Waynep wrote:Hi Bill.
I was just wondering, are you the same Bill Bailey the appears a couple of times on the National retrieving Trial trophy with Derbershire Ace of Hearts?
Regards
Waynep.
Dear Waynep ?
R T Ch Derbyshire Ace A Hearts
The story of Cass and Bill Bailey
I buy my first dog (Sandy) as a burglar alarm and get hooked on Non-Slip Retrieving Trials.
Many years ago around 1973, I was a keen fisherman and on one occasion I came in late at night and was too tired to take the outboard motor from my boat and lock it up. Quoting those famous last words "She'll be right" to justify my laziness. When I checked in the morning the boat was there but the motor had vanished.
The police suggested that a dog might help to discourage a repeat performance. So first thing on Monday morning I called in to the R.S.P.C.A. in Moore Park. I spent some time talking to a few dogs. One a nice yellow one, appealed to me, so I went up to the office and paid my $7.50, collected his lead and headed off to take my new friend home with me.
Before I could leave the office, a voice stopped me in my tracks. "Do you want his papers ?". This threw me, I was quite used to dogs that had a favourite old boot to chew, even an old bone or two, but papers !. Did he lie on them, read them, chew them or ...?. So I said, rather blankly, "Papers, what papers ?", "HIS PAPERS", was the rather terse reply. While I had no reason to doubt the accuracy of the answer, it seemed a little like the ideal political answer in that while it was brief and reasonably polite, it did not really tell me anything I did not already know.
Apparently these papers were important, so I tried a different approach. "How much are they ?", I asked. This time the reply came back with a degree of heat and speed that surprised me. "NOTHING, THEY GO WITH THE DOG". Well, I thought if they cost nothing and are apparently important to the dog, I may as well take them. So I said I would be happy to take them.
In due course I found out about the papers, joined the Labrador Retriever Club of N.S.W. and started going to retrieving trials. I think it was at Campbelltown, during a demonstration day, that I saw Mr Bill Mason give an exhibition of retrieving with his dogs. It was fantastic, I had never seen anything like it. I could hardly wait to see what I could do with my good yellow dog, Sandy.
Since I had no idea as to how to start dog training I bought the first book that I found that appealed to me, as I went browsing through the book stores in town. This book was Dog Training by Amateurs by R. Sharpe, published by Country Life Ltd. 2-10 Tavistock St, Covent Garden. London. WC 2.
It seemed to me, to be just what I wanted, I certainly qualified as an amateur and it was directed to training a dog with field work in mind. Field work appealed to me as I had done some shooting on friend's properties to reduce the numbers of rabbits and ducks when necessary. I would recommend this book to anyone who is starting, especially if they have no previous knowledge of training gun dogs.
Later on I bought Training your Retriever by James Lamb Free published by Coward-McCann, Inc. New York. This is regarded by many as the standard reference work for training for retrieving trials. It is also well worth adding to your library.
During that period 25/03/72-17/02/73, I competed in 13 Novice trials with Sandy. I still remember the first one. When we arrived at the starting point there was much shuffling of catalogues and subdued comment. Being a true Novice I thought that this came about as the gallery became aware that a possible new member had joined the trialling fraternity. It was only when one of the stewards cross examined me as to whether I had the right dog, that
the light dawned. Apparently they thought it was a bit odd, that I was competing with a yellow Labrador named Tsang Black Prince.
I explained that when I called in to the Kennel Control, in order to complete Sandy's registration, I was asked to nominate a few names for christening purposes. I was seeking inspiration, when I noticed that one of his ancestors was F.T.Ch.Stevaden Prince Valiant, so I thought it only fitting to nominate Black Prince as a very suitable name for one of his relatives. The fact that Sandy was a yellow dog had momentarily escaped me. In due course I was advised that I was now the registered and accredited owner of a yellow Labrador dog, by the name of Tsang Black Prince, with all the rights privileges and prerogatives belonging thereto or suspended therefrom, or words to that effect.
Anyway we pressed on, despite these minor problems and managed to take a place in 9 of the 13 Novice Trials that we competed in. Although we had a few run-offs for first, we could never win one. That did not worry me, I was delighted with the way Sandy worked, not only in retrieving trials but also in the field when we went shooting. I was also making new friends and enjoying myself. I vaguely knew that there were Restricted Stakes and of course All Age Stakes, that was where the heavies were to be found. Serious people discussing Two birds, Double rise and Blind and similar mysteries. I watched them in action occasionally but found it totally confusing, so I went happily back to Novice where I felt at home.
In the days when I was competing with Sandy I saw a quote in a book about judging dogs. I think I borrowed the book from Wendy Andrew of Brierdene Kennels (at that time). It went like this “People often ask me, how can you tell a Champion when you see one. I always reply. You will know a Champion when you see one. There is a look in his eye, in his bearing, in his intelligence, if you know dogs you will know a Champion when you see one”.
Accordingly I made a point of really looking at all the dogs before they competed and then looked at them in competition, to see how they matched up. I tried to develop a “feeling of recognition” for a good dog. Whether I succede or not, I do not know, perhaps I have just been lucky. But I certainly tried to make a habit of really studying all the dogs I saw.
After a while it became apparent that Sandy (Tsang Black Prince) had developed PRA, so he had to retire from NSRT and I had to find another dog.
I think it was about the middle of March 1973 when Peter Halford told me that he knew where I might get a good dog. When I saw Cass (Blue) for the first time, he was in the yard at Peter’s place, just running around with the other dogs. I said to Peter “What’s he like ?” Peter said “I’ll show you” With that he picked up an old .22 rifle walked into the yard and swung the rifle to his shoulder. Cass was moving around with the other dogs, as soon as he saw Peter raise the gun, he froze. Every muscle stood out as he looked with total concentration, first to Peter as he raised the gun and then to where Peter was pointing the gun. Some of the other dogs showed a little interest but none with the total concentration that Cass showed. I had never seen anything like it. He was my dog from that moment on as far as I was concerned. Of course we took Cass out to do a retrieve or two. I had to hold him or he would have just taken off. He did not rely on his eyes to closely mark the fall. Just headed downwind of the fall, scenting as hard as he could. His mouth looked like the skirts of a hover craft as he concentrated on finding the scent that would lead him to the game. My birthday present that year was Cass, an untrained 18 mth old genius (I hoped). After necessary training (for both of us) with Peter and Eddy we competed in Novice 18/05/74 – 03/08/74 Restricted. 27/10/74 – 24/05/75 All Age from 01/06/75.All Age 01/06/75 – 26/07/82 approx:
R.T. Ch. DERBYSHIRE ACE A HEARTS.(Cass)
Sire R.T Ch. Casray Beau. Dam Sandycasadors Wish
Born 30/09/72 Died 22/08/85. Owner & Handler Bill Bailey from March 74.
Breeder Mr Peter Halford. Derbyshire Kennels.
RESULTS IN NON-SLIP RETRIEVING TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
1975 N.S.W. 2 nd
NATIONAL. (W.A) Did Not Finish
A.C.T. Did Not Place
VICTORIA. Did Not Finish
1976 N.S.W. 2 nd
NATIONAL. (A.C.T) 4 th
A.C.T. 2 nd
VICTORIA Did Not Finish
1977 NATIONAL. (W.A) Did Not Place
N.S.W. 1 st
A.C.T. 1 st
VICTORIA. 1 st
1978 QUEENSLAND. 1 st
N.S.W. 1 st
VICTORIA. 1 st
1979 N.S.W 1 st
A.C.T 4 th
VICTORIA 1 st
1980 QUEENSLAND 4 th
A.C.T. 3 rd
N.S.W. 1 st
VICTORIA Did Not Finish
NATIONAL. (VIC) 1 st
1981 QUEENSLAND. 4 th
N.S.W. 2 nd
NATIONAL. (N.S.W). 1 st
VICTORIA. Did Not Finish
I certainly do not take all the credit for Cass’s results. Apart from anything else Cass had to do the work to the Judge’s satisfaction. So far as training and handling was concerned I had problems as a steroid dependent asthmatic with frequent visits to hospital. Walking around paddocks carrying throwers etc would have been totally beyond me. Fortunately I found wonderfully generous friends who helped me in every way they could. Just to mention a few, Peter and Maureen Halford, Eddy Halford, for not only breeding Cass but Peter and Eddy took me training with their dogs in the early days and really helped me to build a foundation of retrieving knowledge. Wendy and Bruce Andrew, also helped with training facilities and information. Bill Loftus with advice about competing in trials. John Palmer and Macka, Ronnie Cooper & Hector were my main training partners. Training on your own is all very well but training in a group of good dogs is even better because you can see your own weaknesses and strengths compared with other good dogs more clearly.
They also carried all the gear and did the physical setting up the runs for our dogs as well as helping with training and handling ideas. There were many others helped whenever they could. It is a wonderful sport when people who want to win themselves will still help other competitors. They also help to keep your “feet on the ground”. One day at an interstate trial one of my new friends gave me a piece of original handwritten verse. It read “Oh it’s hard to be humble, when you have a good dog like Cass” All I could say in reply was “I hope it stays that way a bit longer”.But I took the hint and have applied it as best I can.
One quotation that I read years ago, that appealed to me, is credited to William Beebe (1877-1962), the first Curator of Birds, New York Zoological Society. It reads as follows.
"The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived though its first material expression be destroyed, a vanished harmony may yet inspire the Composer.
But, when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another Heaven and another Earth must come to pass before such a one can be again."
I hope we always remember that.
There have been many magnificent working retrievers doing what they alone can do. I hope we never degenerate to the point where the ideal retriever in competion is little more than a remote controlled robot fitted with a scoop to pick up the game.
Good luck and Good Trialing. - Bill Bailey.
Bailey W S (Bill)
12/12 Martin Place, Dural. N. S. W. 2158.
Email
wsbailey@bigpond.com Ph: 02-9651-6247 Fax 02-9651-4318