp NZ) was awarded her Working Gundog certificate.