By David Hudson
The Pointer and Setter Champion Stake 2021 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.
T
he 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 94
Colin Forde’s Irish setter FTCh Bownard Delegator stretching out
little breeze had made our summer grouse counts difficult. Grouse numbers
Winter 2021 Irish Country Sports and Country Life
in the north of England are poor this year, possibly because of a cold spring