STL All Sports

The inaugural public trial in America took place on Oct. 8,1874, near Memphis, Tenn., sponsored by the Tennessee State Sportsmen's Association. This initial "Grand Field Trial" for the best Setter or Pointer attracted nine starters of local reputation, but brought out far greater interest and enthusiasm among owners and breeders than had been anticipated. The judging at this first American field trial was on the basis of so many points for each piece of good work, with the following scale of points governing: Nose, 30; pace and style, 20; breaking, 20; pointing style and staunchness 15; backing 10; roading, 5.

Subsequently the method of judging underwent various developments. The point system was replaced by the "heat system," wherein each dog was in direct competition with its bracemate and a winner was declared for every heat, with respective winners rebraced until a final result was achieved. In vogue at the present time is the so called "spotting system." This means "spotting" out the best dogs in the stake-for one dog is in competition against all the others; his performance is weighed against that of not only his immediate bracemate, but also of all the other dogs who compete in the particular stake. Field trials may be divided into several classifications:

(1) Pointing Dog Trials, for Pointers, English Setters, Irish Setters, Gordon Setters, Brittany Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers, Wire-Haired Pointing Griffons, Drahthaars, Weimaraners and Vizslas, to name the breeds that point their game.
(2) Beagle Trials, with 13-inch and 15-inch classes, and competition on rabbits.

(3) Spaniel Trials, for the accepted Spaniel breeds, chiefly for English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels. The dog is required to hunt the ground within ordinary shooting range, find game and upon flushing, stop immediately, assume a sitting position, exhibit steadiness to wing and shot, then retrieve on command. Pheasants and ducks are ordinarily used in licensed trials; pigeons in sanctioned meets. Land work receives the greater emphasis, although water tests are provided.

(4) Retriever Trials, for the recognized Retriever breeds, notably Labradors, Goldens, Chesapeake Bays, Irish Water Spaniels, Curly-Coated and Flat-Coated Retrievers. The function of the Retriever is to mark the fall of game, on order go briskly to the fall, recover the game and return rapidly to deliver right up to hand. Upland game birds and waterfowl are provided; land and water tests are given.
(5) Hound Trials, of different kinds for the various hound breeds. Fox hound meets have been esteemed over a goodly term of years; Coon hound trials have gained in popularity, and there are contests for Bassets.

Although there are the five general classifications enumerated, the average gunner is likely to think of a field trial in terms of bird dogs because the competitions for Pointers and Setters antedated all other forms of hunting dog competitions and continue the most popular. It was not until nearly a third of a century after American Pointer and Setter trials became a matter of public record in 1874 that Beagle trials began. In this country, Spaniel trials made their debut about 1924 and Retriever trials later.
All of the recognized Pointing dog trials are under the auspices of the American Field and the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America. Individual clubs, as well as the parent breed organizations, promote field trial competitions. There are nearly 850 recognized bird dog trials held annually. These meets embrace over 2,700 individual stakes and approximately 40,000 purebred Pointing dogs compete in these events.