Sunday 31 October 2010

Next Training Day & Christmas break up

The next training day and Christmas break up will be held on Sunday 28th November at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.
Please note that this is the 4th Sunday of the month not the 3rd as per usual.
Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm.
Anyone with a gundog is welcome.
Please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Field Assessment Day 2010




WGAA's annual Field Assessment Day was held on Sunday 24th October. This is the fifth year we have conducted this event which requires dogs to complete three basic tasks - a field run, a land retrieve and a water retrieve. The retrieving assessment was under the guidance of Wayne Phelps and Barry Oliver took care of the field assessment.
Once again the event was held on an excellent property at Daylesford due to the efforts of Wayne Phelps. The club is indebted to landowners who kindly make their properties available for our use.
The Field Assessment Day is an interesting and enjoyable activity open to all breeds of gundogs of all abilities, young or old. A large and enthusiastic group of handlers and their dogs took part in the day’s activities. The field and retrieving runs bear a direct relationship to real life hunting over your gundog and are a worthwhile way of assessing your dog’s training to date. Every encouragement is given by experienced trainers to help you and your dog improve even more.
This event has become established as a highlight of the club’s calendar and a total of 20 gundogs undertook the field run and retrieves. The weather was perfect, the location ideal and it was a happy group of people that eventually gathered around the campsite for lunch. Soon after lunch all runs were completed and certificates were handed out. This day is part of the Hunt, Point & Retrieve (HPR) sub discipline program and is organized by the WGAA Vice President, Kevin Phelps.
For more photos click here and wait for the slideshow to load.

Monday 25 October 2010

For Sale Irish Setter puppies

A new litter of quality Irish Setter puppies from working lines.
International & Australian bloodlines.
All with pedigree papers and vaccination certificates.
For further information phone Bill on 03 5367 1296 or 0414 820 656

Saturday 23 October 2010

SSAA National Retrieving Trial 2010

Second placegetter Laurelle & Tanner

First placegetter Rob & Gundi

The SSAA Queensland United Field & Retrieving Branch (UFR) conducted its inaugural National Retrieving Trial Championship on the 9th & 10th of October at Jimna, Queensland.

The judges for the event were Ron Jackson (Qld) & Paul Littlejohn (Tas) and the Trial Manager was Greg Mitchell.

The major sponsor was Winchester Australia who donated a Winchester Lanber 2087 Hunter 30 inch under/over shotgun for the first placegetter as well as 150 years Commemorative Knife sets, shotgun cleaning kits & product packs for the other placegetters. Other trophies included a National Perpetual trophy, Royal Doulton Crystal and sashes - a truly outstanding trophy table.
15 Speciality trophies were also awarded eg. 'Youngest dog to complete the trial'.

There were 24 entries which included the following breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Flat Coated Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Short Haired Pointer & a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

SSAA National through its National sub discipline, Working Gundogs and SSAA Queensland gave generous financial assistance and support to ensure a successful National event.

The profile of Working Gundogs has been lifted to another level in Queensland with the running of a National event and augurs well for the future.

The placegetters were as follows:
1. Rob Boodnikoff's RT Ch Lidriva Onyx (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever) 326 points
2. Laurelle Draper's WGAA RT CD RT Ch Lydstep Tanner (Lab. Retriever) 321 points
3. Bryan Pritchard's Copperbirch Capella WGAA ARD (Labrador Retriever) 310 points
4. Bryan Pritchard's WGAA RT CD RT Ch Kadnook Drop'O'Blak Magic (Lab) 295 points
5. Di Lynch's Lowther Highland Molly (Labrador Retriever) 273 points
6. Helen Cattermole's Springhi Princess Leia (Flat Coated Retriever) 214 points
For more pics click on the link to the United Field and Retrieving Club under WGAA links.

Wednesday 13 October 2010

Next Training Day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 17th October at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. Please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

Thursday 7 October 2010

WGAA Retrieving Challenge 2010


On Sunday 3rd October, the club ran the 3rd WGAA Retrieving Challenge Event, although we are still ironing out some of the bugs, overall we are getting better. The event was held at Nagambie on a bright, sunny day, and the club would like to thank Ray Waldron for providing this great site.
A number of members, some with dogs and kids in tow, travelled up on Saturday and camped overnight making a great weekend of it. However, there was no getting away from the AFL Grand Final as the Collingwood win was celebrated long into the night in a nearby farm house.
On Sunday entry fees were paid, teams were selected and the event began. Some of the dog work and handling work was of a high standard, with plenty of encouragement and advice being offered by handlers to each other. At the end of the day it was agreed that a great time was had by all.
An extremely good job was done by Angie Bloomer and Farli, in the open section, Alex Jervic with Ellie and Tim Cloke with Chopper in the Advanced Section, Sam Heyes with Nellie and Bill Allen with Buck, in the Intermediate Section.
Bill Allen received a collar as this was the second time he had been successful – congratulations to Bill.
The team event was won by Angie Bloomer – Farli, Alex Jervic – Ellie, Kevin Phelps – Bullet & Dean Watts – Purdy. It was pleasing to see some young and exciting dogs competing, and this should augur well for the future.
The club was pleased to see newcomers, the ‘Heyes brigade’ as well as a number of spectators from the Lépagneul Breton club.
No club event would happen without diligent, hard working members and no club anywhere has a better loyal troup - Norm Cloke, Kevin Phelps, Denis Maher, Angie Bloomer, Dean Watts and Alex Jervic who prepared the trial site for the activities, set the runs, arranged the location for placing dummies, erected tents and toilets, organised the food and drinks for lunch and cooked a well earnt lunch.
The shot of the day would have to be on the duck run, where some ‘idiot’ threw the retrieving dummy into a dead, hollowed out, 30’ high gum tree, in the middle of the swamp! The club is looking for someone who has a trained swimming possum to retrieve it, as Knuckles could not do it.
Graham Hayes
WGAA (Vic) Training Officer


For more pictures please click here and wait for the slideshow to load.

Sunday 5 September 2010

New South Wales Pointer & Setter (CS) Field Trials – August 2010


Andrew Melisi & Similax Conte


The final Pointer & Setter trials of the year were hosted by the NSW WGAA Branch on the weekend of the 28th & 29th August. With no game bird shooting allowed in NSW, this was a Closed Season (CS) event. 13 dogs (all pointers) lined up for Judge Vince Guastella in a wet paddock of new crop about 40cm high.
Not a lot went right for Vince in this trial, dogs were inexplicably difficult to handle and the game was scarce. Two weeks earlier over 80 birds were seen when the paddocks were checked. To make matters even more unpleasant everyone was soon saturated from the knees down.
Around midday the only remaining dogs were Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte, who went on to win the event, and the runner up, Joe Camilleri’s Walteela More Gold.
Sunday’s event (12 dogs) was something of a turnaround with some good work being produced. Dogs were suddenly more responsive in the flukey wind conditions and some solid finding, hard running, backing and productions were seen.
After two rounds 3 dogs were called up for the retrieve, Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte, Joe Camilleri’s Walteela Lite Field and Barry Oliver’s Rip Rap Veeda, with Conte being given the nod and Lite Field and Veeda filling the runner up and third place positions respectively. Andrew’s win was especially meritorious with Conte qualifying for the title of WGAA Field Champion (CS).
The award ceremony marked the end of a long season that saw 9 Pointer & Setter field trials conducted in two States – WA & NSW. All South Australian and Victorian events were cancelled because of lack of game. Hopefully recent good rains will see the game situation return to normal next year.

For more photos click HERE.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Upcoming WGAA (Vic) events

Retrieving Challenge
Sunday 3rd October at Nagambie.
Vetting 8.30am for a 9.00am start. Entry fee $15.00 (enter on the day)
BBQ lunch will be available.
Contact Graham Hayes if you are able to attend on 9743 7402 or jeddah@alphalink.com.au

Field Assessment Day
Sunday 24th October (please note change of date)
Contact Kevin Phelps on 0407 091 221 for more details

Come along to both these events for a fun day for all the family and help support your club.

Sunday 22 August 2010

Next Training Day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 19th September at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. Please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.
Posted by WGAA Working Gundog Association of Australia (SSAA) at 09:54 0 comments

Monday 2 August 2010

Epagneul Breton (Brittany) pups for sale

3 bitches & 2 dogs. Whelped 30/7/10. Colour - Orange & white.
Sire - Wayland Perigrine (bred/owned by Alby Mangion)
Dam - Windkael Winter Sun (bred-Bill Allen Owned-Abed Karaan).

Purebred french type Epagneuls Bretons (Brittanys) from proven trialing/working bloodlines.
Excellent gundogs for quail, partridge, pheasant, duck, rabbit & deer. Great family dogs capable of high performance hunting.

Available October 2010. For further information contact: Abed Karaan on 0404 879 874

Tuesday 27 July 2010

Next Training Day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 15th August at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. Please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

WGAA WA Pointer & Setter Field Trial

The winner, Maurizo with Zac and the judge, Alan Willey

The Grouse Plate All Pointing Breeds (Closed Season) Pointer & Setter field trial was run on Saturday 17th July in Meckering WA in a good stubble paddock with enough game to get a result. There was a field of six dogs - three Irish Setters, two Brittany's and an English Setter. Two dogs went into the second round, Mauriizio Casidio's Britt, Zac and Lesley Store's Irish Setter, Asher. Unfortunately, Asher went out of control at the shot, but Zac filled his card with a back and two good finds and did the compulsory two retrieves successfully at the end of the trial.

Winner: Tobenlee Zachary Ballou, Brittany Spaniel handled by Maurizio Casadio

Congratulations to Maurizio as this was Zac's first win in a field trial.

Sunday 25 July 2010

Sporting Spaniel Association of NSW Inc - Field Trial Notification


Open Stake Field Trial & Novice Stake Field Trial (to be run concurrently)
Date: Saturday 14th August 2010
Judges: Steve Sapseed (2nd judge to be announced shortly)
Entry fee: $25.00 per dog. Entries must be received by 6th August.
All entrants must have their dogs registered with WGAA and must also be members of either WGAA or a SSAA gundog affiliated club.
The trial will be conducted in accordance with WGAA Spaniel Field Trial rules.
For more details email: warren.hardman@bigpond.com

Friday 23 July 2010

WGAA Vic July training day 2010.



The WGAA (Vic) monthly training day certainly is an institution. For 12 years, rain, hail or shine, the training day has continued on – and believe me, there have been many days of climatic extremes.
On an area of land that will probably be coved by an industrial estate one day, literally hundreds (probably thousands by now) of gundogs have turned up to be trained in the various aspects of gundog work. Through it all the patient trainers have encouraged, instructed, prompted and guided the handlers. The WGAA training day is a unique canine event.
The following slideshow shows a typical training day in action. Anyone wanting to come along to Melton on the third day of each month should contact the training officer, Graham Hayes, 97437402. Email - jeddah@alphalink.com.au


For more photos please click HERE and wait for the slideshow to load.


Sunday 18 July 2010

NEW SOUTH WALES WGAA POINTER & SETTER CLOSED SEASON TRIALS.

The WGAA NSW Closed Season Pointer & Setter trials kicked off on the weekend of the 11th and 12th July in ideal conditions. Great grass paddocks, plenty of game, nice overcast conditions and a good breeze were all available. To the Victorians who attended it was almost unbelievable to see so much game – a real return to the good old days prior to the setting in of the drought. (One of the handlers gave a young pup a run after the Saturday trial and in the space of half an hour put up nearly 60 birds with the pup tallying 30 finds!) Button quail, brown quail and stubble quail were all seen over the two days, along with some spectacular peregrine falcons.
Saturday’s trial saw all of the 7 competing dogs (all pointers) have multiple finds in what was a high quality affair. Finds on running birds, finds on birds that were sitting tight, backs, good productions, some great ground coverage were all on display. The judge, Vince Guastella, called on his many years of experience to select beats that gave all dogs the opportunity to showcase what they could do.
At the end of the event the three dogs that were placed on the podium were: in first place the experienced F CH and F CH (CS) Koram Kris at Innistona (imp Ire) handled by Henry Foster, runner up was Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte and in third place was the stylish Walteela Blitz handled by John Arsenis.
Sunday’s trial started off in similar fashion to the day before with more high quality work on display. However, as the event proceeded some errors crept in, especially during a warm spell when the clouds cleared and dogs began to put themselves out. Two dogs were left to vie for trial honours, Michael Zandona’s Addum Domino (imp NZ) and Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte. These two had certainly given an exhibition in round one, but as sometimes happen in trials, especially when tired at the end of two days of competition, they also began to falter and Vince, mindful of the importance of keeping a high standard , called it quits with a‘no result’. The award of Best Novice dog went to Michael’s pointer dog.
Well done to the NSW WGAA group for putting in the effort to make this a very successful weekend. These were both hard fought events that featured some well bred trial dogs and some very experienced handlers – and a judge who has seen it all. We look forward to returning for the August trials on the weekend of 28th and 29th August 2010. For enquiries contact Andrew Melisi on 0419 166 965.



To view photos please click HERE and wait for the slideshow to load.

Saturday 12 June 2010

WGAA WA Pointer & Setter Trials 2010

The Western Australian Closed Season (CS) field trial circuit kicked off on Friday 4th June and continued until Monday 7th June – 4 trials in 4 days, a trialler’s nirvana. Once again those in charge had done a great job providing excellent paddocks in the WA grain belt, vast paddocks that seemed to stretch on forever. The infrastructure for the event all worked smoothly with competitors coming from SA, Vic & WA.
The opening event was the Bob Dean Memorial and was well won by Henry Foster’s Major. A hiccup with the retrieve saw Ferrante Alvarez de Toledo’s young (10 mths) English Setter bitch, Tina, unable to be awarded second, a placing she was certainly worthy of. However she did take the Best Novice dog award. The following day saw the Closed Season National conducted. This was the main event of the weekend but unfortunately very touchy game confounded the best efforts of the dogs and handlers. The award of Best Pointer and Best Novice went to Barry Oliver’s Veeda (PB). Best setter on the day went to John Kersley’s Chili (ESB). The WA State Championship was the third event to be run and the worthy winner was the local dog, Alan Willey’s Abbey (PB). The final event was the Jack Pontin Memorial, won convincingly by Major once again but this time with Tina performing well enough to be awarded a meritorious second place.
This is the third year that the West Australians have presented this event, and they are to be congratulated, especially Alan Willey. Getting things right for one trial can be a challenge, 4 in 4 days is something else again. All this, plus ample training opportunities are made available for the competitors, certainly a unique event.

For slideshow of pictures please click HERE

Friday 11 June 2010

Next Training Day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 20th June at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. Please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Next Training Day


The next training day will be held on Sunday 16th May at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. Please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.
Posted by WGAA Working Gundog Association of Australia (SSAA) at 15:49 0 comments

Saturday 20 March 2010

WGAA (Vic) Retrieving Challenge - Feb 28th 2010

Click here to see photos.

WGAA Retrieving Discipline held its second Retrieving Challenge Event on Sunday 28th February 2010 near Bacchus Marsh. This event was open to all WGAA members and to gundogs of all abilities.
The Challenge is designed to replicate quail, duck and rabbit shooting scenarios. The event as the name suggests is a challenge to all dogs, with 12 of the most recognised retrieves set, covering quail, rabbit and duck retrieves for handlers and dogs to negotiate.
Teams of three complete the series of retrieves. The retrieves are set at different levels of difficulty, with experienced dogs completing the more advanced retrieves and less experienced dogs completing the easier runs.
The event saw a variety of gundogs competing - English Pointers, German Shorthaired Pointers, L’epagneul Breton, Hungarian Vizsla, and Labrador Retrievers, it was great to witness what a great job these dogs do in retrieving.
The winning team with a great score of 260 points:
Alex Jevric with Elle – L’epagneul Breton (Open)
Barry Oliver with Veeda – English Pointer (Advanced)
George Loucas with Nugget – Hungarian Vizsla (Intermediate)
Great individual achievements went to Alex Jevric, who has now succeeded twice in the Open section and to Bill Allen in the Intermediate Section.
The Retrieving Committee is very grateful to Kevin Phelps who organised the magnificent property, and many thanks to the property owners.
The club would like to thank Dianna and Kevin Phelps, who put on a magnificent lunch, certainly one of the highlights of the day, and also Dean Watts, who spent the day showing new handlers and young dogs the ropes for the Retrieving Challenge.
This all goes well for the future of the Retrieving Discipline in the club. More information about the Challenge concept can be obtained from Graham Hayes – Ph 9743 7403 email: Jeddah@alphalink.com.au
This Certainly was a Great Club Event

Friday 19 February 2010

South Australian Duck & Quail Seasons announced.

WGAA members will be pleased to read the following SA news:

12 Feb, 2010 11:43 AM
The dates of heavily-restricted duck and quail hunting seasons for 2010 have been announced.
The duck hunting season will be open from March 27 to June 27, 2010.
There will be a total bag limit of six ducks per hunter per day, with a maximum of two Pacific Black Duck able to be taken per hunter per day.
The limit is well below the historical full bag limit of 12 ducks per hunter per day.
The quail hunting season is open from April 3 to July 25, 2010, with a bag limit of 15 quails per hunter per day. This is well below the historical full bag limit of 25 quails per hunter per day.
“Recent surveys have shown that there are sufficient numbers of duck and quail across southern and eastern Australia for limited hunting seasons in South Australia this year,” Environment and Conservation Minister Jay Weatherill said.
“SA surveys show waterfowl populations are significantly higher than the previous seven years and Eastern Australian surveys also show an increase in waterbird numbers.
“However, heavy restrictions have been placed on the length of the seasons and the number and species of duck and quail able to be taken in recognition that some wetlands are recovering from on-going dry conditions.”
Wetlands within the Chowilla Game Reserve that are receiving State and Commonwealth environmental water flows and game reserves in the Coorong and Lower Lakes will be excluded from the open seasons to enable critical habitat to recover.
Bool Lagoon Game Reserve and Bucks Lake Game Reserve are also excluded from the open season.
“The decision to permit the season was based on a consultation process which considered evidence of the distribution and abundance of waterfowl in various habitats,” Mr Weatherill said.
“Based on the recommendations of that consultation process, the Government decided that restricted duck and quail hunting seasons this year were sustainable.
“However, we will continue to monitor the situation across SA and should circumstances change, we will revert to a closed season in 2011.”



Wednesday 10 February 2010

Next Training Day



The next training day will be held on Sunday 14th march at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. Please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Gundog Supplies

Club member Michael Zandona and his wife Kathy have started up a new venture supplying gundog training equipment & books. Email: surefind@aapt.net.au mob 0403 482 643

ANKC recognition

The following decision was recently arrived at by the ANKC:

Delegates resolved to endorse the recommendation from the National Retrieving & Field Trial Committee for the ANKC to recognize the Working Gundog Association of Australia.

Sunday 17 January 2010

Training day report 17/01/10

The first training day of the year got off to a great start with approximately 25 people in attendance together with a variety of gundogs - Labs, Pointers, GSP's, Wirehairs and a cocker. Great to see some new members turn up to this unique WGAA monthly activity, now into its 12th year.

Important upcoming dates:
  • Sun 21 Feb - Training Day.
  • Sun 28th Feb - WGAA Retrieving Challenge.
  • Sun 7th March - Clean up Australia Day at our training venue, followed by some training
  • Sun 14th March - Training Day - note change of date - this training day will be held on the 2nd Sunday in March to avoid clashing with Duck Opening.
  • Sat 20th March - Duck Opening weekend.

Saturday 16 January 2010

WGAA Training Day

The first training day for 2010 will be held on Sunday 17th January at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. Please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.