Sunflower, New England, Smith Shooting Dog & more

[gunner]

Updated October 27, 2006
INEZ C. AND ELWIN G. SMITH SHOOTING DOG CLASSICS

Glastonbury, CT—Topping the field of 46 competitors in the Open Shooting Dog Classic was N Y P D, pointer male owned by Great River Kennel and handled by George Tracy. Second was Calico’s Thrillogy, pointer male owned by Calico Kennels and handled by George Tracy. Pointer female Klee’s Shooting Star placed third for owner Andrea Clark and handler Mike Tracy.

Southbound Chica, pointer female owned and handled by John Malone, won the Amateur Shooting Dog Classic (21 entries). John Malone also handled second place East Coast Sadie, another pointer female. Hailey’s Comet, pointer female owned by Brian Sanchez and Charles Samperisi and handled by Brian Sanchez, took third.

Judging the Open Shooting Dog Classic were Dave and Bill O’Brien from Connecticut. Don Gustafson from Connecticut and Pat LaBree from Maine judged the Amateur Shooting Dog Classic.

— Roger Duerksen

NATIONAL AMATEUR PHEASANT CHAMPIONSHIP

Harpster, OH—The 74th National Amateur Pheasant Championship drew 42 dogs, with 40 competing. The winner was Erin’s Tin Soldier, white, black and ticked pointer male owned and handled by Sean Derrig of Bannockburn, IL. He scored two pheasant finds, a stop to flight, burning the No. 1 course to its limits. Runner-up was Lester’s Snowatch, white and orange ticked pointer male owned and handled by Gary Lester of Gracey, KY. He scored two pheasant finds and honored his bracemate in the first brace of the stake.

Judges were as advertised, David Grubb of Lake Orion, MI, and Earl Connolly of Memphis, TN.

— Vernon R. Vance

NEW ENGLAND FUTURITY

East Windsor, CT—The 71st New England Shooting Dog Futurity was held at Flaherty Field Trial Grounds, East Windsor, CT, where Judges Keith Severin of Warrentown, VA, and Steve Browder of Pinewood, SC, viewed 57 entries. First was Enhancement Ham, pointer male owned by Tom Hance of Prince Frederick, MD, bred by Tom Hance and George Tracy, and handled by Mike Tracy. Second was Chasehill Little Bud, pointer male owned and handled by John Stolgitis of Ashaway, RI, bred by Bill Piekenbrock of Dubuque, IA. Third was Sugarknoll Max, pointer male owned and handled by John Fino of Mendon, MA, bred by Jennifer and Bob Braman of Monson, MA. Named to fourth was Sukara’s Fat Annie, setter female owned by Bob McKendrick and Clair F. Gross of Wellsville, PA, bred by George Tracy of Glenville, PA, and handled by Jeanette Tracy.

— Margaret C. Drew

NEW ENGLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Pomfret, CT—The 78th running of the New England Open Championship was held at Harry and Deb Townshend’s Ragged Hill Farm in Pomfret, CT, attracting 41 entries.

Judges for this renewal were Sam McMullen, Rising Sun, MD, and Billy Fogg, Shapleigh, ME. The winner was C Note, white and liver pointer female owned by Allen Linder of Livingston, TN, and handled by Mike Tracy. Runner-up was Stone Tavern Matrix, white, black, tan and ticked setter male owned by Dr. J. P. Trovato, Allentown, NJ, also handled by Mike Tracy.

— Margaret C. Drew

SUNFLOWER OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Longton, KS— Contested last week over the dry but still beautiful Westfall Brothers Ranch in southeast Kansas, the Sunflower Open Shooting Dog Championship drew an entry of 42, and was won with the three-find performance of Westfall’s Black Ice, pointer male handled by Gordon Hazlewood for owner Bill Westfall. Missouri pro Jerry Hailey handled his wife Sharon’s favorite dog, white and orange pointer male Hailey’s Another Buddy, for the runner-up honor, Buddy scoring two finds.

The Scott Wilnerd Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog Classic was run over the weekend preceding the Championship, attracting 16 entrants. The heat and wind were conquered by Westfall’s Bel Express, white and liver pointer female owned by Richard Lewis of Ashland, MO, and handled by Bill Westfall. Runner-up went to setter Tommy Rocket, owned and handled by Paul Roederer of Haven, KS.

— Pat Kammerlocher