1967 United States Open Brittany Championship
Way Kan Mandy Wins Crown
By Hank Havens
Way Kan Mandy, brilliant white and liver Brittany bitch, owned by Harold Miller of Omaha, Neb., and very skillfully handled by Lyle Johnson, won the 1967 renewal of the United States Brittany Championship, held February 18-20 over the superlative courses at Lake Murray State Park near Ardmore, Okla. Mandy captured the title with a tremendous ground heat and two excellent bevy finds.
The program attracted a quality field of twenty proven starters and was most gratifying to Club officials, who have worked long and diligently to establish this stake.
Sponsors of the Championship have patterned this stake along the lines of the celebrated National Free-for-All Championship which, because of the rugged physical demands is considered to be the toughest stake in the country to win. This event was conceived (like the Free-for-All) for improvement of the breed and to glorify outstanding individuals that possess extraordinary stamina, drive and bird-sense.
Qualifying heats are one-hour, and the finals are one-hour. Only work performed in the finals is taken into consideration. In a sense, no dog is out of the stake until the champion is named. Of all the different trials being run, probably none generates as much excitement and creates as many heartaches as the call-back type stake.
First-time visitors to Lake Murray were pleasantly surprised with the beautiful Lodge and most convenient arrangement of kennels, stables and other facilities. Grounds were in near perfect condition, cover was ideal and the quail population is probably the best it has been in recent years. The three one-hour courses afforded very equal opportunities.
The weather was beautiful. Southern Oklahoma is noted for mild winters but during the running of the Central United States trial we were plagued with frigid temperatures and bitter-cold north winds. The first two days of this stake were very comfortable, with light south winds and bright sunshine. The final day found the wind from the north and a little cooler, but still pleasant hunting weather. This region received a little much-needed rain about a week prior to the trial and scenting conditions seemed to be excellent.
This Club's fine battery of officers is headed by Dan Huddleston, president. B. Joe McCrary, very ably assisted by his lovely wife, Joan, fills the secretary's position. Delmar Smith and his charming wife, Jeanne, provided valuable assistance with the many little details that are essential to the smooth running of any trial.
Star Taylor always adds welcome color to any gallery, and displayed his usual charm and tact with the marshalling duties.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Miller, proud owners of Way Kan Mandy, were on hand to witness Mandy’s winning performance. Dr. and Mrs. Adolph Utzinger of Denver, Colo., were most welcome visitors, as were Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Whitted of Wichita, Kan., and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Leverich and daughter of Pampa, Tex.
Vernon Snell, outdoor editor of the Daily Oklahoman was on hand and gave fine daily coverage to the trial. Vernon’s many articles and reports have added immensely to the interest and enjoyment of the field trial game in the Oklahoma-Texas region.
Judging was handled by John Munson of San Lorenzo, Cal., and your reporter, Hank Havens of Ardmore, Okla. John is a serious, capable judge and it was a real pleasure working with him.
The United States Open Brittany Championship
Way Kan Mandy, hard-driving 5 1/2-year-old bitch, proved an outstanding winner. She ran a creditable hour in the qualifying series and scored three bevy finds. The first find was badly handled and not of a caliber to earn a berth in the finals, but she redeemed herself, handling the next two letter-perfect, then finished with strength. In the finals she ran, by far, the best ground heat of the stake and scored two bevy finds; the first was accurately pegged but lifted prematurely as we started to her; the second was jam-up and flawless. Her ground race was a remarkable display of determined speed, bold range, stamina and sufficient handling response. Twice, when the course turned sharply, she was left behind but other than this her race was consistently forward.
Biffer Boy, ably handled by Delmar Smith, made a strong bid for recognition in the finals, showing a wealth of natural hunting ability and scoring three perfectly-handled bevy finds. Boy's ground heat was well-patterned and industrious but lacked the bold range and speed of the winner. More hustle could have easily earned him runner-up honors.
Destry, also handled by Lyle Johnson, had the runner-up spot readily within his grasp. In the finals he ran a laudable ground heat, with unusual speed, ambitious range and determined application. He scored three bevy finds; two were the model of perfection; the other he deliberately knocked, and was dropped from consideration.
Jac Pierre’s Pride was perhaps high dog in the qualifying series, with three dandy bevy finds, an excusable stop to flush and a strong independent ground heat. In the finals, several fruitless relocation efforts got him far behind and marred his ground pattern. Later, he added two bevy finds that were impressive.
Juchoir Choctaw was the hard-luck dog of the stake. He stood high on the" qualifying list, with a strong, likable ground heat and some exceptional bird work. In the finals he was apparently ill and unable to display his usual sparkle.
Destry’s Little Tex turned in the most outstanding ground heat of the qualifying series but had no known contacts. There were others with work of exceptional merit, detailed in the account of the running.
Qualifying Heats
Kruger's Captain Thrap—Freck O'Dee.—The latter hunted well, at moderate pace and range. Cap, the swifter of the two, showed to advantage, hunting with good speed, at likable range, and finishing strong.
Bazooka’s Brandy—Jac Pierre’s Pride.—Pride impressed with a a hard-driving ground pattern, as he hustled from one objective to the next, handling well and running up three superb bevy finds and a stop to flush. Brandy is an exceptionally attractive running dog, with flashy action that captures attention. He turned in a solid ground race, scored one find where the bevy lifted of its own volition, and finished strong.
Way Kan Jill—Pete Le Chasseur.—Jill canvassed a wealth of country with speed and intelligence. She nailed a bevy deep in blackjacks and had a mannerly back of bracemate. Pete had a laudable hunting race, at moderate pace and range, and two unproductives.
Little Joe—Way Kan Mandy.—Mandy’s effort has been described. Joe had a searching race and one barren stand.
Biffer Boy—Destry.—Destry held a slight edge in the ground-running department but both impressed with their hunting. Boy scored first, off the side of a draw at 25, with perfect manners. Destry nailed a bevy perfectly at 45, going out the end of a draw.
Rusty Morningside—Destry's Little Tex.—Tex had a sensational race with splendid speed, and a big, forward pattern with excellent finish. Rusty turned in a fine hunting race and had two barren stands.
Baron de Brentwood—Epper of Siouxland.—Baron had a hustling ground effort with a wealth of natural hunting qualities. A bevy left his stand at thirty, then he probably nailed a single later. At fifty he scored a beautiful find in a oak ridge, with perfect manners and accurate location. Epper was moderate in pace and range, had trouble with the deer and failed to keep to the front.
Juchoir’s Choctaw— Tip Top’s Peppi.— The latter ran a level race and was credited with a mannerly back. Choctaw cut the course up in pretty patterns, with a hard-driving gait, and scored two bevy finds.
Ha Boy—Bobby’s Snoopy.—The former knocked a covey near lake edge at ten, and the brace was brought to an early close when the latter flushed and chased a bevy at fifteen, at which time both were picked up.
Pachy of Richmont—Peewee of Sundown.—Both had excellent races. Pachy was charged with the flush of a bevy. Peewee nailed a pair of birds accurately but chased at the flush and shot.
The Finals
Bazooka’s Brandy— Way Kan Mandy.—Both were most attractive in action. Mandy came back wound even tighter than in her first appearance and rendered a scintillating hour of strong, wide, ground running. She scored a beautiful find in the first glade from the noon starting point, with perfect manners as the bevy lifted of its own volition. Her second bevy was at forty, in rushes at lake edge. with deportment all in good order as Johnson flushed the birds. Brandy scored a dandy find at old pear orchard. He is a young dog, and some time wasted with larks, plus a sinking spell near the end, detracted from an otherwise excellent race.
Jac Pierre's Pride—Biffer Boy.—Boy impressed with a sound ground pattern, with intelligent application, and chalked up three laudable bevy finds without error. His pace slackened in spots near the end, as if he were trying to save some for the stretch. Pride backed nicely on Boy’s first find, then in this same vicinity, Pride pointed and he and handler went through a long, drawn-out series of point and relocate, without results, that left him far behind. On the way to the front, he scored a mannerly find, then a second one near pick-up in front.
Way Kan Jill—Tip Top's Peppi.—The latter was obviously off form and was picked up early. Jill ran a creditable ground heat showing intelligent selection in objectives. At 25, a bevy flushed off to our right from willows in vicinity Jill was last seen; when found, she was in motion and nothing established. She scored a beautiful find at 55, with perfect manners.
Juchoir's Choctaw—Destry’s Little Tex.—Tex quickly nailed a big bevy along ridge, after a snappy relocation, chased at the flush and was picked up. Choctaw was obviously not up to par but he went the route and scored two excellent bevy finds.
Destry—Baron de Brentwood.—Destry was the faster and wider but there was no questioning Baron’s intent to find game. Destry roaded into point at plum thicket, then deliberately dashed into the bevy. Thereafter he ran well and scored two of the better finds in the stake. Baron scored an outstanding find just below fish-pond dam, all in fine fashion. A second bevy, in weed field, was well handled but location was not exact.
Ardmore, Okla., February 18
Judges: John Munson and Henry Havens
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—20 Brittany Spaniels
Winner— WAY KAN MANDY, 693364, bitch, by Rusty of Way Kan —Way Kan Candy Kid. Harold Miller, owner; Lyle Johnson, handler.
Way-Kan Mandy