Event: Gratitude Sweeps Open and Amateur Titles
Result: National Red Setter Championships

Location: Grovespring, Missouri

Post Date: Nov 30, 2023

Submitted By: Bonnie Hidalgo

National Red Setter Open Championship Winners (front, l-r): Don Beauchamp with Gratitude and Bonnie Hidalgo with Firefly's Power Play. (Standing): Kelli Aitken, Lynn Oxendine (judge), Roger Boser, Bruce Ludwig, Dennis Hidalgo, Chase Verdoorn, and Jay Lewis (judge).

Gratitude put on amazing displays to capture both the Open and Amateur National Red Setter Championship titles! In the open, he scored four perfect finds in a strong, forward race. As if that wasn't enough, Gratitude came back in the amateur championship with another great race and six flawless finds. Dr. Roger Boser of Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, owns, trains, and handles this impressive multiple champion.

Firefly's Power Play was named runner-up in the open championship with a beautiful covey find and a powerful, forward race. He is owned by Bonnie and Dennis Hidalgo of Brighton, Colorado, and their grandson, Robbie Nesson of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Dennis Hidalgo handled him.

Quantonas Reciprocal went runner-up in the amateur championship for her owner and handler, Kelli Aitken, and her husband, Clayton Thompson, of Box Elder, South Dakota. Reason ran an attractive, front-edge running race with one find, a stop to flush on a covey, and an unproductive.

The inaugural running of the Red Setter Walking Shooting Dog Classic, a one-hour stake, was handily won by Foxy Lady Sadie, owned and handled by Mike Fox of Patriot, Indiana. She ran a near-perfect race and scored two excellent finds.

Shotput won the Open Derby. This female is owned and handled by Roger Boser. She notched a well-polished find in her predominantly forward race. Firefly's Speed of Life was second for Dennis and Bonnie Hidalgo with one find. Zip Your Lip, owned and handled by Mark Chestnut of Jenks, Oklahoma, was third on race.

Sam Nutting of Indianola, Iowa, handled the winning Open Walking Derby, Cedar Creek Promise, which is co-owned by Sam with Ed Liermann, Palmyra, Wisconsin. She ran a very promising race. In second was Firefly's Speed of Life, who ran a forward pattern for his handler, Dennis Hidalgo.

The 2023 renewal of the National Red Setter Field Trial Club's National All-Age Championship trial was held on the popular Field Trial Sportsmen's Club venue at Grovespring, Missouri, beginning on October 19. It was great to be back after a three-year absence. The grounds were in beautiful shape, with good feed plots along the edges and excellent grooming of the fields to make the courses flow nicely. The pre-release of many quail coveys in late September was quite successful, and there were numerous finds on them. Additionally, quail were planted daily in strategic places along all of the three one-hour courses. Our hats are off to the people who manage and caretake for this wonderful venue. Thanks especially to Sharleen Daugherty and directors Andy Daugherty, Bob Burchett, and Tony King for all they do.

The drawing was conducted by Milt and Wendy Schafer at their home in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on Sunday evening, October 15. The National Championship drew 13 dogs, while the Amateur Championship drew 15. The inaugural one-hour Red Setter Open Walking Shooting Dog Classic attracted a field of nine entries. In the Open Derby, six dogs were entered, and the Open Walking Derby drew four entries.

We were fortunate to obtain two highly qualified gentlemen as our judges for the entire trial, Lynn Oxendine of Neosho, Missouri, and Jay Lewis of Ashland, Missouri. They are both attentive judges with great personalities, which made the trial even more enjoyable. They set a good pace and kept to it consistently.

Lynn has been active as an amateur owner and handler for many years. He has competed and won many prestigious stakes, mainly on the amateur all-age circuit. Lynn is a sought-after judge who has judged everything from weekend events to national qualifying all-age stakes. We appreciate his time and attention paid to our dogs.

Jay Lewis is a second-generation field trialer, raised in the sport and hooked on it early by his dad, Rich Lewis. Jay gives to the sport in many ways, hosting trials, handling his own dogs, scouting for others, and judging countless trials. Jay has won many amateur championships and had dogs invited to the Amateur Invitational. In addition to all of that, he helped this club get its Missouri field trial permit so we could buy and release quail. We were honored to have him judge for our event. Thanks again to Lyn and Jay for your decisions and the effort taken to select them carefully!

Without Purina as a trial sponsor, this would be a lesser event. The National Red Setter Club greatly appreciates everything that Purina and Greg Blair do for us. They provided financial support towards our ad, a Purina banquet for all to enjoy, and our awards expense. Purina also provides a generous contribution of dog food for the winners, which is a highly coveted prize. For our judges, Purina provided logo shirts, insulated beverage bottles, and hats. The majority of dogs entered in this trial are fueled by Purina Pro Plan Sport 30/20 dog food, which gives them a winning edge. Thank you, Purina and Greg Blair!

Garmin once again provided us with some of their finest collars with which to award to our championship winners. The National Red Setter Field Trial Club greatly appreciates your continued support of our events. The collars were happily received by the winning handlers.

SportDOG and Jim Morehouse are great sponsors, always coming through with great collars for us to use as fundraisers. This year, SportDOG also contributed one of its training collars to the winning handler of our inaugural one-hour Walking Shooting Dog Classic. The National Red Setter Field Trial Club is grateful for SportDOG's support and for all the advice on product use that Jim Morehouse freely dispenses.

Milt Schafer and Dennis Hidalgo were the trials' co-chairmen; they organized a great event. Milt ordered birds, took the entries, conducted the drawing, and printed out running orders with the aid of his wife, Wendy. At the trial, both Milt and Dennis did the early morning plant from Milt's UTV. Milt then followed behind the gallery to replace birds that were pointed and flushed so that the afternoon dogs would have the same opportunities to find game. Dennis was field marshal when needed, helping the few people who were not familiar with the courses. It also helped to have judges who knew the courses. Don Beauchamp drove the dog wagon for the first three days and was a huge help. Your scribe filled out judges' books and kept the dog wagon stocked with cookies, coffee, water, Gatorade, and soda. The cold drinks went fast on the hot afternoons. Lunches were served daily in the clubhouse for a nominal fee. During the Walking Classic, Dennis drove the dog wagon while Kelli Aitken Thompson drove the UTV, doing triple duty as bird planter, handler, Uber, and photographer. Clayton Thompson of Redbeard Outdoors YouTube fame recorded video on his Go-Pro during the entire trial at the request of Club President Dennis Hidalgo. Videos and photos taken by Clayton and Kelli will be edited into one video by Clayton and will be made available on his YouTube channel. The link will be shared on Facebook when the editing is complete, or people can search Redbeard Outdoors on YouTube. Please help Clayton out by becoming a subscriber to Redbeard Outdoors!

There were handlers and club members who hailed from Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Colorado. It was great to see everyone having a good time together. Handlers scouted for each other or shared their scouts. During the running of the braces, handlers could be heard pointing out each other's dogs. The camaraderie and sportsmanship witnessed at this trial were refreshing.

Social activities every evening included dinner in the clubhouse after evening chores. On the eve of the trial, Dennis and Bonnie Hidalgo hosted the evening meal in honor of four-time champion Firefly's Power Play's win of the 2022 National Red Setter Championship. Everyone was invited. Dennis cooked a pesto pasta with a choice of Italian sausage or chicken. Kelli Aitken Thompson prepared her out-of-this-world triple berry cobbler and served it with ice cream for dessert. Linda Beauchamp, Bonnie, and Kelli worked on kitchen clean-up, which was followed by the Club's semi-annual board meeting.

On Thursday evening, the Red Setter Club served dinner for a nominal fee to a large and hungry crowd. Dennis made tacos with the choice of fried tortillas, softshell tortillas, or hard taco shells. There was a choice of beef or chicken, plus all the add-ons to make them great. Linda's peach cobbler and ice cream were a popular dessert. Linda, Bonnie, and Kelli batted clean-up.

The Purina dinner was served on Friday night, as advertised. Prior to the dinner, Roger Boser hosted a social hour in honor of Gratitude's winning of the open championship earlier in the day. Dennis grilled pork chops to perfection and also baked chicken to give people a choice. Salad, baked potatoes, dinner rolls, and dessert rounded out the meal. Wendy Schafer and Linda Beauchamp made the salad and served as sous chefs for Dennis. We were all grateful to Purina for providing the fare.

Wendy Schafer served a Thanksgiving-style turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Saturday evening on behalf of the Club for a very reasonable fee. Linda Beauchamp assisted her. Dessert was one of Linda's specialties, a chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and graham cracker crust layered concoction. The meal was scrumptious, and dessert was a hit. The silent auction was in progress all evening and closed at 8:30 with scurrying bidders trying to outdo one another. It was a congenial affair.

National Red Setter Open Championship
Judges Lynn Oxendine and Jay Lewis did not have any difficulty in choosing the winner of this stake; Gratitude made it obvious. The 2023 National Red Setter Champion, Gratitude, has been owned and expertly handled by Roger Boser for his entire career. He was bred by Joe Edwards and whelped on January 4, 2017, in a litter that was sired by Come Back Cutter. His dam was Come Back Doodle. Gratitude first won this stake in the fall of 2021. Winning the 2023 stake made him a three-time champion.

Gratitude appeared in the fifth brace of the National Championship. He was released at the base of Apple Tree Hill, heading into Little Vine. Gratitude was fast and forward through the loop. At 17, point was called for him at the ditch; properly located birds were put up quickly for the stylish dog. Grady continued forward through Sycamore and pointed in the left corner of the cross row at 28. Birds were flushed readily for the mannerly red setter. Gratitude scored a beautiful find on Daugherty's ridge at 39; again, his birds were perfectly located, and his style and manners were superb. Boser was asked to show range and finish. Gratitude obliged, although he had one more find. His scout called point for him at 54, on the right edge, well beyond the barns. This was a covey of perhaps 30 birds; Grady was picturesque, and his demeanor perfect. Gratitude went on to show a strong forward finish. It was a thrilling hour to watch!

Firefly's Power Play was named runner-up in this stake. He was bred by Dennis and Bonnie Hidalgo and is owned by them and their grandson, Robbie Nesson. Power Play was whelped on September 18, 2015, in a litter that was sired by runner-up champion Flintstone; his dam was the 2011 Futurity winner, Firefly's Hot Tip. He was named Power Play, with the call name "Puck," because Robbie played youth hockey and now plays high school hockey as a senior. In his first summer, Puck spent time in Canada with Sean Kelly, who helped the young red setter become a wild bird dog. Since then, he has been trained exclusively by Dennis. Puck is currently a four-time champion with two runners-up to his credit.

Firefly's Power Play drew the seventh brace as a bye, the only one in the stake to run on Friday morning. He was forward down the right edge from the breakaway, showing a few times on the way to the rocky creek crossing. Power Play remained forward to the road crossing and into Davis bottom, where he pointed briefly at 26 but corrected on. Puck took the right edge of Davis all the way to the dry pond, where he crossed to the left edge and pointed with intensity at 33. A huge covey was flushed from the feed strip while he remained high and tight. Taken on, he went down the first cut, showing again in the Island Field. Firefly's Power Play gained momentum as the hour progressed and made short work of Horse Killer Hill. He was absent for a time but showed forward near the deer stand on Apple Tree hill. He finished to the front with fuel to burn.

The Running
Cedar Creek MacArthur Ruby (Liermann) was braced with Come Back Delta Dawn (Aitken). Ruby was confused with having an unfamiliar handler, and it severely affected her performance. She had a natural tendency to go to the front, but her bewilderment kept her from staying there. Delta ran a good forward pattern, using the lines and the wind correctly. She went the hour without bird contact.

Wayward (Boser) with Just Raisin Cain (Chestnut) broke away at the top of Don Fox Hill. Wayward ran with a lot of snap and was predominantly forward. Wayward pointed at 42 on the Daugherty ridge; he was relocated and dropped out of sight. As we went past where he was last seen, a couple of birds flushed. Judge Oxendine looked down and spied him on point. Just then, a huge covey lifted in front of Wayward, with all in order. He pointed again at time, on a line west of the twin barns. The flush was unsuccessful, and time was called. Cain ran his lines nicely and was forward in pattern. He scored a nice find at 24, just out of Little Vine; his manners were good. Cain pointed at the cross row in Sycamore at 36, looking convincing, but no birds were found. His handler opted to pick up at 46.

Snowy River's Honest Abe (C. Verdoorn) and Firefly's Beeline (Hidalgo) were released into the Bull Pasture. Abe showed well on the ground, with intelligent moves. He pointed stylishly at 22, but it was barren. A second unproductive at 50 ended his bid. Bee ran a pretty race with a pleasant response to her handler. She was forward at good range and speed for the hour. She made a great move out of Climer's pasture, running far down Horse Corral bottom and then swinging up the hill to show in front. She pointed in the alley to Sycamore at 54, showing perfect manners on a single. Firefly's Beeline finished going away beyond the double gates.

Red Bird's The Fifth Element (Aitken) and Cedar Creek Sixgun (Liermann). The former made some good moves but broke them off prematurely. He was up at 34 when heat became a factor. Sixgun was fast and mostly forward. Neither dog pointed game this hour.

Gratitude (Boser) and Cedar Creek Anthem (Liermann) began at the base of Apple Tree Hill, heading to Little Vine. Gratitude's winning performance is given above. Anthem was forward and attractive in her ground application. She pointed at 18, along the left edge beyond Little Vine loop; it was not productive. Anthem scored a beautiful find on a large covey at 24, this just into Sycamore. She was forward through the long bottom. At 32, on Daugherty's ridge, point was called by Anthem's scout. A long relocation ensued but was unsuccessful. She got out of pocket and was absent for the remainder of the hour.

Firefly's Lucky Penny (Hidalgo) and Quantonas Reciprocal (Aitken) broke away into the Bull pasture, and Reason was found pointing in the first draw at 3. Her style and manners were beyond reproach. Lucky took the bottom side of the pasture, showing forward near the road. She was forward into Climer's and seen on the left just into the second field, but she vanished, and the tracker was pulled. Reason ran a forward race for the hour. At 53, the flight of birds was called, and Reason was standing mannerly in the cover, although the birds were not officially seen. She went up the left hillside of the alley and returned from it as the hour expired.

Firefly's Power Play (Hidalgo) ran as a bye in the seventh brace. His runner-up winning performance was described above.

Grovespring, Mo., October 19
Judges: Jay Lewis and Lyn Oxendine
NATIONAL RED SETTER OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 13 Irish Setters
Winner-GRATITUDE, 1676458, male, by Come Back Cutter-Come Back Doodle. Roger W. Boser, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-FIREFLY'S POWER PLAY, 1664073, male, by Flintstone-Firefly's Hot Tip. Dennis & Bonnie Hidalgo, owners; Dennis Hidalgo, handler.

Red Setter Open Derby
The derby drew six entries and ran on the heels of the Open Championship, running in its entirety on Friday morning, October 20. It followed the normal horseback courses which were used in the championships. Judges Lynn Oxendine and Jay Lewis presided.

Shotput, a female owned and handled by Roger Boser, won the stake. She appeared in the first brace; Dolly showed extreme ground speed and was predominantly forward. She scored a polished find, showing high style and perfect manners. Shotput was sired by Ch. Gratitude and out of Slingshot; she was whelped on April 22, 2022. Roger Boser is her breeder.
Firefly's Speed of Life placed second for owners and breeders Dennis and Bonnie Hidalgo. The young male was handled by Dennis. He started well, showing good speed and gait. Speedy pointed birds on the south end of Sycamore but didn't wait for the judges before taking them out. He was forward up the Daugherty ridge and pointed quail just before the barns. Speedy pointed longer this time, demonstrating good style but no manners. His race slowed and shortened in the latter part of his brace. Speedy was sired by Ch. Firefly's Power Play and his dam is Firefly's Calamus. He was born on July 6, 2022.
Zip Your Lip, a male that is owned and handled by Mark Chestnut, placed third in this stake. Zip ran a nice forward race, checking likely places but finding no game. He slowed and shortened a bit with the heat of the late morning. Zip was bred by Mark Chestnut. Sired by Just Raisin Cain, he is out of Quantonas Red Dirt Road. He was whelped on March 14, 2022.

Red Setter Open Derby Winners (front, l-r): Roger Boser with Shotput, Dennis Hidalgo with Firefly's Speed of Life, and Mark Chestnut with Zip Your Lip. (Standing): Kelli Aitken, Lynn Oxendine (judge), Don Beauchamp, Bruce Ludwig, Chase Verdoorn, Bonnie Hidalgo, Jay Lewis (judge), and Ed Liermann.

RED SETTER OPEN DERBY - 6 Irish Setters
1st-SHOTPUT, 1704405, female, by Gratitude-Slingshot. Roger W. Boser, owner and handler.
2d-FIREFLY'S SPEED OF LIFE, 1705494, male, by Firefly's Power Play-Firefly's Calamus. Dennis & Bonnie Hidalgo, owners; Dennis Hidalgo, handler.
3d-ZIP YOUR LIP, 1706484, male, by Just Raising Cain-Quantonas Red Dirt Road. Mark Chestnut, owner and handler.

National Red Setter Amateur Championship
Lynn Oxendine and Jay Lewis were in the judicial saddles for this championship. They had an entry of 15, which was reduced to 14 by a scratched dog. This stake commenced on Friday afternoon, following lunch, the derby, and the final hour of the open championship. This left enough time for three braces of the National Amateur Championship, with the remaining five hours to run on Saturday.

This championship was inaugurated in the spring of 2013. It was moved to the fall trial in 2018, which meant it ran both spring and fall that calendar year. Roger Boser has won this National Amateur All-Age Championship 9 out of the 12 times it has been conducted. He has done so with five different champions, which include Breakstone (twice), Rendition (three), Waycross (once), Windfall (once), and now Gratitude (twice). Gratitude won this stake previously in the fall of 2020, his second season in adult stakes. He took runner-up in this championship in the fall of 2021. This 2023 amateur title made Gratitude a four-time champion; he also holds claim to three runner-up titles.

Gratitude appeared in the first brace on Saturday and the fourth of the Amateur Championship. He scored his first find at 9, all in order. At 16, he was found standing on the north edge of Double Gates field. His birds were well located, and he was high and tight throughout. Just into Davis bottom, Grady pointed at 24, on the right side of the first cross strip. His birds were put up while he stood stylishly. Gratitude's fourth find came at 32, on the second cross strip of Davis. Again, he showed high style and decorum for flush and shot. In the Island field at 51, Gratitude's scout called point on the right edge, just beyond the dog wagon crossing. He stood patiently while awaiting the arrival of handler and judge. His birds were in deep cover but were produced for the high-tailed, mannerly dog. He flew on through the remainder of the field and up the cut toward Don Fox Hill. He was seen on the right edge of Horse Killer's bottom but disappeared. He was next seen at the base of Horse Killer Hill, moving left to right. He was out of sight as we rode the length of the field but was discovered on point just a couple yards from where he'd last been seen. This sixth find, which came at 59, at the end of a big forward move, was the crowning glory of his hour. Gratitude was predominantly forward for the hour. He ran with speed and strength at excellent range. Once again, his performance left no doubt that it was a winning one.

The runner-up, Quantonas Reciprocal, aka Reason, is owned, bred, trained, and handled by Kelli Aitken of Box Elder, South Dakota, and Manhattan, Kansas. Reason was sired by Heiligsepp's Blick out of Russell's New Day. She was whelped on November 17, 2014. She has competed and won in many FDSB and AKC trials and is an AKC champion. In the spring of 2023, Quantonas Reciprocal placed second on race in the National Red Setter Open Shooting Dog Championship when it was reverted to a classic. This National Amateur runner-up title is her first American Field/UKC Championship placement, although she has knocked on the door a few times in the past. Kelli and her husband, Clayton Thompson, work as a team with the dogs and have been quite successful.
Quantonas Reciprocal ran in the brace immediately following Gratitude; she was released at the gate on Apple Tree Hill. She broke nicely forward and remained that way through Little Vine loop. Reason was absent before the last cross row of Sycamore. Her scout rode up birds in the left corner and simultaneously spotted her in deep cover, on point. Clayton called point and flight of birds, which were then seen by the judges. Reason was standing mannerly and with fine style as her handler and the judges arrived. On the bottom of the hillside at 49, she went through the gap and stopped quickly to the flush of a large covey, all in order. She continued her forward pattern across Daugherty's ridge, where she pointed on the left. No birds were produced, and an unproductive was carded as the hour expired.

The Running
Cedar Creek Sixgun (Liermann) and Quantonas Red Dirt Road (Chestnut) were first out after lunch on Friday, appearing on course 1. Sixgun ran a good forward race, making some nice moves, but he went without game contact. Grit was forward and handled well. She scored a nice find in Davis bottom at 23. Though the heat took its toll on her performance, she kept up the effort.

Firefly's Lucky Penny (Hidalgo) was drawn to run with Come Back Magic (Baker). Magic was scratched. Lucky went into the woods at 5 and could be heard chasing deer. Her handler elected to pick up.

Cedar Creek Shindig (Liermann) and Come Back Delta Dawn (Aitken) released heading up the hill in Little Vine loop. Shindig missed the turn to go up the hill; Delta was forward. Shindig showed forward at the back corner of the loop. Delta was steadily forward on the left. Shindig took the right edge, where she had a stop to flush, although birds were not officially seen. Delta came upon the situation and honored it politely. This duo was strong forward into Sycamore, where Delta pointed on the right. A lengthy flush failed to produce her quarry. At that point, these two were separated, and Delta never caught the front. Delta had a stop to flush in the cross row of Sycamore and another on Daugherty's ridge. In the field west of the barns, she scored a beautiful find at time. Shindig made game at the end of Sycamore but was unable to pin it. On Daugherty's ridge, Shindig was guided into some likely cover, but her handler rode up birds, giving Shindig a stop to flush at 35. She pointed on the left, below the twin barns at 43, but no birds could be found in the heavy underbrush, and she carded an unproductive. Shindig was forward to the big pond and on to the Bull pasture. She showed good gait and ground speed for the hour but scored no finds.

Gratitude (Boser) was paired with Just Raisin Cain (Chestnut) in the first brace on Saturday and the fourth of the Amateur Championship. Cain notched a mannerly back at 9 before the rocky creek crossing. He ran a good forward race but suffered unproductives at 19 and 53 to end his effort.

Quantonas Reciprocal (Aitken) and Cedar Creek MacArthur Ruby (Liermann) were released on Apple Tree Hill. Quantonas Reciprocal won the runner-up honors with her performance, which has been described above. Ruby was tentative and picked up early.

Firefly's Beeline (Hidalgo) with Red Bird's The Fifth Element (Aitken) turned loose just before the twin barns. Beeline pointed on the west side of the barns at 5. She moved at the flush and was up. Griffin was forward to the bull pasture and through the Climer fields. He slowed due to the warmth of the morning, and his handler opted to pick up at 30.

Wayward (Boser) and Snowy River's Honest Abe (Mark Verdoorn) were released at 1:30 p.m. on a hot and sunny afternoon. Wayward was acting birdy just before the rocky creek crossing but was taken on. Abe pointed in the gap before the pond at 19. There was a lengthy flush, but Mark produced a big covey for him. Abe was mannerly. Wayward honored reluctantly. On they went across the road into Davis, both taking the left side. Wayward pointed before taking out birds at 30. Abe stopped to the flight of the birds with great manners. Wayward was picked up. Abe was nicely forward through the Island field. He pointed before Horse Killer Hill at 54, but it was a barren stand. Snowy River's Honest Abe finished forward at the top of the hill.

Firefly's Power Play (Hidalgo) ran as a bye and was released at the top of Don Fox Hill, the second brace on a hot Saturday afternoon. He was forward across Apple Tree Hill and through the Little Vine loop. Below the end of the loop, he pointed at 23, but the flush attempt was not productive. He was forward through the small field and into Sycamore bottom but was lost from view on the right. Power Play was discovered on the right side of Sycamore, on point at 32. The bird flushed from the grass in front of him, and he raised his head to watch it go. Going up the hill, he took the east side of the tree line, where he pointed along a feed strip at 39. He was high and tight for the flush of a large covey that just kept getting up. After a dunk in the pond, he continued on, forward along the edges across Daugherty's ridge. Firefly's Power Play remained to the front to finish the hour strong, near the Bull pasture.

National Red Setter Amateur Championship Winners (front, l-r): Bonnie Hidalgo with Gratitude and Clayton Thompson with Quantonas Reciprocal. (Standing): Dennis Hidalgo, Mark Chestnut, Roger Boser, Don Beauchamp, Lynn Oxendine (judge), Kelli Aitken, Chase Verdoorn, Jay Lewis (judge), Mark Verdoorn, and Ed Liermann.

NATIONAL RED SETTER AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 15 Irish Setters
Winner- GRATITUDE, 1676458, male, by Come Back Cutter-Come Back Doodle. Roger W. Boser, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-QUANTONAS RECIPROCAL, 1686166, female, by Heiligsepp's Blick-Russell's New Day. Kelli Aitken, owner and handler.

Red Setter Open Walking Derby
There were only four entries in this stake, which limited the placements to two. The stake was run late Saturday afternoon following the announcement of the Amateur Championship winners. The stake was run as half-hour out-and-back courses. Neither of the winners encountered game, but they were looking for it. Jay Lewis and Lynn Oxendine were officiating. Milt Schafer planted the courses.

Cedar Creek Promise, a female handled by Sam Nutting, won first place with a pretty ground application. She used the edges nicely and was forward at good range, moving with class and speed. She was bred by Ed Liermann, who co-owns her with Sam Nutting. Cedar Creek Promise is out of Cedar Creek Roxie and was sired by Cedar Creek Gambler. She was whelped on July 16, 2022.
Firefly's Speed of Life was second for handler Dennis Hidalgo. Speedy was steadily forward in pattern and hunted hard. He is owned and bred by Dennis and Bonnie Hidalgo.

Red Setter Open Derby Winners (front, l-r): Sam Nutting with Cedar Creek Promise and Dennis Hidalgo with Firefly's Speed of Life. (Standing): Clayton Thompson, Mike Fox, Bonnie Hidalgo, Jay Lewis (judge), Lynn Oxendine (judge), Milt Schafer, and Ed Liermann.

RED SETTER OPEN DERBY - 4 Irish Setters
1st-CEDAR CREEK PROMISE, unreg., female, by Cedar Creek Gambler-Cedar Creek Roxie. Ed Liermann, owner; Sam Nutting, handler.
2d-FIREFLY'S SPEED OF LIFE, 1705494, male, by Firefly's Power Play-Firefly's Calamus. Dennis & Bonnie Hidalgo, owners; Dennis Hidalgo, handler.

Open Walking Shooting Dog Classic
This stake ran on out-and-back courses on Sunday morning. It began across the road from the Clubhouse, keeping to the low ground. It crossed the road at Double Gates and flowed through Sycamore and beyond to Little Vine Road. The return braces followed a similar route back to headquarters. There were nine entries in this one-hour classic, but one was scratched due to a lame handler. This allowed the stake to be run in four hours. Bird work was abundant, with planted quail and/or pre-released coveys being pointed on every brace. The advertised judges, Jay Lewis and Lynn Oxendine, were attentive.

The winner emerged from the final brace. Foxy Lady Sadie, owned, bred, and handled by Mike Fox, demonstrated why she has been in the winners' circle so much in her young life. As a derby, Sadie was the winner of two all-breed Futurities. Recently, she has been placing regularly in adult stakes. Sadie, who turned three last April, was sired by the late U. S. Complete champion and runner-up Red Setter Amateur Shooting Dog, 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Zansett Simply Red. Sadie is out of the winning walking shooting dog Foxy's Lil Red Missy. Sadie did her ancestors proud with her performance in this classic.
Foxy Lady Sadie was moved up from a bye draw in the fifth when a dog in the fourth brace was withdrawn. Sadie carded a perfect find at 11. She scored a second find at 29, in Sycamore bottom; her style and her manners were first class. Sadie turned in a forward, edge-running performance, hunting smartly at good range and handling kindly. She moved with an attractive gait and high tail, covering the course effortlessly for the hour.

The Running
Cedar Creek MacArthur Ruby (Schafer) and Foxy Abralena (Fox) kicked off the stake. Abralena pointed at 7; Ruby failed to back and was picked up. It was unproductive for Lena. Into Sycamore bottom, Lena scored a beautiful find at 36. Down the right line at 40, she pointed again. Lena showed high style and good manners for the flush and shot. At the far end of Sycamore at 44, she pointed again but went with the large covey to end what had been a promising performance.

Cedar Creek Titan (Nutting) and Snowy River's Honest Abe (Chase Verdoorn). Titan was absent for a short time but returned forward at 24. Abe had been seen nicely forward. At 25, Titan put up a covey and gave them a ride. Abe, who had apparently been pointing that covey, joined the fray, and the brace was over.

Full Red Afterburn (Fox) and Cedar Creek Gambler (Schafer) broke from the Clubhouse end. Red definitely had his afterburners on and was absent for a while when he took the right edge from the cemetery all the way past the Daugherty house. He returned just in time to have a negative encounter with quail, and he was up. Gambler ran a nice forward pattern, hunting the edges. In Sycamore bottom, he pointed quail with a 12 o'clock tail but went with the flush.

Foxy Lady Sadie (Fox) and Cedar Creek Duke (Nutting) were the final brace. Sadie had been drawn as a bye in the fifth brace but was moved up when Firefly's Sunsetter was scratched from the fourth. Her winning hour is described above. Duke was found pointing stylishly beside a feed strip at 8; unfortunately, he went with the shot.

RED SETTER OPEN SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 9 Irish Setters
1st-FOXY LADY SADIE, 1691626, female, by Zansett Simply Red-Foxy's Lil Red Missy. Mike Fox, owner and handler.

Red Setter Open Shooting Dog Classic Winners (front): Mike Fox with Foxy Lady Sadie. (Standing): Sam Nutting, Lynn Oxendine (judge), Jay Lewis (judge), Bonnie Hidalgo, Dennis Hidalgo, Milt Schafer, Ed Liermann, and Clayton Thomson.