Result: Pennsylvania Brittany Amateur and Open Shooting Dog Championships

Location: Bloomingdale, Pennsylvania

Post Date: Jul 2, 2022

Submitted By: Reporters Sherry Stewart and Dave Webb

Open Shooting Dog Championship. From left: Kyle Merrill with Just Call Me Eli, Ray Rush with Jagoub's Spell Caster.

The Pennsylvania Shooting Dog event was held as what became known as the Mingo Extravaganza.This was because the Pennsylvania event was to follow at the Mingo Club Grounds three other pointing dog events: Region 4 Amateur All-Age (Brittanys only), Ohio Brittany Club events (including all pointing breeds except the Derby), and the revival of the Dixieland Gun Dog and Open All-Age (Brittanys only).

This coordinated effort by Tony Giovinale, Jack Alexander, and Dave Webb was to replace the movement of the International Club to Iowa from the Mingo Club grounds. Special thanks to the Pros for their support. Tom Tracy, Jr., Al and Cindy Cropek, Ben Lorensen, and Kyle Merrill attended with their entries undoubtedly making this event a success.

The Mingo Extravaganza started March 17 with Region 4, followed with the Ohio Brittany Club events over the weekend, with Dixieland two events during the week of March 21st. The Pennsylvania Brittany Championship began March 25th. Weather conditions were extreme with rain showers, snow, sunshine and temperatures ranging from below freezing to highs in the mid-60's.

Special thanks to all judges - Pennsylvania's events Amateur and Open Gun Dog Classic for Shooting Dogs - to ride and maintain their attention to the performance of all the dogs competing. The judges were Charles Brown and Rod Clagg, Amateur Stake and for the Open Stake, Bill Haynes and Joe Williams. Also thanks to Tom Tracy for use of his truck as the Dog Wagon; Gene Stewart driving the Dog Wagon and planting for every brace quail; Ray Rush and Geoff Webb for their assistance with many other duties. A continuous course, which was developed by Tom Tracy couple of years ago, was used again this year. It shortened time between braces. This event would not have taken place without the help of these folks. A Derby event was not held this year due to lack of entries.

The Pennsylvania Brittany Championship Association (PABCA) and the American Brittany Club also wishes to recognize and thank Nestle/Purina for their continued support of this ABC Pennsylvania Brittany Classic Championship both with funding and dog food. We recognize their continued cooperation and sponsorship of this American Brittany Club event. While the monetary fund's support the clubs; quality of the dog food helps us keep our Brittanys in competitive condition.

As previously indicated on Friday, March 25th the Amateur Grand Gun Dog Classic Shooting Dog event start at 11:00 AM EDST. There were 14 Brittanys entered and all went to "the line" for the competition. Throughout the start on Friday continuing through until completion Monday, March 28th, for both the Amateur and Open events, the weather was not cooperative with temperature during the day in the 30's and 40's; with a rainy drizzle and snow. The judges did a great job evaluating the performance of the 14 Brittanys in the Amateur and 26 Brittanys for the Open.

Listed as follows are the results from both the Amateur and Open Events indicating the winners and placements.
Grand Amateur Gun Dog Classic -- Shooting Dog Championship
This year was the first time an Amateur Event was held by the Pennsylvania Brittany Championship Association. Charles Brown from Dover, Ohio (thanks to Charley for agreeing to judge as a "last minute 24 hour replacement") and Rod Clagg from Bellville, Ohio, were in the saddle to judge to the entries. There were seven braces, in which the amateur handlers, often owners were able to compete. The amateurs were Brian Riggle, Ray Rush, Dan Dodson, Joe Williams and Jack Alexander.

The winner of the Amateur Shooting Dog Championship came from brace No. 7, Piney Run Samantha of Hybrittin (aka Sammi), handled by Jack Alexander. Sammi is an orange/white female, four years of age, owners Judith and Arthur Cohen.
Runner-up came from the 5th brace, FC Miss Behaven', (aka Ivy), handled by Dan Dodson, owned by Samantha James and Dan, who "hail" from Hollidaysburg, Pa. Ivy is a four and a half year old, orange/white female.
One could call it weather conditions, lack of bird work or lack of performance; the judges decided to not give the remaining two placements for the amateur event.
Bloomingdale, Pa., March 26
Judges: Charles Brown and Rodney Clagg
PENNSYLVANIA BRITTANY AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 14 Brittanys
Winner-PINEY RUN SAMANTHA OF HYBRITTIN, 1692014, female, by I'm Your Man-Piney Run Sugar. Judith & Arthur Cohan, owners; Jack Alexander, handler.
Runner-Up-MISS BEHAVIN, unreg., female, by Spanish Corral's Sonny Patch-Distiny Willbemyne. Samantha James & Dan Dodson, owners; Dan Dodson, handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog Championship. From left: Kyle Merrill, Ben Lorenson, Jack Alexander (Handler) with Piney Run Samantha, Judge-Charles Brown, Chris Rider, Judge-Rod Clagg, Samantha James with Miss Behavin, Al Cropek, Dan Dodson (Handler), and Cindy Cropek.

Grand Open Gun Dog Classic -- Shooting Dog Championship
Judges in the saddle to evaluate 13 braces - 26 Brittanys - were Joe Williams, who traveled from Lebanon, Mo., and Bill Haynes from Jackson, Ohio. Except for one Brittany handled by Brian Riggle, the remaining 25 Brittanys were handled by pros Tom Tracy, Jr., Al and Cindy Cropek, Ben Lorenson, and Kyle Merrill. Undoubtedly their participation in the Open Gun Dog Classic is what it made the event a success. Thanks to all!
First place winner, Just Call Me Eli (a.k.a. Eli), came from the fourth brace. Eli is a six and a half year old liver/white male, who was handled by Kyle Merrill for owner Tom Ettinger. He made several great casts and his bird work was of the style deserving of being the Open Shooting Dog Champion.
Runner-up was Jagoub's Spell Caster (a.k.a. Tabu) was bottom dog in the second brace. Tabu is an orange/white female, who will be seven years old in June this year. Tabu was handled by Tom Tracy, Jr., for owners Debbie and Tom Jagielski. Tabu's performance afield and pointing style was worthy of the second place runner-up.
Sigbritt's Not A Trace of Rust (a.k.a.) Rusty, a five and half year old, white/orange male. He ran as the bottom dog in the third brace and was handled to a third place by Kyle Merrill for owner Bobbie Sigmund. Rusty pointed the quail with style and was worthy of the placement.
The judges selected TMR's Lucky Bets (a.k.a. Bets) a white/orange three year old male, who was handled to a fourth place by Tom Tracy, Jr., for his owner Tom Rawley. Bets was top-dog running in the first brace and his performance was of a quality for the judges to give him a placement in the Open Shooting Dog Championship.
Judges: Bill Haynes and Joe Williams
PENNSYLVANIA BRITTANY OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 26 Brittanys
Winner-JUST CALL ME ELI, 1677685, male, by Just Call Me Roy-One Off Champagne Charlee. Tom Ettinger, owner; Kyle Merrill, handler.
Runner-Up-JAGOUB'S SPELL CASTER, 1665522, female, by Jagoub's Buzz'n Bayou-Super Natural. Debbie & Tom Jagielski, owners; Tom Tracy, handler.
Just before placements were announced, a presentation was made to present to Tom Tracy Jr., a painting created by Ray Rush of last year's 2021 Pennsylvania Open Shooting Dog Championship winner JB's Full Speed Ahead (aka Captain); owner Jenny Pullman and the handler was Tom Tracy Jr. Note a photograph is attached for viewing this outstanding piece of artwork. Ray has also agreed to do the painting of next year's winner - Just Call Me Eli.
As a brief summary, even though the weather was often "miserable" with low temperature, snow, and rain, everyone expressed their opinion of having a great time and plan to be back next year 2023. All those attending "pitched in" and help in many different ways. It was series of field trials for pointing dogs with a primary focus on Brittanys. It was all about the dogs, with people enjoying being with other people and having a great time. See everyone next year.

From left: Ray Rush, Artist; Painting of Captain; Tom Tracy,,Jr., Handler of Cap the Winner 2021.