Event: Southern New England Woodcock Championship
Result: South County Field Trial Club

Location: Exeter, Rhode Island

Post Date: May 23, 2024

Submitted By: John Stolgitis

New England Amateur Woodcock Classic (l-r): Erin Stolgitis, Kelsey Dellinger, Trey Recto with One Acre Wood Lucky, Joe Dahl, Steve Forest, Bob Little, Jon Cullen with Asper Hill Bandit, Russell Ogilvie, John Stolgitis, Al Robbins, Allen Raiano, and Mike Flewelling.

The South County Field Trial Club held its annual spring wild bird trial program beginning March 22 with the second running of the New England Amateur Woodcock Classic. Putting on a multi-day wild bird trial takes a lot of work, planning, and help. The Club wishes to thank the State of RI for their continued support of the wild bird field trials in Arcadia. Club members Lanny Dellinger, Bob Fleury, and I met with the State to coordinate habitat improvement and mowing, mainly on the Cemetery and Pinetop courses. The State did a great job mowing, and I am certain it will pay dividends for nesting woodcock. We also thank Greg Blair and Nestle Purina for their continued support of wild bird trials. They provided generous judge and reporter gifts and product for the Open Championship. Jill Stolgitis once again opened her home for the Saturday evening dinner, which was very well attended. Last year's winning owners of the Amateur Classic, Bruce and Andi Mueller, hosted the evening, which featured mussels, steamers, oysters on the half shell, smoked Atlantic salmon, and Black Angus prime rib along with Lighthouse potatoes and Cesar salad. It was quite a meal. Thank you, Bruce and Andi!

New England Amateur Woodcock Classic
Southern New England experienced one of the warmest, wettest winters on record, and when relying on migrating birds, you never know what to expect. We enjoyed ample birds on all the courses and do not believe we had a birdless brace, although not the numbers we have had in other years. The Amateur Classic featured a $1,000 purse, keeper plaques, and rotating trophies. Judging the 28 hopefuls in the Classic were Russell Ogilvie and Steve Forest, both from Maine. Both men possess enormous knowledge of wild bird cover dogs. They both compete and are ardent hunters and woodsmen. Thanks to both for their time and commitment to wild bird field trials.

Winning this year's Classic was One Acre Wood Lucky for her owner and handler, Trey Rector. Trey traveled from Virginia, and it was his first time running on the Arcadia wild bird grounds. The well-built orange and white Pointer ran in the fifth brace with last year's winner, Doodle Ridge Elroy. Lucky ran a strong race on the often-challenging Cemetery course and had one beautiful find buried in thick briars. Second place went to Asper Hill Bandit. Bandit ran Sunday morning in the 12th brace on the water-logged Bridge course. Saturday afternoon into the evening, we experienced more than 2 inches of rain and didn't know what to expect in regard to the birds and course conditions. We ended up with knee-deep water on much of the course and had to reroute as we went. Bandit and her owner, Jon Cullen, took it all in stride and managed two finds with a very classy, fast hour. Rounding out the placements was derby-age Mohawk Mill Miss You ("Pearl"), handled by Mike Flewelling for her owner, Bill McFadden, who was unable to get to the trial due to weather conditions. Pearl ran in the 8th brace and had a flowing two-find performance on the Cemetery course.

Congratulations to the winners and all the amateurs that made this trial so successful. All three handlers refused the purse monies and asked that it be put towards next year's dinner and banquet...it is sure to be a large time!

Exeter, R. I., March 22
Judges: Steve Forest and Russell Ogilvie
NEW ENGLAND AMATEUR WOODCOCK CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 12 Pointers, 15 Setters, and 1 Irish Setter
1st-ONE ACRE WOOD LUCKY, 1684991, pointer female, by Yellow Rose Nickel-Yellow Rose Sophia. William B. Rector III, owner and handler.
2d-ASPER HILL BANDIT, 1694498, setter female, by Super Storm-Asper Hill Pippi. Jon Cullen, owner and handler.
3d-MOHAWK MILL MISS YOU, 1703199, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Big Stuff-Mohawk Mill Dolly. William & Karen McFadden, owners; Mike Flewelling, handler.

Southern New England Woodcock Championship
Returning judges Kris Nordby and Doug Dix had 24 hopefuls to evaluate. Capturing this year's Southern New England Woodcock Championship title was Cairds Cracklin Rosie for her owner, Bob Little. No stranger to the winners' circle, Rosie already won a championship and a runner-up placement this season in the Northern New England Woodcock Championship and the North American Woodcock Championship, respectively. The powerful white and liver Pointer ran on the Pinetop course. She was powerful throughout her hour and had one find on a pair of birds.
Fresh off her second-place performance in the classic, Asper Hill Bandit captured the runner-up position. Bandit also ran on the Pinetop course and had one find and a flashy forward race. Jon and Bandit had a great week!

Southern New England Woodcock Championship (l-r): Doug Dix, Bob Little with Cairds Cracklin Rosie, and Kris Nordby.

Judges: Doug Dix and Kris Nordby
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 15 Pointers and 7 Setters
Winner-CAIRDS CRACKLIN ROSIE, 1680683, pointer female, by Daddy's Little Boy Butch-Porter Meadow Bette. Robert Little, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-ASPER HILL BANDIT, 1694498, setter female, by Super Storm-Asper Hill Pippi. Jon Cullen, owner and handler.

Joel Collier Derby Classic
Judges Karen Unsworth and Lanny Dellinger named Mohawk Mill Miss You winner of this year's Derby Classic. Pearl is owned by Bill McFadden, who has returned after a 20+ year hiatus from field trialing. Bill bought Pearl from Gary Winall, and she has shown great potential, having won the Grand National Grouse Futurity last fall and placing third in the New England Amateur Woodcock Classic.
The runner-up also came from Mohawk Mill Kennel and Gary Winall. Mohawk Mill Miss Ellie was named runner-up for her owner, Harley McClung. John Stolgitis handled both the winner and runner-up.

Joel Collier Derby Classic (l-r): John Stolgitis with Mohawk Mill Miss You, Lanny Dellinger, and Owen Comeau with Mohawk Mill Miss Ellie.

Judges: Lanny Dellinger and Karen Unsworth
JOEL COLLIER DERBY CLASSIC - 7 Pointers and 1 Irish Setter
Winner-MOHAWK MILL MISS YOU, 1703199, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Big Stuff-Mohawk Mill Dolly. William & Karen McFadden, owners; John Stolgitis, handler.
Runner-Up-MOHAWK MILL MISS ELLIE, 1703109, pointer female, by Indian Creek Spur-Hirollins Fantasy Girl. Harley McClung, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.

Cover Dog Puppy Classic
Chasehill Little Timmy was named winner of the Puppy Classic by judges Mike Flewelling and Richie Rogers. Timmy ran a very strong race through the changing cover of the Arcadia puppy course. Second went to Lanny Dellinger's Snuff Mill Magnum Force. "Maggie" is a well-built, classy white and orange Setter who goes across the ground with little effort for a bigger female Setter. Third also went to a female Setter, Still Meadows Little Sunray, owned by Brian and Kelly Hays and handled by Adam Dubriske. "Ray" is also a nice moving, and classy female who I am sure we will see more of in the winners' circle.

Judges: Mike Flewelling and Richie Rogers
COVER DOG PUPPY CLASSIC - 4 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-CHASEHILL LITTLE TIMMY, 1711295, pointer male, by Spring Brook Maximus-Chasehill Little Izzy. Erin Stolgitis, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.
2d-SNUFF MILL MAGNUM FORCE, 1705117, setter female, by Mohawk Mill Lucky Charm-Richfield Oakley. Lanny Dellinger, owner and handler.
3d-STILL MEADOWS LITTLE SUNRAY, 1704573, setter female, by Long Gone Wallace-Chase's I'm Miss Smith. Brian & Kelly Hays, owner; Adam Dubriske, handler.
Thank you to all who made this year's week of wild bird trials so successful. Plans are already underway for next year's trials.

Cover Dog Puppy Classic (l-r): John Stolgitis with Chasehill Little Timmy, Lanny Dellinger with Snuff Mill Magnum Force, and Adam Dubriske with Stillmeadow's Little Sunray.

State of RI mowing.