Result: U.S. Complete Northeast Regional Championship

Location: Exeter, Rhode Island

Post Date: Aug 10, 2021

Submitted By: Bill Bonnetti

EXETER, R. I. -- The 2021 U.S. Complete Northeast Regional Championship kicked off on March 26 at the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area in Exeter, R.I., with pleasant and seasonable early-spring weather for Southern New England.

Judges for the event were Dave O'Brien and Gene Casale, both of Marlborough, Conn.

Named champion was pointer female Little Miss Bella. Bella is owned and handled by Tim Cavanaugh of East Hampton, Conn. Runner-up was setter male Grousehill Bullet Proof, handled by professional trainer Robert Ecker and owned by John Capocci of Katonah, N.Y.

The winners were braced together late in the trial, in the next-to-last brace. It was just one of those enjoyable braces to watch.

Bella had three impeccable finds in her hour and a strong forward race; she always seemed to pop up, making a showy move at the right time. Proof had a similar performance, with four finds and a good race, it just didn't flow quite as well as Bella's on this day. With 8 minutes left, they both hit the new cut where you could really see them. Bella was really laying it on, while Proof got hung up a little, but Ecker got back in touch with him and got him swinging through there as well. They both finished going away.

THE RUNNING

The trial kicked off with Clark's Katzenjammer Kid (Ecker) and Foxbrook Pokerface (Stolgitis) in the first brace. Pokerface took steps on birds not far off the breakaway and was up. Kid is a nice young setter male and was looking good, both moving and pointing but had a breach of manners on what would have been his sixth find and was up.

Grousewoods Kissamee Tea (Labella) and Miss Penn Star (Ecker). Tea tallied finds at 22, 50, 55, and 58. Her race was erratic at times, there was a bit of "tugging and pulling" to get her around. Perennial winner Miss Penn Star had a find at 10 and was lost on point at 25.

Chasehill Little Izzy (Stolgitis) was braced with Victory (Ecker). Izzy is a nice moving pointer female; she applied herself well and had three finds. She suffered a second unproductive at time. Victory moved well but had a breach of manners around 15.

Harwich Indian Creek Buck (Olfson) and Maximum Resistance (Ecker) were in the 4th brace. Buck is a well-built, nice going pointer male. He spun and had a hard mark on a bird on his second find, then took multiple steps, and was up. Maximum Resistance, or "Max," is another handsome, strapping male, in the setter version. He had a find at 28 and retrieval device was called for at 41.

No. 5 featured another pointer and setter pair of males, Attitude's True Grit (Ecker) and Panola Bacon (Stolgitis), neither of whom are strangers to the winners' circle. They broke away strong. True Grit was pointed at the end of the breakaway field and Bacon, still with a full head of steam from his initial cast blew by him and was up for failing to back. True Grit had back-to-back finds at 18 and 20, then suffered a second unproductive at 35.

Rich Warters' national champion Bo of Piney Woods (Ecker) was braced with fancy setter female Ruff Grouse Lily (Christopher). Lily would end up being picked up for a breach of manners. Bo would go on to have several finds, I believe it was actually eight. He was definitely closest to the winners, but his race just didn't flow like that of the winners today, it was more erratic and lateral at times. This is a gifted dog.

The last brace of the day -- Upper Ammonoosuc Violet (Ecker) and Wild Apple Siri (Rizza) -- a stylish pair of females, a pointer and a setter. Violet had finds at 10 and 15, and an unproductive at 21. Siri had three finds of her own. At 25 both dogs were watered at the water bucket. Unbeknownst to anyone, there would be a quail sitting in the middle of the path, just up from the water bucket, which would take both of these dogs out when they were released.

The second day kicked off with Glassilaun Warpaint (Ecker) and Chasehill Little Speck (Stolgitis). Point was called for Speck by scout at 7; as John was going to him, he took liberties and was up. The judges were really liking Warpaint, callname "Bat". They were pleased with the way his ground race was flowing. He had a find at 5, an unproductive at 14, and finds at 20, and 30. At 38 he pointed in the middle of a mostly barren field in the midway section of the course. Robert made an extensive flushing attempt, with a series of attempted relocations, to no avail. Handler picked him up here.

Sterlingworth Jack (Ecker) had a find at 15. He had a second unproductive at 35 and handler picked up. Duckhook (Stolgitis) was also picked up after two unproductives.

No.10 featured setter champion Islander (Ecker) and Waybetter Faith (Pereira). Islander, or "Jessie," had two finds and was picked up by handler at the 30-minute mark after his second unproductive. Faith, uncharacteristically, was lost off the breakaway.

Brace No. 11 had the winners.

Boston (Ecker), running as a bye, had a find at 19, and a second unproductive at 19, at which time handler picked up, ending the running of this trial.

I would once again like to publicly thank Jayne Fogarty for everything she does for our trials. The hot grilled muffins, and hot coffee that's available, along with all the other "spreads" that she puts on throughout the day are always appreciated by all!

I would also like to thank U.S. Complete Regional Director Jamie Nee, as well as Lanny Dellinger for driving the dog-pickup vehicle and making sure birds were on the course.

I thank everyone who supported this trial, especially Greg Blair and the Nestle Purina Company for their continued support of U.S. Complete trials.

We look forward to seeing everyone again in the spring of 2022!

Exeter, R. I., March 26 -- One Course

Judges: Gene Casale and Dave O'Brien

U. S. COMPLETE NORTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

[One-Hour Heats] -- 13 Pointers and 10 Setters

Winner--LITTLE MISS BELLA, 1664328, pointer female, by Chasehill Little Bud--Shaula. Tim Cavanaugh, owner and handler.

Runner-Up--GROUSEHILL BULLET PROOF, 1664897, setter male, by Waymaker Super Sam--Vitali's Grouseringer Purdy. John Capocci, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.