2023 - A good year for the Working Reds

It is mid-September '23 as I write this. The Setter & Pointer trialling year has come to an end with the last of the Southern trials on pheasant and partridge having been held on September 9th in Norfolk. Some of the field triallers' dogs will now continue to work throughout the shooting season, some will work for their falconer owners, some will return to being family pets and enjoy their runs at leisure before they are called upon for grouse counting in spring.

The working dogs' schedule generally starts in March when Setters and Pointers are in demand with gamekeepers of various grouse moors in Northern England and Scotland. (In Wales, I believe, efforts are made in preservation areas to count the endangered black grouse, a protected species.) Spring marks the season for the grouse to start claiming their territory on the heather moorland and when they form breeding pairs. Well trained pointing dogs help assess the number of grouse on various sections of moorland. Over the decades, these grouse counts provide invaluable information on the development of the species.

Setters and Pointers are required to quarter the moors systematically, running fast and wide, covering the rough ground untiringly, always using air scent in search of the famous Scottish Red Grouse. As they catch a whiff of the scent, they slow their quest, making a few tight casts into the cone of the scent, then their body freezes in a rigid point (or set), hereby telling their handler: "I've got 'em!". At this point the handler approaches and quietly asks the dog to draw forward, stealthily, putting just enough pressure on the quarry to make the cock bird take flight - usually accompanied by a loud complaining cackle or "grousing", showing his disdain! Very often the hen bird will remain hidden, thinking her mate has distracted the enemy. This is where a well-trained and experienced dog must resist temptation to chase after the male grouse and will concentrate on locating the female. Once a pair of breeding birds has been found and noted, then dog and handler team will move on to fresh ground, allowing Mr & Mrs Grouse to return to their patch and settle.

These Spring counts give the gamekeepers an idea of grouse numbers on the moor, hopefully promising a good breeding season ahead. Most grouse counts are finished by early April and the birds are then left undisturbed to nest and rear their young. The next count won't be done until summer, when the chicks are strong enough to fly and re-gather as a brood when disturbed. The summer count of the broods allows the estate to decide on numbers to be released for the shooting season whilst keeping a sustainable level for the following year.
The grouse trials for Setters & Pointers are held during the counting season in spring (March) and summer (July/August) when birds are not nesting and are at their least vulnerable. No birds are shot at the Setter & Pointer trials in the UK.

In harsh weather conditions, the grouse are often very jumpy, meaning they will leave the area long before a dog comes within scenting distance. In doing so, they leave residue scent or foot scent, confusing the younger, inexperienced dogs. The lack of awards in the Novice stakes in Spring may be a reflection of these conditions.

The dogs running in the Open Stakes have qualified for their class by either winning a Novice or Puppy trial or by gaining two second prizes, meaning they are often older, maybe wiser - and have had more experience on how to cope with flighty grouse. That said, it was a very tough spring for all the dogs and their handlers.

From my own (admittedly limited) perspective I'd say that the working Irish Setters have gone from strength to strength over the last decade, gaining many top awards in recent years. Gone are the days when the Irish Red Setter was considered inferior to the Pointer. Competition is tough and the dogs coming over from Ireland to take part at the Scottish and English trials add to the pressure. The competitors and their dogs are very keen!

2023 was a very successful year for Irish Setters in the Open Stakes, with Steve Robinson's two bitches FT Ch Shanrycon Diamanté and FT Ch Coldcoats My Newt collecting multiple Firsts and Seconds between them. Brian Morris with his team of Reds is always pushing hard for the top awards, with his lovely dogs Ballyellen Owel and FT Ch Erinvale Mountain picking up awards in spring. Colin Forde gained a First in Open with Ileigh Dawn and a Second with Maodhog Stoirm, hereby qualifying both for the Champion Stake. Bill Connolly gained a Second with Ballyellen Stoat and various of his Sheantullagh/Ballyellen dogs did very well. Doug Collin's made up his bitch Ballyellen Joy to Field Trial Champion by winning the Irish Setter Breed Open Stake this year at Reeth. Kim Brown had a good year with her lovely dog Shan-ry-con Dextor qualifying for the Champion Stake, also picking up multiple "Gun's Choices" on the way. A well-known, always cheerful face at the trials is Davy O'Neil, a regular visitor from Northern Ireland, who's Shan-ry-con Casey did well again this year.
Ballydavid Oengus and Ballyellen Merkel to Aurichalcum, owned and handled by Linda Westron both gained awards.
My own dogs, Pinebay Coppersheen Columbus and Coppersheen Erasmus also picked up a couple of minor awards between them.

Highlight of the Field Triallers' year: The Champion Stake for Pointers and Setters

The Champion Stake is held each Summer in either Northern England or Scotland. This year the organising club was the International Gundog League (IGL) and they held the prestigious event on the beautiful Bollihope Estate in the Teesdale district. Every dog who has won a First or a Second in Open over the previous two years is qualified to enter this two day event.
The level of competition is extremely high with most of the dogs already carrying the coveted title of Field Trial Champion.
The judges for 2023 were Richard McNicol, Carol Calvert and Colin Adamson.

In what must be a truly historic feat, 2023 saw Steve Robinson (affix Coldcoats) placing his three Irish Setter bitches in the top four awards. What a fantastic achievement!

The Champion Stake winner for 2023 was Steve's very young bitch, the newly crowned Field Trial Champion Coldcoats Ginny (born 31 May 2021 by Shan-Ry-Con Dextor out of FT Ch Coldcoats My Newt).
Second Prize went to Steve's FT Ch Shan-Ry-Con Diamanté

Third Prize and the much sought after "Gun's choice" went to Terry Harris' & Maria Jacques Pointer bitch Sparkfield Sidekick

Fourth Prize to Steve's FT Ch Coldcoats My Newt
further Diplomas of Merit were awarded

It should be mentioned that in the previous year, 2022, Steve Robinson won the Champion Stake with FT Ch Shan-Ry-Con Diamanté, bred by Davy O'Neil in 2016 (sired by Champion Stake winner 2015 FT Ch Glynlark Aramis x Shan-ry-con Andraid). The same year, Steve won the Puppy Derby with Coldcoats Ginny. Ginny was clearly destined for the top!

2023 was a truly memorable year for the working Irish Red Setters.

Susan Stone, September 2023 / June 2024

Copyright Susan Stone