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Result: Ruffed Grouse Field Trial Club

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: May 20, 2024

Submitted By: Tammy Chaffee

Ruffed Grouse OSDS24

Open Shooting Dog (l-r): Jeff Secor, Tammy Chaffee with Meridith Grade Corky, Scott Chaffee, Mike Brown (judge), Rich Hollister with Grouse Ridge Larry, Ronnie Eldridge (judge), Craig Merlington, Bruce Minard with Hifive's Top Shelf, and Bryan Wood.

The Cover Dog Open spring stakes commenced on April 12 at the famed Gladwin Game Refuge with the Ruffed Grouse Field Trial Club's Jack Secor Memorial Open Shooting Dog stake. The Club drew 92 dogs to compete in Shooting Dog, Derby, and Puppy stakes. As always, we had the much-appreciated help of many field trial participants, including horse wranglers Rich and Jenny Hollister, stake manager Bryan Wood, Betsy Dozeman for the delicious breakfast burritos and lunch, along with Chris Wasserman for Sunday's tailgate lunch and the club members and directors and several others with marshaling and moving vehicles. Thank you to all. Thanks go to Purina for their continued support of cover dog events.

Judges Ronnie Eldridge and Mike Brown adjudicated 40 hopefuls across 16 courses over a day and a half in the saddle for the Jack Secor Memorial Open Shooting Dog stake. Rising to the top was Meridith Grade Corky, a male setter owned by Dennis Keysor and handled by Tammy Chaffee. Corky drew Course 16, ran on day two, and covered the course well with a perfectly handled woodcock find in the dense popple cut. Second was awarded to Grouse Ridge Larry, a male setter owned by Paula Giulitto and handled by Rich Hollister. Larry ran on Course 9 on day one and carded a stop to flush on a woodcock and a divided find on another while having a solid run in the afternoon heat. Third was Hifive's Top Shelf, a female pointer owned by Ben and Meledye Batey and handled by Bruce Minard. Top Shelf ran on Course 1 on day two and tallied up a woodcock find with her far-reaching race.

The John R. Stuart Derby Classic began on Saturday, and judges Rob Ellis and Shane Haskins placed Eldridge's Winning Oscar, a male setter owned by Ronnie Eldridge and handled by Scott Chaffee, as the top dog. Oscar ran a powerful, big, forward race with a grouse find. Second was awarded to Hifive's Northern Gold, a male pointer owned by David Miotto and handled by Bruce Minard. Gold handled well for Bruce remaining forward during his 30 minutes and had a limb find on a relocation effort on a woodcock. Third was Ghost Train Minnie, a female setter owned by Tom Fruchey and handled by Scott Chaffee. Minnie's race was more modest than the first two placements, and she showed great style on a grouse find near the end of her run.

Mike Bentley and Scott Johnston handled the Ruth Stuart Open Puppy Classic judicial duties, reviewing 18 potential cover dogs. Placing first was a new participant to cover dog trials, Andrew Purcell, with his female pointer Silvershot's TC Tilly. According to the judges, she ran a flawless race, hitting all the available objectives. Second went to Singleton's Gracie May, a female setter owned and handled by Mike Singleton. May ran well and impressed the judges with her strong finish across a large field and circling back to the front at time. Third was Hatton Hills Luci, another female setter, owned and handled by Shane Haskin. She ran a very nice race and handled well for her owner.

Meredith, Mich., April 12
Judges: Mike Brown and Ronnie Eldridge
JACK SECOR MEMORIAL OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 12 Pointers, 27 Setters, and 1 Brittany
1st-MERIDITH GRADE CORKY, 1681353, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Call Me Maggie. Dennis Keysor, owner; Tammy Chaffee, handler.
2d-GROUSE RIDGE LARRY, 1673191, setter male, by Long Gone Boston-Grouse Ridge Merri. Paula Giulitto, owner; Richard Hollister, handler.
3d-HIFIVE'S TOP SHELF, 1686517, pointer female, by Hifive's Unlisted-Hifive's Betts Placed. Ben & Meledye Batey, owners; Bruce Minard, handler.

Judges: Rob Ellis and Shane Haskins
JOHN R. STUART DERBY CLASSIC - 8 Pointers and 26 Setters
1st-ELDRIDGE'S WINNING OSCAR, 1701135, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Eldridge's Beauty And Beast. Ronnie Eldridge, owner; Scott Chaffee, handler.
2d-HIFIVE'S NORTHERN GOLD, 1702444, pointer male, by Titanium's Hammer-Hifive's Allisin. David Miotto, owner; Bruce Minard, handler.
3d-GHOST TRAIN MINNIE, 1700252, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Springpond's Autumn Adeline. Ghost Train Kennel, owner; Scott Chaffee, handler.

Judges: Mike Bentley and Scott Johnston
RUTH STUART OPEN PUPPY CLASSIC - 3 Pointers, 14 Setters, and 1 Brittany
1st-SILVERSHOT'S TC TILLY, 1704753, pointer female, by Crosswind Jim-Silvershot's Lil Fancy Pants. Andrew Purcell, owner and handler.
2d-SINGLETONS GRACIE MAY, 1711859, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-I'm Blue Who. Mike Singleton, owner and handler.
3d-HATTON HILLS LUCI, 1706362, setter female, by Swift Rock Lawbreaker-Swift Rock Julie. Shane Haskin, owner and handler.

Ruffed Grouse DerbyS24

Open Derby (l-r): Bryan Wood, Lonnie Rademacher, Ronnie Eldridge with Eldridge's Winning Oscar, Rob Ellis (judge), Bruce Minard with Hifive's Northern Gold, Shane Haskin (judge), and Scott Chaffee with Ghost Train Minnie.