This weekend, we took Spice and Sophie to the township of Clyde, in Central Otago for a pointer & setter seminar.
Barry was chief tutor and Spice the "demo dog". Sophie and I joined in as pupils.
The surrounding scenery was spectacular and added to the atmosphere of having a good time while we put the dogs throught their paces.
Our group consisted of two owners with Hungarian Vizsla's, a GWP owner, a young couple with one of Kip's puppies (now six months old), a local experienced trialist and hunter with Spice's full brother and our Britt's.
We began by meeting up at a local cafe, situated in a restored Post Office building, dating back to the historic gold rush era.
While supping on cappuchino's and flat white coffee's, Barry went through the basic requirements that judges look for in a field trial situation, and at the same time, relating the aspects to typical hunting situations.
We then drove to a privately owned station (large farm) up in the high country.
In the crisp air, gentle wafts of native thyme were noticable as the dogs moved through the light cover. It was awesome!
We practiced rangeing, retrieving, pointing and braced pointing with young dogs backing experienced dogs on point.
"Scout" the baby of them all, completed the day with a super point backing Spice and retrieved quail very nicely - much to the delight of his owner.
Sophie, excelled in her rangeing in the wide spaces, completed a nice retrieve and backed an HV with a superb point.
Afterwards, we retuened to the Old Post Office cafe and warmed up with some hot toddy's and mulled wine.
It was a pity that the weather was overcast and chilly, with snow on the peaks all around us - but everyone was very enthusiastic about the improvement in our dogs and clarification of the expectations of our type of field trials. There is talk of repeating the session at some stage too.
Attached are pictures of Sophie and Spice at the sheepdog Monument Lake Tekapo, Spice on point and Scout, backing her point.
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
Britmania
Third photo attached.
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On the way to Clyde, we went through the "Lindis Pass" in the mountains and took this photo of Spice and Sophie in the first snow of the year.
The Waitaki District is the name of the local area the pass is situated in.
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Victoria
Sounds like a fantastic day, Chris. Excellent....!!! The weather reports from down South made me wonder if you actually got to go down there. Great photographs.
Ghilliegumdrop
We went there...it's fantastic countryside. Sounds like a great time was had by all Chris. About time we had another visit
