Result: English Setter Club of America

Location: Lacey Township, New Jersey

Post Date: Dec 27, 2024

Submitted By: Joe Lordi

Middle Atlantic Open Shooting Dog Championship (front row): Hailey Moreland with Pine Straw Hot Chocolate, Brayden Smith, and Mike Tracy with Miller's Extreme Heat. (Back row): Lane Hodges (judge), Darcy Hodges (judge), Muriel Primm, George Tracy, Kevin Joyce, and Maureen Joyce.

The English Setter Club hosted the Middle Atlantic Open Shooting Dog Championship, the Bill and Muriel Primm Middle Atlantic Amateur Shooting Dog Classic, the Garden State Open Derby Classic, and the Garden State Open Shooting Dog Championship on the Hunter Wilcox Field Trial Grounds at the Greenwood Wildlife Management Area in Lacey Township, New Jersey. The grounds had been holding numerous trials since the end of September, and this meant one thing: the birds were plenty.

The Club would like to thank Joe Cincotta for all his work on these trials. He worked tirelessly before and during the trials. The list is so long of all the work he did that I am not even going to try and write up the list. Bobby Verderosa was extremely helpful, providing lots of support for the trials. Bob Brooks is always "Johnny on the Spot" in the dog truck and provided support for the start of the Middle Atlantic Championship but had to miss time for surgery. We wish him well in his recovery.

These trials missed one major contributor to all the New Jersey trials for a lifetime. Llyod Miller has been a fixture at trials since long before I went to my first field trial. He passed away shortly after the last trial finished. Rest in peace, Lloyd, and know you will be missed.

The Middle Atlantic Championship started us off with Lane and Darcy Hodges judging. The Club appreciates the time they spent in the saddle and the long drive up. They were looking for a running dog with fine style on their game. Many dogs started off meeting this standard but were not able to complete the task. These two rode hard in dry conditions. They are probably still cleaning out the nasal system. The championship drew an impressive 43 dogs. We were a little tight on time but were able to complete the championship. We had three professional handlers run dogs: Mike Tracy, Matt Basilone, and George Tracy. We would like to thank them and their owners for their support. We would also like to thank Kevin Joyce for helping with the bird planting duties.

I apologize for not being able to do a full write-up on all the dogs, but there were not enough workers for that. In the end, Pine Straw Hot Chocolate was named the champion with five outstanding finds and a strong forward race. This 4-year-old won her first championship, and the future is looking up. She was handled by Mike Tracy and is owned by Mike Reeves. The runner-up was Miller's Extreme Heat. This Pointer female had an extremely strong forward race with two stylish finds. She was handled by Mike Tracy and is owned by Joe McHugh. Dogs that pushed the winners were English Setter Fort River's Lucky Charm and English Pointer Limbsmoke Urban Lullaby, both handled by Matt Basilone.

The Bill and Muriel Primm Middle Atlantic Amateur Shooting Dog Classic was run next, starting on Sunday and running into Monday. The Club would like to thank the amateurs who were able to run on Monday. Joe Cincotta and John Frank, two English Setter Club board members, were able to judge, and their decision was well received. Alex Smith took top honors with Calico's Country Strong. This Pointer female has been on a hot streak this fall, winning this and the National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship. She had six finds and a strong forward race. Second place went to The Secret, handled by Joe Lordi, with six finds and a smooth front-running race. Third place went to Southpoint's Hog Wild, owned and handled by Mark Janiec. Hog Wild had eight stylish covey finds and a good race. The Club would like to thank Matt Basilone for helping with the dog truck and bird planting.

The Garden State Open Derby was run after the Amateur Shooting Dog Classic, with Mark Janiec and David Creegan performing the judicial duties. We were pleased with an excellent draw of 17 dogs. We would like to thank them for their time. Thunder Road took top honors with a flawless ground race in the heat with one broke find and a divided find. Thunder Road was handled by Mike Tracy and owned by Bill and Muriel Primm, Allen Linder, and Madison McDonald. Deena Jet took second with two finds and a big race. She has been one hot derby to start off the season. She was handled by Mike Tracy and owned by Steve and Darren Boyer. Millers Smoking Gun took third for handler George Tracy and owners Bill and Muriel Primm, Allen Linder, and Madison McDonald. The Pointer male scored one stylish find and far-reaching race and a strong finish. Two dogs that pushed the winners were Hauser's Georgia Pride, handled by Mike Tracy, and Erin's Wild River, handled by Lane Hodges.

The Garden State Championship was next on the docket with Ronnie and Daphine Rogers driving all the way from Tennessee to help the club and judge. We are very appreciative of their effort. Again, it was hot and dry which led to tough conditions for all. Taking the championship was Mohawk Mill Gangster for handler Matt Basilone and owners Ed and Megan McCay. Gangster was in the final brace with runner-up champion Miller's Extreme Heat and was again named runner-up champion for handler Mike Tracy and owner Joe McHugh. Both dogs had ten finds and did outstanding jobs. Gangster's gorgeous style on point was mentioned by the judges and Miller's Extreme Heat's ground race was noted. This was an exciting brace, each dog helping the other put them over the top. They traded blows like a heavy-weight fight.

The judges mentioned there were at least 12 dogs that could have been named champion, with a total of six dogs with knock-out performances. After Pine Straw Hot Chocolate ran, the judges thought that would be very tough to beat. Limbsmoke Urban Lullaby, owned by Llyod Miller and handled by Matt Basilone, was right there for the consideration. Miller's Heat Seeker, handled by George Tracy, was also given strong consideration. Strong 10-covey find performances seemed to happen every other brace. The dry, dusty conditions did not seem to have any negative effect on the dogs.

The trials at Greenwood concluded with the third championship in two weeks; this was for the amateurs. English Setter Club board of directors Dan Jolly and John Frank took time out of their schedule to judge. We are thankful for their time. They gave all the amateurs their time watching carefully. They were splitting hairs to determine the champion and runner-up. They named Cheyenne Jack champion with six stylish finds and a strong forward race with a big finish. Jack is owned by Sal Morelli of Moyock, North Carolina, and was handled by Joe Lordi of Aco, New Jersey. Taking runner-up champion was Calico's Over The Top. Over The Top had five finds, an unproductive and strong forward race. The judges commented on how close this was, with both dogs putting on a great show. Closest to the winners was Ravenwood Throwing Smoke, owned and handled by Joe Cincotta.

Lacey Twp, N. J., October 17 - One Course
Judges: Darcy Hoges and Lane Hodges
MIDDLE ATLANTIC OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 41 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner-PINE STRAW HOT CHOCOLATE, F1692899, setter female, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Pine Straw Sweet Tea. Michael Reeves, owner; Mike Tracy, handler.
Runner-Up-MILLER'S EXTREME HEAT, F1685698, pointer female, by Just Irresistible-Miller's Bring The Heat. Joe McHugh, owner; Mike Tracy, handler.

Middle Atlantic Amateur Shooting Dog Classic (front row): Calico's Country Strong with Muriel Primm, The Secret with Joe Lordi, and Southpoint's Hog Wild with Mark Janiec. (Back row): Joe Cincotta (judge), Lane Hodges, Darcy Hodges, and George Tracy.

Judges: Joe Cincotta and John Frank
MIDDLE ATLANTIC BILL & MURIEL PRIMM AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 24 Pointers, 1 Setter, and 1 Brittany
1st-CALICO'S COUNTRY STRONG, F1679850, pointer female, by Waybetter Rocky-Calico's Touch of Class. Calico Kennels, owner; Alex Smith, handler.
2d-THE SECRET, F1686192, pointer male, by Waybetter Rocky-Ladywood's Keepsake. Joe Lordi, owner and handler.
3d-SOUTHPOINT'S HOG WILD, F1686800, pointer male, by Broken Halo-Backwoods Tennessee Honey. Mark Janiec, owner and handler.

Garden State Open Shooting Dog Championship (front row): Marcus Ramseur with Mohawk Mill Gangster, Hailey Moreland with Miller's Extreme Heat, Darcy Hodges, and Lane Hodges. (Back row): Matt Basilone, Daphne Rogers (judge), Ed McCay, Mary Tracy, Mike Tracy, Ronnie Rogers (judge), Muriel Primm, George Tracy, and Bill Primm.

Judges: Daphne Rogers and Ronnie Rogers
GARDEN STATE OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 35 Pointers and 3 Setters
Winner-MOHAWK MILL GANGSTER, F1685479, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Pirate's Legacy-Katie Lee's Wild Side. Ed & Megan McCoy, owner; Matt Basilone, handler.
Runner-Up-MILLER'S EXTREME HEAT, F1685698, pointer female, by Just Irresistible-Miller's Bring The Heat. Joe McHugh, owner; Mike Tracy, handler.

Judges: Mark Janiec and David Creegan
OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 16 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-THUNDER ROAD, F1714744, pointer male, by Rentz's Hijacked-Dominator's Heir Kate. Bill & Muriel Primm, Allen Linder & Madison McDonald, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.
2d-DEENA JET, unreg., pointer female, by Touch's Fire Away-World Class Catie. Steve & Daren Boyer, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.
3d-MILLERS SMOKEING GUN, F1713796, pointer male, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Dialed Up. Bill & Muriel Primm, Allen Linder & Madison McDonald, owners; George Tracy, handler.

Judges: John Frank and Dan Jolly
REGION 2 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 31 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner-CHEYENNE JACK, F1668503, pointer male, by Great River Ice-Blaze's Isis. Sal Morelli, owner; Joe Lordi, handler.
Runner-Up-CALICO'S OVER THE TOP, F1692315, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Calico's Country Strong. Calico Kennels & Alex & Tiffany Smith, owners; Alex Smith, handler.