Result: Lake States Field Trial Club

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: Aug 21, 2023

Submitted By: Denise Peters

Open Shooting Dog (l-r): Bryan Wood (stakes manager), May's Legacy of Justice with Ken DeLong (owner/handler), Brent Peters (judge), Resin with Marc Forman (handler), and Singleton's Sid the Kid with Mike Singleton (owner/handler).

The Lake States Field Trial Club held its summer trial on August 12-13 at the prestigious Gladwin Field Trial Grounds in Meredith, Mich. The weather was gorgeous for summer but a little warmer than we would have liked for a trial. It got hot by the end of each day. The courses were all in great shape, as we had our annual work detail day the weekend before. Bryan Wood held his post as our stakes manager and kept the traveling party moving as it should.

The Open Shooting Dog Qualifier commenced at 7:35 with Brent Peters and Kelly Ehde in the saddle to watch nine contenders. First place was awarded to May's Legacy of Justice ("Freedom"), owned and handled by Ken DeLong. Freedom had a nice race with a woodcock find halfway through course No. 2. Resin ("Artie"), owned by Kevin Lahoda and handled by Marc Forman, landed in second place with a nice, consistent, forward race. Third place went to owner/handler Mike Singleton with his Singleton's Sid the Kid. Sid had a good race, just not as consistent as the other placing dogs. The morning refreshments were served up as usual by George Ferguson, with coffee and his wife Marilyn's best confections. The blonde brownies were new and a hit with everyone.

Immediately following the Open Shooting Dog stake, the Open Derby took right off. Judges switched out of the saddle, and Dave Heavlin and Mike Cook took the reins. We had a small group this summer of six entries. Unfortunately, due to an injury, we had one dog cancel and were only able to award two places. First place went to Baxter's Wild Bill, owned and handled by Brent Peters. Billy hunted hard and handled, and his range was good. He stayed mostly to the front and was rewarded with birds. Taking second place was Brent Peters with Baxter's Doc Holiday. Doc was a little more lateral and closer, but his hard hunting effort was rewarded with multiple grouse and woodcock. Both dogs were intense and high on both ends, with acceptable derby manners. Their bird work and front running separated them from the others.

Everyone headed back to the Alibi after the derbies ran for a grilled hot dog lunch and the announcements. =We had a couple of new faces for the weekend, as Greg and Michelle Johnson from Wisconsin came to check out our venue and run in the Amateur on Sunday.

Sunday was a bit cooler but still ended up warmer than we would have liked. Marc Forman and Deb Nihart jumped into the saddle to look at 12 of some of the best amateur athletes for the Mike Grostic Amateur Shooting Dog Memorial. Travel Alert ("Buster"), owned and handled by Harold "Doc" Holmes, took the honor of first place and took home the rotating trophy. Buster had a wide forward searching race and was rewarded with a beautiful grouse find at the halfway mark and finished strong. Moss Meadow Seeker, owned and handled by Ken Moss, took second place honors, with Seeker showing his speed and stamina, always hunting in search of birds. Seeker scored on a woodcock with a 12 o'clock style at 17. Veteran Faith's Maximum Justice, owned and handled by Ken DeLong, ran in the heat of the day. Justice laid down a nice race, always going to the right spots with two woodcock finds for his efforts.

Finishing around 12:30, we all headed back to the Alibi for the announcement of the winners, and everyone left to get on with the rest of their day. A big thank you to everyone who helped move cars. We had just the right number of people, and it all worked like clockwork both days. A big thank you to PURINA for being our sponsor and supporting us with the $15 dog food coupons. Another thanks to Richard and Jennifer Hollister of Dun Roven Kennel, who wrangle their horses for our use. Thanks also to Jennifer Hollister of Backus Creek Creations, who created our logo and supplied our t-shirts for judges' gifts.

Meredith, Mich., August 12
Judges: Kelly Ehde and Brent Peters
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 2 Pointers and 7 Setters
1st-MAY'S LEGACY OF JUSTICE, 1695469, pointer male, by Faith's Maximum Justice-Chasehill Mighty May. Kenric J. DeLong, owner and handler.
2d-RESIN, 1696519, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Hunter's Flight Risk. Kevin Lahoda, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
3d-SINGLETON'S SID THE KID, 1687988, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Moss Meadow Kate. Mike Singleton, owner and handler.

Open Derby (l-r): Bryan Wood (stakes manager), Mike Cook (judge), Baxter's Wild Bill with Brent Peters (owner/handler), Dave Heavlin (judge), and Baxter's Doc Holiday with Denise Peters.

Judges: Mike Cook and Dave Heavlin
OPEN DERBY - 1 Pointer and 4 Setters
1st-BAXTER'S WILD BILL, 1701012, setter male, by Thornapple Casey-Baxter's Mary Katherine. Brent & Denise Peters, owners; Brent Peters, handler.
2d-BAXTER'S DOC HOLIDAY, 1701013, setter male, by Thornapple Casey-Baxter's Mary Katherine. Brent & Denise Peters, owners; Brent Peters, handler.

Judges: Marc Forman and Deb Nihart
MIKE GROSTIC AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG MEMORIAL - 1 Pointer, 7 Setters, 2 Brittanys, and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-TRAVEL ALERT, 1665621, setter male, by Moss Meadow Traveler-Wild Katrun. Dr. Harold Holmes, owner and handler.
2d-MOSS MEADOW SEEKER, 1676726, setter male, by Moss Meadow Rambler-Moss Meadow Maggie. Ken Moss, owner and handler.
3d-FAITH'S MAXIMUM JUSTICE, 1660276, pointer male, by Nelson's Van Max-Wild Apple Faith. Kenric J. DeLong, owner and handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog (l-r): Bryan Wood (stakes manager), Marc Forman (judge), Travel Alert with Harold Holmes (owner/handler), Moss Meadow Seeker with Ken Moss (owner/handler), Faith's Maximum Justice with Ken DeLong (owner/handler), and Deb Nihart (judge).