Result: York Pointer and Setter Club

Location: Rossville, Pennsylvania

Post Date: Apr 16, 2021

Submitted By: Greg Strausbaugh

The April 16 evening drawing for the spring York Pointer and Setter Club's trial was a bittersweet event. It was the first time in 55 years that our stalwart field trial chairman Mervin Eisenhart was not present. Merv passed away on December 23, 2020.

Merv, also known as "Ike", was a kind friend to dogs, horses, and people. He treated all with respect and care. Merv was a positive force in the field trial world and his contagiously enthusiastic attitude was a great benefit to the York Pointer and Setter Club.

As a founding member, he led many organizational initiatives and handled many of the maintenance activities. Serving as president of the Club at times and as the field trial chairman since 1966, Merv's contributions are far too many to list. Merv's wife, Arlene, was a staunch supporter of Merv's bird dog activities, often by Merv's side, serving our Club many meals, and hosting the drawings.

A great competitor, Merv owned, ran, and often bred champions. He received the Purina Amateur Shooting Dog Award for the 2004-2005 season with Maple Valley Thunder.

A good friend is hard to find, hard to lose, and impossible to forget. Mervin "Ike" Eisenhart will be missed by all and always remembered by this Club with utmost gratitude.

This trial received terrific support from the following people: Chelsea and Gunner Boyer for providing delicious food; Gunner, Steve and Darren Boyer for planting the birds; Robert Youngs, Ben Dillard, and Greg Strausbaugh for judging the Amateur Stakes; and Robert Youngs and Joe Lordi for judging the Open Stakes.

Roger Dvorak called on Friday night with a COVID-19 diagnosis, so Joe Lordi kindly stepped into his spot. We hope that Roger is feeling better. The effort and willingness of our volunteers make field trials possible. I am sure that there are others to thank also that have not been named. Thank you!

AMATEUR STAKES WINNERS

The Gerald Tracy Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog was held on Sunday, April 18, with 21 entries competing. Navajo Cody ran a forward race to first place with five perfect finds and a back for handler Joe Lordi. Fluid Drive had three finds, a stop to flush, one back, and a good forward race to win second place. He was also handled by Joe Lordi. Third was earned by Bad Bourbon with four finds and a good race. Bad Bourbon was handled by Gunner Boyer.

The Amateur Derby followed with six entries -- five pointers and one Red Setter. Boyer's Running Buck Wild ran a happy race, two good finds and one derby find. He handled well for his owner, Gunner Boyer. Second place was earned by Treadstone, an Irish Setter, run by the older handler, Roger Boser. He had one unproductive to start and two good finds to follow. He was a little tougher to handle. Third Place went to Miller's Sweet Talking Candy. She had an unproductive and one good find for her handler, Dave McKay.

Rossville, Pa., April 18 -- One Course

Judges: Ben Dillard and Robert Youngs

GERALD TRACY MEMORIAL AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG --

16 Pointers, 2 Setters and 3 Irish Setters

1st--NAVAHO CODY, 1668520, pointer male, by Great River Ice--Blaze's Isis. Camille Masiello & Saverio Morelli, owners; Joe Lordi, handler.

2d--FLUID DRIVE, 1659984, pointer male, by Great River Ice--Blaze's Isis. Saviero Morelli, owner; Joe Lordi, handler.

3d--BAD BOURBON, 1662012, pointer male, by Bully Bragg--Summerhill Bella. Gunner Boyer, owner and handler.

Judges: Greg Strausbaugh and Robert Youngs

AMATEUR DERBY -- 5 Pointers and 1 Irish Setter

1st--BOYER'S RUNNING BUCK WILD, 1693300, pointer male, by Chowan River C Rail--War Paint's Little Birdie. Stephen Boyer, owner and handler.

2d--TREADSTONE, 1688058, Irish setter male, by Waycross--Stilleto. Roger Boser, owner and handler.

3d--MILLER'S SWEET TALKING CANDY, 1690152, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version--Erin's Cedar. Joe McHugh, owner; Dave McKay, handler.

OPEN STAKES WINNERS

The Open Stakes were run on Monday due to conflicts with the originally scheduled Saturday date. I'd like to thank Matt Basilone, Jeanette Tracy, and Mike Tracy for their support of the Open trial.

Armstrong Mountain Dusty topped all 23 starters for Mike Tracy. The white and black pointer, owned by Frank Joyal, had five finds, a back, and a strong race. Jeanette Tracy handled Steel City Avenger, owned by Bob and Karen Reed, to second place with five finds, a back, and a very good race. Diamond Hill Mad Max, a setter male owned by Lisa and Paul Pollack, earned third with two finds and two backs for Jeanette Tracy.

The Open Derby had six entries and was topped by Just Win Chester, which had one find and a strong forward race always to the front. Blue Bar Pretty Boy was placed second with one find and a far- reaching race. Matt Basilone handled Triple Nickel Carbon Copy to third with two finds and a solid race.

Thanks for all. See you this Fall!

Judges: Joe Lordi and Robert Youngs

OPEN SHOOTING DOG -- 17 Pointers and 6 Setters

1st--ARMSTRONG MOUNTAIN DUSTIE, 1673241, pointer male, by Great River Ice--Summerhill Black Label. Frank Joyal, owner; Mike Tracy, handler.

2d--STEEL CITY AVENGER, 1684690, pointer male, by Waybetter Rocky--Steel City Karen. Karen & Robert Reed, owners; Jeanette Tracy, handler.

3d--DIAMOND HILL MAD MAX, 1679668, setter male, by Shadow Oak Doc--Jessie's Bonanza. Lisa & Paul Pollock, owners; Jeanette Tracy, handler.

OPEN DERBY -- 6 Pointers

1st--JUST WIN CHESTER, 1686080, male, by Sugarknoll War Paint--Sizzlin Julie. Charles Brunner, owner; Mike Tracy, handler.

2d--BLUEBAR PRETTYBOY, 1691065, male, by Miller's Heat Seeker--Lovern's Red Lace. Dennis Hood, owner; Mike Tracy, handler

3d--TRIPLE NICKEL CARBON COPY, 1692617, male, by Miller's Hennessy--Jamback's Amazing Grace. Robert & Linda Bergen, owners; Matt Basilone, handler.