Result: Michigan Woodcock Championship

Location: Meredish, Michigan

Post Date: Dec 7, 2021

Submitted By: Bill Nelson

The Winners. From left: Bryan Wood, Bill Nelson, Tammy and Scott Chaffee with Snyder's Pioneer Scout, Mike Brown, judge; Bruce Minard with Wild Apple Siri, and Bob Bricker, judge.

The Michigan Woodcock Championship started Tuesday, October 12, and concluded on Saturday, October 16. We had a near record entry with seventy dogs.

The weather was fairly mild with several days of on-and-off rain. There was a good amount of birds on every course with a few more grouse than woodcock.

Judging this year was Mike Brown. Mike previously judged this trial in 2015. Mike has judged many Open Championships over the last fifteen years. Bob Bricker accepted the other judging position. Bob operates Dogwood Kennels. He trains and breeds field trial and gun dogs.

Seventy dogs are a lot to judge. It requires stamina and mental fortitude. These men were both up to the task. The announcements were well accepted by all.

Purina stepped up as usual and supplied the dog food to the winners.

As with all field trials it takes a supporting cast to get things done. Bryan Wood started off each brace with announcing the dogs and handlers and then moved to the half way point in case of pickups. Chuck and Theda Langstaff were solid, as usual, and managed to get the handlers' vehicles moved, sometimes making two trips to make it happen.

Craig Merlington and Bill Nelson marshaled braces and had lunches ready for all. The Hollisters wrangled the horses. We had many other people help out during the week.

THE WINNERS

Named champion was Snyder's Pioneer Scout, seven-year-old white and orange setter male owned by Steve Snyder of Ellendale, Minn., and handled by Michigan pro Scott Chaffee of Pioneer Kennels. Scout's recent notable win was the winner of a highly competitive forty-dog Lake States Open Shooting Dog Stake. He's been one of Scott and Tammy's better bird-finders, according to Scott.

In 2018, under the whistle of Tammy Chaffee, Scout garnered nine clean woodcock finds in the Wisconsin Cover Dog Championship, showing once again his wild bird savvy. Tammy trained and handled Scout previously to Scott taking over just this fall.

This Championship run was a special win for Scott as well as Scout. This would be Scott's 100th championship win in addition to Scout's first championship title.

Scout is a well-built, athletic setter male. He ran in the afternoon on the last day shortly after lunch on course 9-10. Braced with last year's 2020 Michigan Woodcock Champion Grouse Hill Smokey, both dogs broke away enthusiastically, making big casts along a cut between course 9 and 4. Smokey would not be seen again. Scout also absent when Tammy was requested to search the ridge going forward. Scout's bell was heard returning when his bell suddenly fell silent at 6. Chaffee quickly flushed a woodcock skyward.

With the course to himself, Scout continued to hunt along the cut and head up the ridge where his bell stopped at 12. Scott had a good line on him and had the bird flying, Scout standing tall through the shot. Scout continued to hunt hard, driving forward over the ridge. Scott had suspicion that Scout had stopped ahead and was shortly found pointed, right of course pointing across pointing into a small deadfall. Scott made a deep flushing attempt and a woodcock whistled from the underbrush.

Scout continued to scorch the ground, hunting likely objectives and diving into the young aspen deep to the front, when his bell fell silent again at 22. Scott flushed out front with no luck and relocated Scout which vigorously hunted forward and suddenly locked up. Scott moved past Scout and flushed the relocated bird. Scout poised as the bird flew overhead.

Scout continued forward carding additional woodcock finds at 27, 30 and 35, looking confident and mannerly on all his finds. Scout continued onto course No. 10 with ambition, taking tote road to end and jumping up into the aspen cut to the top of the ridge above the swamp.

Scout was making deep cast and in and out of bell range the last 15 minutes, testing the handler as time was nearing end. Scout finished forward, stronger at the end than when he started to complete his hour. Scout finished with seven clean finds. He had a hard-driving, forward race. When it was all said and done, Scout had demonstrated the qualities the Amesian standard suggests to name a true champion.

Wild Apple Siri, owned by Eric Rizza of Georgetown, Mass., and handled by pro-trainer Bruce Minard of Hifive Kennels, would be the runner-up in the 2021 Michigan Woodcock Championship.

Siri, a well-built four-year-old white and black pointer female, comes from Craig Doherty's Wild Apple Kennels. Siri is a high-energy, classy moving dog. She ran in the heat of the day with humid conditions but continued to run strong, demonstrating grit in heavy cover.

Wild Apple Siri and bracemate Rowling's Star broke away on course No. 9, both dogs going right to work diving deep into cut between course 9 and 4. Siri's bell went silent at 5. Minard made his way across small bog just up the ridge to find Siri standing tall. Minard flushed woodcock for Siri's first find.

Siri was brought forward and cut loose, Star still on a deep cast to the front. Siri, hunting likely objectives, getting birdy at the top of the hill when her bell stopped at 10. Bruce had a line on her just off course working towards Siri when Rowling's Star suddenly came in and failed to back. Siri stood tight as Bruce flushed a woodcock for her second find. Siri was sent forward and was standing a third woodcock at 14. Minard made a short flushing attempt and produced a woodcock.

With bracemate picked up, Siri had the course to herself and she was on a bird-finding mission, carding three more woodcock finds. Siri finished forward, hunting at a moderate range to end her championship hour. Siri demonstrated good work ethic in her hour and keen bird sense, hunting likely bird objectives and being rewarded with six clean wild bird finds to complete her hour.

Snyder's Pioneer Scout, Winner of the Michigan Woodcock Championship.

Meredith, Mich., October 12

Judges: Bob Bricker and Mike Brown

MICHIGAN WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP

[One-Hour Heats] -- 69 Entries

Winner--SNYDER'S PIONEER SCOUT, 1658505, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac--Dun Rovens Boofay. Steven C. Snyder, owner; Scott Chaffee, handler.

Runner-Up--WILD APPLE SIRI, 1675511, pointer female, by Elhew Black Dose--Wild Apple Calvados. Eric Rizza, owner; Bruce Minard, handler.

COMPANION STAKES

The Derby and Puppy Stakes were very competitive. In the Derby, eight 8 dogs had bird work.

RUFFED GROUSE FIELD TRIAL CLUB

Judges: Travis Burnett and Bruce Minard

KIMME KINNE MEMORIAL OPEN PUPPY -- 1 Pointer and 7 Setters

1st--ONE ACRE WOOD SMOKEY, 1694022, setter female, by Sunrise Star--Lucy Two Star. Trey Rector, owner and handler.

2d--ONE ACRE WOOD BANDIT, 1694021, setter female, by Sunrise Star--Lucy Two Star. Trey Rector, owner and handler.

3d--CEDAR CREEK CEDAR, 1696728, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac--Centerfold Sioux. Craig Merlington, owner and handler.

Judges: Ken DeLong and Dave Heavlin

BILL WENDT MEMORIAL OPEN DERBY --

11 Pointers and 13 Setters

1st--SUDDEN SILENCE, 1688968, pointer female, by Double Deuce Zeke--Bucket List Bella. George M. Hetrick III, owner and handler.

2d--LIGHTNING FLASH ROCKY BOY, 1691984, setter male, by Terhaar's Charlie Daniels--Terhaar's Lapua. Douglas Dix, owner; Marc Forman, handler.

3d--COLEMAN'S DUN ROVEN KONA, 1693253, setter female, by Dun Rovens Lucky--Dun Roven's Luna. Curtis Coleman, owner; Rich Hollister, handler.