I grew up in Lurgan, Northern Ireland where I live to this day. Ardoon Warrior was my first Irish Red Setter although I had been involved in gundogs all of my early life through my father Samuel Davidson and my Grandfather George Davidson both of whom had had a life long interest in setters and pointers as well as Labradors. I was still a young boy when my family first got to know Will Sloan as a result of him phoning my father to buy a pointer pup. After that a common interest was quickly established and we spent many a wonderful day training dogs together in the Mourne Mountains.

Consequently when the time came that I was to get a pup of my own Will was able to put me in touch with The Warrior, or Rab as we called him at home, had a colossal temperament and intelligence, I swear he was nearly human! I remember him at one of the Dukeries Trials when Peter Heard and Pat McCabe were judging, the cock bird was trying to lead him away, but he just turned a blind eye to it, rounded up the covey and presented them in ones and twos - a really clever dog! I can honestly say that he never ever mucked up, bumped or flushed a bird, or stole a point. His behavior around game and other dogs was, without a lie, always absolutely impeccable!

His running action was strong and athletic, with a nice high head carriage, as he swept backwards and forwards across the heather. When he came on point he would look over his shoulder to check that I had spotted him and once re-assured he's just lie down in the heather until I arrived and gave him the command to produce the birds. He never once put too much pressure on his birds. It was almost too much to expect such an amazing dog to have looks as well, but he did. Even though I have to admit to be a little biased, he was easily one of the best looking Irish Setters that I have seen with a lovely dark glossy coat and a really handsome head with the kindest eye that you could wish for. Rab lived a full life until he was 14 and although he didn't serve a lot of bitches his blood lines are behind some of the top winning dogs of to-day. He was a hard act to follow and it is only now that I am getting around to the thought of getting another red dog.

Wins included:

· The Dukeries (Notts) Open Stake, Snake Pass, 18th July, 1981

· Ulster Gundog League Open Stake, Clogher Co.Tyrone, 27th March, 1982

· Irish Setter Association of England Open Stake, Shap Fell, 19th July 1982

· English Setter Club Open Stake, Eggleston Moor, Co.Durham, 23rd July, 1982

· Ulster Red Setter Club Open Stake, Murley Mountain, Co.Tyrone, 23rd July 1984

· Northern Ireland Pointer Club Open Stake, Craigs Moss, Ballymena, Co.Antrim, 29th September 1984

From the Irish Setter Association England, Field Trial Meetings 1982 Report

In hot, humid weather in July, the Association in conjunction with the Setter and Pointer Club held its Annual Field Trial Meeting on grouse at Shap Fell in Cumbria. Three stakes were run under the judges Mr. D McGarry and Mr. P Stewart.

On the first day no awards were made in the Puppy Stake, not because the youngsters did not work their best, indeed they worked very hard, but because there were no birds and the game certificate could not be signed. The Open Irish setter Stake was run in the same hot windless weather and although there was still a shortage of birds, the dogs managed to seek out a few.

The winner of this gruelling stake was Mr. B Davidson's handsome Field Trial Champion Ardoon Warrior who worked tirelessly to find game. Litter brother to Field Trial Champion Ardoon Flash, he was sired by Ardoon Daniel out of Shelagh Red Sail. Second place went to Mr. P McCabe's Bainaree Patricia.

The All Aged Pointer and Setter Stake was run on the second day and by this time the weather had improved slightly (it was not so exhaustingly hot) although it was still not good dogging weather. Regretfully none of the Irish won awards, first and second place going to English and third place to a Gordon.