Victorian Gallery 2012
2012 Activities
Victoria
WGAA (Vic) Retrieving Trial – 30th September 2012
WGAA’s retrieving trials were held on a great property at Nagambie. The property was looking its best, lush and green with plenty of water. Ray Waldron’s help in using this property was much appreciated.
The entry of 55 dogs was certainly a WGAA benchmark.
Well done to all the competitors and congratulations to all the placegetters.
Particular thanks to our three judges – David Blacker, Byron Kendall & Andrew Yeomans, they got the job done and they helped introduce many newcomers to the thrill of retrieving trials.
To the Trial Manager, Barry Kavanagh and to the committee members whose combined efforts ensured that the day was a great success, well done.
To all the helpers stuck on throwers etc a huge thank you on behalf of all competitors.
Onwards and upwards to more and even better retrieving trials in the future – hopefully we can pull off a National later next year.
Results:
Test Stake – 17 entries – Judge David Blacker
1st Peter Attard’s FREEZEPOINT JED LINE ELEY GSP Male
2nd Darren Grech’s POINTGOLD LITTLE STEVIE NICKS GSP Female
3rd Henry Foster’s FT CH RIPRAP MARKSMAN Pointer Male
4th Kevin Phelps’ REVEIRTER AUS HAMEL Lab Male
5thNick Guida’s FT CH RIPRAP CASHER (AI) Pointer Female / Sam Heyes’ CONINGSBURGH MADDIE MAY Lab Female (equal 5th)
Encouragement award:
Bill Morshead’s TOPNOTCH PURPLE GSP Female
Intermediate Stake – 22 entries – Judge Byron Kendall
1st Sam Heyes’ CONINGSBURGH TASHA GIRL Lab Female
2ndWally Mossop’s T CH GOLDNYMPH OBERON NRA Golden Ret Male
3rdLuke Warner’s CODY True to type GSP Male
4th Paul Brincat’s GOLLY True to type Lab Male
Encouragement award:
Darren Grech’s POINTGOLD LITTLE STEVIE NICKS GSP Female
Advanced Stake – 13 entries – Judge Andrew Yeomans
1st Michael Calleja’s BRITTINA ASTUTO CONIGIO NFD QND NRD Breton Male
2nd Alex Jevric’s BRITTNIKI ELLE Breton Female
3rd Alfred Briffa’s QUILLS BIZZIE LIZZIE CD NRD GSP Female
Encouragement award:
Henry Foster’s FT CH RIPRAP MARKSMAN Pointer Male
Open Stake – 6 entries – Judge Byron Kendall
1st Alfred Briffa’s QUILLS BIZZIE LIZZIE CD NRD GSP Female
Training Day August 2012
Rain, rain, rain – you’ve got to be keen, but over 30 people were just that at our August training day. Numbers at training days have been up over the last several months. It was especially encouraging to see so many newcomers under the tutelage of Fred and Bob.
Elsewhere the quail run, the rabbit run, the land run and of course the barbeque all functioned like clockwise, thanks to our team of instructors and helpers.
Looking forward to some drier weather for the reminder of the year. Training days are held on the 3rd Sunday of every month at the Tullidge Reserve, Melton. All gundogs welcome.
NSW Pointer & Setter (Closed Season) Field Trials – 11th & 12th August 2012
The 2012 P&S Field Trial season came to a finish on the weekend of 11th and 12th August in the NSW Riverina with two Closed Season events conducted by the NSW WGAA branch. Great conditions, perfect paddocks and plentiful game greeted the 8 (Saturday’s event) and 10 (Sunday’s event) dogs who were vying for trial honours.
Saturday saw the competing dogs rack up a total of 19 finds in what was one of the best trials of the year. A stiff, cool breeze was tailor made for bird dogs, and dog after dog made the most of it by putting in a strong performance. Foremost among these was Andrea Melisi’s F CH (CS) SIMILAX CONTE (PD) who put on a great show with 5 picture perfect finds and productions – a worthy winner. Peter Simmons’ pointer was unlucky not to be placed when it ‘mucked up’ on the retrieve. Runner up was Barry Oliver’s RIP RAP VEEDA (PB).
Sunday saw another great paddock with conditions being a little warmer. While the standard of work was not quite as exceptional as the previous day, nevertheless good performances were carded for Andrea Melisi’s F CH (CS) SIMILAX CONTE (PD), Peter Simmons’ QUANNAH BELLA APACHE (PB) and Cosmo Kostikidis’ SIMILAX APOLLO (PD). Winner on the day once again was F CH (CS) SIMILAX CONTE (PD)
Western Australia Pointer & Setter Closed Season Trails – 14th July 2012
WGAA WA held the “Grouse Plate” Pointer & Setter (CS) field trial open to all pointing breeds on Saturday 14th July at South Meckering in a large stubble paddock. The judge for the day was Ferrante Alvarez de Toledo. The day started cool but soon became very warm with a very light changeable wind, game was scarce on the day and three rounds were held. Three dogs filled their card and completed the retrieves.
Result:
1st Everheart Grace (Irish Setter) handled by Paul Brown
2nd WGAA F.Ch. (CS) Ywurrie Rani (Pointer) handled by Alan Willey
3rd Huntingvale Dashin Toby (Brittany) handled by Maurizio Casidio
Sunday the 15th of July an Open P&S trial was held in York in a seeded stubble paddock, again judged by Ferrante. But unfortunately a no result eventuated.
SSAA National Pointer & Setter Field Trial & John Nash Memorial Field Trial – 23rd & 24th June 2012
WGAA’s marquee event, the SSAA National Pointer & Setter Field Trial, was held on the weekend of 23rd & 24th of June in the Victorian Wimmera.
The judges for this prestigious event were the very experienced Denis Everard (Vic) and the internationally recognised Robyn Gaskin (NZ).
A large field of 17 dogs that included pointers, English setters and Irish setters came from four states to compete. Two of the competitors made the long drive across the Nullarbor from Perth (3 days) whilst another travelled all the way from Port Macquarie in New South Wales (2 days).
Cover for the National varied from self-sown barley to wheat stubble that had recently been seeded. Fortunately the rain during the week had moved on and a cold, sunny day with a nice breeze ensued. Birds proved to be difficult early in the day and were moving far in front of the dogs, but as the day wore on some excellent work was produced. Fast quartering and textbook ground coverage combined with stylish finding and efficient relocations and good productions, together with some snappy retrieves made for a top exhibition of pointer and setter work.
At around 4pm in the afternoon a decision was made to award the title of National Field Trial Winner to Joe Camilleri’s pointer bitch WALTEELA AWSOME ASSASIN (Gesy). A close run second was Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Irish Setter dog GAMEMASTER EVANS (Brandy). Third place also went to Joe Camilleri’s pointer bitch WALTEELA LITE FIELD (Fly). The Best Novice Award went to John Kersley’s English Setter bitch MASTERFIND GEMMA (Gem).
Sponsorship for the National event was generously provided by SSAA National and PetSafe Australia.
The SSAA awarded medals for the placegetters, trophies in the form of commemorative engraved leads and collars and a SSAA swag. Not to be outdone PetSafe Australia presented the winning handler with a SportDog SD-400 remote trainer and a retrieving dummy for every competitor.
The following day the John Nash Memorial trial was held in a rough grass paddock. A cold foggy start for judge, Joe Camilleri and assistant judge, Robyn Gaskin saw dogs working fast and wide for their birds and some exciting tussles ensued. A feature of this event was that dogs were rewarded for fast ranging and quartering. Birds were not as plentiful as the day before and those dogs that went to their task with speed and determination were rewarded. Stylish backing, often at great distances, was another feature of this event. Note must be made of the fact that the judges over the two days were always up with the action and willing to allow dogs to show their best.
Fittingly, this was a day for the Irish. John Nash was from Ireland and would have been pleased to see the Irish setter dog of Denis Everard RUSSETRAY REMINGTON (Rem) take first place with Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Irish setter dog FT Ch RUSSETRAY ROYAL FLUSH (Scotch)being awarded runner up. These two setters are litter mates, congratulations are due to the breeders – Anne and Denis Everard. Denis’ dog was also awarded the Jim Oliver Bael Bael trophy for the Best Finding Dog and the Graeme Lack Brodruggan trophy for the Best Setter. No third place was awarded.
The Best Novice Award went to Alan Willey’s English setter bitch RUNANSET ALONGFORTHERIDE (Polly).
Western Australian Closed Season Field Trails – 1st-4th Jun 2012
The Western Australian Branch of WGAA conducted four trials between June 1st and June 4th in the York area, an hour’s drive east of Perth. Four competitive events over four consecutive days in the vast stubble paddocks of the west is a big ask for dogs (and handlers) and it was testament to their fitness that the dogs were still running hard at the end. Weather conditions ranged from foggy to a little too warm at times and these elements added to the toughness of the event.
Game numbers varied, on occasions it became scarce while at other times good numbers, especially in the final trial, were produced. Trialling in the grain belt in the West is always a delight – wide open vistas, the ancient landscape, great company, dogs running with a single-minded intensity … it certainly makes a trip from the Eastern States well worthwhile.
Results:-
Friday 1st June 2012. Bob Dean Memorial – Judge Maurizio Casadio
Winner: Alan Willey’s WGAA F. Ch. (CS) Ywurrie Rani (PB)
Runner up: Paul Brown’s Everheart Grace (ISB)
Saturday 2nd June. SSAA National (CS) Judge Andrea Melisi
No result
Sunday 3rd June. SSAA (WA) Championship (CS). Judge Kathy Oliver
Winner: Alan Willey’s WGAA F. Ch. (CS) Ywurrie Rani (PB)
Monday 4th June. Jack Pontin Memorial – Judge Andrea Melisi
Winner: Barry Oliver’s Riprap Veeda (PB)
Duck Opening Practice Day – 4th March 2012
There were some worried faces the day before the ‘Duck Opening Practice Day’. Rain, rain and more rain had fallen in record breaking quantities across the state leading up to the event. But the Hunt, Point & Retrieve sub discipline who were organising the event need not have worried, Sunday dawned cool but sunny and dry. As the day went on things warmed up nicely.
The event, with 3 runs each offering an easier and a more difficult option, ran smoothly. In fact, it was even possible to tailor each run to suit the ability of the dog. This option proved to be very popular. All up 30 plus dogs were able to have multiple practice opportunities – which was the idea behind the day, an excellent tune up for the duck season.
The club is indeed fortunate to have access to the property. Picture perfect with two water areas, both full to overflowing, we couldn’t ask for more.
A great lunch was provided which added the final touch to an ideal day – excellent property, perfect weather, fine food, good company, great training opportunities … what could be better.
Many thanks to Wayne, Alex and Kevin who set up the runs and provided valuable assistance and guidance. Thanks also to all those who operated the throwers, much appreciated.
