Event: Ralphy's Chasehill Rip Named Champion; Grouse Hill Bella, Runner-Up
Result: Ontario Grouse Dog Championship
Location: Philisburg, Pennsylvania
Post Date: May 22, 2024
Submitted By: David A. Fletcher
Ontario Grouse Championship (l-r): Mike Brown (judge), Brian Ralph with Ralphy's Chasehill Rip, Joe Cammisa (Venango secretary), Marc Forman with Grouse Hill Bella, and Adam Dubriske (judge).
The Ontario Grouse Championship, using wonderful new grounds at Black Moshannon State Forest for the first time after decades of running at the Marienville portion of the Allegheny National Forest, held its 32nd renewal very successfully on April 3-5.
The Championship was graced with 36 entries--24 Pointers and 12 Setters--and the accompanying Open Derby had 10 Pointers, seven Setters, and an Irish Setter entry. The Venango Puppy Classic was the program's third stake, with an entry of nine setters and four Pointers.
The Venango Club hosted the Ontario Grouse Championship for many years after the late Tim Tufts brought the Championship to New York and then Pennsylvania after the Ontario Club's grounds, member support, and bird numbers waned.
Before the passing of Tim Tufts, of Orono, Ontario, two years ago, he almost singlehandedly kept the Ontario Club alive for the better part of 30 years. The Venango Club helped Tim Tufts add the Ontario Championship to its spring stakes and established a new management slate within its roster. Scribe was involved with the Club formation in the early 1980s, working with Bill Brown of the American Field to secure a Championship. After a five-year residence in Alberta, Canada, scribe established residence in Michigan and became re-involved and physically helped to stage the championships. The new Venango officers and directors include President Dave Fletcher, Vice President Dr. Tim Perschke, Secretary Joe Cammisa, and Treasurer Steve Chiappini. Eric Munden also joined the Club as a director. Joe Cammisa was perhaps the workhorse of the trial, looking after most of the tasks before, during, and after the running.
The Roshannon grounds were a pleasant surprise. Easily traversed on well-laid-out courses, it was soon evident that logging was taking place, creating essential cover for grouse and woodcock--regrowth. Jeff Keller, with help from Dick Brenneman, laid out some great courses, and Jeff also served three days as trial course marshal. The courses were complete with attractive cover and nice-looking edges for a dog to travel, in the search. Supporters were on hand, helping, and they included the likes of Perschke, Cammisa, Brenneman, Munden, Duell, Meeder, and Tickerhoff.
Judges for the Championship were Mike Brown from Linden, Michigan, and Adam Dubriske of Troy, New Hampshire. Mike is a bird dog man through and through breeding dogs, training, and competing in trials. He also has a wealth of experience judging top-notch trials. Adam is an owner, trainer, breeder, and handler of his own dogs but is also training for the public and guiding bird hunting, fly fishing, and other dog-related activities. One could say with certainty the Ontario Championship was judged by two experienced men who rode attentively and evaluated every dog entered. Again, we want to thank Purina for their continued support of this Championship.
The Winners and Others
The winner was Ralphy's Chasehill Rip, a Pointer male owned and handled by Brian Ralph of Grove City, Pennsylvania. The win was outstanding, with a score of one perfectly executed grouse find, four woodcock finds, and two backs. Rip was lofty, pointing, mannerly at flush, and busy finding birds the whole hour. The brace, third of the first day, Wednesday morning, was the most outstanding hour of the Championship, a wonderful pair of dogs that hunted every inch of the course and all in the rain. Rip, at merely four months over his third birthday, is an up-and-coming young dog with some impressive wins so far. Fourth in the Grouse Futurity in the fall of 23, has added wins in the Black Moshannon Open Shooting Dog, the Pennsylvania Amateur Shooting Dog, then won the Grand National Grouse Championship that same fall, and that huge win put him atop the Purina Dog of the Year Award. That Grand National Championship had an entry of 48 Setters, 33 Pointers, and a lone Irish Setter. Obtained from John Stolgitis and Chasehill Kennels, Rip is the product of some great breeding from the Chasehill line.
Runner-up was Grouse Hill Bella, a Pointer female handled by Marc Forman for owner John Capocci of Katonah, New York. Bella was the other half of the third brace, paired with Champion Ralphy's Chasehill Rip, a running mate in unquestionably the best hour of grouse hunting in the trial. Bella's placements include an Amateur Puppy and Open Puppy win, a pair of Open Derby wins, and as a first-year Shooting Dog, two wins in the Grouse Woods and now the runner-up title in the Ontario Grouse Championship. An impressive young dog coming up.
There were many notable performances in this Championship. To mention only two from the 12th brace, the final brace Thursday, West Wind Big Jake, handled by Mark Hughes, and Chasehills Wango Tango, handled by John Stolgitis, both had remarkable but birdless hunting. Birds would have undoubtedly put them in contention for a placement.
The Running
Mojo's Remington Steal (Hughes) and Mohawk Mill Miss You (Stolgitis). Away at a rapid pace, both reached out to good cover immediately. Steal had a solid, stylish find on a woodcock early, pretty in motion, and hit good-looking edges. Miss was also hunting hard and eagerly but went birdless for the hour.
Deciding Point (Hughes) and Chasehill Poison Ivy (Stolgitis)--a great pair to watch hunt the cover. They had a divided find on a woodcock before the half, hunted diligently with style, and handled well, putting forth full energy to the hour's end.
Grouse Hill Bella (Forman) and Ralphy's Chasehill Rip (Ralph). From the moment this pair was turned loose, one of the best bird hunting hours in the woods we've seen in a while was in motion. Bella had a nice find on a grouse, added two more perfect pieces of work on woodcock, and added two backs. Rip was not to be outdone; his score was four woodcock finds and a back. It was an exciting brace. It was an hour suitable for applause, and the great hunting and handling continued until the pickup order came.
Warrior Zeke (Hughes) and Cairds Cracklin Rosie (Little). Rosie was a New Brunswick entry. Both hunted hard, looked in the best-looking places, and handled well. Unfortunately, it was a birdless hour.
A Distant Spec (Hughes) and Sunkhaze Vera Masardis (Stolgitis). Another pair that
hunted well, handled, and finished the hour with energy left, but neither found birds.
Roy (Meuller) and Wildland Wild Man (Munden). Despite a heavy rain squall this hour, both dogs dug in and hunted for birds with determination. No birds.
To summarize, the six braces completed on Wednesday, the first day of running, and rain was a big factor. Hard rain seems to drive scent down, keeping the birds crouched in heavy cover and not walking or leaving a scent trail. The bird count for the day was eight woodcock and one grouse.
Mulberry Fields Molly (Hughes) and Asper Hill Bandit (Cullen). Nicely gaited, attractive in motion, they went away hard to the front. Bandit had a solid, mannerly woodcock find and kept up a great hunt the full hour. Molly was also applying herself to hunting the edges but failed to find birds.
Duck Hook (Stolgitis) and Saddled Up Sadie (Hughes). Both reached and hunted forwardly, with Duck Hook handling a woodcock nicely while Sadie had a pair of unproductives. Their hunting was well done, and they finished strongly.
Annie (Ralph) and Full Breeze (Dave Hughes). Although Annie hunted diligently and had a woodcock find, handler elected to take her up near half-time. Breeze hunted every minute but failed to find birds.
Wildland Sweet Caroline (Munden) and Sudden Silence (Hetrick). Both hunted the cover well, Silence with a woodcock find, but both handlers discontinued near half time.
Wayward Flyin Tomato (Hughes) and Ryn (Keller). Tomato was lost to judgment early. Ryn logged a woodcock find, a bit loose in stature and was taken up later in the hour.
West Wind Big Jake (Hughes) and Chasehills Wango Tango (Stolgitis). A pair of hard-hunting dogs. They hunted the course wonderfully well, and despite no birdwork from Jake and an unproductive from Wango, work on birds could have put both dogs in contention.
A summary of Thursday's running shows five woodcock were pointed, but again, heavy rains were a factor in the availability of scent and birds.
Parkway (Hughes) and French's Grouseringer Woody (Forman). Both hunted every minute, perhaps a little more average rather than spectacular, but both finished the hour still searching.
Cairds Remi (Little) and Mohawk Mill Good Advice (Stolgitis). Both raced for the front of course from the breakaway. Remi was wide and lost early, and the tracker was put to use. Found at 31 on an out-of-judgment point. Good Advice had a slow start but soon was in high gear and had a good grouse find. His last half and finish displayed great hunting.
Leslie's Elli Mae (Hughes) and Chasehilll Wicked Wilma (Stolgitis). Elli Mae was hunting hard and effectively and scored nicely on a woodcock at 21. Wilma hunted, perhaps moderately at times, and both dogs were leashed before time.
Double Deuce Zeke (Hughes) and Blast Off (Forman). Despite some hard-hunting early and solid woodcock finds by both, this pair was taken up before time.
Bell Stop Boomer (Hetrick) and Miller's Special Upgrade (Hughes). Although both dogs hunted well, it is likely neither were challenging performances already given in the stake, and they were leashed early.
Millers Hopped Up Version (Hughes) and Boomer of Blackwater (Stolgitis). Hopped Up from the breakaway was putting down one of the better efforts in the stake. He had an unproductive at 43 and was taken up. Boomer was hunting well enough to fill nearly the whole hour with great but birdless hunting. Up near time.
For the daily summary of Friday, it was again rainy, scenting difficult, and birds not moving. Bird score was four woodcock and one grouse.
Philipsburg, Pa. April 3
Judges: Mike Brown and Adam Dubriske
ONTARIO GROUSE DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One Hour Heats] - 24 Pointers and 12 Setters
Winner-RALPHY'S CHASEHILL RIP, 1697746, pointer male by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Brian Ralph, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-GROUSE HILL BELLA, 1699351, pointer female by Silver Ko Kane Ty-Smoke'm Up Jill, John Capocci, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
Companion Stakes
The Venango Puppy Classic and Open Derby, companion stakes to the Ontario Grouse Championship, were run on Saturday, May 4, at the Black Moshannon State Forest in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania. The Derby was judged by Nick Lasica of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, and Rob Matson of Brookville. The Venango Puppy Classic was judged by Dick Brenneman of Port Matilda and Dr. Bruce Mueller of Bedford, Pennsylvania. The Puppy Classic saw the cream come to the top with Meadowink Rae of Sunshine, owned and handled by Bill Yant. She ran to the limits, fast and furious. She went to the right places and applied herself well. She was followed by Hitail Roxy Afield, owned and handled by Russell Fazio, and Twilight's Problem Child, owned by Mark Deneka and handled by Marc Forman, who garnered the yellow.
The Venango Open Derby was won by Chasehill Snoop Dog, a fancy and fast Pointer male owned by Erin Stolgitis and handled by John Stolgitis. Snoop Dog covered the Black Moshannon Course 3, hunting and applying himself outstandingly well. He showed constantly far to the front and exuded style when pointing, never slowing the pace. John Stolgitis struck twice when he drove Mohawk Mill Miss You owned by long-time field trialer and New York outdoorsman Bill McFadden, to the second position on the judges' scorecard. Miss You was fast and fancy, stylishly catching the judges' eyes on point. Third was Shady Hills Lefty owned by Debra Nihart and handled by Marc Forman. Lefty dug hard, showing stylish abilities and front-running application throughout. All three were placed pointing and handling wild birds.
Venango Open Derby (l-r): Joe Cammisa (Venango secretary), John Stolgitis with Chasehill Snoop Dog, Nick Lasica (judge), Mike Flewelling with Mohawk Mill Miss You, Marc Forman with Shady Hills Lefty and Rob Matson (judge).
Judges: Nick Lasica and Rob Matson
VENANGO OPEN DERBY - 10 Pointers and 8 Setters
1st-CHASEHILL SNOOP DOG, 1703110, pointer male, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Erin Stolgitis, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.
2d-MOHAWK MILL MISS YOU, 1703199, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Big Stuff-Mohawk Mill Dolly. Gary Winall, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.
3d-SHADY HILLS LEFTY, 1703772, pointer female, by Double Deuce Zeke-Shady Hills Zeena. Debra Nihart, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
Judges: Dick Brenneman and Bruce Mueller
VENANGO PUPPY CLASSIC - 4 Pointers and 11 Setters
1st-MEADOWINK RAE OF SUNSHINE, 1705287, setter female, by Dun Rovens Zip-Castle Rock's Autumn Breeze. William P. Yant III, owner and handler.
2d-HITAIL ROXY AFIELD, 1705101, setter female, by Dun Rovens Zip-Castle Rocks Autumn Breeze. Russel M. Fazio, owner and handler.
3d-TWILIGHT'S PROBLEM CHILD, 1706124, setter female, by Wayward Flyin Tomato-Twilight's Echoed Promise. Mark Deneka, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
Venango Puppy Classic (l-r): Joe Cammisa (Venango, secretary), Bill Yant with Meadowink Rae of Sunshine, Nick Mellon, Russ Fazio with Hitail Roxy Afield, Dick Brenneman (judge), and Marc Forman with Twilight's Problem Child.