1964 United States Open Brittany Championship
Bill's Buddy Boy is Winner; Title Withheld
By Joan McCrary
The second running of the United States Brittany Championship was held of the excellent Lake Murray State Park grounds at Ardmore, Okla., on February 6-8. The stake drew a representative entry of eighteen dogs.
Bill’s Buddy Boy, white and orange dog, owned by Dan Huddleston of Oklahoma City. Okla., handled by Delmar Smith, was named winner of the stake, though the title was withheld. The judges, Earl Jackson of Lawton. Okla., and Dr. Dean M. Grewell of Billings, Mont., did not name a runnerup.
The United States Brittany Championship is an up-and-coming organization dedicated to the promotion of the field Brittany, It is the intention to foster the hunting abilities of the breed in the best possible manner to assure Brittanys achieving the very highest level of class performance. The devotion to this ideal could not he better exemplified than in the present renewal, for it is only by having the loftiest standards adhered to that any hunting breed can attain its full potential. The winner was a far-better-than-average performer and lesser judges or without definite instructions from Association officials would be inclined to bestow the title, yet in this event the desire is only for the utmost in Brittany performance in all aspects.
Saturday was a crispy, crunchy day. everyone eager for the start of the trial, full of high hopes. But birds were at a premium.
The first morning we had moved deer, numerous rabbits and no few armadillos, but nary a bob-white. While enjoying the fine facilities of the Lake Murray Lodge, the talk naturally was of birds and dogs. A sizable gallery returned for the afternoon running, and this time there were birds, although not handled properly.
Some big running Brittanys were seen. These needed only adequate opportunities on game to demonstrate their all-around excellence, for they showed assiduous application, proper pattern and evidenced stamina.
To be eligible for the stake, a contender had to have a prior placement in a recognized trial, and the conditions called for one-hour qualifying heats with a minimum of eight dogs called hack for the finals, also of one-hour.
Other than the winner, the dogs called back were Rusty de Morningside, owned by Dr. It. M. Glover, handled by Lyle Johnson: Count Normandy, owned and handled by Plato Andros; Buck Six. owned by Jerry Maloney, handled by Lyle Johnson; Jeffrey D'Or, owned by John Warner, handled by Delmar Smith; Way Kan Jill, winner of the 1963 Championship, owned by R. E. Leverich. also handled by Delmar Smith; Epper of Siouxland. owned by Dr. Adolph Utzinger, handled by Ralph 1lesseltine; Hellous Yankee Timber, owned by Dr. Adolph Utzinger, handled by Ralph Hesseltine.
Bill’s Buddy Boy and Count Normandy were recalled by the judges. Boy used the wind to advantage, ran a good pattern, showed considerable endurance, and charted the best applied race. Boy was given the nod, though the title was withheld. Count showed a lot of spirit and also touched most of the birdy areas.
Boy, whelped May 31, 1957, was bred by Mabel Hampton of Mystic, la., originally registered in the ownership of W. A. Bullock of La Plata, Mo., and passed to the ownership of Dan Huddleston when he was less than two years of age. Delmar
Smith has been responsible for his development. Boy was scoring his seventh recognized win in annexing this placement.
The other starters, not previously named, in the order of their appearance, were Toakwood Valley Dingo, Holliday Doc, Way Kan Boy, Alamo Brownie, Val Yvo, Empire Little Brown Jug, Buzzer’s Mike of Billings and Due Du La Bretagne.
Ardmore, Okla., February 8
Judges: Dr. Dean M. Grewell and Earl Jackson
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—18 Brittany Spaniels
Winner— BILL’S BUDDY BOY. 573890. Brittany Spaniel dog, by Appanoose Britt—Appanoose Billie. Dan Huddleston, owner; Delmar Smith, handler.