Recent Shooting-dog Championships

[gunner]

Updated November 3, 2006
NORTHEASTERN OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Glastonbury, CT— The Northeastern Open Shooting Dog Championship was concluded on October 14. Judges Larry Moon of Camilla, GA, and John Malone of Bolton, CT, reviewed the performances of 58 contenders. They named Grid Iron, setter male owned by Brad Bonnetti of Westfield, NJ, and handled by Luke Eisenhart, as the champion. Grid Iron had outstanding bird work and a great race to capture this premier honor. Runner-up was Stone Tavern Matrix, setter male handled by Mike Tracy and owned by Dr. J. P. Trovato of Allentown, NJ. Matrix also had a great race and outstanding bird work but a little less outstanding than the winner.

— Don Gustafson

OHIO-PENNSYLVANIA SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Harpster, OH—Bridges Lake Pat was named champion in the 29th running of the Ohio-Pennsylvania Shooting Dog Championship. This was the first open championship won by this young contender. She is owned by Tim Moore of Crawford, GA, and handled by Doug Ray. She put in a strong performance in the last brace of the trial in very unfavorable weather.

Pressing the winner was Raag’s Bar Tab which garnered the runner-up title for owner-handler Ray Wheeler of Shelby, Ohio. This was Bar Tab’s first championship placement.

Judges for the Championship were Jim N. White of Bowling Green, KY, and Charles Shelton of Cincinnati, OH. These gentlemen, both experienced bird dog men, gave all 42 entries their attention. Several others pressed the winners in what was a very competitive stake.

In the accompanying Derby (10 entries), Judges Shelton and Randy Hopkins of Ashville, OH, placed Aspen Covert Flirt, owned by Ross VonDerbos and handled by Ed Hart, first; Cassique’s Bohicket, owned by Fred Rowan and handled by Doug Ray, second; and Astro Luminous, owned by Bernard Girard and also handled by Ed Hart, third.

The trial started October 24 on the famed Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area near Harpster, OH.

— Randy Hopkins

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Grovespring, MO—The running of the Southwest Missouri Open Shooting Dog Championship was completed Monday, October 30, after a one-day rain delay. Master Hawk decidedly emerged victorious over the 67-entry stake. Handled by Dean Lord and owned by Devoe Treadwell of Wichita, KS, Hawk scored on game four times with a forward, consistent race. Westfall’s Black Ice, pointer male handled by Gordon Hazlewood and owned by Bill Westfall of Liberty, MO, had one find in his hour to claim the runner-up slot.

The spirited Derby had 27 starters. Windfall Silver Rain, handled by Eddie Taylor, won top honors. The pointer male is owned by Joseph Guzman of Davisburg, MI. Taking second was Gailen Cooper’s Gailen’s Lotto Kipp. Cooper handled his pointer male. Blackhawk Kat, pointer female, was named to third for owner-handler Dean Lord of Richland Springs, TX. All three of the juveniles had nice bird work for their efforts. Eddie Taylor was called home before the stake was complete, due to his wife Cathy being involved in an auto accident. Good news was received that Taylor was able to take her home, sore and bruised but nothing worse.

Judges for both stakes were Bob Reynolds of Kansas City, MO, and Wayne Nierman of Sedalia, MO.

— Peg Herriage