2020 Activities

Victoria

Training and WGAA Breakup Day – 29th November 2020

WGAA BACK ON TRACK

On Sunday 29 November 2020 WGAA celebrated getting out of lockdown at our Christmas breakup.

Our official count was 48 people, just two shy of the allowed 50 people limit.

With the required COVID-19 guidelines adhered to the day was very enjoyable and it was great to see both familiar and new faces. Seasoned experienced dogs and quite a few beginners and pups.

Kevin and the guys put on three great runs that could be used for dogs of all experience levels, with the beginners having a go on ‘the pond’ over the back.

The day started with a light drizzle but soon cleared and remained fine for the rest of the day.

A bbq lunch of gourmet sausages with all the trimmings along with mango and ice cream, scones with jam and cream and delicious mini cheesecakes for dessert. Many thanks to Jamie and Kevin. Lunch was followed by a Christmas raffle with prizes generously donated by John Cardillo whose daughter-in-law Aimee made an awesome Christmas cake and dog treats. Check out Pup Pastry Bakery. Peter Price donated a nice bottle of wine featuring a Gundog on the label and Rick and Christine from Forest Creek Game Birds & Gundogs donated a ten-bird shoot on their game farm. All donations were much appreciated.

At our recent AGM Shane Emond and Steve Luck made the 10 year list and were presented with their badges at the breakup. Well done guys.

The club also made special mention of Gary Bristow who is moving interstate to be nearer his family. The club owes Gary a great debt for his commitment to the club including securing training grounds.

Some of the new Competition registry certificates were also distributed. This new system is a state based competition gundog registry, instigated by the National Discipline Chairperson, Jim Jeffrey from Queensland.

A great day had by all! We hope to see you all back next year for our usual event-filled year post COVID-19.

Training Day – 15th March 2020

Pointing training took place at Clarkefield and retrieving training and a combined barbeque took place at Riddells Creek. The club is indeed fortunate to have access to these two amazing properties.

The pointing training was run by Wayne, Steve & Barry and an eager group of handlers put their dogs through their paces. There was much to remember and co-ordinate but in the end every dog pointed. After a few more sessions we can expect good ground coverage and stylish pointing.

The retrieving training was run by Kevin and his team who set up a number of water runs as well as a run across to the island. These runs combined blind and sighted retrieves. All handlers got multiple opportunities to run their dogs on what was a cool and blustery day. By the end of the morning session everyone was looking forward to the barbeque and a chance to discuss the happenings at the various runs.

A shout out to Gary, great to see you on the day.

At this point we do not know if the Coronavirus (Covid-19) will have an impact on our activities during coming months.

Club stalwart Joseph Camilleri receives his Intermediate Retrieving Champion certificate for his GSP Ollie.

The certificate was presented at the Duck Opening Training day on the 1st of March 2020, congratulations Joe and Ollie.

Duck Opening Training Day – 1st March 2020

The belated announcement that there would be a restricted 2020 Duck Season was the main topic of conversation at WGAA’s traditional Duck Opening Training Day. The large turnout of 20 handlers in the Beginners Test and 18 in the experienced group was testament to the fact that come what may, there are still many Victorians who look forward to this traditional and seminal event on the shooters’ calendar. 4WD’s stretched all the way down the driveway and we thank the landowners Brian and Joyce for their hospitality and generosity in allowing us the use of their picture-perfect property.

While the experienced dogs were honing their retrieving skills on the larger lake, assisted by Kevin, Steve, Shane, Andrew K, Phil and Jamie the Beginner’s Test was being judged on the smaller lake. The Beginner’s Test was judged by Wayne Phelps, and what a task it was getting through so many dogs, many of them absolute beginners. Patiently settling down to the task Wayne, assisted by Luke gradually worked his way through the water run and then the land run.

Results – Beginner’s Test:

Winner: David Heyes & his Labrador, Miss Hurley

Second: Barry Oliver & his pointer, Blaze

Third: Darren Grech & his GSP, Luna

Training Day – 16th February 2020

WGAA kicked off the year at Riddells Creek with great gusto at our first training day for 2020. As if by magic the clouds cleared and the drizzling rain gave way to a warm day of 28 degrees. Some 30 plus handlers and their dogs listened attentively to the club’s training officer Kevin Phelps, as he outlined the workings of the three runs that had been set up. As the morning wore on dogs and their keen – eyed handlers completed these runs with varying degrees of efficiency – some great, others still on the way to being a trained gundog.

In closing, perhaps a mention should be made of the effort made by Sam Heyes’ lab Scout. One of the bumper boys was missing after the trailer had been packed up. A number of us went searching for it – but the dummy had been wedged in a tree on the island. What to do? No-one wanted to lift the boat off the trailer and row out to the island. Solution? Sam’s dog was with us but could she succeed in what was a massive effort as the place that the dummy was stuck was over 2 metres high. Never one for mathematics Scout swam to the island, honed in on the dummy and began to leap, and leap and leap again! Could she possibly do it? Suddenly a combination of leaping and leaning against the branch … down came the dummy as the spectators broke into spontaneous applause. A phenomenal effort!

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