Result: American Brittany Club Quail Championship

Location: Grovespring, Missouri

Post Date: Dec 15, 2021

Submitted By: Burton Wice

The Winners. Front row, left to right: Hyatt Burchett, Bob Burchett with Sniksoh Hank's Hatch, and Joe Williams with J B W's Levi The Lionheart. Standing: Tommy Thomas, Judges Howard Burbach andChad Chadwell; Stan Williamson, and Jerry McGee.

The Greater St. Louis Brittany Club hosted the 2021 American Brittany Quail Championship on the Sportsmen's Association Field Trial Grounds in Grovespring, Mo.

The competition started on Monday, November 15. With 39 entries and 38 starters, Judges Howard Burbach of Pleasant Hill, Mo., and Chad Chadwell from Springfield, Ill., assessed dogs over a four-day period. Application and bird work were critical factors in the judges' final decision. Their time in the saddle was greatly appreciated.

As detailed below, Sniksoh Hank's Hatch (Hatch), handled by Bob Burchett captured the 2021 ABC Quail Championship title. Hatch was sired by Sniksoh Spank's Hank out of Sniksoh Boomer Babe and is owned by Adam Freeman of Marshfield, Mo.

Hatch was a frequent winner over the past year and finished a close second to Rujem's Last Penny for this year's ABC Purina All-Age Dog of the Year. As detailed below, Hatch ran a forward race, handled kindly, and had multiple stylish finds.

J B W's Levi The Lionheart, handled by owner Joe Williams, was named runner-up champion. Levi, sired by Spanish Corral's Sundance Kid out of Sam's Sandbank Rose, has been a perennial winner on the American Brittany Club All-Age field trial circuit for several years. As detailed below, Levi handled well and ran a forward race with two nice finds.

Challenging the winners were W W's Gin and Tonic (Ginee) and B N T's Sundance Kid Rock (Rocky). Ginee was sired by Glade Run Irish out of Driving Miss Daisy. Ginee was handled by owner Burton Wice of Saint Louis, Mo. Ginee ran a strong all-age race with three finds. A few inconsistencies in her application kept her from placing higher.

Rocky, sired by Spanish Corral's Sundance Kid out of Janee's Dirty Dancer, is owned by Trasa Fowler of Stillwater, Okla. Rocky had an inconsistent run but four incredibly stylish finds.

The Field Trial Sportsmen's grounds are in the upper echelon of field trial venues in the nation. The grounds are groomed solely for field trials with feed strips lining the edges and thoughtful mowing of the fields. The three one-hour courses have a natural flow and offer good cover for quail and for watching dogs.

Pre-released and wild coveys of quail are plentiful here; supplemental birds planted during the trial are an added bonus and aid in bringing the resident coveys back on course. As a result, multiple large coveys of quail were pointed (or not!) each brace.

This year, the feed strips were extremely dense. Although this provided heavy cover for the quail, it also challenged handlers and scouts to locate dogs standing in the edges. As usual, three braces were run each morning and another three each afternoon.

Missouri's rifle deer season started during the Championship which put the hunting season rules into effect at the start of the event. During deer season trials are not permitted to run through Clymer's pastures because of landowner hunting plans and the Missouri Department of Conservation does not allow us to use the clubhouse loop which is adjacent to a state wildlife area. This necessitated a horseshoe turn on the north end of the Bull Pasture and are turn trip past the Blue House, then turning south into the chute below the Twin Barns to resume the typical route on course No 3. Unfortunately, this two-hour course was usually sufficient to complete three "one-hour" braces.

Secretary Burton Wice conducted the draw as advertised on Sunday evening, November 7, in his horse trailer on the field trial grounds. Thirty-nine dogs were entered in this prestigious stake and only one was unable to make it to the starting line.

Overnight lows during the course of this trial ranged from 25 to 40 with daily highs typically reaching into the 60s.

Purina donated small pouches of Pro Plan Sport dog food for all entrants as well as large bags for the winners. Garmin donated a Pro 550 advanced training system for the champion. The Greater St. Louis Brittany Club and the American Brittany Club Quail Championship participants are very appreciative of the support received from these fine companies.

The members of the Greater Saint Louis Brittany Club worked well together and put on a smooth-running event. Trial Secretary Burton Wice handled all of the paperwork and coordinated with the others as to who would take care of each day's duties.

The club hired Jim Lowery, the caretaker of the field trial grounds to plant birds each morning.

Burton Wice, Joe Williams, and Mitch Sims prepared limited meals while Stan Williamson made sure we had plenty of supplies for the dog wagon. Jerry McGee of Steward, Ill., drove the dog wagon for the entire stake.

While three other dogs still in the running for this year's Purina All-Age Dog of the Year were challenging his Rujem's Last Penny for this year's award, those in the horseback gallery had to keep one eye on the dogs ahead and the other on the dog wagon behind as Jerry kept inching closer and closer to see the action. His driving during these braces reminded us of the late Phil Corlew, longtime dog wagon driver for the Greater Saint Louis Brittany Club who always gave the dogs a ride to remember. You can rest easy now, Jerry. No one caught Penny.

WINNERS AND TOP DOGS

The newly crowned champion, Sniksoh Hank's Hatch began his performance at the end of Little Vine Loop. Hatch stuck to his lines although he was not the biggest running dog. In Sycamore Bottom, Hatch and his bracemate had a divided find at 17. After turning left and uphill from Sycamore bottom toward the Twin Barns, Hatch had his second find at 23 on the left edge halfway to the Twin Barns. Following an unproductive, Hatch was found standing again at 36 at the start of the Bull Pasture. After another find in the Bull Pasture, Hatch had his fifth find at 58 just before entering the chute at the beginning of course No. 3.

After two short braces, J B W's Levi the Lionheart, the runner-up champion was turned loose in the Island Field. Levi is a perennial winner due to his excellent application, handling and ability to find birds and today was no exception. Levi had a good forward race at adequate range and handled well. He was rewarded with finds at 19 just before entering Little Vine Loop, at 50 in the heavy cover on the left edge on the way from Sycamore Bottom to the Twin Barns, and at 58 minutes near the large pond after continuing past the Twin Barns.

Challenging the winners were WW's Gin and Tonic and B N T's Sundance Kid Rock. Ginee was turned loose at the far end of the Bull Pasture and worked her way to the chute where it enters course No. 3. Ginee took the left edge and was not seen when we arrived at the double gates at the end of Sycamore Bottom. After searching, Ginee's scout found her standing in the heavy cover where she was last spotted. Following a relocation, a bird was flushed with all in order. After a refreshing swim in the pond at the end of the chute, Ginee took the right edge and was rimming the last field at the end of Sycamore Bottom before she pointed heading toward the road. Birds were flushed with all in order.

Burton took Ginee across the road and waited for the judges before sending her down the right edge. Rimming the feed strip and heading back toward the second Creek Crossing on course 1, Ginee went on point and was rewarded with her third find. Ginee took the far right edge forward on course No. 3 back toward the clubhouse, went up, over and down the mountain at the end of course No. 3, and finished her hour running strong to the front as she re-entered the Breakaway Field.

Rocky was turned loose at the end of Little Vine Loop and hunted his way ahead for the entire hour. Rocky was found standing at 23by the pond near the double gates and Scott flushed birds and fired with all in order. Rocky then had finds at 27 and 29 on the left edge heading toward the Twin Barns and another at 32 at the gate by theTwin Barns. Of particular note, Rocky's style on point was excellent- he stood staunch with his head and tail up high on all four finds. Following unproductives at 43 and 55, Rocky finished the hour at the far end of the Bull Pasture.

THE RUNNING

Day 1, brace 1: T M R's Lucky Betts (Betts/Tommy Tracy, Jr.) and Tequila Chica Bonita (Chica/Richard Beaver). Shortly after the breakaway, Chica was found standing on the left edge before the first Creek Crossing. Richard was unable to flush birds and Chica was given an unproductive. Betts then had a nice covey find at 13 minutes on the left edge just before the second Creek Crossing. After crossing the road into Davis Bottoms, Chica was found standing with excellent style in the feed strip along the road. Betts failed to back and was ordered up. Richard then flushed a large covey, fired, and collared Chica with all in order. Continuing through Davis Bottoms, Chica was confused by the difficult and changing wind directions in this part of the course. Chica pointed at 39 near the Creek Crossing into the Island Field but unfortunately had problems handling the birds and the brace ended.

R N H Dark Night (Mac D/B. Burchett) and CVK's Jungle Land (Clarence/T. Tracy, Jr.) were released in the Island Field. Clarence was enamored with this bracemate before he took out birds at the 4-minute mark below Horse Killer Hill. Mac D had trouble keeping up with his handler before taking out birds below Apple Tree Hill.

McChesney's All Down the Line (Ranger/S. Johnson) and Dogwood's Fireball Whiski (Whiski/B. Burchett). The dog wagon had a flat tire at the bottom of Don Fox Hill which required a short delay. Fear not, because Joe Williams came to the rescue and returned from camp with a spare. After the tire change, dogs were released at the gate at the top of Don Fox Hill. Ranger's performance was described above. Whiski did an excellent job on the ground. He handled well and was constantly forward. At 22 scout found him buried in a feed strip in the first field after Little Vine Loop. Unfortunately, the birds that were also buried in the feed strip were too tempting for Whiski and his day was done.

Big Mac XIV (Big Mac/T. Tracy, Jr.) and Alder Grand Hopes Penny Ante (Penny/B. Burchett) were loosed in the Breakaway Field. Big Mac went on point at 13 on the right edge before the second Creek Crossing. Tommy flushed birds and fired with all in order. Tommy called point again for Big Mac at 50; he shot but the judges had not seen a bird. Penny R put up birds at 50 in the left edge of the first field in Little Vine Loop. Both dogs were pretty tired before the end of their time on the ground.

Sniksoh Hank's Hatch's performance was described above. M K's My Lil Ammo (BB/S. Johnson) and Hatch had a divided find at 17 at the pond at the end of Sycamore Bottom. BB then took the left edge toward the Twin Barns and was rewarded with a find at 22. BB struggled on the ground for the last 15 minutes of his hour but had a third find at 55.

In No. 6 were Arrow's Tequila Rustler (Rusty/ Richard Beaver) and Maxwell's Prickly Pete (Pete/T. Tracy, Jr.). Dogs were released at the chute re-entering course No. 3. This section of the course is known to hold several coveys of birds and this day was no exception. Rusty went on point at the 2-minute mark. Richard flushed birds, fired and moved him on with all in order. Unfortunately, Rusty put up birds just before the chute enters Sycamore Bottom and his day was done at 5. Pete also pointed at 2 at a different location in the breakaway chute. Tommy was unable to produce birds and Pete was given a non-productive. Exiting the chute, Pete was rimming the right edge at the end of Sycamore Bottom and heading toward Parks Creek Road when he put up birds at 10 to end his day.

Day 2, brace 7. Prairie Wind Pistol Pete (PD/T. Tracy, Jr.) and T N T's Handsome Harry (Harry/ B. Burchett) were released in the Breakaway Field. P D wasn't seen thereafter and Tommy called for the retrieval device at the second creek crossing. Harry pointed at 27 on the left edge at the end of Davis Bottoms. Birds were flushed with all in order. Harry continued through the Island Field, Up Horse Killer Hill and down Apple Tree Hill. Unfortunately, Harry put up birds at the entrance to Little Vine Loop to end his day at 50. Harry made some nice moves on the ground but overall, his run was a little erratic.

B N T's Sundance Kid Rock's performance was described above. Georgia's White Lightening (George/T. Tracy, Jr) wasn't pleasing his handler and was picked up at 23.

WW's Gin and Tonic's was described above. Sniksoh Little Diamond (Katy/S. Johnson) does a lot of winning but a breach of manners at 12 ended today's performance early.

Jagoub's Spell Caster (Tabu/T. Tracy, Jr.) and Sniksoh Hank Gypsy Cruise (Cruise/B. Burchett). Tabu's run was a little erratic, wasn't pleasing his handler andhe was picked up at 20. Cruise proceeded through Davis Bottoms and went on point with nice style at 23 at the cut in the trees near the end of Davis Bottoms. However, birds were not produced and Cruise was given an unproductive. Cruise continued on through the Island Field and took out birds at 40 on the right edge below Horse Killer Hill.

Sniksoh Worthy Expense (Spense/ B. Burchett) and Roustabout All In (Al/T. Tracy, Jr.) were away at the top of Don Fox Hill and motored across Apple Tree Hill. Spense went on point, with Al backing, at the entrance to Little Vine Loop. Birds were not produced and Spense was given an unproductive. Both dogs continued through Little Vine Loop. Bob called point at 33 in the field after the loop but it turned out to be Tommy's dog standing. Al looked great as Tommy flushed a covey of birds. Unfortunately, a second wave of the same huge covey was too tempting for Al and his day was done. Spense continued through Sycamore Bottom and went up the hill toward the Twin Barns. Taking the left edge, Spense had a find at 44. After going through the gate at the Twin Barns, Spense went on point with nice style at 51 on the left edge just after the pond. Bob flushed a huge covey of quail with all in order.

No. 12: Piney Run Hilltop Blew (Blew/Kent Patterson) and J W B Arctic Cat (Kimber/ T. Tracy, Jr) were loosed at the Blue House. Blew had an unproductive at 4. Both dogs were putting on nice ground races when they disappeared heading back toward the Twin Barns and the chute on course No. 3. Tommy called for the retrieval device at 27. After a 12-minute absence, Blew reappeared from the rear and Kent then sent him down the chute. Blew went on point at 37 at the end of the chute and Kent flushed a small covey with all in order. Blew put on an all-age performance as he rimmed the fields at the end of Sycamore Bottom and proceeded on the far right edge of course No.1 as we turned to head back toward the clubhouse. Some inconsistencies in his run and the long absence kept Blew off the leader board.

Day 3, brace 13: Trio's I'm Finn-Tastic at Campbell's (Finn C/B. Burchett) and W W's Miss Wendy Peffercorn (Wendee/T. Tracy, Jr.) were released in the Breakaway Field. Finn C was making some nice moves when he went on point with excellent style at 12 in the treeline just before the first Creek Crossing. Unfortunately, Finn C went with birds and his day was done. Wendee didn't last much longer. She disappeared up the mountain just before the first creek crossing. Tommy called for the retrieval unit at 16. After a long search, he found her before she got to Jake's Diner for breakfast in Grovespring.

SKF Willy's Miss Mollie (Mollie/Mitch Sims) and Jagoub's Who Dat Say Who Dat When I Say Who Dat (Who Dat/T. Tracy, Jr.) were off at the road crossing into Davis Bottoms. Mollie took the left edge and went on point at 5. She took some steps as the birds were flushed and her day was done. Who Dat didn't last much longer. He chased birds at 9 and the morning coffee break started earlier than usual.

Brace 15: J J's Levi The Lionheart's performance was described above. A N J's Ohio Hellion (Hank/B. Burchett) is a frequent winner at Grovespring. Bird work was scarce this morning but Hank was found standing on the left edge just before the Blue House at time. Bob flushed birds with all in order. However, the judges were disappointed in Hank's ground race today.

Piney Run Jake (Jake/ Kent Patterson) and Willie Make It (Willie/ S. Johnson). Dogs were released in the Breakaway Field. Willie disappeared shortly thereafter and Scott called for the retrieval unit. Jake has been a perennial winner on the all-age circuit but today was not his day. Jake pointed at 52 in the field just before Little Vine Loop. After a relocation, he returned and stopped again in the same location. This time a bird was flushed but a very hard mark ended his day.

Osage Fork Slick (Slick/ B. Burchett) ran as a bye, released at the entrance to Little Vine Loop. His run was erratic and he put up birds on the right edge at the end of Sycamore Bottom just before reaching the road.

Sundance Kid's Rule Breaker (Bud/Frank Campbell) and CVK's Spartan King (Leo/ T. Tracy, Jr.) headed up the hill from Sycamore Bottom toward the Twin Barns. Leo immediately went on point but suffered an unproductive when Tommy was unable to flush birds. Leo had a find on the left edge at 7 halfway to the Twin Barns and another at 12 at the Twin Barns. Unfortunately, a second unproductive at 16 ended Leo's day. At 14 Bud was under birds by the large pond after the Twin Barns.

Day 4, brace 19: Bamajama Willy's Sassie Sadie (Sadie/B. Burchett) and Kashmir (Kash/T. Tracy, Jr.). Sadie got off to a good start with a find at 6 in the right edge by the first tree line in the Breakaway Field. Kash then had a find at 10 just after the first creek crossing. However, Sadie failed to back and her day was done. Kash crossed the road into Davis Bottoms and went on point in the first treeline. Tommy flushed birds but a hard mark and poor manners ended Kash's day.

No. 20: Just Call Me Lucky Ned Pepper (Lucky Ned/Frank Campbell), as a bye, was released at the first treeline in Davis Bottoms and had an inconsistent run. He had finds at 32 at the entrance to Little Vine Loop and at 44 at the pond on top of the hill in Little Vine Loop.

Grovespring, Mo., November 15

Judges: Howard Burbach and Chad Chadwell

AMERICAN BRITTANY CLUB QUAIL CHAMPIONSHIP

[One-Hour Heats] -- 39 Brittanys

Winner--SNIKSOH HANK'S HATCH, 1684852, male, by Sniksoh Spank's Hank--Sniksoh Boomer Babe. Adam Freeman, owner; Bob Burchett, handler.

Runner-Up--J B W'S LEVI THE LIONHEART, 1666510, male, by Spanish Corral Sundance Kid--Sam's Sanbank Rose. Joe Williams, owner and handler.