Results of the Pointer and Setter Champion Stake 2023
This year’s event took place on the 12,600-acre Bollihope Moor in County Durham, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. Bollihope is considered to be one of the finest grouse moors in the country, so what better arena to stage the premier setter and pointer field trials event?
Pointer and Setter Champion Stake 2023
Bollihope Moor is an ideal location for setter trials. The grounds are superbly managed by Head Keeper Peter Fawcett, and his team. The combination of closely cropped and long heather provides a diverse terrain for the dogs to navigate. There are wide flat areas that allow dogs to get out and cover some ground, whilst still being in sight of handlers, judges and spectators alike.
The veteran judging team for the trials consisted of Colin Adamson, Carol Calvert, and Richard MacNicol, with Sheila Steeds serving as the chief steward.
In the competition, there were a total of 34 entrants, with the following breakdown by breed:
- 14 pointers
- 13 Irish setters
- 5 English setters
- 2 Gordon setters
Steve Robinson achieved remarkable success with his Irish setter bitch named FTCh Coldcoats Ginny, securing 1st place. His other two Irish setter bitches also performed exceptionally, coming in second and fourth place. The only non-Irish setter to break into the top three was Terry Harris’s pointer bitch, Sparkfield Sidekick, which secured third place.
Overall, it was an impressive performance by Steve Robinson and his Irish setter dogs, though Terry Harris’s pointer managed to prevent a clean sweep of the podium by securing third place.
