Cover Dog, Woodcock. Pheasant Championships, Futurity &

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MICHIGAN WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP
Gladwin, MI—The 2005 Michigan Woodcock Championship was competed October 12-16 at the field trial management area near Gladwin, MI. The Championship included a stellar field of 61 entrants and a tremendous crop of woodcock and grouse. At least 24 contenders finished the hour with wild bird finds, many with multiple pieces of work.

Claiming his first championship title in tremendous fashion was Pennstar, setter male owned by the tandem of "bleep" Brenneman of Port Matilda, PA, and Bob Watts of Millville, PA, and handled by Dave Hughes. It was a performance that was reaching to the limits, fast and driving. An all class effort resulting in finds on both grouse and woodock. Earning runner-up with a perpetually driving, forward, independent race and an identicial two finds on grouse and woodcock was Taz, setter male owned by Phil Gould of Bernardsville, NJ, and handled by Robert Ecker, Jr. There were several contenders close to the winners.

Judges Ron Cole of Warren, MI, and Bill Wendt of Hope, MI, ably presided.

Thirty-three Derbies and 23 puppies were drawn for the companion stakes. The Derby placements went to three fine setters. Taking first with two well handled grouse finds was Rayden, owned and handled by the brothers Forman. Second went to Greta with a find of her own, handled by Tom Fruchey. Third was Lucy, owned and handled by Leann Parnell.

— Mike Traxler

NATIONAL OPEN PHEASANT SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP
Baldwinsville, NY—Setter male Stone Tavern Matrix topped a field of 59 to be named the 2005 National Open Pheasant Shooting Dog Champion. Matrix put on a superior performance with five sterling finds, a strong race reaching to the limits and at the same time he was in perfect sync with his handler. Matrix is owned by Dr. Joseph Trovato of Allentown, NJ, and was handled by Mike Tracy.

Pointer male Sugarknoll Buckshot, last year’s winner, was named runner-up with three finds and an unproductive. He ran a strong forward race. Buckshot is owned by Pete and Chris Del Collo of Newtown Square, PA, and was handled by Luke Eisenhart.

— Joseph A. Lordi


COLORADO OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP & RUCKER CLASSICS
Arnett, OK—Marvin McDowell swept a strong field of 46 to win the Colorado Open Shooting Dog Championship which started October 3 on the Dearing Ranch near Arnett, OK. Named champion was Kaw Valley Lou, exciting pointer female owned by Maurice VanLerberg of Shawnee, KS. Rockin Baxter, pointer male owned by Brad Calkins of Englewood, CO, was runner-up.

In the accompanying Colorado Derby, first was Smith’s Twisted Again, pointer female owned by Shannon Smith and handled by Shawn Kinkelaar. Gary Hill handled second placed Arapahoe Beauregard, pointer male owned by Ralph Millie. Third was Crush, pointer male owned and handled by Don Petrony.

Judges for the Championship were Blake “Butch” Winter and Larry “Fuzzy” Smith. Butch teamed with Conrad Plevnic to judge the companion Derby.

In the Raymond Rucker Amateur Shooting Dog Classic, first place went to Barshoe Osoma Ben, pointer male owned by Robert Gum and Lee West, and handled by Robert. Second was Phantom’s Nemaha Jake, pointer male owned by Brad Bates, Carlos Gibson and Virgil Moore and handled by Virgil Moore. Arapahoe Playboy, pointer male owned and handled by Ralph Millie, took third.

In the Amateur Shooting Dog Derby, first was to Mule Creek Rockstar, pointer male owned and handled by Virgil Moore. Rockin H Sam, pointer male owned by Gary Hill and handled by Lisa Gordon, was second. Third was Blackrock Down, pointer male owned and handled by Andy Pinkley.

Lisa Gordon did a fine handling job to place her pointer female, Spring Creek’s Passion, first in the Rucker All-Age Classic for the second year in a row. Second was Stoneleigh, pointer male owned and handled by Dee Nix. Third went to Johnny’s Jewel, setter female owned and handled by Terry Erickson.

The Amateur All-Age Derby was won by Broadway Cowpoke, pointer male owned and handled by Doug Holmes. Second was Rockin H Cowboy, pointer male owned by Gary Hill and handled by Lisa Gordon. Third place went to Rockin H Jet, setter male owned by Gary Hill and handled by Rodney Aldridge.

— Conrad Plevnic


INTERNATIONAL PHEASANT CHAMPIONSHIP
Harpster, OH—The 2005 running of the International Pheasant Championship and companion Derby was held October October 13-17 at the Killdeer Plains Wildlife Management Area near Harpster, OH. Cedar Oak Destiny, pointer male, took home the title for owner and handler Tom Honecker, Findlay, OH and Holly Springs, MS. Destiny scored two bobwhite finds, and one on pheasant, with a forward, stylish race. Runner-up was Erin’s Southern Jewel, pointer female&Mac226; owned and handled by Sean Derrig, Bannockburn, IL. She ran a nice, classy race with three bobwhite finds, one pheasant find, and and unproductive. There were 34 entries.

In the Derby (16 entries), handler Ray Warren swept the juvenile stake. The winner was Hytest Spymaster, setter male, owned by Jack Elliott, Knoxville, TN.

Second was was awarded to Clear Fork Magdeline, pointer female, owned by Chip Martin, Anson, TX, and third was awarded to Hytest Skyhawk, setter male, also owned by Elliott.

Judges were Elton Bray, Holly Springs, MS, and Steve Butler, Somerville, TN.

— Elton Bray

SEVENTIETH NEW ENGLAND SHOOTING DOG FUTURITY
East Windsor, CT— Winner of the 70th New England Futurity was Hobbs Pete Rose, pointer male owned and bred by Les Hobbs of Clinton, NC, and handled by Luke Eisenhart. Second was R J’s Shortstop, pointer male owned by Ralph Fitzmaurice, handled by George Tracy, bred by Calico Kennels. Whiskey Girl, pointer female owned and handled by David O’Brien of Marlborough, CT, and bred by Bill and Margie Ricci, placed third. Named to fourth was Richfield Amy, pointer female owned and bred by Rich Giuliano of Providence, RI, and handled by Luke Eisenhart.

Conditions were rainy, muddy, some flooding in the area, but we managed to finish.

— Margaret C. Drew

WISCONSIN COVER DOG CHAMPIONSHIP
Augusta, WI—Houston’s Belle, four-year-old setter female, was named champion of this year’s running. Belle was handled by Jerry Kolter and is owned by Paul A. Hauge. Runner-up was Taz, setter male handled by Robert Ecker and owned by Phil Gould. Sixty-two dogs were entered and the running required five days. Birds were moved on all of the six courses in the Eau Claire County Forest.

Judges Tom Goltz and Matt Mentz walked each brace and were attentive to every dog. Birds were observed in every brace but one. Most braces had multiple finds.
At least two handlers finished their hour with empty guns.

— Rod Lein

INTERNATIONAL PHEASANT CHAMPIONSHIP
Harpster, OH—The Pheasant Championship Club’s International Pheasant Championship commended on the heels of the American Field Pheasant Futurity October 13 at the Killdeer Plains Area near Harpster, OH. The titular stake has an entry of 34 and the companion Open Derby drew 16, the trial concluding on or about October 16.

Judges are Elton Bray of Holly Springs, MS, and Steve Butler of Somerville, TN.