Result: U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Futurity, Robert E. Lee Shooting Dog Classic

Location: Camden, South Carolina

Post Date: Mar 25, 2024

Submitted By: Verlene Stephenson

Robert E. Lee Shooting Dog Classic Winners (l-r): Greg Isenberg, Mark Hughes, Roger McPherson with Miller's Hopped Up Version, Ronnie Rogers (judge), Cliff Monroe with Twiggy, Chris Catanzarite (USCSDA president), J. D. Waters, Tony Bingham (handler of Emert's Sho Me Mo), Bobby Phillips, Gary Miller (judge), and David Huffine.

The annual U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association Robert E. Lee Shooting Dog Classic, Futurity, and the Les Hobbs Puppy Classic began on Monday, January 29, at 8 a.m. and lasted until Sunday, February 4.

This year's location was the well-known grounds of the Mid-Carolina Field Trial Club in Camden, South Carolina. Mid-Carolina grounds are in good shape this year due to the efforts of the members of the Mid-Carolina club. The grounds are sandy walking paths, broomstraw patches, and field and woods edges, much like our NC sandhill areas. This past year, a fence was added to hinder dogs from running out on the road.

The Camden grounds have hosted field trials since November 5, 1959. In the 1980s, the SC House of Representatives passed a bill declaring the grounds as field trial grounds, with the Mid-Carolina club responsible for the upkeep. It is now part of the Kershaw County Parks but still hosts horseback and walking trials, with several clubs using the grounds annually.
During the week we experienced rain only on Wednesday. Conditions were good for a field trial, with temperatures just below freezing at night and warming to the 50s during the day. Several of the days, it was quite breezy.

The Robert E. Lee Shooting Dog Classic was first run in 2003. The stake honors Robert E. (Bob) Lee for being a founder of our organization. The USCSDA Futurity began in 1996. A 30-minute puppy classic has always accompanied the Futurity, but beginning in 2017, it was renamed the Les Hobbs Puppy Classic. Les Hobbs was an avid supporter of the U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association, and a revolving trophy displaying his name goes home with the puppy classic winner each year.

We wish to thank our national sponsors, Purina and Garmin, for their continued support. Purina provided bags of dog food and hats for participants. Futurity winners received certificates for multiple bags of dog food. Garmin provided a collar for the Futurity winner and a bark collar for second place. Also, our local sponsor, Stinger Supply, provided leashes for the Futurity winners.
I have been the Futurity secretary since 2012. It takes a whole year of planning and recruiting nominations to ensure a successful Futurity and trial. In the spring of 2023, I received a call from Cliff Monroe. He volunteered to be trial chairman for the 2024 trial. He was assisted by Tony Bingham. Together, they arranged for the judges, the location of the trial, the birds, the meals for participants, and all the other details that go into planning a first-class trial. Thank you, gentlemen, for a job well done. Also, I need to recognize Lisa Monroe, who spent all week in the kitchen and made sure everyone was well-fed. In between meals, snacks, sodas, and coffee were always available. Thank you, Lisa!

Warren Parrott, owner of last year's Bob Lee Shooting Dog Classic winner, Hirollins Gone And Doneit, and wife, Renee, sponsored Wednesday night's handlers' spaghetti dinner in the clubhouse. Thanks, Warren!

Robert E. Lee Shooting Dog Classic
The Winners
Thank you to Gary Miller of Jackson Springs, North Carolina, and Ronnie Rogers of New Market, Tennessee, for judging this renewal of the Classic.

The 14th brace produced the winner, Miller's Hopped Up Version, a strong lemon and white female pointer owned by Carlos Escalante and handled by Mark Hughes. "Cricket" had four well-mannered finds, with a fancy forward race and a big finish.
The second-place dog was in the fourth brace. Twiggy is a 4-year-old female pointer owned and handled by Cliff Monroe. Twiggy is no stranger to the winners' circle. Twiggy had four well-mannered finds and a big finish, showing she still had a lot left in the tank when time was called.
The third-place dog was in the 22nd brace. Emert's Sho Me Mo is a setter male owned by David Emert and handled by Tony Bingham. Mo had six stylish finds, a big forward race, and finished his hour with a back.

Camden, S. C., January 29 - One Course
Judges: Gary Miller and Ronnie Rogers
ROBERT E. LEE SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 39 Pointers and 17 Setters
1st-MILLER'S HOPPED UP VERSION, 1695106, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Carlos Escalante, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
2d-TWIGGY, 1690766, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior-Sinbad's Little Lady. Cliff Monroe, owner and handler.
3d-EMERT'S SHO ME MO, 1668349, setter male, by Brannigan's Last Straw-Hytest Horizon. David Emert, owner; Tony Bingham, handler.

Futurity
The 28th USCSDA Futurity was capably judged this year by Harry Cook III from Darlington, South Carolina, and Mike McKinney from Georgetown, South Carolina. This year, 18 litters were nominated. Two of the 18 were sired by Hirollins Gone And Doneit.
Other notable producers of this year's nominated litters are Double Deuce Zeke, Long Gone DeQuan, Mac's Silver Chief, and Miller's Upgraded Version. We are grateful to the breeders who nominated these litters and hope to receive even more great litter nominations next year.
Eric and Krista Munden, owners of last year's winner Wildland Wild Man, provided a handlers' lunch on Futurity Day.
All placements received certificates for Purina dog food. The first and second placements received Garmin collars. All placements received a leash provided by Stinger Supply in Boydton, Virginia. Handlers received small bags of Purina Pro Plan Sport.

The Winners
The female pointer Backcountry Snake Eyes set the bar high in the third brace of the Futurity with a remarkable performance. At the end of the running, she was named the winner. Snake Eyes is an attractive white and black pointer owned and handled by Chris Catanzarite from Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania. She was bred by Michael Martino from Union Springs, Alabama. Her sire is Dragonfly, and her dam is Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Snake Eyes scored two finds and had an exciting forward race.
Stone Hill Mystical, a setter female owned and bred by Paul Berdiner and handled by Robert Ecker, took second place. Her sire is Erin's Big Casino, and her dam is Teen Spirit. Mystical had a good race with three finds.
Third place in the Futurity was Millers Dusty Version, a pointer female owned by Mike Husenits and handled by Mark Hughes from Grampian, Pennsylvania. Jack and Fran Miller were the breeders of this litter. Her sire is Miller's Upgraded Version, and her dam is Miller's Special Edition. Dusty had a good race with one find.
Fourth place went to Clayhill Pistol Pete. Pete is a male pointer owned by Bill Britt and handled by Tony Bingham. His sire is Lighting Rod, and his dam is Sugar Maggie Dot. Pete had a good race with one find.

U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Futurity Winners (l-r): Harry Cook (judge), Chris Catanzarite with Backcountry Snake Eyes, Robert Ecker with Stone Hill Mystical, Mike McKinney (judge), Mark Hughes with Millers Dusty Version, David Huffine, Bill Britt, Tony Bingham with Clayhill Pistol Pete, and Bobby Phillips.

Judges: Harry Cook III and Mike McKinney
U. S. COMPLETE SHOOTING DOG FUTURITY - 12 Pointers, 5 Setters and 1 Irish Setter
1st-BACKCOUNTRY SNAKE EYES, 1701700, pointer female, by Dragonfly-Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.
2d-STONE HILL MYSTICAL, 1705110, setter female, by Erin's Big Casino-Teen Spirit. Paul Berdiner, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.
3d-MILLERS DUSTY VERSION, 1706290, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Mike Husenits, owner and handler.
4th-CLAYHILL PISTOL PETE, 1701179, pointer male, by Lighting Rod-Sugar Maggie Dot. W. J. Britt Jr., owner; Tony Bingham, handler.

Les Hobbs Puppy Classic
The judges for the Puppy Classic were Cliff Monroe of Mooresboro, North Carolina, and Tony Bingham of Shelby, North Carolina. Cliff and Tony are both qualified, experienced field trialers.
Sweet Grass Slick, a setter male, bagged first place. Slick is owned and handled by David Huffine. Slick impressed the judges with a fancy hunting pattern and stylish way of moving. He handled obediently for his handler while seeking birdy objectives.
Second place went to Green Valleys Sunkist Sue. Sue is owned and handled by Bryan Rathbone. Sue was always forward with nice moves.
Sam Ridings secured third place with his Royal Fascination, a pointer female. Royal caught the judges' attention with a classy, easy-gaited ground race.
The Les Hobbs Puppy Classic ran on Sunday morning, concluding a very enjoyable trial. It was good to see old friends and welcome some new ones.
The Futurity secretary wishes to sincerely thank everyone who made this trial possible, especially the national sponsors of our organization, Purina and Garmin. We look forward to seeing you next year.

Judges: Tony Bingham and Cliff Monroe
LES HOBBS PUPPY CLASSIC - 13 Pointers and 5 Setters
1st-SWEET GRASS SLICK, 1706149, setter male, by Shagtime Max-Shagtime Zee. David Huffine, owner and handler.
2d-GREEN VALLEYS SUNKIST SUE, 1708535, pointer female, by Hirollins Gone And Doneit-Santee River Iced Crush. Bryan Rathbone, owner and handler.
3d-ROYAL FASCINATION, 1705193, pointer female, by Hirollins Bad Boy-Hirollins Fantasy Girl. Sam Ridings, owner and handler.

Les Hobbs Puppy Classic Winners (l-r): David Huffine with Sweet Grass Slick, Bryan Rathbone with Green Valleys Sunkist Sue, Trisa Rathbone, Margie Ridings with Royal Fascination, Sam Ridings.