Result: Michigan Woodcock Championship

Location: Gladwin, Michigan

Post Date: Nov 20, 2025

Submitted By: Robert Ellis

Michigan Woodcock Championship: Ben Mergens (judge), Tom Fruchey with Stan the Man, Chris Wasserman, Theo Wasserman, Rob Ellis (reporter), Leeann Parnell, Tammy Chaffee with Springpond Rockin Sidney, and Shane Haskins (judge).

Hosted by the Ruffed Grouse Field Trial Club in Gladwin, Michigan, this was the 36th running of this prestigious event. The club had a solid entry with 31 braces to run on the famed grounds.

We thank all who entered, as well as our judges Ben Mergens and Shane Haskins, for their time on the saddle for five days.

Thank you to all who helped to maintain a smooth-running event, moving vehicles and marshaling the braces.

A special thank you to Marc and Betsy Dozeman for the great food, including the now-famous breakfast burritos.

Thank you, Paul Tutro and Brian Wood, for your large contribution in getting the dogs to line and announcing each brace.

Thank you to Purina and Greg Blair for their support of the club and the championship.

We had one of the worst droughts in decades leading up to the trial. Conditions were tough and truly challenged dogs to rise to the occasion, especially on woodcock.

The Running
Brace 1, Course 4/5: Mulberry Fields Molly (ESF/Mark Hughes) and Clancy (RSM/Scott Chaffee)
The dogs cut loose with a big race. Clancy was making big casts that grew beyond earshot, leading Scott to ask for the tracker at 20. Molly handled nicely on the edge of bell range most of the time, but unfortunately came into the wrong side of a grouse that ended her bid.

Brace 2, Course 6/7: Anna Lake Sami (PF/M. Forman) and Stone (PM/Christy Helms).
Both dogs carried to the front through the sweet ferns, pines, and scrub oaks, and two-thirds of the way into Course 6, landed a pair of woodcock. At 40, Stone had a mishap with a grouse. Shortly after, Sami had a pair of grouse at the end of Course 6. Sami finished the hour.

Brace 3, Course 8/9: Miller's Hopped Up Version (PF/Mark Hughes) and Seldom Rest Jack (ESM/Scott Chaffee). These two dogs were on full charge and were racing to great lengths. Mark called for the tracker at 14 and was likely a little more than Mark appreciated on this day. Jack was dialing in, but unfortunately was tempted by the flush on a grouse find at 40.

Brace 4, Course 10/11: Ryn (ESF/Jeff Keller) and Ponderosa's Copper Penny (ESF/Robert Ellis).
The dogs broke loose and stayed on the left, carrying forward in the better cover. Penny had a grouse at 17. From that point on, Ryn's bell went unheard, and at 35, Jeff took up his tracker. Penny carried on only to have a UP at 42 and another just before the end of the hour.

Brace 5, Course 12/13: Highbanks Final Justice (PM/Scott Chaffee) and A Distant Spec (PF/Mark Hughes). Highbanks had an STF at 18. All was in order. A UP at 23 and then a WC at 38, which was picture-perfect with great composure. Spec ran a strong, deep race to no avail with effort past the hour. Both dogs finished the hour.

Brace 6, Course 15/16: Hifive's On The Rocks (PF/Mike Lareau) and Hitail Roxy Afield (ESF/Mark Forman). Highfive and Roxy rolled on 15/16. Roxy had a UP at 10. Highfive backed. Highfive had a UP at 33 and 42. Both dogs went birdless, finishing the hour strong.

Brace 7, Course 1/2: Miller's Special Upgrade (PF/Mark Hughes) and Grouse Hill Princess (ESF/Mark Forman). Both dogs had made a solid effort as the day had warmed significantly, only for each to card a UP during the hour.

Brace 8, Course 4/5: Baxter's Indian Arrowhead (ESM/Brent Peters) and Fireside Sally Forth (ESF /Tammy Chaffee). Sally was on fire (pun intended) to a point that Tammy elected to take up the tracker at 18. At 21, Indy's bell went silent. The handler, scout, and both judges went down into the heavy cover. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate Indy during the allotted time. The tracker showed Indy still standing the target bird after a long search. All our ears led us to where Indy stopped.

Brace 9, Course 6/7: Grouse Hill Mac (ESM/Scott Forman) and Resin (ESM/Mark Forman).
Both dogs hit it hard. Mac was found standing on the edge of the scrub oaks.
Scott put a grouse up; however, Mac's desires got the best of him. Resin carded a UP at 8 and 28. Then, Resin had a nice find on a woodcock at 38. At 48, Resin had another UP and was picked up by Mark.

Brace 10, Course 8/9: Stan the Man (ESM/Tom Fruchey) and Warrior Zeke (PM/Mark Hughes).
These two dogs ran a powerful race. Stan took a long line along the small stream leading to a limb find on a mature swamp grouse buried in the alders. Stan then carried forward, crossing onto Course 9. At 47, Stan's bell came to a screeching halt up in the poplar stand. Tom flushed a WC, and all was in order. Stan finished the hour going deep to the front with the same charge he started with. Zeke had a powerful run, leading to a grouse at 50 and a woodcock at 57, followed by a UP at 59.

Brace 11, Course 10/11: Lucy (ESF/Rich Hollister) and Fireside Ed (ESM/Tammy Chaffee). Lucy carded one WC at 18. Lucy carried to the front, sweeping the ground before her, going deeper as time went on, with some extended absences showing dedication to another bird. Lucy was full of charge and reluctant to end her hour. Ed went birdless until the 45-minute mark, and Tammy elected to pick him up.

Brace 12, Course 12/13: Dine and Dash (PM/Mark Hughes) and Reba (ESF/Christy Helms),
Reba was picked up at the half by the handler. Dash had a UP at 3, then carried on until another UP at 40, and was picked up by the handler.

Brace 13, Course 15/16: Grouse Ridge Mags (ESF/Scott Forman); Seeker (Moss) was scratched. Mags showed a strong work ethic throughout the entire brace, with no birds to show for her efforts, and only one UP at 56.

Brace 14, Course 1/2: Millers Dusty Version (PF/Mark Hughes) and Rowling's Star (ESF/Scott Forman). Star was running strong but failed to capitalize on a back at 22. Dusty had a UP at 22 and was picked up by the handler at 38.

Brace 15, Course 4/5: Meridith Grade Corky (ESM/Tammy Chaffee) and Cash (ESM/Rich Hollister). Cash and Corky pushed forward, working hard in the young cut. Corky scored a WC at 14 and yet another one at 17. At 28, Tammy was searching for Corky as Cash's bell stopped a little further up. Cash let his desire get the best of him at the flush of a woodcock. Corky was in there and was led back out to the course and sent on. Corky finished the hour.

Brace 16, Course 6/7: Springpond Rockin Gibby (ESM/Lonnie Rademacher) and Hypointe Monarch Express (PF/Mark Forman). They had a good race going. The beginning of Course 6 offers a lot to see and hear. Hypointe had a WC at 13. At 24, Hypointe flash pointed a grouse that lifted quick and was picked up. Gibby had a WC at 28 and a UP at 35. Gibby was picked up at 40.

Brace 17, Course 8/9: Paint (PM/Rachel Butler) and Backroads Wildfire Blaze (PM/Mark Hughes). Paint and Blaze handled throughout the course during a hot and sunny hour. Blaze had a pair of grouse at 11. Paint scored a WC at 52. Both dogs finished the hour.

Brace 18, Course 10/11: Tupelo Honey (ESF/Bob Wheelock) and Snyder's Sadie (ESF/Tammy Chaffee). Tupelo was on a mission. After eluding the handler's ears on a couple of long absences, she was picked up at 40. Sadie had one clean WC find in an unsuspecting location at 17. Sadie carried on through to the end, working diligently for another bird, finishing the hour.

Brace 19, Course 12/13: Singleton's Lady Kati (ESF/Mike Singleton) and West Wind Big Jake (PM/Mark Hughes). Kati ran a strong hour with a UP at 18. Jake also had a nice run, with a WC find at 21. Both dogs finished the hour going away to the front.

Brace 20, Course 15/16: Meredith Grade Penny (ESF/Scott Chaffee) and Shady (PF/Butler).
Shady and Penny broke out fast and furious and were exciting for a moment, but likely less cooperative than desired by the handlers as they raced each other out. Scott picked up at 30 and Butler at 40.

Brace 21, Course 1/2: Sandy (PF/Rich Hollister) and Double Duce Jack (PM/Mark Hughes).
Sandy was picked up at 20 after a long absence. Jack carried on until a UP at 40 and 44, and the handler picked up Jack.

Brace 22, Course 4/5: Timberdoodle Sal (PF/Mark Forman) and Springpond Rockin Sidney (ESF/Tammy Chaffee). Three minutes from being loosed, Sidney stopped up on top of the left side hill, showing great style and manners as a WC was raised. Sidney was then sent onward, showing readiness for the task. As the course comes downhill, it makes a hard right turn. Sidney made the turn outward to the front, coming across in the young cut where Sidney's bell stopped again. The judge and handler spent a good amount of time searching. During that time, they walked up a grouse and then a WC. This added time to the search, as we all know, looking for the dog near the birds. Tammy then tweeted the whistle. Sidney made a small move and stopped, maybe 40 yards away. A WC was flushed! A great show of talent. Further down the course, Sidney had another WC at 40. Sal also ran a very respectable race, with a UP at 24 and 38, followed by a WC at 42. Both dogs finished the hour.

Brace 23, Course 6/7: Kaylee (BRITF/Christy Helms) and Patsy (ESF/Bob Wheelock).
Kaylee and Patsy hit a pocket of WC. Kaylee had a UP at 28, WC 37, WC 41, WC 47, UP at 50, and another WC at 52. Patsy had a back at 28, STF at 30, WC at 37, WC at 41, and another UP at 46. Both went on to finish the hour.

Brace 24, Course 8/9: Ralphy's Chase Hill Rip (PM/Scott Chaffee) and Double Deuce Miles (PM/Mark Hughes). After a long absence from the start, Mark called for his tracker. Rip had a UP at 14 and 39 and was picked up.

Brace 25, Course 10/11: Mac Daddy (ESM/Marc Dozeman) and Nellie (ESF/Jeff Keller).
At the 8-minute mark, Nellie had a WC and Mac backed. Perfect! At 18, Nellie had another WC, and Mac backed yet again! Then, at 42, Nellie was standing, and you guessed it--Mac backed; however, Nellie moved during the flush attempt. Mac finished the hour.

Brace 26, Course 12/13: Saddle Up Sadie (PF/Mark Hughes) and Fat Bottom Girl (ESF/Scott Forman). Queenie, unfortunately, was picked up at the half after colliding with her bracemate and a bad tongue cut that was affecting her. Sadie had a UP at 31 and was picked up at 43.

Brace 27, Course 15/16: Minnie (ESF/Tom Fruchey) and Kelly (PF/Butler).
Kelly had a UP at 10, a WC at 54, and a UP at 56. Minnie had a grouse find at 52 but moved forward at the flush.

Brace 28, Course 1/2: Snyder's Big Nose Kate (ESF/Tammy Chaffee) and Baxter's Wild Bill (ESM/Brent Peters). Kate had a UP at 24, and Billy missed a backing opportunity. Kate was picked up at the half.

Brace 29, Course 4/5: Hypointe Sharpshooter (ESM/Scott Chaffee) and Stone (PM/Rich Hollister). Stone was picked up at the half. Sharpshooter had a WC at 29 and carried onward, finishing the hour.

Brace 30, Course 6/7: Beaver Bit Meadow (PF/Mark Hughes) and Springponds Otto ESM/Lonnie Rademacher). Bit had a grouse at 8 and Otto backed. All was in order. The dogs carried forward, and Otto scored a WC at 27 and had a UP at 40.

Brace 31, Course 8/9: E J Jonesy (ESF/Scott Chaffee) and Jax (PM/Mike Francus).
Jonesy and Jax had a good race going. Jonesy had a UP at 15 and 39 and was picked up. Jax ran well the whole hour, but unfortunately, no birds were had.

The Winners and Others
Stan the Man was named champion, and Springpond Rockin Sidney was named runner-up. Honorable mentions went to Lucy, Meridith Grade Corky, and Springponds Otto.

Gladwin, Mich., October 7
Judges: Shane Haskins and Ben Mergens
MICHIGAN WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 25 Pointers, 35 Setters, 1 Brittany, and 1 Irish Setter
Winner-STAN THE MAN, F1683677, setter male, by Ghost Train Cody-Ghost Train Sassy. Ghost Train Kennels, owner; Tom Fruchey, handler.
Runner-Up-SPRINGPOND ROCKIN SIDNEY, F1689212, setter female, by Springpond Rockin Autumn-Tailsup Olive. Leann Parnell & Roger Johnson, owners; Tammy Chaffee, handler.

Bill Wendt Memorial Open Derby Stake
Judges Brent Peter and Brandon Short awarded the following placements.
First went to Erin's Green River ("Tuck"), owned and handled by Mike Francus. Tuck had a mature forward race with a grouse find near time. Second was Grouse Hill Dixie, owned by John Capocci and handled by Scott Forman. Dixie had a finished grouse find coupled with a nice race. Third was White Indian Outlaw ("Wyatt"). Wyatt ran an animated race with a woodcock find.

Judges: Brent Peters and Brandon Short
BILL WENDT MEMORIAL OPEN DERBY - 15 Pointers and 8 Setters
1st-ERIN'S GREEN RIVER, F1713040, pointer male, by Erin's Grey Justice-Erin's Red Smoke. Mike Francus, owner and handler.
2d-GROUSE HILL DIXIE, F1710163, pointer female, by Grouse Hill Rambo-All On. John Capocci, owner; Scott Forman, handler.
3d-WHITE INDIAN OUTLAW, F1709779, pointer male, by Light of Day-Perkins Beautiful Disaster. Thomas Butler, owner; Rachel Butler, handler.

Bill Wendt Memorial Open Derby: Susan Haskins, Mike Francus with Erin's Green River, Chris Wasserman, Russ Fazio, Shane Haskins, Scott Forman with Grouse Hill Dixie, Brent Peters (judge), Marc Dozeman, Christy Helmes, Rachel Butler with White Indian Outlaw, Brandon Short (judge), and Tom Butler.

Ch. Stan the Man Winner of the Michigan Woodcock Championship

Springpond Rockin Sidney, Runner-up in the Michigan Woodcock Championship