Result: National Amateur Grouse Championship

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: Dec 23, 2024

Submitted By: Richard Hollister

National Amateur Grouse Championship: Bruce Minard, Sean McKellip with Back Creek Lucy, Ken DeLong with Faith's Maximum Justice, and Bill Holtan.

September 2024, the 44th running of the Amateur Grouse Championship returned to the venue of its inception in 1978, Gladwin Field Trial Grounds. A solid entry of 34 dogs from seven states traveled to Gladwin and unleashed their charges in front of two well-known and highly respected judges. Bill Holtan, Kensal, North Dakota, judged this championship in 2018. Bill is the founder of the Cover Dog Message Board. Bruce Minard is a professional trainer and field trial handler from Beulah, Michigan. Bruce has judged this trial in previous years and is a frequent judge for our Amateur club in other events.

Running these events takes a team, and we have an excellent team of folks in our club and on the grounds whenever a trial is held.
Ann and Eric Naus, and Diane Wheelock marshalled nearly every brace. Rob Ellis and Kit Foster kept things organized on the outside, moving trucks, filling in where needed, taking entries, and performing the draw for the Puppy and Derby stakes. Rich and Jennifer Hollister are club members, horse wranglers, and reporters. Steve McKalko did a fantastic job with the Purina dinner--smoked brisket, salads, and desserts, one of the best meals served for our club in years. Our dedicated sponsors: Purina always provides support and product for the winners, Garmin supplied training collars, and the AFTCA supplied winners' plaques and gifts to the judges and reporter.

Winners and Others
Back Creek Lucy, a 6-year-old English Setter female owned by Steve Graham of Virginia and handled by Sean McKellip of Michigan, is the 2024 National Amateur Grouse Champion.
Lucy was bred by her owner, Steve Graham, and developed by Richard Hollister of Dun Roven Kennels. Lucy is no stranger to the winners' circle as she has amassed so far in her career over 20 placements in field trials. Lucy also was the Flanagan English Setter Award winner in 2019/2020 and Michigan Cover Dog Derby of the Year winner in 2019/2020. Lucy was Michigan Cover Dog of the Year runner-up in 2023. Lucy was invited to run in the Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational and made it to the finals. Lucy has developed a reputation for being a great grouse dog and can find birds! Her brace is described below.

Faith's Maximum Justice, a 9-year-old English Pointer male owned and handled by Ken Delong of Michigan, earned runner-up. Justice, also bred by his owner, is no stranger to the podium. Justice is now a 3x Champion and 2x Runner-up Champion. During Justice's career, he has earned placements in American Field, USCSDA, ABHA, and NBHA trials. Justice won the AFTCA Walking Shooting Dog Championship, was invited to the NBHA Amateur Shooting Dog Invitational, and made it to the finals. Justice also has a reputation for being a big-running bird finder. His brace is described below.

The Running
Brace 1: Bang Bang's Longshot (ESM/Scott Luther) and Hifives Rolling Stone (PM/John Paul Jones) broke away on Course 15/16. Both dogs got right to business, reaching forward fast. Bang Bang stopped at the 5-minute mark in a stand of piney oak mixture; Luther flushed but was unable to find a bird. Bang Bang moved forward and made a nice forward hunting race, very fancy style, stopping again at 20 with Luther flushing a woodcock. Bang Bang had great manners. Bang Bang also had finds at 32 and 45 with a woodcock on each find; Bang Bang finished hunting forward. Stone stayed forward and ran with exceptional style and class. It was definitely a joy to watch this dog run. Stone had woodcock finds at 25 and 38 with less than perfect manners on the last find.
Four grouse and nine woodcock were moved on this brace.

Brace 2: Breaking away on Course 1 was Ralphy's Chasehill Rip (PM/Brian Ralph) and Moonshine Henry (ESM/Sean McKellip). Both dogs settled in to hunt for a grouse right off the get-go. Henry moving lateral and giving the handler a challenge to keep tabs on his bell, falling behind. Rip reached forward and hunted the cover easily. Henry's bell disappeared, and McKellip went searching off to course left. Rip went forward and dove into the thick cut on the right side of course, moving down the hill. Rip was found standing a grouse. Ralph flushed, and manners were all good. Brian went forward with Rip. Henry was found standing course left farther forward; he moved on, and McKellip caught up as we moved into the flat cover at the base of the hill. Both dogs ran shorter and were getting hot. McKellip was unpleased with Henry's performance and picked up at 26. Rip stood again at 58, but Ralph was unable to produce a bird.
Five grouse and one woodcock moved on this brace.

Brace 3: Moving on to Course 3, Springpond's Addy's Boy (ESM/Lonnie Rademacher) and Baxter's Indian Arrowhead (ESM/Brent Peters) were brought to the line. Both dogs tore out in the mature cover. Arrowhead was out of sight quickly while Addy's boy hunted within earshot. Arrowhead making cast but showing from behind, crossing over to Course 4 and moving into more likely cover both dogs hunted but seemed to slow their pace. Peters, not impressed with Arrowhead's performance, picked up. Addy's Boy finished his hour hunting well but was not rewarded with any birdwork.
Three grouse moved on this brace.

Brace 4: The sun was bright when Herbie's Shasta La Vista (ESF/Scott Luther) and Blue Ridge Kobe (ESM/Mark Smith) were released on Course 5. La Vista was making big moves and screaming through the cover, and Kobe settled in and hunted a forward race in search of game. Kobe stopped at 21 in a likely grouse spot, moving down the hill before the pond, but Smith was unable to make a bird fly. Kobe shortened up, and the handler, unpleased with his performance, decided to end his bid. La Vista continued her big fancy moves and stopped at 43, but Smith was unable to produce a bird. La Vista was rewarded with a grouse find at 48, but her manners were less than acceptable.
Three grouse moved on this brace.

Brace 5: This was definitely the warmest brace of the day. Faith's Maximum Justice (PM/Ken DeLong) and Rouge River Pig Pen (ESM/Mike Brown) let loose on Course 7. Justice wasted no time showing off his legs and reached far forward, staying forward and in and out of bell range. Pig Pen was no slouch either as he hunted the cover, albeit closer but just as fast and furious as one would expect. With temps this warm, I figured this would not last long, but boy was I wrong. Both dogs kept up this fast and furious pace throughout the hour with no letdown from either dog. Ten minutes into the brace, Justice slams point right in the middle of the course after the road crossing, and as we approached, not one, not two, not three, but four big loud grouse lifted, all good. Justice was let go, and boy, was he in hunting mode. Justice and Pig Pen hunted hard again for another 20 minutes when Justice's bell went silent after the second road crossing. Justice was found standing point but DeLong didn't like the way he looked and sent him on. Justice tore back to the front, and three minutes later, his bell went silent. DeLong, not having a good line on him, started to look for him, but Pig Pen saved the day and came to a beautiful back, allowing us to find Justice standing a woodcock, all good. Both dogs went forward, hunting hard. At 38, Justice's bell fell silent, and once again, Pig Pen found him for us with another beautiful back. This time, Justice was standing another great big grouse. Both dogs finished very strong and on task; both handlers definitely have these dogs in shape.
Five grouse and one woodcock moved on this brace.

Brace 6: It was still warm and sunny when we began Course 9 with Stokely B Annie (ESF/Brian Ralph) and Flambeau River Meg (ESF/Joe Colglazier). Both dogs hunted the cut to the right, searching for a bird. Meg cast lateral and required Joe to keep within bell range; Annie was a little more moderate but hunted hard as well. Moving up the hill into the cut on top, Annie was moving out big and forward, losing her bell at 20. While searching for her we moved several grouse and woodcock but could not find Annie. Brian called for the tracker and found Annie standing farther forward and north of our location. Meg, moving forward, stood at 20 as well with a well-located woodcock find. A little tug and pull for Meg moving through the cover and crossing the road up the hill. Meg stood in the hillside cut; Joe was unable to produce a bird for Meg. Moving forward, Meg stopped again in the same cover but no bird was found. Meg moved forward again and slammed point in a likely grouse spot, but unfortunately, no grouse was home.
Four grouse and two woodcock and maybe more moved on this brace.

Brace 7: The last brace of the day brought Kit's Whiskey Creek Patsy (ESF/Kit Foster) and Mia Star (ESF/Steve McKalko) to the beginning of Course 11. Both dogs hunted the scrub oak cover forward and adequately. Mia stopped on the left at 5, looking beautiful on point; Steve flushed hard but was not able to find a bird. Both dogs continued forward through the mature timber hunting at the same pace. Mia once again stopped down by the swamp edge and again was beautiful on point, but no bird was found. Now Patsy was moving forward and hunting hard for her handler. Just as we moved from the mature cover to the open cut, Mia stopped again on the right in a likely spot, but no bird was found. Mia moved forward again and stopped once more to the left of course, and no bird was produced; Steve picked Mia up. Patsy hunted through the cover in a nice, fancy, flashy fashion and had three finds on woodcock with good manners.
One grouse and three woodcock moved on this brace.

Brace 8: Hifive's On The Rocks (PF/Mike Lareau) and Hog Hill's Pretty Penny (PF/Adam Thomas) were not on the ground for long. At the 3-minute mark, On The Rocks hit point to the left side of the course, standing very pretty on a woodcock. Unfortunately, her manners were not as mature when the bird flushed and Lareau leashed his dog. Penny took wide and never returned to Adam, so this brace ended quickly.
Just the one woodcock moved, but the brace was finished in 10 minutes.

Brace 9: Glenrae's Wango Tango (PF/Eric Naus) and Tupelo Honey (ESF/Bob Wheelock) started strong on Course 15. Both dogs went forward and hunted hard. Honey went wide right when the course went sharp left, and Wheelock had difficulties getting Honey to move forward with him, but he did eventually get her to turn, and she shot to the front, which at this point was way forward of where Wheelock was. Tango hunted the first half of her hour with superb speed, style, and class. Tango scored a grouse find at 14 in the scrub oak section of the course, and then crossing into the heavy, thick cover on her second half, she hunted hard to score woodcock finds at 43 and again at 48. Tango finished hunting hard.
Eight grouse and two woodcock moved on this brace.

Brace 10: Bright and sunny weather was presented for Confidence Squared Kelly (PF/Racheal Butler) and Pine Straw Fatbottom Girl (ESF/Dale Ash) on Course 1. Both dogs started well and made some good moves. At 23, Kelly stopped deep right and was found standing in a likely spot. Rachel didn't like what she saw and sent Kelly on; no bird was seen or heard. Kelly also had another stand at 30 but self-relocated while Rachel was flushing. Ash, not pleased with his dog's performance, picked up at the halfway mark.
No birds moved on this brace.

Brace 11: The sun was shining brightly for the start of this brace. Springpond Rockin Gibby (ESM/Lonnie Rademacher) and Moss Meadow Seeker (ESM/Ken Moss) were let loose on Course 3. Both dogs ran the best they could and opened up to fill up the course, but both handlers knew they needed to get to the end of this course and cross over to the next course for a shot at a bird, so the pace was brisk. Crossing over onto Course 4, both dogs hunted the cover as good as could be expected for the hot, dry, sunny conditions, with the course running out at 53. Seeker was coming across the front to the north side of the course and his bell was silent about 50 yards in. As we approached, a great big grouse launched and left Seaker standing as he does very beautifully!
One grouse moved.

Brace 12: With weather conditions still hot and sunny, we got to watch Rowling's Star (ESF/Chuck Rowling) and High Tail Roxy (ESF/Russ Fazio) tear up Courses 5 and 6. Both dogs started big and stayed big with Roxy having a stand at 14 with no bird produced. Roxy also had another stand at 24, but again, no bird was present. Both dogs finished very strong.
Four grouse moved on this brace.

Brace 13: Thornapple Casey (ESM/Bob Leet) and Speed Dialing Kaia (PF/John Paul Jones) started on Course 7 with hot and sunny conditions as well, but this didn't shorten the dogs. Both ran big and fast, with Casey leaving the party around 50 as Leet called for the tracker. Kaia was able to connect with a woodcock at 45 and finished strong.
Two grouse and one woodcock moved on this brace.

Brace 14: K Del's Eagle Magnum Hotshot (BRITM/Ken DeLong) and Flambeau River Annie (ESF/Joe Colglazier) hunted the cover on Course 9 in good style with it being hot and dry. Colglazier wasn't impressed with Annie's performance and leashed her at the half. DeLong pushed on through but was only rewarded with an unproductive at 32 in likely cover.
No birds moved.

Brace 15: Back Creek Lucy (ESF/Sean McKellip) and Ponderosa's Copper Penny (ESF/Robert Ellis) started off the last morning of running on Courses 11 and 12. Both dogs started out hunting the scrub oak cover at the beginning, with Lucy reaching forward and staying at bell's edge. When entering the next stage of cover on Course 11, the piney pole timber, Lucy's bell went silent at 7, about 50 yards north of the course. As she approached, Penny came in and backed Lucy. Sean flushed but was unable to produce a bird and both dogs were sent on. Both dogs swung through the open woods and headed to the swamp and worked the edge of the swamp through the rest of the timber. Coming out of the timber into an older cut that seems to maintain good grouse habitat, Lucy's bell went silent at 22 deep to the west of the course. Sean sent his scout, but after a few steps, he decided to go look himself. We found Lucy standing approximately 150 yards in; as we approached, a beautiful grouse exploded. Getting back to the course and sending Lucy forward, she came in and backed Penny at 40 as Rob was flushing for Penny but was unable to produce a bird; both dogs were moved on, and at 45, Penny stopped and pointed a woodcock as Lucy came into back Ellis flushed. Both dogs were released on course again, and at 49, Lucy stopped, and Penny showed up to back. Sean flushed a woodcock, and both dogs were released to get back to work. Lucy stopped again at 51, and Sean found her again and flushed another woodcock. After being released, Lucy drove forward and deep into the cover, going in and out of bell range. As time was called, Lucy was still out deep, and it took Sean a few minutes to get her in, definitely a strong powerful finish.
One grouse and four woodcock moved on this brace.

Brace 16: Well, as we all say, this is the brace we are looking for--the last brace. On Course 13/14, Ralphy's Hillbilly (PM/Brian Ralph) and Gracie's Ballroom Stars (ESF/Steve McKalko) were let loose. Both dogs started to hunt well, but Hillbilly went wide right and started barking, such as possibly chasing something Ralph decided to pick up. Gracie was laying down a very nice hunting dog effort, staying closer, but she didn't miss a piece of cover; she was on a mission to find some birds. Gracie stopped at 15. Steve flushed a woodcock, and as the bird flew over Gracie, she marked it like a pro. Gracie was brought back to course and was released, but it didn't take her long to stop again as she went on point at 18, but Steve was unable to produce a bird. Gracie, again released, stopped again at 21, standing a woodcock that Steve flushed. And again, Gracie was released forward; she ran forward, and at 33, she stopped again and again Steve flushed another woodcock. After being released, Gracie went deep and quickly stopped again at 38; as we approached, a great big ole grouse blasted from the forest floor. Again, after being brought back to course and released, Gracie had a stop to flush on a brood of 4 grouse.
Five grouse and four woodcock moved on this brace.
Total birds moved during this Championship, 46 grouse and 28 woodcock.

Meredith, Mich., September 27
Judges: Bill Holtan and Bruce M. Minard
NATIONAL AMATEUR GROUSE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 30 Pointers and 4 Setters
Winner-BACK CREEK LUCY, F1683067, setter female, by Peyton's Legacy Kip-Girl's Little Dixie. Steve Graham, owner; Sean McKellip, handler.
Runner-Up-FAITH'S MAXIMUM JUSTICE, F1660276, pointer male, by Nelson's Van Max-Wild Apple Faith. Kenric DeLong, owner and handler.

MICHIGAN AMATEUR FIELD TRIAL CLUB

Amateur Derby
"Roxy," a setter female handled by Russ Fazio on Course 9, garnered first place. She had a nice forward run and two finds on woodcock.
In second place, "Sunny," a pointer female handled by Chris Wasserman, also on Course 9, ran a forward and fancy race with one find on a woodcock.
Third-place "Rem," a setter female handled by Joe Colglazier on Course 4, ran a little lateral but ran strong with one grouse find.

Amateur Puppy
Chuck Rowling had a great day, placing first and third with littermates, Rowling's Stormy in first place and Rowling's Donna in third. Second place was awarded to Long Mountain Ace, owned and handled by first-time field trialer Graeme Zaparzynski.

Amateur Puppy: Chuck Rowling with Rowling's Stormy, Graeme Zaparzynski with Long Mountain Ace, Ken Moss with Rowling's Donna. (Standing): Kit Foster and Christy Helmes.

Judges: Carson Foster and Christie Helmes
AMATEUR PUPPY - 1 Pointer and 9 Setters
1st-ROWLING'S STORMY, F1710741, setter female, by Moss Meadow Seeker-Rowling's Star. Chuck Rowling, owner and handler.
2d-LONG MOUNTAIN ACE, F1709181, setter male, by Baker River's Mountain Man-Marley Ball. Graeme Zaparzynski, owner and handler.
3d-ROWLING'S DONNA, F1710740, setter female, by Moss Meadow Seeker-Rowling's Star. Chuck Rowling, owner and handler.

Judges: Richard Hollister and Lonnie Rademacher
AMATEUR DERBY - 2 Pointers and 9 Setters
1st-HITAIL ROXY AFIELD, F1705101, setter female, by Dun Rovens Zip-Castle Rock's Autumn Breeze. Russell Fazio, owner and handler.
2d-CREEKSIDE'S SUNSHINE, F1704976, pointer female, by Creekside's Riptide-Creekside's April Fools. Chris Wasserman, owner and handler.
3d-FLAMBEAU MOON RIVER, F1710595, setter female, by Grouse Busters Deacon-Grouse Busters Gracie. Izzac Colglaizer, owner and handler.

Amateur Derby: Russ Fazio with Hitail Roxy Afield, Chris Wasserman with Creekside's Sunshine, and Joe Colglaizer with Flambeau Moon River. (Standing): Lonnie Rademacher and Rich Hollister.

Judges Bruce Minard and Bill Holtan.

The Pit Boss, Steve McKalko