FIELD TRIALS 2008

The opening event of our Centenary year was our Spring Filed trial.  The Association with the Setter and Pointer Club ran a very successful Open Stake at Fulbourn, Cambs on the 9th April.  This ground was arranged for us by Mr Richard Clarke to whom we are deeply indebted.  Our Judges were Mr Billy Darragh who had flown down from Inverness and Mr Sean McCormack from Yorkshire.  Our host on the ground was Mr Julian Bye. 

This was new ground for us and it consists of a large Estate encompassing 6 very large farms.  It was a great pleasure to go on to new ground and the fields were extremely well keepered and stocked with game.  Spring had at long last arrived and we were graced with warm sunshine and a very light wind which at times was moving 180 degrees therefore making the trial extremely difficult to judge.

28 dogs were entered in this Stake and it was obvious that our Judges were looking for good even ground treatment and the standard was set by Mr Terry Harris with a quartet of pointers whose treatment of the ground was immaculate.  A number of dogs came to grief because of the cheeking wind but Mr Harris was able to point and produce a pair of Partridge with his seven year old pointer bitch FTCH Sparkfield Twist.

Eight dogs were invited back into the second round and after running these dogs in brace none were able to challenge Mr Harris who went on to find and produce another pair of Partridge on the flank.  Mr A W Young with Burncastle Rab ran extremely well all day but was unlucky to bump a bird at the end of the trial.  At the end of the trial your Secretary thanked our host Mr Bye who informed us that he would be delighted to see us again.

Results

1.  Mr Terry Harris   Pointer bitch   FTCH  Sparkfield Twist

No other awards

CENTENARY FIELD TRIAL

Our Irish Setter, albeit a most beautiful dog in show terms is still a registered working Gundog and is as capable of working in the field as it ever was. This is still evident by the number of awards won by our dogs in Field Trials held in the UK and Ireland .

The Association is the only Irish Setter Breed Club that has actively supported the working aspect of the breed since its inception. The Officers and committee have tried to ensure that the working qualities of our breed are maintained. Your Committee feels it befitting that we organise a special event to celebrate the working qualities of our breed. In consequence, we are arranging an International Field Trial on Shap Fell on 21 st July 2008 . Invitations have been sent out to a great number of breed clubs and we sincerely hope that they will participate.

The Field Trial will be followed by a Centenary Dinner which will be held at the Shap Wells Hotel on the evening of the 21 st July. Accommodation has been block booked at a cost of roughly £40 per head bed and breakfast. The Shap Wells Hotel is a first class hotel and extremely good value. Obviously the organisers need to know how many guests will be attending, therefore if you are interested in joining us we need to know as soon as possible.

This will be a unique and truly International event and if our Continental owners enter their teams as a number have suggested they will, it will give us a great insight into the type and standard of working Setters. We would hope that as the host nation we will have the support of the membership and we would ask for your support.

Further information on the event can be obtained by contacting either Peter Heard , the Association's Field Trial Secretary, Peter on 01763 281258 or at peter@meetinghouse-kennels.co.uk or Becky Box Hon Secretary, or Becky on 01553 840966 or at becky@fernstart.wanadoo.co.uk