Result: Maine Bird Dog Club

Location: Brownfield, Maine

Post Date: Jun 6, 2024

Submitted By: Deb Kennedy, Secretary/Treasurer MBDC

The Maine Bird Dog Club held its spring trial during Mother's Day weekend, May 11-12. The weather was all that could be asked for in May--some sun, some clouds, and a breeze strong enough to gather a scent to a dog's nose but not so strong as to blow off hats. Blood-sucking insects were few and far between; saints be praised!

The ground crew, Kellie Short, her dad, Bob Paucek, Bruce Burnell, and other trial participants made sure the tables were up, the birds planted for the first brace, and the new grill set up for a burger and dog lunch. Many volunteered for bird planting duty, but we were especially grateful for Roy "Iron Legs" Hargreaves and Dave Theroux, aka "The Motor Man." Dave brought his e-bike, which was a huge help in delivering judges' books, water, and, of course, planting a bird or two. Bruce Burnell was the grill master, and a special thanks to Deb Sloan, who brought raspberry chocolate bars that were wicked good. Purina provided dog food coupons for the winners through USCSDA. Many thanks to Jameson Crandall, the Secretary of the USCSDA, for getting the coupons to us in time for the event.

Saturday kicked off with the Clifton Hale-Garfield Wall Open Derby Classic. Kelly Hays and Jimmy Levesque did a fine job sorting out the winners. Taking home the blue was WV's Spot On Spotto, an orange and white male Pointer owned by Victor Forsyth and expertly handled by his son, William. Second was Paucek's Woodland Jedi Leia, a tri-color female owned and handled by Roy Hargreaves. Taking third was Paucek's Rocky Road, another tri-color female owned and handled by Kellie Short.

A strong group of puppies gave the judges, Cal Robinson and Roy Hargreaves, something to talk about. The Michael S. Robinson Open Puppy stake ran later in the morning. The first-place puppy ran big, under control, and with a perfect pattern. A lovely liver and white Pointer, owned and handled by Jamie Welsh, who traveled from Wilmington, New York, to run his dog, Points North Pour Another ("Quila"). The drive was worth it. He took firsts in both the Open and Amateur Puppy stakes. Second place went to Still Meadows Little Sunray, a little tri-color Setter female, owned and handled by her proud owner, Kelly Hays. Ray has had an amazing puppy season, winning the Grand National Grouse Puppy Classic and the Michigan Grouse Dog Puppy Classic. This weekend, Ray added to her pile of ribbons, taking seconds in both the open and amateur stakes. The third-place ribbon went to Kellie Short for her tri-color Setter male, Fowler, who impressed the judges with his connection with his handler.

The Open Shooting Dog stake drew a strong entry of 20 dogs. Jamie Leitch and Victor Forsyth had the toughest job, walking for more than five hours in the heat of the day. A special thanks to both gentlemen for their careful and thoughtful consideration of some very fine dogs.

First place went to Henry's Susieq Dot, a tri-color Setter female owned and handled by a relatively newcomer to trials, Dave Theroux, who is racking up the wins with his Setter female, Dot, a turbo-charged hoover of a bird finder, and a real joy to watch. She took firsts in both the Open and Amateur Shooting Dog stakes. She's got speed, class, and an exceptionally great nose, a combination that is hard to beat. Taking second was Ch. Paucek's Little Tommy Tucker, a tri-color Setter male owned and handled by Kellie Short, who has brought her dogs to the winners' circle many times. Frank Joyal's Pointer female, Bluey, took home the third. Frank's trio of littermate sisters are always in contention for a ribbon wherever they show up.

Saturday's Gun Dog stake was won by Will's Gunshot Gump, a tri-color Setter male, owned by Victor Forsyth and handled by his son, Will. The young handler and his dog put on a master class in handling and hunting. Gump had multiple, beautifully handled finds within an admirable gundog range and seemed tied to his boy by an invisible heartstring. Second place went to Silvie, a tri-color female Setter owned and handled by Kellie Short. Silvie looked like an L.L.Bean catalog cover as she beautifully pointed to her numerous quail.
Sunday's events started with the Bernie Murray Amateur Shooting Dog. Judged by Sam Jackson and Adam Dubriske, the stake put some very good dogs to the test. Theroux's Setter female, Dot, took the first, her second blue of the weekend. Dot ran last as a bye and had a chance to show off her nose by cleaning up two days' worth of quail during her half hour. Owner Dave Theroux shot at least nine times and had to borrow a gun to get through the stake.
Second place honors went to Kellie Short's Paucek's Little Tommy Tucker, who had another splendid half hour, and third went to his daughter, Leia, owned and handled by Roy Hargreaves. Leia is a derby who has always punched above her weight, placing consistently, and sometimes in more advanced stakes, since her first trial. Roy couldn't be happier with his little girl.
The father/son team of Doug and Brian Dix judged the Amateur Derby. Leia took the blue, and Kellie Short's Paucek's Rocky Road ("Roadie") garnered the red. The two tri-color females were fun to watch and showed the mature manners expected in a spring derby stake.

The Amateur Puppy stake, judged by Tom Jay and Jim Levesque, gave Jamie Welsh his second blue of the weekend for his female Pointer, Quila, who ran a perfect puppy race. Still Meadows Little Sunray, the snappy Setter owned and handled by Kelly Hays, took second place. Deb's Jane, a big tri-color Setter female owned and handled by Deb Kennedy, took third.

Certainly, the highlight of the trial was Sunday's Amateur Gun Dog stake. Six-year-old identical twins, Liam and Luke Dix, each handled a dog to a placement. The first-place dog was Rock Solid Tucker, a tri-color Setter male handled by Lukas and owned by his father, Brian. The second-place dog was Rock Solid Casey, an orange and white male Setter, handled by Liam and owned by his grandfather, Doug. These boys are serious trialers we will see much of in the future. Kellie Short's Jordie, a tri-color Setter female, took third.

As the grounds cleared, gear was stowed, and folks took their puppies toward the calling quail, Bob Paucek, a founder of the 50-plus-year-old club, brought his truck to tow the trailer back home. Bob is a young fellow of 96--90 years older than the Dix twins, but just excited about bird dogs. We are very lucky to have them all.

Brownfield, Me., May 11 - One Course
Judges: Kelly Hays and James Levesque
CLIFTON HALE-GARFIELD WALL OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 3 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-WV'S SPOT ON SPOTTO, 1702380, pointer male, by Flint Ridge Ranger-Flint Ridge Annie. Victor Forsyth, owner; William Forsyth, handler.
2d-PAUCEK'S WOODLAND JEDI LEIA, 1703529, setter female, by Paucek's Little Tommy Tucker-Paucek's Andromeda. Roy Hargreaves, owner and handler.
3d-PAUCEK'S ROCKY ROAD, 1704261, setter female, by Long Gone Porky-Paucek's Mandy. Kellie Short, owner and handler.

Judges: Victor Forsyth and Jamie Leitch
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 8 Pointers, 9 Setters, and 3 Irish Setters
1st-HENRY'S SUSIEQ DOT, 1680901, setter female, by Henry of Ferguson-Blossom's Pale Face Susieq. David Theroux, owner and handler.
2d-PAUCEK'S LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER, 1679370, setter male, by Long Gone Wallace-Paucek's Hickory Roxy. Kellie Short, owner and handler.
3d-ONCE IN A BLUEMOON, 1695576, pointer female, by Miller's Heat Seeker-Moonlite Yellow Jacket. Frank Joyal, owner and handler.

Judges: Roy Hargreaves and Cal Robinson
MICHAEL S. ROBINSON OPEN PUPPY - 1 Pointer and 5 Setters
1st-POINTS NORTH POUR ANOTHER, 1705570, pointer female, by Wild Apple Boa Constrictor-Prairie Creek Dolly. James Welsh, owner and handler.
2d-STILL MEADOWS LITTLE SUNRAY, 1704573, setter female, by Long Gone Wallace-Chase's I'm Miss Smith. Kelly & Brian Hays, owners; Kelly Hays, handler.
3d-PAUCEK'S FOWLER, 1704853, setter male, by Long Gone Dequan-Paucek's Jordi. Kellie Short, owner and handler.

Judges: Kelly Hays and Dave Theroux
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 1 Pointer and 5 Setters
1st-ROCK SOLID TUCKER, 1670005, setter male, by Lightning Flash Abe-Oswego's Shore Oaks Annie. Brian Dix, owner and handler.
2d-ROCK SOLID CASEY, 1672254, setter male, by Grouse Ridge Whitestone-Grouse Ridge Merri. Douglas J. Dix, owner; Liam Dix, handler.
3d-PAUCEK'S JORDI, 1679395, setter female, by Long Gone Porky-Long Gone Juicy. Kellie Short, owner and handler.

Judges: Adam Dubriske and Sam Jackson
BERNIE MURRAY AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 1 Pointer, 11 Setters, and 1 Brittany
1st-HENRY'S SUSIEQ DOT, 1680901, setter female, by Henry of Ferguson-Blossom's Pale Face Susieq. David Theroux, owner and handler.
2d-PAUCEK'S LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER, 1679370, setter male, by Long Gone Wallace-Paucek's Hickory Roxy. Kellie Short, owner and handler.
3d-PAUCEK'S WOODLAND JEDI LEIA, 1703529, setter female, by Paucek's Little Tommy Tucker-Paucek's Andromeda. Roy Hargreaves, owner and handler.

Judges: Tom Jay and Jim Levesque
AMATEUR PUPPY - 1 Pointer and 7 Setters
1st-POINTS NORTH POUR ANOTHER, 1705570, pointer female, by Wild Apple Boa Constrictor-Prairie Creek Dolly. James Welsh, owner and handler.
2d-STILL MEADOWS LITTLE SUNRAY, 1704573, setter female, by Long Gone Wallace-Chase's I'm Miss Smith. Kelly & Brian Hays, owners; Kelly Hays, handler.
3d-DEB'S JANE, 1706487, setter female, by Sterlingworth Jack-Long Gone Hatfield. Deborah Kennedy, owner and handler.

Judges: Deb Kennedy and David Theroux
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 1 Pointer, 3 Setters, and 1 German Shorthair
1st-WILL'S GUNSHOT GUMP, 1676261, setter male, by Islander-Victor's Golden Girl. Victor Forsyth, owner; William Forsyth, handler.
2d-PAUCEK'S SILVIE, 1704260, setter female, by Long Gone Studly-Paucek's Black Pearl. Kellie Short, owner and handler.

Judges: Brian Dix and Doug Dix
AMATEUR DERBY - 2 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-PAUCEK'S WOODLAND JEDI LEIA, 1703529, setter female, by Paucek's Little Tommy Tucker-Paucek's Andromeda. Roy Hargreaves, owner and handler.
2d-PAUCEK'S ROCKY ROAD, 1704261, setter female, by Long Gone Porky-Paucek's Mandy. Kellie Short, owner and handler.

Twin Wins! Liam and Lukas Dix take first and second in Sunday's Gun Dog stake.