Event: Robert E. Lee Shooting Dog Classic and Les Hobbs Puppy Classic
Result: U. S. Complete Futurity

Location: Boydton, Virginia

Post Date: Apr 6, 2023

Submitted By: Verlene Stephenson

Futurity Winners (front row, left to right): Krysta Munden with Wildland Wild Man, Eric Munden with Wildland Hide The Wine, Joe Edwards with Come Back Misty Red, and J. D. Waters with Hirollins Cover Girl. (Standing): Mark Hughes, Dave Hughes, Bobby Phillips (judge), Greg Isenberg (judge), and Tony Bingham.

The annual U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association Robert E. Lee Shooting Dog Classic, Futurity, and the Les Hobbs Puppy Classic began on Monday, January 30, at 8 a.m. and lasted until Thursday, February 2. This year's location was the well-known grounds of the Dick Cross Wildlife Management Area in Boydton, Va.

This WMA is named for former Department of Game and Inland Fisheries executive director, wildlife biologist, and field trial judge Dick Cross. It features gently rolling land with elevations varying from 200 to 300 feet. Much of the area was once a cattle farm, and evidence of that operation remains. The area's 1,400 acres are primarily open upland, maintained as old fields, or cultivated to benefit wildlife.

Dick Cross is in good shape this year due to the efforts of a hardworking and well-organized group of field trialers called the Friends of Dick Cross WMA. There are several courses on these grounds. Due to the extremely wet conditions on the courses, we used the top part of the area, consisting of fields, meadow-like clearings, woods, paths, and ponds. These are great places to show a dog and are used throughout our season by horseback and walking clubs for many weekend trials and championships.

The Robert E. Lee Shooting Dog Classic was first run in 2003. The stake honors Robert E. (Bob) Lee for being a founder of our organization. The USCSDA Futurity began in 1996. A 30-minute Puppy Classic has always accompanied the Futurity, but starting in 2017, it was renamed the Les Hobbs Puppy Classic. Les Hobbs was an avid supporter of the U.S. Complete Shooting Dog Association, and a revolving trophy displaying his name goes home with the Puppy Classic winner each year.

We thank our national sponsors, Purina and Garmin, for their continued support. Purina provided bags of dog food and hats for participants. Futurity winners received certificates for multiple bags of dog food. Garmin provided a collar for the Futurity winner. Also, our local sponsor, Stinger Supply, provided leashes for the Futurity winners. All ten placements received gift certificates from Lion Country Supply, brought to us by Eric Munden, Lion Country Supply representative.

I have been the Futurity secretary since 2012. It takes a year of planning and recruiting nominations to ensure a successful Futurity. In the summer of 2022, I asked my friends in Virginia if they would be willing to assist with the trial if it were to be held at Dick Cross WMA; they said yes. So, we took a leap of faith and held the three stakes at the Dick Cross WMA, a very different place than the usual trial at the Drop Zone in North Carolina.

During the week, we experienced all forms of precipitation, rain, sleet, and snow. Conditions were wet when the trial started and only got worse. We had arranged for a gallery wagon so spectators could watch the action. Unfortunately, the best we could offer was the view from the back of a 4WD pickup truck, and after the first two days, not even that was possible. Walking the course proved challenging for the handlers, especially those with back-to-back braces.

Thanks to much teamwork, we had a great trial despite the rain, sleet, snow, and mud. Everyone pitched in and did their job. Any time a problem arose, there was someone with a solution. Many, many thanks go to Bobby Phillips, Greg Isenberg, Ashby Morgan, Lee Flanders, and Eric Munden, the bird planters; Jimmy Crandall and Dave Hughes, the truck drivers; Yvonne McKeag, for our lunches and the use of her truck for a gallery wagon; Jameson Crandall for obtaining the necessary permits; Hunter Sainato, Va. Wildlife Officer, who opened gates and solved numerous problems for us; Mark Hughes and Eric Munden, for stepping in as Puppy judges at the last minute and anyone else that helped in any way and I forgot to mention.

Doug McMillen, the owner of last year's Bob Lee Shooting Dog Classic winner, Double Deuce Zeke, sponsored Tuesday night's handlers' dinner at Pino's Pizza. Doug also sponsored the Futurity lunch sandwich tray and sides on Wednesday in honor of his 2022 Futurity winner, Double Deuce Jack. Thanks, Doug!

Robert E. Lee Shooting Dog Classic

The Winners

Thank you to Jeff Smith of Chase City, Va., and Art Cohen of Skipwith, Va., for judging this renewal of the Classic.

The thirteenth brace produced the winner, Hirollins Gone and Doneit, a strong orange and white male pointer owned by Warren Parrott and handled by Tony Bingham, and the third place dog, Ramapo Mountain Doc, a black and white male pointer owned by Bob Shaban and handled by Robert Ecker.

"Gunner" scored four picturesque finds with good manners. He was always to the front with a solid forward race. Doc scored three well-mannered finds and one back.

The second-place dog was Lancaster's Hit Man. "Mugsy" is a 5-year-old male pointer owned and handled by Jimmy Crandall. Mugsy had three stylish finds and one unproductive with a very good, consistent race.

Bob Lee Classic Winners (front row, left to right): J. D. Waters with Hirollins Gone and Doneit, Jimmy Crandall with Lancaster's Hit Man, and Robert Ecker with Ramapo Mountain Doc. (Standing): Jeff Smith (judge), Tony Bingham, Art Cohen (judge), Rich Warters, and Lee Flanders.

Boydton, Va., February 1 - One Course
Judges: Art Cohen and Jeff Smith
ROBERT E. LEE SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 18 Pointers and 10 Setters
1st-HIROLLINS GONE AND DONEIT, 1679825, pointer male, by Fastforward's B K Gunner-Littlewing B K Tia. Warren Parrott, owner; Tony Bingham, handler.
2d-LANCASTER'S HIT MAN, 1679423, pointer male, by Waybetter Rocky-Calico's Touch of Class. James Crandall, owner and handler.
3d-RAMAPO MOUNTAIN DOC, 1680932, pointer male, by Bo of Piney Woods-Sweet Valley Stevie Nicks. Robert Shaban, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.

The Futurity

The 27th USCSDA Futurity was capably judged this year by Greg Isenberg of Kingsport, Tenn., and Bobby Phillips of Jonesborough, Tenn. This year 22 litters were nominated. Two of the 22 were sired by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior. Other notable producers of this year's nominated litters are Double Deuce Zeke, Long Gone DeQuan, Bonner's Excalibur, and Erin's Blew By You. We are grateful to the breeders who nominated these litters and hope to receive even more great litter nominations next year.

All placements received certificates for Purina dog food. The first and second placements received Garmin collars. All placements received a leash provided by Stinger Supply in Boydton, Va. All handlers received small bags of Purina Pro Plan Sport.

The Winners

Male pointer Wildland Wild Man set the bar high in the fourth brace of the Futurity with a remarkable performance. At the end of the running, he was named the winner. "Wayne" is an attractive white and liver pointer owned by Krysta and Eric Munden, expertly handled by Krysta, and bred by Joe Cammisa from Butler, Pa. He is of well-recognized pointer blood, with his dam being Beaver Meadow Rose (going back to Chasehill Little Bud) and his sire being Double Deuce Zeke, a consistent winner in U. S. Complete stakes. Wayne had three stylish finds, a back and one unproductive. Wayne had a nice forward race, always to the front and responding to his handler.
Littermate Wildland Hide The Wine, a male pointer also owned by Krysta and Eric Munden and handled by Eric, took second place. "Chuck" scored one stylish find with good manners and had one back and a forward reaching ground race until the finish.

Third place was Come Back Misty Red, an Irish setter female, owned and handled by Joe Edwards from Rose Hill, N. C. Joe was also the breeder for this litter. Her dam is Hatcreek Misty Blue, and her sire is Come Back Billy Boy. Misty scored four finds with a medium race. She responded well to her handler.

Fourth place went to Hirollins Cover Girl. Cover Girl is a female pointer owned by Warren Parrott and handled by Tony Bingham. Her sire is Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior, and her dam is Hirollins Fantasy Girl. The breeder of the litter was Gary Winall. Cover Girl scored four stylish finds with good manners. She stayed to the front with a classy race.

Judges: Greg Isenberg and Bobby Phillips
U. S. COMPLETE SHOOTING DOG FUTURITY - 16 Pointers, 4 Setters and 4 Irish Setters
1st-WILDLAND WILD MAN, 1695981, pointer male, by Double Deuce Zeke-Beaver Meadow Rose. Krysta & Eric Munden, owners; Krysta Munden, handler.
2d-WILDLAND HIDE THE WINE, 1697105, pointer male, by Double Deuce Zeke-Beaver Meadow Rose. Krysta & Eric Munden, owners; Eric Munden, handler.
3d-COME BACK MISTY RED, 1699334, Irish setter female, by Come Back Billy Boy-Hatcreek Misty Blue. Joe Edwards, owner and handler.
4th-HIROLLINS COVER GIRL, 1696674, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior-Hirollins Fantasy Girl. Warren Parrott, owner; Tony Bingham, handler.

Les Hobbs Puppy Classic

The judges for the Puppy Classic were Mark Hughes of Grampian, Pa., and Eric Munden of Philipsburg, Pa. Mark and Eric are both qualified, experienced field trialers. They both graciously agreed at the last minute to step in and judge this stake. Thanks, guys!

Blue Ribbon River, a female pointer owned by Marty Festa and handled by pro Robert Ecker, bagged first place. River impressed the judges with a fancy forward hunting pattern and stylish way of moving. She handled obediently for her handler while seeking birdy objectives.

Second place went to Bob's Gray Street Macy. Macy is owned and handled by Bobby Phillips. Macy was always forward with nice moves. She had slightly less range than the first-place dog.

Greg Isenberg secured third place with Tenacee Moxie, a pointer female. Moxie caught the judges' attention with a classy, far-reaching, easy-gaited ground race.

The Les Hobbs Puppy Classic ran on Thursday afternoon, concluding a very enjoyable trial. It was good to see old friends and welcome some new ones.

The Futurity Secretary wishes to sincerely thank everyone who made this trial possible, especially the national sponsors of our organization, Purina and Garmin. We look forward to seeing you next year.

Judges: Art Cohen and Jeff Smith
Judges: Mark Hughes and Eric Munden
LEE HOBBS PUPPY CLASSIC - 4 Pointer and 2 Setters
1st-BLUE RIBBON RIVER, 1701966, pointer female, by Double Deuce Zeke-Huckleberry's Lucky Penny. Marty Festa, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.
2d-BOB'S GRAY STREET MACY, 1702075, pointer female, by Touch's Grey Street-Bandit's Hill Lady. Bobby Phillips, owner and handler.
3d-TENACEE MOXIE, 1701535, pointer female, by Elhew Moneymaker-Crossroads Elhew Dot. Greg Isenberg, owner and handler.

Lee Hobbs Puppy Classic Winners (front row, left to right): Robert Ecker with Blue Ribbon River, Bobby Phillips with Bob's Gray Street Macy, and Greg Isenberg with Tenacee Moxie. (Standing): Mark Hughes (judge) and Eric Munden (judge).