Dixie and I waiting for our run at the Yorkshire Gundog Club’s Puppy Stake at Newbiggin Moor, Blanchland in July 2010 in the company of Mrs Val Isherwood.

Dixie was trained after his brother Dave and is a very methodical and thorough dog who always puts in good ground work and is extremely clever and cool around game.  This wisdom in game handling is no surprise when you take a look at his pedigree.

Dixie was born on 20th August, 2008 and is a son of FTCh Stanedge Bracken , who in turn was a son of Int FTCH Gardenfield Warrior.  Dixie’s mother Gortinreagh Blossom was never trialled but she is a daughter of my Int FTCh  Gardenfield Warrior and Ballyellen Bettina – one of the best game finding dogs I’ve ever owned. Bettina had very important parents.  Her father was Johnny Geoghegan’s first Norwegian import FTCh Storeskars G’Snorre and one of the most successful English setters in the British Isles and Ireland in modern times, the legendary Int FTCh Lefanta Patsy was Bettina’s mother.

Dixie with his brother Dave behind about to step onto the heather for their Derby campaign.

I have only trialled him lightly and was very pleased when he won his first Open in fine style on Murley Mountain at the Ulster Irish Red Setter Club’s Open Stake in September 2012 under the judges Edward Butler and Jean Brown.

Dixie producing pheasant at Knockatallon back home in Ireland.

The Summer 2013 season in Ireland for Dixie began with a run at Glenwherry in the N I Pointer Club Open Stake on 17th August.  He had a decent run in his first round against Joe Dobbin’s ESD Falconstoop George.  After a couple of casts in his second round he drew on to point on the right of the beat on the lower part of the slope we were working.  When I asked him to move forward he moved in positively and marched up the hill, dropping to wing as a large covey of grouse flushed out in front.  He then marched on to where the birds had gone from, but there were none left to produce.  He was not asked to run on and when the awards were announced he was declared winner.  This was his second Open win and gave him his title of Field Trial Champion.

FTCh Gortinreagh Dixie producing game at the GB Champion Stake, Bollihope Moor, 2013

FTCh Gortinreagh Dixie at Bollihope, 2013 producing more grouse.