Natl. open and Am Pheasant Championships, Furturities, &

[gunner]

Updated October 13, 2006
IDAHO STATE OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Payette, ID—The Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship started on September 28 with 25 entries. Judges were Harold Chadwick of Grantsville, Utah and Colin Kennedy of Calgary, Alberta. Named champion was North Bound Traveler, pointer male handled and owned by Mel Lee of Tigard, OR. Copper Sunrise, setter female owned and handled by Richard Heaton of Boise, ID, earned the runner-up spot.

In the always competitive Northwest Amateur All-Age Classic, the winner was Magic Nickel, owned and handled by Larry McConnell of Meridian, ID. Second went to Kelly’s Rebel Maggie, owned and handled by Sean Kelly of Auburn, CA. Placing third was Painted Nickel, owned and handled by Jim Ledington of Eagle, ID. The 19 entrants were judged by Colin Kennedy and Mike Wilkin of Reno, NV.

— Larry McConnell

INTERNATIONAL PHEASANT CHAMPIONSHIP

Harpster, Ohio—The popular International Pheasant Championship kicked off October 11 under overcast skies at the Killdeer Plains Area near Harpster, Ohio, having drawn a fine entry of 40 dogs, with another 9 entered in the Derby. Barring any unforeseen delays, the trials should be completed October 14.

Judges for this premier ringneck classic are Dr. Jim Mills of Searcy, AR, and Pat Roach of Fort Wayne, IN.

NATIONAL AMATEUR PHEASANT SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Baldwinsville, NY— The National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship was held October 5-8 at the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in Baldwinsville, NY., attracting a field of 43 dogs. Judges for this stake were Larry Moon of Albany, GA, and Joseph A. Lordi of Tabernacle, NJ.

Sugarknoll Buckshot, pointer male, put together a blistering race and six excellent finds in the initial series. N Y P D laid down a sizzling race scoring seven finds. After all competitors had run these two dogs stood out over the rest of the field; however, the judges could not decide on which would be champion and which would be runner-up.

Thd judges called for a second series, which ended up lasting thirty-eight minutes. Sugarknoll Buckshot proved his skill in handling the tricky ringneck pheasant with four finds and one unproductive to earn the title. Runner-up N Y P D didn’t fare as well with two unproductives and one back.

Pete and Chris Del Collo of Newtown Square, PA, are Sugarknoll Buckshot’s owners and Pete handled. N Y P D is owned by Jack and Brian Sanchez of Central Islip, NY, and was handled by Brian.

— Joseph A. Lordi

NATIONAL OPEN PHEASANT SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Baldwinsville, NY—The National Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship was held September 27-30 at the Three Rivers GMA, Baldwinsville, NY, attracting a field of 58 dogs. Judges for this stake were the experienced Bobby Hartwig of Union Springs, AL, and Art Crowell of Dardanelle, AR.

Sugarknoll Buckshot, pointer male, put together a scorching race and nine excellent finds to capture the championship title for owners Pete and Chris Del Collo of Newtown Square, PA, and handler Luke Eisenhart. Erin’s Dancing Queen, pointer female, had a strong, forward race and six outstanding finds to earn the runner-up title for owner Thomas Downs of West Grove, PA. Dancing Queen was also handled by Luke Eisenhart.

— Joseph A. Lordi

NATIONAL PHEASANT CHAMPIONSHIP

Harpster, OH—The time-honored National Pheasant Championship, first held in 1926, has been revived. The stake was last conducted in 1974, and 32 years later it is back on the major circuit field trial calendar.

It was welcomed with a 42-dog starting field at the Killdeer Plains Area near Harpster, Ohio, and is scheduled to begin October 15.
Judges for this revival renewal are John “Buz” Daugherty of Russellville, AR, and Ronnie Spears of Jacksonville, AR.

NATIONAL SHOOTING DOG FUTURITY

Baldwinsville, NY—The National Shooting Dog Futurity was held October 1-5 at the Three Rivers Game Management Area in Baldwinsville, NY. Fifty of the finest bred Derbies were entered. Judges were Carl Bishop of Punxsutawney, PA, and Merv Eisenhart of Spring Grove, PA. Both gentlemen have judged many important events, and each has trained and competed with their own dogs. Each has been very successful in competition.

Barbaro, a setter male, put together a strong race and three excellent finds to earn first place for owner Inez Smith and breeders Inez Smith of Wexford, PA, and Brad Bonnetti of Westfield, NJ. Barbaro was handled by Harold Ray. Awsum Comanche, a pointer male, laid down a wide-ranging race and had one find and an unproductive to take home second place for owners Bill and Margie Ricci of Englishtown, NJ, and breeder Les Hobbs of Camden, NC. East Coast Slick earned third with an extensive race, two finds and an unproductive for owner and breeder John Malone of Bolton, CT. He was handled by Pat Casey. Fourth place was awarded to Grouse Ridge Bruiser with a strong but sometimes erratic race, one find and one back. Bruiser is owned and was bred by Grouse Ridge Kennels of Norwich, NY, and was handled by Pete Flanagan, also of Norwich.

— Joseph A. Lordi

REGION 8 AMATEUR ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP

Ardmore, OK—The Region 8 Amateur All-age Championship was held at the Lake Murray grounds near Ardmore, OK, attracting a fine field of 17 contenders. The winner, with four finds, emerged in Rock Acre Trailblazer, white, black and ticked pointer male owned and handled by Cecil “Pee Wee” Cole of Brownwood, TX. Runner-up was Barker’s Blue Jett, white, black, tan and ticked setter male owned and handled by Bob Barker of Inola, OK. Jett had one find.

Judges were the seasoned Tom Smith of Edmond, OK, and Richard Woolever of Granbury, TX.

— Larry Garner

SEVENTY-THIRD AMERICAN FIELD PHEASANT FUTURITY

Harpster, Ohio—The 73rd running of the American Field Pheasant Futurity was completed October 10 with one of the smallest starting fields to ever compete in the ringneck breeders’ classic. A field of 17 was drawn and 16 hopefuls started.

The Futurity was completed in a little less than a day, and quite a day it was October 10 for Sean Derrig of Bannockburn, IL. He bred, owned and handled the first place winner, Erin’s Backstreet Affair, pointer female, and also the second placed Erin’s Bad River, pointer male, both having fine performances complete with great bird work on pheasant. The third place winner, First Class Justice, owned, developed and handled by Vernon R. Vance of Winchester, KY, also was bred by Sean Derrig. She turned in very creditable work on pheasant and woodcock. It was a clean sweep for the breeding program of Sean Derrig, bringing to fulfillment his dreams of being able to select sires and dams and produce pups of a quality that could compete at a high level in the Pheasant Futurity.

Judges David A. Fletcher of Morrice, MI, and David Grubb of Lake Orion, MI, presided and were heavy in their praise of the grounds and the high levels of performance they witnessed in this ringneck classic.

— David A. Fletcher