Result: Region 1 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Brownfield, Maine

Post Date: May 1, 2021

Submitted By: Lloyd B. Murray Jr.

The Region 1 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship ran on the fabulous Brownfield Game Management Area just outside of Fryburg, Me.

This area comprises 5,700 acres, some of which is along the banks of the famous Saco River, next to the Maine, New Hampshire border. Parts of the grounds and courses are developed in partnership with the Maine Bird Dog Club. Active management is evident everywhere, with new patch cutts, brush hogging, and burning going on continuously. Even though the Championship runs on quail, many grouse were moved and seen on the course layout and cleaning work days leading up to the running.

Folks who camped on the grounds overnight informed us of many woodcock "singing" over the headquarters field at dawn and dusk, in addition to all the grouse they heard "drumming". These are unquestionably some of the best grounds in New England for displaying a walking shooting dog.

Kellie Short sunk her teeth into this event, initially in applying for it and then devoting much time and effort in bringing off a successful running. Kellie had an able assist from her dad, Bob Paucek, who is simply an amazing nonagenarian! The "Dean'' of New England Bird Dog Trainers, who on his next birthday will be 94 years young! I watched Bob swing a chainsaw all morning on one of the club work days and, frankly, it is amazing to see someone at his age being so active and involved! Plus Bob is still a full time professional dog trainer.

John Short, as always, pitched in to help and brought his tractor up to the grounds to help clean the courses. Bruce Burnell handles a great deal of the permitting and paperwork for the club and we appreciate all that he does. Roy Hardgrave handled the bird planting, walking every brace, and keeping the course supplied with strong flying quail. Many others pitched in on course cleaning days, but I am loath to name them, as I am sure I will miss someone; suffice to say, you know who you are, and a big "Thank you" from the host Maine Bird Dog Club.

Our judges were veteran arbiter Tony Bly of Milan, N. H., and Jim Levesque of Salem, Mass. Tony has literally "done it all.", He's bred, raised, trained and won championships with many dogs from his kennels. His dogs have placed in the Grand National Grouse Championships and everything below that! Speaking of "Grand National," Tony has been elected nationally to judge "The Grand" three times, and is one of the very few who has judged it in all three grouse regions, Lakes States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

James Levesque from Salem, Mass., was the second judge and we were lucky to have him accept this assignment. Jimmy is a dyed-in-the-wool bird hunter who also runs his good setters in walking trials throughout New England. His current standard-bearer, Ledge Hill Chippewa, has won consistently for Jim all over this region, as has his whole string. Jimmy is extremely knowledgeable, was very attentive and helpful to all handlers plus was very positive in his judging. This was a great brace of judges and to both men, we extend a hearty "Thank You."

THE WINNERS

Long Gone Porky ran in the first brace, paired with Kellie Short's young winner, Castiel. "Cass," as he is called, is a good sized heavily ticked setter male that pointed at 6 to the left of the course and Porky came in for a mannerly back. This proved unproductive. Cass did card a good find before going out of bounds deep on the left at 20. Porky now had the course to himself. He went on and scored five good finds coupled with a strong, very forward race, and finished going away.

Long Gone Porky is a son of multiple Champion Long Gone Boston out of a daughter of Grand National Grouse Champion Terhaar's Elvis. This is Porky's third championship title. His first was the International Amateur Woodcock Championship in Debec, New Brunswick, Canada, as a fall Derby. He was named runner-up in last year's New England Open Grouse Championship in Kilkenny. And now, Region 1. He has won titles on three different game birds. Porky is hunted hard almost daily in the fall on grouse and woodcock.

The runner-up, Ruffed Grouse Lilly, is a very classy running chestnut colored setter female. Lilly is owned, trained and handled by the affable Colonel Paul Chistopher. The rank denotes Paul's accomplishments in the U. S. Army, not only referring to his combat experience but many other achievements including, but not limited to, teaching at the United States Military Academy at West Point in addition to being a published author. Paul had his Lieutenant Bars pinned on him by General William Westmoreland.

Today Lilly was running her usual, snappy, forward very fast race when her bell stopped deep to the front. Lilly was braced with Jim Hathaway's young winning setter "Finley", which backed Lilly's find, she spied far forward, looking great on point. Finley made a mild misque later in the hour which ended his bid.

Lilly's second find as the hour was winding down, was also way to the front, and as always she looked very attractive on point. At the conclusion of the flush and shot Paul called her in to heel and lead her back to the course. Lilly finished the hour like she started, fast, forward and driving!

This is Lilly's first championship title although she has a boatload of placements in shooting dog competition. I would venture one of her high water marks so far in her career was when she went up to New Brunswick and won the Open Grouse Classic, and then went on and won the Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Stake the next day over a very talented field of wild bird dogs.

Lilly is out of the late George Johnson's great grouse champion, Grouse Ridge Sarge, and by Dr. Bruce Mueller's Pennsylvania Grouse Champion, Doodle Ridge Jigs.

Among other dogs close and perhaps on another day could have been in the money was Witch City Charlie, Derby-age setter male who carded four pretty finds and finished well.

The heartbreak brace of the stake was Doug Dix and his setter male "Tucker" braced up with Kellie Short and her setter male, also named "Tucker". These two classy setters traded finds and backs all the way around the course coupled with strong forward races. They were, as they say, "getting it done." With literally less than two minutes left, both bells stopped on the left of the course. As handlers approached, birds lifted and both bells started hard before handlers arrived, ending bids that would have received some serious consideration.

Many other dogs rendered commendable efforts but small guffaws either abbreviated their trip to the charmed circle or ended their bids early.

"Thank You" to all the amateurs who came and supported the Regional Amateur Walking Championship.

Brownfield, Me., May 1 -- One Course

Judges: Tony Bly and James Levesque

REGION 1 AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

[One-Hour Heats] -- 12 Setters

Winner--LONG GONE PORKY, 1671466, setter male, by Long Gone Boston--D J's Latest Flame. Lloyd B. Murray, Jr., owner and handler.

Runner-Up--RUFF GROUSE LILLY, 1656963, setter female, by Doodle Ridge Jigs--Grouse Ridge Sarge. Col. Paul Christopher, owner and handler.