Result: Lake States Grouse Dog Championship

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: Nov 25, 2020

Submitted By: C. Q. McRae

MEREDITH, MICH. -- The 2020 Lake States Grouse Championship got under way at 8:15 a.m.Wednesday, October 21, on course 13 of the Gladwin Field Trial Grounds. There were 54 dogs drawn for this year's Championship.

Distinguished judges for this renewal were Bill Holtan of Kensal, N. D., and Vance Butler of New Era, Mich. Bryan Wood was the stake manager.

The Lake States Grouse Championship has a long history and is the oldest of Michigan's cover dog championships. This was 76th annual. Lake States Grouse Championship is seen as the pinnacle of Michigan's cover dog championships because of the history and being at the end of our season, the grouse have been educated by a month of trialing on the grounds.

The Lake States Club also ran two two companion stakes, an Open Puppy and an Open Derby.

The gentlemen selected to judge this Championship have decades of bird dog experience that is very similar. Both men have been trainers, handlers, hunters and guides as well respected field trial judges. They shared stories with me over dinners about experiences hunting grouse and woodcock, hunting pheasants, huns and grouse on the prairies, and guiding quail hunts in Texas.

Winner of the 76th Lake States title was Hifve's Top Shelf, pointer female handled by Bruce Minard and owned by Ben and Meledye Batey of Greenbrier, Tenn. Top Shelf handled effortlessly. She was forward and it seemed that Bruce had her on a string. When she needed to turn, she turned and when she needed to show, she showed. She was intense on her bird finds and she finished strong in a miserably cold rain.

Runner-up was Snyder's Full Rage, a setter female handled by Scott Chaffee and owned by Steven C. Snyder of Ellendale, Minn. Full Rage's handling was nearly effortless. Her race was big and forward and she was stylish on her birds.

Shady Hills Whiskey Bonfire made a bid for the championship title on day one with a good race and an exciting relocation on a grouse after time had expired, but he had holes that the winners did not have.

A lot of work goes into putting on a successful field trial. The work starts long before the Championship begins. It started with the grounds work during the summer that made extensive course reroutes necessitated by the new clear-cuts.

During the trial week, marshals are needed for braces, drivers are needed to shuttle vehicles, stake managers to keep things moving, a secretary/treasurer to collect entries and fees, wranglers to handle horses. To all those who stepped up and helped make this trial successful I say a heartfelt "THANK YOU".

Volunteers included: Mike Singleton, Brent and Denise Peters, Kenand Mary Moss, Scott and Tammy Chaffee, Dr. Harold Holmes, Bruce Minard, Bob Leet, Marc and Scott Forman, Deb Nihart, Christy Helmes, Rich Hollister (our wrangler), Roger Johnson, Les Bressler, Kevin Birney and Brandon Short.

A special thanks to George and Marilyn Ferguson for supplying coffee and special baked treats (individually wrapped) for our coffee breaks.

This trial, as always is a Purina-sponsored event. We appreciate all that our new representative Greg Blair does to keep us on board. Thanks also to Lion Country for what they do to help us with our judges' gifts.

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNING

Day 1. The 76th running began at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, under overcast skies with temperatures in the 40s.

Brace No. 1 had Hershner's Thunderbolt Jet, handled by Tammy Chaffee, and Seeker, handled by Ken Moss on courses 13-14. The setter males broke away into the cool and damp October air. Both dogs were forward and strong early. Just after the road crossing on course13 a grouse went out wild with no dogs involved at the 12 minute mark. At 13 Jet bumped a woodcock and that ended his day. Seeker laid out to the front and handled like a glove through the remainder on course 13. Shortly after the transition on to course 14 Seeker's bell went silent at 40 in the swampy hole to the left of the course. As the judges dismounted, a woodcock flushed right in front of the horses. Seconds later a grouse exploded out of the swampy brush twenty yards to the left of the course. A single "tink" was heard in the brush from Seeker's bell as he turned his head and watched the grouse fly away. Seeker was then spotted standing in the heavy cover on the left about fifteen yards away. Moss shot and Seeker stood solid. Again Seeker was forward and handling with ease. At 53 Seeker stopped near the water hole at the far turn on course 14. Moss was flushing when Seeker self-released, ending his day.

Leslie's Jiggster, setter male handled by Scott Forman, and Rockland Ridge McGraw, setter female handled by Robert Ecker on courses 15-16. Ecker lost the handle on McGraw early and asked for the retrieval unit at the road crossing on course 15. Two grouse were walked up by the gallery on course 15 and the judges walked up two on course 16. Jiggster was strong and forward for the hour but went birdless.

No. 3 had Texas Elhew Bodie, pointer male handled by Marc Forman, and Nobody's Shadow, setter male handled by Bob Wheelock on courses 1-2. At the 1-minute mark a grouse flushed wild to the right of the course with no dogs involved. At the bottom of the hill on course 1, Nobody's Shadow made a huge cast to the right. When he didn't return Wheelock went to look for him on point. At 28 he was found standing along the south boundary road. Wheelock flushed a timberdoodle and shot. Shadow stood with head and tail high. At the beginning of course 2, Nobody's Shadow could hear the lead handler and went forward. Before the first road crossing on course 2 at 46 Nobody's Shadow went on point. Wheelock's scout flushed and shot under the judgement of the forward judge. Wheelock caught up as they were returning to the course. Both dogs were forward through the remaining course. Bodie's bell went silent just before time in the cut after the second road crossing on course 2. Forman found Bodie as time expired and flushed a pair of timberdoodles. Bodie stood rock solid for the shot.

Rebellious Boisterous Bart, setter male handled by Mike Luebke, and Bawl of Fire Charley, pointer female handled by Bruce Minard on courses 5-6 ran a forward race going to the cover. Bart had a woodcock find and stood for the shot at 38. Charley stopped at 49 but Minard was not able to produce a bird.

Rowling's Star, setter female handled by S. Forman, and Grouse Trails Pride, pointer female handled by John McKellop on courses 7- 8. Star's bell stopped right of the course on the ridge at 5. As Forman walked in to flush, a grouse busted out of the cover, but Star took a few steps before she regained her composure and Forman picked her up. Pride stayed forward and handled well through course 7 and on to 8. Pride's bell stopped at 56 in the cut in the middle of course 8 near the tote road and gate. McKellop flushed a woodcock and shot. Pride stood like a statue.

Shady Hills Whiskey Bonfire, setter male handled by S. Forman, and Travel Alert, setter male handled by Harold Holmes on courses 9-10. Both dogs scoured the cover on the hill going up course 9 but neither had bird work on 9. Whiskey's bell stopped on course 10, on the knoll to the left of the course at 41, as Forman and the judge went in, a grouse flushed. Whiskey stood for the shot. Whiskey stayed forward until the bell stopped at 56. In a display of sportsmanship Holmes told the judge he was picking up so both judges could concentrate on Whiskey. Forman flushed but no bird was produced. When Whiskey was released he went forward. At time neither judge had the bell, as they walked up the course Forman spotted Whiskey standing to the left of the course. With a grouse find and an unproductive already in the judge's book Forman decided to flush. Forman did not produce a bird with the flushing attempt. Forman released Whiskey to relocate. Whiskey quickly slammed to a stop and as Forman and the judges raced to him the grouse exploded from the cover. Forman shot and all was well.

The day's final brace, No. 7, had Maximum Resistance, setter male handled by Ecker, and All Out, setter male handled by Scott Chaffee on courses 11-2. Both dogs had a rough start. The handlers were struggling to keep the dogs forward. Both picked up early at the road.

Day 2 brought cool temperatures and mist or drizzle for the morning braces. Conditions became tougher in the afternoon as the wind and rain picked up.

Flash Forward (Flair), setter female handled by Craig Merlington and Snyder's Full Rage, setter female handled by S. Chaffee on courses 13-14. Flair's bell stopped to the left of the course at 5. She had a pair of grouse pinned. The first grouse flushed as Merlington walked to her. Flair took four steps and stopped and then stayed steady when the second grouse flushed. Merlington leashed her and walked to the road. Full Rage's bell was silent at 7. She was found standing to the left of the course with head and tail high, as Chaffee approached a grouse flushed. Chaffee shot and Full Rage's intensity never let down. The bell went silent again as we approached the road crossing on course 13. She was found standing past the crossing and deep left at 14. Chaffee produced a timberdoodle while flushing and again Full Rage was intense and steady. For the rest of the hour she ran big and to the front. She handled effortlessly, always forward and responding when called at turns in the course.

No. 9 had Ponderosa Mac, setter male handled by S. Chaffee, and Grouse Hills Bulletproof, setter male handled by S. Forman on courses 15-16. Mac was forward and working the cover on course 15. Mac stopped at 24 but Chaffee was not able to get a bird up. Bulletproof had a rough start and Forman was hard working to keep him forward. Both handlers opted to pick up at the half.

Boston, pointer male handled by Ecker, and Fireside Aiden, setter male handled by T. Chaffee on courses 1-2. Aiden had a forward race through course 1 with woodcock finds at 26 and 29. His undoing came at 39 with another woodcock, but this time he went with the bird. Ecker was not to keep the handle on Boston and picked up at the half.

No. 11: Faith's Maximum Justice, pointer male handled by Ken Delong, and Attitude's True Grit setter male handled by Ecker on courses 5-6. True Grit stopped to the left in the first cut after heart attack hill at 16. A woodcock flushed and flew over the judge as Ecker walked in front of his dog. True Grit was steady for the shot. At 23 Justice went on point as he entered the scrub oaks and True Grit backed. Delong flushed a woodcock and shot. All was well. On course 6 True Grit had an unproductive at 32 and in the same proximity Justice had a stop to flush on a woodcock at 34. Both bells went silent at 44 on the hillside of the big cut that finishes course 6. True Grit was found backing Justice. Delong flushed a woodcock and shot. Again all was well. True Grit stopped to the left at 54 but Ecker was not able to produce a bird.

Melville's Sure Shot Buck, setter male handled by M. Forman, and Titanium's Hammer, pointer male handled by Minard on courses 7-8. Getting the dogs around in the wind and rain proved to be difficult. Buck had an unproductive at 25 just before the road crossing on course 7. Buck stopped again at 30 near the deer pens. Forman flushed a timberdoodle and shot. Buck was rock solid. For the remaining 30 minutes both handlers struggled to keep contact with their dogs.

In No. 13, Grouse Hills Smokey, pointer male handled by M. Forman, and Upper Ammonoosuc Violet, setter female handled by Ecker on course 9-10. It was a downpour as the dogs broke away. At 1 both dogs stopped on the hill to the right of the course. Neither handler produced a bird. At 8 Violet's bell went silent on the hill to the right. Ecker was not able to produce a bird and leashed Violet. At 10 Smokey was on point on the hill to the right, but Forman was unable to get a bird to fly. The relocation attempt failed and he picked up.

Angel's Envy, setter female handled by Wheelock, and Hifive's Top Shelf, pointer female handled by Minard on courses 11-12. The dogs came to the line in a cold pouring rain and I remember thinking this is tough weather for a pointer. At 8 Angel's Envy was heard running into something in the cover. When Wheelock called her in she was limping and he decided to pick her up. Top Self ran a forward race. She was strong from the first minute to the last in cold miserable rain. Her handling was effortless. She was going to all the objectives and would show to the front. It was like Minard had her on a string. At 42 to the left of the course and before the road crossing on 11, she pointed a woodcock. She was intense with head and tail high as Minard fired his blank gun. At 55 Top Shelf stopped again in the big pines near the end of course 12. A grouse was flushed as she stood high at both ends for the shot. This was a memorable performance on what had been a cold wet day in the woods.

Day No. 3 was wetter than day No. 2 but not as cold. There was light to medium rainfall for every brace.

Brace No. 15: Thornapple Cody, setter male handled by Minard, and Blast Off, setter male handled by M. Forman on courses 13-14. At 10 Blast Off was found standing to the left of the course just before the road crossing on 13. As Forman flushed, three grouse went up. Forman shot and Blast Off stood like a sculpture. Blast Off's bell went silent again on the far side of the road crossing at 12. Forman did not get a bird to flush and relocated Blast Off. When Blast Off slammed to a stop again he looked magnificent. Forman was able to get a grouse to launch from the cover at 15 and shot. With everything in order, Blast Off went forward to the lead handler. At 22 Cody was standing near the turn where course 13 goes north. Blast Off came in but failed to back and was ordered up. Minard was unable to produce a bird and moved on. Cody stopped about thirty yards to the right of the course at 29. A woodcock was spotted walking in front of the dog and flushed. Cody was steady for the shot. At 30 Cody had a stop to flush as a grouse went up. Cody's bell went silent near the far turn at the water hole on course 14 but no bird was produced at 52. Cody finished the hour forward.

Hifive's Golden Nugget, pointer female handled by Mike Lareau, and Shady Hills Zeena, pointer female handled by M. Forman on courses 15-16. Both dogs were forward and hunted the cover well. At 26 Golden Nugget slammed on point in the cover near the end of course 15 but went with the bird as the first of two grouse exploded from the cover. Zeena's bell stopped after crossing on to course 16. As Forman and the judges approached a grouse flew away low from right in front of Zeena and she went with it. Zeena's day ended at 30.

No. 17: Baxstar's Doc Holiday, German shorthair pointer handled by Shane Baxter, and Pond Road Pete, setter male handled by Richard Hollister on courses 1-2. Pete made a huge breakaway cast that took him on to course 2. Hollister was unable to pull him back. Hollister took an early exit at the gate leading to the birdfield to round Pete up. Doc hunted the cover with a powerful gate, but had no birdwork.

Bud of Piney Wood, pointer male handled by Ecker and Flycast Rollie Fingers, setter male handled by S. Chaffee on courses 5-6. Rollie stopped on the right immediately after the breakaway with Bud backing. Chaffee flushed a woodcock and shot. Rollie was steady with head and tail high all before 1 minute. Both dogs were forward and working the cover. At 23 Bud went with a grouse as it blew out in front of him and Ecker put the leash on him. On course 6 at 41, Rollie had an unproductive. At 53 in the big cut that finishes course 6, Rollie pointed again. Chaffee flushed a woodcock and shot. Rollie maintained perfect manners. At 55 Rollie's bell went silent on the hillside. Chaffee went in to flush but could not get a bird up. Rollie was released to relocate. Rollie quickly pointed again. Chaffee flushed a woodcock and shot at 58. Rollie was steady. He finished forward.

French's Grouse Ringer Woody, setter male handled by M. Forman, and Bawl of Fire Slipper, pointer female handled by Minard on courses 7-8 were forward and stayed in the cover. Woody had an unproductive near the road crossing on course 7 at 26. Both dogs were stopped at 48. Woody to the right of the course and Slipper 50 yards ahead across the tote road. Woody had a woodcock and Slipper had a grouse. Both were steady for the shot. At 55 Slipper was on point with Woody backing. Minard flushed a woodcock and shot. Both dogs remained stationary. Woody and Slipper finished forward.

No. 20 had Grouse Ridge Larry, setter male handled by Hollister,and Highbank's Back'N'Black handled by Bill Nelson, on courses 9-10. Larry stopped on the ridge to the right at 6. Larry looked loose as Hollister approached, he tried to tighten him up. Hollister flushed a woodcock and shot, but he did not like Larry's posture and leashed him. Back'N'Black stopped farther up the ridge at 10. Nelson flushed a woodcock and shot. Back'N'Black was steady. Before Nelson could get off the ridge Black was stopped again at 12. Another woodcock was produced and Back'N'Black shot over. Again, before Nelson could get off the ridge, Back'N'Black was stopped at 14. Nelson flushed a woodcock and shot. Black was steady. This time Nelson healed Back'N'Black back to the course. At 25 the judges heard a weird sound from Back'N'Black's direction. He was in a standoff with a large racoon under a windfall. Nelson went and pulled him out to check him over and then continued on. At 31 just before the road crossing at trestle junction Back'N'Black's bell stopped. Nelson went in and flushed another woodcock. Black stood steady for the shot. Black'N'Black stopped again at 38 on course 10. Nelson whistled him on and a woodcock went up ending his day.

Ghost Train Sassy, setter female handled by Tom Fruchey, and Kalamity Cinder, Irish setter female handled by Ecker on courses 11-12. Both dogs were forward and in the cover. Sassy stopped at 35 but Fruchey was not able to produce a bird. Sassy's bell was silent at 50. Fruchey flushed a woodcock and shot. Sassy was rock solid. Both dogs finished forward.

Day No. 4 started with a cold frosty morning, then temperatures moderated as the day went on. The good news was it did not rain.

Wild Apple Siri, pointer female handled by Minard, and Dun Roven's Soozie, setter female handled by Hollister on courses 13-14. Soozie made a big cast to the right after the breakaway. Hollister tried for several minutes to call her back to the course, but could not and asked for the tracker. Siri worked the cover and responded well to Minard, but had no bird work.

Brace No. 23 had High Desert Stormy, pointer female handled by M. Forman, and Dun Roven's Drifter, setter male handled by Hollister on courses 15-16. Stormy stopped deep on the right at the first turn on course 15 at 8. Drifter came in and backed as Forman and the judge walked to the dog. Forman was not able to get a bird to flush and Stormy was not able to get it relocated. At 20 Drifter stopped on the edge of the cut right of the course, but no bird was produced. At 40 Drifter stopped in cover right of the course and Stormy stopped in cover left of the course. Neither handler was able to get a bird to fly. Forman picked up at the end of course 15 and Hollister continued on to course 16. Drifter continued to hunt the cover hard. At 52 Drifter's bell stopped right of the course. Hollister's flush produced a delayed triple of grouse. Drifter finished the hour forward.

Rebellious Fearless Fred, setter male handled by Luebke, and Highbank's Down'N'Dirty, pointer female handled by S. Chaffee on courses 1-2. Both dogs were forward and working cover throughout the brace. Both bells went silent at 22 as we reached the bottom of the hill on course 1. The dogs were found left of the course with Down'N'Dirty backing Fred. Luebke flushed a woodcock and shot. Both dogs maintained perfect manners. At 27 Down'N'Dirty stopped left of the course. Chaffee flushed but no bird was produced. Both dogs stayed forward. At time both bells were silent in the cut after the second road crossing on course 2. Fred was found first but Luebke could not get a bird up. Down'N'Dirty's scout found her and Chaffee flushed a woodcock. Down'N'Dirty displayed perfect manners.

Brace 25 had Grouse Trails Firestorm, pointer female handled by McKellop and Bo of Piney Wood, pointer male handled by Ecker on courses 5 and 6. Both dogs worked the cover on the courses hard. At 20 Bo was stopped in cover left of the course. Ecker flushed but came up empty. At 27 both dogs were stopped in thick cover and given a divided find on a woodcock.

Brace 26 had Out of the Shadows, setter female handled by Wheelock and Hi Five's Power Line, pointer male handled by Minard on course 7-8. At 20 Out of the Shadows had a woodcock find but took a couple steps as the bird flushed and Wheelock leashed her. Minard picked up at road crossing.

No. 27, the final brace, had Snyder's Pioneer Scout, setter male handled by T. Chaffee, and Grouse Trails Cracker Jack, pointer male handled by J. McKellop on courses 9-10. Scout had a woodcock find at 13 and was steady for the shot. At 20 he stopped again and Chaffee flushed another woodcock and shot. Scout was steady. McKellop was hung up looking for Jack in the cut to the right of the breakaway. At 25 he found Jack standing and flushed a woodcock. Jack displayed perfect manners. Jack disappeared into the same cut and was found on point at 34. Again a woodcock was flushed and Jack was steady. Jack went back up the ridge into the cut at 40. McKellop picked up and went to retrieve him. On course 10 Scout had a third woodcock find and a stop to flush the relocation of a grouse.

Meredith, Mich., October 21

Judges: Vance Butler and Bill Holtan

LAKE STATES GROUSE DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] --

20 Pointers, 32 Setters and 1 German Shorthair

Winner--HIFIVE'S TOP SHELF, 1686517, pointer female, by Hifive's Unlisted--Hifive's Betts Placed. Ben & Meledye Batey, owners; Bruce Minard, handler.

Runner-Up--SNYDER'S FULL RAGE, 1655749, setter female, by Keystone's Red Rage--Full Tilt. Steven C. Snyder, owner; Scott Chaffee, handler.

COMPANION STAKES

The LSFTC Puppy Stake drew a field of twelve dogs. A respectable number for a fall puppy stake when many would prefer to be out hunting with their young dogs. The puppy stake ran on Saturday, October 24.

Judges were Marc Forman and Deb Nihart who have an abundance of experience with young bird dogs.

First place went to Hi Five's Ruff Runner, a pointer male owned and handled by Bruce Minard. Marc Forman described the defining feature of Ruff Runner's race was the strong finish. Second place went to Maryana of Najor Dental, Brittany female handled and owned by Dr. George Najor. The defining feature of Anna's race was the really nice cast she made. Third place went to Warrior's Mean Louie, a pointer male handled and owned by Dennis Kivikko. The defining feature of Louie's race was the move he made through the bottom.

The Derby drew a field of 25 dogs and ran on Sunday, October 25. Judges for the Derby were Scott Borgeson and Carl McRae. Scott is a former president of the LSFTC who has been away from cover dog trialing for several years. Carl was a last minute replacement for Joe Wohlfert who could not attend.

The morning braces had no bird work and most of the afternoon braces had bird work.

Singleton's Sid the Kid, a setter female handled and owned by Mike Singleton was the winner. Sid had a flowing race. She handled effortlessly and topped it off with a find on a pair of grouse in the pines on course 12. Second place was Dun Rovens Zip, a setter male handled by Richard Hollister, Sr., and owned by Mark and Tom Fernandez. Zip was forward and handled well. He had a broke find on a woodcock on course 9. Third place went to Northview's Dixie Storm, a setter female handled by Bruce Minard and owned by Mark Diksas. Stormy was forward and had a woodcock find on course 10.

Judges: Marc Forman and Deb Nihart

OPEN PUPPY -- 6 Pointers, 5 Setters and 1 Brittany

1st--HIFIVE'S RUFF RUNNER, 1692129, pointer male, by Titanium's Hammer Hifive's Allisin. Robert Minard, owner; Bruce Minard, handler.

2d--MARYANA OF NAJOR DENTAL, 1687791, pointer male, by Magnum High Velocity--K Del's Eagle's Chance to Soar. George D. Najor, owner and handler.

3d--WARRIOR'S MEAN LOUIE, 1691549, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior--Pirate's Mean Louise. Dennis Kivikko, owner and handler.

Judges: Scott Borgeson and Carl McRae

OPEN DERBY -- 3 Pointers, 20 Setters and 2 Brittanys

1st--SINGLETON'S SID THE KID, 1687988, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac--Moss Meadow Kate. Mike Singleton, owner and handler.

2d--DUN ROVENS ZIP, 1686123, setter male, by Dun Rovens Drifter--Waymaker Hello Becky. Mark & Tom Fernandez, owners; Richard Hollister, Sr., handler.

3d--NORTHVIEW'S DIXIE STORM, 1688886, setter female, by Thornapple Cody--Hifive's Guilty As Charged. Mark A. Diksas, owner; Bruce Minard, handler.