Result: Minnesota Grouse Dog Association

Location: Mora, Minnesota

Post Date: Apr 2, 2021

Submitted By: Ryan Hough

Any time that spring wild bird trials are not cancelled in the upper Midwest due to weather, or COVID-19 as of recently, it is reason to celebrate. Club members came together on April 2-3 in the Rum River State Forest to hold three stakes, a one-hour Open Shooting dog, a thirty-minute Open Derby, and a twenty-minute Open Puppy.

Judging the Open Shooting Dog was Ben Mergens of Inver Grove Heights Minn., and Chris Bye of River Falls, Wis.

Taking first place on course No. 5 with a classy forward race, and two quality woodcock finds was Over The Hill Merry, white and orange female pointer owned and handled by Rod Lein of Chippewa Falls, Wis. Second place went to Cody's Sadie Belle, white and black female setter owned and handled by Ryan Bjerke of Sartell, Minn. Sadie dug hard on course No. 3 displaying great determination to locate game. Sadie scratched out two clean woodcock finds in view of the gallery. Third was The Highway, owned and handled by David Moore of Big Lake, Minn. The white and black setter male ran a reaching forward race and was scouted at 42 minutes standing tall. A woodcock was moved with all in order.

The Open Derby was judged by Steve Snyder of Lonsdale, Minn., and Greg Johnson of Superior, Wis.

Taking first place was Sigurd Northwoods Olson, a setter male owned and handled by Chris Bye. A strong young dog that set himself apart from the field with a forward race that tested the edge of his bell range, and flash pointed a grouse. Second place went to Northwoods Gale, owned and handled by Jerry Jolter of Sandstone, Minn. The setter female rendered a well gaited hard race that targeted likely bird covers. With a seemingly effortless connection to her handler, she displayed the qualities of a nice young cover dog. Third place went to Blue Sugar, owned and handled by Ryan Hough of Saint Bonifacius, Minn. A puppy-age female setter that tested the edge of her bell's range, but stayed busy in good cover and worked with her handler to check in as needed.

The Puppy Stake was judged by Bert Benshoof of Roseville, Minn., and Meghan Mergens of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

First place was won by Blue Sugar, setter female owned by Ryan Hough, and handled by his daughter Olivia Hough. Second place was claimed by Granite Ridge's Lil Rascal, a male pointer owned and handled by Randy Bruder of Stevens Point, Wis. Third place was awarded to Lake Effect Cleo, setter female owned by Tim Kauffman and handled by his daughter, Tori Kauffman.

Mora, Minn., April 2

Judges: Chris Bye and Ben Mergens

OPEN SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] -- 2 Pointers

and 14 Setters

1st--OVER THE HILL MERRY, 1678045, pointer female, by Grouse Trials Cracker Jack--Diva Dot. Rod Lein, owner and handler.

2d--CODY'S SADIE BELLE, 1660481, setter female, by Ridge Creek Cody--Northwoods Chardonnay. Ryan Bjerke, owner and handler.

3d--THE HIGHWAY, 1681449, setter male, by Erin's Prometheus--Northwoods Carly Simon. David Moore, owner and handler.

Judges: Greg Johnson and Steve Snyder

OPEN DERBY -- 4 Pointers and 8 Setters

1st--SIGURD NORTHWOODS OLSON, 1691234, setter male, by Northwoods Rob Roy--Northwoods Minerva. Chris Bye, owner and handler.

2d--NORTHWOODS GALE, 1691885, setter female, by Northwoods Grits--Northwoods Minerva. Jerry Kolter, owner and handler.

3d--BLUE SUGAR, 1692194, setter female, by Jetwood--I'm Blue Who. Ryan Hough, owner and handler.

Judges: Bert Benshoof and Megan Mergens

OPEN PUPPY -- 4 Pointers and 4 Setters

1st--BLUE SUGAR, 1692194, setter female, by Jetwood--I'm Blue Who. Ryan Hough, owner; Olivia Hough handler.

2d--GRANITE RIDGE'S LIL RASCAL, 1691276, pointer male, by Fly'n Rascally Pete--Fly'n Misty Moonshiner. Randy Bruder, owner and handler.

3d--LAKE EFFECT CLEOPATRA, 1694846, setter female, by Northern Lights Sirius--Lake Effect Tilly. Tim Kauffman, owner; Tori Kauffman, handler.