Result: Indiantown Gap Trials

Location: Alexandria, Pennsylvania

Post Date: Jan 5, 2026

Submitted By: Ernie Saniga

Keystone Open Shooting Dog Classic (first row): Hailey Moreland with Faithful, Mark Hughes with Miller's Special Upgrade, and Bo Brewer with Steel Valley Raven. (Second row): Bart Hastings, George Tracy, Dave Hughes, Ted Foust, Stacy Goodie, Chris Catanzarite, Greg Strausbaugh, and Mike Tracy.

Featuring the Keystone Open Shooting Dog Classic, the Indiantown Gap Open Derby Classic, and the Region 2 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship.

The Indiantown Gap Club ran its fall trial at the club grounds owned by the Keystone Bird Dog Trust near Petersburg, Pennsylvania, from October 27 to November 2. The featured stakes were the Keystone Open Shooting Dog Classic, the Indiantown Open Derby Classic, and the Region 2 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship.

Purina was very generous with their support.
We had seasonable weather throughout the trial. Art Hower manages the farming, the grounds, and the houses. He is also the treasurer. Greg Strausbaugh is the chairman and manages the trial. He was here for a week on his own time. Ted Foust and Greg Strausbaugh plant birds every brace and before the first brace is run each morning. This is done for a week.
Mary Tracy cooks breakfast and lunch and prepares dinners, as well as some lunches donated by many of us.
George and Mike Tracy supply judges' horses when needed.

Our two open judges were Chris Catanzarite and Bart Hastings. Both have years of experience, and both have judged here before. The Amateur Championship was judged by Joe Sikorski and Jameson Crandall, both experienced field trialers, and both making their first trip to this mountain country with big valleys. All decisions were applauded.
Eight placements were awarded in the three stakes; interestingly, they all went to pointer females.
Faithful, Susan Duerksen's 7-year-old pointer female, won the Keystone Open Shooting Dog Classic with a fine forward race to go with a strong finish. Taking advantage of a bracemate that erred, she scored at 3, 9, 21, 29, 33, 40, and 52. Her game was always dead ahead, and she had a high-tight style on all her work. Mike Tracy was her handler.
Second went to Miller's Special Upgrade, Carlos Escalante's coming 6-year-old pointer female. She was handled by Mark Hughes. Upgrade stuck her edges, was sharp on her game, and pointed birds where others did not. She had finds at 5, 9, 13, 26, 31, 38, 49, and 55. She also backed her bracemate at 43.
Third place went to Steel Valley Raven, which was handled by Mike Tracy. Ted Foust and Bill and Muriel Primm own the 5-year-old pointer female. Raven had stylish finds at 4, 11, 22, 43, 49, and 52 to go with a strong effort on the ground. Raven was gone at 55 but came on after time on her own.

First and third in the Indiantown Gap Derby went to Kevin and Maureen Joyce's pointer females, Hightailing Pink and Hightailing Cindy, respectively. Pink had three stylish, finished finds to go with a smooth race on the edges. Ditto for Cindy with two sharp finds. Mike Tracy handled.
Sunset Creek Uptown Girl was second, handled by George Tracy. Girl, owned by Mark and Karen Janiec, had a classy race with two finds, finished on the first and derby manners on the second.

Alex Smith was the winning handler in the Region 2 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship with Calico's Country Strong. Calico Kennels owns the 8-year-old pointer female. Strong ran in good conditions and took advantage of it with a good forward race, handling easily in the hard turns, to go with five finds, a back, and an unproductive. Her work on game was stylish and mannerly.
Runner-up was Backcountry Champagnesupernova, a 3-year-old pointer female, handled by her owner, Chris Catanzarite. Like the winner, she had a really good ground race, which started at the stone wall, going down into the club property. Nova spaced five mannerly and upright finds throughout her hour.

Alexandria, Pa., October 27 - One Course
Judges: Chris Catanzarite and Bart Hastings
KEYSTONE OPEN SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 26 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-FAITHFUL, F1684597, pointer female, by Waybetter Rocky-Steel City Karen. Dr. Roger & Susan Duerksen, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.
2d-MILLER'S SPECIAL UPGRADE, F1695107, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Carlos Escalante, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
3d-STEEL VALLEY RAVEN, F1696173, pointer female, by Waybetter Rocky-Steel City Karen. Ted Foust, Muriel & William Primm, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.

Yankee Derby Classic (first row): Bo Brewer with Hightailing Pink, Mark Hughes with Sunset Creek Uptown Girl, and Hailey Moreland with Hightailing Cindy. (Second row): Bart Hastings, Dave Hughes, Ernie Saniga, Greg Strausbaugh, Ted Foust, Stacy Goodie, Chris Catanzarite, George Tracy, and Mike Tracy.

YANKEE OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 9 Pointers
1st-HIGHTAILING PINK, F1714949, pointer female, by Cheyenne Jack-Hightailing Maggie. Kevin & Maureen Joyce, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.
2d-SUNSET CREEK UPTOWN GIRL, F1713966, pointer female, by Double Deuce Zeke-Braggabull. Mark & Karen Janiec, owners; George Tracy, handler.
3d-HIGHTAILING CINDY, F1714947, pointer female, by Cheyene Jack-Hightailing Maggie. Kevin & Maureen Joyce, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.

Judges: Jameson Crandall and Joe Sikorski
REGION 2 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 17 Pointers
Winner-CALICO'S COUNTRY STRONG, F1679850, pointer female, by Waybetter Rocky-Calico's Touch of Class. Calico Kennels, owner; Alex Smith, handler.
Runner-Up-BACKCOUNTRY CHAMPAGNESUPERNOVA, F1701699, pointer female, by Dragonfly-Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.

Region 2 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship (first row): Brayden Smith, Tiffani Smith, Alex Smith with Calico's Country Strong, and Stacy Goodie with Backcountry Champagnesupernova. (Second row): Ted Foust, Jameson Crandall, Joe Sikorski, George Tracy, Greg Strausbaugh, and Chris Catanzarite.