Result: Region 19 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Moose Junction, Wisconsin

Post Date: Dec 9, 2024

Submitted By: Greg Johnson

Region 19 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship (l-r): Megan Mergens with Runner-up Champion Bad Habits and John McKellop with Champion Grouse Trails Little Bud.

The Moose River Grouse Dog Club hosted the Region 19 (AFTCA) Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship October 11-13, 2024. Located on Douglas County Forest Lands, six well-maintained courses flow through prime grouse and woodcock habitat. A crew of dedicated club members works to keep courses enjoyable to traverse. Bill Frahm, Tim Kaufman, Sig Degitz, Greg Johnson, Jeff Marek, Ed Graddy, Bert Benshoof, Ben Mergens, and Colin Peterson have all contributed to course work. Special thanks to Jeff Marek for using his tractor and brush hog to tame the tall vegetation on access trails. We would like to extend gratitude to Bill Frahm and Sig Degitz for their years of leadership at Moose River. Neither of the men are leaving the club but are allowing others to take a turn as officials. Greg Johnson is well-qualified to fulfill his new role as president, and Neil Anderson and Ed Graddy assumed the roles of secretary and treasurer, respectively. Tim Kaufman will maintain his role as vice president.

Amateur Championship
Highly respected judges were in good attendance for this championship. Neil Anderson of Duluth, Minnesota, and Jordan Pharris of Brainerd, Minnesota, know what to look for in a quality field trial performance. Both men own high-quality dogs that have seen much success.

Runner-up Champion Bad Habits
"Lucy," a 3-year-old Pointer female, has claimed the title of runner-up champion. She was handled by owner Ben Mergens and was bred by Rod Lein of Over The Hill Kennels. Lucy's flashy running style carried her along edges and to objectives containing likely cover. Early in the brace, Lucy stopped left of the course. Scout Greg Johnson located her on an edge; however, no flush was produced. Upon being released, Lucy pressed forward until she stopped at the 20-minute mark. This time, a woodcock was flushed while Lucy exhibited great style and steadiness. On another occasion Lucy displayed good manners by backing her bracemate. Her pace was as rigorous at the end of the hour as at the beginning.

Champion Grouse Trails Little Bud
Newly crowned champion Bud is owned, handled, and bred by John McKellop. Shortly after the breakaway, Bud stopped on a swamp edge just right of the course. Bud's bracemate charged in and backed upon spotting Bud standing. This exciting moment exhibited excellent manners. While no flush was produced, Judge Neil Anderson noted woodcock splash in the vicinity. With a strong forward race, Bud applied himself to proper cover while handling with ease. On several occasions, Bud's bell faded out of hearing, and John used these opportunities to exhibit cooperation by reeling him in. Nearing the end of the brace and seeming to have run out of likely cover, Bud had not given up. At 59, the bell stopped straight ahead of the gallery. While closing the distance to Bud, his bell started up briefly, then again went silent. Spotting Bud standing tall and proud, John moved in to flush. The grouse, which Bud handled to perfection, took flight, leaving the dog standing in place.

Moose Junction, Wis., October 11
Judges: Neil Anderson and Jordan Pharris
REGION 19 AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 8 Pointers and 13 Setters
Winner-GROUSE TRAILS LITTLE BUD, F1701061, pointer male, by Toth's Tornado Reloaded-Grouse Trails Warrior Cat. John McKellop, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-BAD HABITS, F1696871, pointer female, by J T H Scion-Over The Hill Patty. Ben Mergens, owner and handler.

Open Derby
First place in the Open Derby stake went to Flying Titanium's Tilly, an English Pointer female owned and handled by Craig Steinbach. Tilly had a great ground race that reached the end of bell range but was 100% in touch with her handler. She hit the cover with purpose and was a joy to watch.
Second place was awarded to Northern Lights Titan, an English Setter male owned and handled by Sig Degitz. Scout had a nice ground race and stayed in contact with his handler. He searched the cover, and it paid off with a stylish point on a grouse. Towards the end of the brace, his persistence paid off with a woodcock find at time.
Third place went to Cody, an English Setter male owned and handled by Jeremy Scheel. Cody was very fast in his ground race, hitting cover and moving on to the next. His power was exceptional, and he had a grouse with time running out. This was one of Jeremy's first cover dog trials. Congratulations! This Derby stake was one of the most enjoyable stakes either of our judges had walked, and the future looks very bright for this group of young dogs.

Judges: Tim Kaufman and Eric Saetre
OPEN DERBY - 6 Pointers and 9 Setters
1st-FLYING TITANIUM'S TILLY, F1717978, pointer female, by Titanium's Hammer-Hifive's Allisin. Craig Steinbach, owner and handler.
2d-NORTHERN LIGHTS TITAN, F1717815, setter male, by Rebellious Fearless Fred-Lake Effect Ali. Sig Degitz, owner and handler.
3d-MARKEY BLUFF CODY, F1717463, setter male, by Rebellious Fearless Fred-Lake Effect Ali. Jeremy Scheel, owner and handler.

Open Derby (l-r): Craig Steinbach with Flying Titanium's Tilly, Sig Degitz with Northern Lights Titan, and Jeremy Scheel with Markey Bluff Cody.