Result: American Red Setter Bird Dog Club

Location: Rosehill, North Carolina

Post Date: Feb 26, 2024

Submitted By: Al Fazenbaker

Open Walking Shooting Dog Winners (l-r): Al Fazenbaker with Conneaut Creek Scenic River, Andy Weik (judge), Mike Fox with Foxy Lady Sadie, Tom Coppedge, and Sean Melvin with Black River Sue.

The American Red Setter Bird Dog Club was formed in the summer of 2023 by a group of walking field trial enthusiasts who were interested in promoting walking trials, not only with red setters but with all breeds. The Board of Directors of the ARSBDC elected to run an inaugural trial in 2023, with a long-term goal of hosting an amateur championship on wild birds at some point in the near future. Thanks to the generosity of Joe and Brenda Edwards, we were able to host our first-ever field trial on the Six Runs Farms near Clinton, North Carolina.

The piney woods and open croplands of coastal North Carolina are prime bird dog country, and we were so fortunate to have these fine grounds for our first trial. Home to the iconic Come Back Setters, Hall of Famer Joe and Brenda have hosted trials for many years, and this year drew a good number of dogs to the running. The grounds at Six Runs are ideally suited for running bird dogs, with a mix of pine woods, croplands, and long strips of lovegrass, ideal for holding birds tight. The Great Coharie Creek runs the boundaries of Six Runs, creating a natural boundary to keep errant dogs from leaving the grounds. This year, the weather started warm and dry, but then torrential rains resulted in the postponement of the running on the third day; over 5 inches of rain fell in one day at Six Runs. In nearby Wilmington, North Carolina, some areas received over 6 inches! Because of the extensive rain, a majority of Six Runs Farm was underwater, and even after a day of postponement, the waters of the Great Coharie Creek continued to rise. The next day, thanks to the generosity of Dr. Roger Boser, we moved the trial to Dr. Boser's property, where we were able to finish the last stake of the trial as the waters came out of the banks and crept across the field trial grounds. As the saying goes, you can't mess with Mother Nature!

Our judging staff was well experienced and brought with them many years of working with bird dogs. Jeremy Estep (Troy, Pennsylvania), Andy Weik (Freeville, New York), Joe Edwards (Rose Hill, North Carolina), Allen Fazenbaker (Kingsville, Ohio), and Sean Melvin (Garland, North Carolina) all gave of their time to watch dogs during this trial.

No trial can be conducted successfully without help from willing volunteers and sponsors. The most important function of planting birds was very well accomplished by Karen Vaughn and Milt Schafer, who ensured a plentiful supply of birds in the fields and in the places where birds would be found. Deborah Fazenbaker, Brenda Edwards, and Linda Coppedge all worked overtime to keep everyone attending well-fed. Tom and Linda Coppedge donated an absolutely delicious meal of BBQ pulled pork with all the trimmings. Andy Weik cooked up a great meal of venison chili, and Deborah Fazenbaker baked a wonderful pork sausage lasagna. The ladies baked enough desserts and cookies to feed an army; no one was hungry during this trial!
I would be remiss, not to mention some folks who were essential to the success of this trial.
Joe and Brenda Edwards offered not only the grounds but also their side-by-side for bird planting and the use of their horses for judging. Dr. Roger Boser offered the use of his grounds so that we would be able to finish the trial after the flooding, and he also offered the use of his horses for judging as well. Sean Melvin also offered the use of his horses and took time out of his workweek to assist with judging after the change of venue due to the flooding. Allen and Deborah Fazenbaker opened their home in Ingold, North Carolina, to host participants for the draw and evening meals. Dr. Boser likewise graciously opened his home near Garland, North Carolina, to feed the trialers on the last day of the trial. These folks were exceptional and very giving of their time and resources, and this is a testament to what William F. Brown called the "Gentleman's Sport." It was certainly evident this week.

A special thanks goes out to Purina, a stalwart in the support of our sport. Purina offers a high-quality product backed by research; please consider Purina when feeding your future champion! Our walking events were sanctioned by the National Bird Hunters Association, and we are grateful for the support offered by NBHA. This organization gives full support to walking field trials and the improvement of walking field trials and bird hunters. SportDOG also supported our trial; consider SportDOG when choosing your electronic training needs. They offer a high-quality product that produces winning dogs!

We also want to thank the professional trainers who took the time to attend and enter dogs. This trial would not have been successful without the help of Calvin Curnutte (Jackson Springs, North Carolina), Daniel Bell (Kenansville, North Carolina), and Sean Melvin.

The Running
The trial opened Friday with the Open Puppy. Taking the blue was Andy Weik with "Birdy," an unregistered German Shorthaired pointer, who showed a wide race but handled nicely.

The Open Walking Derby was taken by Ruff Country Simply Ginger, a forward-going red setter who kept to the front and had several nice derby broke finds for her handler, Andy Weik. Close on her heels was CC Lenni Lenape, a nice moving red setter male who showed broke manners on his birds. Lenni was handled by Al Fazenbaker. Stump Hill Farms Toby, an English setter male, rounded out the placements for his handler, Daniel Bell.

The Open Walking Shooting Dog commenced immediately after the derby on Friday with a respectable entry of 11 dogs. Winning the stake was Conneaut Creek Scenic River, a red setter male handled by Al Fazenbaker. River showed a forward and purposeful race, with four nicely handled finds. Taking the red was Foxy Lady Sadie for handler Mike Fox. Sean Melvin handled Black River Sue to a third-place finish.

Saturday brought warmer weather, with weather forecasts predicting intense rain the next day. The Open Horseback Derby started the day with a small entry, won decisively by Shotput, a red setter female handled by Dr. Roger Boser.

The Open Horseback Shooting Dog followed immediately after the derby. Taking the blue was Come Back Trump, Joe Edward's veteran red setter, who showed a wide and forward race and was always found standing for the judges. Black River Ruby, a setter female, was close behind for handler Sean Melvin, with a wide race and excellent bird work. Gratitude took the yellow for handler Dr. Roger Boser, with impeccable manners and a slightly shorter race.

With the threat of rain on the horizon, the Amateur Walking Shooting Dog commenced immediately after lunch. Mike Fox's Foxy Lady Sadie garnered the blue with a wide and forward race and multiple bird finds. Conneaut Creek Scenic River was in the number two slot with a productive and forward race for his handler, Al Fazenbaker.

Sunday morning brought torrential rain, with some areas receiving more than 5 inches in 12 hours. With high winds, driving rain, and local rivers coming out of their banks, it was decided to postpone the Amateur Horseback Shooting Dog to Monday. By Monday morning, much of the Six Runs farm was underwater and was not safe to traverse for man, dog, or horse. The decision was made to move the stake to Dr. Roger Boser's farm, and he graciously opened his land and home to the trialers. The stake was completed by Monday afternoon, with the river literally licking at our heels as we finished the last brace. Come Back Trump, continuing his winning ways, took the blue for Joe Edwards. Gratitude locked in a second-place finish for Dr. Boser, and Joe Edwards followed with Come Back Little Bit. After the announcements, everyone retired to Dr. Roger Boser's place for a meal of venison chili and all the fixings, courtesy of Any Weik and Deborah Fazenbaker.

This concluded the inaugural field trial for the American Red Setter Bird Dog Club. We hope you will join us for future trials as we continue to showcase dogs on the walking field trial circuit. Visit us on Facebook or our website at https://www.arsbdc.com/ for info on upcoming events!

Rosehill, N. C., December 15
Judges: Jeremy Estep and Al Fazenbaker
NBHA OPEN PUPPY - 1 Irish Setter and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-BIRDY, unreg., German Shorthair female, breeding not given. Andy Weik, owner and handler.

Judges: Joe Edwards and Sean Melvin
NBHA OPEN DERBY - 1 Pointer, 3 Setters, and 2 Irish Setters
1st-RUFF COUNTRY SIMIPLY GINGER, 1703466, Irish setter female, by Zansett Simply Red-Come Back Stellar. Andy Weik, owner and handler.
2d-CC LENNI LENAPI, 1705228, Irish setter female, by Silver Creek Wild Again-Roses Are Red. Al Fazenbaker, owner and handler.
3d-STUMP HILL FARMS TOBY, 1705401, setter male, by Southwin Wind Dancer-Carpenter's Stardust Mollie. Daniel Bell, owner and handler.

Judges: Joe Edwards and Andy Weik
NBHA OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 3 Setters and 8 Irish Setters
1st-CONNEAUT CREEK SCENIC RIVER, 1693481, Irish setter male, by Cedar Creek Talon-Cedar Creek's Skyline Belle. Al Fazenbaker & Ed Liermann, owners; Al Fazenbaker, handler.
2d-FOXY LADY SADIE, 1691626, Irish setter female, by Zansett Simply Red-Foxy's Lil Red Missy. Mike Fox, owner and handler.
3d-BLACK RIVER SUE, 1681700, setter female, by Joe Is Hot-Rose Hill Sally. Wendell Evans, owner; Sean Melvin, handler.

Open Derby Winner (l-r): Joe Edwards (judge), Roger Boser with Shotput, and Jeremy Estep (judge).

Judges: Jeremy Estep and Joe Edwards
NBHA OPEN DERBY - 3 Irish Setters
1st-SHOTPUT, 1704405, female, by Gratitude-Slingshot. Roger Boser, owner and handler.

Open Horseback Shooting Dog Winners (l-r): Al Fazenbaker (judge), Joe Edwards with Come Back Trump, Mike Fox with Black River Ruby, Jeremy Estep (judge), Roger Boser, and Tom Coppedge.

Judges: Jeremy Estep and Al Fazenbaker
NBHA OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 3 Pointers, 4 Setters and 2 Irish Setters
1st-COME BACK TRUMP, 1673917, setter male, by Come Back Audie-Celtic's Spectacular. Joe Edwards, owner and handler.
2d-BLACK RIVER RUBY, 1663048, setter female, by Rose Hill Bill-Rose Hill Mariah. Wendell Evans Jr., owner; Sean Melvin, handler.
3d-GRATITUDE, 1676458, Irish setter male, by Come Back Cutter-Come Back Doodle. Roger Boser, owner and handler.

Judges: Al Fazenbaker and Sean Melvin
NBHA AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 6 Entries
1st-COME BACK TRUMP, 1673917, setter male, by Come Back Audie-Celtic's Spectacular. Joe Edwards, owner and handler.
2d-GRATITUDE, 1676458, Irish setter male, by Come Back Cutter-Come Back Doodle. Roger Boser, owner and handler.
3d-COME BACK LITTLE BIT, 1676023, Irish setter female, by Come Back Cutter-Come Back Bee Gee. Joe Edwards, owner and handler.

Judges: Jeremy Estep and Sean Melvin
NBHA AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 1 Setter and 5 Irish Setters
1st-FOXY LADY SADIE, 1691626, Irish setter female, by Zansett Simply Red-Foxy's Lil Red Missy. Mike Fox, owner and handler.
2d-CONNEAUT CREEK SCENIC RIVER, 1693481, Irish setter male, by Cedar Creek Talon-Cedar Creek's Skyline Belle. Al Fazenbaker & Ed Liermann, owners; Al Fazenbaker, handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog Winners (l-r): Joe Edwards with Come Back Trump, Sean Melvin (judge), Roger Boser with Gratitude, Al Fazenbaker (judge), and Brenda Edwards with Come Back Little Bit.