Winterstart in Europe brings summernews from Australia. Pallas Green Flash will become the first faunasurveysetter to be taxidermed in the Natural History Museum. And the outcross between Irish red and red and white setters in the Netherlands will likely happen in 2012: Thomas (red) x Craigrua Goldie (andwhite), in the Pallas Green kennel.

Giulla O'Conloch proved her huntingualities allround and specialist in Denmark. She was a team with Irmuns May Theis, her foreseen partner for next year so possible summerlitter. Irish Summertime Lady enjoyed training there. Pictures? Click http://irishsetters.ning.com/profiles/blogs/a-fresh-start-for-new-adventures

Good autunmnews! In stormy conditions the red and white Irish setter Pallas Green Halloway gained his Irish Field Trial Champion title on the Dublin Mountains. This happened September 11th. His sister Harriet was the first setter bred in the Netherlands ever to gain that title in the native country.

Congratulations to trialer Jim Sheridan (Craigrua) and breeder Gereard Mirck in Almere. More good news, Harriet will have her first litter next year after a fantastic career also in an outcross program.  

A rainy summer here was enjoyable here thanks to arrival of pup Summertime Lady from Ireland. Het brother Red Knight Adventure went to Kentucky, sister Ardee Queen to Zeeuws Vlaanderen. 

Other news: Thomas sperm might be flown over to a freezer in the Land of the Sun, Australia. This might broaden chances of survival for a small tribe kept for half a century. Before, Fiona O'Conloch went to the USA and had a few good litters, last one is growing up now.   

Crossprogram

A new crossprogram for Irish red and white setters is set in concrete.

Thomas is one of the candidates in the Netherlands for a new crossprogram organised by Irish breeders of red and white working Irish setters. Target is to broaden the breedingbase of Irish red and white setters by using -worldwide- the best working red Irish setters.  Thomas' mother was all red Grouse, a littersister of red and white Harry so white may be hidden inside his genes. 

This makes the Thomasstory in my eyes the best setterstory of 2010/2011, from nowhere to anywhere. Check http://irishsetters.ning.com/profiles/blogs/2011-smiles-for-thomas?xg_source=activity  for more.

Record

In case you have readingtime to spend check http://irishsetters.ning.com/forum/topics/did-the-breed-change-or-not This topic deals with the question wether or not the Irish setter has changed in half a century. There were nearly seven hundred reactions worldwide, a record. 

Attached to the topic are articles focussing on the lifestory of Maureen Mc Keever (Derrycarne Irish setters), the legendary shower of hail Irish setters and a story on Ailean O'Cuchulain, daughter of Derrycarne Harp (called Kells), entitled Devils Dearest.

This way provided a celebration of half a century in Irish setters. Fifty years ago my first Irish setter Rex arrived.  Check  http://irishsetters.ning.com/profile/Setterset. In those times Irish setters were strong, healthy performers as companions, hunting dogs, field trialers. Nowadays it is rare to see an Irish setter in the Netherlands able to fulfill its original task.        

Back to roots by books

Time for a good book? Read the first Irish book on Irish setters since more than eighty years: The Irish Red Setter written by Raymond O'Dwyer. The second book on working Irish setters since Spring 2007 saw the launching of Hond Staat (Dog Points) written by Rembrandt Kersten. See Youth on a river inspires working setter book. More about the Irish book under the menu Against flow of time.

The lay out of this website is done by Femke Hurenkamp, she lives on a hill in southwestern Ireland. You can reach her at www.grafreckle.com 

Till the next adjustment, so watch out for SOS-signals.  Henk ten Klooster, winter 2011.

www.iersesetter.com