Result: Southern New England Woodcock Championship

Location: Arcadia, Rhode Island

Post Date: Jul 11, 2022

Submitted By: John Stolgitis

Robert Ecker with Jerry on Fire, John Stolgitis with Duck Hook, judges George Hetrick and Pete Kazic.

The earliest wild bird trials held in New England occurred in Arcadia, R. I., in the late 1920s. Fast forward to the year 2022 and wild bird trials are still being held in Arcadia and we still use some of the same areas used back then. You traverse through the old homesteads and past several historic cemeteries. The Arcadia grounds were in great shape this year, spearheaded by Brittany Hall of Famer Bob Fleury and South County Field Trial Club member Lanny Dellinger working in concert with biologists and equipment operators to facilitate a management and mowing plan.

Thanks to the State of RI for their cooperation and efforts for helping to create and maintain bird cover. Their efforts certainly rewarded the participants with ample woodcock on all the courses. Presiding over the 2022 Southern New England Woodcock Championship were Pete Kazic and George Hetrick. Both gentlemen are avid hunters and field trailers. The club wishes to thank them for their knowledge and enthusiasm for the judicial assignment. Purina and Greg Blain once again stepped up as they always do to support our trial. Our sincere thanks to all.
There were 28 contenders for this year's championship. This year's champion is Jerry On Fire, a well-built orange and white pointer male owned by Nick Puhak and handled by Robert Ecker. The five-year-old ran in the fourth brace on the Pinetop course. Pinetop breaks away in an old holmestead field and then heads towards an abandoned ski area that was called Pinetop. Once you get to the bottom of the ski slope you enter more maintained woodcock cover. Jerry was fast, classy and forward and was rewarded with a beautifully well-mannered find at 35. He finished the course with the same style and power he started with.

The runner-up was Duckhook, a six-year-old white and orange pointer. Call named Brutus, owned by long time field trailer and patron of the sport Dick Straub from PA and Mike Flewelling of Maine. Dick graciously allowed Mike partnership in the ownership and future of Brutus. Brute ran in the seventh brace of the trial, also on the Pinetop course. Brutus had three finds and flowing forward race. The judges indicated the difference being Jerry's strength and animation on the ground.

The Joel Collier Open Derby Classic drew eleven derby-age hopefuls. Judging this year's derby were Steve Levesque and Jamie Nee, both of MA. Both gentlemen are avid hunters and trailers and know what it takes to get to the winner's circle. Taking home the laurels was Little Miss Margaret, owned by Tim Cavanaugh and handled by John Stolgitis. Fresh off of her Runner-up title in the International Woodcock Championship, Margaret flew around the course with three breath-taking finds. A close second was littermate Chasehill Poison Ivy, owned by Alan Raiano. Not to be outdone by her littermate, Ivy is already an Open Grouse Champion having won the 2021 New England Open Grouse Championship. They are sired by Mac Stidham's champion Panola Bacon and previous winner of the Southern New England Woodcock Championship Ch. Chasehill Little Izzy owned by Erin Stolgitis. It was certainly a special litter.

The aforementioned breeding cross continued to dominate the Coverdog Puppy Classic. Bred again last year by Erin Stolgitis, this cross produced the first and second place puppy winners. First went to Alan Raiano's Chasehill Wango Tango and second to Brian Ralph's Raphy's Chasehill Molly, both handled by John Stolgitis. Partridge Hollow Elrumhew, handled by Adam Dubriski was named third by this year's judges Bob Little and Donald Henderson, both from New Brunswick Canada.
Arcadia, R. I., March 21
Judges: George Hetrick and Pete Kazic
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 19 Pointers and 9 Setters
Winner-JERRY ON FIRE, 1678928, pointer male, by Onpoint's Ball Bust'n Bubba-Onpoint's Dirty Bird. Nicholas Puhak, owner; R. J. Ecker, Jr., handler.
Runner-Up-DUCK HOOK, 1668288, pointer male, by Erin's War Creek-Brave Heart Cassie. Dick Straub & Mike Flewelling, owners; John Stolgitis, handler.
Judges: Steve Levesque and Jamie Nee
JOEL COLLIER OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 10 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-LITTLE MISS MARGARET, 1693526, pointer female, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Tim Cavanaugh, owner; Joan Stolgitis, handler.
2d-CHASEHILL POISON IVY, 1694453, pointer female, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Alan Raiano, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.

Joel Collier Derby Classic Little Miss Margaret with John Stolgitis,Chasehill, Poison Ivy with Alan Raiano.

Judges: Donald Henderson and Robert Little
COVER DOG PUPPY CLASSIC - 9 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-CHASEHILLS WANGO TANGO, 1697813, pointer male, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Alan Raiano, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.
2d-RALPHY'S CHASEHILL MOLLY, 1697757, pointer female, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill little Izzy. Brian Ralph, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.
3d-PARTRIDGE HOLLOW ELRUMHEW, 1695675, pointer male, by Barker Elhew Genesis Jeter-Redcum's Braveheart Sue.

Cover Dog Puppy Classic. Chasehill Wango Tango with John Stolgitis, Ralphys Chasehill Molly, Alan Raiano, Partridge Hollow Elrumhew with Adam Dubruski. Judges Bob Little and Donald Henderson.