Working Gordon Setters
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Wilson's Achievement
01/05/2009



Wilson's Achievement

The goal of every field trialer is to have their dog(s) gain the coveted Field Trial Champion status, though to achieve this prestigous Kennel Club status takes a lot of discipline, time, effort and patience. The award is tough to gain at the best of times and can be a personal lifetime goal for the mortals amongst us. Therefore to gain multiple Field Trial Champion accreditations and to do so within a single pointer and setter circuit with a number of dogs is truly an incredible accomplishment, and even more so if achieved during the short “two week” spring circuit (where the number of qualifying stakes is significantly reduced). The standard of competition at pointer and setters trials has always been high and indeed both the spring and summer circuits have witnessed significant achievements over the years, though it has been quite some time since anyone could lay claim to gaining multiple field trial champion accreditations for a number of dogs in a time period as short as the spring pointer and setter circuit.


As a result a spring circuit, multi field trial award achievement has in recent times been viewed as a bridge too far, an achievement never to be gained in modern times and forever to remain a standard from by-gone days, given modern-day constraints. These constraints are seen as being associated with: o The reduced modern-day kennel size (average is probably 6-9 dogs) o The increased number of field trial entries (present-day entries greatly exceed the 40dog stake entry limit) o The increased number of competitors o The limited number of qualifying stakes and the short time-frame available That aside the husbandry aspects, level of schooling, personal time and commitment to bring on a number of young pointers/setters (in conjunction with the demands of modern-day living) make this multi-award challenge as one not for the faint hearted. As such this feat has not been gained in the UK by the modern day enthusiast, remaining reminiscent of by-gone days when the professional dog handlers (not to be confused with professional dog trainer) were the field trial competitors of the day. However that spring circuit, multi-Field Trial Champion award challenge was conquered and the historic record shattered this year when Wilson Young‘s three young “Burncastle” pointers all gained the prestigious Field Trial Champion accreditation during the 2009 Spring Pointer & Setter field trial circuit: o Ft Ch Sparkfield Don of Burncastle (Sparkfield Topic x Sparkfield Reason) o Ft Ch Gerensay Drover of Burncastle (Traigmhor Top Gear x Gerensay Clover) o Ft Ch Fearn Mate of Burncastle (Traigmhor Top Gear x Fearn Image)


The historic run began in Scotland where Wilson (on the northern grouse spring circuit as centred around the Tomatin moors of Inverness-shire) claimed the first award at the Northern Counties Pointer & Setter Society open stake with Sparkfield Don of Burncastle. After the grouse circuit Wilson then headed south to compete at the partridge spring circuit (as primarily centred around the New Market area) and where he went onto claim first awards at 4 out of the possible 5 open stakes. Those southern circuit “back-to-back-to-back” awards heralded a historic break-through and with that Wilson became the first modern-day field trial competitor to achieve multiple Field Trial Champion accreditations in such a short time period and make up multiple pointers. In doing so Wilson has removed all doubt that this achievement could not be attained in these highly-competitive, modern times. Wilson has been a field sportsman since youth and has been running and shooting over pointers for over 30 years. A pointer enthusiast and an ardent field trail campaigner (on both northern grouse and southern partridge circuits) since 1984; his self discipline has led to him making up 13 Field Trial champions to date. Furthermore he is a highly respected A-panel pointer and setter judge, devoting a lot of his “free” off-season time in attending or participating at Kennel Club education seminars and events, as well as travelling to London to sit on numerous Kennel Club committees. Wilson’s historic achievement is well noted amongst the pointer and setter field trial community, though many acknowledge the significant challenge that confronts him in preparing his kennel of pointers for the 2009 Champion Stake. Furthermore there is still the outstanding question of the level of dominance his Burncastle kennel of pointers shall present during the 2009 pointer and setter summer field trial circuit in July & August.


Author & Copyright:- Brian Morris

About the Author

Brian Morris has been an active falconer for over 40 years, with the last 25+ years entirely spent game hawking lowland and upland game birds with peregrines. Game hawking relies on pointing dogs and though he ran (and trialled with some success) HPR's (German Wirehaired Pointers) for 13 years, the year 2000 saw him transition to using and field trialling Irish Red Setters. Game hawking over his irish setters on upland terrain is one of his addictions!



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