From his earliest teens, and for nearly a decade, Barry was a seasonal highland Ghillie on the prestigious Badanloch Estate in Sutherland. The Head Keeper at that time was Richard MacNicol, a renowned breeder and handler of Pointers, whose recognition is worldwide including becoming a Judge at Crufts.
Grouse were in abundance on the Strath of Helmsdale in the late 80s / early 90s, to such an extent that long held bag records were shattered, and days on the hill often went on in to the early evening, not least because you couldn't get back to the road without stumbling upon healthy covey after healthy covey (Chris Packham wasn't around then - it is ironic that Grouse numbers have tragically declined since he has been?!).
The hot August days meant that dogs couldn't run for very long, and it wasn't uncommon to go to the hill with ten or a dozen. Shooting every day during the early Season necessitated a big squad, and the kennels rarely had less than 20 dogs to cater for. Consequently, Pointers made up a substantial chunk of Barry's formative years, and definitely crystallised his desire for dogs with strong natural instinct, that required slightly less formal training but far more nurturing during early development.
Blast From The Past
Thanks to the assistance of a former boss and mentor, Barry is closing in on a lifelong ambition - to own and handle a working Pointer. He was a lot younger and leaner when this photograph was taken, but his love of the breed has never waned.
Those excellent bloodlines underpinned Richard taking successive Champion Stakes in 1997 and 1998, handling on behalf of the Right Honourable Viscount Leverhulme KG. More recently, he has been training and handling for Monsieur Laurent Hild of Tressady Estate, Sutherland, once again winning the Champion Stake in 2014 and taking the Morness kennels to dizzy new heights by creating an International Champion the following year.
We have been fortunate enough to acquire a young Morness bitch from Monsieur Hild, and our gracious thanks go to him, and to Richard for making it happen.
We are excited to return to a very different working discipline, and to rekindle past experience to fuel a current 'fire' in the kennels and in the field. Who knows, with a breed matriarch of this standard, Barry might even be tempted to try a trial or two?!
Watch this space...