Result: Northern New England Open Woodcock Championship

Location: Fryeburg, Maine

Post Date: Oct 14, 2025

Submitted By: Deb Kennedy

Northern New England Open Woodcock Championship (front): Paucek's Little Tommy Tucker with Kellie Short (owner and handler) and Ironstone's Dark Horse with Robert Ecker. (Behind): Judges Jamie Leitch and Jon Ferdinand.

The 33rd renewal of the Northern New England Open Woodcock Championship ran on the Saco River floodplain forest for three days, September 19, 20, and 21. Despite the severe drought throughout New England, all four courses held both grouse and woodcock, and many dogs had birds. We were lucky to have Jamie Leitch judge for us again, and we welcomed newcomer, to us, Jon Ferdinand from Pennsylvania. Jon was accompanied by his wife, Kristin.

We thank Purina for their support. We couldn't run this championship on these grounds without the permission and support of landowners Robert Rose and Mike Fram. Cal Robinson, a longtime supporter of the club, couldn't make it this year, but generously supported us in other ways. Club members Kellie Short, Bob Paucek, Bruce Burnell, and Roy Hargreaves pitched in clearing courses, providing lunches, putting up and taking down the tent, and keeping everything running smoothly for the three full days of running 38 dogs.

We were very glad that Richard Warters joined us from his home in Connecticut. He and Bob Paucek, for whom this championship is dedicated, sat in the warm September sunshine and traded tales of dogs and days gone by. What hasn't gone by is the sharp wit of both of these fine men. They were a delight.

The 302 West BBQ Restaurant provided a tasty supper for handlers and friends after Saturday's running. Ribs, pulled pork and chicken, baked beans, corn bread, mac and cheese, coleslaw, whoopee pies, and ice cream with chocolate sauce for dessert. The ribs in particular were a crowd favorite.

After the first day of running, we had a failure to back incident involving two vehicles, one of which was pointing all in order. It was a classic T-bone. There were no injuries, just considerable vehicular and ego damage.

And then there was the moose chase event. After a handler's prolonged search, his pointer was spotted running behind a young bull moose loping along the riverbank, headed toward where the handler and judge were searching for the dog. Some suspected the judge and handler were calling in the moose to gain control of the dog, or, as others suggested, they were honking the moose in just for the heck of it.

The Winners and Others
Paucek's Little Tommy Tucker took the championship ribbon with a solid race; three woodcock finds and a stop to flush. The tri-color male is owned and handled by Kellie Short. This is his second championship win on these grounds. He also has a runner-up title from last year. The runner-up was Ironstone's Dark Horse, a beautiful tri color setter male who had a back early in his hour and an impeccable grouse find close to time. The young phenom is owned by Eli Richardson and was superbly handled by Robert Ecker. Judges were impressed with the flashy setter's forward race and strong finish.

The judges wanted several other dogs mentioned as close to the winners, chief among them was "Bandit," Jon Cullen's female setter, who won this championship last year. A find would have won it for her again. Another setter female, Trevor London's "Ellie" (Paucek's Up for Adventure) wowed judge Leitch with a scouted grouse find deep in a stand of knotweed. After her find, she charged forward only to get a little too close to a wild flushing woodcock and was ordered up. John Stolgitis's champion, Chasehill Snoop Dog, came within a wing beat of winning this event last year. While Snoop didn't garner a title at this event, he has gone on to win titles in the next three wild bird championships in the region.

Fryeburg, Me., September 19
Judges: Jon Ferdinand and Jamie Leitch
NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND OPEN WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 15 Pointers and 24 Setters
Winner-PAUCEK'S LITTLE TOMMY TUCKER, F1679370, setter male, by Long Gone Wallace-Paucek's Hickory Roxy. Kellie Short, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-IRONSTONE'S DARK HORSE, F1695853, setter male, by Maximum Resistance-Deciding Point. Elias Richardson III, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.

The Jean Sanderson Memorial Derby
Twelve derbies met on Monday morning, and by noon, judges Jon Cullen and Eric Rizza named three winners. The blue ribbon went to Chasehill Betty Boop, a pointer female, handled by John Stolgitis and owned by Bill and Karen McFadden. She had a big, forward race and a close encounter with a grouse. Second went to another female pointer, Highfive's Balvenie ("Bella"), handled by Adam Dubriske and owned by Deb Sloan. Bella had a big forward race. Third went to Tony Bly's big orange and white male setter, Stokleys Toby, who was handled to his win by Tony's buddy, Brian Ralph. Toby had a woodcock and a strong race but was perhaps a bit less mature than the dogs who placed above him.

Judges: Jon Cullen and Eric Rizza
JEAN SANDERSON MEMORIAL DERBY - 4 Pointers and 8 Setters
1st-CHASEHILL BETTY BOOP, F1713924, pointer female, by Daddy's Little Boy Butch-Mohawk Mill Double E. Bill & Karen McFadden, owners; John Stolgitis, handler.
2d-HIGHFIVE'S BALVENIE, F1709068, pointer female, by Little Traverse Django-Hifive's Top Shelf. Deborah Sloan, owner; Adam Dubriske, handler.
3d-STOKLEYS TOBY, F1709321, setter male, by Moss Meadow Seeker-Tupelo Honey. Tony Bly, owner; Brian Ralph, handler.

Jean Sanderson Memorial Derby: (l-r): First place, Chasehill Betty Boop, owned by Karen and Bill McFadden, handled by John Stolgitis. Second place, Hifive's Balvenie, handled by Adam Dubriske, and posed by Ellie Francis. Third place went to Stokelys Toby, Tony Bly, owner, posed by his handler, Brian Ralph. Back row: Judges Eric Rizza and Jon Cullen, Deb Sloan, Adam Dubriske, and Tony Bly.