Result: Grand Valley Bird Dog Club

Location: Ionia, Michigan

Post Date: Jul 12, 2022

Submitted By: Jim Cipponeri

Forty-nine years ago the Grand Valley Bird Dog Club ran the very first sanctioned field trial at the Ionia Recreation Area. I remember it vividly as the coldest trial I have ever attended. Back then we did not have the luxury of a clubhouse or barn and the parking lot consisted of frozen mud ice and sod. Professional Dave Grubb drove up from Selma, Ala., after spending the winter at his southern training grounds and numerous dogs tore there pads and feet as temperatures never made it out of the teens.

This years renewal saw weather as bad if not worse than in 1973 as the sun never shined and the wind kept blowing to the gale force variety (30 to 45 mph).Sitting in the judges saddles were Kathryn Lipski, Bill Branham, Mike Brown and Jenny Kurz who joined forces with Richard, Harold and young Ricky Hollister ( Ricky judged ever stake he didn't run in).Premier Bird Planter Richard Lipski had his new Honda UTV ready to go every morning and was the last one to leave the parking lot at night.

It was nice to see some new faces and old as well. Tom O'Malley came over from Indiana to run a setter pup and most of the trialers from Michigan and Ohio seemed to survive the winter months and were enthusiastic for the coming season.
Ionia, Mich., March 26 - One Course
Judges: Robert Ecker and Ricky Hollister
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 6 Pointers, 2 Setters and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-STELLER WIND, 1678050, pointer female, by Easy Terms-Quickmarksman's Erin Penny. Jim & Connie Cipponeri, owners; Jim Cipponeri, handler.
2d-WICKED QUICK, 1674810, pointer female, by Dunn's Tried'n True-Dunn's Get Out Sue. Sandy Maclean & Kelsey Hajek, owners; Kelsey Hajek, handler.
3d-DUKE'S HOLD MY BEER, 1684677, pointer male, by Sugarknoll War Paint-Sizzlin Julie. Ron Sposita, owner and handler.
Judges: Ricky Hollister and Jim Cipponeri
OPEN DERBY - 1 Pointer, 1 Setter and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-ADDIE, German Shorthair female, unreg., German Shorthair female, breeding not given. Vinnie Landolina, owner and handler.
2d-RIPP, unreg., German Shorthair male, breeding not given. Vinnie Landolina, owner and handler.
Judges: Ricky Hollister and Richard Hollister
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 4 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st- WICKED QUICK, 1674810, pointer female, by Dunn's Tried'n True-Dunn's Get Out Sue. Sandy Maclean & Kelsey Hajek, owners; Kelsey Hajek, handler.
2d-BAD RIVER BEAUREGARD, 1665144, setter male, by T's Nickleback-Straight Up Skydancing Lady. Tom Vanecek, owner and handler.
3d- STELLER WIND, 1678050, pointer female, by Easy Terms-Quickmarksman's Erin Penny. Jim & Connie Cipponeri, owners; Jim Cipponeri, handler.
Judges: Ricky Hollister and Jenny Kurz
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 1 Pointer, 4 Setters and 1 Brittany
1st-TUPELO HONEY, 1681583, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Out of the Shadows. Bob & Diane Wheelock, owners; Bob Wheelock, handler.
2d-SPRINGPOND C NOTE, 1677261, setter male, by Springpond Rockin Autumn-Wild Bird Faith's Beauty. Mike J. Brown, owner and handler.
3d-K DEL'S EAGLE MAGNUM HOTSHOT, 1685770, Brittany male, by Magnum High Velocity-K Del's Eagle's Chance to Soar. Ken DeLong, owner and handler.
Judges: Mike Brown and Jim Cipponeri
OPEN DERBY - 2 Pointers, 4 Setters and 1 Brittany
1st-BRUNO'S PINEY RUN PEARL, 1690605, Brittany female, by Piney Run Jake-Piney Run Candy. Arthur Bruno, owner; R. J. Ecker, Jr., handler.
2d-MAY'S LEGACY OF JUSTICE, 1695469, pointer female, by Faith's Maximum Justice-Chasehill Mighty May. Kenric J. DeLong, owner and handler.
3d-NORTH BAY'S TENNESSEE RYE, 1690874, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Eldridge's Beauty and Beast. Brandon Short, owner and handler.
Judges: Mike Brown and Harold Hollister
OPEN PUPPY - 4 Pointers, 3 Setters and 1 Brittany
1st-BUCK OF PINEY WOODS, 1696648, pointer male, by Bo of Piney Woods-Grouse Hill Prima. Richard Warters, owner; R. J. Ecker, Jr., handler.
2d-HAYWOOD LEO MCKALKO, 1697402, Brittany male, by Dogwoods Speeding Comet-Majestic Scout Boersen. Stephen A. McKalko, owner and handler.
3d-DUN ROVENS BOURBON CREEK, unreg., setter male, by Dun Rovens Zip-Aiken's Bine Animosh. Chris Jager, owner; Richard Hollister, Jr., handler.