Mindy
Childers of Phoenix, Ariz., capably and cheerfully managed the marshalling
and bird planting duties. The Arizona Pointing Dog
Club and Region 12 field trialers
are indebted to these devoted individuals. Their efforts yielded
a result well received by all in attendance.
A
small field of 8 was drawn for the event; nevertheless, there was
ample and impressive bird work from each of the entrants. Most of
the birds were gathered in low covering scrub oaks, cedars and pine
trees. Each competitor was tested time and again with movement of
the birds and difficult flushing situations. In many instances birds
were seen by
the judges but the handlers never saw the birds flush as they were
attempting to put them to wing.
The
winners appeared in the second
brace. Silver Spectacle, white and liver pointer male owned and
handled by Jim Schultz of Flagstaff,
Ariz., was named champion. “Willie”
was sired by Miller’s True Spirit, current National Champion, and
whelped by Spectre Rebel Dot. Runner-up laurels went to Harriett’s
Brio Rose, white and black pointer female owned and handled by Curt
Granthen of Phoenix.
This is her second titular award; Brio Rose was named champion at
the 2001 Region 12 Amateur Walking Championship. Her breeder is
Jacque Cure of New River, Ariz.,
from West Texan Dr. Drew Kauffman’s Llano Estacado
bloodlines.
Willie,
a former NSTRA competitor, showed his ground and handling ability
as his hour stake was packed with class and bird handling skills.
At the right times both champion and runner-up showed their speed
and range, ability o adapt to terrain and handling as they exhibited
finished, class bird work often under difficult situations. Willie’s
hour was packed with five finds and a stylish honor of his bracemate,
each handled to perfection. His ground coverage was to the front
and to the range of the walking shooting dog standard, showing subservience
to handler and gun. Brio’s successful hour was limited only by a lesser number
of finds, though well complemented by an overall quality ground
race, with exceptional and perfect manners on her three finds and
honor of her bracemate. Both dogs will undoubtedly enjoy future
trialing success and wins for their proud owners and handlers. Long
hours of work polishing these two dogs was evident throughout
their hour.
THE
RUNNING
Anasazi
Brandywine, white and orange pointer female owned and handled by Mike
Jones of Phoenix, and
Chairman of the Board, white and liver pointer male owned and handled
by Clarence Gamble of Las Vegas, Nev.,
had nice ground coverage but were limited
in exposure to bird work throughout the first half of the course.
“Brandy” showed quickness and class going to the front but was picked
up by her owner before time. Chairman came around well and at 27 pointed
with style and manners with slight movement on the flush. At 38 he
again pointed with intensity but was overcome by the
sight of birds walking around in front of him and
at the flush and shot he chased while the handler was emerging from
under a scrub oak tree. Chairman was allowed to finish his hour, as
were all other entrants, due to the size
of the field.
Silver
Spectacle (Schultz) and Harriett’s Brio Rose (Granthen) were described
earlier.
Sky
Rail Anastasia, owned and handled by Bob Osborne of Scottsdale,
and Brushbuster’s Dazlin
Dakota, white and liver Brittany male owned and handled by Frank
Waid of Mesa, Ariz. “Annie” is a two-year-old
daughter of Guard Rail (frozen semen) and her hour was featured
with three finds and a back. “Cody” had two finds, preceded by an
unproductive at 2. Annie backed Cody at 12, with all in order on
the wing and shot for Cody. Aimie had
finds at 18, 23 and 45 all handled with style. Annie
showed class and strength to the front in finishing
the hour and her limits will undoubtedly increase with seasoning.
Cody handled well for his owner and was only faulted in his ground
coverage and ability to work to the limits of the walking shooting
dog standard.
Magma’s
Prairie Spy, white and orange pointer male owned and handled by
Curt Granthen of Phoenix, and Grand Funk’s Pearl, German Shorthair
owned and handled by trial chairman Victor Funk, were away with
excellent coverage to the tree line some
half mile from the break away. “Gator”, a sixteen-month-old Derby,
exhibited his youthful exuberance and drive while covering the grounds
in an intense hunting pattern. Pearl
had a stop to flush at 7, was moved on by his handler and then an
unproductive at 14, where Gator provided a momentary back for one
of the observing judges and then decided he wanted “a closer look”.
Victor was unable to produce a bird at this location. At 26 Pearl
stood in the edge of the oaks, while Gator provided an intense back
of Pearl. Handler was
unable to produce a bird after a quick attempt to locate and flush,
then moved the dog on. At 34 Pearl
stood with style and class as Victor produced a flush and shot for
him. Again at 40 Pearl located positively and stood with class during the wing and shot.
Both dogs finished their hour with powerful ground coverage, Pearl
exhibiting solid shooting dog standards, reaching well to the front.
Both dogs will enjoy successful trial careers with further seasoning.
Buteherknife Hill. Aria., April 13, 2002;
One Course
Judges: David L. Higgins and James
Moreau
REGION
12 AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP
(One hour heats)-6 Pointers, 1 Brittany
and 1 German Shorthair
Winner:
SILVER SPECTACLE,
1494822, pointer male, by Miller’s True
Spirit-Spectre Rebel Dot. J. D. Schultz. owner
and handler.
Runner-Up:
HARRIETT’S BRIO ROSE,1467961, pointer
female, by White Cloud’s Marko-Desert Rose. C. D. Granthen,
owner and handler.
ARIZONA
POINTING DOG CLUB
By CURTIS GRANTHEN
THE vast
pine and cedar rimmed Butcherknife venue is a challenging place to run bird dogs.
This trial saw many fine competitors “reach to the limits” and provide
an enjoyable assignment for our panel of judges.
Robert
Osborn of Scottsdale, Ariz.,
and Bill “The Magic Man” Gibbons of Phoenix,
Ariz., were
responsible for naming the Open Derby winners. In the Open Shooting
Dog, Bill Gibbons shared the effort with Ken Hart of Glendale,
Ariz. Jim Schultz of Flagstaff
and Curt Granthen of Phoenix
handled the Amateur Walking Shooting Dog assignment. Richard Anderson
of Tempe, Ariz.,
and Mindy Childers of Phoenix paid close attention to our Amateur
Walking Derby contestants. Many thanks to all
for their most generous efforts.
We
don’t know how she manages everything; judging, bird planting, marshalling.
Mindy also managed to cook lunch and organize our delicious potluck
supper Friday night. Our hats off to salute Dan Gaska of Williams,
Ariz., for cooking lunch Sunday during the Championship. It was
excellent. Ken Hart took on so many chores during these events it
is hard to tell all he did; it is easier to say what he didn’t do.
Ken, your hard work guarantees a successful field trial.
Trial
Chairman Victor Funk, Frank Waid, Richard
Anderson, Amanda Lewis and Jim
Schultz all helped plant birds, haul water, maintain the courses,
dog truck duties, stake manage and get everything ready to go. Many
thanks to Dave Hayes, Bill Gibbons and David L. Higgins for the
use of their horses. I’m certain to have left some one out;
please know your efforts are greatly appreciated, if unfortunately
overlooked in this report.
A
field of 14 was drawn for the Derby.
Top honors were awarded to Grand Funk’s Crystal Sky, German Shorthair
female owned and handled by Victor Funk of Glendale,
Ariz. Her littermate, Grand Funk
Running Bull, lived up to his name and was awarded second. These
two pups can chew up country and handle birds with style. Phoenix
Rascal Kate, a fleet-footed stylish white
Fourteen
Amateur Walking Shooting Dog competitors were next to run Butcherknife
Hill. Remi’s Express Point, white and
orange pointer male owned and handled by Jared Waken
of Glendale, was placed
second. His superb style on birds garnered this award. Third was
Samantha Lighting Star, white and orange pointer female owned and
handled by Ernest DeMarco of Glendale.
These pups are littermates from Ernie’s most successful pointer
breeding program. First place was withheld.
Topping
the field of eight in the Open Shooting Dog Stake was Stronghold’s
Anchor Gal, white and orange pointer female owned by David
L. Higgins and handled by Sean Higgins. She is a powerhouse and
ever-ready to deliver a captivating performance. “Casey’s” fine
bird work coupled with a super ground race provided Sean Higgins
his first placement in open competition. Great job!
Twelve
answered the call to “turn ‘em loose!”
in the Amateur Walking Derby. When the dust had cleared and hot
shoe leather cooled, Stronghold’s Just Kate emerged victorious.
The snappy white and liver pointer
female owned by David L. Higgins
and handled by Sean Higgins, delivered a first place performance.
Once again, Jared Waken found the
winners’ circle with Remi’s Express Point. Grand Funk’s Running Bull inked another
placement to his impressive credentials for owner- handler Victor
Funk.
Judges:
Bill Gibbons and Robert Osborn
OPEN DERBY
(14 Entries)
1st
GRAND FUNK’S CRYSTAL SKY, 1513924, German Shorthair female,
by Grand Funk’s Pearl-Pearl’s Birdie Charlie.
v. C. Funk, owner and handler.
2nd
GRAND FUNK RUNNING BULL,
1513919, German Shorthair male, by Grand Funk’s Pearl-Pearl’s
Birdie Charlie. V. C. Funk, owner and handler.
3rd
PHOENIX RASCAL KATE,
1518552, pointer female, by Phoenix
Rascal Scot-Ardita Del Celo.
D. L. Hayes, owner and handler.
Judges
Curtis Oranthen and Jim Scliults
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG (14 Entries)
1st (Withheld)
2nd REMI’S EXPRESS POINT,
1511502, pointer male, by Montego
Barshooter-Pat’s Glowing Amber. J. A.
Waken, owner and handler.
3rd
SAMANTHA LIGHTING STAR,
1519368, pointer female, by Montego Barshooter-Pat’s Glowing Amber. Ernie DeMarco, Jr., owner and handler.
Judges:
Bill Gibbons and Ken Hart
OPEN SHOOTING DOG (8) Entries
1st
STRONGHOLD’S ANCHOR GAL, 1404070, pointer
female, by Hubba Bubba Bud-Sean’s Dancing Kate. D.
L. & S. D. Higgins, owners; S. D. Higgins, handler.
Judges:
Richard Anderson and Mindy Childers
AMATEUR DERBY
(12 Entries)
1st STRONGHOLD’S JUST KATE,
1520883, pointer female, by Samuel Snowbird-Stronghold’s
Anchor Gal. D. L. Higgins. owner;
S. I Higgins, handler.
2nd REM1’S EXPRESS POINT, 1511502,
pointer male, by Montego Barshooter-Fat’s
Glowing Amber. J. A. Waken, owner
and handler.
3rd
GRAND FUNK RUNNING BULL, 1513919, German Shorthair male,
by Grand Funk’s Pearl-Pearl’s
Birdie Charlie. V. C. Funk. owner and handler.
I wish to thank Region 12, David Higgins, Curtis Granthen,
Arizona Pointing Dog Club and The American Field for republication
of this article that appeared in the Field, July 6-13, 2002.
