IRWS TRAINING IN SCANDINAVIA

Here are two photos of Drakstjärnans Giron, almost 22 month old at his first show. He was so happy, greeting and saying hello to everyone.

The show was the Swedish Red Setter Club SISK first show of the year, only gundogs. The show had an entry of 37 dogs - Red Setters, Irish Red and White Setters, English Setters, Gordon Setters and Pointers.

The judge, Hans Andersson only awarded Best of Breed to the Red Setter and the Irish Red and White Setter. It was the judge's opinion that the dogs from the other three breeds lacked sufficient quality to receive an award. There was just two breeds competing for Best in Show. T he best dog was awarded to a 10 year old champion Huntmans Mac Laughlin. The reserve Best in Show was awarded to Drakstjärnans Giron owned by Lena Fridén.

Report by Lena Fridén.

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PåTå Bialitt

Sire : Dalriach Dear John Dam : Dalriach Berengaria,

PåTå Bialitt won Best Of Breed at the Köping show with CACIB.
It was Bialitts first show.

owned by Lena Fridén

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Deargbán Brendan

Sire Ballinrush Blanco's Fella & Dam Sheebhin Orla

owned by Lena Fridén

Lena at the 2008 Confined Breed Stake in Ireland

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Congratulations !

First Irish Red and White Setter Champion in Scandanavia

Craigrua Rogue Owned and trained by

Gun Carmland

Craigrua Rogue, (handled by Mayvor Jonsson)

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FUTURE CHAMPIONS?

Snowgrouse Kelly, September 2008.
From the Norwegian litter, breeder Nina Hordnes.

Mayvor Jonsson at a training event for IRWS pups.

From left, Jan-Erik Svandal with Craigrua Quaser and Quiva, Dame Ballycrac Annah, Sire Craigrua Raphael, me with Rogue, to the right Mayvor Jonsson with Rastorps Pajazzo and Pippi.

Four puppies pointing a wing.
From left Rastorps Pippi, Craigrua Quaser, Rastorps Pajazzo, Craigrua Quiva.

On the 13th and 14th of October the Scandinavian Association for IRWS held a training weekend with grouse in Tanndalen/Bruksvallarna, Sweden.

This ground is for training and trialling only, no hunting, so there is usually plenty of game and this time was no exception.

When we started our journey in Karlstad 600 km south of Tanndalen on Friday afternoon it was sunny and +10C. When we arrived to Tanndalen after 7 hours driving it was dark, -10C and 1 dm of snow.

The last 100 km we had to drive on icy roads. We were a little worried if people had managed to drive on this icy roads but everybody arrived safely. It was still cold on Saturday morning but during the day the weather changed and we had a few degrees above zero and also some sunshine.

On our way to the training ground we had to stop our cars, the icy road was covered with black grouse; about 50 birds were sitting on the road and in the trees around. I have never seen so many black grouse at the same time before!

About 25 people and their dogs came to this training, many of them from Norway. It was a mixed group, for some dogs and their handlers it was the first time training with grouse, others were open class dogs and almost professional handlers.

During the weekend some of the dogs that had never been in the mountains before developed greatly, it was interesting to see how they reacted on the scent of grouse. We saw some very good dogs, both Irish Red and Red and White Setters, doing a good job of handling the birds.

After a long day in the mountains we had a nice dinner at the hotel and after a good night sleep we were ready for one more day of training.

On Sunday you could see that many of the dogs that weren’t used to hunting and running hard were tired. But some of the younger dogs did well on Sunday also, as did the more experienced dogs.

It’s good that the cooperation between Sweden and Norway is working. It’s necessary to work together - with a breed as small as the IRWS. Some of the dogs we saw were very promising, needing a little more training and work. I’m convinced that there is a future for the IRWS as a hunting and trialling dog in Scandinavia.