Result: Peninsula Bird Hunters Club

Location: Ahoskie, North Carolina

Post Date: Feb 24, 2023

Submitted By: Dennis Kivikko

The Peninsula Bird Hunters Club trial broke away at 7:30 a.m. December 3, 2022, under dreary conditions. Mostly a misty day with periods of moderate rainfall. The on-and-off rain came in brace No. 4 of the shooting dog; No. 5 got a respite. The heaviest rain, fortunately, came during the lunch break and on and off during the first couple of braces after lunch.

The trial was held at Dr. Morgan's Cutawhiskie Farm. The late Dr. Aubrey Morgan's passion for bird dogs and Barbel Fetkoter have selflessly perpetuated these beautiful grounds to the sport of field trialing. Barbel Fetkoter oversees the Cutawhiskie grounds and maintains a healthy population of pre-released birds. All appreciate her hard work and hospitality.

Thanks to Purina for supplying valuable coupons to all the winners.

Trial Chairman Lee Flanders, with the help of Ashby Morgan, put on an outstanding trial that ran smoothly as they had a veteran cast supporting them. They worked like a well-oiled machine. Butch Heywood and Arnold Ripley handled the bird planting. Two dog wagons were utilized to keep things moving: Gary Winall and Ellen Clements in one, and Gene Hogge and Barbell Fetkoter in the other. A big thanks to this hardworking group!

The overnight campers and lunch crowd enjoyed a seafood buffet. Fish and oysters topped the menu. David Laurier and Jim Jones tended the grill and fryer masterfully. A better job could not have been done! Compliments to the chefs! Steve Graham also brought a pan full of his wife Karen's famous baked beans. They were much appreciated.

The Running

The puppies broke away under the veteran eyes of Gary Winall and Ellen Clements. Their joint statement was what an exciting group of puppies they had the pleasure of judging.

Verlene Stephenson handled her female pointer, "Bebe," to third place. Bebe patterned the edges nicely and looked amazing with her beautiful gate and movement. "Johnny," handled by Ashby Morgan, was second. Ashby's setter male pup broke away hard to the front and handled well at a distance. This super classy setter handled well through the piney woods and coursed the field edges showing great potential. David Huffine's Sweet Grass Scout stood out for a first-place finish. Scout broke away strong and hustled every step of the way. This classy setter male carried himself well at extreme puppy range and always showed to the front. His hustle never waned through to a strong finish.

Hoss Earley and David Huffine toughed the conditions for the derby and shooting dogs. Appreciation to them, and Gary and Ellen, for their time in the saddle. All judgments were well received.

The derby class was topped by Warren Parrott's pointer female, Hirollins Cover Girl. She showed good style on her game, scoring two nice finds, a stop to flush, and a back. Her nice running style and strong forward race garnered attention, and a strong finish sealed the deal for this outstanding pointer prospect. Verlene Stephenson piloted her pointer male, "Ace," to second place. Ace had one find, looking good on his game. He kept a good flowing and forward ground game. Ace was followed by Steve Graham's "Suzie," who had two finds and a back. Suzie handled kindly with a beautiful, snappy movement always forward.

It was a strong field of shooting dogs vying for the Sonny Mason rotating trophy. The late Sonny Mason was a stalwart founder of the Peninsula Bird Hunters Club. Gary Winall described him as a true gentleman. He always carried himself with a smile. Sonny was a fierce competitor keeping a winning string of dogs, and was a mentor to many. It is an honor to have your name and your dog's name inscribed on his trophy.

The Sonny Mason trophy went to "Gypsy" (Lee Flanders). Gypsy ran a strong, consistent race, finding four quail, two in out-of-the-way places. This pointer female showed great style on game and in movement. She had one backing opportunity and showed good style on that as well. Jimmy Crandall's pointer female, "Mavis," was second with two nice finds, a nice race capped by a strong finish. Dennis Kivikko's pointer male, "Louie," claimed the third spot. He had two nice limb finds handled with excellent style. He had a nice forward race.
Ahoskie, N. C., December 3
Judges: Ellen Clements and Gary Winall
OPEN PUPPY - 2 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st--SWEET GRASS SCOUT, 1700663, setter male, by Shag Time Bobo-Black Cloud's Angel. David Huffine, owner and handler.
2d--PINEKONE JOHNNY 1702376, setter male, by Erin's Big Casino-Mohawk Mill Charmer. Ashby Morgan, owner and handler.
3d--CAROLINA QUEEN BEE, 1699747, pointer female, by Tenacee Franklin-Ringo's Sweet Heart. Verlene Stephenson, owner and handler.
Judges: David Huffine and Hoss Earley
OPEN DERBY - 3 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st--HIROLLINS COVER GIRL, 1696674, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior-Hirollins Fantasy Girl. Warren Parrott, owner and handler.
2d--CAROLINA'S WINNING ACE, 1696147, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior-Steel Valley Wardance. Verlene Stephenson, owner and handler.
3d--BACK CREEK SUZIE, 1696529, setter female, by Maximum Resistance-Deciding Point. Steve Graham, owner and handler.
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 14 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st--CHIPPOKES GYPSY GIRL, 1693073, pointer female, by Broken Halo-Brier Creek Daisy. Lee Flanders, owner and handler.
2d--SORROWS OF SATAN, 1681535, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Pirate-Mohawk Mill Honey. James Crandall, owner and handler.
3d--WARRIOR'S MEAN LOUIE, 1691549, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior-Pirate's Mean Louise. Dennis Kivikko, owner and handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog Winners (standing, from left): David Laurier, Jim Jones, Ashby Morgan, Barbel Fetkoter, Judges Hoss Earley, David Huffine, and Gary Winall. (Front, from left): Lee Flanders with Chippokes Gypsy Girl, Jimmy Crandall with Sorrows of Satan, and Dennis Kivikko with Warrior's Mean Louie.