MID AMERICA BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
April 19-21, 2004
by Jack Higgins
Thirty six of the Midwest's finest Brittanys went to the line at the Branched
Oak Dog Trial Area, seeking to be named "Champion". This trial
is hosted annually by the Missouri Valley Brittany Club, now in it's 40th
year. These grounds are maintained by the Nebraska Game & Parks
Commission, and many improvements have been made in the past two years.
The two dozers on the Area 9 side clearing trees gave proof of the changes.
The Nebraska Field Trial Association maintains a clubhouse, barn, pens, and
camping/parking area and continues to make improvements. Most notably
this year were the crushed rock lanes in the camping area, new steps leading
to the clubhouse, and two more miles of woven wire fence on the west and
south. This stake followed our Regional trial and the released
quail were supplemented by the many wild pheasants on the area.
Judge Bryan Long was our returning judge from last year's running.
Bryan, from Maryville, MO, trains and campaigns German Shorthairs and is known
for his string of classy dogs. His partner, Chuck Parietti, also hails
from Maryville, MO. Chuck raises and trains Shorthairs, and since his
retirement does more than his share of winning in tough Midwest competition.
We were honored to have these fine judges.
A big thanks to Purina, who made this trial possible with financial assistance
and Pro Plan Performance Dog Food. This fine product is eagerly snapped
up by contestants and winners.
Weather was not a major factor for the championship this year, as the 90
degree temps two days prior moderated to lows of 44 and highs of 75 with a few
sprinkles during the evening hours only. As the days warmed, the dog
wagon took on the appearance of a Salvation Army collection truck.
Thanks to Ron Curtis, John Savicky, Mike Cheney and Mike II, and Jim Keller
for all their hard work making this trial possible.
The Winners:
Named Champion was six year old tricolor male, Shiloh's Blazin Tri'D N Tru
(Bernie), owned by Marc and Vicki Rittner and ably handled by Bob Burchett.
Running in the first brace of day two, Bernie and brace mate, Cactus Jack
handled by Jim John, flew across the meadow below the clubhouse. When
next seen, Jack was on Hudkins bottom and Bernie was working a fence line on
the hilltop to our right. Bernie tracked down a running quail and
pointed it on the line to start a very busy race. Southwest of the rock
crossing, Bernie had his second find on a brace of quail in a tree mott.
He exhibited the same class and manners he showed on his first find.
Bernie next pointed in the pine trees on the southwest end of the course.
While the handler attempted to flush, a ringneck crackled into flight some
distance in front. Judge Parietti ruled this a "non-event".
As we entered the park grounds, Jack went wide to the south with Bernie in
front. Both made impressive casts toward the lake edge. Back on
the main course, Bernie came off a hilltop running an old line all the way to
the west edge of the course, where he was found standing a covey of quail with
the same intensity he displayed on his previous finds. He handled easily
through the bridge crossing and heavy cover to finish near the cul de sac on
Area 9. Bernie handled kindly and stayed forward throughout his hour.
Runner-Up, Shambo's Dark Shadow, handled by Jim John, ran with Lafayette
Border Baron, handled by Vic Carrington. Break away was at 2:30 p.m.
from Area 9. Sailing through the rock crossing, both dogs went wide
right. Baron scored first with a covey at 8. Scout found Shadow on
point in a large plum thicket at the north end of the gully. A short
time later, Shadow pointed again with a bunny produced. Both handlers
herded their charges across the bridge and onto the meadow below the
clubhouse, with Shadow on the edges and Baron in the open. The brace
ended on the park ground.
Coming from the 13th brace, Kid's Kid Lone River Moose, owned by Phil Corlew
and handled by Bob Burchett, was a picture of style and class. Braced
with Didn't Pick It, owner handled by Stan Truksa, who made a tremendous All
Age breakaway, running the south hilltop before he erred on a quail at 7.
Moose moved well, pointing in pines on the southwest corner at 17. This
proved to be the phantom that sometimes cackled in the distance. Moving
into the park grounds, Moose showed occasionally, always in front, with a
great cast to the lake at 37.
Back on the grounds he found a covey in the food plot on the hill and pointed
with style that would make anyone smile. He finished his hour out front
running edges.
Brace 15 saw Dakota Shakedown (Rohner) and Smarteyes Joker Jordan (John)
released at 3:25 p.m. from headquarters. Dakota was exciting as he ran
big, got on deer, came back while his handler was gone looking for him, then
ran through a covey at 35. Jordan pointed his first bird at 7 in a bush
at the low end of a fenceline. His handler called point again at 15 but
Jordan moved on. Jordan gained speed and distance as we entered the park
at 20. He was a handful to herd through the cedars but returned in time
to hit the water tub as we crossed back into the trial grounds. His
second find came at 51 on a single quail on a line east of the clubhouse.
He finished his hour at the bridge.
THE RUNNING
As we came to the line, Gun Runner's To The Max (Hancock) was enjoying his
23rd hour of freedom, having been lost running the Amateur All Age the
previous day. With no open braces, Sniksoh Little Rascal was run in
place. I am happy to report that Max was found by the Park
Superintendent and returned to Bill only minutes after breakaway. Rascal
took the north side of the course to keyhole, then made impressive casts on
Hudkins bottom near the lake. In the park, he pointed under a big cedar
at 25, with no bird observed. He made a nice swing towards the
lake, then pointed a pheasant from 20 yards on the hilltop. In the
hilltop food plot, Rascal had a stop to flush with a bird flushed by the
handler on his approach. He had another stop to flush at 46 in the food
plot, and another in a disked field north of the pond dam at 55. At 59
he pointed on the edge of a gully with the bird calling, but the quail was
never observed.
At 9:16 a.m. Absolute Proof (Hank) owner handled by Bill Sapp, and Suka's Win
Mini (Johnson) were unleashed from Area 9. Both dogs showed great
enthusiasm for running, Hank just off a win in the Amateur All Age on Sunday
made game at 13 and stopped as a pheasant flushed ahead. Mini cruised
down by the lake, where she had a find on quail and a stop to flush.
Hank had a non-productive at 16. Mini was a handful, but rejoined us at
21 near the second pond. Both dogs went left, where deer were seen.
Mini had a find near the lake, then was truant and declared out at the bridge.
Proof finished his hour on the park ground, running well and obviously in sync
with his handler.
Tejas Iron Mike (Carrington) and Bouncing Betty (Gorrow) broke away at the
hilltop on the park grounds. Mike went forward, while Betty went south,
rejoining the party on her own at 5. Two deer caused concern by the
road, and Mike went AWOL at 16. Betty had a nicely located quail find at
the north end of the gully above camp at 24. At 46, she was found
pointing a quail on a terrace. At 55 Betty pointed on the far east
terrace, where Hank had suffered an unproductive and a pheasant was produced.
She ran edges and searched cover during her hour.
Following a lunch break, Ramblin Man (Gorrow) and Lea's running Jayhawk
(Rohner) started from headquarters at 1:19 p.m. Jake made an impressive
breakaway to the hilltop, pointing at 8 with Randy backing. This was an
unproductive, and shortly Jake was leashed for not being up to par.
Randy ran through the park, taking the lake edge and remained out front
through his hour with no game contact.
From a beautiful spot on the hilltop in the park, Rowdy Mt. Rio Blanco
(Burchett) and Bandit (John) started at 3:42 p.m. Bandit made some nice
casts to the edges but suffered an unproductive by the camp and was leashed.
Rio cruised well, gained momentum as he went hitting the lake edge on Area 9.
Point was called at 42 but Rio corrected and went on. Time was called at
Area 9 cul de sac.
At 5 p.m. Sadie Fair Lady (Johnson) and Gunrunners Earth Shaker (Hancock)
broke away from headquarters. Shaker crowded a bird at 6 and was
leashed. Sadie, fresh from winning the Nebraska Brittany Championship,
had her first find on a single quail at 7 on the hilltop. She had a
stop to flush at 11 and a non-productive south of the rock crossing at
13. She pointed a covey at 25 before crossing into the park, then
suffered a second unproductive at 48. She was a handful and finished
strong.
Dakota Alley Cat (Rohner) and Q Ball (Lincoln) started from Area 9 at 8:50
a.m., both running hard. "Tiger" bumped a bird on a terrace at
11 and Q Ball disappeared near the fish camp and was declared out at 30.
A Bit of Gusto (Truksa) and Codee (John) broke away from the southeast corner
of the course at 9:44 a.m. As we topped a rise, both dogs were standing.
A pheasant was flushed by Truksa. This was ruled a divided find.
At 7 Gus pointed a covey of quail on Amateur Hill, with Codee backing.
At 15 Gus stopped, Codee backed, both moved up, and an unproductive resulted.
Both dogs dug into the woods and Codee had an unproductive. The bridge
was crossed and both dogs covered the meadow, with Codee on Hudkins Bottom and
Gus on the hilltop. Codee made a retrieve from the bushes and was done.
Gus had a stop to flush in the tree mott at 35 and a great pheasant find in
the park at 52. He finished in the cedars above the lake.
The southeast corner of the trial grounds saw Blueridge Major Adventure
(Carrington) and Wild Irish Noble Chikamin "Jack" (Burchett) start
at 10:55 a.m. Both showed enthusiasm for their task. As we headed
north, Major required heavy duty scouting, returning below headquarters.
Major pointed a quail in a large brush pile which refused to be flushed.
Jack made an impressive cast around the east pond. Time was called below
the club house.
Lobo's Legend (Johnson) and Kahlua (Carrington) were released at 2:35 p.m.
from the cul de sac at Area 9. Legend went forward, Kahlua went north
where the scout called point for him. Legend was gone, reappeared, gone
again by the lake, then back in front, but out of gas by 33 and was picked up.
Kahlua was declared out at 20.
At 7:36 a.m. Rocket (John) and Mokan Razzle Dazzle (Rohner) started from
headquarters. Both went to the east tree line. Rocket went to the
hillside in the middle of the course with Razzie a bit closer. They
topped the hill and Rocket went to the pines on the west while Razzie went
east. In the park both dogs went south and their handlers went after
them. A herd of deer took Razzie out of contention. Rocket was
returned, made a nice cast to the lake, then faded, earning him a ride in the
dog wagon.
Starting from the southeast corner of the field trial grounds, Make My Day
Dude (John) and Making R Point Dillon (Haines) headed west with the hammer
down. Both dogs were out of contact for a time, with Dude showing up
south of the west pond and Dillon showing up north of the tube crossing.
On the hill overlooking camp, both went right with Dillon in the lead.
They both disappeared. Dilllon's scout found Dude but Dillon was not
seen again under judgement. Dude disappeared and was found near the
creek. He had to be coaxed to swim to his handler. Gone again, his
scout found him on point at 40 with a single produced. Point was called
for Dude at 49, then he started creeping. He carded a non-productive,
then took another at 58 in the southwest corner at time.
The southeast corner was the starting point for Roustabout's Kid Parker
(Burchett) and Poki-Dot (Johnson). Poki took the draw north and Parker
disappeared, coming back from the lake. Poki went north on Amateur Hill
and came around the east pond. Taking a draw, she went to the north
fence, emerged from cover only to be followed by a deer that literally leaped
over her and went on its way. At 17 both dogs emerged from the woods
near the lake, with Dillon, missing from the last brace, joining in the fun.
Parker had an unproductive at 21 with blood on his coat. He was found to
have a broken toe nail and his handler wisely retired him to the truck.
Poki crossed the bridge, cruised across the meadow, and showed next on the
hilltop. At 31 a quail flew from a bush and Poki was found standing.
We crossed into the park at 47 and Poki continued to fly, rimming the lake.
Her hour ended at the road crossing.
Woodsong's Texas Tornado (Johnson) and Tee Bone (Lincoln) started from the
southeast corner at 11:51 a.m. Both dogs required extensive scouting.
Tornado attempted to point in Area 9 near the cul de sac, then continued on
after point was called. Tee Bone hunted the woods. At 44 Tee Bone
went up a draw known to hold a covey and had point called for him, with no
bird seen. He then went AWOL. Point was called for Tornado at 56,
then he moved on on his own.
Bill Burton brought his truck and stock trailer to Amateur Hill and hauled
everyone to camp.
Mid America Brittany Championship
April 19-21, 2004
BRANCHED OAK DOG TRIAL AREA
RAYMOND, NE
Judges: Bryan Long & Chuck Parietti
Ch. Shiloh's Blazin Tri D N Tru (Brittany Male) 1545112
Owners: Marc & Vicki Rittner
Handler: Bob Burchett
Runner Up Ch. Shambo's Dark Shadow (Brittany Male) 1522513
Owner: Bernie Crain
Handler: Jim John
