Loving to see Aytee sired bitch Kinlochmhor Scree winning Novice and Open classes at the Highland Group GSPC Working Test for Ailsa Cunningham. Congratulations to Ailsa and her homebred bitch “Corrie” who is sired by Aytee Kalimar owned by Ben Barrett.
Breeding dogs is like ripples on a pond and successes are wonderful to share, well done Ailsa!
Some super work from the dogs this 3 day weekend with pheasant shooting opening. A great rough shoot with friends and a couple of days local. Lovely to share our sport with so many g*ns that love their dogs 🐾❤️🐾
Described by NZ Fish & Game as “a thrilling, fast paced upland game sport in New Zealand” it was all of those when Oxo hunted & pointed her first covey of Californian Quail in a dry riverbed today. On the flush they simply exploded into the air and with a flight so rapid I was amazed to see the bird drop. But right on cue she followed it up with a stunning blind retrieve in deep cover. Mavis looked on in wonder as it all happened so fast 🤣
Braided river beds make for good hunting
Very sad news that Tim Brown has passed this weekend in a tragic helicopter accident at Mt Aspiring National Park, South Island. I would like to send my love and condolences to his wife Chrissy and daughter Ivy for their terrible loss.
Tim was owner of an Aytee puppy from our 2025 litter and it was easy to see, when meeting up with him earlier this year, that he was already a perfect owner, having made a great start with Isla’s training and his enormous commitment, enthusiasm and their shared love of all things hunting, meant that they had so much to look forward to.
My heart goes out to Chrissy and Ivy and family and all Tims friends and to everyone else who has been involved in this awful tragedy.
RIP Tim.
A very stormy night gave way to a lovely first day picking up at the Craigmore Station Shoot this weekend and Mavis had forgotten none of her skills, sticking to her job despite some very busy drives with plenty of distractions. Once finally home (16 hrs after leaving the house !) she relished joining kennel mates by the fire. A dogs perfect kinda day 🐾🐾🐾🐾
Mavis kept busy
The final Pointer and Setter field trial of the 25/26 season finished last month at the wonderful Poronui Game Preserve where despite birds hiding up on a very cold morning, we enjoyed a great day. It has been a fabulous season for Ch FW FTW NTL Aytee Quintessa (Mavis) and FW FTW Aytee Oceania (Oxo). Between them, winning the New Zealand Nationals, the South Island Championship, and championship trophies for North Otago GDC P&S All Breeds Dog of the Year, the Waimate GDC P&S Ch., Central Otago GDC P&S Ch, Rotarua GDC P&S Natural Game Ch, South Otago P&S Ch and the P&S Wingfield Natural Game Ch.
None of this would have been possible without the work of club committees and Field Trial secretaries and judges as well as the many helpers who provide pigeons, equipment and time to make sure everything runs smoothly. Massive thanks to you all and to our many new friends who have been such fun to spend time with, I wish you all a very happy season. We are so proud of Mavis and Oxo for settling into their new way of working and it will be fun to share our sport over the next few months. Bring on the birds !
Two DTL Pigeon trials last weekend produced challenging runs for Oxo. Always affected by the wind, scent and distractions, on her first run she dropped into a large bowl of sheltered ground where breeze disappeared and we lost countless marks questing for a cold game retrieve that was eventually found under her feet. The second run gave a breeze but much distraction from running hares in the scrub but she finally achieved on a better mark. A day with difficult conditions - how good that the view and company made up for it !
Barry & Lacey with yours truly after our runs
A day of Pointer and Setter Club Natural Game Trials at Poronui Station ran this weekend as Cyclone Vaianu moved in on NZ. Emergency weather warnings had reduced trials days from 2 to 1, actual trials from 4 to 2 and the running list to just seven, but oh, the fabulous hunting grounds of rough white grass, steep covered banks, rushes, streams and fallen trees allowed many of the new season birds to keep our braced runners busy, constantly tricking and tempting the dogs.
‘Oxo’, Aytee Oceania, revelled in the work, coped with the bird numbers and I was very proud for her to be awarded a 1st in Saturdays Wingfield Natural Game Championship, which was the only award of the day. Thankyou to Poronui for allowing us on their wonderful estate, to NZ Gamebirds Ltd, for such fabulous birds, to the judges Rob Meredith, Robyn Gaskin and Helen Sansome and to Robyn and FT Sec Peter Hay for all their work.
An amazing coincidence was that the previous week I had been lent a book by very kind spaniel trialler and friend, Peter O’Neill. Written by Leon Mortensen, an icon from Pointer and Setter Trialling in NZ back in the day, it was a fabulous read and I can recommend to anyone who loves working, breeding and training air scenting hunting dogs. The author was also owner of the Wingfield Kennel and had, along with his wife Joy, originally donated the trophy that was in my airline bag on the way home!
Getting a late flight with Oxo out of Auckland before the cyclone and being collected at midnight after such a day, was indeed a day of memories to stay forever and I will treasure having her name on the Wingfield Trophy.
Judge - Roger Neale 1st Anton & Bruno 2nd FTW Aytee Oceania - Oxo
Thanks to Auckland & Regions GSP Club for a really super day running Championship Trials 1&2 and a Novice competition on a very hot day this weekend.
It was a lot to ask “Oxo” who flew up from S.I. a few hours before and she was the only dog to complete both championship trials, working hard to finish 2nd in Ch2. Thanks so much to Gail Blankley and her team of organisers. Thanks to the judges, sponsors and the host who provided such marvellous grounds.
Congratulations to Anton & Bruno for a fantastic day - 1st in Ch2 and Novice👏 Yay !
ALL BREEDS DOG OF THE YEAR - UK & NZ FTW AYTEE OCEANIA
A major trip south to a series of field trials held across Otago and hosted by the North and Central Otago Clubs, ended well for “Mavis”, Ch NTL FW FTW Aytee Quintessa and “Oxo” FTW Aytee Oceania . Trial conditions varied although were generally dry with light breeze and each of the fabulous grounds offered dogs every chance to show themselves whether running braced or DTL trials.
Oxo was our star, winning the South Island Championship and also collecting the All Breeds Dog of the Year Trophy. Donated by Elaine Clarke and in memory of Gordon Clarke, it’s awarded for the highest scoring dog in this series of Pointer and Setter Trials. Mavis was close behind with 2 wins and 2 seconds. Congratulations also go to 1st Prize trial winners Grand Adolph and Liza Terry and to all placegetters in all the trials.
The teamwork to put this trip together was phenomenal, so thanks to organisers and FT secs, Roger Neale, Grant Adolph and Janis & Russell Giles, Central Otago President Peter Southee, Marty (for birds) and also thanks to all judges, Barry Hill, Neil Stewart, Robyn Gaskin, Dave Sheeley, Don Mackay and Roger Neale, as many hours driving and in some cases flights were needed to reach locations.
Thanks also to the hosts for the use of their wonderful grounds and thankyou too, to the many generous sponsors amongst them Blackhawk and New Zealand Petfoods.
It was a fabulous trip, spending time with great people, in super places and with our amazing dogs, thanks Oxo and Mavis🐾❤️🐾
Oxo and Mavis😁 each the winner in their two Central Otago braced trials. Mavis 1ST and Oxo top dog on 2ND
