Result: Ruffed Grouse Field Trial Club

Location: Gladwin, Michigan

Post Date: Jun 7, 2023

Submitted By: Tamara Chaffee

Jack Secor Memorial Open Shooting Dog Winners (from left): Bryan Wood (field trial chairman), Scott Chaffee, Jeff Secor with the Jack Secor Trophy, Bill Nelson with Highbank's Down'N'Dirty, Dave Heavlin (judge), Tammi Savage, Ken DeLong with K Del's Eagle Magnum Hotshot, Jim Johnson (judge), Lonnie Rademacher, Ken Moss with Moss Meadow Maverick, and Bert Benshoof.

The Michigan Ruffed Grouse Field Trial Club held its spring events April 14-16 at the Gladwin game refuge near Meredith, Mich.
The weather was unfavorable for dogs, birds, and humans, as the temperatures reached the mid-80s each day, unheard of weather for northern Michigan in mid-April.
The Ruffed Grouse Field Trial Club would like to thank all who pitched in to make this trial run smoothly despite the dry conditions and high temperatures. As always, we thank Purina and Greg Blair for their continued support. Dave Heavlin of Grayling, Mich., and Jim Johnson of Ravenna, Ohio, performed the judicial duties for the Jack Secor Memorial Open Shooting Dog stake, reviewing a starting lineup of 37 hopefuls. Coming out on top was Highbank's Down'N'Dirty, a female pointer owned and handled by Bill Nelson. "Sadie" ran in brace No. 18 in scorching heat and handled a perfect limb woodcock find coupled with a hard-charging race. Second place was K Del's Eagle Magnum Hotshot, a Brittany male owned and handled by Ken DeLong. "Shooter" is no stranger to the podium, and he coupled a nice race with a grouse find at the end of course six. In third was Moss Meadow Maverick, a male English setter owned and handled by Ken Moss. Maverick ran in the relatively cool (60+ degrees!) morning on course two and combined a hard-searching race with a grouse and woodcock find.

Grouse dog veterans Craig Merlington of Howard City, Mich., and Mike Bentley of Brighton, Mich., handled the John R. Stuart Memorial Open Derby stake and pronounced Meredith Grade Penny, a female setter owned by Dennis Keysor and handled by Scott Chaffee, as the winner. Penney had an outstanding race coupled with a finished woodcock find. In second was Anna Lake Klark, a male setter owned by Rob Matson and also handled by Scott Chaffee. Clark combined a hard hunting 30 minutes with a grouse find. In third was Northwoods Dexter, owned and handled by Mike Rosario. Mike is a newcomer to cover dog trials and is making his mark with this young, 9-month-old male setter. He was awarded third based on a nice ground race.

Leeann Parnell of Gaines, Mich., and Lonnie Rademacher of Lake Leelanau, Mich., viewed 19 grouse dog prospects entered in the Ruth Stuart Memorial Open Puppy stake. They chose Moss Meadow Ellie as the best of the bunch. Ellie, a female setter owned and handled by John Stegman, showed the desired traits as a potential field trial contender. In second was Northwoods Dexter, a setter male owned and handled by Mike Rosario. Dexter also placed in the Derby stake and showed his consistency with this placement in the Puppy stake. In third was Mi Henry, another male setter, owned and handled by newcomer Greg DeWald. Henry handled to the right spots and finished strong. The judges said they were impressed by the number of dogs that did well despite the very dry conditions and extreme temperatures.

Gladwin, Mich., April 14
Judges: Dave Heavlin and Jim Johnson
JACK SECOR MEMORIAL OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 3 Pointers, 31 Setters, 2 Brittanys and 1 Irish Setter
1st--HIGHBANK'S DOWN'N'DIRTY, 1674795, pointer female, by Nelson's Van Max-Highbank's Sugar Coated. William Nelson, owner and handler.
2d--K DEL'S EAGLE MAGNUM HOTSHOT, 1685770, Brittany male, by Magnum High Velocity-K Del's Eagle's Chance To Soar. Kenric J. DeLong, owner and handler.
3d--MOSS MEADOW MAVERICK, 1686016, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Moss Meadow Lil. Ken Moss, owner and handler.

Judges: Mike Bentley and Craig Merlington
JOHN R. STUART MEMORIAL OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 4 Pointers, 18 Setters and 1 Brittany
1st--MEREDITH GRADE PENNY, 1694628, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Eldridge's Beauty and Beast. Dennis Keysor, owner; Scott Chaffee, handler.
2d--ANNA LAKE KLARK, 1695030, setter male, by Grouse Ridge Whitestone-Meredith Grade Annie. Robert A. Matson, owner; Scott Chaffee, handler.
3d--NORTHWOODS DEXTER, 1701733, setter male, by Snyder's Pioneer Scout-Northwoods Cedar. Michael Rosario, owner and handler.

John R. Stuart Memorial Open Derby Classic Winners (from left): Bryan Wood (field trial chairman), Dennis Keysor with Meredith Grade Penny, Craig Merlington (judge), Scott Chaffee with Anna Lake Klark, Mike Bentley (judge), and Mike Rosario with Northwoods Dexter.

Judges: Leann Parnell and Lonnie Rademacher
RUTH STUART MEMORIAL OPEN PUPPY CLASSIC - 1 Pointer and 18 Setters
1st--MOSS MEADOW ELLIE, 1700382, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Moss Meadow Lil. John Stegman, owner and handler.
2d--NORTHWOODS DEXTER, 1701733, setter male, by Snyder's Pioneer Scout-Northwoods Cedar. Mike Rosario, owner and handler.
3d--MI HENRY, 1701205, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Grouse River Patti Cakes. Greg Dewald, owner and handler.

Ruth Stuart Memorial Open Puppy Classic Winners (from left): Bryan Wood (field trial chairman), Lonnie Rademacher (judge), John Stegman with Moss Meadow Ellie, Leeann Parnell (judge), and Mike Rosario with Northwoods Dexter. (Not pictured): Greg Dewald with Mi Henry.