Event: Miller's Special Upgrade Named Champion; Cates Rocket Girl, Runner-Up
Result: U. S. Complete Mid-Atlantic Open Shooting Dog Championship
Location: Harrisville, Pennsylvania
Post Date: May 21, 2024
Submitted By: Mike Husenits
U. S. Complete Mid-Atlantic Open Shooting Dog Championship (front, l-r): Miller's Special Upgrade with Mark Hughes and Cates Rocket Girl with Zach Erne. (Behind): Chris Catanzarite, Roger Dvorak (judge), Dave Hughes, Chris Rider (judge), and Andy Erne.
The 2024 rendition of the U. S. Complete Mid-Atlantic Open Walking Shooting Dog Championship was conducted April 22-24 at the Oak Ridge Pointing Dog Club grounds near Harrisville, Pennsylvania. Once again, The Greensburg Pointer and Setter Club hosted the event for the seventh consecutive year, which drew a 32-dog entry from the strings of three professional handlers plus five amateurs.
The participants and club members are grateful for continued sponsorship by Greg Blair and Purina in the form of Pro Plan product, hats, and banners. The cost of participating in field trials would increase dramatically without Purina's help. Garmin is also a major sponsor and contributed a training collar plus a bark suppression collar for the winners. Eric Munden and Lion Country Supply donated gifts for the judges.
Chris Catanzarite, current President of the U. S. Complete Association, chaired the committee that provided the pre-event preparation and work required to conduct a first-class event. Chris handled the advertising, entries, and drawing and was on hand to assist throughout. Joe and Susie Cammisa provided delectable cakes, cookies, and apple strudel, plus made arrangements for a home-cooked Monday night dinner sponsored by last year's winner, Chris Catanzarite. Dave and Mark Hughes donated a side-by-side and four-wheeler for use as the dog wagon, reporter's chariot, and bird planting, which Norm Meeder accomplished.
The club was fortunate to obtain experienced judges. Roger Dvorak of Elkton, Maryland, teamed with Chris Rider of Smithville, Pennsylvania. They gave their undivided attention to all participants. They noted that they had witnessed seven performances worthy of championship recognition, which made determining the winners a head-scratching round of deep thought and analysis, which these men performed with expertise.
The Oak Ridge grounds are reclaimed strip mine land that the Oak Ridge Pointing Dog Club leases, maintains and manages, and in turn, leases the grounds to other field trial clubs. Oak Ridge also sponsors field trials and hunt test events of their own several times annually. Native grasses and food plots have been planted among native undergrowth, which consists of autumn olive bush, briers, locust, and cherry groves. The outer course perimeter is hardwood forest edges embedded with multi-four rose briers. One crossing of a slightly traveled dangerous dirt road requires guards to slow down or stop oncoming vehicles. An observation deck on a high side hill provides spectators with a view of a sizable portion of the course. Occasionally, judging opinions materialize on the observation deck and provide plenty of gossip fodder.
Weather conditions on Monday were very cold; the temperature below freezing at start, later warming into the 40s, and a stiff northwesterly wind made it feel much colder. Tuesday was slightly warmer, with clouds moving in late, bringing rain on Wednesday morning that caused a two-hour delayed start.
The Champion and Runner-Up
Miller's Special Upgrade ("Penny"), a 4-year-old orange-marked Pointer female owned by Carlos Escalante of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and handled by professional Mark Hughes from Grampian, Pennsylvania, topped the 32-dog field with an outstanding performance in the second brace on Monday morning. Penny's titular win here has resulted in yet another champion from the highly successful breeding program of Jack and Fran Miller of Barwick, Georgia. Dave and Mark Hughes acquired Penny as a weaned pup from the Millers and are responsible for her development and outstanding success to date, which includes a National Futurity win, several derby wins, and multiple shooting dog placements. Carlos Escalante acquired Penny and a litter sister while still puppy age and has campaigned on the walking and horseback shooting dog circuit. Penny and bracemate Smoke Rise Hanna, handled by Tony Bingham, were released at 9:40, starting with plenty of range and drive in the open fields along the upper wooded edge. At 16, both scored well-handled independent finds near the road crossing. Sent ahead along the bottom woods' edge, Penny stood high and tight at 21, Hanna backing, all in order. Sent forward along dry creek bottom, both stood at 31 on a divided find, polished manners displayed. Both stretched far to the front along the top woods edge, disappearing and found at 43 by scout in the far-off corner, Hanna backing Penny with another perfectly handled stylish find. Penny added another perfect find at 46, Hanna again backing, the fast action followed with Penny backing Hanna at 49 near Hillside Locust Grove. Penny continued to pour it on, reaching far ahead in the bottom, found standing statuesquely at 53; the initial flush attempt futile, Penny with a quick, precise relocation, producing a well-located bird to perfect manners. Meanwhile, Hanna suffered an unproductive at 54. Sent forward, both made extended swings, hunting through likely cover and disappearing. They were found far ahead at 59, Hanna pointing and Penny backing nicely. Unfortunately, Hanna erred on her relocation attempt to end an exciting hour. Penny notched six finds and two backs with a powerful forward, far-reaching ground effort.
Runner-up Cates Rocket Girl, coming 5-year-old orange marked Setter female owned by David Cates of Evansville, Indiana, and handled by Zach Erne of Rittman, Ohio, rendered her performance in the 14th brace starting at 3:47, the final brace Tuesday, the second day. Girl's pedigree traces to Ch. Ridge Creek Cody is on both sire and dam sides, with a cross to Ch. Barbaro on her dam's side. Girl is on a hot winning streak, having recently been named champion at the National Bird Hunters Midwest Regional Championship in Missouri. Adding to her accolades here, Girl and bracemate Treasure Chest, handled by Cliff Monroe, started fast and wide, maintaining their pace consistently. They scored independently at 11, Girl on the hillside beyond road crossing in autumn olive thicket and Chest along the bottom edge, both mannerly at flush. The pace was a tad faster than normal, with both ranging wide through the long bottom beyond the duck pond. Chest pointed along top wooded edge at 39, Girl backing nicely, both displaying polished manners. After far-reaching casts along the top edge, both swung down the hill into the bottom country and sped forward along woods line, pointing simultaneously near the far corner bend at 42; Chest loosening somewhat during flush attempt by both handlers, this stand unproductive. Both hunted far to the front along ditch line and made the sharp turn toward the observation deck, each pointing independently in tall grass at 54. Girl rock solid, Chest ticking as handler approached, tight for flush, both mannerly for the shot. Girl finished the hour still running strong, reaching well forward to distant objectives. Chest finished with a pair of mannerly finds at 57 and 59 below the observation deck.
Other performances that gave the judges cause for discussion, in order of appearance, included My Way Bud, Hide The Wine, Crow Creek Redbud, Double Deuce Zeke, and Smoke Rise Jake. Readers can refer to the running for more details.
THE RUNNING
First brace away at 8:18 with Cody (Zach Erne) and Crow Creek Bud (Bingham). Cody was forward at medium range, pointed a dead quail at 15, backed at 18, suffered an unproductive at 22, and picked up at 30 for failure to back. Bud scored a good woodcock find at 10 near small pond, backed at 22, and followed with mannerly finds at 25 in switch grass, 35 in open area, an unproductive alongside hill at 41, ending with a mannerly find at 57 in bottom field plus a consistently applied medium range ground effort.
The second brace is described with the winner.
The third brace had Wildland Hide The Wine (Eric Munden) and Chippewa's Dog of War (Erne). Wine ("Chucky") rimmed the far edges and ran with plenty of eye appeal. He scored a mannerly find at 15 near the road crossing, then reached far ahead up the hill toward the half-hour starting line, found on a limb find by scout at 25, Chucky stylish and mannerly for the flush. Chucky scored a nice back at 36, followed by a pretty find at 40 along hilltop edge, then a big swing along bottom woods line, found on a granite-like pose at 55, proving unproductive, and a final stand at 59, showing feathers. War scored mannerly finds at 20 and 25. He pointed a dead bird at 36 and up at 40 following a miscue on a bird.
Brace 4 had Mohawk Mill Shake Up (Monroe) with Suemac's Sashay (Hughes). These two had their running shoes on and scoured the country with reckless abandon. After an absence, scout found Sass pointing high and tight at 25 on the far left side at ditch crossing, Shake backing nicely, a well-handled find. Sent ahead, both swung back left, scout again finding them at 34, this time Sass backing Shake, the stand proving sterile after lengthy relocation resulted in Shake being picked up. Sass notched a solid find at 42 following a big swing to the left corner, suffered an unproductive at 53, and finished ahead.
Brace 5 had Wildland Sweet Caroline (Krysta Munden) and Backcountry Bruiser (Catanzarite). Both started wide, hunting likely cover well forward. Bruiser scored first at 23 on side hill and again at 32 in left bottom, both with style and proper manners. Caroline notched a perfect find at 34 at turn corner. Bruiser added a find at 44 along top edge and followed with another at 51, Caroline backing. Bruiser scorched the bottom return field far to the front, disappeared, and unfortunately did not return, found pointing in thick woods just a little too late. Caroline finished with unproductives at 54 and 59.
Crow Creek Redbud (Bingham) and Double Deuce Zeke (Hughes) made Brace 6. Both ended up with commendable efforts that had them in contention. Bud had finds at 9 before the road crossing, 15 in autumn olive, 20 along bottom edge, a back at 31, and then two perfectly handled finds at 39 and 53, finishing his stint far to the front. Zeke started with a back at 9, followed by stylish, well-handled finds at 14, 21, and 31 in sedge grass, and 39 and 56 at the end of a distant forward cast along ditch line.
Brace 7 had Smoke Rise Jake (Bingham) with Wildland Wild Man (Krysta Munden). Both broke away fast and forward, hunting hard with plenty of style to the road crossing. Jake scored a mannerly find at 14 near crossing, then an unproductive at 18, followed by polished finds at 40 and 52, ending his stint with a second unproductive at 59. Jake's style and intensity on point, most impressive. Man suffered an unproductive at 10 near the road crossing and followed with a far-reaching cast uphill, found by scout on a solid limb find at 25, manners perfect, a back at 40, then a mannerly find at 49 near hilltop turn followed with a back at 59 to bring the first days running to a close.
Tuesday started a little warmer than the day before, but a strong northwest wind called for warm attire. Brace 8 had Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk (Bingham) and Backcountry Buddy (Catanzarite). Hawk scored well-handled finds at 17 after road crossing, 20 in tall switch grass strip, 30 left of the ditch gully, and applied himself well until suffering unproductives at 40 and 48. Buddy had a back at 17, a barren stand at 21, and up at 35 for a breach of manners.
Brace 9 had Parkway (Hughes) and Mohawk Mill War Hawk (Bingham). Parkway scored at 10 near the road crossing, 31 on a dead bird, 34 along ditch line, and a sterile stand at 38, followed by a stylish solid find at 44. Parker had the judges' attention until erring on a relocation effort at 50. Hawk hunted hard at medium range but was up early after two unproductive stands.
Erin's Battle Cry (Bingham) and Dynata's Fireball (Bacik) made up Brace 10. Cry had bad luck with intense, stylish points at 22 and 24, proving unproductive. Fireball, a Vizsla that can really cover the ground, began her stint with an unproductive near road crossing at 11, followed by mannerly finds at 14 and 20, then a long absence, found on point at 47 along wooded edge, shortened up and added well-mannered finds at 52, 55 and 59.
Brace 11 had T's American Outlaw (Bingham) and Leslie's Elli Mae (Hughes). Outlaw hunted hard and to the fore but erred on a bird at 30 and picked up. Elli covered a lot of ground with plenty of eye appeal. She had a mannerly find at 10 near the road crossing but was up at 31 after a miscue.
Brace 12 featured a pair of English setters in Emert's Sho Me Mo (Bingham) and Wayward Flyin Tomato (Hughes). Mo stood stylishly at 12 prior to the road crossing, nothing flown or relocated. He notched a steady find at 19 in a grassy area, shortened, and was up at 30. Tomato hunted wide and handsome, pointed at 11, but moved on until picked up at 31 with no birds.
Brace 13 had Miller's Hopped Up Version (Hughes) and Knight's Rebel Renegade (Knight). Version, or "Cricket," reached wide to the front, pointed stylishly at 21 on a dead bird, found in the wooded corner at 32 with an unproductive, followed with a great find at 36, where she relocated precisely, then added a final find at 44 in the open field. Rebel started strong and hit the forward objectives with determination, pointed in the grassy area at 22 but wheeled and jumped at flush and picked up.
The 14th brace is described with the runner-up. End Day Two.
Rain moved in overnight with only two braces remaining; the decision to delay proved wise with the rain ending. Start made at 9:50 with Mulberry Fields Molly (Hughes) and Emert's Grouse Ringer T (Bingham). Molly hunted hard with an attractive way of going. She backed at 14 near the road crossing and had a divided find at 21 but up at 25 after erring on game. T had a solid find at 14 near the road crossing, a divided find at 21, mannerly finds at 26 and 30, and picked up at 35 after shortening.
The 16th and final brace was exciting with Saddled Up Sadie (Hughes) and Bundy's Buckeye Molly (Erne). Both hunted the open country before the road crossing with gusto. Sadie notched a back at 9, then a mannerly high-styled find at 11 before crossing, went on a far-reaching bird finding spree with a solid find at 23, a back at 31, adding polished finds at 33 near the deer stand, 43 along hilltop wood line, then hunted the bottom field impressively, found pointing at autumn olive bush with bracemate at 50, both committing a breach of manners and picked up. Molly was recovering from recent surgery but showed well on a find at 12 before road crossing, added a second find at 16, backed at 23, scored a solid find at 31, and another back at 33 but picked up at 50 after an error to conclude the running.
Harrisville, Pa., April 22 - One Course
Judges: Roger Dvorak and Chris Rider
U. S. COMPLETE MID-ATLANTIC OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 22 Pointers, 9 Setters, and 1 Vizsla
Winner-MILLER'S SPECIAL UPGRADE, 1695107, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Carlos Escalante, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
Runner-Up-CATES ROCKET GIRL, 1690282, setter female, by Swift Rock Iced Cash-Swift Rock Splash. David Cates, owner; Zach Erne, handler.