53rd Irish Retriever Championships 2019
If the value of a working gundog could be said to be measured in just how versatile he can be; then the winner of this year’s 53rd Irish retriever championships left no doubt in anybody’s mind that he is a dog that can face any challenging retrieve, on any type of ground set out before him.
Int FTCh Miller McDuff won the Irish retriever Championship in 2017 at Shelton Abbey where he proved his worth as a dog capable of sitting steady under one of the heaviest pheasant drives in the country. In early December, this year, he won the IGL, (International Gundog league), Championship in Scotland after coming through an entry of 64 dogs over three days and then, less than two weeks later, he emerged victorious to win the 2019 Irish retriever Championships for his second time.
The venue for this year’s championship was Glenoo Shooting Estate. Nestled between the south Tyrone mountains and the valleys of Slieve Beagh, the shoot spreads out over 30,000 acres of the wildest Irish landscape. It offers a wide range of ground with drives developed around the natural topography of the area.
We were here by the kind invitation of Mr Tom Woods and Guns. Tom has been a long-time supporter of gundog trials and has hosted spaniel trials, HPR trials and retriever trials at Glenoo over the years. This would be the first time, though, that a Championship from any of the gundog sections would be held here.
The time, work and preparation required to make the ground ready for the championships was very evident over the two days with ample supply of game and the smooth transition between drives. The committee are indebted to Tom and his team for his patience, help and support throughout the year of preparation.
As always this event relies on the generosity of donations from the various retriever clubs throughout the country and also from another long-time supporter of Irish dog sports Connolly’s Red Mills.
The judges for this year’s Championships were Mr Paul Toal (Ireland), Mr Gary McCutcheon (Ireland), Mr Ian Openshaw (UK) and Mr Roddy Forbes (Scotland).
- Forty six dogs qualified for this year’s Championships.
- Thirty nine made the card for the first morning with one withdrawal.
- Of those running, 25 qualified as stake winners with the remaining 13 dogs eligible through 2nd placings.
- All dogs running were Labradors with the exception of one Golden Retriever bitch , FTCh Tealcreek Isla owned and handled by Mr John Williamson. She has a strong record in the Championships having gained a Diploma of merit two years ago at Shelton and making it to the final ten dogs last year at Corrard.
- The oldest dog to make the running order was FTCH Rosenallis Enzo at over 8 years old. Having broken his leg earlier in the year it was an amazing achievement for him to be able to take his place in the running order.
- The youngest dog competing was two and a half year old Tullyah Jasper, owned and handled by Mr Tony Rodgers, who qualified by winning the Derby Stake at Mohill last year.
Hopes of a clear winter’s day on the mountains faded fast as light slowly came into the morning on the first day. Low clouds over the mountains with little wind and heavy persistent rain saw us heading into the lower valley, down through a moisture laden old spruce wood which opened up to an area of rushy fields and bracken for a pheasant drive.
Even numbered dogs were judged by Mr Gary McCutcheon and Mr Ian Openshaw for the first round retrieves. Uneven numbered dogs, under Mr Paul Toal and Mr Roddy Forbes took their place up on the hill to the left of the drive, separated from a wood by a wide bank of bracken. The drive was short but produced enough birds to see us through the majority of first round retrieves. Dogs were sent from open ground into woodland out of sight. Although these retrieves were not long distances it does require the handler to be be patient and to trust their dog to find the bird unaided.
Five dogs went out on this round of retrieves through failing to find or eye wipes
Dog No. 1 Lisnalinchy Eskimo handled by Mr Paul Burns.
Dog No. 5 FTCH GB FTCH Copperbirch Mandella handled by Mr Sean Diamond
Dog No. 7 Kilgolagh Morning Dew handled by Mr Anthony Reilly
Dog No.20 Copperbirch Rome handled by Mr Keith Matthews
DogNo. 35 Tullyah Faith handled by Mr Michael Fleville
Once the ground was cleared, our host Tom invited us to follow him to the duck drive.
On route I was told that this particular drive was fondly known as “The Congo”…. quite simply because once a dog or a person stepped into the cover they disappeared, never to be seen again until they emerged back from whence they came.
This cover caused few problems to the dogs on the side of the line where Paul Toal and Roddy Forbes were judging.
Down by the lakeshore, however the dogs under judges Mr Gary McCutcheon and Mr Ian Openshaw were facing quite a different scenario.
A mark had been given on a duck which had landed in hard over a cluster of tall old spruce trees to the left far bank of the lake. It was a long swim, the width was about 90 yards with an added distraction of the drive continuing and duck landing to the far right of the lake.
Two dogs were tried initially and failed to reach the fall.
Dog No.3 FTCH Ulverton Punch handled by Mr Matty Lambden
Dog No.9 Tamrose Lannister handled by Mr Jimmy Black
The next dog No. 11 Tievenamara Eve, handled by Mr Ian Davis, was sent to retrieve a duck from the lake which had fallen in line with the duck on the far bank. She was successful in doing so.
Next dog No.13 FTCH Tamrose Aragon, handled by Mr Matty Lambden, was then sent to try for the original bird on the far shore. He made the long swim across, but unfortunately, he pulled too far to the right out of the area of the fall and was called up.
Dog No. 15 Quarrypool Glenda handled by Mr John Behan was also tried and failed.
Dog No.17 Int FTCH Miller McDuff was next dog up. He crossed the lake, hunted the area asked, held the ground well but found nothing. The dog was called in and on his return the judges asked that he pick a bird that had fallen in the water while he had been working the far bank. This he did and he was credited with a retrieve.
Dog No.19 FTCH Tealcreek Isla handled by Mr John Williamson was sent next. She made it to the far bank and did a good job holding the area without a find. When she was called up, however, she persisted in hunting which saw the end of her time in the competition.
Finally dog No. 21 Dorretsland Goshawk handled by Ms Hazel Murphy was also tried but again pulled out to the right of the lake and was called in.
The judges then moved to clear the ground in the woods along the lake and several tidy retrieves were undertaken here before we moved back to the lakeshore again.
Dog No. 31 Yellow Gorse handled by Mr David Quigley was tried on a deceptively tricky retrieve in the splash pool by the slipway. He had to negotiate two strands of fencing but looked for an easier access point on the way in and also on his return this was enough to see him out of the competition.
The low winter sun had broken through the clouds and was sitting just above the level of the pine trees as two more dogs took their place along the slipway at the lake.
Dog No. 26 Tullyah Jasper, the youngest dog in the championships, owned and handled by Mr Tony Rogers was sent for a retrieve across the middle of the lake to the far shore. The retrieve was directly into the sun but by now the high trees that surrounded the lake cast the far bank into deep shadow. So, not only was the distance longer than the previous water retrieve, it was also extremely difficult for the handler to help his dog once it entered the shadows on the far side. Tony’s dog made the far bank and flushed a duck that had been marked by the judge standing there. He was credited with the retrieve. For a dog so young he showed incredible maturity in coping with such a technically difficult retrieve.
Next dog was No.28 Trefalwyn Kribensis of Shadowbrae, (placed second in last year’s championships), owned and handled by Mr Richard Johnston. He cast his dog across the lake to follow the ribbon of sunlight that danced along the surface. One more push to encourage the dog before he disappeared into the shadows on the far shore. Our judge on the far bank radioed in to indicate the dog had reached the area of the fall. With a little handling from Richard simply to steady the dog in the area very quickly a duck was flushed and flew low over the lake. He was credited with the retrieve and was called back across the lake. It was a long cold swim back to the shore, part of which he had to negotiate his way between two rafts of duck that had drifted into his line. He showed incredible self-control by swimming straight through without disturbing a single bird off the water.
With the clouds breaking up we took advantage of that little extra daylight and headed up the valley to a drive called the Watchtower. This was a small compact drive across bracken and heather. The judges were hoping to finish out all second round retrieves before closing their books for the day.
Unfortunately darkness crept into the valley sooner than we had hoped. On the final retrieve of the day we saw dog No.33 FTCH Drumgoose Fabagas of Aithness fail to make the fall and called up. Dog No. 31 FTCH Ringbarn Fletching, handled by Mr Michael Corr, followed up on that retrieve. He made a lovely job of going straight to the area and finding the bird but unfortunately switched on his return seeing him out of the running. The judges conferred and finished for the day.
Day 2.
Twelve dogs and handlers lined out for day two. Four of the twelve were to complete their second round retrieves.
A cold night gave way to a bright morning with broken cloud and the odd snow flurry. We were headed to the valley. This is the place for which Glenoo is best known as a walked up trialling venue. Long sloping sides are cut through by a small fast flowing river which seems to run on to infinity. It offered wonderful viewing for the gallery of followers and the dogs would be tested greatly on their ability to mark and to run directly to a fall without hesitating at the white water rushing through at the bottom of the valley.
Dog No. 32 FTCH Shimnavale Jasmine of Drumnamoe handled by Mr John Barr jnr, last year’s Championship winner, was the first dog sent on day 2. Hesitation at the water cost her and she was called up quickly.
Lost on this round also were:
Dog No. 36 Crosstone Trickster handled by Mr Kieran Coey
Dog No. 38 Copperbirch Arthur of Scappaflow handled by Mr Martin Fitzgerald
Dog No. 39 FTCH Mayberry Boitien handled by Mr David Fitzgerald.
Within an hour of starting the field had been whittled down to the final eight dogs.
As we made our way along the valley the terrain changed making it a little less straightforward. Rocky outcrops on one side of the valley matched by small birch and spindle woods on the other pushed the dogs, handlers, Guns and gallery higher up both of the valley sides meaning retrieves were longer and more technically difficult.
The final eight dogs were a true pleasure to watch. Casting without hesitation and crossing the river without difficulty. Dog No. 25 FTCH Skerryview Alisha at Annaloughan,(the only bitch in the final eight line up), Dog No 17. Int FTCH Miller McDuff and Dog No. 27 Dees Companion handled by Mr Damien Kelly really stood apart in these final round of retrieves mainly due to their casting skills, style and ability to hold an area when asked.
The final retrieve of the day epitomised, for me, just why Glenoo is such wonderful ground for testing the merits of good trialling dogs. Mr Damien Kelly’s dog, Dees Companion, was sent for a retrieve that had fallen in line with the last Gun onto the top crest of the valley on the far side. He took the line, never hesitated when crossing the river, and headed up the far bank with speed and style. It took just one further push to get him past the scent of a previous fall but then he did not stop until told to do so by his handler. A quick find then he was on his way home with as much style and speed as before.
When this ground was offered we knew it would be challenging for all sorts of reasons and it did not disappoint. Glenoo proved itself as an unforgiving master. It is ground where mistakes on the part of dog or handler cannot be hidden and where really the best dogs on the day shone through.
Three dogs remained and truly deserved the awards they were given.
First Place :
Int FTCh Miller McDuff owned and handled by Mr Declan Boyle.
Trophies for 1st place were: Redmills perpetual trophy, Winners trophy sponsored by Mr Albert Titterington. The Knight Frank Ganly Walters perpetual trophy. The Barabara Eustace Duckett memorial trophy. The Maude perpetual Challenge Cup.
Second Place:
Dees Companion owned and handled by Mr Damien Kelly. He received The Auckland Perpetual trophy.
Third Place:
FTCH Corrib Darcy owned and handled by Mr Paul O Brien. He received The Barra Flynn Memorial Perpetual trophy
Top placed bitch was awarded to FTCH Skerryview Alisha at Annaloughan owned and handled by Mr Peter Colville. He received The Fred McGuirk Perpetual trophy.
Riverrunchesapeakes 
Were they all labs?
Yes.