HPR Results 2023 - Altyre 6 November 2023
NoSGA HPR Open Trial Altyre
Another successful trial at Altyre thanks to our host Sir Alastair Gordon Cummings and Bill Muircroft and his team of keepers.
After a very wet night we had a dry day for the trial which was run in roots.
Birds were difficult to find in the roots as these were still very wet from the night before with birds choosing the surrounding bracken banks to dry out.
Despite this, we found enough birds in the roots and the judges Bill Muircroft and Paul Nixon were able to place the following dogs into the awards.
1st - LM bitch Raycris the Temptress handled by Rory Major
2nd - Not awarded.
3rd - HV bitch Goldstar Miss Teeq from Szajani handled by Rory Major
A good result for Rory who had a pleasant drive back home to England made shorter by memories of his success.
We were also able to undertake a water test for Paul Nixon at the end of the trial to complete what he needed to confirm his GSP bitch Quintana Cloud Berry as Field trial Champion, Paul having won his second open the week before.
Our thanks go to our host, Judges, the keepering team, guns Chief Steward Jane Harley, Red flag and the competitors for supporting the trial.
Mick Canham HPR FT secretary.
Judges Report
Venue: Altyre Estate, Forres by kind permission of Sir Alastair Gordon-Cumming
Date: 6th November, 2023
Judges: Mr W Muircroft and Paul Nixon
Weather: Cool and clear skies with a light breeze
We ran a full card of 12 dogs comprising of 5 German Shorthaired Pointers, 3 Hungarian Vizslas, 3 Hungarian Wirehaired Vizslas and 1 Large Munsterlander.
We ran the trial on a field of kale and a field of stubble turnips. The breeze was light, and the sun was out. The kale crop was very wet in the morning, but the stubble turnips were dry. Scent was variable. The game we encountered was pheasants.
1st Raycris The Temptress, handled by Rory Major running number 4
First run was in the kale field, where the dog was first tried on the runner shot from dog 3. The dog made the fall area, but the pheasant was not found. The dog was then run on where it quickly came on point and produced a cock pheasant, which was shot and quickly retrieved. The second run was in the stubble turnip field where the dog worked the cheek wind well cover the ground in good pattern. A pheasant lifted in the corner of the field, but the dog was unable to get the right side of the wind to point as there was a fence stopping it.
3rd Goldstar Miss Teeq from Szajani, HV, handled by Rory Major running number 3
First run was in the kale field into wind with a muck heap on the right side of the beat. The dog quartered up to the muck heap and then got bogged down on scent. While the dog was working on muck heap a pheasant lifted on the left and was shot but was a strong runner. The dog was tried on the runner but was not retrieved. The next dog was tried and again not found. On the second run was in the field of stubble turnips running with a cheek wind. The ground treatment was improved from the first run and the dog came on point on a cock pheasant, which was shot. A quick clean retrieve was made.
We had a great day judging some lovely dogs. Unfortunately, game was scarce and some good hunting dogs had no game on their beat, which was a shame. On some beats where game was present the dogs were unable to deal with it. I would like to thank the host for allowing us on the ground and the guns for shooting well. I would also like to thank Mick Canham for inviting Bill and myself to judge this open trial and for organising the trials throughout the season. Thank you, Bill, for judging with me, we had a good time judging some good dogs.
Paul Nixon
Rory Major with his awards at Altyre
