1965 United States Open Brittany Championship
Britt's Bazooka, A. H. Pillow's Brittany, Wins Title; Rusty Buck, Runner-Up
By Joan McCrary
Britt's Bazooka, white and orange Brittany, owned by A. H. Pillow of Oklahoma City, Okla., handled by Delmar Smith, put forth a beautiful searching race, highlighted by three finds to win the title of United States Brittany Open Champion for 1965. Rusty Buck, orange and white Brittany, owned by G. B. Maloney of Wichita, Kan., and handled by Lyle Johnson, delivered a laudable race, rewarded with two finds, but was charged with an unproductive. He was the runner-up. There was an entry of 27.
The third running of this Champinship began on February 13 and was concluded February 15. It was run over the Lake Murray State Park venue, near Ardmore, Okla. The weather conditions were excellent, sparkling crispness to the slight breeze. A large attendance enjoyed the event.
The grounds provided an excellent backdrop for the extraordinary talent displayed by top-of-the-ladder Brits from all over the country. Joe Cavanaugh, Park superintendent, had everything in excellent condition. Native birds were abundant. Joe McCrary assisted with field marshal duties and driving of the dog wagon.
The United States Brittany Championship Association requires that to be eligible a dog must have won a place in an Open Derby or Open All-Age in a trial recognized and recorded by the American Field and the AFTCA. The USBC club was formed three years ago to try to promote the Brittany, emphasis is put on both ability and endurance. The dogs are run in one-hour qualifying heats, and the judges choose a minimum of eight top performing dogs to run for another hour apiece.
Don Norris, secretary, and Dan Huddleston, president, presided over the running of the trial, and all came off smoothly.
The judges were Earl Jackson of Lawton, Okla., and Star Taylor of Ardmore. Mention of their names is enough identification, for both are nationally known and their eminent qualifications acknowledged. They have had rich experience with all pointing breeds and in previous judicial engagements have earned the respect of all field trialers.
The U.S. Brittany Champion and Runner-Up
Some records and breeding of the new champion, Britt's Bazooka, runs like this. His breeding contains true blueblood of history-making Brittanys. His sire, Holliday Britt, was winner of the ABC Futurity in 1957. He came back in 1960 to win the National Brittany Championship. Holliday Britt was sired by FC Buddington Prince. Britt's record includes some thirty odd wins. Bazooka's dam, Towsey's Tinkle Bell, the producer of many excellent field trialers, was a daughter of Triple National Champion Towsey. Bred and trained by Delmar Smith, Bazooka's first claim to fame was a third place in the Brittany Futurity in 1963. Another note of interest here is Delmar Smith was trainer of the fine Brittanys mentioned, namedly Towsey, Buddington Prince, Holliday Britt, and of course, Britt's Bazooka. The wins of the latter include two puppy placements, six Derby wins, three open All-Age and seven Amateur All-Age, not all in recognized competition, but proof of his proficiency. Bazooka was four years of age last February.
The runner-up, Rusty, is a son of the renowned Towsey. He was also raised by Delmar Smith and registered as Buck VI. He is now six years old.
The versatile Rusty Buck ran a spectacular race, using the objectives well. His gait of locomotion carried him to one covey which moved through the timber ahead of him. After a series of relocations, he handled the quail at edge of timber. His second find was an exceptionally clean piece of work, Buck holding steady with head held hgih. He pointed once again but this time no birds were produced.
The Running
Rusty Buck—Mainard's Britches.—This brace broke away at 8 o’clock. The weather seemed perfect and at 8:15 Buck pointed at edge of timber, Britches backing. Buck was asked to relocate, Britches being taken on. Buck pinned birds and was steady. At thirty, Buck pointed and no birds were produced. While making game, Britches got too close, birds flushed and dog stopped on command.
Tuffy of Indiana—Pierre La Chausseur.—Tuffy ran a fair race for thirty minutes, then became lame. Pierre lost at about thirty, presumably on deer.
High Skipper—Valley Y Vo.—Valley took off with great speed and, coming to hill, ran over a covey. Skipper had an unproductive at fifteen. Both were picked up early.
Way Kan Boy—Britt’s Bazooka.—Both went big at breakaway and proceeded to all objectives. Bazooka pointed in Johnston grass. Smith was unable to produce and asked dog to relocate. Bazooka did so in grand style. Handler called point for Boy at 43. Hesseltine had no luck in flushing birds, so sent Boy on and gallery rode up birds. Both dogs finished strong.
Tigar’s Jocko—Pachy of Richmont.—Both were credited with wide and strong races. Jocko pointed on a pond dam. Smith was unable to produce. Gallery reported birds had left earlier.
Biffer Boy—Holliday Doc.—Half-brothers, they looked a lot alike. They ran wide and strong races. Boy had a stop to flush.
Tip Top Tim—Count Normandy.—Tim ran a short race. Count ran hard and fast. Handler had a hard time keping him in front. At 37, point was called for Count in draw. A big covey of quail was flushed and Count was steady. At 55, Count was found pointing in plum thicket. Handler asked Count for relocation, but nothing was produced.
Way Kan Jill—Towsey’s White Alawar.—Point was called for Alawar and Johnson flushed a big covey; dog steady. At the same time to the front, point was called for Jill. Smith flushed another large bevy. Jill held with perfect manners. Alawar was not seen again.
Shonsey—Rusty de Morningside.—Almost immediately, they were in a feeding covey. Shonsey began to make game and Rusty went on. Shonsey pointed, moved into birds and stopped on command. At ten, Rusty pointed, Shonsey backing, but no birds were produced. At fifteen, Shonsey pointed and handled a covey. At forty, Shonsey pointed with high head and tail, reminding gallery of his grandsire, Towsey. As handler dismounted, Shonsey jumped into a big covey, then stopped on command. Rusty was charged with another unproductive.
Hellou’s Yankee Timber—Bill's Buddy Boy.—Point was called for Timber, Boy backing. Hesseltine asked dog to relocate, and couldn’t produce. Smith took Boy on. At 52, point was called for Boy. Covey was flushed and dog was steady.
Holliday Brit’s Ed—Ginger Lou’s Rusty.—On breakaway, Ed cast to a pond and Rusty continued to a draw and hunted it out. At fourteen, Ed pointed and Rusty backed. No birds were produced. Rusty had a stop to flush at 37. Point was called for Rusty in a draw and a single was flushed. Rusty steady. Ed had another unproductive. At 55, point was called for Rusty. Smith, unable to flush, asked Rusty for relocation and birds were produced.
Epper of Siouxland—Towseys Bub.—Epper was the wider. Bub pointed, Epper backing. No birds produced. Bub was charged with six unproductives, Epper backing on each occasion.
Tigar’s Pete—Susie Warpath De Malibeau.—They broke away well, running hard. Both were involved in chasing a covey and were picked up.
Jucolee Teco, a bye.—Teco started off running well. Leg was injured and he was picked up.
The Finals
The eight dogs chosen to compete for the Championship title after creditable races and top bird work were Tigar’s Jocko, owned by John Munson; Count Normandy, Plato Andros; Way Kan Jill, Rick Leverich; Way Kan Boy, Charles Wood; Bill's Buddy Boy, Dan Huddleston; Holliday Doc, Don Norris; and the new champion and runner-up, whose efforts have been described previously. A brief description of the running of the other callbacks.
Tigar’s Jocko—Count Normandy.—Jocko ran a jaunty race. He covered lots of territory, ran a course where birds had been produced before, but was not to find them this time. Point was called for Count after some hard running. Handler was unable to get the birds up, so Count was asked to relocate and a covey was flushed. Count was in contact with a second covey, but chased.
Way Kan Jill—Way Kan Boy.—Both ran creditable races. Jill hunted out the draws and the cover very well. The weather had changed about mid-morning and the bird-finding began to slow down.
Bill’s Buddy Boy—Holliday Doc.—They hunted the cover well. Point was called for Doc in a small bunch of trees. Handler flushed and birds were seen to leave by galleryites.
Ardmore, Okla., February 13
Judges: Earl Jackson and Star Taylor
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—27 Brittany Spaniels
Winner— BRITT’S BAZOOKA, 675519, dog, by Holliday Britt—Towsey’s Tinkle Belle. A. H. Pillow, owner; Delmar Smith, handler.
Runner-Up— RUSTY BUCK, 713286, dog, by Towsey—Tudarose. G. B. Maloney, owner; Lyle Johnson, handler.