Update from Germany - October 2008 DEARGBAN O'FAOLAIN gave birth to 4 males and 3 female puppies in Kennel Lohomanns - the sire is Rushfield Sage  After an unspectacular pregnancy with maximum 2-3 expected pups, she surprised everybody with 7 strong active red and whites.   ***** News from Trialground The news is also very good!   The field trial last weekend in October was won with a 1st price and CACIT by IRS bitch LOHMANN'S MOMO.  The other exciting news is the result of DALRIACH GRAINNE - owned by Wolfgang Stief(Littersister to Ch. D. GARRYOWEN.) She came home with a 3rd prize and was a unfortunate when the birds flew off. With this result she has qualified for breeding and surely will do something good for the German IRWS population. DALRIACH GRAINNE ***** Deargban O’Faolain

 

You might know that we judge with a 12 point system on national trials.
12 points are exceptional for absolutely outstanding and perfect. (An old judge explained to me that a dog should point several times with brilliant style  ...while bombs are exploding left and right of him. I think he was from that time, when WW2 had left some impressions.) 12 points can only be given for nose and on autumn trials for 'searching duck in deep water/reed'.
9, 10, 11 points are VERY GOOD, with 10 being the optimum under normal circumstances and 11 points something really worth looking at (a VERY GOOD PLUS). 9 is already a small minus.
6,7,8 points are GOOD
3,4,5 are SUFFICIENT
1,2 POOR

 

On the mentioned versatile trial, a dog gets points for

­     nose (x3)

­     search(x2)

­     pointing (x2)

­     contact to handler (x2)

­     passion/hunting lust (x1)

­     searching a living duck in a lake (x3)

---> 10 points each = 130 points for the so called talent-things

plus

­     searching and retrieving a dead duck out of deep water with lots of reeds

­     Retrieve of a pheasant on 150 meter trail

­     retrieve a rabbit on 300 m trail

­     sum of the apport of duck/pheasant/rabbit

­     obedience

--> 10 points each is maximum here = 50 points for training subjects

 

The dogs run solo, judged by 3 judges in competition with all other pointing breeds. Maximum 5 dogs in one group and they are out from 8.00 a.m. till about 3 p.m. They also have to pass a shooting test on land and when they retrieve a duck from water, a shot is fired on the water, whilst the dog swims towards the duck.

Teeth, eyes and testicles are also checked.

 

180 points is the top target.

It is a saying: 150 points or more = you have a good dog

160 points or more = you have a very good dog

170 points = you have been lucky

 

Only very few dogs get 11 points here or there and manage 182...183..185 !

To get 187 points is well worth a mention in the newspaper!

 

Congratulations to you Terry and Deargban O’Faolain