The Pointer and Setter Champion Stake 2021 - By David Hudson

Gun Racster Dingwall and Judge Davy O’Neill watch as Richard MacNicol and winning dog Laurent Hild’s Pointer FTCh Langwell Kerry of Morness work out a point.

Colin Forde’s Irish setter FTCh Bownard Delegator stretching out

The Pointer and Setter Champion Stake for 2021 was back on Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum’s beautiful Bollihope Moor after being cancelled in 2020 because of the Covid outbreak. The qualification limits had been extended as no trials were held in England or Scotland during 2020 nor the spring of 2021 so all the runners from 2019 were eligible plus a couple who have qualified this summer.

There were thirty-six runners and Ireland was well represented with Bill Connolly, Carol Calvert, Colin Forde and Gerry Devine having ten entrants between them and Davy O’Neill judging along with Wilson Young and Colin Organ. Sheila Steeds was Chief Steward, Peter Fawcett the Steward of the Beat and the guns were carried by Bollihope keepers Racster Dingwall and Jared Bower.

It was a relief to be met by a cool, breezy morning after the heat wave where dry conditions, high pressure and

Richard MacNicol and winning dog Laurent Hild’s Pointer FTCh Langwell Kerry of Morness come forward with Gerry Devine and English setter FTCh Gortinreagh Eppie who got a Diploma of Merit.

resulting in a lack of insect food for the chicks, and Bollihope is no exception. Usually one of the most prolific moors in the country, in 2021 grouse were thin on the ground indeed. It is though, an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and precisely because of the scarcity of grouse the 2021 Champion Stake was probably – no, make that definitely –the best I have seen in over forty years of spectating, photographing and reporting.

If you set out to design a moor that would be ideal for pointer and setter trials, then Bollihope would be what you would come up with. The ground is superbly managed with the perfect mix of short and long heather. There are

wide, flat areas that allow the dogs to get out and really cover some ground while still being in sight of handlers, judges and spectators and with relatively low numbers of grouse scent was clean and every brace had the chance to impress the judges with their pace, style and ground treatment. It took hard work to find grouse and good bird sense to produce them as birds were inclined to run and at times were quite jumpy but generally the dogs rose to the task.

Colin Forde got the trial under way, running his Irish setter FTCh Bownard Delegator with Nicky Harris and her Gordon setter Clitters Ailla. Some very fast and wide quartering promised much for Colin but a grouse flushed out on the flank ended his chances. Gerry Devine had five runners, all English setters, but was soon down to four when a grouse got up behind where Gortinreagh Jack Duggan was pointing birds.

Gerry had better luck with FTCh Gortinreagh Eppie, drawn against the eventual winner, Richard MacNicol handling Laurent Hild’s Pointer Langwell Kerry of Morness. Both dogs were covering the ground in great style but it was the pointer who cut ahead and produced a decent covey. Gerry’s FTCh Ballyellen Tango was drawn with Carol Calvert’s English setter Ballyellen Blue Grass but both where quickly gone when birds were flushed. Bill Connolly booked a place in the second round with Irish setter Sheantullagh Djouse but his other runner, Sheantullagh Cormac was gone after flushing a bird in the last brace of the first day.

Eight brace survived to make the second round, Gerry Devine’s English setters FTCh Gortinreagh Eppie and Ballyellen Duke joining Bill Connolly and his Irish setter Sheantullagh Djouse to fly the flag for Ireland. There was a strong breeze cutting across the heather and scent appeared to be good, though it was clear for the second day that the grouse were liable to run when pointed rather than sit tightly. First Steve Lound’s Pointer, FTCh Frosted Elfin at Fleetstalk, who won in 2018, had a long and ultimately non-productive rode, then Maria Jacques’ Pointer FTCh Koram Mick did the same, the covey only rising after she had been asked to pick up with a single bird getting up behind the dog to end her trial.

Gerry’s Ballyellen Duke had a point on a recently killed grouse, then stylishly produced three live ones, though his brace mate Terry Harris with Pointer Sparkfield Twiggy was eliminated after Twiggy got too close to a big covey and saw them flush. A couple of non-productive points ended

Gerry Devine’s English setter FTCh Gortinreagh Eppie on the move

Fiona Kirk’s English setter Upperwood Allez Allez of Woundales ran well with no luck

The Judges were Colin Organ, Wilson Young and Davy O’Neill proceedings for Bill Connolly and Sheantullagh Djouse while Gerry Devine and FTCh Gortinreagh Eppie ran clear for a place in the third round.

Four brace were called back and given plenty of latitude on a stretch of heather bounded by a hill road on the right and a deep gulley on the left. Judge Davy O’Neill was well out on the wing to keep an eye on the dogs if they dropped into the dead ground but despite some really hard running all the dogs stuck to their allotted beat.

Nerves must have been jangling among the handlers but the dogs took on the beat with gusto, all eight quartering fast and wide in a great display of pointer and setter work at its finest. Fiona Kirk and her English setter Upperwood Allez Allez of Woundales had been impressive right through the trial with some great quartering but had never had the luck to find a bird on her

Gerry Devine and third placed English setter Ballyellen Duke waiting to run. The winners: Richard MacNicol with Laurent Hild’s Pointer FTCh Langwell Kerry of Morness.

beat. The judges gave her a good long run but in the end a missed bird saw her out while the other seven all survived to make it through to the awards.

Richard MacNicol took the top honours for the sixth time, handling Laurent Hild’s Pointer FTCh Langwell Kerry of Morness with Steve Robinson the runner-up with his Irish setter Shanrycon Diamante. Gerry Devine was third with English setter Ballyellen Duke and Ann Jacques’ Pointer Sparkfield Dusk was fourth. There were Diplomas of Merit for Sarah Chichester’s Irish setter bitch Dunroon Ginger Storm of Wiscombe, Steve Lound’s Pointer dog FTCh Frosted Elfin at Fleetstalk and Gerry Devine’s English setter bitch FTCh Gortinreagh Eppie. Richard also took the Gun’s Choice award: a walking stick beautifully crafted by Sep Fawcett.

In his summing up after the trial, Judge Colin Organ said that it was probably the best Champion Stake he could remember: a sentiment that was echoed by both Davy O’Neill and Wilson Young. The weather was perfect, the ground ideal and almost without exception the dogs got out and worked their beat in true pointer and setter style. As always, Peter Fawcett and his team, together with their families gave us a great welcome and did everything in their power to ensure that the trial went smoothly and successfully.

Date:28th & 29th July 2021

Venue: Bollihope Moor by Permission of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum

Judges: Colin Organ, Wilson Young and Davy O’Neill

Chief Steward: Sheila Steeds Entries: 36 (17 Dogs & 19 Bitches) Pointers: 14 Irish Setters: 8 English Setters: 9 Gordon Setters: 5

Head Keeper: Peter Fawcett

Guns: Racster Dingwall & Jared Bower

Winner: Laurent Hild’s Pointer bitch FTCh Langwell Kerry of Morness handled by Richard MacNicol

Second: Steve Robinson’s Irish setter bitch Shanrycon Diamante.

Third: Gerry Devine’s English setter dog Ballyellen Duke.

Fourth: Ann Jacque’s Pointer bitch Sparkfield Dusk.

Diploma of Merit Sarah Chichester’s Irish setter bitch Dunroon Ginger Storm of Wiscombe.

Gerry Devine’s English setter bitch FTCh Gortinreagh Eppie.

Steve Lound’s Pointer dog FTCh Frosted Elfin at Fleetstalk.

Keepers’ Choice Laurent Hild’s Pointer bitch FTCh Langwell Kerry of Morness handled by Richard MacNicol