Result: North American Woodcock Championship

Location: Mcadam, New Brunswick

Post Date: Oct 10, 2024

Submitted By: Robert Little

North American Woodcock Championship (front): John Stolgitis with Chasehill Snoop Dog and Adam Dubriske with Super Storm Nell. (Back): Mike Flewelling (scout), Doug Dix (judge), and Kris Nordby (judge).

This year's trial represented the 52nd running of the North American Woodcock Championship in New Brunswick. For the first number of decades, the trial was held in Havelock, NB, with names like Jack Mayer Junior and Senior, Bob Buzzell, and in later years, Mike Jackson and Ian Corbitt at the helm. The trial later ran for a few years at Dave Palmer's farm near Nackawic, New Brunswick, and since 2016 on courses near McAdam, New Brunswick.
As President of the Maritime Bird Dog Club, this reporter strives to keep the Championship relevant and thriving in New Brunswick, and I think we accomplished that again this year.

The Maritime Bird Dog Club wishes to express gratitude and thanks to the following:
Inukshuk Professional Dog Food for continued unwavering support of the Maritime Bird Dog Club trials. Our partnership is greatly appreciated.
Larry Costigan of Calgary, Alberta, for providing a painting of the champion dog on a yearly basis. Thank you, Larry.
The Gun Dealer (Ross and Justin Faulkner of McAdam, New Brunswick), who kindly donate a significant raffle item each year as a fundraiser for our Club. Thank you, Ross and Justin.
Our judges, Doug Dix of Whitingham, Vermont, and Kris Nordby of Danielson, Connecticut, for a long three days of walking and looking at our dogs' performances. Thanks guys.
Hoof and Paw Outfitters in McAdam, New Brunswick, as field trial central for accommodations, meals, cocktails, stories, and more stories. Thanks to Norm, Flora, and Paul for all your help.

The Winners
The Champion
Chasehill Snoop Dog was named champion. Snoop, a white, liver and ticked male Pointer, is owned by Erin Stolgitis and handled by John Stolgitis. Snoop is the product of the very successful Panola Bacon x Chasehill Little Izzy.
Snoop ran in Brace 8 with Wynot Roscoe, a white and black male Pointer owned and handled by Al Robbins.
The brace was run on the "Old Farm" course, the second brace on the second day. This course is on old farmland that was probably vacated in the 1940s and was clear-cut maybe 15 years ago. All that remains of the farm days are a few rock piles and the odd apple tree that escaped the wood harvester. This course is really thick with young hardwood throughout mixed in with raspberry and blackberry canes. It's also full of birds.
Both dogs broke away with speed and animation with Roscoe taking the left side of the trail and Snoop on the right. Snoop's bell quickly fell silent at 4 on the right of the course with Stolgitis putting two grouse to flight. At 10, near course, Snoop had a stop to flush on a grouse with all in order and Roscoe coming in to back the standing dog. At 13, after a lengthy flushing attempt and relocation, an unproductive was recorded. At 20, Snoop had a woodcock find that required a lot of scouting in the heavy raspberry area. After that find Snoop caught the front and navigated this tough course with power. At 45 his bell stopped well to the front near the big lone pine tree. After a lengthy search by Stolgitis and scout Mike Flewelling, Snoop started up on his own, and all carried on. At 57, Snoop stopped to the right of the course near the power line and at the edge of the mature tree line. Snoop was looking great as Stolgitis put another grouse to flight.
Roscoe, meanwhile, backed his bracemate at 10, suffered an unproductive at 13, had a woodcock find at 15, stopped at 24, and upon relocation, the handler and judge walked up the woodcock away from the dog. Roscoe finished the hour.

The Runner-Up
Champion
The runner-up was Super Storm Nell, a Setter female handled by Adam Dubriske and owned by Thor Kane.
Nell ran in Brace 16 with Duck Hook, a Pointer male owned and handled by Mike Flewelling. Both dogs broke away, hunting the cover hard. At 10, Nell pointed beside the course with Duck Hook coming in and stopping in front of her. Duck Hook was ordered up for failing to back. No birds were produced. Nell went on to record woodcock finds at 23, 40, and 59.

The Running
Brace 1--Canoose (Flowage) Course. Mohawk Mill Miss You (Stolgitis) and Kelly's Blitz'n Wheel Hank (Forgrave). Miss You had an unproductive at 10, a woodcock find at 18, an unproductive at 29, a spruce grouse find at 44, and an unproductive at 55. Hank was on a mission and was not seen after 5.

Brace 2--Old Farm Course. North Country's Soda Pop (Dubriske) and Paucek's Up For Adventure (London). Soda Pop had an unproductive at 6 and crashed on a grouse at 18. Up For Adventure had a grouse find at 3, backed her bracemate at 6, and crashed on a grouse at 9.

Brace 3--County Line South Course. Super Storm Cliff (Dubriske) and Cairds Cracklin Rosie (Little). Cliff had grouse finds at 9 and 20 and unproductives at 28 and 57. Rosie had a grouse find at 8, a stop to flush on a grouse at 18, and failed to back at 28.

Brace 4--Mooselook Texas Star (McNulty) and Sanderling Sadie (Little). Tex finished the hour but went birdless. Sadie had a woodcock find at 7 and crashed on a spruce grouse at 27.

Brace 5 Wynot Lottie (Robbins) and Sunkhaze Vera Masardis (Flewelling). Lottie had a woodcock find at 9 and crashed on a woodcock at 18. Veira had a woodcock find at 25, a grouse find at 27 and crashed on a pair of grouse at 34.

Brace 6--Old Glory Ben (Parsons) and Mohawk Mill Good Advice (Stolgitis). Both dogs finished the hour and were birdless.

Brace 7--Rags To Riches (Dubriske) and Wild Apple Pop's Dorothy (Doherty). Rags was lost to judgment at picked up at 45. Dorothy was also running large and picked up late in the hour.

Brace 8 (See Winners).

Brace 9--Chasehill Poison Ivy (Stolgitis) and Pool Brook Doby (Dubriske). Ivy had an unproductive at 14 and finished the hour birdless. Doby finished the hour birdless.

Brace 10--Miramichi Rivers Real Coy (Price) and Elhew Snake Dancer (Doherty). Coy suffered unproductives at 8. 18, 40, and 50, along with a stop to flush on a grouse at 25. Snake Dancer finished the hour birdless.

Brace 11--Mohawk Mill Double E (Stolgitis) and Cairds Rip It Up (Little). Double E moved on a grouse at 12 and picked up. Rip had a woodcock find at 20, a woodcock find at 25, and crashed on a woodcock at 28.

Brace 12--Boomer of Blackwater (Flewelling) and Cairds Remi (Little). Boomer had an unproductive at 47, and a woodcock find at 54. Remi was lost to judgment at 38, and handler called for the tracker.

Brace 13--Mohawk Mill Miss Ellie (Stolgitis) and Elmer's Waltzing Matilda (Henderson). Ellie moved while the handler was flushing at 12 and picked up. Tilly crashed on a grouse at 28.

Brace 14--Elhew Snakewood (Doherty) and Sunkhaze Orange Gerry (Flewelling). Both Snakewood and Gerry crashed on the same pair of grouse at 16.

Brace 15--Asper Hill Bandit (Cullen) and Chasehill Wicked Wilma (Stolgitis). Bandit got on the highway at 5, and the two-way radio was used to call for the handler. Wilma had a stop to flush on a pair of grouse at 10, and unproductive at 52, and a grouse find at 57.

Brace 16 (See Winners).
Brace 17--Higby Arcade (Stolgitis) and Lucy's Pride (Dubriske). Arcade had a grouse find at 2 and crashed on a grouse at 4. Pride crashed on a grouse at 8.

Brace 18--Partridge Hollow Elrumhew (Dubriske) was scratched.

McAdam, N. B., September 6
Judges: Douglas Dix and Kris Nordby
NORTH AMERICAN WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 26 Pointers and 9 Setters
Winner-CHASEHILL SNOOP DOG, F1703110, pointer male, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Erin Stolgitis, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.
Runner-Up-SUPER STORM NELL, F1687466, setter female, by Blast Zone-Bridgewater Mt. Pemi. Thor Kain, owner; Adam Dubriske, handler.