Reds in action

Usually occur outside the shooting season, i.e. between September and April.

In a conventional pigeon trial dogs are run individually on the same course which has two placed live pigeons, which are pointed, and one dead pigeon which is retrieved. The live pigeons are held captive in a small remote controlled cage which is released by the judge. Dogs start with 100 points and points are deducted by the judge for misdemeanours through the trial. In a Championship trial a dog must win with at least 75 points to receive challenge points  for a Field Trial Champion (F.T.Ch) title.

In braced pigeon trials dogs are braced by ballot and run in pairs over a course that usually has two live pigeons. Dogs can be discarded or brought back to future rounds at the judges discretion. Usually the course is changed for round two which will have a dead bird included for the dogs to retrieve. Championship pigeon braced trial winning dogs will be awarded a challenge point at the judges discretion to go towards the title of Field Trial Champion.

Like braced pigeon trials the dogs are braced by drawn ballot and run in those pairs over grounds known to contain wild game such as Pheasants, Californian Quail and Brown Quail. Braces will typically run for about 15 minutes each or until an eliminating offence occurs. Dogs can be discarded or brought back to future rounds in any order at the judges discretion. Dogs must have at least one productive point and be shot over to be considered for awards. All placed dogs must carry out a retrieve on a dead game bird to receive an award in championship trials. All braced trials (pigeon and wild game) will have two judges.

In a championship wild game trial winning dogs will be awarded a challenge point at the judges discretion to go towards the title of Field Champion (F.Ch.) 

It is worth noting that no birds are shot in New Zealand Pointer and Setter trials.