Result: Indiantown Gap Trials

Location: Petersburg, Pennsylvania

Post Date: Jul 14, 2022

Submitted By: Ernie Saniga

Keystone Open Shooting Dog Championship. First row: Erin's Big Casino with Sheila Cassidy Tatum Boyer with R Q's Saddle. Standing: Mike Tracy Kevin Joyce Ralph Gillota, Carley Gillota, Art Hower, Karen Saniga, George Habecker, Jeanette Tracy, George Tracy, Melina Packer, Ernie Saniga , Ted Foust, Laurie Strausbaugh, Joe Lordi, Greg Strausbaugh.

The Indiantown Gap Club held its spring trial April 9-14 at the club grounds near Petersburg, Pa. The club owns 217 acres and leases three farms adjoining the property for their trials. There are about 600 acres used for the trial in a continuous loop. The featured stakes were the Indiantown Gap Amateur Shooting Dog Classic, the Keystone Open Shooting Dog championship, and the Keystone Yankee Open Derby Classic.

Greg Strausbaugh manages the trial as chairman and serves in many other roles as well. Ted Faust planted birds with Greg using Steve Boyers 4X4 which he kindly lent the club as we look for a new one. Dr. Art Hower manages the grounds including mowing when necessary. Art was here throughout the running. Mary Tracy was the cook and kitchen manager. Dinners were donated by Ted Foust, Karen Saniga, R. B. and Brigit Powell, and Dave McKay, who brought a ham dinner in honor of his CH. North Country Girl, the defending Keystone Champion.
We were treated to music one night by R. B. Powells band which consisted of RB on the banjo. Brigit on the guitar and David Powell on the violin. They were terrific and received an ovation as they ended.

Open Stakes were judged by George Habaker and Kevin Joyce. The Amateur Classic was judged by R. B. Powell and hall of fame handler Dave Hughes. All but Kevin have judged numerous stake here at the Gap. This is an experienced foursome, all successful competitors for many years. We all thank them for their effort.

We delayed the start of the amateur classic until 930 on April 9 since it was raining heavily and very cold. Then it cleared for a few hours but then it would be sunny, rain for 15 minutes, be sunny again, hail for 15 minutes, snow a little and then clear up for a time. This was repeated throughout the trial. We call this "gap weather" since it is common here.
Bella Bulli, pointer female owned by this reporter and his wife Karen and handled by the former won the amateur shooting dog classic. Dee, as she is called, had finds at 6, 9, 15, 24, 28, 35,42 and 60. She never left the long lines, was not scouted and finished strong. Tatum Boyer won her first hour placement with The Secret, pointer female owned by Brian Sanchez and Lisa Pollock, and campaigned in the open trials by Jeanette Tracy. Jack had a far out find at 8 but the birds lifted before the judges got there. Tatum, who is 17, took the dog on without flushing. She is a graduate of the Summerhill youth field trials and knows what to do. Of course, Gerald Tracy is her great grandfather, George Tracy is her grandmas brother, Merv Eisenhart is her grandfather and Luke Eisenhart is her uncle. They have won a few field trials themselves. Jack went on to a strong five find performance himself after the early stand.
Third went to Chris Catanzarites Back Country Missy running in the last brace. The attractive female had four finds and a strong effort on the ground with the only blemish being a nonproductive. Honorable mention went to Joe Lordi and his Fluid Drive which had 6 finds but an 8 minute absence. Backcountry Bruiser, for Chris Catanzarite had a good effort on the ground as well with four finds

This running of the Keystone Open Shooting Dog Championship is actually the 2021 running which was cancelled due to a number of factors including weather, always an issue in the Allegheny ridge country.

The 2021 champion is Erin's Big Casino, setter male owned by Paul Berdiner and handled by Mike Tracy. It is his first title. Casino ran in the first brace on the second day in ideal conditions and the large setter took advantage, running like he had a map, swinging when necessary, and taking the lines to their limits. He was found backing at 6 with high style and then had the course to himself as the bracemate disappeared. Casino pointed high at 10, then again at 27 after the bridge which is abandoned by the state.
Then he had a great find along Shavers creek as he rimmed the hundred acre farm at 33. Tracy let him go on the long lines here and he was found near the farmers bone pile at 38 with birds in front. He scored again at the famers lane at 43 and again on the trust property at 53 at the place we call the gut and went on to a strong finish
Like the champion, the runner-up is a second year dog. That was RQ's Saddle, owned by Ted Foust and Bill and Muriel Primm and handled by Jeanette Tracy. Saddle, a pointer male, had a very smooth race going from one objective to the next in logical order and never made a bad move. He pointed with high style at 30, 37, 40 and 42 and finished with the same jump he started with. It was a very strong effort
Closest to the winners was Joe Lordi and Ralph Gillotta's Bittersweet War Cry, pointer male handled by Mike Tracy to an excellent race with four nicely handled finds. Joe and Ralph were hereto watch him run.
Jeanette Tracy wo first and third in the Indiantown Gap Yankee derby classic with Steel Valley Raven and repsectivelly. Raven, a pointer female, had stylish finds at 6. 12 and 18 coupled with a fine edge hugging race. She is owned by ted Foust, Lisa Pollock and Brian Sanchez. In the fall she won the National Shooting Dog Futurity. Third went to Brian Sanchez' Great River Bella which had 2 finds with a nonproductive to go with good race in this big country.
Mike Tracy won second with Eli, a pointer male named Trumped. The pointer male scored two nice finds at 11 and 16 and a fine race.
Petersburg, Pa., April 9 - One Course
Judges: Dave Hughes and Rowland Powell
INDIANTOWN GAP AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 15 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-BELLA BULLI, 1674898, pointer female, by Bully Bragg-Bullerina. Ernie & Karen Saniga, owners; Ernie Saniga, handler.
2d-THE SECRET, 1686192, pointer male, by Waybetter Rocky-Lady Keepsake. Brian
3d-BACKCOUNTRY MISSY, 1672663, pointer female, by Erin's War Creek-Back Country Tornado. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.
Judges: George Habecker and Kevin Joyce
KEYSTONE OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 38 Pointers and 4 Setters
Winner-ERIN'S BIG CASINO, 1682928, setter male, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Three Stripe's Livewire. Paul Berdiner, owner; Mike Tracy, handler.
Runner-Up-R Q'S SADDLE, 1680847, pointer male, by Waybetter Rocky-Ladywoods Keepsake. Ted Foust & Muriel Primm, owners; Jeanette Tracy, handler.
Judges: George Habecker and Kevin Joyce
KEYSTONE YANKEE OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 12 Pointers
1st-STEEL VALLEY RAVEN,1 696173, female, by Waybetter Rocky-Steel City Karen. Lisa Pollock, Brian Sanchez & Ted Faust, owners; Jeanette Tracy, handler.
2d-TRUMPED, 1690083, male, by Bevy's Cadillac-Mohawk Mill Image. Eli Richardson III, owner; Mike Tracy, handler.
3d-GREAT RIVER BELLA, 1696071, female, by Miller's Unbridled Forever-Great River Grace. Great River Kennels, owner; Jeanette Tracy, handler.

Indiantown Gap Amateur Shooting Dog Classic. First row: Ernie Saniga with Bella Bulli, Tatum Boyer with The Secret, Chris Catanzarite with Backcountry Missy. Second row: R. B. Powell, Zack, Joe Lordi, Laurie Strausbaugh, Greg Strausbaugh. Third row: Mark Janic, Bob Vederosa, Melina Packer, Jeanette Tracy, Ted Foust. Fourth row: George Habecker, George Tracy, Sheila Cassidy, Dave Hughes.