Victorian Gallery 2011
2011 Activities
Victoria
Retrieving Trial Win – 1st Oct 2011 NSW
On Saturday 1st October NSW WGAA member, Peter Simmons’ pointer bitch QUANNAH BELLA APACHE won the Novice AM retrieving trial held by the United Retriever Club of NSW. This ANKC trial was held west of Taree and the judge was Paul Hamson. Bella won from an entry of 13 dogs and scored a total of 181 points.
This was Bella’s first retrieving trial and follows on from her impressive first season of field trialling.
Field Assessment Day – 9th October 2011
For the sixth consecutive year WGAA conducted its unique field assessment day at our excellent Daylesford site. Dogs were again tested over three runs – a land retrieve, a water retrieve and a field run. Wayne Phelps, Barry Kavanagh and Barry Oliver filled the judicial roles and by lunchtime 15 dogs had been run and judged.
This event is always a popular one, replicating as it does scenarios that all breeds of gundogs can participate in.
Following the presentation of certificates most of those in attendance enjoyed some great training opportunities. Many thanks to WGAA’s HPR discipline for organising the day.
Hunt Point & Retrieve Novice Training Field Trial – 3rd September 2011
Saturday 3rd September was something of a red-letter day for WGAA with the running of our first closed season training trial for Hunt, Point and Retrieve dogs. The event was judged by Russell Thomas, well known and very successful GSP handler.
This was a training event and Russell gave freely of his expertise and experience, guiding all handlers with a running commentary about how their dogs were performing.
All dogs were tested on game throughout the day with many having multiple finds. The stand out field performer was Marco Pagliari’s L’Epagnuel Breton, Fay who carded 10 finds in her field runs and backed well when required. Dean Watts’ GSP, Angie Bloomer’s GSP and Bill Allen’s Breton also impressed with their field work.
A marked retrieve in water concluded what was an excellent day. Russell’s winning dog overall was Dean Watts’ GSP Purdey. Runner up was awarded to Angie Bloomer’s GSP Farli and third place went to Marco Pagliari’s Breton, Fay.
WGAA intends to conduct HPR Open Season events next season.
Retrieving Trial – 28th August 2011
The trial was held near Ballarat on an excellent property – many thanks to the landowner.
Judge: Barry Kavanagh.
Trial Manager: Dean Watts (WGAA Retrieving Sub Committee).
Catering: Diana & Kevin Phelps.
Judge’s critique:-
Intermediate – Single mark retrieves
Overall we had 11 dogs finish out of 15 that started. The dog work was of a good standard as can be seen by their scores.
1st Peter Digiannantonia’s GSP, Cougar – 152 points
This dog put in a consistent overall performance. First run scored 52, second run scored 51 & third run scored 49.
2nd Sam Heyes’ Labrador, Nellie – 143 points.
This dog worked very well with great enthusiasm but dropped game in the water run. First run scored 52, second run scored 44, third run scored 47.
3rd Luke Warner’s GSP, Cody – 142 points
Again a very fast and enthusiastic dog that retrieved well but was let down a little in the heeling department. First run scored 48, second run scored 46, third run scored 48.
Advanced
The first run was a Two Bird Retrieve.
The second run was a Mark and Blind with the mark to be retrieved first out of water and then the blind on land.
The third run was a Walk-up Double Rise Retrieve in water and reeds.
The dogs were good to judge and overall the runs sorted them out mainly due to lack of control and handling errors.
1st Fred Briffa’s GSP, Lizzie – 129.5 points
First run scored 47.5, second run scored 43 & third run scored 39
2nd Angie Bloomer’s GSP, Farli – 124.5 points
First run scored 35.5, second run scored 42 & third run scored 48
3rd Luc Tomasino’s Brittany, Gus – 121.5 points
First run scored 32, second run scored 50 & third run scored 46.5
National (Closed Season) Pointer & Setter Field Trial – 13th & 14th August 2011
The final Pointer and Setter trials of the 2011 season were conducted in the NSW Riverina on the weekend of the 13th& 14th August. This weekend’s trials included the Closed Season National Championship – the first time that this event had been conducted outside of Western Australia.
The National was held on the Saturday and attracted an entry of 10 dogs from Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales, all of whom were well tuned up at the end of a long season (the Working Gundog Association conducted a total of 16 Pointer & Setter trials across 3 States this season).
The judge for this important occasion was long time trial stalwart, Vince Guastella. The first round saw some excellent P&S work with a nice breeze enabling dogs to quarter their ground well and find game stylishly. Game was well spaced and each heat produced several birds.
Six dogs were brought back for the second round with the stand out performer being Lyn and Henry Foster’s Rip Rap Marksman. This fast, athletic young dog carded 3 strong finds, backed perfectly and completed the compulsory retrieves well to finish as a deserving winner.
Runner-up was Ferrante Alvarez De Toledo’s English Setter Runanset Luxury Liner. The hard luck story had to be Peter Simmons’s Pointer Quannah Bella Apache which went through to the retrieve but was distracted by some live game and failed to complete.
The following day dawned warm and still, a testing scenario for the dogs, many of whom had difficulty around game that was running hard. The stand out dog was Andrew Melisi’s Pointer F Ch (CS) Similax Conte who was able to find and produce well and was awarded first place. No other awards were made.
SSAA WA State Championship (Closed Season) Pointer & Setter Field Trial – 30th July 2011
The Working Gundog WA branch ran the State Championship on Saturday July 30th at Toodyay NE of Perth. The club would like to thank the judge Mr Denis Everard (Vic) for accepting the appointment at short notice, his assistant judge was Sandy Peter’ka. We had a field of seven dogs, two English Setters, two Brittany Spaniels, Irish Setter, Pointer and a German Shorthaired Pointer.
The trial was held in a new crop with old stubble in it, the day was very windy which made the game run and tested the dogs. There was some very good work in the first round and five dogs were put into the second round. Four dogs filled their cards to the judge’s satisfaction and were tested with the land retrieves. The winner was the Brittany Spaniel which had a very good steady day in the field.
1st. Maurizio Casidio’s TOBENLEE ZACHARY BALLOU (Zac) Brittany Spaniel.
2nd. Ferrante Alvarez de Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (Tina) English Setter.
3rd. Alan Willey’s WGAA F.Ch. (CS) YWURRIE RANI (Abbey) Pointer.
The Working Gundog branch would like to thank SSAA WA for donating a Swag to be raffled for the entrants and helpers which was fittingly won by Maurizio Casidio.
On the Sunday we held the Bob Dean Memorial Trophy at South Meckering east of Perth. Denis Everard was the judge again and Sandy Peter’ka his assistant. The trial was again held in a new crop with old stubble and a chance of a thunder storm. The first brace had very good conditions although windy and the IS of Paul Brown had some very good finds and did some excellent roading to produce the game and was steady to shot. But at the end of the second brace the wind and torrential rain came and caused some dogs to be eliminated. The judge asked to see three dogs for the second round, Paul’s IS, Ferrante’s ES and Alan’s Pointer. There were several more finds by the braced pair of the IS & ES and they went on to the retrieves.
1st. Paul Brown’s EVERHEART GRACE (Grace) Irish Setter.
2nd. Ferrante Alvarez de Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (Tina) English Setter.
WGAA Pointer & Setter Field Trial Update 2011
Across four States, Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria a total of 16 WGAA trials (4 closed season and 12 shooting) have been conducted in 2011. This record number is a reflection of the bumper season that followed heavy summer rains in the Eastern States, a season that had many game bird hunters saying that this was the best season in living memory. Both ducks and quail were abundant – almost excessively so from the point of view of the field trialler, but no one was complaining.
The premier event for WGAA, the Pointer & Setter National, was won convincingly by Ferrante Alvarez De Toledo’s English Setter bitch RUNANSET LUXURY LINER. This dog produced superb performances in both the National and the John Nash Memorial held on the next day.
25 June 2011- Vic – Neville Whaley Memorial – All Pointing Breeds
Sponsored by Sportdog (Innotek)
Judge: Barry Oliver (Vic)
1st Nick Guida’s RIPRAP CASHER (PB)
2nd Taner Ozsehitoglu’s RUSSETRAY ROYAL FLUSH (ISD)
3rd Angie Bloomer’s KOBIDAN DAIQUIRIS ATDAWN (GSPB)
26 June 2011 – Vic – All Pointing Breeds
Judge: Henry Foster (Vic)
1st Taner Ozsehitoglu’s RUSSETRAY ROYAL FLUSH (ISD)
9 July 2011 – SA – POINTER & SETTER NATIONAL
Judge: Geoff Maudlen (SA)
1st Ferrante Alvarez De Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (ESB)
2nd Joe Camilleri’s WALTEELA LITE FIELD (PB)
10 July 2011 – SA – JOHN NASH MEMORIAL
Judge: Geoff Maudlen (SA)
1st Ferrante Alvarez De Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (ESB)
2nd Taner Ozsehitoglu’s GAMEMASTER EVANS (ISD)
Jim Oliver Best Finding Dog Award – J. Camilleri’s WALTEELA LITE FIELD (PB)
Brodruggan Best Setter Award – F. A.D.Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (ESB)
14 July 2011 – SA – Inaugural Kangaroo Island Trial
Judge: Lance Bailey-Hill (SA)
No result.
15 July 2011 – SA
Judge: Kathy Oliver (Vic)
No result
23 July 2011- NSW Closed Season – All Pointing Breeds
Judge: Joe Camilleri (Vic)
1st Henry Foster’s RIPRAP MARKSMAN (PD)
2nd Cosmo Kostikidis’ PARIS (true to type) (PB)
3rd Henry Foster’s FC&FC (CS) KORAM KRIS AT INNISTONA (IMP IRE) NFTW&NFTW(CS) (PD)
Best Novice Dog: Peter Simmons’ QUANNAH BELLA APACHE (PB)
24 July 2011 – NSW Closed Season – All Pointing Breeds
Judge: Vince Guastella (NSW)
No result
SSAA Shot Expo Melbourne – 28 & 29 May 2011
The WGAA Demonstration Team wowed the huge crowds at the SSAA Shot Expo at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds with superlative performances that brought round after round of applause from appreciative spectators.
Marks, blinds, doubles, triples, obedience, pointing and of course ‘Knuckles’ and his now famous beer can trick combined to provide the highlight of the Expo. The decision to go indoors was initially regarded with some trepidation but the dogs didn’t seem fazed at all as they went through their paces. Not only were the dogs and their handlers up to the mark but also the well-oiled team of behind the scenes helpers ensured that the demos went without a hitch.
Weeks of training organised by Training Officer, Graham Hayes certainly paid dividends. Well done one and all.
Pointer & Setter Field Trials – 21 & 22 May 2011
The NSW Branch of The Working Gundogs hosted the 3rd & 4th Pointer & Setter trials of the year, held in Victoria, on the weekend of 22nd & 23rd May. The event was characterised by dramatic weather changes and game that would not “hold”. Over the two days probably over 300+ birds were seen for only a handful of clean finds.
Saturday was too warm for good dog work, around23 -24 degrees C. Dogs had great difficulty pinning game which took off at the slightest provocation. The dogs were perplexed by what must have been atrocious scenting conditions as bird after bird took off with dogs having no clue that they were there. Two dogs managed it through to the third round, Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte (PD) and Taner Osehitoglu’s Whitesmoke Diesel (PD), but after giving both dogs a chance to try and come up with the goods; Judge John Kersley from South Australia had little option but to call a halt at around 4pm after an extremely frustrating day. No result.
Sunday started with sheeting rain and a significant drop in temperature. After the rain eased hopes were high for some better work. However, if anything things started even worse with bird after bird being bumped or simply taking off well ahead of the dogs. A change of paddock brought about better opportunities and some good work was finally being produced. First place was awarded to Joe Camilleri’s Walteela Lite Field (PB). No other results were awarded. Newcomer Nick Guida’s Riprap Casher (PB) was looking good until she broke on her last bird, but she had done more than enough to get ‘Best Novice’ dog.
A point worth making is the difficulty the dogs seem to be having with scent. Quail numbers in some areas are truly a phenomenon causing great confusion for the dogs. Coming after a season when all trials were cancelled for lack of game it is truly a case of it never rains but it pours.
Pointer & Setter Field Trials – 24th & 25th April 2011
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 work 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)
Duck Opening Water Test – 13th February 2011
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 newcomers 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
