Result: National Brittany Open Grouse Championship Association

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: Dec 15, 2023

Submitted By: Kenny DeLong

Theda Langstaff Open Memorial Shooting Dog Winners (l-r): Christy Forman, Scott Forman with Grouse Hill Bullet Proof, Travis Burnett (judge), Doc Holmes, Kenny DeLong with Faith's Maximum Justice, Chuck Langstaff, Robert Ecker with Dun Rovens Midnite Ike, Tom Winters (judge), and Bryan Wood (stake manager).

The grouse and woodcock were in abundance at the Refuge the first full weekend of October, and a very nice entry of bird dogs took full advantage of the good numbers and the good weather. We thank the Lord for a great trial--plenty of feathers, food, fellowship, and fine canines displaying excellent bird work. As always, we appreciate the entries of pros and amateurs alike, the time in the saddle of our talented and conscientious panel of judges, our wrangling Hollister family, the McKalko Master Chef team, all those who pitched in to help move vehicles, marshal, get dogs to the line, and the many other folks who happily handled the myriad of tasks associated with running a smooth field event.

Forty-four dogs in the 2nd annual Theda Langstaff Memorial Open Shooting Dog challenged judges Travis Burnett and Tom Winters all day Thursday and Friday. In this stake, 42 grouse and 32 woodcock were moved over the two days, and judges had 12 squeaky clean dogs to sort out. When the dust settled, it was Scott Forman's setter male "Proof," running in the second brace on Course 2, that judges named the winner. Proof ran strong and forward, pressing the limits and carding two stylish finds--one each on grouse and woodcock. The red ribbon fell to Kenny DeLong's veteran liver & white pointer male, "Justice," who ran around noon Friday in brace 18. Justice was also on Course 2, staying well forward but handling kindly, scouring the cover, and scoring three times on woodcock with excellent manners and style. Sir Robert Ecker handled "Ike," a handsome setter male whose punching run and staunch bird work included a very nice grouse find, to the yellow ribbon.

Doug McMillen, Jr., came from Pennsylvania, and Sarah Gomes from across our northern border to judge the Restricted Breed Open Grouse Championship. This was a competitive stake with Llewellins, Red setters, and Brittanys represented in the field of entrants. Two Britts rose to the top to claim the titles. This year, Robert Ecker returned to the winners' circle with a different charge--IV's Whisky In A Teacup. This very nice running female crisscrossed the coveted Courses 9 and 10 Saturday morning, scoring on both grouse and woodcock and claiming the championship and the blue. Kenny DeLong's Brittany male "Shooter" earned a repeat runner-up title with a strong race, well connected with his handler, carding a nice find at 40 on the far edge of a cutting on Course 12.

Puppies ran on Saturday late morning, watched by Denise and Brent Peters. There were nine entries, but it was a strong field. A new puppy course cut over the summer in thicker cover than our venue of the last decade or so saw several good ground performances and a few birds moved. Professional Marc Forman handled two of his three setters to the first and third placements based on strong races. The female "Joey" was the more forward of the two, with more consistent application--good for first place. Gabe was perhaps more moderate and slightly less in tune with Marc, earning a third-place nod from the judges. Sandwiched between the two setters was Chris Wasserman's young pointer female, "Sunny," who ran strong and tested her handler somewhat but impressed the judges with a classy ground race enough to grab the red ribbon.

Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning provided plenty of chickens and doodles for 13 braces of Derby dogs. Rob Ellis and Mike Bandos presided over a great field of promising young ones. More than half a dozen grouse and 10 woodcock were moved, and in the end, all the placed dogs had pointed grouse! In this event, our local pro took the two top spots with a pair of setter females on his string. Tilly ran on Course 9 Sunday morning and scored three times on grouse and timberdoodles. These quality finds, combined with her strong race, made it easy for judges to award her the Blue Ribbon. Hattie had run Saturday afternoon, carding a very nice grouse find, and was being carried in the top spot until Tilly's performance nudged her into second place. Brent Peters' setter male ran in the first brace Sunday morning on Course 7. A couple of grouse and woodcock were moved wild during the half hour, and Billy was able to pin one to gain the third-place spot.

Bunches of birds and a lot of great dogs! It is nice to have big entries and eager participation in both the fun and the work of a successful trial. We thank the professionals for their patronage and willingness to pitch in and help when needed. We thank the amateurs for their hard work and willingness to duke it out with the pros. We thank Purina for their support and sponsorship. We give thanks to the Creator for His many blessings. We at NBOGCA hope y'all winter well and look forward to seeing all y'all in the spring. God Bless you, Theda, for being with us in Spirit.

Meredith, Mich., October 5
Judges: Travis Burnett and Tom Winters
THEDA LANGSTAFF MEMORIAL OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 16 Pointers and 28 Setters
1st-GROUSE HILL BULLET PROOF, 1664897, setter male, by Waymaker Super Sam-Vitali Grouseringer Purdy. Giovanni Capocci, owner; Scott Forman, handler.
2d-FAITH'S MAXIMUM JUSTICE, 1660276, pointer male, by Nelson's Van Max-Wild Apple Faith. Kenric DeLong, owner and handler.
3d-DUN ROVENS MIDNITE IKE, 1685001, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Moonshine Cherry. Dr. Peter Millett, owner; R. J. Ecker, Jr., handler.

Restricted Breed Championship Winners (l-r): Sarah Gomes (judge), Robert Ecker with IV Whiskey In A Teacup, Steve McKalko (stake manager), Kenny DeLong with K Del's Eagle Magnum Hotshot, and Douglas E. McMillen Jr. (judge).

Judges: Sarah Gomes and Douglas E. McMillen Jr.
RESTRICTED BREED OPEN GROUSE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 11 Entries
Winner-IV'S WHISKEY IN AT TEACUP, 1695083, Brittany female, by Wilkie's Cowboy J Witten-I V. Samantha Adams, owner; R. J. Ecker, Jr., handler.
Runner-Up-K DEL'S EAGLE MAGNUM HOTSHOT, 1685770, Brittany male, by Magnum High Velocity-K Del's Eagle's Chance To Soar. Kenric DeLong, owner and handler.

Open Puppy Winners (l-r): "Woody" (stake manager), Marc Forman with Twilight's Problem Child, Brent Peters (judge), Chris Wasserman with Creekside's Sunshine, Josie and Theo Wasserman (future trialers!), Deb Nihart with Neff's Catch Me Get Me, and Denise Peters (judge).

Judges: Brent Peters and Denise Peters
OPEN PUPPY - 2 Pointers, 6 Setters and 1 Brittany
1st-TWILIGHT'S PROBLEM CHILD, 1706124, setter female, by Wayward Flyin Tomato-Twilight's Echoed Promise. Mark Deneka, owner; Marc L. Forman, handler.
2d-CREEKSIDE'S SUNSHINE, 1704976, pointer female, by Creekside's Riptide-Creekside's April Fools. Chris Wasserman, owner and handler.
3d-NEFF'S CATCH ME GET ME, 1705378, setter male, by Wayward Flyin Tomato-Twilight's Echoed Promise. Virginia S. Neff, owner; Marc L. Forman, handler.

Judges: Michael Bandos and Robert Ellis
OPEN DERBY - 3 Pointers, 21 Setters and 1 Red Setter
1st-GROUSE FEATHER TILLY, 1703250, setter female, by Grouse Feather Hawk-GF Southern Belle. Custis Coleman Jr., owner; Richard Hollister, handler.
2d-DUNROVEN HILLBILLY HATTIE, 1702221, setter female, by Dun Rovens Drifter-Back Creek Lucy. Richard Hollister, owner and handler.
3d-BAXTER'S WILD BILL, 1701012, setter male, by Thornapple Casey-Baxter's Mary Katherine. Brent & Denise Peters, owners; Brent Peters, handler.

Open Derby Winners (l-r): Rich Hollister with Grouse Feather Tilly, Mike Bandos (judge), Harold Holmes with Dunroven Hillbilly Hattie, Rob Ellis (judge), and Brent Peters with Baxter's Wild Bill.