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Result: American Red Setter Bird Dog Club

Location: Rose Hill, North Carolina

Post Date: Feb 20, 2025

Submitted By: Al Fazenbaker

American Red Setter OPF24

Open Puppy: Andy Weik, Joe Edwards with Come Back Stella, Daniel Bell with Stump Hill Farms Simply Red, Robert Smith with Stump Hill Farms Pete, and Mike Harryman.

The American Red Setter Bird Dog Club was formed in the summer of 2023 by a group of walking field trial enthusiasts interested in promoting walking trials, not only with Red Setters but with all breeds. With an initial trial under our belts in 2023, the club moved forward to sponsor a wild bird trial in upper New York this past fall, which was very successful. This December, we returned to North Carolina to repeat our quail trial, again running at the home of Joe and Brenda Edwards. Thanks to their generosity, we were able to host our third field trial for the club on the Six Runs Farms, near Clinton, North Carolina.

The piney woods and open croplands of coastal North Carolina are prime bird dog country, and we were so fortunate to have these fine grounds for our first trial. Home to the iconic Come Back Setters, Hall of Famer Joe and his lovely wife Brenda have hosted trials for many years, and this year drew a good number of dogs to the running. The grounds at Six Runs are ideally suited for running bird dogs, with a mix of pine woods, croplands, and long strips of lovegrass, ideal for holding birds tight. The Great Coharie Creek runs the boundaries of Six Runs, creating a natural boundary to keep errant dogs from leaving the grounds. This year, the weather started off cool, with rain threatening on Sunday afternoon as the temperatures gradually rose. Fortunately, we were able to complete the last brace of the day as the rain began, perfect timing!

Our judging staff was well experienced and brought with them many years of working with bird dogs. Thanks to Mike Harryman, Daniel Bell, and Andy Weik, who all gave of their weekend to watch dogs during this trial.
No trial can be conducted successfully without help from willing volunteers and sponsors. A most important function of planting birds was very well accomplished by Karen Vaughn and Milt Schafer, who ensured a plentiful supply of birds in the fields, in the places where birds would be found. Brenda Edwards and Karen Vaughn both worked overtime to keep everyone attending well-fed.

I would be remiss, not to mention some folks who were essential to the success of this trial. Joe and Brenda Edwards offered not only the grounds but also the use of their side-by-side for bird planting and the use of their horses for judging. Mike Harryman graciously provided horses for the fellow judges, and Allen and Deborah Fazenbaker opened their home in Ingold, North Carolina, to host judges for the weekend. Thanks to all!

A special thanks goes out to Purina, a stalwart in the support of our sport. Purina offers a high-quality product backed by research; please consider Purina when feeding your future champion! Our walking events were sanctioned by the U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association. This organization gives full support to walking field trials and the improvement of walking field trials and bird hunters.

We also want to thank the professional trainers who took the time to attend and enter dogs. This trial would not have been successful without the help of Daniel Bell (Kenansville, NC) and Sean Melvin (Garland, NC). Also, a huge thank you to all the participants who traveled from around the region to join us for the weekend!

The Running
The Open Puppy started the day with a nice showing of puppies. Come Back Stella, a quick-moving Red Setter female owned and handled by Joe Edwards, took the blue with a wide and forward race. Close behind were two puppies out of Stump Hill Farms; Daniel Bell handled Stump Hill Farms Simply Red, a Red Setter female, to take the number two spot, and Stump Hill Farms Pete, a Pointer male, captured the remaining place.

The Open Derby
Running in the third brace, Stump Hill Farms Ellie, a Red Setter female, gobbled up the terrain for her handler Danial Bell, always to the front and showing some exceptionally wide casts. She showed class and style on her find. In second place was Nomads Scout Sniper, who showed a purposeful and forward application, with two broke finds for her handler Bell. Brita Loves Happy Berlin, a female GSP, took the number three slot with a moderate forward race and two nicely handled derby finds for her handler, Robert Smith.

Open Shooting Dog
Pinekone Rappatomac Hawk took the blue in the Open Shooting Dog for his handler, Jameson Crandell. This Setter male showed a wide and classy application, with outstanding manners on his birds. In second place was Black River Ruby, a Setter female. Handled by Sean Melvin, Ruby showed her veteran experience as she scored two finds and a back to take the red. Ruby's kennelmate, Black River Sue, rounded out the placements with a pleasing forward race and nicely handled birdwork.

Amateur Shooting Dog
Brace 1: Come Back Trump and Black River Sue. The Amateur Shooting Dog was underway on Sunday morning, with Joe Edwards and Wendy Evans handling. Trump was lost to judgment; Sue scored one find, nicely handled, and an unproductive. She showed a moderate and pleasing race and finished to the front.

Brace 2: Pinekone Rappatomac Hawk and Conneaut Creek Scenic River. Crandall and Fazenbaker cut their dogs loose, and both males put on a nice show. Running wide and covering some territory, they traded bird finds throughout the course, each scoring three finds and Hawk scoring one back. Near the finish, Hawk scored a find along a brush line, and River popped out but was on the leash after failing to back. Hawk joined him seconds later after a few too many steps on his bird.

Brace 3: Chippokes Cracker Jack and CC Lenni Lenape. Flanders and Fazenbaker both showed dogs with big runs; Jack scored two finds, and Lenni likewise, with Jack honoring. Lenni took a small step on his find, and Jack showed perfect manners to take third place in the stake.

Brace 4: Jake The Joker and Come Back Lillie Mae. Crandall and Edwards broke away their dogs, and Jake showed a wide and forward race. Lillie Mae likewise was forward, with both dogs scoring multiple finds. Jake finished strong to the front to garner the second-place spot.
Brace 5: Come Back Bo and Chippokes Fancy Lady. Bo had a short run and was on the leash after failing to back for his handler, Edwards. Fancy Lady showed nicely for Flanders, with four perfectly handled finds and a classic shooting dog performance, to take the blue for the stake.

This concluded our last field trial for the American Red Setter Bird Dog Club in 2024. We hope you will join us for future trials as we continue to showcase dogs on the walking field trial circuit. Visit us on Facebook or our website at https://www.arsbdc.com/ for info on upcoming events!

Rose Hill, N. C., December 28 - One Course
Judges: Mike Harryman and Andrew Weir
OPEN PUPPY - 1 Pointer, 4 Irish Setters, and 1 German Shorthair
1st-COME BACK STELLA, PL024-411, Irish setter female, by Come Back Trump-Come Back Little Bit. Joe Edwards, owner and handler.
2d-STUMP HILL FARMS SIMPLY RED, unreg., Irish setter female, breeding not given. Daniel Bell, owner and handler.
3d-STUMP HILL FARMS PETE, unreg., pointer male, breeding not given. Daniel Bell, owner and handler.

American Red Setter ODF24

Open Derby (l-r): Andy Weik, Daniel Bell with Stump Hill Farms Ellie, Worth Lewis with Nomad's Scout Sniper, Robert Smith with Brita Loves Happy Berlin, and Mike Harryman.

OPEN DERBY - 1 Pointer, 1 Setter, 3 Irish Setters, and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-STUMP HILL FARMS ELLIE, F1705403, Irish setter female, by Come Back Billy Boy-Come Back Little Bit. Daniel Bell, owner and handler.
2d-NOMAD'S SCOUT SNIPER, F1710805, setter male, by Cold Creek Hawk-Cold Creek Belle. Worth Lewis, owner; Daniel Bell, handler.
3d-BRITA LOVES HAPPY BERLIN, F1715775, German Shorthair female, by Wilson's River Running Wild-Wilson's Sweet Caroline. Robert Smith, owner and handler.

American Red Setter OSDF24

Open Shooting Dog (l-r): Mike Harryman, Jameson Crandall with Pinekone Rappatomac Hawk, Wendell Evans with Black River Ruby, Sean Melvin with Black River Sue, and Daniel Bell.

Judges: Daniel Bell and Mike Harryman
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 2 Pointers, 3 Setters, 4 Irish Setters, and 1 German Shorthair
1st-PINEKONE RAPPATOMAC HAWK, F1699732, setter male, by Erin's Big Casino-Mohawk Mill Charmer. Jameson Crandall, owner and handler.
2d-BLACK RIVER RUBY, F1663048, setter female, by Rose Hill Bill-Rose Hill Mariah. Wendell Evans Jr., owner; Sean Melvin, handler.
3d-BLACK RIVER SUE, F1681700, setter female, by Joe Is Hot-Rose Hill Sally. Wendell Evans, owner; Sean Melvin, handler.

AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 2 Pointers, 3 Setters, and 5 Irish Setters
1st-CHIPPOKES FANCY LADY, F1689564, pointer female, by Stoney Run's Buddy-Hirollins Fancy Lady. Lee Flanders, owner and handler.
2d-JAKE THE JOKER, F1693052, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Legacy's Pride-Mohawk Mill Dolly. Jimmy Crandall, owner and handler.
3d-CHIPPOKES CRACKER JACK, F1691321, setter male, by Skyview New Edition-Grid Iron's Sorrell's Penny. Lee Flanders, owner and handler.

American Red Setter ASDF24

Amateur Shooting Dog (front row): Lee Flanders with Chippokes Fancy Lady, Jimmy Crandall with Jake The Joker, and Jameson Crandell with Chippokes Cracker Jack. (Back row): Daniel Bell, Mike Harryman, and Joe Edwards.