Result: Setter Club of New England

Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts

Post Date: May 20, 2025

Submitted By: Jim Hathaway

Florence Harwarth Open Derby (front): Deb Kennedy with Deb's Jane, Island Attraction with Robert Ecker, and Lanny Dellinger with Snuff Mill Magnum Force. (Back): Jim Levesque (judge).

Last year, the Setter Club of New England (1924-2024) celebrated our 100th anniversary, though our first spring field trial wasn't held until 1929. That first trial was held on Memorial Day weekend in Concord, Massachusetts. The course ran through birch, pine, and alder thickets on wild birds. The course finished in a stone wall-edged field of knee-high dead grass, in which guinea fowl were released. It wasn't until two years later that quail were released.

Through these 96 years, the Setter Club's spring field trial has moved dates and locations multiple times, now being held on Cape Cod, as it has for decades. For some reason, the Memorial Day weekend date was moved a couple of times. First, it was moved back to the last weekend in March, then to where it is now, the first weekend in April. It seems, however, that no matter where the date stands, the weather is the greatest concern. One spring, we had to cancel because of multiple snowstorms in March that left the trial area entrance inaccessible with at least a foot of snow on the rest of the grounds. Another time, we canceled because of too much rain for weeks before the trial. The entrance road was a swamp, as were the courses.
This year's trial was no different. The weather forecasts were for rain on both days. But as any New Englander knows, wait a minute or five; it will change. Though the weekend wasn't sunny, the rain that was predicted wasn't half as bad as we thought it might be. Even though it rained over Saturday night, we didn't really have a dead bird problem for the derbies on Sunday morning.

Despite the weather predictions, a total of 73 dogs were drawn for our eight stakes. The toughest day can be Saturday. We have two courses we can run, but with handler conflicts, only one course can be run for all three stakes.
First to the start line Saturday morning at 7 a.m. sharp were the puppies. It musta been a spare litter season in 2024. Only four puppies were entered for our judges, Cate Jewett and Eric Rizza, with two braces drawn. It will be interesting to see if more 2024 dogs show up for their derby season. Of the four, Deb Kennedy's pup, Deb's Brio, took the top spot.
The first of this old club's named stakes was next to run. Under the judgment of Setter Club members, Jim Levesque and Thom Richardson, the Florence Harwarth Open Derby went off without a hitch. Deb Kennedy picked up her second blue ribbon of the day with her Setter, Deb's Jane.
The last stakes of Saturday is usually one of the largest weekend trial Walking Shooting Dog stakes in New England. Several times in the past, the Phil Fogg Shooting Dog Classic has taken two days to complete. This year's judges, Jim Curtin and Bill Bonnetti, watched a respectable field of 21 dogs vie for the trophy. When the last dog was run and only then could the placements be made. Rich Warters's Pointer, Buck of Piney Woods, running in the last brace, was named the winner.

Sunday was to be the better of this two-day trial, weather-wise. We kept waiting on sunshine that never came. Fortunately, the rain that was there wasn't all that bad. To keep the amateur puppies on a separate course without any of yesterday's liberated quail, we ran them on the west course that we always use for the gun dogs later in the day. Judges Lanny Dellinger and Cate Jewett awarded the blue ribbon to a Setter Club of New England newcomer, Eric Beauregard, and his Setter pup, Northwoods Suki.

Running two courses at the same time has its advantages and one big drawback: running order conflicts. Once the first conflict shows up, they seemingly never stop. You know how it goes, a judge on the west course is supposed to run his dog on the east course. So, everyone on the west course has to wait while their judge runs on the east course. Then the hurry-up-and-wait goes on for at least three more braces during the day. So, here we are, puppies and gundogs on the west and derbies and shooting dogs to the east. The deciding factor in who runs and who waits will always go to the course that has the greater or lesser number of braces, respectively.

As the East course has the greater number of braces, we'll get them done first. The Amateur Derby drew enough entries to place three dogs. Judges David Theroux and Jim Levesque found a standout performance from Eric Rizza's pointer, Highfive's Sweet Basil, the first-placing dog.
I have to believe the rain predictions kept the Amateur Shooting Dog entries down by six or more entries. However, of the 14 dogs drawn, it was a really tight field, not a slacker in the bunch. The top of the bunch that day, as named by judges Eric Rizza and Jamie Nee to win the Frankie McLaughlin Amateur Shooting Dog, was Bill Bonnetti's pointer, Cape Point Hidden Jewel.

After stopping and going since after lunch, the Tom Foley and Ed Flanagan Amateur Gun Dog Classic finished around the same time as the Shooting Dog. Twelve dogs were drawn this year for judges Jmy Losi and David Theroux to follow through a course that is the most typical of natural Cape Cod woodlands. In the end, Mike Rosano's setter, Lightning Flash Moose, got his Blue ribbon.

This was an outstanding event despite the weather forecasts. Outstanding events don't just happen; it takes a team. I kinda picked up this trial and ran with it since Chairman Nick Hamel resigned after last year's trial due to other and new obligations. This year's Setter Club Spring trial team was B. J. Cassio, dog wagon wrangler and bird planter par excellence, and Tom Jay, Setter Club and trial treasurer, lunch, drinks, and donuts boss. Beyond these duties, Tom Jay has also taken on creating and donating new rotating trophies for all named Setter Club of New England Spring trial stakes. You can see a couple of the new trophies in the photos. And all those who stood up and volunteered to judge.

As ever, a special thank you to Purina for their sponsorship of all our trials is greatly appreciated.

Finally, boys and girls, next spring's Setter Club trial will be on April 4 and 5. To all Setter Club of New England Members, both new and old, we are in need of a chairman. The team is in place. All that is needed is a chairman to step into the role. This is why we have members. Think about it and call me, President Mitch Nee, or Treasurer Tom Jay.
So, until next spring, remember to keep your head down, squeeze the trigger, and follow through.

See y'all next April.

Open Puppy (front): Deb Kennedy with Deb's Brio and Robert Ecker with Lizard Creek's All Zoom. (Back): Cate Jewett (judge) and Eric Rizza (judge).

Falmouth, Mass., April 5 - One Course
Judges: Cate Jewett and Eric Rizza
OPEN PUPPY - 1 Pointer and 3 Setters
1st-DEB'S BRIO, F1713597, setter female, by Long Gone Dequan-Deb's McKeachie Road. Deborah Kennedy, owner and handler.
2d-LIZARD CREEK'S ALL ZOOM, F1710164, pointer female, by Grouse Hill Rambo-All On. Marissa Everett, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.

Judges: James Levesque and Thom Richardson
FLORENCE HARWARTH OPEN DERBY - 9 Entries
1st-DEB'S JANE, F1706487, setter female, by Sterlingworth Jack-Long Gone Hatfield. Deborah Kennedy, owner and handler.
2d-ISLAND ATTRACTION, F1712335, setter female, by Wynona's Nickleback George-Wynona's Davinci Abby. Pedja Kazic, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.
3d-SNUFF MILL MAGNUM FORCE, F1705117, setter female, by Mohawk Mill Lucky Charm-Richfield Oakley. Lanny Dellinger, owner and handler.

Phil Fogg Open Shooting Dog Classic (front): Marty Festa with Buck of Piney Woods, Robert Ecker with Fire Marshall Bill, and David Theroux with Henry's Susieq Dot. (Back) Jim Curtin (judge) and Bill Bonnetti (judge).

Judges: William Bonnetti and James Curtin
PHIL FOG OPEN SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC - 5 Pointers and 16 Setters
1st-BUCK OF PINEY WOODS, F1696648, pointer male, by Bo of Piney Woods-Grouse Hill Prima. Richard Warters, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.
2d-FIRE MARSHALL BILL, F1702783, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Moonshine Sage. Elias Richardson, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.
3d-HENRY'S SUSIE Q DOT, F1680901, setter female, by Henry of Ferguson-Blossom's Pale Face Susieq. David Theroux, owner and handler.

Amateur Puppy: (front): Eric Beauregard with Northwoods Suki, Deb Kennedy with Deb's Brio, and J. Foley with "Cash." (Back): Lanny Dellinger (judge) and Cate Jewett (judge).

Judges: Catherine Jewett and Larry Dellinger
AMATEUR PUPPY - 5 Setters
1st-NORTHWOODS SUKI, F1711857, setter female, by Mays Pond Hank-Northwoods Stardust. Eric Beauregard, owner and handler.
2d-DEB'S BRIO, F1713597, setter female, by Long Gone Dequan-Deb's McKeachie Road. Deborah Kennedy, owner and handler.

Amateur Derby (front): Eric Rizza with Hifive's Sweet Basil, Kelly Hays with Still Meadows Little Sunray, and Deb Kennedy with Deb's Jane. (Back): Jim Levesque (judge) and David Theroux (judge).

Judges: David Theroux and James Levesque
AMATEUR DERBY - 6 Entries
1st-HIFIVE'S SWEET BASIL, F1705357, pointer female, by Hifive's Ruff Runner-Wild Apple Siri. Eric Rizza, owner and handler.
2d-STILL MEADOWS LITTLE SUNRAY, F1704573, setter female, by Long Gone Wallace-Chase's I'm Miss Smith. Brian & Kelly Hays, owners; Kelly Hays, handler.
3d-DEB'S JANE, F1706487, setter female, by Sterlingworth Jack-Long Gone Hatfield. Deborah Kennedy, owner and handler.

Frankie McLaughlin Amateur Shooting Dog Classic (front): Bill Bonnetti with Cape Point Hidden Jewel, Lanny Dellinger with Snuff Mill High Caliber, and Marty Festa with Blue Ribbon River. (Back): Eric Rizza (judge) and Jamie Nee (judge).

Judges: Jamie Nee and Eric Rizza
FRANKIE MCLAUGHLIN AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC - 13 Entries
1st-CAPE POINT HIDDEN JEWEL, F1679987, pointer female, by Daddy's Little Boy Butch-Porter Meadow Bette. Bill Bonnetti & Brad Bonnetti, owners; Bill Bonnetti, handler.
2d-SNUFF HILL HIGH CALIBER, F1697973, setter female, by Mohawk Mill Lucky Charm-Richfield Oakley. Lanny Dellinger, owner and handler.
3d-BLUE RIBBON RIVER, F1701966, pointer female, by Double Deuce Zeke-Huckleberry's Lucky Penny. Martin Festa, owner and handler.

Judges: Jmy Losi and David Theroux
TOM FOLEY & ED FLANAGAN MEMORIAL AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC - 10 Entries
1st-LIGHTNING FLASH MOOSE, F1681259, setter male, by Long Gone Buckwheat-Cream Polk Dizzie. Michael J. Rosano, owner and handler.
2d-LEDGE HILL MIA, unreg., setter female, breeding not given. James Levesque, owner and handler.
3d-WHITE LIGHTNING LUCY, F1677818, setter female, by Long Gone Studly-Deadwater Annie. Brian Foley, owner and handler.

Tom Foley & Ed Flanagan Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog Classic (front): Mike Rosano with Lightning Flash Moose, Jim Levesque with Ledge Hill Mia, and Brian Foley with White Lightning Lucy. (Back): Jmy Losi (judge) and David Theroux (judge).