Fresh Summer Setter Sounds from the Netherlands.

Hopefully you enjoy a sunny Summer, in case of a rainy day or reading time on the beach 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.        

Springjoy

Joy was provided by training preceding Spring. Click for a view on spring pointing setter school (adult) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_FrfoBlziU and (pup)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-TpGV_6VVI 

See how Clancy shows snipe on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cll5mQkBh2M and enjoy pictures of spring sessions on  http://irishsetters.ning.com/profiles/blogs/grey-partridge-in-yellow-amp

And for pictures of springs last training-session click http://irishsetters.ning.com/profiles/blogs/grey-partridge-in-yellow-amp

Young life 

Click for viewing young life to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGPW7jaHaPM and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcBnYCkkTII showing pups from Dutch bred Fiona O'Conloch sired by the Swedish dog Fyledalen's Aragorn.  Recently the dog Dutch from same parentage owned/trialed by Pat Carter won an amateur class field trial in Kentucky.

Fiona's sire Echlin O'Conloch became twelve years this March, that's why Hunting for Eternal Youth was made click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhZes0kzQh4   

Focus on working Irish

Magazine De Jachthond (The Hunting Dog) focuses in the Summer-edition on the working Irish setter in the Netherlands. Five pages with a lot of pictures plus the cover are reserved for the Arab of birddogs. The cover shows Giulla Redskin O'Conloch, inside Pallas Green Gina is the main actor.   

There is a profile, plus interviews with prominent trialers Jan Nooijen and Gerard Mirck. The first one is new in the Irish setter working world but hugely succesfull with pointers and Gordon setters. Nooijen promises to bring the red setter to the top as well. For ordering the Irish setter special check http://www.dejachthond.nl/

Not in the mood

A planned springlitter from Redwing White Lightning (Clancy) failed. She was not in the mood anymore when arriving at her partner in focus, Urtis from France, the only scoring Irish setter in EC+WC. You can still enjoy her springlitter 2006 by clicking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlvyWQo8FF0   

Regrettably, no Dutch team for the EC in Italy could be formed. Last year there was only one able to qualify in field trials: Fay O'Conloch. The EC 2010 was won by the magnifcent French dog Apache, with some phantasy while galloping indeed like the indians of youthbooks.

Luckily there are several promising youngsters. Enjoy one of them, adventurous Pallas Green Kells, by clicking  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujNngNl3kJ0 and http://irishsetters.ning.com/profiles/blogs/a-puppy-to-start-2010-update.   

Success in Ireland

Celebration time for every setter fancier. For the first time in history an Irish setter bred & raised in the Netherlands, won enough trials to become an Irish Field Trial Champion. Her name: Pallas Green Harriet.

Harriet is bred by Gerard Mirck (Pallas Green), was raised after her puppyhood in O'Conloch kennels providing first contacts with feathers, leaving Summer 2006 for famous Craigrua kennels of Jim Sheridan in Ireland, one of worlds most experienced pioneers in the resurrection of the working Irish red and white setter.      

What no trialer succeeded to do here this millennium, was done by Jim. He trained Harriet to absolute top levels, surprising friend and enemy. Just preceding spring 2008, her victory began on the Dublin Mountains. She added two more wins, enough for the title of Irish Field Trial Champion.  

Well that is enough, you'd say. But no, Harriet went on to win the field trials during celebration of the centennial of the Ulster Red Irish Setter Club in september. Her breeder and trialer are in heaven. Check the menu White memories of times gone by to  for a story on Harriet and her illustrious sire Harry. Plus a unique of old Ireland with on it ancient settertribes.

Back to roots by books

Time for a good book? Read the first Irish book on Irish setters since 83 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, Summer 2010.

www.iersesetter.com