2013 Activities

Victoria

Retrieving Trial –5th October 2013

WGAA’s retrieving trial was held near Seymour on what turned out to be great day weather wise. The property was at its springtime best and with entries of 14 in the Intermediate Stake, judged by Wayne Phelps, and 10 in the Advanced Stake, judged by Andrew Yeomans, the scene was set for a great day.

Throughout the day the dogs retrieved … and retrieved … and retrieved, across both water and land. All dogs were tested over three runs in each stake with the Advanced dogs tested in both blind and sighted runs.

Both judges were complimentary about the quality of many of the competing dogs, especially the placegetters; a testament to WGAA’s training day programme and the commitment of the handlers.

Summing up – a great end to WGAA’s 2013 calendar of competition events. Great property, great weather, cheerful atmosphere – what could be better!

RESULTS

Intermediate

1^st Peter Attard & Milley (GSP) 147 points

2^nd Henry Foster & Riley (Pointer) 143 points

3^rd Nick Guida & Marley (Pointer) 142 points

4^th Luc Tomasino & Gus (Brittany) 140 points

5^th Luke Warner & Cody (GSP) 138 points

Advanced

1^st Nick Guida & Marley (Pointer) 146 points

2^nd Michael Calleja & Bella (Brittany) 143 points

3^rd Sam Heyes & Tasha (Labrador) 139.5 points

4^th Henry Foster & Riley (Pointer) 130.5 points

This win in Advanced qualifies Nick Guida’s Marley for the title Intermediate Retrieving Trial Dog.

Field Assessment Day – 15th October 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.

WGAA Pointer & Setter Closed Season National Chanpionship 10th & 11th August 2013

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.

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.

WGAA in the West – 31st May till 2nd June 2013

The West Australian Working Gundogs Branch conducted three excellent trials over three days from the 31^st May until the 2^nd of June in what can only be described as a paddock of majestic proportions. Over three days the dogs ran, hunted and found game in this enormous paddock with rarely a fence to be seen.

Conditions were outstanding for pointer & setter trialling – very cool with a nice stiff breeze. What could be better for the 24 competing dogs?

The judge for the first two trials was Dave Dunn who flew over from South Australia and the third trial was judged by Kathy Oliver from Victoria. The trial manager and chief organiser was Alan Willey, ably assisted by the WGAA WA committee. The social side of things was very enjoyable and much appreciated by all concerned, especially all the interstate visitors.

The outstanding dog over the three day was Henry & Lyn Foster’s Pointer dog F Ch & FT Ch Rip Rap Marksman (Riley). Fast, stylish and demonstrating exemplary manners around game, Riley dominated the rest of the field in each of the three trials. The only other placegetter was Barry & Kathy Oliver’s Pointer bitch, Rip Rap Veeda, who was runner up in the second trial.

Other dogs that stood out were Paul Cunningham’s L’Epagnuel Breton Winvale Norma and Paul Brown’s Irish Setter Everheart Grace. Both of these dogs were certain placegetters but for errors on the retrieve.

SSAA Vic Shot Expo – May 2013

Over two days, four shows and before a combined total of over 1,000 spectators the SSAA Working Gundogs strutted their stuff. On a transformed bitumen car park the dogs ran, retrieved, completed obedience exercises and pointed in a manner that did their owners proud. Well done to one and all.

Pointer & Setter ANZAC Day Trial – 25th April 2013

The first trial for the Pointer and Setter season was held close to Melbourne in what has proved to be a hard year for birds.

The venue was a stubble paddock with a good spread of weeds which fortunately was holding a good number of birds a few days prior to the trial. This was an ‘All pointing breeds’ trial and the entry consisted of Pointers, Irish setters, L’Epagnuel Bretons, a GSP and a Vizsla.

The first round saw some reasonable work but none of the dogs were putting in a dominant performance. Two braces were brought through to the second round but by this time a warm northerly made scenting conditions difficult and only one bird was seen. With the dog work deteriorating the judge, Michael Zandona, called a halt to the proceedings and a no result was declared.

Sometimes things just don’t work out.

WGAA dogs – trained to succeed – Duck Opening 2013

All across the state of Victoria in the early hours of Saturday 16^th March WGAA members were to be found wading into dark swamps, their dogs at the ready, waiting for duck season 2013 to commence. The following pics have been sent in by members and reflect what was generally a great opening.

Despite the dry weather many areas were holding plentiful ducks and the time, effort and expense put in by members in training their gundog was rewarded many times over by that magic moment when ‘Rover’ performed the perfect retrieve!

The following slide show of members, their dogs and ducks harvested at the opening captures some of the tradition and significance of this important field sport.

WGAA dogs tune up for Duck Opening – 3rd March 2013

The traditional WGAA Duck Opening Water Practice Day, held on the weekend before duck opening, once again proved a popular event for tuning up before the big day. 50 people and 30 dogs enjoyed the great weather and the opportunity to give their dogs some training over a variety of runs, either challenging or straightforward on both land and water.

L’Epagnuel Bretons, German Shorthairs, Labradors, Viszlas, German Wirehairs, Springers and Pointers all eagerly took part. Responsible, sustainable hunting requires that all shot game be retrieved and the handlers in attendance were making certain that their gundogs were ready to fulfil this requirement.