Result: Nebraska Open Brittany Championship

Location: Raymond, Nebraska

Post Date: May 24, 2019

Submitted By: Wesley Felt

Nebraska Brittany Championship Winners. Front (l-r): Tommy Thomas with A N J's Ohio Hellion, Hyatt Burchett and Jessica Carlson-Tillson with Crossed The Line. Back: Gailen Cooper, judge; Bob Burchett, Ed Tillson, Howard Burbach, judge; Wesley Felt and Stan Truksa.
Nebraska Brittany Championship Winners. Front (l-r): Tommy Thomas with A N J's Ohio Hellion, Hyatt Burchett and Jessica Carlson-Tillson with Crossed The Line. Back: Gailen Cooper, judge; Bob Burchett, Ed Tillson, Howard Burbach, judge; Wesley Felt and Stan Truksa.
RAYMOND, NEB. -- The 2019 running of the Nebraska Brittany Championship was held April 15-18 at the Branched Oak Field Trial Area near Raymond, Neb. The Nebraska Championship is hosted by the Nebraska Brittany Club and followed the regional club event held April 12-14.

There are some fine folks we need to mention for their contribution to the success of this Championship. Claudia and Stan Truksa spend many hours planning this event for the Nebraska Brittany Club. Claudia is the event secretary along with dog wagon driver. Margo Bailey, Mary Felt and Mary Karbiner helped with the dog wagon, among other duties. Stan and Wesley Felt planted birds every morning. Stan rode every brace as the marshal and Wesley as the reporter. We thank these dedicated folks for their hard work in order to maintain a premier field event in the Brittany world.

The sponsors for the Nebraska Brittany Championship are Nestl Purina and SportDog. Purina gives both money toward the running of this event and Pro Plan products for the winners. Purina is fed to several dogs running in this event as testimony to the quality of feed used in the Pro Plan dog products.

Jim Morehouse from SportDog provided a Pro Hunter 2525 training collar to the champion and a Sport Hunter 1825 training collar to the runner-up. We thank these sponsors and their continued support of this event among many other major field trial events.

Judges for this renewal were Howard Burbach and Gailen Cooper, both from Missouri. These two judges were up to the task of four days of riding to select the true all-age competitors for this Championship. The judges had several dogs to choose from with the all-age range, intensity on birds pointed, and the handling necessary to be named as champion and runner-up.

The question came up of when the first Nebraska Championship was run. The older club members could not determine when it was started. However, we worked with The American Field and reviewed old American Brittany Magazines and believe it was held on April 2, 1985. In the Fields' June report it mentions appreciation for several folks for the past five years so it could have begun in 1980 or these same folks helped the Elkhorn Valley Championship as this Championship predated the first Nebraska Championship on the same grounds. If someone has additional information, please let us know.

The running format is six one-hour braces per day.

The Winners

Named champion was A N J's Ohio Hellion, Brittany male owned by Mike and Stacy Poehler of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and handled by Bob Burchett. His sire is Grand Junction Jake, his dam High Hopes Little Ann.

Runner-up was Crossed the Line, Brittany male owned by Andrea Christensen and Vickie Rankin of Edgewater, Colo., and handled by Ed Tillson. His sire is Making R Point, his dam Windtuck's Enough Said.

We began the Championship on Monday, temperatures in the low 40s. By early afternoon they had reached the high 70s. Tuesday through Thursday had similar temperatures for the day. The grounds were in good shape and the birds were plentiful. There was only one dog to finish the hour with no bird work. Most dogs had multiple finds and one dog even had seven finds.

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNING

Farm Girl Pearl (Bob Burchett) started a strong forward race and pointed at 7, followed by three more finds before the hour. She shortened some the second half. Roustabout's Blew By (Rob Rohner) had some trouble with his bird at 7 and went to the dog wagon.

Turning Point's Shenanigans (Burchett) was forward at 26 when he pointed. As we rode up, the bird took flight along with the dog. Shady Way's Joker's Hill Country Express (Rohner) was forward early; midway through the hour handler requested the retrieval unit.

Gun Creek Gangster (Holman) went forward and over the hill and was found at 8 pointing in the ditch with intensity. He had a back at 26 and a divided find at 49 and finished the hour. Whiskey's Little Tip (Burchett) was forward early and had a find at 26, a divided find at 49 and finished the hour.

Touch of Bourbon Little Chug (Johnson) and Black Creek Summit (Holman). The temperature was nearing 80 and took a toll on these dogs. Both were picked up early before the hour.

Upland Trail Blazer (Rohner) finished the hour birdless. Sniksoh Hank's Hatch (Burchett) had finds at 17 and 38 and finished the hour.

Almaden's Under Lock and Key (Tillson) was forward with spectacular bird work at 55 and 58 and finished the hour going away. Jac's Ray of Sunshine (Holman) had an equally nice run but only could finish the hour with a stop to flush.

Osage Fork Slick (Burchett) was forward and found pointing at 35. The dog broke on the flush and was sent to the dog wagon. Ace's One Eyed Jack (Holman) was picked up for bad manners on his bird at 7.

Crescent City Girl (Tillson) had a bird find early at 3 and slammed into a back at 12. When both dogs were released, she decided to return to the last find and was sent to the wagon. M K's Magnificent Bandito (Johnson) had his running shoes on from the breakaway. He had finds at 12 and 18. He was gone midway through the hour when handler requested the retrieval unit.

Jagoub's Spell Caster (Tracy) had a nice forward race with a divided find at 53. He took too many steps and was sent to the dog wagon. Jac's Original Spice (Holman) had a bird at 18 and stayed tight at the divided find at 53. However, at 57 he had a breach of manners and was sent to the dog wagon.

Blazin E Z Mac (Burchett) was forward but not challenging and was picked up early at 54. Hoochie Coochie Man's forward pattern was not pleasing Tillson and he was picked up early.

Maxwell's Prickly Pete (Tracy) had a nice find at 6 and was released and not seen again. Handler asked for the retrieval unit before the half. Sparky's Prairie Wind Gypsy (Johnson) had an early return to the dog wagon as she failed to back the find at 6.

A N J's Ohio Hellion (Burchett) was forward after we broke from area 9 dam. We were across the concrete bridge and going toward the keyhole when scout called point on the other side of the creek. Handler flushed a bird to good manners. Handler returned over the wood bridge and caught the front. He maintained a strong forward race. The time had elapsed for the hour and handler looked for some time to locate the dog. He was found pointing a bird to end the brace. His performance was enjoyed by the judges and he was awarded the highest honor as champion. Rev'n Gunrunner's Tilly was forward early, was lost for some time and when he was found Tracy elected to pick him up before the hour.

Piney Run Jake (Patterson) was up at 7 when he failed to back. S S Rig's Colorado Gun Runner (Tillson) was up at 7 for breach of manners on the pointed bird.

Hehi's Slim Chipley (Burchett) was released and traveled less than a hundred yards when he pointed. He had three more finds at 13, 21 and 44. The intensity on each bird pointed was very picturesque. From the last bird pointed, he was released and finished going away searching. C V K's Spartan King (Tracy) failed to back his bracemate on the first bird and was returned to the dog wagon.

Wichita Wild Woman (Johnson) had a nice find at 38, a back at 47 and was forward at 55 when he had his last find before finishing the hour. Tequila Scorcher (Tillson) had an unproductive at 7 and four finds at 18, 21, 39 and 47. He had a strong finish to end the hour.

Hope's Chief of Crosscreek had an unproductive early, shortened going into the strong winds and Burchett elected to pick up early. Kasmir (Tracy) also had problems with the strong winds and was picked up early.

Castaway Wilson (Tracy) was forward at 6 when he had a breach of manners on a bird. Black Creek U Haul was not pleasing Holman and was picked up before the hour.

Stella (Burchett) failed to back at 45 and was sent to the dog wagon. Crossed the Line (Tillson) was forward from the breakaway and only got stronger. He had two finds at 45 and at 58. He was released at 58 and immediately went to the front to finish the hour. His was awarded the runner-up title.

Carpe Diem (Lincoln) had a nice find at 8 and on the next find at 13 was placed in the dog wagon for breach of manners. K J's Irish Whizky had his running shoes on and as mid-hour was approaching Windom requested the retrieval unit.

At 3 Ru Jem's Last Penny (Tracy) had her first bird find. She also had finds at 9, 17 and a divided find at 20. She continued a far reaching front to the last find for the hour at 27. She was released and finished forward after a small time missed, but found going forward to finish her hour. Just Call Me Lucky Ned Pepper (Burchett) had a back at 9 then a divided find at 20. He had finds at 27, 31, 35, 43, 47 and 50. He was sent forward to end the hour.

R and H Dark Knight (Burchett) failed to back his bracemate at 3 and was sent to the dog wagon. Driving Miss Daisy (Tracy) had finds at 3, 23 and 39. She finished the hour.

M K's My Lil Ammo (Johnson) had an unproductive at 30 and a back at 36. She had her second unproductive at 49 and finished with a find at 55. She finished the hour. Ivy (Burchett) had a find at 7 and an unproductive at 30. She had two more finds at 36 and 54 and finished the hour.

Arrow's Tequila Rustler (Beaver) had a find at 56 and finished the hour. Glade Run Irish (Tracy) had a find at 24 and finished the hour.

Willie Make It (Johnson )and Alar's Dirty Dancer (Tillson) were picked up by their handlers before the hour.

Raymond, Neb., April 15

Judges: Gailen Cooper and Howard Burbach

NEBRASKA OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] --

48 Brittanys

Winner--A N J'S OHIO HELLION, 1666102, Brittany male, by Grand Junction Jake--High Hopes Little Ann. Mike & Stacy Poehler, owners; Bob Burchett, handler.

Runner-Up--CROSSED THE LINE, 1613155, Brittany male, by Making R Point--Windtuck's Enough Said. Andrea Christensen & Vicki Rankin, owners; Ed Tillson, handler.

NEBRASKA BRITTANY CLUB

Raymond, Neb., April 12

Judges: Brooks Carmichael and Ken Windom

OPEN ALL-AGE -- 44 Brittanys

1st--HEHI'S SLIM CHIPLEY, 1671528, male, by Biebel's Huckleberry Huck--Rebel Jac's Kentucky Flyer. Matt Healey, owner; Bob Burchett, handler.

2d--TEQUILA SCORCHER, 1642501, male, by Almaden's River of Shadows--Tequila With A Twist. Charles Crain, owner; Ed Tillson, handler.

3d--S S RIG'S COLORADO GUN RUNNER, 1663597, male, by Eleet's Colorado Blue--Gun Runner's Diamond Forever. Tom & Linda Milam, owners; Ed Tillson, handler.

Judges: Wes Felt and Stanley Truksa

OPEN PUPPY -- 10 Entries

1st--STONEY HILL'S WILDFIRE LITTLE SADIE, unreg., German Shorthair female, by Twin Creeks Running Ruger--P J Wildfire's Little Lexi. Dr. Kirk & Larry Loftin, owners; Kirk Loftin, handler.

2d--GANGSTER'S JEZABELLE, unreg., Brittany female, by Sun Creek Gangster--Gun Creek Whizki. Donovan & Beth Markiewicz, owners; Chad Holman, handler.

3d--GANGSTER'S SECRET WEAPON, unreg., Brittany male, by Gun Creek Gangster--Gun Creek Whizki. Ed & Donna Janulis, owners; Chad Holman, handler.

Judges: Wes Felt and Jim Michaletz

OPEN DERBY -- 30 Entries

1st--STONEY HILL'S LIGHT IT UP, 1683350, German Shorthair female, by Cajun's Q C K Bushwacker--Stoney Hill's Cuttin Gypsy Rose. Dr. Kirk & Larry Loftin, owners; Dr. Kirk Loftin, handler.

2d--TABLE MOUNTAIN BLAZEN BAILEY, unreg., Brittany female, by Decan's Bad As Blaze--Table Mountain's Runaway Riley. Allen Davis, owner and handler.

3d--GYPSY'S REBEL ROUSER, 1677145, Brittany male, by Sniksoh Spank's Hank--Sparky's Prairie Wind Gypsy. Barry Koepke & Karen Fujikawa, owners; Rob Rohner, handler.

AMATEUR ALL-AGE -- 18 Entries

1st--HI N'S ZIP IT, 1676171, German Shorthair male, by Hi N's Feed Jake--Hi N's Southern Cross. Dr. Kirk & Larry Loftin, owners; Dr. Kirk Loftin, handler.

2d--K J'S IRISH WHIZKY, 1648946, Brittany male, by Rocklan's Whizzle Stop--Cast A Britt Micro Sammie. Kenneth & Jane Windom, owners; Kenneth Windom, handler.

3d--SPARKY'S PRAIRIE WIND GYPSY, 1622811, Brittany female, by Jim DeBob's Sparks A Dan D--Two Rivers Skyhawk. Barry Koepke & Karen Fujikawa, owners; Barry Koepke, handler.

Judges: Brooks Carmichael and Scott Roker

OPEN SHOOTING DOG -- 32 Entries

1st--COPLEY ECHO OF ANGELS, 1662630, Brittany female, by Shelttanny's Against All Odds--Libertie Copley More Mimosa. Julio Rodriguez, owner; Scott Johnson, handler.

2d--HI N'S ALLISON MIRANDA, 1676665, German Shorthair female, by Hi N's Feed Jake--Chicoree's Sparkle in Her Eye. Dr. Kirk & Larry Loftin, owners; Dr. Kirk Loftin, handler.

3d--SHADOW'S TRIBUTE TO TJ, 1665068, Brittany male, by Shadow Attack--Sniksoh Tequila Caliente. Janet Gabriel, owner; Ed Tillson, handler.