Wednesday 23 November 2011

November Training Day & Breakup

Don't forget our Christmas breakup and last training day for 2011.
Sunday 27th November 2011 at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.
Enter the reserve off Collins St.
Training commences at 9am and finishes with a free BBQ lunch at around 12pm to celebrate the end of a very busy year.
Anyone with a gundog is welcome. For more details please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

Thursday 20 October 2011

Retrieving Trial win



On Saturday 1st October NSW WGAA member, Peter Simmons' pointer bitch QUANNAH BELLA APACHE won the Novice AM retrieving trial held by the United Retriever Club of NSW. This ANKC trial was held west of Taree and the judge was Paul Hamson. Bella won from an entry of 13 dogs and scored a total of 181 points.


This was Bella's first retrieving trial and follows on from her impressive first season of field trialling.

Field Assessment Day - 9th October 2011.






For the sixth consecutive year WGAA conducted its unique field assessment day at our excellent Daylesford site. Dogs were again tested over three runs – a land retrieve, a water retrieve and a field run. Wayne Phelps, Barry Kavanagh and Barry Oliver filled the judicial roles and by lunchtime 15 dogs had been run and judged.
This event is always a popular one, replicating as it does scenarios that all breeds of gundogs can participate in.
Following the presentation of certificates most of those in attendance enjoyed some great training opportunities. Many thanks to WGAA’s HPR discipline for organising the day.




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

Thursday 13 October 2011

Pointer pups for sale

Sire: F Ch & F Ch (CS) Koram Kris at Innistona (Imp Ire) NFTW & NFTW (CS)
Dam: Rip Rap Casher
This litter represents a chance to purchase a pup from top line trial and working dogs.
The imported sire has been the dominant trial winner over the past few years, winning no less than nine trials and placing in three others.
The dam is a prolific game finder and the winner of a trial this year – her first year of trialling.
Progeny from an earlier identical mating has produced a dog already making his mark in trials, including winning this year’s Closed Season National.
Contact: Barry Oliver 0403 380 092

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Training Day - October 2011

The next training day will be held on Sunday 16th October 2011 at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins St. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. For more details please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Field Assessment Day - 9 October 2011

Date: Sunday 9th October Venue: Daylesford, Vic
Starting time: Be there and registered by 8.30am
Bring your own lunch.
A barbeque will be available if you bring meat to cook.
This is the sixth year this event has been held. Dogs are required to complete three basic tasks – a field run, a land retrieve and a water retrieve.
Certificates will be awarded.
The Field Assessment day is open to all breeds of gundogs of all abilities, young or old. The field and retrieving runs bear a direct relationship to real life hunting over your gundog. Every encouragement is given by experienced trainers to help you and your dog improve even more.
This day is part of the Hunt, Point & Retrieve (HPR) sub discipline program.
For further details, a map and to confirm attendance please contact WGAA Vice President, Kevin Phelps on 0407 091 221.

Sunday 4 September 2011

September training day.

The next training day will be held on Sunday 18th September 2011 at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins St. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. For more details please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

Hunt Point & Retrieve Novice Training Field Trial 2011






Saturday 3rd September was something of a red letter day for WGAA with the running of our first closed season training trial for Hunt, Point and Retrieve dogs. The event was judged by Russell Thomas, well known and very successful GSP handler.
This was a training event and Russell gave freely of his expertise and experience, guiding all handlers with a running commentary about how their dogs were performing.
All dogs were tested on game throughout the day with many having multiple finds. The stand out field performer was Marco Pagliari’s L’Epagnuel Breton, Fay who carded 10 finds in her field runs and backed well when required. Dean Watts’ GSP, Angie Bloomer’s GSP and Bill Allen’s Breton also impressed with their field work.
A marked retrieve in water concluded what was an excellent day. Russell’s winning dog overall was Dean Watts’ GSP Purdey. Runner up was awarded to Angie Bloomer’s GSP Farli and third place went to Marco Pagliari’s Breton, Fay.
WGAA intends to conduct HPR Open Season events next season.


To see some more pictures, please click HERE and wait for the slideshow to load.

Retrieving Trial 28 August 2011






The trial was held near Ballarat on an excellent property – many thanks to the landowner.
Judge: Barry Kavanagh.
Trial Manager: Dean Watts (WGAA Retrieving Sub Committee).
Catering: Diana & Kevin Phelps.
Judge’s critique:
Intermediate – Single mark retrieves
Overall we had 11 dogs finish out of 15 that started. The dog work was of a good standard as can be seen by their scores.
1. Peter Digiannantonia’s GSP, Cougar – 152 points
This dog put in a consistent overall performance. First run scored 52, second run scored 51 & third run scored 49.
2. Sam Heyes’ Labrador, Nellie – 143 points
This dog worked very well with great enthusiasm but dropped game in the water run. First run scored 52, second run scored 44, third run scored 47.
3. Luke Warner’s GSP, Cody – 142 points
Again a very fast and enthusiastic dog that retrieved well but was let down a little in the heeling department. First run scored 48, second run scored 46, third run scored 48.
Advanced
The first run was a Two Bird Retrieve.
The second run was a Mark and Blind with the mark to be retrieved first out of water and then the blind on land.
The third run was a Walk up Double Rise Retrieve in water and reeds.
The dogs were good to judge and overall the runs sorted them out mainly due to lack of control and handling errors.
1. Fred Briffa’s GSP, Lizzie – 129.5 points
First run scored 47.5, second run scored 43 & third run scored 39
2. Angie Bloomer’s GSP, Farli – 124.5 points
First run scored 35.5, second run scord 42 & third run scored 48
3. Luc Tomasino’s Brittany, Gus – 121.5 points
First run scored 32, second run scored 50 & third run scored 46.5


To see more pictures, please click HERE and wait for the slideshow to load.

Wednesday 24 August 2011

National (CS) Pointer & Setter Field Trial 2011




The final Pointer and Setter trials of the 2011 season were conducted in the NSW Riverina on the weekend of the 13th& 14th August. This weekend’s trials included the Closed Season National Championship – the first time that this event had been conducted outside of Western Australia.
The National was held on the Saturday and attracted an entry of 10 dogs from Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales, all of whom were well tuned up at the end of a long season (the Working Gundog Association conducted a total of 16 Pointer & Setter trials across 3 States this season).
The judge for this important occasion was long time trial stalwart, Vince Guastella. The first round saw some excellent P&S work with a nice breeze enabling dogs to quarter their ground well and find game stylishly. Game was well spaced and each heat produced several birds.
Six dogs were brought back for the second round with the stand out performer being Lyn and Henry Foster’s Rip Rap Marksman. This fast, athletic young dog carded 3 strong finds, backed perfectly and completed the compulsory retrieves well to finish as a deserving winner.
Runner-up was Ferrante Alvarez De Toledo’s English Setter Runanset Luxury Liner. The hard luck story had to be Peter Simmons’s Pointer Quannah Bella Apache which went through to the retrieve but was distracted by some live game and failed to complete.
The following day dawned warm and still, a testing scenario for the dogs, many of whom had difficulty around game that was running hard. The stand out dog was Andrew Melisi’s Pointer F Ch (CS) Similax Conte who was able to find and produce well and was awarded first place. No other awards were made.

Click HERE to see more photos and please wait for the slideshow to load.

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Wanted - Irish Setter puppy

If you have a litter of Irish Setter puppies or are planning on one in the foreseeable future could you please contact Liz and Tony on (03)57951021 or by email at epa01084@bigpond.net.au

Sunday 7 August 2011

National (Closed Season) Pointer & Setter Field Trial

The final event on the WGAA pointer & setter calendar for 2011 is the National (Closed Season) field trial weekend on the 13th & 14th of August. This year the event will be held in New South Wales for the first time.
All enquiries should be directed to the Trial Manager, Andreas Melisi 0419 166 965.

Thursday 4 August 2011

SSAA WA State Championship (Closed Season) Pointer & Setter Field Trial



The Working Gundog WA branch ran the State Championship on Saturday July 30th at Toodyay NE of Perth. The club would like to thank the judge Mr Denis Everard (Vic) for accepting the appointment at short notice, his assistant judge was Sandy Peter’ka. We had a field of seven dogs, two English Setters, two Brittany Spaniels, Irish Setter, Pointer and a German Shorthaired Pointer.
The trial was held in a new crop with old stubble in it, the day was very windy which made the game run and tested the dogs. There was some very good work in the first round and five dogs were put into the second round. Four dogs filled their cards to the judge’s satisfaction and were tested with the land retrieves. The winner was the Brittany Spaniel which had a very good steady day in the field.

1st. Maurizio Casidio’s TOBENLEE ZACHARY BALLOU (Zac) Brittany Spaniel.
2nd. Ferrante Alvarez de Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (Tina) English Setter.
3rd. Alan Willey’s WGAA F.Ch. (CS) YWURRIE RANI (Abbey) Pointer.

The Working Gundog branch would like to thank SSAA WA for donating a Swag to be raffled for the entrants and helpers which was fittingly won by Maurizio Casidio.

On the Sunday we held the Bob Dean Memorial Trophy at South Meckering east of Perth. Denis Everard was the judge again and Sandy Peter’ka his assistant. The trial was again held in a new crop with old stubble and a chance of a thunder storm. The first brace had very good conditions although windy and the IS of Paul Brown had some very good finds and did some excellent roading to produce the game and was steady to shot. But at the end of the second brace the wind and torrential rain came and caused some dogs to be eliminated. The judge asked to see three dogs for the second round, Paul’s IS, Ferrante’s ES and Alan’s Pointer. There were several more finds by the braced pair of the IS & ES and they went on to the retrieves.

1st. Paul Brown’s EVERHEART GRACE (Grace) Irish Setter.
2nd. Ferrante Alvarez de Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (Tina) English Setter.

Left to right in the pic above: Judge, Denis Everard, Alan & Abbey, Ferrante & Tina and Maurizio & Zac

Wednesday 3 August 2011

August Training Day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 21st August 2011 at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins St. Training commences at 9am and finishes with a BBQ lunch at around 12pm. Anyone with a gundog is welcome. For more details please contact the Training Officer, Graham Hayes on 9743 7402.

Hunt, Point & Retrieve Novice Training Field Trial

Date: Saturday 3 September (Please note change of date)
Venue: Bridgewater area
Judge: Russell Thomas
Entry fee: $10 per dog - payable on the day
Meeting place: Bridgewater Hotel at 7.30am

BYO lunch

A WGAA Novice Trial is open to all HPR dogs, with the following exclusions:
· Any dog that has previously won 2 Restricted Trials or NoviceTrials.
· Any dog that has previously won an Open Field Trial.
· Any dog that has placed in any Championship Field Trial.

This is a non shooting event, run in accordance with the WGAA HPR rules.
Handlers must be members of the SSAA and WGAA and dogs must be registered on the WGAA database.
For more information, including rules and entry details, please contact Kevin Phelps 0407 091 221 or Alex Jevric 0428 998 808

WGAA Pointer & Setter Field Trial Update 2011









Across four States, Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria a total of 16 WGAA trials (4 closed season and 12 shooting) have been conducted in 2011. This record number is a reflection of the bumper season that followed heavy summer rains in the Eastern States, a season that had many game bird hunters saying that this was the best season in living memory. Both ducks and quail were abundant – almost excessively so from the point of view of the field trialler, but no one was complaining.
The premier event for WGAA, the Pointer & Setter National, was won convincingly by Ferrante Alvarez De Toledo’s English Setter bitch RUNANSET LUXURY LINER. This dog produced superb performances in both the National and the John Nash Memorial held on the next day.







Results for the Western Australian trials held on the 30 & 31 July and the forthcoming NSW National (CS) trial weekend (13 & 14 August) will be posted when available.







25 June 2011- Vic - Neville Whaley Memorial - All Pointing Breeds

Sponsored by Sportdog (Innotek)
Judge: Barry Oliver (Vic)
1. Nick Guida’s RIPRAP CASHER (PB)
2. Taner Ozsehitoglu’s RUSSETRAY ROYAL FLUSH (ISD)
3. Angie Bloomer’s KOBIDAN DAIQUIRIS ATDAWN (GSPB)




26 June 2011 – Vic - All Pointing Breeds
Judge: Henry Foster (Vic)
1. Taner Ozsehitoglu’s RUSSETRAY ROYAL FLUSH (ISD)




9 July 2011 - SA - POINTER & SETTER NATIONAL
Judge: Geoff Maudlen (SA)
1. Ferrante Alvarez De Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (ESB)
2. Joe Camilleri’s WALTEELA LITE FIELD (PB)




10 July 2011 – SA - JOHN NASH MEMORIAL
Judge: Geoff Maudlen (SA)
1. Ferrante Alvarez De Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (ESB)
2. Taner Ozsehitoglu’s GAMEMASTER EVANS (ISD)
Jim Oliver Best Finding Dog Award - J. Camilleri’s WALTEELA LITE FIELD (PB)
Brodruggan Best Setter Award - F. A.D.Toledo’s RUNANSET LUXURY LINER (ESB)




14 July 2011 – SA - Inaugural Kangaroo Island Trial
Judge: Lance Bailey-Hill (SA)
No result.




15 July 2011 – SA
Judge: Kathy Oliver (Vic)
No result




23 July 2011- NSW Closed Season – All Pointing Breeds
Judge: Joe Camilleri (Vic)
1. Henry Foster’s RIPRAP MARKSMAN (PD)
2. Cosmo Kostikidis’ PARIS (true to type) (PB)
3. Henry Foster’s FC&FC (CS) KORAM KRIS AT INNISTONA (IMP IRE) NFTW&NFTW(CS) (PD)



Best Novice Dog: Peter Simmons' QUANNAH BELLA APACHE (PB)




24 July 2011 – NSW Closed Season – All Pointing Breeds
Judge: Vince Guastella (NSW)
No result.





















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

Monday 20 June 2011

Retrieving Trial

Date: Sunday 28 th August
Judge: Barry Kavanagh
Stakes: Intermediate & Advanced
Trial Convenor: Dean Watts - Retrieving Sub Discipline.

This event is open to all gundog breeds.
Handlers must be members of the SSAA and WGAA and dogs must be registered on the WGAA database.

For more information, including entry details, please contact Dean ph 5332 3436 or email sd.watts@bigpond.com.au

Thursday 2 June 2011

SSAA Shot Expo 28 & 29 May 2011






The WGAA Demonstration Team wowed the huge crowds at the SSAA Shot Expo at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds with superlative performances that brought round after round of applause from appreciative spectators.
Marks, blinds, doubles, triples, obedience, pointing and of course ‘Knuckles’ and his now famous beer can trick combined to provide the highlight of the Expo. The decision to go indoors was initially regarded with some trepidation but the dogs didn’t seem fazed at all as they went through their paces. Not only were the dogs and their handlers up to the mark but also the well oiled team of behind the scenes helpers ensured that the demos went without a hitch.
Weeks of training organised by Training Officer, Graham Hayes certainly paid dividends. Well done one and all.


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

Pointer & Setter Field Trials 21 & 22 May









The NSW Branch of The Working Gundogs hosted the 3rd & 4th Pointer & Setter trials of the year, held in Victoria, on the weekend of 22nd & 23rd May. The event was characterised by dramatic weather changes and game that would not “hold”. Over the two days probably over 300+ birds were seen for only a handful of clean finds.
Saturday was too warm for good dog work, around23 -24 degrees C. Dogs had great difficulty pinning game which took off at the slightest provocation. The dogs were perplexed by what must have been atrocious scenting conditions as bird after bird took off with dogs having no clue that they were there. Two dogs managed it through to the third round, Andrew Melisi’s Similax Conte (PD) and Taner Osehitoglu’s Whitesmoke Diesel (PD), but after giving both dogs a chance to try and come up with the goods; Judge John Kersley from South Australia had little option but to call a halt at around 4pm after an extremely frustrating day. No result.
Sunday started with sheeting rain and a significant drop in temperature. After the rain eased hopes were high for some better work. However, if anything things started even worse with bird after bird being bumped or simply taking off well ahead of the dogs. A change of paddock brought about better opportunities and some good work was finally being produced. First place was awarded to Joe Camilleri’s Walteela Lite Field (PB). No other results were awarded. Newcomer Nick Guida’s Riprap Casher (PB) was looking good until she broke on her last bird, but she had done more than enough to get ‘Best Novice’ dog.
A point worth making is the difficulty the dogs seem to be having with scent. Quail numbers in some areas are truly a phenomenon causing great confusion for the dogs. Coming after a season when all trials were cancelled for lack of game it is truly a case of it never rains but it pours.




For pictures click HERE and wait for the slideshow to load.

Wednesday 4 May 2011

May Training Day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 15th May 2011 at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins St. 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 April 2011

Pointer & Setter Field Trials - 24 & 25 April





The Victorian Pointer & Setter field trial season kicked off with the traditional WGAA Anzac Day weekend. Two trials were held in the Wimmera and after last season’s complete cancellation due to drought; it was great to be involved in a trial with plenty of birds, good sportsmanship and good dogs. The Sunday trial was held in a paddock of self sown barley with plentiful game. Dogs were put to the test because of the warm conditions and birds that were inclined to be flighty. Every brace was given ample opportunity on game by judge, Joe Camilleri, in his first judging appointment. At the end of the day Denis Everard’s steady Irish Setter claimed trial honours over newcomer Cosmo Kostikidis’ pointer bitch, Paris – a great performance considering it was the first trial for both Cosmo and his dog. Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Irish Setter, Gamemaster Evans was a close third.
1st Denis Everard’s Russetray Rharnia (ISB)
2nd & Best Novice Dog, Cosmo Kostidis’ Paris (PB)
3rd Taner Ozsehitoglu’s Gamemaster Evans (ISD)






The Anzac Day event on the Monday was held in another paddock and a much higher standard of work was immediately evident. Dogs were able to pin game that was holding much better. Multiple finds were made by the dogs, despite the warm conditions (23 degrees celsius) and flukey breeze. Judge Taner Ozsehitoglu brought back 5 dogs after the mid morning break. There was now plenty of action with all of the dogs finding and retrieving/seeking dead. Some excellent was seen by Henry Foster’s young dog Rip Rap Marksman and Denis Everard’s Russetray Rharnia performed the seek dead of the day when she located a winged bird at some considerable distance. Congratulations to Joe Camilleri who pulled off first and second placings. Joe’s dogs showed great style and finding ability on the day, showing that they will be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the 2011 season. No third place was awarded.
1st Joe Camilleri’s Walteela Awsome Assasin (PB)
2nd Joe Camilleri’s Walteela Lite Field (PB)




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

Monday 4 April 2011

2011 Pointer & Setter Field Trial Dates


  • Sunday 24 April – WGAA (Vic) Judge: Joe Camilleri

  • Monday 25 April – WGAA (Vic) Judge: Taner Ozsehitoglu

  • Saturday 21 May – WGAA (Vic)

  • Sunday 22 May – WGAA (Vic)

  • Friday 3 – Monday 6 June WGAA (WA) -4 closed season trials

  • Saturday 25 June – WGAA (Vic)

  • Sunday 26 June – WGAA (Vic)

  • Saturday 9 July - WGAA (SA) - National

  • Sunday 10 July - WGAA (SA)

  • Saturday 23 July – WGAA (NSW) Closed season trial

  • Sunday 24 July - WGAA (NSW) Closed Season trial

  • Saturday 13 August - WGAA (NSW) National Closed Season trial

  • Sunday 14 August - WGAA (NSW) Closed Season trial
Judges for several trials are yet to be announced.

Thursday 10 March 2011

April training day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 17th April 2011 at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins St. 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.

Monday 21 February 2011

Duck Opening Water Test



The ‘Duck Opening’ Water test was held on Sunday 13th February in preparation for the upcoming Duck Season. The event was organised by the Hunt, Point & Retrieve sub discipline of WGAA (Vic). The location was superb, the weather ideal and the recent rains provided good trial sites and much needed greenery after so many years of drought.
There were 45 entries on the day. This was an excellent entry and much appreciated by the club. The activity was frenetic for most of the day and the judges were kept busy. The club acknowledges the support of such capable and experienced judges. Although the runs conformed to trial runs the atmosphere was relaxed and new comers were helped and encouraged throughout the day.
The pre planning and hard work that went into organising this day meant that the trial ran smoothly and everybody had plenty of opportunity to give their dogs a good workout and access their training strategies. This event built on the retrieving training dispensed so expertly by Graham Hayes and the team at the monthly training days. The trial stopped for lunch and what a lunch it was, the stakes have definitely been raised.
The club thanks all those who helped put this event on, particularly the landowners, the erstwhile judges, the judges’ stewards, committee members, all those who manned the throwers etc., all those handlers who remained good humoured throughout the day and to everyone who helped pack up. What a day!
Placegetters:
Intermediate – Judge: Wayne Phelps
1st Luc Tomasino – L’Epagneul Breton
2nd Luc Tomasino – L’Epagneul Breton
3rd Bill Allen – L’Epagneul Breton

Advanced – Judge: Barry Kavanagh
1st Nick Guida - Pointer
2nd Michael Calleja – L’Epagneul Breton
3rd Fred Briffa - GSP

Open – Judge: Byron Kendall
1st Fred Briffa - GSP

Trial Manager : Hunt, Point & Retrieve Sub Discipline - Kevin Phelps & Alex Jevric
For more photos please click HERE and wait for the slideshow to load.

Wednesday 19 January 2011

Next Training Day

The next training day will be held on Sunday 20th February 2011 at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins St. 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 20:12 0 comments

2011 Duck and Quail Seasons

Members will be pleased to know that a standard duck season has been declared for 2011. The season runs from 19 March 2011 to 13 June 2011. Hunters will be allowed 10 game ducks per day, including a maximum of two blue wing shovelers.

Quail season will run from 2 April 2011 to 30 June 2011 with a bag limit of 20 birds per day.

Contact the Minister and let him know what a good decision this is.
Details are as follows: The Hon. Ryan Smith, MP Minister for Environment & Climate Change ryan.smith@parliament.vic.gov.au

Saturday 8 January 2011

Duck Opening Water Test

The first event for 2011 will be the Duck Opening Water Test to be held on Sunday 13th February near Bacchus Marsh. For more details contact Kevin on 0407 091 221. New members are welcome.

Next Training Day

The next training day and the first for 2011 will be held on Sunday 16th January at Tullidge Reserve, Melton, Melways Ref 337 D 10.Enter the reserve off Collins St. .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.