Result: Northeast Ohio Field Trial Club

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: Dec 7, 2022

Submitted By: Paula Giulitto

Larry Sutter Amateur Shooting Dog Classic. Ash Creek Domino with Jerry Burke, Mountain Top Ryn with Jeff Keller, Pinestar's Tupelo Honey with Dale Ash, Judges Joe Cammisa and Neal Minard.

Fall Trial Hosted by Michigan Amateur Field Trial Club
The venue chosen for The Northeast Ohio Field Trial Club was the grouse woods trial grounds of Gladwin, Mich. The dates of October 1st and 2nd were set, and the official announcements were made. The committee made up of Chris Jaeger, Mark Fernandez, and Paula Giulitto were given and accepted their assignments putting into motion a very exciting upcoming trial.
Entries were accepted by club President Chris Jaeger and 64 dogs were drawn for the renewal.
The grounds in Gladwin are well maintained. The courses were well groomed for the Fall 2022 season by a crew of volunteers that included Brent and Denise Peters, Tammi Chaffee, Ken Moss, Mike Singleton, Lonnie Rademacher, Mike Brown, Chris Wasserman, Bob Wheelock, Ken DeLong, Tom Fruchey, and Mike and Kathy Lareau. The event was hosted this year by the Michigan Amateur Field Trial Club and ran under that same banner. Much appreciation is extended to Bob Wheelock who worked with the NEOFTC to help coordinate the details of the event.
Arriving at the clubhouse, "Alibi Hall", on the first morning, there was the usual hustle bustle of vehicles pulling in, dogs staked out, and handlers greeting one another. Rich Hollister, who provided the horses for the trial, was loading the horses for the exciting day ahead. He and his wife, Jenn, ensured that the horses and the trailer were where they were supposed to be, when they were supposed to be.
It was a crisp Saturday morning with the 3 stakes to be run that day. The Larry Sutter Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog was first on the list of stakes for the weekend.
Riding in the judicial saddle for the Memorial renewal included Joe Cammisa, Larry Sutter's longtime field trial friend who made the drive from Pennsylvania, and well-known Neal Minard of Beulah, Mich. Both judges are stalwarts of the sport along with having owned, trained, and competed with championship caliber dogs.
Handlers were starting to line up their cars behind the horse trailer for the short parade out to the beginning course. Once at their destination, Tom Fruchey and Pete Casgrain dressed Bella and Puma with the best of bells and proceeded to the starting line.
The first brace left the line at 8:10 and the start of the trial was in the books. The morning dew laid heavy to start, but quickly burned off and conditions became very dry by 10:30.
21 dogs competed in the running of the Memorial stake. Several dogs encountered game. But, as is usually the case, the cream comes to the top. One dog always seems to rise to the occasion becoming the standout first place winner.
Ash Creek Domino, a fast and fancy setter male that ran at the top of the card in the fourth brace, took home the blue. He is owned and was handled by Jerry Burke. "Dom" started off with a nice cast forward and pinned a woodcock at 5, holding the quarry there until Jerry flushed. With everything in order, Dom went on to point woodcock twice more at 8 and 12. His last encounter was a woodcock that had been sitting on the path. Dom came in hard, swapped ends, and kindly locked up to make a stand just 15 seconds after the bird was flushed by the gallery. Jerry was informed of the flight and no dog intervention, collared him, and took him forward. Dom ran a nice forward race up and to the end of the half hour when time was called.
Second place went to Ryn, a little dynamo of a setter female owned and handled by Jeff Keller. She put on an independent performance, hunting the thickets, and showing no fear of digging in. She checked in from time to time and kept up the pace for 25 minutes when she stopped on a dime to the left of course, pointing a woodcock that was buried in. Jeff flushed and Ryn stood fast. Ryn was stopped at time but moved on as handler and judge were going to her. Time was up for a good showing.
Third place and garnering the yellow was Moxie, a high caliber setter female owned by Michael Reeves and handled by Dale Ash. Moxie was drawn in the fourth brace with Ryn, the second-place winner. Both provided the judges with a charged and appealing show. Moxie, quite like her bracemate, kept up the pace and hunted the entire time. She was rewarded with a woodcock find at 29 when her bell went silent and was found at time. Moxie handled the bird with fine execution and the placements were complete.

The Amateur Puppy stake commenced at the Puppy Course shortly after the first brace of the Memorial broke away. Howard "Skeeter" Hollister and Ricky Hollister judged the field of 4 pups.
Doc, a very young but spirited setter male pup of just shy of 6 months old, was handled by Brent Peters and is owned by Brent and his wife, Denise. Doc was snappy and moved through the course with speed and ease. His efforts were rewarded with a 1st place placement.
April, a flashy Pointer female, was Doc's bracemate. She sprightly navigated the terrain and was handled by her owner, Chris Wasserman. Chris was accompanied by his daughter, who we may soon see with her own dog competing for a placement. April took the red ribbon.

The Amateur Derby stake ran after the conclusion of the Puppy stake and concurrently with the Memorial, but on the opposite side of the grounds. The logistics of moving cars, marshalling braces, and making sure folks had hot coffee (courtesy of Kit Foster), donuts, and a good lunch was a challenge. But everyone pitched in and with the help of all who attended, not a car, handler, or dog was lost, and everyone was well fed.
The Derby stake consisted of 12 dogs. Richard Hollister, owner of Dun Roven Kennels in Roscommon, Mich., and Robert Ecker, owner of Midnight Kennel in Quakake, Pa., presided over the field.
Ken DeLong ran "Freedom", his Pointer male. Freedom had an upfront run and held good pattern. He applied himself to the course with animation and speed. Freedom won the blue for his performance.

Jeff Sweet's Bill, an setter male, showed off his good hunting skills as Jeff handled him around course six. Bill's solid application in the brace earned him second place.

Cody, a big running setter male owned and handled by Mark Fernandez, was Freedom's bracemate. Cody demonstrated his speed and agility as he effortless navigated the field. He was awarded third place.

Sunday was another invigorating morning with Open Shooting Dog as the sole stake of the day. Carl McRae, of Holt, Mich., and Dave Heavlin, from Grayling, Mich., served as the esteemed judges.
Spec, an setter female owned by Craig Merlington and handled by Robert Ecker, took the blue ribbon. She ran on course 5 - heartbreak hill. Her race was upfront and flashy. At 20 her bell stopped hard and deep on the left. Robert found her intensely pointing in a scrub oak thicket. Walking into judge, Dave Heavlin heard a grouse flush. Robert fired a shot. Once back on the course, Spec finished the brace with a last cast with plenty of zip.
Lucy, an eye-catching setter female, owned by Steve Graham and handled by Richard Hollister, won the red. She impressed the judges with her big run and bird work by pointing a woodcock and not one, not two, but three grouse.
Larry is a powerful setter male, handled by Richard Hollister and owned by Paula Giulitto. He ran forward with drive and determination. He stopped hard and held point when his efforts yielded a pair of woodcock. His stylish performance earned him the yellow ribbon.
It was a beautiful weekend to walk the woods, share stories, watch our dogs hunt up birds, and make some memories. A big thank you to all the folks who traveled from near and far to attend and run dogs, move cars, walk braces, and bring sweet and savory treats. As always, much gratitude to Purina for its continued support of the Trial and our sport.
See you all next year!
Meredith, Mich., October 1 - One Course
Judges: Joe Cammisa and Neal Minard
LARRY SUTTER AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC - 2 Pointers, 18 Setters and 1 Brittany
1st-ASH CREEK DOMINO, 1665895, setter male, by Long Gone Buckwheat-Oliveri's Sussie. Gerard Burke, owner and handler.
2d-MOUNTAIN TOP RYN, 1690895, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Groue River Woodcock Annie. Jeff Keller, owner and handler.
3d-PINE STRAW'S TUPELO HONEY, 1680909, setter female, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Pine Straw Sweet Tea. Michael P. Reeves, owner; Pete Ash, handler.
Judges: Howard Hollister and Ricky Hollister
AMATEUR PUPPY - 2 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-BAXTER'S DOC HOLIDAY, 1701013, setter male, by Thornapple Casey-Baxter's Mary Katherine. Brent & Denise Peters, owners; Brent Peters, handler.
2d-CREEKSIDE'S APRIL FOOLS, 1701603, pointer female, by Pinehill Elhew Damascus Bud-Pinehill Elhew Miss Megan. Chris Waserman, owner and handler.

Amateur Puppy Winners (from left): Baxter's Doc Holiday with Brent Peters, Josie Wasserman, and Creekside's April Fools with Chris Wasserman.

Judges: Robert J. Ecker, Jr. and Richard Hollister
AMATEUR DERBY - 1 Pointer and 11 Setters
1st-MAY'S LEGACY OF JUSTICE, 1695469, pointer male, by Faith's Maximum Justice-Chasehill Mighty May. Kenric DeLong, owner and handler.
2d-SWEET'S NOBLE BILL, 1697049, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Moss Meadow Kate. Jeff Sweet, owner and handler.
3d-DUN ROVEN'S CODY, 1701977, setter male, by Dun Rovens Zip-Dun Roven's Soozee. Mark & Tom Fernandez, owners; Mark Fernandez, handler.

Amateur Derby. May's Legacy of Justice (first) with Ken DeLong, Dun Roven's Cody (third) with Mark Fernandez, Judges, Robert Ecker. (Sweet's Noble Bill (second) was not present for picture.

Judges: David Heavlin and Carl McRae
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 4 Pointers, 21 Setters and 2 Brittanys
1st-CEDAR CREEK SPEC, 1696729, setter female, by Hershner's Grouse Gunner-Call Me Maggie. Craig Merlington, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.
2d-BACK CREEK LUCY, 1683067, setter female, by Payton's Legacy Kip-Girl's Little Dixie. Steve Graham, owner; Richard Hollister, handler.
3d-GROUSE RIDGE LARRY, 1673191, setter male, by Long Gone Boston-Grouse Ridge Merri. Paula Giulitto, owner; Richard Hollister, handler.

Open Shooting Dog. Cedar Creek Spec with Robert Ecker, Back Creek Lucy with Richard Hollister, Grouse Ridge Larry with Richard Hollister, Judges Dave Heavlin and Carl McRae.