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Result: Western Region Brittany All-Age Championship

Location: Madras, Oregon

Post Date: Mar 31, 2021

Submitted By: James Hammett

The Western Brittany All-Age Championship moved from sunny Arizona to a colder Oregon in 2021. The Oregon Brittany Club welcomed the Championship and established a new one-hour course at our Madras field trial grounds. The course worked well and enabled good visibility for these big-running dogs.

The Winners. From left to right: Tom White, Judge Mark Shearman, Paul Doiron with M T B Louree's Let's Have a Fee Esta; Joe Gower with S R's Blew By Typhoon; and Judge Rick Axtell

Run in conjunction with our regular spring horseback trial and our Shooting Dog Championship, it made for a great week of watching some of the best field Brittanys in the West.

Morning temperatures on the grounds were well below freezing, with many trailers experiencing frozen pipes. Daytime highs were in the low 50s.

Scenting conditions were exceptional, with most dogs finding birds.

Judges for this year's championship were Rick Axtell, Eugene, Ore., and Mark Shearman, Gresham, Ore. Both are very familiar with western all-age dogs, having judged many all-age stakes in recent years.

Generous and valued support came from Purina. This support can mean the difference between losing money on a trial and breaking even. We are very grateful for their generous assistance.

THE RUNNING

We kicked off Wednesday morning, March 3, at 8:00 a.m. with Spanish Corral's Sonny Patch, was handled by Joe Gower and braced with Son Yoti's Master of Illusion (Magic) handled by Gerry Gresham. Both dogs broke strongly forward, Magic in view occasionally, out 400 yards or more. Patch was not seen from the breakaway, with Joe pulling his retrieval unit at the first turn. Magic had finds at 30 and 55 with all in order but slowed somewhat in the latter part of the brace

Blew Me Away (Bud/ Paul Doiron) was braced with 2019 National Brittany Champion Wild Wild Willie, handled by owner Steve Cosgriff. Willie lived up to his name and was wild. He showed a time or two, at 28 and the end, but ran his own race, largely ignoring his handler. He finished apparently birdless, but we will never confidently know that. Bud had finds at 14 and 28, establishing points with great style, but slowing somewhat towards the end of his race.

MVP Game On (Joe/Paul Doiron) was braced with Tequila's Tyler on Fire (Vic Retherford). Joe found a surprise breakaway bird at 2, then at 16 and 32 with a good run and handle. Tyler also ran well to the front with his first point at 39. This point turned out to be unproductive but was problematic for his bracemate -- Joe was picked up for failing to honor. Tyler went on to have a point at 57, but lost his style at the flush.

Spanish Corral's Big Iron (Colt/Joe Gower) was braced with High Lonesome Sage (Jim Hammett). Both dogs broke to the front, Colt seen occasionally. Sage was not seen until about 10, hanging out to the front. Sage stayed to the front with finds at 20, 35, 53, and 59. Sage shortened up in a stiff headwind in the bowl, but had a strong forward all-age run on the rest of the course. Colt had two finds at 40 and 46 with a shorter run, but still always forward.

April 1, the breakaway was at 8:00 a.m. The weather was a bit warmer than the previous day, but still a great day for the dogs.

SR's Blew By Typhoon (Ty/Paul Doiron) was braced with Blazing Spanish Bella (Gerald Barron). Ty had a forward, consistent run usually in view with a nice find at 30 and a surprising flush of a wild quail at 22. At 45 Ty was found standing with Bella joining with a close honor as we approached. This turned out to be unproductive. At 55 both dogs were found standing about 40 yards apart at the top of the hill facing opposite directions. A bird was produced in front of Bella, and the judges determined it was a divided find. Both dogs finished stong.

In No. 6, MTB Louree's Let's Have a Fee Esta (Paul Doiron) was braced with HVK's Kid Chance (Joe Gower). Esta had her running shoes on and produced the biggest controlled run of the stake. She was seen just enough, often at great distance, but made it around the course with two finds at 41 and 55, finishing very strongly heading south in the bowl. Chance had a fast but inconsistent run, with some lateral loops, finishing birdless.

Brace No. 7. J T Copper Buckaroo (Buck/Paul Doiron was braced with High Lonesome Bowden Hills (Bo/Jim Hammett). Both dogs stayed forward. Bo had three finds at 8, 30 and 45, looking very good on his birds. However, he made a not-so-subtle loop back to where his last bird flushed, and his handler picked him up. Buck had a great run, always forward and fast, but finished birdless.

Madras, Ore., March 31

Judges: Rick Axtell and Mark Shearman

WESTERN BRITTANY OPEN ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP

[One-Hour Heats] -- 14 Brittany

Winner--M T B LOUREE'S LET'S HAVE A FEE ESTA, 1664697, female, by Kiger Hills Louee--M T B Cabo Rita De Scipio.Tom White & Margaret Horstmeyer, owners; Paul Doiron, handler.

Runner-Up--S R'S BLEW BY TYPHOON, 1668018, male, by Spanish Corral's Sundance Kid--Blew By Yet. Dan Doiron, owner; Paul Doiron, handler.