Result: Hanover Field Trial Association

Location: King William, Virginia

Post Date: May 2, 2023

Submitted By: Kirk Regensburg

Amateur Puppy Winners (left to right): Dennis Kivikko, Marty Festa with Blue Ribbon River, James Festa with Huckleberry's Double Take, and Dean Avillion with Huckleberry's Double Trouble.

The Hanover Field Trial Association's fall U. S. Complete trial was held on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Cohoke Shooting Preserve. The Association would like to thank the Gottwald family for allowing the trial to be held on their private shooting preserve.
Dennis Bosewell had the facilities in good condition for the field trial. The club is fortunate to use these pristine grounds for field trials. It was a crisp sunny day--perfect weather to run dogs. All had a good time.

We thank Nestle Purina for being the National Sponsor of the U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association weekend and championship trials. Purina is providing discount coupons for dog food to all dogs who have earned placements in the various stakes.

Several club members pitched in to make this field trial a success. George Ramkey, Bert Wright, and Kirk Regensburg planted birds. Retta Ramkey typed the program. Art Mourino provided the Kawasaki Mule, which Isabella Rector used to transport the dogs and handlers to the starting line. Pat Brooks provided the gallery wagon. Jimmy Crandall and Steve Graham drove the truck to pull the gallery wagon.

We want to send a special thank you to Ron Blackburn and Heather Keener for helping supply the birds. Charlotte Regensburg and Judy Jones provided lunch; fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, and butter beans were served. The Hanover club is fortunate to have many members and wives who help make this trial successful, and we appreciate everyone's help.

Four dogs were entered in the Puppy stake and eight in the Derby. Twenty-two dogs were in the Shooting Dog stake. Judging the Puppy and Derby stakes were George Ramkey and Dennis Kivikko. Jim Jones and Tommy Stargell judged the Shooting Dog.

River, a pointer female handled by Marty Festa, took first place in the Puppy stake. River maintained a strong forward race with fancy ground movement. She was very independent and checked in appropriately with her handler. Second place was Tilly, a pointer female, handled by Dean Avillion. She looked good moving, showed independence, and maintained a good connection with her handler. Third place was Lucy, a pointer female, also handled by Dean Avillion. A bookend to the second-place pup, but she wasn't quite pushed as hard by her very young bracemate.

In the Derby stake, Ace, a pointer male, took first. Owned and handled by Verlene Stephenson, Ace ran a strong forward race. He handled well, looked great on the ground, and checked all his objectives. Ace had two well-spaced finds and handled with shooting dog manners. Second was Freedom, a pointer male. Owned and handled by Ken Delong, Freedom ran hard and strong with a fancy running style. He had one unproductive and one find with good style and broke dog manners. Pete, a setter male, took third. Owned and handled by Ashby Morgan, he moved well and was pleasing to the eye. He had a good ground race. Pete finished with one unproductive and one find with good manners.

During this trial, we carried seven dogs that we would have been pleased to name as winners, but there is the adage that "field trials are to the front." In this case, a continuous concentric circular ground pattern with a sporadic forward pattern throughout the 30 minutes did not hold serve. All seven dogs pointed their birds nicely, backed when called upon, and ran good patterns. It all came down to who showed the final necessity, a powerful forward finish. The last two minutes have to be as strong as the first two. We allowed every handler to have their dog seize those last two minutes; three filled the requirement and placed.

First place was Harper, a pointer female owned by Marty Festa. Harper's finish was front, and she entered the course's beginning portion. We saw her disappear past the waiting gallery and into the course at time. She had her birds well located four times and was rock steady. Her performance was without blemish, earning her "Dog of the Day" recognition.

In second place was Jack, a setter male handled by Lee Flanders. He started his time running big to the front woods on the right side. He did not come around as we swung around, taking in the left side of the course. He was on point and dead ahead as we approached the road crossing. He was gone for a good amount but was seen pointing well within the acceptable period. He went on to have four majestic finds and finished as you wished to see one finish.
Third was Molly, a pointer female handled by Lee Flanders. Molly, although a female, attacks a course in a male fashion with long powerful strides. Her birds were pointed at 5, 12, 21, and 25, with long flushing attempts and relocations on the last two. Like the other two dogs, Molly required no backing and ran the course to the front, had not a second of let down, and finally was well forward in the big green field.

Jake and Molly severely pressed the winning dog, Harper, in every way. The Shooting Dog stake required constant visual attention and attention to detail. All seven dogs gained our respect.
Harper, owned by Marty Festa, was named "Dog of the Day," winning the Waverly Coleman Shooting Dog trophy.
The Club would like to thank all the judges, participants, and guests for coming and supporting our sport. The Association looks forward to its next U. S. Complete trial scheduled for fall 2023.

King William, Va., March 4 - One Course
Judges: Dennis Kivikko and George Ramkey
AMATEUR PUPPY - 4 Pointers
1st--BLUE RIBBON RIVER, 1701966, female, by Double Deuce Zeke-Huckleberry's Lucky Penny. Martin Festa, owner and handler.
2d--HUCKLEBERRYS DOUBLE TAKE, 1701987, female, by Double Deuce Zeke-Huckleberry's Lucky Penny. Dean & Catherine Avillion, owners; Dean Avillion, handler.
3d--HUCKLBERRY'S DOUBLE TROUBLE, 1701986, female, by Double Deuce Zeke-Huckleberry's Lucky Penny. Dean & Catherine Avillion, owners; Dean Avillion, handler.

Amateur Derby Winners (left to right): Dennis Kivikko, Verlene Stephenson with Carolina's Winning Ace, Ken DeLong with May's Legacy of Justice, and Ashby Morgan with Pinekone Pete.

AMATEUR DERBY - 3 Pointers, 4 Setters and 1 Brittany
1st--CAROLINA'S WINNING ACE, 1696147, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior-Steel Valley Wardance. Verlene D. Stephenson, owner and handler.
2d--MAY'S LEGACY OF JUSTICE, 1695469, pointer male, by Faith's Maximum Justice-Chasehill Mighty May. Kenric J. DeLong, owner and handler.
3d--PINEKONE PETE, 1697771, setter male, by Erin's Wild Atlantic Way-Quickmarksman's Silky. Pinekone Kennels, owner; Ashby Morgan, handler.

Judges: Jim Jones and Tommy Stargell
WAVERLY COLEMAN AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 11 Pointers, 8 Setters and 3 Brittanys
1st--BLUE RIBBON'S HARPER BELLA, 1682768, pointer female, by Bud of Piney Woods-Blue Ribbon Bella. Martin Festa, owner and handler.
2d--CHIPPOKES CRACKER JACK, 1691321, setter male, by Skyview New Edition-Grid Iron's Sorrell's Penny. Lee Flanders, owner and handler.
3d--CHIPPOKES FANCY LADY, 1689564, pointer female, by Stoney Run's Buddy-Hirollins Fancy Lady. Lee Flanders, owner and handler.

Waverly Coleman Amateur Shooting Dog Winners (left to right): James Festa with "Dog of the Day" trophy, Marty Festa with Blue Ribbon's Harper Bella, Steve Graham with Chippokes Cracker Jack, and Lee Flanders with Chippokes Fancy Lady. (Standing): Tommy Stargell (judge) and Jimmy Crandall (judge).