Event: Braeval Cover Dog Classic
Result: Braeval Bird Dog Club
Location: Ellenburg, Wyoming
Post Date: May 21, 2025
Submitted By: Gregor McCluskey
Braeval Cover Dog Classic: Lightning Flash Frank with Kelly Hays (owner/handler); Greenhaven's Sophia Belle with Brad Green (owner/handler), and Henry's Susieq Dot with David Theroux (owner/handler). Behind the winners (l-r) Judge Pat Cooke and Judge Kris Nordby.
With the hopes of developing renewed interest and bringing new people to field trials, Gregor McCluskey's tireless work attracting numerous sponsors for the Braeval Cover Dog Classic led to a fantastic renewal of this trial. The 2024 edition of the trial was hosted by Bruce Bennett, a longtime friend of McCluskey's, on his meticulously maintained "On The Wing Grouse Camp." The trial produced a deserving winner, Remington (setter male) owned and handled by Brian Dix, with Rory, a strong running Irish red setter male, earning second for owner and handler Gregor McCluskey. A strong start to the trial season for both dogs, who would exchange places in the fall as the 2024 U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association's National Amateur champion and runner-up champion. Word spread quickly of the quality of the grounds and the volume of birds. The American Red Setter Club hosted another open trial in the late fall of 2024, attracting pros from New York, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire as well as amateurs from across the Northeast. At the close of 2024, Bill McFadden (a long-time field trialer) acquired the Bennett property with the aim of cementing it as a competitive cover dog field trial venue. The Grand National Invitational was brought to the grounds in the spring of 2025, where the finest cover dogs of the preceding season competed under tough conditions and demonstrated their class and merit.
Bennett's vision for his property and connections with Gregor McCluskey planted the seed that has grown the venue as a feature in the cover dog world for amateurs and professionals alike. On the heels of the Grand National Invitational Grouse Championship, the 2025 Braeval Amateur Cover Dog Classic welcomed a strong entry with dogs and amateur handlers from across the Northeast. Handlers and dogs traveled from Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York to put their dogs to the test amidst the tough conditions. By the trial's conclusion, three dogs from New Hampshire earned placements. Since the inaugural trial, refinements to courses have been made, with new courses laid out with the help of many volunteers and dedicated enthusiasts. As trials continue to be a fixture on these grounds, refinement will certainly continue.
Judges Kris Nordby, from Connecticut, and Pat Cooke, from New York, traveled to the grounds to judge for their second round of judging responsibilities for the Braeval Cover Dog Classic. Logging nearly 25 miles of walking over the course of the two days, they proved up to the stern task of evaluating a competitive group of dogs under challenging conditions with gentle soaking rain on Day 1 and 2-3 inches of wet snow on Day 2. Birds proved elusive, with scenting conditions challenging. While the number of birds worked by the dogs was limited, wild flushes and gallery flushes proved the birds were there each day. Judges and handlers were also treated to a handlers' dinner sponsored by Inukshuk on Saturday, April 26, where the 2024 winner was recognized and received their trophy. The evening featured generous raffles from the event sponsors: Stone Creek Gear, Upland Almanac, Inukshuk, Warner Sporting Dog, Bertucci Watches, Muller Chokes, Jonas Brothers/Pepi Family Studio, Connecticut Shotgun, MPE LLC, and trialers stepping up donating trips/items for a fabulous fun evening: Kacey Neville Canadien wild bird hunt:, Bob Arkley: NEK Guide Service, Tim Cavanaugh: Bird Dog Training, Cal Robinson: Striper fishing for two; Connor McCluskey Guided Hunt; Dix & Stephens Sugar House, Pro Trainer Robert Ecker Upland Bell.
The Winners
In theory and in concept, the object of wild bird field trials is simple. Find and point with the expected manners of a shooting dog while exhibiting the right combination of range, application, and partnership with the handler. Accomplishing the task in reality is a reflection of the owners' and handlers' commitment to training, patience, exposure, and relentless dedication to their dogs in combination with the cooperation of grouse and woodcock, the weather, and last but certainly not least, luck. Without doubt, the three dogs placed by the judges demonstrate the commitment of their owners to the sport of field trialing and to their dogs. Kelly Hays's setter male Frank's performance on the Inukshuk course proved to have the right combination of range, application, and partnership, with the luck of producing a bird in the final minute of the brace. Hays strode confidently to her dog, putting him under command as she moved in front of him, bolstering his confidence and flushing a woodcock promptly while Frank displayed exemplary manners, leading to the Classic win. Brad Green's 10-year-old female pointer Belle ran a nicely balanced race on the Bertucci Field Watch Course, showing her desire and connection with little handle needed as she ranged comfortably to bell range, working ardently through the appropriate cover. Again, in the final minutes of her brace, luck was on her side as she came upwind of a woodcock, stopping to a flush and standing to her handler's command through shot and release, demonstrative of the time and effort put into training, earning Green and Belle a second-place shooting dog placement. Running on the Stone Creek Course on Day 2, David Theroux's Dot, a sprightly and cautious setter that points with a beautifully high head and tail, was rewarded for her meticulous work of tight cover early in her brace, pointing a woodcock with beautiful style and manners at minute 3 of the second day. One of only three pointed woodcock in the challenging conditions of the second day, the second being pointed by Gregor McCluskey's Irish red setter, Rory, found after time, and the third just after time by Bob Arkley's setter, Dude. Congratulations to the deserving handlers and their fine dogs.
The Running
Day 1
Brace 1: Callie (ESF/Dellinger) and Skye (ISM/C. McCluskey). The second annual Braeval Wild Bird Classic began promptly at 7:35 on the Stone Creek Course, with dogs on the line, a generous sponsor's gift from Stone Creek was raffled off, and the dogs were released. The course started in tight hardwood young growth with heavy stem density. Winding through the cover, the large gallery followed the handlers and judges. Both dogs began with strong moves to the front. The course exited through an overgrown pasture before heading into a mature hardwood edge with a few conifers mixed in. With their bells sitting on the edge of range, where they would for the majority of the brace, each dog exhibited a strong forward race working around the first 20 minutes of the course. At 20, the handlers got separated, with Connor McCluskey navigating Skye forward while Lanny Dellinger sent scout Eric Rizza into heavy cover to attempt to produce Callie. Callie had slipped out of the pocket, and at 24, Dellinger requested the tracker, locating the dog 500 yards to the front. Three birds were walked up in pursuit of the strong-running setter. Skye continued her race, coming to the final stretch of the course with limited bell contact. McCluskey requested the tracker at 41, producing the dog 155 yards to the front on point. The dog was located standing a woodcock, a stroke of bad luck.
Brace 2: Lucy's Pride (ESF/Jay) and Frank (ESM/Hays). As rain continued to fall, the second brace on the Inukshuk Course got underway at 8:51 a.m. This course also began in a pocket of high stem density young hardwood growth existing between two fields, to a more mature mixed cover of hardwoods and softwoods adorned with rock walls and pockets of young growth throughout. Frank made a nice quick strike to the front and stayed to the front, applying himself nicely to the cover throughout the brace while remaining in bell range. Lucy, similarly, ran with nice application, working likely cover thoroughly. At 18 point was called, and Lucy was found standing 25 yards off the trail, providing the gallery a nice vantage point for the action. Handler Tom Jay made an extended flushing attempt, increasing the radius of his circle to attempt to produce a bird. At 20, Jay decided to move his dog on. She continued her race, seemingly hampered by something, and at 30 was inspected by her handler before sending her on. Hays and Frank continued to work methodically around the course, and as time neared, Hays called point with Frank found 45 yards in the cover. Hays worked into flush, producing a woodcock, shooting, and collaring her dog as time expired. For the second year in a row, the winning dog was to come from the Inukshuk course.
Brace 3: Ledge Hill Chippewa (ESM/Levesque) and Rocky (ESM/Dix). Chippewa (Chip) and Rocky, two stylish and classy running male setters, were cut loose powerfully on the Upland Almanac Course just before 10 a.m. Both dogs pushed to outpace the other before diving into the cover. As the gallery turned into the course, a wild flushed grouse came flying over their heads. The Upland Almanac Course enters into a mix of young hardwood growth and alders, immediately bordered by a mature edge on the handlers' and gallery's left. Approaching the 10-minute mark of the brace, the course crosses an alder thicket before returning to more neatly maintained walking paths. The dogs pushed to the front with their handlers working to navigate them through the tight cover and across a small section of alder swamp leading back to the more manicured path. At 15, Levesque called point, producing his dog 35 yards to the left of the path, staunchly and stylishly on point. With the dog still standing through a three-minute flushing attempt, Levesque noted a significant amount of splash and worked back to his dog, opting to allow the dog an attempt to relocate. Chip moved forward cautiously with respect for the situation. No bird was produced, and the dog was moved on. The course wound through mixed cover. At 24, Doug Dix requested his tracker, concluding Rocky's work for the day. The dog was found 400 yards to the front, having been mildly quilled by a porcupine. Chip produced two more unproductives, tantalizing the gallery with his style and the anticipation of a find. His race was strong and consistent. Levesque opted to pick him up after his final unproductive at 35.
Brace 4: Tucker (ESM/Dix) and Belle (PF/Green). The Bertucci Field Watch Course enters a young cut immediately on the breakaway and winds its way through the cut until crossing the road to find an old orchard and more mature mixed cover with several significant conifer stands mixed in. Tucker, a nicely mannered and snappy male setter, started off powerfully with Belle, a 10-year-old pointer female, showing no trouble keeping up with her younger bracemate. Each dog worked independently during the opening stretch of the course as a grouse drummed in the distance. At 11, Tucker was found on point prior to the road crossing. After a flushing attempt, Brian Dix elected to relocate the dog, and no bird was produced. As the course crossed the road into an old orchard, both dogs showed themselves nicely to the gallery working likely objectives before casting off to the front. Tucker came to a stop again at 22 on a rock wall and under conifer trees, a flushing attempt was made, and no bird was produced. Tucker was moved on, making a hard move to the front. At 25, Tucker was found, again on point, a flushing attempt was made, and Brian Dix elected to pick the dog up at 27. Leaving Belle solo for the final 18 minutes of the brace, at 34, Belle's bell came to a stop, and before she was under command, she moved on, making a large cast down into thick cover, and Brad Green worked hard to bring her back around. At 39, Belle came into a woodcock, stopping to flush and remaining standing as her handler fired and worked to the dog. The dog was collared and brought back to the course, continuing with strong application within bell range for the remainder of the brace.
Brace 5: Wild Apple Siri (PF/Rizza) and Little Tommy Tucker (ESM/Short). The fifth brace broke away shortly before noon during a welcome break in the rain. The GALAZAN/Muller Field Choke Course starts down a long camp road before working into the cover, providing the dogs a nice chance to show their legs and make a strong opening cast. Siri, an 8-year-old pointer female under the whistle of handler and owner Eric Rizza, began with several nice, wide-ranging casts working to the cover's edge and staying there before handling back around. Off the line, Tucker worked a bit of a tighter pattern before opening up his race and dragging his handler, Kellie Short, far off the course. At 15, the handlers separated with Rizza and Siri working uphill on the course while Short and Tucker remained on the low side of the course. Siri made a big move to the edge before coming back around to work the opposite edge of a young cut. Each dog showed a desire to move deep into the cover. At 21, Siri's bell came to a hard stop. Her handler put her under command, yelling "whoa," and requesting to work with his scout. Judge, handler, and scout ventured into the thick 15-year growth in search of the standing dog. At 25, with the dog standing resolutely and never quivering, the search continued. At 27, 75 yards in, the dog was found standing with high tail and head. A significant flushing attempt was made through 30, at which point the handler elected to relocate the dog, noting a significant pile of grouse droppings during the flushing attempt. Siri worked nicely back through the cover but was unable to produce. At 32, the handler elected to move her on. As Siri was released, Short's dog, Tucker, came through the front and went on hunting off to the right of the gallery. Siri continued with nice application and range until time was called. At time, Tucker needed to be located with the help of Kris Nordby and the reporter.
Brace 6: Neo (ESM/Theroux) and Murphy (ESM/Murphy). Brace 6 began the afternoon braces, starting on the MPE/Warner Sporting Dog Course. Breaking away at 2:15, the dogs were turned loose down a lengthy camp road with alders transitioning to more mature growth to the course's left, and alders transitioned to a field edge and a young cut on the course's right. Neo, a strong running male setter, opened up with a big cast to the right while Sumple's graceful female setter, Murphy, settled in more conservatively and worked both sides of the cover, applying herself nicely to the front and through likely objectives. The handlers were quickly separated as they would remain for the majority of the brace with Theroux, utilizing scout Jimmy Levesque to search for Neo on several occasions. The course exits the camp road and turns left into a conifer thicket. Murphy's bell fell silent under a series of conifers, and a flushing attempt was made at 15. The reporter noted a grouse flush well away from the dog after the relocation attempt was made. Neo came charging to the front with Theroux and the gallery coming up behind. The two dogs entered a very wet alder swamp and exited into more mature softwood cover. Neo continued to open up while Murphy continued to run a nice race, showing herself stylishly whenever she crossed the judges' and gallery's view. Neo emerged again at 26, showing a powerful and stylish gait and moving hard to the front. As the course moved through a mix of young hardwoods and more mature softwoods at 32, Theroux sent his scout to the left as the course entered a nice patch of young cover. Murphy continued to exhibit a nice pattern on the ground as time neared, both dogs ended up in a nice-looking patch of young growth with a divided find, with Theroux's scout calling point, a flushing attempt began shortly before time and continued through 46.20. No bird was produced, and after a relocation attempt, the dogs were called to heel and collared, concluding the brace.
Brace 7: Ivy (PF/Marquis) and Sea Ducks Cool Breeze (ESF/Nee). The final brace of the first day ended on the Jonas Brothers/Pepi Family Taxidermy Course. Another large gallery assembled despite the persistent rain to watch Ivy, a well-built white and liver female pointer under the whistle of Jameson Marquis and Breeze, a diminutive setter female under the whistle of Mitch Nee. The two dogs of contrasting style broke away at 3:20 p.m., with Ivy showing her reach early while Breeze settled in, applying herself to the cover and checking in often. The final course moved between mature softwood stands and young cuts, almost in a checkerboard pattern and nicely flowing, allowing the dogs the opportunity to work a variety of cover while also pushing to edges and maintaining their range on those edges. Breeze elected a more conservative path, choosing to work in and out of the cover in contrast to Ivy's efforts to work through the cover to reach the edges. At 15, Breeze came to a point and worked gently to relocate before wavering a bit with her tail lightly flagging, self-relocating before her handler moved her on. Ivy worked into a dense young cut on the courses right and established nicely with no production. The dog was released and bumped a woodcock and did not fully stop to flush, ending her race at 22. Breeze continued on with two unproductives and a stop to flush on the edge of the trail in thick conifers at 32. She continued in similar fashion, working nicely with her handler but not pushing into the cover.
Day 2
Brace 8: The opening brace of the second day returned to the Stone Creek Course. Promptly starting shortly after 8 a.m. Cal Robinson and Dave Theroux released their dogs into the thick cover. Theroux's Dot, working methodically and meticulously through the thick cover, was countered by Robinson's Elwood, who worked with wider and more reaching casts to start. Dot's application was rewarded as her bell stopped at 3. Theroux sent Brian Dix in as a scout to help locate the dog, which was found standing 50 yards from the gallery. Dot's manners and style were strong, and Theroux was able to produce a woodcock. Dot was collared and brought back to the course, releasing forward with strong application. As the course exited the thick opening cover, two grouse flushed over the gallery from the stonewall. At 13, both bells stopped with Elwood and Dot standing 50 yards off the course. Both handlers made efforts to produce a bird, but no bird was produced. Handlers elected to move their dogs on, and their race continued. At 22, Dot established again, and Elwood failed to back before establishing in front of her. Robinson elected to pick her up, leaving Dot on the ground solo. At 32, Dot stopped again and was moved on as a porcupine was in the vicinity. Dot continued and completed the 45 minutes.
Brace 9: Basil (PF/Rizza) and Jax (PM/Fried). With snow picking up in intensity, two contrasting pointers were released onto the Inukshuk course shortly after 9 a.m. Rizza's hard-charging and big-running young female Basil began making big, wide casts, applying herself while working to the edge of the cover and checking in. Fried's Jax moved nicely off the line, working a tighter and more compact race. As the course progressed, Basil's bell hung faintly on the edge between 9 and 25. At 19, Jax came to a stop on a rock wall, no bird was produced, and the handlers separated, with Rizza working hard to drive Basil back around. As Basil worked back into the pocket, Jax's bell stopped again at 25. A flushing attempt was made, shot fired, and a breach of manners ended Jax's day on a grouse find. Basil continued and was found standing on the edge of a rock wall at 30 after an extended flushing attempt; no bird was produced, and Rizza opted to continue her on. Her bell came to a stop again at 37 in likely cover, once again, after a strong effort to flush; no bird was produced, and Rizza elected to pick her up.
Brace 10: Maggie (ESF/Delinger) and Rory (ISM/McCluskey) broke away at 10:20 a.m. as snow continued to fall on the Upland Almanac Course. Delinger's young female opened up with exuberance, undeterred by the tough conditions, and dove into the cover. McCluskey's powerfully gaited male showed a strong start as well. Both dogs were quickly on the edge of bell range, challenging their handlers and forcing them to sing them back in. The brace was dominated by big, powerful casts with both dogs working a ranging pattern and showing themselves as their handlers sang them around. As the course veered through the mud, Delinger's young female was impressive on the ground and not at all hindered by the mud. She showed great heart and desire. Rory, last year's U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association's National Amateur champion, demonstrated why he is such a class shooting dog with his range and power. Unfortunately, no birds were produced for these two powerful dogs. Rory was pushed back to the front toward the close of the brace. At 41, McCluskey, his scout, and the judge began working toward a stopped bell. After circling the dog and finally locating him after time, a woodcock was produced.
Brace 11: Remington (ESM/Dix) and Sweet Baby Ray (ESF/Arkley). Brace 11 broke away shortly after 11:20 a.m. Remington, the runner-up at last year's U. S. Complete Shooting Dog National Amateur Championship, broke away hard and was soon out of bell range. Ray, working closer through the tight cover at the start of the Bertucci Field Watch Course, methodically worked the cover nicely, seeking likely objectives. Coming to the road crossing at 13, Dix requested the tracker, ending Remington's brace. Arkley continued with Ray working likely cover throughout the Bertucci Field Watch Course. Ray's bell came to a stop at 17 with no bird produced; Arkley moved the dog on. As time neared, Ray worked into a woodcock and failed to stop to flush at 44. Arkley called his dog in and picked her up, concluding her brace.
Brace 12: Blue Ribbon River (PF/Festa) and Trace (PM/Dipperio). The return to the MPE/Warner Sporting Dog Course brought two strong running pointers to the line. Dipperio's young male, Trace, broke away, hard digging into the cover as Festa's powerful female, River, made a big move to outpace the young male. The handlers again separated early, with Festa moving to the front with River as Dipperio sent his scout, Kacey Neville, into the cover to listen for Trace's bell. Entering the conifer, Festa continued to keep River on the edge of range, traveling with while Dipperio's young male emerged to the front, followed by his handler, scout, and a small gallery. At 17, Trace's bell stopped in a well-covered conifer thicket, establishing firmly that Trace looked stylish and confident on point, but no bird was produced. Trace exhibited good manners and was moved on by his handler. Both pointers continued their wide-ranging efforts seeking the birds that proved to be elusive due to the conditions. At 33, both bells stopped, with both dogs standing in thick conifer. The judges, already soaked, headed in with the handlers in an attempt to produce a bird. No bird was produced, and the dogs were moved on. Both exhibited strength and power, pushing ahead to finish out the brace. At time, both dogs were collared and returned to their trucks.
Brace 13: Finley (ESM/Hathaway) and Dude (ESM/Arkley). The Jonas Brothers/Pepi Family Taxidermy Course Broke away shortly after 1:20 p.m. on the second day. Finley, a strongly built male setter, moved out to the front as Dude began to dig in the cover, demonstrating a desire to work to the edge and apply himself nicely to cover, a tendency he would demonstrate throughout the brace. Finley opened up, making some larger casts through more mature growth. A grouse was flushed around the 25-minute mark while both dogs came off the more mature edge and into a younger stand. Dude continued to seek while Finley stayed more in the gallery's view. Time was called at 45, and as Dude worked in, he went on point, and a woodcock was produced. Unfortunately, the dog established after time.
The combination of the strength of the entry and the generosity of the sponsors, who have gone above and beyond in their support for this trial, demonstrates the value and importance of committed sponsors in making memorable events. The McFadden Trust grounds, Stone Creek Outfitters, MPE LLC, The Upland Almanac, Inukshuk Professional Dog Food, The Pepi Family, Bertucci Watches, Muller Chokes, The Stephens/Dix Family Sugarhouse and Braeval have all contributed generously to the handlers and the community to cement this event as a fixture for amateur field trailers. Thank you for the support and the commitment to field trialing. It is with special thanks to the sponsors, judges Pat Cooke and Kris Nordby, and the McCluskey family for their commitment to this trial. The sentiment of the community was that this trial is one of the most enjoyable of the year. Congratulations to the deserving winners.
Ellenburg, Wyo., April 28
Judges: Kris Nordby and Pat Cooke
BRAEVAL COVER DOG CLASSIC - 28 Entries
1st-LIGHTNING FLASH FRANK, F1686626, setter male, by Lightning Flash Butch-Grouse Ridge Berry. Brian & Kelly Hays, owners; Kelly Hays, handler.
2d-GREENHAVEN'S SOPHIA BELLE, F1657014, pointer female, by Elhew Prophet-Nitro Elhew Isabella. Bradley Green, owner and handler.
3d-HENRY'S SUSIEQ DOT, F1680901, setter female, by Henry of Ferguson-Blossom's Pale Face Susieq. David Theroux, owner and handler.