Result: Region 1 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

Location: East Windsor, Connecticut

Post Date: Dec 6, 2023

Submitted By: John Olfson

Region 1 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship (l-r): John Olfson (judge), Chris Catanzarite with Backcountry Missy (runner-up), Bill Bonnetti, and Thor Kain (judge).

The Region 1 Amateur Horseback Shooting Dog Championship commenced Saturday, October 14, in East Windsor, Connecticut, at the Dr. John E. Flaherty Field Trial Area with judges John Olfson of West Hartford, Connecticut, and Thor Kain of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, mounted and ready for action. John and Thor are experienced amateur pointing dog handlers and trainers, both with many championships under their belt. We are most appreciative that they accepted the assignment.

Under the joint effort of the Dr. John E. Flaherty Field Trial Clubs Association and its devoted president Dick Frawley, as well as the State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Eastern District Wildlife Biologist Ann Kilpatrick, the grounds were in as good of condition as could be expected considering the record rainfall this year which is 15 inches above average for the year. We are thankful and appreciate this continued joint effort.
Pointer male Great River Yellowstone was named champion. Yellowstone, running in the second brace, set the tone early. He ran a hard-charging forward race with five perfect finds. He always turned up in the right place for his veteran handler, Brian Sanchez. Yellowstone has been knocking on the door with several placements and much promise. This is his first championship. I've had the pleasure of hunting one of his offspring the last couple of days, back-to-back, Monti, a 14-month-old male who proved to be a pheasant-finding machine. Shot three cock birds over him, his first and second time hunting!

Pointer female Backcountry Missy was named runner-up champion. She ran a strong race, taking edges, always hunting, gorgeous on point. Veteran handler Chris Catanzarite got her around with six finds. She has had many placements, including the Garden State Open Shooting Dog Championship in October of 2021 at the English Setter Club of America, where she bested a field of 37 dogs.

Many thanks to Greg Blair and Purina for their continued support. We are proud to award PRO PLAN Sport to the winners. We all appreciate Purina's effort and support of all sporting breeds; they are second to none! In fact, I know of no one in our New England group of field trailers who do not feed Pro Plan .

Great River Yellowstone Winner of the Region 1 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

East Windsor, Conn., October 14 - One Course
Judges: Thor Kain and John Olfson
REGION 1 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 18 Pointers and 1 Setter
Winner-GREAT RIVER YELLOWSTONE, 1688796, pointer male, by Fastforward's B K Gunner-Wiggins Miss Stella. Great River Kennel, owner; Brian Sanchez, handler.
Runner-Up-BACKCOUNTRY MISSY, 1672663, pointer female, by Erin's War Creek-Backcountry Tornado. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.