Ballyellen Tango driving on through the Spring heather.

2019 started on a high for the Irish-bred English Setters with Gerald Devine’s exciting FTCh Ballyellen Tango (Gortinreagh Granite x FTCh Ballyellen Cara) claiming the first NI Open on Slieveanorra Moor at the end of February.  Carol Calvert featured with 3 Gerald Devine bred English Setters in the remainder of the UK Spring Trials – her ESD Ballyellen Blue Grass securing a Certificate of Merit at Glenwherry in the Strabane & District Pointer and Setter Club’s Spring Open.  Blue Grass is a full brother of Tango and both are sons of Carol’s Gortinreagh Granite (FTCh Gortinreagh Aztec of Glynlark x Gortinreagh Daisy).  Granite secured 2 wins out of 2 runs during his short visit to Scotland in March.  Conditions were very tricky – cold and blustery and grouse were plentiful and unsettled, but Granite held it together and came out on top at Lochindorb and Dalmagarry.  Granite’s sister Gortinreagh Gala (FTCh Gortinreagh Aztec of Glynlark x Gortinreagh Daisy)  took fourth spot in the Scottish Field Trial Association’s Open Stake, also at Dalmagarry.  This was not a bad return for the Gortinreagh-Ballyellen team, as work commitments meant that they were only able to compete on 4 out of the 11 days.

This Spring circuit is short, with 5 Clubs each holding 2 days of trials on consecutive days – a combination of Novice on Day 1 of the 2 and Open on Day 2, with 2 clubs holding a Puppy Stake as well.  This means 11 days of consecutive competition, with a rest on the middle Sunday in Scotland.  One club held an Open on the second Sunday in the North of England this year to finish the Grouse trials. The circuit is intense and conditions are ofter very challenging.

The above were all setters born and bred in Ireland.  However 2 more English Setters bred in Donegal in Ireland enjoyed success in the UK during the Spring campaign.  Doug Collins from Moray in Scotland featured in the awards on several occasions with his pair of Gortinreagh setters.  The first Open of the Scottish circuit took place in Amulree on Wednesday 20th March under the stewardship of Colin McGregor and was judged by David Hall and Linda Westron.  Doug was awarded a Certificate of Merit with his ESB Gortinreagh Imp (GBFTCh & IFTCh Ballyellen Cody x Gortinreagh Gold).  However that was just a warm up for the next stake – the first Open run by the Gordon Setter Association (with the support of the Gordon Setter Club and the Gordon Setter Club of Scotland) took place near Tomatin on Friday 22nd March.  The conditions was tough – strong wind, rain and hail and a full card of 40 dogs.  Doug’s ESB Gortinreagh Imp took the top spot, winning the Open Stake under judges Davy O’Neill and Maggy Halliday. (there were 8 awards in total)  Doug continued to figure in the awards as he recorded a 3rd place with another ESB Gortinreagh Jemma (Gortinreagh Dave x Tullycroman Isla) at the next Open – run by the Pointer Club of Scotland which took place at Farr Estate on Monday 25 March.