A five-year-old Pointer from Berwickshire has won the Kennel Club Pointer and Setter Championship organised by the International Gundog League (Pointer and Setter Society) on behalf of the Kennel Club and held at Bollihope Estate, County Durham on 28th and 29th July 2017, by kind permission of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum.
The judges were Peter O’Driscoll, Terry Harris and Fiona Kirk. The guns were Michael Gibbs and Racster Dingwall, steward of the beat was Peter Fawcett and chief steward was Sheila Steeds.
FT Ch Fearn Quark of Burncastle, known as Shot and owned and handled by Wilson Young, was awarded first place at the competition which saw talented working gundogs tested on their natural working ability.
Wilson said: “I was delighted for my dog as he missed most of last season’s open stakes due to a health problem on my part. Also, due to my judging commitments and bad weather, he had run in only one open stake prior to the Championship this year. Winning the Championship gives a true reflection of his quality.’’
The judges chose the following winners at the Championship:
1st – FT Ch Fearn Quark of Burncastle, Pointer, owned and handled by Wilson Young.
2nd – Koram Murphy of Wye, Pointer, owned by Ted Filmer and handled by Alan Neill.
3rd – Erinvale Jenna, Irish Setter, owned and handled by Billy Darragh.
4th – Goddrib Messina, Pointer, owned by Sue Langford and Alan Neill, handled by Alan Neill.
Diplomas of Merit were awarded to the following dogs:
- FT Ch Gerensary Minerva, Pointer, owned by Laurent Hild and handled by Richard MacNicol.
- FT Ch Upperwood Hera, English Setter, owned and handled by Dominic Goutorbe.
- Amsenedy Humbug, Pointer, owned and handled by Alan Neill.
- Goddrib Judd, Pointer, owned and handled by Steve Lound.
- Dunroon Ginger Storm of Wiscombe, Irish Setter, owned and handled by Sarah Chichester.
- Bownard Delegator, Irish Setter, owned and handled by Colin Forde.
Keepers’ Choice was awarded to Shannaghview Gershwin De Lagopus, Pointer, owned and handled by James Dalton.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “Our congratulations go to Wilson and Shot. They should be very proud of their performance at the Pointer and Setter Championship, especially in view of the fact that Shot has missed a few events over the past year. He is certainly making up for lost ground now and is proof of the tremendous working ability of the Pointer breed.”
Read a full list of results from Pointer and Setter Champion Stake.
Read more information about field trials and working gundogs.