Member of Team Ireland talks to us about winning the Top dog Award for the last 2 years and how he is hoping to make the team this year with his homebred dog, FTCH Balleyvalley Riley.

Question 1

Tell us a bit about Riley?

Riley will be 7 this July. He is homebred out of my Field Trial winning bitch, Balleyvalley Sam to Kirsty Cousin’s FTCH Dunjailin Rocky Rogue of Westerkames.

Riley has been very easy to train from a young age. He has a lot of natural ability and a fantastic temperament. He is a lovely strong big dog which is what I like in a dog.

Question 2

When did you start training dogs and with who?

I started around 20 years ago when a friend asked me to go along to a Working Test. I had a dog and done a bit of rough shooting but the dog was not trained to the level required for Working Tests which became very clear when I was watching the dogs compete. I immediately decided I wanted to try this out so I got myself a new pup and started attending Craigavon Gundog Club training classes.

Soon after I met Declan Boyle and the late, Tony Rodgers. These two then became mentors in the sport and they are a huge part of my success today.

Question 3

Do you train any other breeds?

No I prefer working with retrievers.

Question 4

Do you prefer dogs or bitches?

I started with bitches as I thought they were easier but when I had the litter from FTW Balleyvalley Sam, there was a dark yellow dog pup who was the smallest in the litter and I instantly liked him. So I decided to keep him and I called him Riley and I would safely say he turned into one of the biggest in the litter so it taught me that the smallest in the litter does not always mean they will stay the smallest.

Question 5

How many times have you represented Ireland?

I have represented Ireland 4 times at both the Scottish Game Fair held at Scone Palace and The Game Fair held at Ragley Hall, once at The Welsh Game Fair and once at The Kennel Club Team Event held at Capesthorne Hall.

I have been fortunate to be Top Dog for the last 2 years at Scone Game Fair where I have won approx. £3000 in prizes which is astonishing. Sam does a fantastic job and the support she gets from companies is incredible.

Winning Top Dog against some of the best dogs in the country is an amazing feeling. It is an accolade in itself but to walk away with a voucher for £750 for a dog cabin and a voucher for £500 for a custom made Vehicle dog Box plus much more is phenomenal. No other working test offers those kind of prizes. Everyone is desperate to get selected for the Scone Team.

Question 6

How do you prepare for Team Events?

Once the Ireland Team is selected (this is a long process starting usually around March) the whole team (spaniels and retrievers) get together every week at a purpose built arena at Raymond Wilson’s house (he is a familiar face in the spaniel team). We are very grateful that we are able to train on this.

We try to replicate all the retrieves that have been set up at previous fairs competitions.

I always say it is hard to make the team but it is even harder to stay there.

Every time I have represented Ireland, the support from the team members and the Captain is always very encouraging. We win as a team and we lose as a team. Unfortunately with dogs, they can have a bad day and it just does not go the way we want. But it is the same for everyone. We just try to make sure that we have trained for all eventualities.

Question 7

What do you like about The Scottish Game Fair?

I think it would be easier to ask what I do not like about The Scottish Game Fair.

This fair was the first event I represented Ireland. I was obviously very nervous, however the people were all very welcoming and I made a lot of new friends from the very first time visiting.

It has a fantastic atmosphere and it is organised impeccably by Sam and her committee and I have to admit it is my favourite out of all the competitions I have been to.