NOVI LIGURE — Another success for Massa Pineamong the best conductors of pointing dogs with several trophies to his credit. The 70 year old of Novi Ligure was awarded the first edition of National Trophy of the Piacentine Hills, organized by the Piacenza delegation of the Italian Setter Society. Around 50 participants from all over Italy met in Podenzano for the pointing dog competition on natural game which took place on the hills of Val Nure.
Pino Di Massa climbed to the top step of the podium with Elektra, a four-year-old female setter. Owned by the Cremonese Marcello Bianchibred by Roberto Locatelli, Elektra has already won several competitions. «2024 will be the last year of competitions for her, then she will be able to dedicate herself to her puppies», explains Di Massa, a former worker who has always had a passion for four-legged friends.
«I’m not a professional, but I competed a lot with the best and I learned a lot», he says. So much to become World Champion with the dog Arno. And twice he won the European championship with the setter Elf.
Pino Di Massa in the center with Elektra
In tests on natural game, the dog must search the assigned terrain until it finds prey. At that point he stops and – when the wild bird takes flight – the hunter fires a blank shot. Throughout this phase the dog must remain still. The time limit is 15 minutes and obviously no errors must be made.
Pino Di Massa, the champion
«We need to create a great feeling with the dog» explains Di Massa. «There is a lot of work and passion behind it. We try to enhance the dog’s natural qualities, its intelligence and its nose. In the end what comes out is a real team made up of a man and a dog working in unison».
Although the results obtained have been of the highest level, Pino Di Massa has no intention of turning his passion into a job: «There are those who get lazy after retirement. I enjoy going to the countryside with the dogs. Two or three are enough for me, no more. I don’t want it to become too burdensome a commitment. However, I would like to continue to handle dogs of the caliber of Elektra, Arno and Elfo for many years to come.”
«These four-legged friends they also helped me overcome bad moments in my life, like in 2022, when I lost my son Marco who was only 35 years old. Taking care of them gave me the strength to move forward”, concludes Pino Di Massa.
