Report by Peter Smith
Photography by Jan Evans
The 54th Irish Kennel Club Retriever Championship 2021
T
he Irish Kennel Club Championship Stake for Retrievers (AV) and Irish Water Spaniels was held this year on Saturday and Sunday 11th and 12th December2021, on the Coollattin Estate, Co Wicklow, by kind permission of the Dowling Family. The Judges were Ronnie Farrelly and Michael Cronin on the left and Richard Johnston and Declan McCarthy on the right. The principal sponsor was Red Mills Engage Premium Country Dog Food. There were thirty five dogs, all Labradors, which had qualified under Irish Kennel Club rules, and only seven of those running were bitches. Sadly there were no Golden Retrievers, Flatcoats , or Irish Water Spaniels. Fourteen of the starters had achieved FTCH status before the closing date for the event. Five other Labradors had qualified for the event, but for whatever reason did not run.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS The Competitors and Judges gathered at 8.30am on the first day, to hear the announcements from Willie Forde, who expertly guided proceedings as Chief Steward. All competitors were then lined out in a valley of stubble, which sloped from a wooded ride known as Browns, from which birds were to be driven. The ground from which the birds were to be retrieved was
uneven in places, with plenty of undulations and hillocks to test the drive and honesty of all dogs. Anyone expecting a short starter was in for a massive surprise. When everyone was in place, the drive started and a steady stream of birds flew over an expert team of guns, and they flew in their hundreds. Early nervous tension from dogs and handlers resulted in much moving of headdress, movement of hands, and soft shoe shuffles, to try and prevent hyper dogs moving. The experienced Judges were not so easily misled by such antics, and unsteady dogs were eliminated, as were a couple who made noise. The drive lasted for twenty five minutes and I estimated that over one hundred birds had been brought down in this one stubble field. I was on the left of the line, and therefore able to get a good view of the odd numbers being put through their paces by Ronnie and Mike. It was obvious that dogs were being sent for specific birds at distances over two hundred yards, and therefore pin point accuracy in the cast, and the ability to run straight, irrespective of the fall or camber in the ground, were a prerequisite to surviving the round. Inevitably dogs which could not handle the conditions would wrong bird or switch, and so it proved. Early dogs to catch the eye were the defending Champion Int FTCh Miller
Competitors at the 54th Irish Kennel Club Retriever Championship
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Spring 2022 Irish Country Sports and Country Life
McDuff handled by Declan Boyle, but at eight years old, he was entitled to be slow on the return with a large cock pheasant. Harry Gillanders with Astraglen Calton did good work and showed what was possible. Matty Lambden and Tamrose Aragon was also going well. This a nice dog who performed well at a previous IGL Championshp, and maintained his form with some smart work. Also on on the left was Ellena Nunneley, who had travelled from England to run her two qualified dogs. Ellena is better known to me as a reporter on gundog events for the Shooting Times. Unfortunately for her, Swiftland Dora wrong birded, then swapped, and her other dog Swiftland Austin suffered a similar fate. Undaunted she vowed to be back, and very much enjoyed her first “Irish”. Towards the end of the odds there was a quick succession of eliminations, including Peter Colville, Sean Diamond and Paul Toal. The surviving even numbers then started arriving on the left, and some good work was seen from Michael Corr with FTCh Ringbarn Fletching, Paul O’Brien with FTCh Corrib Fern, Andrew Rooney with Sarnesfield Midnight Run and the evergreen Billy Lundy with FTCh Drumgoose Ironman., One dog which really caught the eye was Sean Kearney with FTCh Kelmarsky Ash, and Thomas Hughes
