Setter - Early Shows and Field Trials

Early Shows and Field Trials

The first official dog show held in the UK was at Newcastle-on-Tyne in June 1859 and entry was restricted to Setters and Pointers. There were 36 setters and 23 Pointers entered and the show was organised by John Shorthose and William Pape. Mr Jobling's Black and Tan Setter, Dandy, won the first prize for setters. The class for Pointers was judged by Mr Jobling who awarded the prize to a Pointer owned by a Mr Brailsford, who helped judge the setters. This raised some criticism.

The prize awarded to each winner was a double barrelled gun worth around £15 to £20.

There was uncertainty as to how setters would be classified at early shows. Three classes were usually scheduled in 1862 dividing setters into three categories: English, Black/Tan and Irish. These became official breed classifications when The Kennel Club was founded in 1873.

During 1806 in the UK there was a sale of setters. A black setter bitch called Peg was sold for 41 guineas while the price for setter dogs called Punch, Brush, Bob, Bell, Bounce and Sam varied from 17 to 32 guineas each. No colours were specified for the dogs.

The first recorded Field trial in the UK was held in April 1865 on the estate of Samuel Whitbread (MP) at Southill, Bedfordshire. It was only open to Setters and Pointers. All the setters entered were black and tans (Gordons).

In 1879, the Western Hemisphere held its first recorded show. This was also restricted to setters and pointers. It was four years after this that the first American Field trial was held.