Northern Ireland Pointer Club & Ulster
Irish Red Setter Club When AGMs were being held in March 2001, the incoming season
promised to be a wash-out with Foot & Mouth Disease looming
large on the horizon. We had difficult decisions to make as to
whether to be optimistic and plan to hold events or else to abandon
everything for the year. Both these clubs were keen to hold their
events, although an early casualty of FMD was the NIPC Novice
Stake due to be held on the first weekend of March. As the year progressed, our hosts made their feelings known and
we are very grateful to the Forest Service who grant the NIPC
permission to use the moor at Slieveanorra, Co. Antrim and the
Hamilton-Stubber family of Aughentaine estate who have hosted
UIRSC events for many years together with the Gun Clubs at Portglenone
who provided a new venue for the NIPC. Thanks to them we were
able to offer an almost full programme of events. Having said
that, we fully understand the reservations other hosts had about
having dogs and men on their ground and we were happy to co-operate
with them in suspending certain Trials for 2001. We hope very
much to return to these grounds during the incoming season. It was felt by both Club committees that holding Trials, especially
Open Stakes, where restrictions were put in place was not feasible
or fair. The imposition of restrictions negated the term Open
Stake and both Clubs were determined that the stakes would be
truly open to all entrants or would not be run at all. This we
are pleased to say happened and so the award winners in all stakes
need not feel that their wins were in anyway diminished in importance
by any circumstances caused by the FMD crisis. The UIRSC held an Open Stake for Pointers and any variety setter
on Murley Mountain on the 18th August. This was judged by Michael
Houston (Strabane) and Alan Neill (Stewartstown). The stake was
won by Bertie Law’s Ballylummin Lass. Bertie has an amazing record
in UIRSC events and this year was no exception as he also won
the pheasant stake in September. His son Andy handled the bitch
on both occasions. Second was Brian MacDiarmada’s PD Blackadder
handled by Eamonn . Third was Des Linton’s Irish Red and White
Setter dog Granachburn Quail. Des also picked up a COM with his
younger IR&WSD Dairerose Blessing in Disguise. The UIRSC Pheasant stake was held on adjoining ground in September.
It was judged by Charles Neeson (Sion Mills) and debutant judge
Robert Simpson (Ballymena). This was the first time the Club’s
Pheasant stake had been held at Murley, and the consensus at the
end of the day was that it had been a success. The results were:
1st Bertie Law’s IRSB Ballylummin Lass 2nd Gerald Devine’s IRSB
Princess Nisha 3rd Ned Devine IRSD Obie. The venue then changed to Slieveanorra where the traditional meeting
of the NIPC on the last weekend in September took place. Friday
normally sees the Pointer Breed Stake on Slieveanorra with the
Pheasant stake at Glarryford on Saturday. This year, not having
held the Open Grouse stake in July, we switched it to the Saturday
and enjoyed two good days on the mountain – everyone all the keener
because of the lessened opportunities to compete this season.
Pointers, unfortunately are not as popular as they once were and
we always worry about having sufficient dogs to hold this stake,
but once again we filled the card with sufficient entries and
the judges Charles Neeson (Sion Mills) and Gerald Devine (Donegal)
gave all entries ample opportunities to prove their worth. Some
chances on game were squandered and we finished the Trial with
two awards: 1st James Dalton’s PD Lagopus Rupert and COM to Brian
McCallion’s PD Lisenair Callion. This proved to be a very popular
win for someone who has been supporting the NIPC since the late
‘sixties. Saturday saw the Open Stake in the Big Valley at Slieveanorra.
The field came under the control of John Christie (Ballymena)
and Des O’Neile (Bangor). There was some good running and some
good finds, there were also good opportunities which were missed.
At the end of the second round the results were: 1st Carol Calvert’s
IRSB Glenlark Silver Tassie 3rd Frank McManus’s PD Braden Glen
with a COM going to Alan Neill’s ESD D’Artangan . It was very
pleasing to see Fred Quinn back with Forest Service and assuming
his customary role as Steward of the Beat. Then it was back to Murley Mt. for the Irish Red Setter confined
Stake. Like the pointer stake it can be difficult to attract the
requisite 16 entries to make this a viable qualifying stake, but
again members answered the call and the judges George Managh (Sixmilecross)
and debutant Des Linton (Ballymena) were able to view a field
of red dogs. It was encouraging to see a well supported puppy
stake also on the card. The judges gave the pups maximum opportunity,
but in general they were quite hyped up by the experience – FMD
a contributory factor? As normally by October there would have
been more opportunity for pups to have gained greater trial experience.
However the judges called back Ned Devine’s young red bitch and
Robert Simpson’s pup. They were the only two not to have an encounter
with game, but after a long run they were picked up and no awards
were made. However it was only a warm-up for Ned’s Tammie Lass
as she took to the field in the Red Setter Open. The judges gave
her 3 long rounds and she was going better the longer she was
down. A good find completed the performance and the pup won the
Open Stake with Edward Butler’s IRSD Millix Boy taking second
spot. Other dogs ran well but couldn’t capitalize on game opportunities
when they presented themselves. Our 2001 season ended with a visit to a new venue near Portglenone.
This was at the invitation of the local gun clubs. It was the
re-scheduled NIPC novice, originally planned for March and eventually
held at the end of October. All who were present were exceptionally
impressed with the level of organisation and effort which went
into making this day a success. Competitors and officials were
marshalled by a team of Stewards who kept the whole affair running
very smoothly. At the conclusion hospitality in the form of soup
and liquid refreshment was supplied. It was therefore very good
to see one of the local lads Mr B. McCann being named by judges
George Managh and Robert Simpson as winner with his Scottish bred
PD Advie Tay. There were some other promising young dogs on view
that day who hopefully will have a better chance to prove themselves
during 2002. Given the problems of 2001, in retrospect we managed to salvage
something of the season, but hope very much that the problems
of last year are over. Young dogs didn’t get the chance they deserved
last year, but as we approach the AGM season, Clubs will be planning
to resume ‘normal business’ and it is with optimism and keen anticipation
that we look forward to the coming Spring Trials. | 
