Result: Beaver Valley Pointer & Setter Spring Trial

Location: Rochester, Pennsylvania

Post Date: May 12, 2025

Submitted By: Al Fazenbaker, Reporter

The Beaver Valley Pointer & Setter Club hosted its annual spring trial on the weekend of March 15 at its iconic grounds in Rochester Twp., Pennsylvania. The Beaver Valley club, founded in 1949, has run field trials continuously since its inception, and this weekend was no exception, with 68 dogs running on the weekend.

The trial ran smoothly under the guidance of long-time club member Norm Meeder, who kept things moving in a timely manner. The club had plenty of help as well from club members to make for a great weekend. We missed both Joe Cammisa and Deb Fazenbaker, who were recuperating from surgeries, and we wish for their speedy recovery. Our judging staff was a group of dedicated bird dog enthusiasts, and their input was much appreciated as they evaluated the dogs in play.

Special thanks to Norm Meeder, Bob Smith, Tyler Bowser, Alex Meeder, Al Fazenbaker, Reese Carroll, Jason Ketchel, Brian Ralph, Russ Fazio, and Sarah Gomes for their time in the judging saddle. Thanks as well to Purina, a stalwart supporter of field trials in our region.

Open Puppy
"Dixie" and "Sprout" showed some potential, as they handled nicely, stayed to the front, and hunted the cover. Both dogs showed a moderate race.
In the second brace, "Porkchop" and "Blue" blew out of the gate and showed a wide cast to the front. They maintained a wide and forward race, with Porkchop showing a classy gait as he moved forward, earning him second place.
"Mint" and "Parton" both had a pleasing forward race but lacked the maturity of the other dogs.
"Blaze" took first place in this stake, living up to his name with some serious blazing through the grounds. "Dill" was right with him to earn the third-place ribbon. Both dogs ran hard and finished with wide casts to the front.
"Charlie," running as a bye, showed good potential, hunting hard and making some nice forward casts.

Open Derby
"Tess," the second-place dog, pointed the first bird of the trial at 6, standing in a feed strip near the oil well, and showing broke manners. She scored again at 8, at the single tree down from the oil well, with "Dash" backing. Both displayed broke manners. A divided find was carded at 15, with both dogs dug in the woods. Both Tess and Dash were forward and showed a moderate race to finish.
"Otis" scored the first find at 9, near the single tree, with "Cece" honoring. Otis scored again at 17, in an open field; he broke and gave chase as the bird lifted. Both dogs showed a nice forward race and finished to the front.
"Roxie," the first-place winner of the stake, scored her first find on the upper tree line, displaying broke manners and looking very classy. "Winston" pointed on the backside of the course, with Roxie honoring; Winston went with the bird as it lifted, and gave a short chase. Roxie scored again at 11, along the edge of the woods, and held tight as her bracemate swept by. She scored again at 13, again displaying a very classy demeanor on her game to earn the first-place title.
The first find of this brace was credited to "Coach," who pointed at 5 on the upper tree line. Georgia followed one minute later with a find nearby. Coach was released by the handler and immediately swung around and pointed again, this time near the fence line to the oil well. He scored a find two minutes later at the lone tree and decided to travel with the bird as the quail lifted. Both dogs finished to the front.
Winston took the third-place ribbon, scoring a find at 6 along the upper treeline, showing good manners on his game. Nick pointed at 9, in the backside of the course, with Winston honoring. Nick moved on the shot; both dogs finished strong and to the front.

Open Shooting Dog
1. "Cricket" (PF/Hughes) and "Lola" (PF/Munden). Cricket and Lola were both strong out of the gate, and soon split the course, with Cricket moving towards the upper tree line, and Lola racing along the lower treeline. Lola was found pointing in the valley near a feed strip at 5 but could not produce a bird after a relocation. Cricket scored her first find along the edge of the woods at 7, with Lola coming in to honor. Cricket scored again at 9 in a feed strip near the top of the course, with Lola coming in to back. At 11, Cricket scored again in the woods, and Lola was on the leash after failing to back. Cricket raced to the back of the course, scoring another find. Sending her on, she was found at 26 on the upper tree line, where a bird was flushed, and she showed good manners. She showed a hard and powerful push throughout the brace and finished strong and to the front.
2. "Jack" (ESM/Ralph) and Warrior Zeke (PM/Hughes). Both dogs broke away and showed a strong cast to the upper tree line, where each dog scored a find, with good manners displayed. Zeke pointed in the feed strips near the oil well, with all in order. Jack rimmed the far side of the course, scoring a dug-in find at 11 along the edge of the course; he scored again at 13 on the far backside of the course, with excellent manners and composure. Zeke pointed in a feed strip at the same time, showing similar manners. Moving to the front, Zeke scored near the woods in the bottom, with good manners displayed. He scored again in the open field in the valley. Jack showed a strong and forward race to complete the stake and take the blue ribbon.
3. "Blaze" (PM/Hughes) and "Lenni" (ISM/Fazenbaker). Blaze and Lennie were forward and running wide; Blaze scored a find at 11, with Lenni backing; he repeated at 18 and 24, again with Lenni backing. Blaze finished strong and to the front to take second place.
4. "Spec" (PF/Hughes) and "Chuck" (PM/Munden). Chuck scored the first find on the tree line at 6, with Spec honoring. Spec moved along the feed strips near the oil well, scoring his first find, with all in good order. He scored again near the woods on the back side of the course, and again in the woods near the open field. Chuck pointed in the open field at 21, with Spec honoring from a good distance. A bird was produced after a lengthy relocation effort; both dogs finished strong and to the front, showing wide casts to the conclusion.
5. "Dusty" (PF/Hughes) and "River" (ISM/Fazenbaker). River scored the first find, in the treeline at 8; a bird was produced after an extensive flushing effort. Dusty scored in the vicinity, with everything in order. River suffered an unproductive in heavy multiflora cover; he scored his second find a 23 on a feed strip on the back side of the course. Dusty scored two additional finds in the same area. Both dogs were forward, hunted hard, and finished strong and to the front.
6. "Penny" (PF Hughes) and "Wayne" (PM/Munden). Penny was found standing on the tree line at 6; a bird was produced, and all was in good order. Wayne decided to follow the southern route and was found standing in the open valley, where a bird was produced. He pushed up the hill to the tree line just in time to back Penny, who was standing in heavy brush cover. Hughes was able to get a bird to flight, and all was in order. At 15, both dogs had finds on the back side of the course, Penny again in heavy cover, making her handler work for the bird. Wayne scored the final find of the brace in the woods near the open field. Both dogs finished to the front.
7. "Caroline" (PF/Munden) and "Sadie" (PF/Hughes). Caroline and Sadie shared a divided find at 5 at the tree line; Sadie scored again at 10, in a feed strip near the oil well; Caroline pointed shortly after in the same area, with both dogs producing birds and showing good manners. Sadie scored two additional finds, one in the woods on the back side of the course, and another in the lower tree line. Both dogs finished to the front with a good pace.
8. "Buddy" (PM/Bowser) and "Zeke" (PM/Hughes). Buddy scored his only find at 6 at the tree line. He showed a moderate forward pace to finish. Zeke scored his first find at 8, in heavy cover, making his handler work to put the bird to flight. He scored again at 12, again in heavy cover on the back side of the course. Showing a wide and forward pace, Zeke raced to the lower tree line, scoring his third find. His efforts earned him a third-place finish in the stake.
9. "Bit" (PF/Hughes). Bit, running as a bye, scored her only find at 8. She disappeared from judgment, and the tracker was called to end her bid and the stake.

Rochester, Pa., March 15
Judges: Reese Carroll and Jason Ketchel
OPEN PUPPY - 9 Pointers
1st-SELDOM REST BLAZE, F1712853, pointer female, by Ralphy's Chasehill Rip-Grouse Trails Firestorm. Brian & Brandy Ralph, owners; Brian Ralph, handler.
2d-SELDOM REST PORK CHOP, F1712849, pointer male, by Ralphy's Chasehill Rip-Grouse Trails Firestorm. Brian & Brandy Ralph, owners; Brian Ralph, handler.
3d-DOUBLE DEUCE DILLON OATS, F1713581, pointer male, by Cal Peak Hundredth Meridian-Double Deuce Sage. Doug McMillen, Jr., owner and handler.

Judges: Jason Ketchel and Brian Ralph
OPEN DERBY - 7 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-HITAIL ROXY AFIELD, F1705101, setter female, by Dun Rovens Zip-Castle Rock's Autumn Breeze. Russ Fazio, owner and handler.
2d-HYPOINTE MONARCH EXPRESS, F1704239, pointer female, by Springflow's Backcountry P-Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Nick Mellon Jr., owner; Russ Fazio, owner and handler.
3d-MOJO'S WINSTON JOY, F1705340, setter male, by Wayward Flyin Tomato-Doodle Ridge Fern. Nick & Renee, owners; Mark Hughes, handler.

Judges: Sarah Gomes and Russ Fazio
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 14 Pointers, 1 Setter, and 2 Setters
1st-SELDOM RED JACK, F1699460, setter male, by Pine Straw Black Hawk-Pine Straw's Tupelo Honey. Brian Ralph, owner and handler.
2d-BACKWOODS WILD FIRE BLAZE, F1691395, pointer male, by Erin's Wild Justice-Hollywood Hot'N'Tot. Justin Mason, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
3d-DOUBLE DEUCE ZEKE, F1673940, pointer male, by Double Deuce Peter-Funseeker's Holiday. Doug McMillen Jr., owner; Mark Hughes, handler.

Amateur Stakes
Amateur Puppy
1. "Sprout" (PM/Gomes) and "Cash" (PM/Lasica). Sprout showed a pleasing forward pattern and hunted for his handler; Cash showed an exceptionally wide race but was seldom seen and did not handle well.
2. "Mint" (PF/McMillen) and "Parton" (PF/Gomes). Mint and Parton both showed a nice forward race and looked classy on the ground. Parton showed a slightly better handle and was rewarded with second place in the stake for her efforts.
3. "Millie" (PF/Sampson) and "Dixie" (PF/Fazio). Millie and Dixie were both wide and forward out of the gate. They both showed excellent work ethic, hunting all the likely places. Dixie was exceptionally classy looking on the ground; both dogs showed consistent forward patterns throughout the brace; Dixie garnered the blue ribbon for her efforts, with Millie just behind to score a third-place finish.
4. "Arbiter" (PM/Gomes) and "Dill" (PM/McMillen). Both Arbiter and Dill hunted hard, with Dill showing an exceptionally hard driving effort, Arbiter close behind. Both of these pointers demonstrated a classy way of going, with high-tailing and a smooth gait.
5. "Kifaru" (PF/Gomes). Kifaru was not pleasing her handler and was on the leash early to finish the stake.

Amateur Derby
1. "Rubee" (PF/(Hronek) and "Bodie" (PM/Lasic). Rubee was a bird-finding machine in the first brace of the Derby; she scored four finds and pounded the course with a strong and forward race, earning a third-place ribbon. Bodie scored a single find but was not inclined to back his bracemate.
2. "Roxie" (ESF/Fazio) and "Storm" (PF/Napolitano). This brace produced the first- and second-place dogs. Both Roxie and Storm had a forward and aggressive race, reaching the far ends of the course. Roxie scored two finds, showing broke manners, and was backed by Storm on both finds. Storm scored her own find, also handled with broke manners. Both dogs finished strong and to the front; Roxie took the first place, and Storm was close behind with a second-place finish.
3. "Pinyon" (PF/Gomes) and "Rain" (PF/Pelednik). Rain scored the first find, on the upper treeline; Pinyon elected not to back her bracemate. Rain scored a second find, showing nearly broke manners. Pinyon scored in the same area and gave chase on the shot. Both dogs finished to the front.
4. "Tess" (PF/Fazio) and "Cassie" (PF/Hronek). Tess thought this was a horseback stake and was not seen enough to be considered. Her bracemate, Cassie, had no birds.
5. "Loblolly" (PF/Gomes) and "Mickey" (PM/Bowser). Loblolly moved nicely, but not consistently; Mickey was not seen enough to garner a walking judgment.

Amateur Shooting Dog
1. "Caroline" (PF/Munden) and "Zeke" (PM/McMillen). The first brace of the Amateur Shooting Dog also produced the winner. Zeke produced five nicely handled finds, spaced throughout the course. He backed Caroline on two out of three of her finds. Caroline likewise honored two of Zeke's finds, both in the valley heading towards the finish. Zeke's performance garnered a first-place finish.
2. "Wayne" (PM/Munden) and "Shelby" (VIZF/Baicik). Shelby scored the first find on the back tree line; she backed Wayne on his first find at the single tree near the oil well. Wayne was on the leash after self-relocating on a potential bird. Shelby finished with no additional birdwork.
3. "Buddy" (PM/Bowser) and "Lenni" (ISM/Fazenbaker). Lenni showed a forward classy race, with three finds spaced throughout the course to earn him a third-place finish. Buddy scored two finds, his first being backed by Lenni, but could not be located and was found standing after the tracker was pulled.
4. "Jack" (PM/McMillen) and "River" (ISM/Fazenbaker). Jack and River each scored two finds, all in the valley on the latter end of the course. They both showed a strong forward race and finished to the front.
5. "Chuck" (PM/Munden) and "Miles" (PM/McMillen). Chuck scored the first find of this brace, on the tree line at the top of the course. Miles scored his first find soon after, with Chuck honoring. Both dogs moved forward, and Miles pointed at the single tree with Chuck backing. Miles scored again on the back side of the course, and Chuck was found after a brief absence pointed deep in the woods. A bird was produced, and good manners displayed. Chuck showed a very wide race, and both dogs finished to the front.
6. "Rufus" (ISM/Fazenbaker) and "Sage" (PF/McMillen). Both dogs showed a strong forward pace; Sage scored at the top tree line, and again in the valley. Rufus was not seen, and after 15 minutes, the tracker was called for. He was found standing in cover in the tree line near the oil well, a bird in front. Sage finished to the front.
7. "Lola" (PF/Munden). Lola showed a classy performance and a hard-hunting style to earn the second-place finish. She scored two finds, both on the high side of the course, and displayed good manners on her birds.
We hope you will join us this fall as the Beaver Valley tradition continues.

Judges: Tyler Bowser and Alex Meeder
AMATEUR PUPPY - 9 Pointers
1st-HITAIL ROLLING DIXIE, F1714644, pointer female, by Hifives Rolling Stone-Speed Dialing Kaia. Russ Fazio, owner and handler.
2d-DD CPK DIAMONDS N RHINOS, F1713582, pointer female, by Cal Peak Hundredth Meridian-Double Deuce Sage. Douglas McMillen Jr., owner; Sarah Deline Gomes, handler.
3d-MILLIE THYME RYE, F1713588, pointer female, by Cal Peak Hundredth Meridian-Double Deuce Sage. Joanna Sampson, owner and handler.

Judges: Allen Fazenbaker and Alex Meeder
AMATEUR DERBY - 9 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-HITAIL ROXY AFIELD, F1705101, setter female, by Dun Rovens Zip-Castle Rock's Autumn Breeze. Russ Fazio, owner and handler.
2d-COUNTY LINE STORM, F1709699, pointer male, by Miller's Upgraded Version-County Line Sky. Tony Napolitano, owner and handler.
3d-HACKBERRY'S ELHEW RUBEE, F1704631, pointer female, by Hackberry's Elhew Falco-Hackberry's Addie Blackhawk. Debbie Hronek, owner and
handler.

Judges: Norm Meeder and Bob Smith
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 13 Entries
1st-DOUBLE DEUCE ZEKE, F1673940, pointer male, by Double Deuce Peter-Funseeker's Holiday. Doug McMillen, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
2d-WILDLAND WARRIOR, F1676947, pointer female, by Erin's War Creek-Suemac's Coventry. Eric Munden, owner and handler.
3d-CC LENNI LENAPE, F1705228, Irish setter male, by Silver Creek Wild Again-Roses Are Red. Allen Fazenbaker, owner and handler.