Event: Miller's Special Upgrade repeats as Champion; Backcountry Bruiser, Runner-up
Result: U. S. Complete Mid-Atlantic Shooting Dog Championship
Location: Houtzdale, Pennsylvania
Post Date: May 8, 2025
Submitted By: Mike Husenits
U. S. Complete Mid-Atlantic Championship (front, l-r): Miller's Special Upgrade with Eric Munden and Backcountry Bruiser with Chris Catanzarite. (Standing): Hall of Fame Trainer Dave Hughes.
The 2025 running of the U. S. Complete Mid-Atlantic Open Walking Shooting Dog Championship was conducted April 14-16 at the Warriors Mark Hunting Preserve grounds near Gintner, Pennsylvania. The Greensburg Pointer & Setter Club hosted the event for the eighth consecutive year. The 28-dog entry came from the strings of three professional handlers plus four amateur owner/handlers.
Warriors Mark offers a beautiful course arrangement with ample open fields that invite dogs to reach far, areas with some cover to hunt, long pine tree edges, and a mix of birch and aspen wooded areas, pine tree groves. This is high country, located in the central Pennsylvania Allegheny Mountains. Early April can bring about surprises in the weather, and this year did not disappoint as temperatures were well below normal. Rain and snow, driven by up to 40 mph winds, resulted in a feel-like range of 12 to 20 degrees. On Tuesday, only three braces were run due to the miserable conditions. The entire property was once surface mined and reclaimed. The soil is being fertilized and improved by an ongoing process using paper pulp from a nearby paper mill. With moisture added by the rain, this white powder becomes a bit sticky and slippery, reminiscent of South Alabama mud, but supposedly adds nutrients to the soil.
The participants and club members are grateful for the continued sponsorship by Greg Blair and Purina in the form of Pro Plan product and banners. Purina's continued support of field trials and bird dogs in general has made the difference between success and failure for many clubs. Garmin Company is also a major sponsor and contributed a training collar plus a bark suppression collar for the winners. Eric Munden and Lion Country Supply donated gifts for the judges.
Chris Catanzarite, a past president of the U. S. Complete organization, served as field trial chairman and performed pre-trial necessities, and the work required to conduct a first-class event. Chris handled the advertising, took entries, conducted the drawing, obtained judges, and was on hand to assist with marshaling duties. Dave and Mark Hughes donated their side-by-side and four-wheeler for use as the dog wagon, reporter transport, and bird planting. It was this reporter's pleasure to meet and ride with participant and owner J. D. Waters, who assisted with bird planting and many other necessary tasks. Thank you, J. D.
Others who made generous contributions of their time included Krysta Munden, Tyler Bowser, and Norm Meeder. Their efforts make field trials successful and enjoyable.
The club was fortunate to obtain the services of experienced judges in Russ Richardson of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and Carl Bishop of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, Carl was injured in a horse mishap on Tuesday morning and had to be transported to a hospital. All are praying for Carl's speedy and full recovery. Since Norm Meeder had witnessed all the running up to that point and his dog had already run and was not a contender, Norm stepped up to carry on the judging duties with Russ. They gave their undivided attention to all participants and noted, upon conclusion, they had witnessed five performances worthy of championship recognition, which gave them cause for careful analyses and a certain amount of hair-splitting.
The Champion and Runner-up
Miller's Special Upgrade ("Penny"), a 4-year-old orange-marked pointer female owned by Carlos Escalante of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and handled by professional Mark Hughes from Grampian, Pennsylvania, topped the 28-dog field with an outstanding performance in the sixth and final brace on Monday. Penny's titular win here adds to her outstanding career and successfully defends her title, two years in a row. Dave and Mark Hughes acquired Penny as a weaned pup from Fran and Jack Miller of Barwick, Georgia, and are responsible for her development and success to date, which includes a National Futurity win, several derby wins, and multiple shooting dog placements, plus twice named champion in this trial. Carlos Escalante acquired Penny and a litter sister as started pups and has campaigned both on the walking and horseback shooting dog circuit. Penny and bracemate My Way Coal Train, handled by Tony Bingham, were released in Brace 6 at 2:46, both starting with plenty of range and drive in the open fields with a hardwood edge on the right side and pines to the left. At 12, Penny stood high and tight near the right side thicket with Coal Train backing nicely, all in order. Sent forward through the open bottom fields, Penny was found ahead on the upper edge at 18 with Coal Train adding another back, polished manners displayed. Both sent forward with Penny found at 21 standing high and tight on the left pine edge, once again displaying polished manners as the handler flushed and fired. Coal Train stood stylishly at 23 along the right line; this proved unproductive, with the handler shortly opting to pick him up. Penny continued to pour it on, reaching far ahead into the bottom country, found standing with admirable style at 40 with birds located precisely, Penny mannerly for the proceedings. Sent forward, Penny quickly extended her reach through the open bottom country and soon disappeared, last seen streaking up the steep hill far to the front with scout dispatched and handler searching the left side hill where he last saw her. Judge Bishop stayed on course with the call of point ringing out at 53, Penny found high and tight just at the top of the hill, again showing precise location, immaculate style, and polished manners. Sent forward and down grade, Penny drove hard into the next bottom, made the left turn on course, and finished in a big way, well forward at the call of pick up. A memorable performance for sure.
Runner-up Backcountry Bruiser, a coming 9-year-old orange marked pointer male owned and handled by Chris Catanzarite of Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania, rendered his performance in the 12th brace starting at 10:55 on Wednesday morning. This veteran stylist is no stranger to winning in championship competition. Bruiser has a distinguished winning record in both horseback and walking trials, shooting dog and all-age competition. He is a rare field trial phenom to say the least, and added to his accolades here, Bruiser and bracemate Mohawk Mill Shake Up handled by Cliff Monroe, started fast and wide, maintaining their pace consistently. Shake Up scored a solid find at 6 along the right wooded edge, stylish and mannerly at flush. Bruiser was out of sight until found at 14 in the thicket at the side hill left turn, standing tall and handsome, steady as can be for the shot. Shake Up was found by the scout along the top edge near the dirt road at 12, where he displayed style and polished manners. After far-reaching casts along the left edge, Bruiser was found by the scout at 23 near a pile of white paper pulp, remaining steady as the bird exited on foot over the pile. Sent ahead toward the bottom country, Bruiser was found standing tall at the right side thicket at 38 with Shake Up backing nicely. Again, Bruiser perfect for the flush and shot. Shake Up continued hunting hard to the front, adding solid finds at 42 in the bottom and 55 at the hilltop, thus providing the judges with material that warranted discussion, a very notable performance. Meanwhile, Bruiser tore through the big bottom with ease, making the left loop up the hill then disappearing to the right side where he was found at 50 by scout buried in thick young pine grove, standing solidly during an extended flush attempt with birds seen running about in the heavy cover, finally flushed with Bruiser steadfast throughout. Sent forward, Bruiser took the pine tree line to the far hilltop where he pointed solidly at 59, again displaying polished manners to wing and shot, bringing an exciting brace to conclusion.
Other worthy performances that gave the judges cause for discussion and were considered in order of appearance included: Wildland Wild Man, Backcountry Pure Gold, and Mohawk Mill Shake Up. Readers can refer to the running for more details.
The Running
Millers Dusty Version (Hughes) with Emert's Grouse Ringer T (Bingham). Cold and windy conditions with rain prevailed. These two provided plenty of early action with Dusty racking up six well-handled finds to go along with a classy hard hunting ground effort, plus a pair of backs until coming undone at 50 minutes when a bird lifted, and the young Dusty followed in its wake. T hunted hard to likely objectives and scored mannerly on several finds until lifted at 51 for an infraction.
Wildland Wild Man (K. Munden) with Erin's Battle Cry (Bingham). Cry scored quickly at 3 with Man ("Wayne") backing nicely. He then went on a bird finding spree with well-handled finds at 12, 14, 19, 22, 34. 39, 45, 50, and 57, plus added another mannerly back along the way. His front-running, hard-hunting effort kept him under consideration for placement to the very end. A noteworthy performance indeed. Cry caulked up well-handled finds at 20, 36, 55, and 57, plus four backs coupled with a medium to wide-ranging ground race.
Backwoods Wild Fire Blaze (Hughes) with Backcountry Pure Gold (Catanzarite). Blaze scored at 5 along the left side line and hunted forward until a find at 15 when he was picked up by the handler. Gold hunted fast and wide to the front with solid finds at 5 along the right woods line, 15 at the edge of the cover area, 18 along the hillside, 22 at the pine tree line, 34 and 45 on a covey, and 52 in the pine grove, finishing going away to put herself in contention.
Miller's Hopped Up Version (Hughes) with Suemac's Wicked Sister (Bingham). The afternoon running started at 1 p.m. with cold, wet, and windy conditions still dominant. Version was picked up at 15 for an infraction on birds. Sister went wide to the front and was long gone, found on point later with the tracker.
River City Free Agent (Erne) with Wildland Sweet Caroline (E Munden). Agent started with a huge forward cast, found pointing at hillside cover on a divided find at 19, then settled into a forward pattern with mannerly finds at 42 and 50, finishing ahead. Caroline notched a solid find at 7 along the wooded edge, a divided find at 19, 22 in the bottom, 35 near the paper pulp mound, 40 and 52, plus added a back at 42 and finished ahead with a pleasing effort.
The sixth brace had the winner Miller's Special Upgrade (Hughes) with My Way Coal Train (Bingham), which has been described above.
Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk (Bingham) with Mulberry Fields Molly (Hughes). Hawk started out fast and forward, backed at 12, then disappeared for the count. Molly hunted stylishly and looked good on finds at 5, 25, and 35, but unfortunately suffered a pair of unproductive stands and up at 38.
Cates Rocket Girl (Erne) with Smoke Rise Doc (Bingham). Girl hunted forward and in earnest, sailing through the open country with plenty of eye appeal. She scored finds at 24, 30, and 45 before erring on a bird at 50. Doc went wide, then wider until the tracker was requested.
Double Deuce Zeke (Hughes) with Smoke Rise Hanna (Bingham). Zeke hunted to the front, notched a well-mannered find at 10 but was up at 45 after no further bird contacts. Hanna started fast and was soon out of sight and contention with the tracker requested at 30.
Smoke Rise Jake (Bingham) with River City Hit Man (Erne). Wednesday morning brought slightly improved weather with less wind at start time of 8:25. Jake rendered a solid forward hunting effort, mostly at medium range while scoring stylish well-mannered finds at 5, 11, 15, 20, 44, 49, and 56 with a lone unproductive at 25. Man vacated the area early, with the tracker requested at 20.
The Treasure Chest (Monroe) with Wildland Hide The Wine (E Munden). Chest scored a mannerly find at 7 directly in front, then erred on game and 30 and picked up. Wine ran with power ranged far ahead, gone early but back in front at 15, scoring an unproductive at 19, then adding solid finds at 22 in the grassy area, 48 at pine grove, 52 along bottom ditch edge, and 59 at hilltop.
Backcountry Bruiser (Catanzarite) with Mohawk Mill Shake Up (Monroe). This winning brace is described earlier.
Blue Water Red (Bingham) with Chippewa's Dog of War (Erne). Red started fast with a stylish find on the left side hill at 6 and added a find at 20, but picked up at 25. War suffered a breach of manners and was on the dog wagon early.
Sycamore Creek Cody (Erne) with Mohawk Mill War Hawk (Bingham). Cody stood stylishly at 7 alongside the hill tree line with no results, then scored a well-handled find at 12, a second barren stand at 14, followed by a mannerly find at 25 that ended his bid. Hawk looked good with a find on side hill at 6, then suffered an unproductive at 14, followed by a long absence with the handler requesting the tracker at 40, with all returning to the starting camp for the announcement.
Houtzdale, Pa., April 14
Judges: Norman Meeder and Russ Richardson
U. S. COMPLETE MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 23 Pointers and 5 Setters
Winner-MILLER'S SPECIAL UPGRADE, F1695107, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Addition. Charles Escalante, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
Runner-Up-BACKCOUNTRY BRUISER, F1672645, pointer male, by Erin's War Creek-Backcountry Tornado. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.
The Judges (l-r): Russ Richardson and Norman Meeder.