Result: New York Grouse Championship

Location: Oxford, New York

Post Date: Oct 16, 2024

Submitted By: Pat Cooke

New York Grouse Championship (l-r): Al Ghem, Bob Arkley (judge), Pat Cooke, Brian Dix (judge), Marc Forman with Shady Hills Zeena, Deb Nihart, and Liam Ballin.

The 2024 running of the New York Grouse Championship commenced on September
26 at the famous grounds of Grouse Ridge Kennels in Oxford, New York. Courses were well marked, and plentiful bird numbers throughout the trial made for an exciting two days of action. In total, 12 grouse and two woodcock were moved during the two days of competition. Another 11 grouse walked on different courses. The weather for the trial was far from perfect, with rain showers for the first day. Seventeen setters and six pointers competed for the top spot, but in the end, stake manager Pat Cooke announced the judges' decision. The 2024 runner-up was withheld, and the champion was Shady Hills Zeena. Thank you to Nestl Purina for their continued support of this event with product for the winner. Some other thanks go out to Pete Flanagan for his many hours making sure all courses were in order for this event. Thanks to William Ballin and Fish 1 for marshaling some of the courses and moving trucks. Additional thanks go to the handlers and spectators who participated in this event and continue to support the New York Grouse Championship. Judges for this year's event were Bob Arkley of Jay, Vermont, and Brian Dix of Searsburg, Vermont. Both judges were attentive and professional throughout the event.

The Winners
Shady Hills Zeena, a nice-built orange and white female Pointer, is no stranger to grouse woods. She was handled by Marc Forman and ran in the fifth brace on Day One. Braced with Zeena was Buck of Piney Woods, handled by Robert Ecker. Both dogs broke away and raced across the field heading immediately to cover and began searching for game. The gallery was plentiful in this brace to watch the two veteran cover dogs compete for a potential top spot. Both dogs were to the front, with Zeena moving through the cover while Buck made a big cast and was lost to judgment. The tracker was called for, leaving Zeena to run alone. After the creek crossing, around the 38-minute mark, Zeena's bell fell silent, and the handler and judge found her standing handsomely. After a brief flushing attempt, a grouse was put up with all in order.

The Running
Day One began with Dun Rovens Midnite Ike (ESM/B. Ecker) and French's Grouseringer Woody (ESM/M. Forman) breaking away across the field in the pouring rain. Both dogs hunted hard when they reached the woods. Woody's bell fell silent at 26, and a quick flush produced a grouse, and everything was in order. The tracker was called for at the 40-minute mark for Ike. Woody finished the hour.

Course 2 had Fire Marshall Bill (ESM/B. Ecker) braced with Mountain Top Nellie (ESF/Jeff Keller). Both dogs immediately began hunting the cover and making big casts to the front. At the 10-minute mark, Robert was calling for the tracker, leaving Mountain Top to herself. Unfortunately, it was too much pressure for her. At 38, her bell fell silent; a grouse was put up, and a couple of steps were taken, and she was ordered up.

Course 3 was Grouse Hill Princess (ESF/Scott Forman) and Grouse Hill Bella (ESF/M. Forman). Both dogs broke away and began to make some big casts. At 26, Bella produced a woodcock, and everything was in order. While Princess went birdless, both dogs finished the hour.

Course 4 featured Sammy The Rock Star (ESM/B. Ecker). Sammy ran as a bye-dog. The bell on Sammy, a well-built young male Setter, went silent at 25, but unfortunately, a bird couldn't be produced. Sammy finished the hour. On the way out, a brood of four grouse was walked upon.

On Course 6, we had Grouse Hill Rambo (PM/B. Ecker) and Grouse Hill Mac (ESM/S. Forman). Both dogs broke away and started hunting the cover. Mac struck first with the first grouse at the 33-minute mark. Rambo's bell fell silent at the 35-minute mark. After a short flush, a grouse was produced. At the 53-minute mark, Rambo's bell fell silent again, but this time, he was hard to locate due to the thick cover. A bird was seen running off, and a shot was fired, but it still took a couple of minutes to locate the dog. Mac was ordered up at the 55-minute mark for movement while flushing a grouse.

DAY TWO
Course 1 featured Miss Buttons (PF/Al Ghem). Al is 85 years young and still running dogs. Miss Buttons was braced against Timberdoodle Farms Sal (PF/M. Forman). It was a much better start than the day before. The sun was starting to come out, and there was no wind. Buttons struck first with a nice grouse find at the 9-minute mark, and everything was in order. At the 35-minute mark, Sal's bell fell silent, but unfortunately, the handler couldn't produce a bird. At 48, Miss Buttons had a stop to flush on a small brood of grouse, but she moved when Al called her name, and she was ordered up, ending her bid for champion. With just two minutes left, Sal's bell went silent, and after a short flush, a grouse was flushed, and everything was in order.

On Course 2, we had Rockland Ridge Rocky (ESM/B. Ecker) running against Mountain Top Ryn (ESF/J. Keller). Both dogs broke away, heading for the cover. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to end well for either dog. Rocky was picked up at the 28-minute mark, while Mountain Top went birdless.

Course 3 featured Ash Creektug, a nicely built male Setter handled by J. Burke. Tug had the course to himself as a bye-dog. At the 5-minute mark, his bell went silent with a long flush. A bird couldn't be produced. As the morning heated up, it was decided to end Tug's bid for champion.

Oxford, N. Y., September 26
Judges: Bob Arkley and Brian Dix
NEW YORK GROUSE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 6 Pointers and 11 Setters
Winner-SHADY HILLS ZEENA, F1667955, pointer female, by Erin's War Creek-Brave Heart Cassie. Debra Nihart, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
Runner-Up-Withheld.