GUN DOGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1941, Page 8

GUN DOGS

SUCCESSFUL TRIALS HELD AT MASTERTON MEETING IN SPLENDID WEATHER. CHIEF EVENTS TO LOCAL OWNERS The Wairarapa Gun Dog Club conducted a wide series of trials during the weekend, favoured by an ideal day, at the property of Mr H. Nee, Opaki Road. Entries consisted chiefly of local dogs, but several came from Wellington, Otaki, Lower Hutt, and Featherston. Masterton-owned dogs were _ outstanding in the open classes, and it was evident by the standard reached in the all-breed events that local owners can muster highly-trained, smart and consistent performers. There were two events on the programme open to all breeds, and all the successful dogs were Masterton owned. - ' In the Open Water a tie occurred between Mr V. Wrights Irish Settei “Barry” and Mi’ J. Curtin’s Labrador Retriever, “Rose of Tralee.” In the run-off the latter dog was successful. It was rather remarkable how Rose of Tralee performed for her new handler, Mr R. V. Mason, who has kindly undertaken to handle Mr J. Curtin’s wellknown bitch while Mr Curtin is engaged in military service. The two local Field Trial champions (veteran Silky Sue and Cleopatra May) figured conspicuously in open company. Other local dogs distinguished by their promise were Mr D. P. Donald’s and Mr J. Bouzaid’s Springer Spaniels, while the Irish Setters of Messrs V. Wright, B. Salisbury and W. O. Wilton were well up with the best. A very successful visiting owner, Mr R. W. Plunkett (Lower Hutt) took first honours among the Setters and Pointers, and also in the Spaniel event.

The judges of the various events gave every satisfaction in their exacting duties of adjudicating on the rules of gun dog trials. A pleasant interlude in the day’s events was provided by a ladies’ committee under the supervision of Mrs W. Harding, which supplied morning tea, luncheon and afternoon tea. The efforts of Mrs Harding and her assistants were greatly appreciated. The individual results were as follow: — Open Events. Open Water (judge, Mr W. Harding, Masterton): Mr J. W. Curtin’s Labrador Retriever, Rose of Tralee, 94pts, 1, after a tie and run-off with Mr V. Wright’s Irish Setter, Barry, 94pts, 2; Mr M. A. Rawlins's Labrador Retriever F.T.Ch. Cleopatra May, 93pts, 3. There were ten entries. An extraordinary position arose in the Open Water trial. The course was set through a dense raupo patch to a bank on the other side. Not one dog penetrated the coVer. After all the dogs had failed the event was re-staged and made fairly easy. Open Land (judge, Mr Harding): Mr M. A. Rawlins’s Labrador Retriever F.T.Ch. Cleopatra May, 94pts, 1; Mi’ R. V. Mason’s Labrador Retriever F. Silky Sue, 91 pts, 2; Mr J. W. Curtin’s Labrador Rose of Tralee, 85 pts, 3. There were 10 entries. Breed Trials. Spaniels (judge, Mr C. E. Grey, Masterton): Mr R. W. Plunkett’s (Lower Hutt) Shun, 83pts, -1; Mr D. P. Donald’s Roderick of Three Star, 81 pts, 2; Mr J. Bouzaid’s Lyminster Dink, 80pts, 3. There were five entries. Pointer and Setter event (judge, Mr W. H. Trengrove, Featherston): Mr R. W. Plunkett’s Irish Setter Cumloden Sam, 1; Mr B. Salisbury’s (Featherston), Irish Setter, Redstone Queen Sabre, 2; Mr W. O. Wilton’s Irish Setter, Aunt Daisy, 3. There were seven entries. Retriever Trial (judge, Mr Harding): Mr R. V. Mason’s Labrador, F.T.Ch. Silky Sue, 85pts, 1; Mr J. W. Curtin’s Labrador, Rose of Tralee, 78pts, 2; Mr M. A. Rawlins’s Labrador, F.T.Ch. Cleopatra May, 75pts, 3. There were six entries. Other Events. First Limit Water Trial (judge, 'Mr Grey): Mr W. Harding’s C.C. Retriever, Mac, 96pts, 1; Mr P. Churcher’s (Wellington), C.C. Retriever, Rip, 93 pts, 2; Mr V. Bertelsen’s (Otaki), Springer Spaniel, Brackenfield Swift, 90pts, 3. There were seven entries. Second Limit Water (judge, Mr Grey): Mr G. Vincent’s (Carterton)', Pointer, Geak, 91pts, 1; Mr V. Bertelsen’s Springer Spaniel, Brackenfielcl Swift, 89pts, 2; Mr B. Salisbury’s (Featherston), Irish Setter, Redstone Queen, 86pts, 3. There were six entries. Limit Land Trial (judge, Mr Grey): Mr D. P. Donald’s Springer Spaniel, Roderick of Three Star, 80pts, 1; Mr G. Vincent’s Pointer, Geak, 72pts, 2; Mr W. Harding’s C.C. Retriever, Mac, and Mr B. Salisbury’s Irish Setter, Redstone Queen Sabre, 64pts (equal), 3. There were 10 entries.

Owing to insufficient entries in the puppy events, these were cancelled, a second class in the Limit section being substituted.