New! American Field in four quarterly print issues! Subscribe at shop.ukcdogs.com

I Accept

United Kennel Club (UKC) is an international dog registry celebrating bonds, rewarding ability, and preserving the value of a pedigree. We use cookies to capture information such as IP addresses and tailor the website to our clients' needs. We also use this information to target and measure promotional material. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.

Skip to main content
Facebook Instagram YouTube

Result: Region 13 Amateur All-Age Championship

Location: Ionia, Michigan

Post Date: Jan 8, 2026

Submitted By: Jim Cipponeri

Region 13 AA ChF25

Region 13 Amateur All-Age Championship (l-r): Jim Cipponeri, Matt Haggis, Kelsey Hajec, Joe Guzman, Brian Sheehan with Erin's Mighty Quinn, Phil Daniels (judge), Don Knight, Jeff Haggis, Ron Williams, Sean Patrick Derrig with Erin's Southern Comfort, Bill Branham, and Mark McKinley (judge).

The Ionia Field Trial grounds were groomed to perfection this summer/fall. The management plan implemented by Grounds Coordinator Bill Branham, the IFTGA member clubs, and volunteers was followed to a tee. Four hundred quail were released two weeks prior to our trial in conjunction with the Brittany National Gun Dog Championship. This resulted in the establishment of several coveys taking up residence on the two one-hour continuous courses. Birds were supplemented each day, and braces as well.

These individuals need to be singled out as part of our crew that helps the trial run smoothly and efficiently. Our group strives to provide a cordial, competitive event that people wish to attend year after year. Bird planters were Jeff and Matt Haggis, Blake Rizzo, Kelsey Hajec, and Joe Guzman. Dog/Gallery wagon driver Ron Williams is indispensable as usual! This year, he had assistance from Paul Putro, Evan Touissant, and Don Knight. They all rode the "Logan Wagon" on both days of the Championship. The two Cagles and Sean Patrick Derrig loaned out extra horsepower as needed. Christy Helms provided donuts during our coffee breaks on the courses.

Judges Mark McKinley and Phil Daniels take their assignments very seriously and offer a wealth of knowledge in judging these all-age dogs. They do so with a pleasant, personable demeanor that makes the chairman's task trouble-free. We thank the AFTCA for their sponsorship and, of course, Purina and Greg Blair for their continued support for this trial and so many others in our region.

Erin's Kennels swept the 2025 Region 13 All-Age hosted by the Grand Valley Bird Dog Club. Runner-up honors went to Erin's Mighty Quinn. This young 2-year-old ran in the first brace with Mike Small's classy pointer, Phillips River Line. Both dogs started strong, with Mighty Quinn first being spotted in the Box fields off breakaway. From there, he took the swamp edge and faded out of sight, only to be gathered up near the Dog Leg crossing. Meanwhile, River Line charged forward, pushing the Ionia boundaries to the limits and had a polished find near the Hires' Property along Ainsworth Trail.
Both pointers hunted the vast bottom area near the Boy Scout Bridge and continued eating up the course along Riverside Drive. Quinn was next seen crossing the dam and coming from a section of the course used for the Michigan Shooting Dog Championship. He was running with style and purpose with that youthful exuberance that gets one's blood pumping! The rain and hail did not seem to deter or slow down his aggressive pursuit of game. He was rewarded with a picturesque pose at the 58-minute mark, far to the front. This makes two runner-up championships in less than 30 days for the Derrig namesake.
Christened champion was Erin's Southern Comfort; the 5-year-old standard bearer is the son of Erin's Lone Star Law and Erin's Irresistible Jane. He has been knocking on the door of this championship for several years and is a multiple-time champion. The seventh and final brace of the day was unleashed from the "Old Oak Tree" parking lot near Fletcher's Pond. The breakaway provides a beautiful panoramic view of the westernmost property of the Ionia Trial grounds. Blake Rizzo's Highwaters Arias was Southern Comfort's bracemate.
Point was called in the apple orchard for Arias at 5 as she was found standing to the front after rimming the woods line that flows forward heading east. Southern Comfort was also found standing about 200 yards away, also on the edge of the apple orchard. Everything in order for both pointers. Arias was charging hard to the front when she swapped ends on a single. She did her best to resist the temptation of a walking/strutting Bobwhite, but the temptation was too much as she severely marked the bird at flush. Comfort continued forward with sizable casts leading to the Tibbets Creek crossing. He was found standing in the Christmas tree field with a nice covey erupting. Comfort tallied a total of three perfect finds with impeccable style and location while showing in all the correct places in true all-age fashion. Minimal scouting was needed as the new champion seemed to flow through the fields, tree lines, and hay fields effortlessly and in communication with his handler. A superb performance.
Other dogs with notable performances were Highwaters Lex Luther, Erin's Rebel Attraction, and Shagtime Bill. Hope to see many of you this April for the Michigan Open Shooting Dog Championship and the Region 13 Shooting Dog Championship.

Ionia, Mich., November 1
Judges: Phil Daniels and Mark McKinley
REGION 13 AMATEUR ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 18 Pointers, 3 Setters, and 1 German Shorthair
Winner-ERIN'S SOUTHERN COMFORT, F1693833, pointer male, by Erin's Lone Star Law-Erin's Irresistible Jane. Sean Derrig & Sean Patrick Derrig, owners; Sean Patrick Derrig, handler.
Runner-Up-ERIN'S MIGHTY QUINN, F1712921, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Erin's Whitesmoke Ellie. Sean Derrig, owner; Sean Patrick, handler.