The History of The English Setter Club
The English Setter Club was founded at the Curzon hall, Birmingham, on December 1st 1890. It was proposed that a Club be formed "whose objects would be the improvement of the English Setter not only in regard to perfection in form etc., but in respect to practical use in the field". The interest in Shows steadily declined until 1950, since when the object of the Club has been to promote Field Trials and to adopt such other means as may be deemed advisable for the encouragement of the English Setter.
On November 30th 1891, the English Setter Club agreed to hold a Field Trial in conjunction with the Pointer Club, the judges to be Mr CH Beck and Mr R Purcell Llewellyn. The first Field Trial organised by the Club took place on the Bradfield Estate, Cullompton, Devon on 17th and 18th April 1893, the judges being Mr Pilkington and the Hon.H.H. Molyneux. The Stakes run were an English Setter Puppy Stake, a Pointer Puppy Stake, a Brace Stake and an all Aged Stake. These were the usual Stakes run until 1950, except that after 1933 Irish and Gordon Setter Puppies were permitted to run with Pointer Puppies.
The Puppy Stake was the most important Stake run, and all the Puppies had to be nominated for the Stake by January prior to the Spring Trials in April. For the remaining Stakes, entries could be made right up to until the Draw. The prize money for the English Setter Puppy Stake was more than for the All Aged Stake, in 1926 the respective amounts being £70 plus specials (Extra Prizes) and £60 plus Specials. All these Field Trials, until 1950 were Spring Trials in April, together with The Kennel Club Trials and the National Field Trials at Shrewsbury. Although Grouse Trials were arranged to be held on Lord Lonsdale’s Shap Moor in 1914, the war prevented it and the first English Setter Club Grouse Trials were held on 31st July and 1st August 1951 at Stanhope. Between 1924 and 1950 the Club’s Trials were run under the Rules of the International Gundog League. Since 1950 the Trials have been run under Kennel Club Rules and Regulations.
With the exception of the periods of the two World Wars, the English Setter Club has continuously promoted and encouraged Field trials for Pointers and Setters since its inception. Even during the two Wars, the Officers of the Club retained documents, monies and property intact and so quickly reactivated the Club when conditions again permitted.
The English Setter Club is the oldest Gundog Club running under Kennel Club Rules.
On November 30th 1891, the English Setter Club agreed to hold a Field Trial in conjunction with the Pointer Club, the judges to be Mr CH Beck and Mr R Purcell Llewellyn. The first Field Trial organised by the Club took place on the Bradfield Estate, Cullompton, Devon on 17th and 18th April 1893, the judges being Mr Pilkington and the Hon.H.H. Molyneux. The Stakes run were an English Setter Puppy Stake, a Pointer Puppy Stake, a Brace Stake and an all Aged Stake. These were the usual Stakes run until 1950, except that after 1933 Irish and Gordon Setter Puppies were permitted to run with Pointer Puppies.
The Puppy Stake was the most important Stake run, and all the Puppies had to be nominated for the Stake by January prior to the Spring Trials in April. For the remaining Stakes, entries could be made right up to until the Draw. The prize money for the English Setter Puppy Stake was more than for the All Aged Stake, in 1926 the respective amounts being £70 plus specials (Extra Prizes) and £60 plus Specials. All these Field Trials, until 1950 were Spring Trials in April, together with The Kennel Club Trials and the National Field Trials at Shrewsbury. Although Grouse Trials were arranged to be held on Lord Lonsdale’s Shap Moor in 1914, the war prevented it and the first English Setter Club Grouse Trials were held on 31st July and 1st August 1951 at Stanhope. Between 1924 and 1950 the Club’s Trials were run under the Rules of the International Gundog League. Since 1950 the Trials have been run under Kennel Club Rules and Regulations.
With the exception of the periods of the two World Wars, the English Setter Club has continuously promoted and encouraged Field trials for Pointers and Setters since its inception. Even during the two Wars, the Officers of the Club retained documents, monies and property intact and so quickly reactivated the Club when conditions again permitted.
The English Setter Club is the oldest Gundog Club running under Kennel Club Rules.