Result: Northern Michigan Cover Dog Championship

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: Nov 12, 2026

Submitted By: Tom Fruchey

Northern Michigan Cover Dog Championship (l-r). President Shane Haskin, Dave Hughes, Mark Hughes with Mulberry Fields Molly, Judge Rich Hollister, Judge Sean McKellop, Bob Wheelock with Tupelo Honey, Tom Fruchey.

The Beaverton Grouse Dog Club once again hosted the 17th running of the Northern Michigan Cover Dog Championship. It is run on the famed Gladwin Field Trial Grounds in Meredith, Michigan. The Trial as always is sponsored by Purina with Pro Plan dog Food and certificates.
That are given to the winners and their monetary donations help defray the cost of advertising the event. Thankyou Purina for your most generous offerings to help support our sport of Field Trialing!

This year the championship drew 66 dogs and in order to get all the braces in and finished by Sunday it required to run 8 hours a day. Many were skeptical that this could be done each day but with the tireless effort of our Judges Rich Hollister and Sean McKellip that goal was easily achieved with plenty of time at the end of each day to enjoy a nice cool beverage and a little down time. Thanks go out to these two very attentive judges who gave each dog their undivided attention on every brace. Their decisions were very well received, thank you gentlemen for a job well done!

The Winners

The Winner of the 17th running of the Northern Michigan Cover Dog Championship was Mulberry Fields Molly. She is owned by Norm Meeder of Beaver Falls, Pa and handled by professional Mark Hughes. Molly is a very attractive 4-year-old white and orange setter female. Sired by Stillmeadow's Benjamin and her dam is The Eiger. I understand this is Norm's first Champion and many were excited to make the phone call to him to share the good news after the trial.
Molly was released on courses 12 & 13 during the heat of the day on the 4th day of the trial. She is a swift classy moving setter that hunts forward to the good cover. At the 5-minute mark her bell went silent off to our front right. Handler Hughes and judge went in looking for her and found her standing beautifully. Hughes made a thorough flushing attempt but nothing could be flown so Molly was asked to perform the dangerous task of a relocation. When released she made a B-Line about 40 yards straight ahead and nailed a grouse to perfection. What a great piece of birdwork! Molly was released and continued her hunting efforts and after we went through some conifer cover, crossed a tote road she again went on point off to our left. This time a woodcock was put to flight by handler Hughes all very much in order. She continued her wide forward hunting pattern with a minimal amount of handling needed. Nearly 45 minutes into the brace Molly slammed into point off to our right. She looked stunning on point and when Hughes went in to flush a pair of grouse were put to flight directly in front of her and her manners were solid throughout the shot. Molly finished her hour strong and to the front, a no doubt Championship performance!

The runner-up honors of this year's Championship went to Bob and Diane Wheelock's 8year old Setter female, Tupelo Honey. She is a nice white and orange setter by Ponderosa Mac and Out of the Shadows.
Honey ran on the first day of the trial on courses 8/9. It was very dry and windy making for some very tough scenting and handling conditions. The dry leaves underfoot made it hard at times for the handlers to hear the bells and thus also making tough for dogs to be handled. Luckly honey is a natural forward classy moving dog and this trait kept her forward where she needed to be throughout the brace. At the 15minute mark her bell could no longer be heard, so handler Wheelock and judge set out into the bush to try and find her. They soon found her standing nicely on the edge of a bog, as Wheelock started to flush a nice big grouse blew out in front of Honey and her manners were perfect through it all. When released she made huge forward casts to the front running hard and fast hunting every step of the way. At times when her bell would fade away out of hearing it would cause some concern to the handler but at just the right time her bell could be heard to the front like a well laid out plan. As her time was getting close to expire her bell faded away one last time but this time she did not show so handler and judge went out to where she was last heard and low and behold was found standing beautifully on a nicely located woodcock. Honey's manners were perfect again earning her the Runner Up title to the Cover Dog Championship.

The Wolverine Derby Classic drew 21 starters and was judged by Ken Moss of Mt Pleasant, Michigan and Tom Fruchey of Beaverton Michigan. It ran on Sunday and started at the conclusion of the Championship.

The winner of this year's classic was a very classy pointer female owned and handled by club member and top rate stakes manager Frank Ilijanic. She ran a fast forward and stylish race coupled with two very nice woodcock finds.

Second place went to Sunrise Star owned and handled by Steve McKalko. Star ran a nice classy race and had one woodcock find. Her range was a little shorter than the winner thus the separation of the two.

Third place went to Mohawk Mill Easy a very nice pointer owned by Tony Gefert and handled by professional Mark Hughes. Easy ran a very biddable forward fast and classy race checking all the boxes except was unable to come up with a bird.

The Beaverton Club would like to thank all who participated in this year's trial and for all the help that was offered by those in attendance. The Friday night dinner was well attended and everyone seemed to have a grand time.

Meredith, Mich., October 13
Judges: Richard Hollister and Sean McKellop
NORTHERN MICHIGAN COVER DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 27 Pointers, 37 Setters, 1 Brittany and 1 Irish Setter
Winner-MULBERRY FIELDS MOLLY, F1698754, setter female, by Stillmeadow's Benjamin-The Eiger. Norm Meeder, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
Runner-Up-TUPELO HONEY, F1681583, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Out of The Shadows. Bob & Diane Wheelock, owners; Bob Wheelock, handler.

Judges: Tom Fruchey and Ken Moss
WOLVERINE DERBY CLASSIC - 8 Pointers, 12 Setters and 1 Brittany
1st-NORTHWOODS WANDERLUST, F1722885, pointer female, by Confident Nation-Northwoods Comet. Frank Ilijanic, owner and handler.
2d-SUNRISE LEA STAR, F1721028, setter female, by Sunrise Star-Mia Star. Steve McKalko, owner and handler.
3d-MOHAWK MILL EASY, F1720935, pointer male, by The Treasure Chest-Mohawk Mill For Real. Tony Gefert, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.

Wolverine Derby Classic (l-r). Judge Tom Fruchey, Frank Ilijanic with Northwoods Wanderlust, Steve McKalko, George Najor with Sunrise Lea Star, Mark Hughes with Mohawk Mill Easy Judge Ken Moss.