Result: Region 4 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship & Derby Stake

Location: Harrisville, Pennsylvania

Post Date: Aug 12, 2025

Submitted By: Russ Fazio

Region 4 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship: Bruce Mueller (judge), James Kleve (judge), Backcountry Pure Gold with Chris Catanzarite (owner/handler), Eric Munden, Wildland Wild Man with Krista Munden (owner/handler), and Nick Mellon.

The Region 4 (AFTCA) Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship was held at Oak Ridge Pointing Dog Club in Harrisville, Pennsylvania, on May 8 and concluded on May 10. The weather was overcast at the start, concluding the last day with clear skies and sunshine. This was a smoothly run event thanks to Mary Sue Schalk (Region 4 Secretary). Thanks to Joe Cammisa for running the event, as well as Nick Mellon for his time planting the birds. Special thanks to Mary Sue and Chris Catanzarite for scouting for most of the braces. The judges were James Kleve and Bruce Mueller. There were a total of 13 braces in the championship, 26 dogs, with several showing strong runs with good manners that were in consideration.

Named champion is Backcountry Pure Gold ("Dee"), braced in the 12 run, a classy pointer female owned and handled by Chris Catanzarite. This 4-year-old now has two championships and two runners-up. This white and orange pointer was standing with style at 13, then again at 20, and had a total of four finds with a dominant forward run. She demonstrated excellent manners and style during each of her finds, proving the worthiness of a championship.
The runner-up, out of the 7th brace on day two, is a classy 4-year-old white and liver pointer male. Wildland Wild Man ("Wayne") is owned and handled by Krista Munden. This runner-up championship was the second of his career. Wayne was found standing on a covey at 15 with perfect manners, then turned loose to regain the front with three more finds at 24, 27, and 40, finishing the hour with a back at 47, displaying good manners on his encounters.

Other notable performances, as indicated by the judges, include Backcountry Fearless, a pointer male owned and handled by Chris Catanzarite, and Hital Roxy Afield, an English setter female owned and handled by Russ Fazio.

After the announcements, the Amateur Derby concluded the event. Judges were James Kleve and Nick Mellon.

There were five braces of dogs with mostly all dogs with bird work. First place was awarded to Crouse's Grouse Feather, an English setter male owned and handled by Mary Sue Schalk, with bird work on four finds. He implemented a forward run with cracking style.
Second place was awarded to Hitail Roxy Afield, an English Setter female owned and handled by Russ Fazio with bird work on four encounters.
Third place went to Wildland Nick of Time, a pointer male owned and handled by Eric Munden. He showed a classy forward run with three bird encounters.
We want to thank the AFTCA for all their support, as well as Greg Blair with Purina.
At the Friday night banquet, we all enjoyed turkey and stuffing with all the fixings.

Harrisville, Pa., May 8 - One Course
Judges: James Kleve and Bruce Mueller
REGION 4 AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 18 Pointers, 5 Setters, 1 Brittany, and 2 Irish Setters
Winner-BACKCOUNTRY PURE GOLD, F1694791, pointer female, by Springflow's Backcountry P-Backcountry Tornado. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-WILDLAND WILD MAN, F1695981, pointer male, by Double Deuce Zeke-Beaver Meadow Rose. Eric Munden, owner; Krysta Munden, handler.

Judges: James Kleve and Nick Mellon
AMATEUR DERBY - 5 Pointers, 3 Setters, and 2 Irish Setters
1st-CROUSE'S GROUSE FEATHER, F1713380, setter male, by Shagtime Max-GF Southern Belle. M. D. Crouse & Mary Sue Schalk, owners; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.
2d-HITAIL ROXY AFIELD, F1705101, setter female, by Dun Rovens Zip-Castle Rock's Autumn Breeze. Russ Fazio, owner and handler.
3d-WILDLAND NICK OF TIME, F1705670, pointer male, by Miller's Heat Seeker-Wildland Warrior. Eric & Krysta Munden, owners; Eric Munden, handler.

Amateur Derby (l-r): James Kleve (judge), Nick Mellon (judge), Crouse's Grouse Feather with Mary Sue Schalk (owner/handler), Hitail Roxy Afield with Russ Fazio (owner/handler), and Wildland Nick of Time with Eric Munden (owner/handler).