Event: Kissamee Grousewoods Tea wins 2022 Running
Result: International Amateur Woodcock Championship

Location: Exeter, Rhode Island

Post Date: Jul 5, 2022

Submitted By: Russell Ogilvie

Front row. Peter Labella O/H, John Olfesen with Kissamee Grousewoods Tea, John Stolgitis, Tim Cavanaugh with Little Miss Margaret. Back row. Eric Rizza, Gregory McClusky, B. J. Cassio, Alan Raiano, Judge Adam Dubriske, Judge Bill Bonnetti, Bob Little, Donald Henderson, Mike Flewelling.

The 2022 International Amateur Woodcock Champion came out of the 7th brace. Grousewood's Tea (PF) own and handled by Peter Labella was braced with Springbroook Maximus (Ogilvie). With the dogs at the line on Pine Top on this cool morning, the judges gave the "turnem loose" command and the second day of the trial was started. Daisy, a sleek and fancy going pointer charged out of the gate with Max at her side. The bells faded into the distance as it seemed for a moment that they may not return. In short order the bells returned and both dogs peeled of and went to work. Daisy took the field edge at the first turn and Max went down to the right of the course. Daisy's bell fell silent first at 5:00 on the edge of the field. Labella was unable to move a bird for her and took her on. Max would have the next stop at 10:00 in a green briar tangle. A lengthy flushing attempt led to the first find of the brace. With the dogs back on course and headed down the hill, Daisy seem to float through the cover with Max driving hard. Max's bell fell silent again at 26:00 with Daisy coming in to honor. After all were ready, Ogilvie walked into the young pines and sent a woodcock fluttering out. The dogs were returned to the course and sent on. Just before the lower field, both dogs entered the left edge and their bells fell silent. Daisy, standing like a statue was located first with Max a little deeper in at 37:00. As both handlers flush, Labella sent the woodcock in to the air first and a divided find was recorded. Both dogs were collard and let loose across the field going hard. With time ticking down, Daisy sailed through the open woods working the front. Both dogs would cap of a great run with Daisy's bell stopping deep to the front at 57:00 and Max's stopping just after. As Ogilvie searched for Max, he located Daisy in the edge of the pines, head cranked, tail poker straight, and sucking scent. Max was located to the right by his scout. At the report of the guns, time was called the judges new Daisy had set the bar high and would be tough to beat.

The runner-up champion came out of the 3rd brace on the bridge course. Little Miss Margarete owned and handled by Tim Cavanaugh was braced with Brae Val Glillie (McCluskey). The young pointer and setter tore off down the trail. Maggie, a classy going pointer, has developed quickly through the combination of quality breeding and Cavanaugh's dedication to the sport. Both dogs burned up some excess energy early. As we made the turn back along the river, Ghillie was the first to stop at 13:00 in the open. As McCluskey approached, Ghillie first looked unsure and the tightened upon his arrival. The handler stepped in front and the woodcock fluttered away. Maggie, moving forward, settled in and hunted hard. Both dogs bell fell silent at 20:00. Maggie was on one side of a group of young pines and Ghillie on the other side. With both handlers flushing, McCluskey was able to get the bird into the air and record his second find. With both dogs rolling along, the handlers quickly crossed the road and headed for second part of the course. Nothing was produced near the wet holes or at the beginning on field. Maggie, running out of time, dove into the right of the field just before the road and slammed on point at 52:00 for all to see. With the bird lifting in front of her nose, she never twitched even a hair. Both dogs went across the road and finished going away.

I know I have mentioned this in the past, probably every time I report a trial that I run in Arcadia, but I firmly believe that it has to be one of the best places to run a spring wild bird cover dog trial. With the numbers of migrating woodcock, in excessive of 40+ scene in two days of running, the dogs had opportunities. That doesn't mean they didn't have to work. Dogs have to adapt to the bird cover and be willing to plow through green briar if needed. As with any championship, the top dogs do. With the open terrain, it is a great venue for a gallery to walk and be a part of the excitement. This quality trial could only happen with all the pieces of the puzzle put together. We would like to thank the AFTCA, Frank LaNasa and Piper Huffman for their support and handling of the draw. Our region truly appreciates the opportunity to host an event of this stature. Purina and Greg Blair with their continuous support of all field trial.
This past year, the Fish and Wildlife Department did really great work in brush hogging the fields and paths to knock back some of the green briars. A thanks to Bob Fleury in working with Will Walker and the Forest Service to acquire the use permits. Thanks goes out Lanny Dellinger and John Stolgitis for marking and trimming the course. Lunches this year were donated by the South County Field Trail club. At the end of Saturdays running, Jill Stolgitis opened up her home and provided dinner. A task that just a "thank you" is never enough. Even with the challenging economy, amateurs came from far and wide to get a shot at a championship of this caliber. The support from Pro trainers such as Bob Little and John Stolgitis goes to show how important this championship is and the history that goes with it. Of course, everyone wants to thank the judges, Adam Dubriske and Billy Bonnetti for their careful consideration on every brace. They had several long conversation after time was called. A final thanks to all involved, it is really appreciated.
The Running
Brace 1: Chasehill Poison Ivy (Raiano) and Springbrook Sweet T (Ogilvie) broke away at Pine Top to start the championship with a strong gallery in tow. With migrating woodcock, a number of things have to fall into place to have significant numbers. With just 5 minutes in, T stopped at the first turn with Ivy coming in just after. The first woodcock was walked up in the path. When the dogs were found, T had let up but Ivy still was tight and bird was flown of her noise. The dogs were returned to the course. Ivy would quickly stop again at 6:00 near the stone wall but nothing could be produced. Both dogs cruised through the course and down the hill. Ivy would take another unproductive at 30:00. Ivy and T scored at 34:00 with another find. T would suffer unproductives at 48:00 and 50:00.

Brace 2: Cairds Little Macey (Henderson) and Snuff Mill Riley (Dellinger) had the first go around on Cemetery. Both dogs worked through the green briar and rhododendron but could not dig up a bird. Riley stopped at 35:00 with Macey honoring but nothing could be produced.

Brace 3: Previously Mentioned

Brace 4: Shirley Saratoga Britt (Shirley) and Duckhook (Flewelling) had the second go around on Pine Top. Toga went to work quickly with a stop at 4:00. Shirley quickly produced a pair of birds for his dog. Toga was returned to the course and stopped at 6:00. Shirley plowed through the briars to flush the woodcock right off the dog's nose. While this was all going on, Brute was gliding through the cover in search of his own birds. Brute's bell fell silent at 23:00 with Toga coming in for the back. Flewelling sent the bird skyward and he had his first find of the trial. Toga went back to work and stopped at 31:00 with another find. This brit knows how to find birds as he nailed another at 35:00. Brute got back into the mix again when he and Toga stopped at 43:00 with a divided find. Brute would finish his hour strong and Toga hustled to the end.

Brace 5 Longgone Hatfield (Kennedy) and Elmers Always Been Crazy (Henderson) took off too the briars. Both dogs did not have any luck on the field edges. They swung back through the rhododendrons and Hatty dove down to the left and her bell stopped at 15:00. Kennedy located her dog in a seep near the road and was able to produce a bird with all in order. Both dogs would cross the road and Hatty would stop to the right. Kennedy was unable to produce a bird this time. Elmer moved forward and was rewarded two times just before the cemetery. He had a bird at 34:00 and another at 41:00. Elmer would finish with a moderate race.

Brace 6: The last brace of the day ended on the Bridge course. Wizard's Cas Dubh (Hathaway) shared the course with Blue Creek Pearl (Raiano). Both dogs ran well and covered a lot of ground but both went bird less.

Brace 7: Mentioned Earlier

Brace 8: The morning run of Cemetery included Sweet Southern Belle (Henderson) and Witch City Charlie (Hathaway). Belle is owned by Jonathan Wilkins of New Brunswick. Charlie is owned by Steve Levesque. Henderson and Hathaway turned the dogs loose. Belle stopped quickly at 4:00 for Henderson on the edge of the course in a nasty briar tangle. Henderson, also from New Brunswick, attempted to get a bird up but the thrashing of briars was too much for Belle and she took some steps which ended her day. Charlie would have the course to himself. He hunted well and was rewarded with a find at 39:00. However, not having a brace mate may have hindered his run and was picked up at the cemetery.

Brace 9: Little Miss Bella (Cavanaugh) and Brae Val Bearcat Laddie (McCluskey) had another go at the bridge course. Both dogs made it to the turn. Bella bells stopped at 14:00 near the stream but Cavanaugh could not produce a bird. Laddie went forward and had a stop near some young pines at 14:00 and started up before the handler could reach him. Bella was making her way to the front when the sound of Laddie's bell was lost. Bella crossed the course and stopped right before a bird got up. The scout stood by Bella as the handler made his way up. McCluskey and his scout continued to search for Laddie but were having trouble. After Cavanaugh fired and was taking Bella back to the course, the second judge noticed a bit of color and after closer investigation, Laddie was found buried in the brush behind a blowdown. McCluskey fired and both dogs were credited with a find at 31:00. Both dogs went forward and across the road, Bella had her second unproductive at 33:00 and then a find on a pair of woodcock at 50:00. Both dogs were picked up at the road.

Brace 10: The final brace of the championship was between Harwich Indian Creek Buck (Olfson) and Boomer of Blackwater (Flewelling). Buck covered his course but went bird less. Boomer, ran strong and hunted well but he too went bird less.
Exeter, R.I., March 19
Judges: Adam Dubriske and Bill Bonnetti
INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 11 Pointers, 7 Setters and 2 Brittanys
Winner-KISSAMEE GROUSEWOODS TEA, 1672676, pointer female, by Daddy's Little Boy Butch-Porter Meadow Bette. Peter LaBella, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-LITTLE MISS MARGARET, 1693526, pointer female, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Tim Cavanaugh, owner and handler.