Result: National Brittany Open Grouse Championship Association

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: Oct 9, 2025

Submitted By: Kenny DeLong

Open Shooting Dog (back row): Kenny DeLong (judge) and Josh Bambach (judge). (Front): Rachel Butler with My Shady Grove, Scott Forman with Gretna Crest Royalty, and Scott Chaffee with Hypointe Sharpshooter.

We were blessed with good weather for our summer trial--cool mornings and temps in the high 70's by midafternoon--not bad for this time of year. Thanks to all who helped marshal, move vehicles, and help out in the many ways that make a field trial successful.

Thanks so much for the support of Greg Blair and the sponsorship of Purina!

Saturday featured the Qualifier stakes--Open Shooting Dog and Open Derby. Shooting Dog Judges Kenny DeLong and Josh Bambach looked at a dozen hopefuls, settling on three promising bird finders. Several chickens (including two broods) and timberdoodles were moved and pointed (and not always handled) throughout the stake. Rachel Butler handled the pointer female "Shady" in a strong forward race and scored on a very nice grouse find with 30 seconds left to capture the blue. Another strong race securing the second-place spot was delivered by Scott Forman with his setter "DG," who pointed a woodcock nicely on Course 5. Rounding out the placements, sticking a grouse in the first 90 seconds of his brace on Course 6, was the handsome setter "Zeke," handled by "Super" Scott Chaffee.

The Open Derby started on the opposite end of the grounds, with another twelve young dogs under the watchful eyes of judges Russ Fazio and Marc Dozeman. When the running concluded, only one young pointer running on Course 16 had scored on a woodcock, so judges elected to call three dogs whose races most impressed back to the bird field to show on quail. Pointers dominated the Derby that day! Scott Forman's pointer "Buddy" locked up first place, followed by Dan Gehring's pointer with the red ribbon, and the amazing Rachel Butler handling "Wyatt" to third.

Max Bambach and Deb Nihart presided over the always fun and exciting Junior Handler event at the bird field midday. We all enjoy watching the future field trialers work their dogs through the food strips and objectives in search of quail. Alexis Miske returned this summer to take the first and fourth place spots with her Brittanys, "Ozzie" and "Olive." Sisters Hollis and Rayla Dunn also came back this year and were placed second and third, handling Ole Man "Justice," who appeared to enjoy himself at least as much as the girls!

On Sunday, the Amateur Shooting Dog featured 16 pointers, setters, and brittanys scrutinized by Scott Forman and Travis Whitfield. The blue ribbon went to Kenny D's veteran pointer, "Justice," who laid down a strong, forward race and dug out a doodle in the last brace of the day on Course 9. Brent Peters' setter "Indy" ran strong in the first brace Sunday morning on Course 1, pointing a woodcock and taking second place. Fantastic Fazio handled his young pointer female "Tess" in a nice race that had the judges call them to the bird field where a quail was pointed with all in order--good for the yellow.

All in all, it was a great weekend. We enjoyed good times, good food, good friends, and of course, good dogs and good bird work! We are thankful for the Grace of God and His blessings that keep us all, two and four-legged alike.

Meredith, Mich., August 23
Judges: Josh Bombach and Kenny DeLong
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 12 Entries
1st-MY SHADY GROVE, F1703364, pointer female, by Crosswind Jim-Loneridge Justify'd Shawnee. Thomas and Rachel Butler, owners; Rachel Butler, handler.
2d-GRETNA CREST ROYALTY, F1702963, setter female, by Doodle Ridge Elroy-Gretna Crest Flashback. R. L. Frame, owner; Scott Forman, handler.
3d-HYPOINTE SHARPSHOOTER, F1706315, setter male, by Dun Rovens Zip-Castle Rock's Autumn Breeze. Nicholas Mellon Jr., owner; Scott Chaffee, handler.

Open Derby (back row): Russ Fazio (judge) and Marc Dozeman (judge). (Front): Scott Forman with Grouse Hill Buddy, Dan Gehring with White Moby's Essex, and Rachel Butler with White Indian Outlaw.

Judges: Marc Dozeman and Russ Fazio
OPEN DERBY - 11 Pointer and 1 Setter
1st-GROUSE HILL BUDDY, F1710157, pointer male, by Grouse Hill Rambo-All On. John Capocci, owner; Scott Forman, handler.
2d-WHITE MOBY'S ESSEX, F1709780, pointer male, by Light of Day-Perkins Beautiful Disaster. Dan Gehring, owner; Daniel Gehring, handler.
3d-WHITE INDIAN OUTLAW, F1709779, pointer male, by Light of Day-Perkins Beautiful Disaster. Thomas Butler, owner; Rachel Butler, handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog (back row): Travis Whitfield (judge) and Scott Forman (judge). (Front): Kenny DeLong with Faith's Maximum Justice, Brent Peters with Baxter's Indian Arrowhead, and Russ Fazio with Hypointe Monarch Express.

Judges: Scott Forman and Travis Whitfield
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 7 Pointers, 5 Setters, and 4 Brittanys
1st-FAITH'S MAXIMUM JUSTICE, F1660276, pointer male, by Nelson's Van Max-Wild Apple Faith. Kenric DeLong, owner and handler.
2d-BAXTER'S INDIAN ARROWHEAD, F1685299, setter male, by Baxter's Apache John-Baxter's Mary Katherine. Brent and Denise Peters, owners; Brent Peters, handler.
3d-HYPOINTE MONARCH EXPRESS, F1704239, pointer female, by Springflow's Backcountry P-Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Russ Fazio, owner and handler.

Junior Handler (back row): Max Bambach (judge) and Deb Niehardt (judge), Alexis Miske with Ozzie and Olive. (Front): Rayla and Hollis Dunn with Justice.