Result: U. S. Complete Mid-Atlantic Walking Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Houtzdale, Pennsylvania

Post Date: May 11, 2026

Submitted By: Al Fazenbaker

U. S. Complete Mid-Atlantic Championship (first row): Mark Hughes with Smoke Rise Jake and Chris Catanzarite with Backcountry Bruiser. (Second row): Tony Bingham, Al Fazenbaker (judge), Bruce Mueller (judge), and Eric Munden.

Smoke Rise Jake is the 2026 U. S. Complete Mid-Atlantic Champion, besting a field of 27 contenders at the Warriors Mark trial grounds near Houtzdale, Pennsylvania. Jake was handled by the veteran professional Tony Bingham from Shelby, North Carolina. Jake, owned by Fred Rose of Pinehurst, North Carolina, is a 7-year-old liver and white ticked pointer out of Stoney Run's Buddy x Smoke Rise Mariah. The runner-up was awarded to Backcountry Bruiser, no stranger to the winner's circle, handled by long-time trialer Chris Catanzarite of Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania. Bruiser, owned by Chris, is a 10-year-old orange and white pointer, bred out of Erin's War Creek x Backcountry Tornado.

The Mid-Atlantic Championship was sandwiched between the National Walking Shooting Dog Futurity and the Region 2 (AFTCA) Walking Shooting Dog Championship, making for a week of competitive bird dog stakes at Warriors Mark. These grounds are owned and managed by Eric and Bernadette Gilliland, who have turned this former strip mine land into a premier venue for bird hunting and field trials. The grounds are noted for wide open vistas, marked by long edges of conifers and interspersed with long strips of prairie grasses, making for a superior venue for showing a good bird dog.

The weather was a major factor for the trial. Warriors Mark is located in the low mountains of central Pennsylvania, and in mid-April, weather conditions can range from sunny and 80s to 20s and snowy! This year was no exception, as extreme weather on both ends of the spectrum visited the grounds during the week of trialing. Coming off an exceptionally hot several days during the Walking Futurity, the Mid Atlantic opened on Monday morning to frigid temperatures and biting winds, reaching 40 mph or more throughout the day, pushing wind chills below freezing. Conditions were tough for handlers, and exceptionally so for judges Al Fazenbaker from Kingsville, Ohio, and Bruce Mueller from Bedford, Pennsylvania, who were diligent and thorough in their judicial duties and gave the dogs every opportunity to perform. The dogs seemed to enjoy the cooler weather, and some gave their handlers a run for their money as they worked hard to keep them in the pocket on a cold day.

Chris Catanzarite, the trial chair, did an outstanding job making sure all was in place for the event. Birds were plentiful, horses were saddled and ready for judges, and a dog wagon was always present to expedite the trial process. U.S. Complete wishes to thank the many volunteers who lent a helping hand during the trial, notably Eric and Krysta Munden who provided logistical support at the grounds, Dave and Mark Hughes for the use of their machinery and handling the dog wagon, Russ Fazio for use of his machinery, and a big thank you to Chris Catanzarite and Tony Bingham for providing safe and comfortable horses for the judges.

The trial was hosted by the Greensburg Pointer & Setter Club, a club with a rich history of hosting both walking and horseback field trials; this was the ninth consecutive year of hosting the Mid-Atlantic Championship. Running under the auspices of the U.S. Complete Shooting Dog Association, the trial was sponsored by two icons of the sporting dog world, Purina and Garmin. We appreciate the efforts of these two sponsors and encourage you to try their products if you haven't already. You won't be disappointed.

This year's event garnered an entry of 27 dogs; we want to acknowledge and thank those amateur and professional handlers who competed in this stake, including professional handlers Tony Bingham, Mark Hughes, and Zach Erne.

The Running
Brace 1: Mohawk Mill Big Trouble (PM/Bingham) and Wildland Hide The Wine (PM/Munden). Big Trouble was big out of the gate but did not last the hour, as he was not pleasing his handler and was on the leash at 50. Wildland showed a wide, forward race, scoring two finds handled with excellent manners; he was absent for some time but finished the hour.

Brace 2: River City Free Agent (PM/Erne) and Mohawk Mill War Hawk (PM/Bingham). Free Agent scored a find at 30 but was on the leash after moving on the flush. War Hawk was lost early, and the tracker was called at 20.

Brace 3: Hypointe Monarch Express (PF/Fazio) and Miller's Special Upgrade (PF/Hughes). Monarch Express showed a very nice and forward race, scoring nicely handled finds at 5, 10, 13, and 27, including a pheasant on the far side of the breakaway. She was picked up after retrieving a bird at 38. Miller's Upgrade was on the leash at 35 after suffering two unproductives.

Brace 4: Emert's Grouse Ringer T (ESM/Bingham) and Double Deuce Zeke (PM/Hughes). T showed a wide race throughout. He scored quail finds at 22, 40, and 50, and one nonproductive at 55. His bird work was clean, and he finished strong and to the front. Zeke likewise showed an aggressive and forward race, and he was a bird finder during his time in the brace, scoring clean finds 15, 24, 26, 32, and 40. He failed to finish after scooping a bird at 50.

Brace 5: Smoke Rise Doc (PM/Bingham) and Backcountry Bruiser (PM/Catanzarite). Doc had a short reign on the course, as he was not pleasing the handler and was on the leash. Bruiser, the runner-up, broke away showing a strong forward race and was absent for a short time; he was found standing at 20, and then dug up two additional finds at 35 and 42, showing impeccable manners on his birds. His race was wide but with a very positive handling disposition, finishing strong and to the front to earn his placement.

Brace 6: Smoke Rise Jake (PM/Bingham) and River City Hit Man (ESM/Erne). Jake showed a championship-caliber performance. He ran big, covering the vast country found at Warriors Mark, yet stayed in the pocket and responded to his handler. He was also a bird finder and was rewarded for his efforts with contacts at 15, 17, 35, 27, and 54, all handled with outstanding manners and class. He was always forward and showed the class of a top-notch bird dog in his movements to win this championship. Hit Man was lost to judgment, and the tracker was called.

Brace 7: Backwoods Dine & Dash (PM/Hughes) and Cates Rocket Girl (ESF/Erne). This was a shortened brace, as both handlers elected to pick up.

Brace 8: Lincoln County Big Stuff (PM/Bingham) and Warrior Zeke (PM/Hughes). Big Stuff was picked up at 20, not pleasing the handler. Zeke scored finds at 27, 30, and 40 but was on the leash after an indiscretion on a bird at 41.

Brace 9: Wildland Wild Man (PM/Munden) and Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk (PM/Bingham). Wild Man was strong out of the gate, showing a wide race and range. He scored finds at 9 and 36, with good manners displayed. At 42, he was found standing buried in a stand of pines; he located the prey after a significant relocation, but was up after a breach of manners on the relocation flush. Knight Hawk was up after two unproductives.

Brace 10: Saddled Up Sadie (PF/Hughes) and Backcountry Pure Gold (PF/Catanzarite). Sadie scored three nicely handled finds but showed only a moderate race through the hour. Pure Gold suffered a nonproductive at 10, but dug up three finds at 16, 36, and 45. She was on the truck after moving on her last bird.

Brace 11: Smoke Rise Bull (PM/Bingham) and Double Deuce Jack (PM/Hughes). Bull was strong out of the gate but shortened considerably with time. He scored two finds, at 35 and 59, and finished the hour. Jack suffered a nonproductive at 10 and was then lost to judgment, with the tracker called at 35.

Brace 12: Backwoods Wild Fire Blaze (PM/Hughes) and Santee River Pawley Girl (PF/Bingham). Blaze showed a powerful forward race and scored one find at 37 but was stymied by several unproductives. He finished the hour strong and forward.

Brace 13: Hitail Roxy Afield (ESF/Fazio) and Miller's Hopped Up Version (PF/Hughes). Roxy suffered a nonproductive early and scored two finds at 30 and 50. She showed a moderate race. Miller's Version was lost to judgment.

Brace 14: Millers Dusty Version (PF/Hughes). Running as a bye, Dusty scored her first find at 14. She suffered a nonproductive at 20, then came back to score finds at 27 and 54. She finished the hour forward.

Thanks to everyone who helped to make this trial a success. We hope to see you at a U.S. Complete trial soon!

Houtzdale, Pa., April 20
Judges: Al Fazenbaker and Bruce Mueller
U. S. COMPLETE MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 23 Pointers and 4 Setters
Winner-SMOKE RISE JAKE, F1684876, pointer male, by Stoney Run's Buddy-Smoke Rise Mariah. Fred Rose, owner; Tony Bingham, handler.
Runner-Up-BACKCOUNTRY BRUISER, F1672645, pointer male, by Erin's War Creek-Backcountry Tornado. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.