Result: Region 13 Amateur All-Age Championship

Location: Ionia, Michigan

Post Date: Jan 3, 2024

Submitted By: Jim Cipponeri

Region 13 Amateur All-Age Championship Winners (l-r): Mike Small with Phillips Linebacker, Blake Rizzo, Jeff Haggis, Jim Cipponeri, Brian Sheehan with Erin's Rebel Attraction, Joe Guzman, Phil Daniels, and Tom Vanecek.

The Region 13 Amateur All-Age Championship was once again held at the Ionia Field Trial Area, home to numerous national and local events, including all breed and specific breed championships. The sponsoring club this year was the Grand Valley Bird Dog Club, which has been conducting trials here since 1974 and hopes to secure a future date for the National Amateur Pheasant Championship. The London Bird Dog Club initially hosted this trial near Clinton, Ontario, and has continued to support it since moving to Ionia.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the other clubs and members of our Association of Michigan Field Trial Clubs who attended and offered assistance in making this a successful event. The assemblage of these individuals is appreciated, and the success of this trial could not be accomplished without them. Kalamazoo/Southwest, Michigan Championship, and Farmers Sportsman's Clubs were major supporters.

Dick and Katherine Lipski were up before dawn every morning to seed the course and continued throughout the day managing the dog wagon and supplementing the bird release every brace. Tom Vanecek, Jeff and Matt Haggis, and Blake Rizzo assisted in barn and clubhouse duties. Connie Husinka helped conduct the drawing, and Dr. Allen Dunbar, Tim McClurg, and Kelsey Hajek assisted in marshaling the trial.

Two experienced and knowledgeable judges, Joe Guzman and Phil Daniels, were enjoyable to be around and attentive to evaluating talent. Phil's fianc e, Sharee, rode a few braces as she experienced her first championship. Joe and Phil got it right in their decision-making as well. Tom Vanecek and Phil pitched in to help judge the derby without a glitch. All these individuals are members of various Michigan clubs and support field trials in a positive way.

The champion, Phillips Linebacker, is a product of Orrin Ingram and Nathan Phillips's successful breeding program. Rex broke away at the Oak Tree along Riverside Drive on course 2 and ran a true all-age race. He had one immaculate find on a covey of Bobs near the Hires property at the 48-minute mark. He flowed effortlessly through the course with pleasing style and appeared in all the right places just at the correct time. He is a two-time champion along with a two-time runner-up champion at the young age of 3 years old.
Brian Sheehan's well-put-together male Erin's Rebel Attraction garnered runner-up honors for the second year in a row. He, too, is just 3 years old and is a three-time runner-up and one-time champion. The uniquely marked liver and white ticked pointer had a forward race that required very little scouting as the rapport with his owner/handler was evident throughout the strong hour he put down. Several other dogs had fine bird-finding performances, but they did not meet the judges' standards for this all-age stake.

The judges mentioned Erin's Southern Comfort was closest to the winners, and Wicked Quick had the best first 30 minutes until a mishap involving her bracemate ended Quick's day prematurely. Rizzo's Aria and Jack's Rockin Rocco finished the hour with multiple finds but did not equal the winners' ground performances.
The Amateur Derby was won by Jeff and Matt Haggis's Glenmere's Silver Roo. Roo had a true all-age derby race and two stylish finds. Second was Small's White Rambler, owned by Mike Small, with a big race and finish manners on a small covey in front of the horse staging area. Third was Dr. Allen Dunbar's Grouse Feather Knighthawk, with a nice piece of birdwork and classy forward race.

Ionia, Mich., November 3
Judges: Phil Daniels and Joe Guzman
REGION 13 AMATEUR ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 12 Pointers and 7 Setters
Winner-PHILLIPS LINBACKER, 1695679, pointer male, by Phillips Off Line-Phillips Silver Lady. Orrin Ingram & Nathan Phillips, owners; Mike Small, handler.
Runner-Up-ERIN'S REBEL ATTRACTION, 1691807, pointer male, by Erin's Country Rebel-Erin's Fatal Attraction. Brian Sheehan, owner and handler.

Judges: Phil Daniels and Tom Vanecek
AMATEUR DERBY - 9 Pointers, 2 Setters, and 1 German Shorthair
1st-GLENMERE'S SILVER ROO, 1702832, pointer female, by Mac's Silver Chief-Mac's Silver Shadow. Jeff & Mat Haggis, owners; Jeff Haggis, handler.
2d-SMALL'S WHITE RAMBLER, 1702580, pointer male, by Small's White Charger-Blue Mound's Mainstreet. Mike Small, owner and handler.
3d-GROUSE FEATHER KNIGHTHAWK, 1703408, setter male, by Grouse Feather Hawk-GF Southern Belle. Allen Dunbar, owner and handler.

Amateur Derby Winners (l-r): Jeff and Mat Haggis with Glenmere's Silver Roo, Blake Rizzo, Mike Small with Small's White Rambler, Phil Daniels (judge), Tom Vanecek (judge), and Jim Cipponeri (chairman).