1968 United States Open Brittany Championship
Bazooka's Brandy Wins Crown; Rendezvous Gus, Runner-Up
By Don Bodiford
Bazooka's Brandy, a very attractive moving Brittany male, added a new glory to his star-studded crown by winning the prestige-laden United States Open Brittany Championship. Brandy, owned by Dan Huddleston of Oklahoma City, Okla., and handled by Delmar Smith, ran in the last brace of the finals, with last year's champion, Way Kan Mandy. It was very obvious to everyone that had witnessed Rendezvous Gus’ hour, that Gus was the dog to beat and the question in the minds of everyone was whether these two champions could surpass the performance set by Gus. Mandy fell to the wayside as Brandy reached for one objective after another. Brandy did not show the sparkling burst of speed he had in his qualifying hour, due to a severe cut in his right, hind leg. With all the chips down, and running on sheer guts, he reached deep into timber at seventeen to dig up his first bevy. Smith flushed the birds directly in front of Brandy’s stand and everything was letter-perfect. At 42, Brandy cast down timber line, bore into woods and was lost. At 51, Smith found Brandy very deep in the woods, stacked up like a million dollars. The ground was muddy in the woods and Brandy had left skid marks two feet long as he had slid into point, pushing up a small pile of leaves as he was
sliding to point. It was a thrilling find and warmed the cockles of the hearts of those few that beheld it. Brandy held his head high, breathing in deeply that succulent aroma as Smith flushed an enormous bevy in front of the statuesque Brandy.
This Championship was designed to bring forth the dogs with tremendous endurance and bird savvy, bird dogs that can compete in the very best of competition, and Brandy let it be known that he is just that kind of competitor.
Brandy was whelped August 1, 1964, R. B. Leverich of Pampa, Tex., the breeder, and he is already a multiple champion, so most assuredly has a great future in front of him.
Rendezvous Gus is owned by L. D. LaFleur of Bloomingdale, Ill., was handed by Lee Holman, and his effort is described later.
The United States Open Brittany Championship held its drawing February 20 in the Lake Murray Lodge, near Ardmore, Okla., 43 of the world's top Brittanys being drawn. This was the sixth annual running of this stake, which has already come to the front as the most important stake for the Brittany enthusiast. This event, with its one hour qualifying heats and one-hour finals, was designed to bring forth the bird dog that has that most-sought-after quality: endurance. It is an enriching experience to see so many Brittany fanciers striving to improve their canines. The interest and competition in this stake was very keen, for it most certainly is a breeders’ stake, and from its winners will come tomorrow’s great champions.
The trial was run on the beautiful Lake Murray grounds just south of Ardmore, Okla. Nowhere could one find a more glorious setting to put down a bird dog to test his skills. The courses are fairly equal, with an abundance of native bevies of quail over the sprawling, rolling plains that have natural objectives of blackjacks, plum thickets, etc., for the enterprising canine to search. One might think that “bottom” is the only prerequisite and a bird dog could roam endlessly, but this is not true, for a dog must handle. The courses are interspersed through and around dense timber and many the times the wise old campaigner fails to make it through. To give a mental picture of these wonderful grounds, there were 32 bevies moved the third day. There are no liberated birds on the ground.
Dan Huddleston has been president of the group for all of its glorious six years, and is one of the main factors of the club’s success. The secretary/treasurer of any field trial club, as everyone knows, has a most difficult and sometimes trying job, but Joe McCrary did an outstanding job of fulfilling this difficult task. He was assisted by his very attractive wife, Joan. The success and smooth operation of any field trial must have a solid foundation of outstanding officers and this Club is blessed with the best.
The field trialers came from all over the nation to watch their favorites run. California was represented by W. T. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. John Munson, W. P. Bailey, Bruce Ewer, the E. L. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. C. Terry, and their lovely daughter, Jack Russell, Mr. and Mrs. J. Case, Pete Marker, and Dorothy MacDonald. From Indiana, the Jack Secors; Mr. and Mrs. W. Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Jacobson of Washington; the James Cohens of Michigan;. Dr. Ralph Bolton of Kentucky; the Bill Cartmells and Lloyd Conables of New York; Mr. and Mrs. David Olund, Lee and Jim Holman of Illinois; Nicky Bissell of Oregon; the Herman Bonines and J. Fifes of Kansas; Dr. and Mrs. Alph Utzinger of Colorado; Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Wyman of Ohio: Mr. and Mrs. John Sawyer of Pennsylvania; E. C. Kruger of Nebraska; and many many others which my memory fails to recall.
No field trial would be complete without that special man behind the scenes, and I am now speaking of Mr. Field Trialer himself, Ardmore’s great gift to the game, Star Taylor. Nowhere could you find someone that is more dedicated to trials and his fellow man than Star Taylor.
Judges for the Championship were Dr. D. E. Hawthorne of Tulsa, Okla., and your scribe, Don Bodiford of Arlington, Tex. Dr. Hawthorne has been called upon many times to serve as a judge, and his opinions are highly respected. He is a fine gentleman and a sportsman in the truest sense of the word; a great asset to field trials.
The United States Open Brittany Championship
Old Man Winter had released a deluge of snow and ice upon the scene and it stayed with us throughout the trial. The bottoms were boggy and everything else was frozen solid, making it extremely difficult for man or beast. Be that as it may, everyone was tempered for the test and in good spirits. Running was delayed the first morning due to a low over hanging fog and the initial brace was not released until 9:38.
Holliday Britt’s Ed—Yankee Boy Tom.—Both cast off rather reluctantly over the frozen ground. Ed soon warmed to the test and became a handful. At 9:58, Tom was found pointing in timber. Budd flushed a large bevy as canine remained steady. Shortly, Tom nailed a bevy, manners okay. At the half, handler called point for Tom but stand proved fruitless. At 10:14, Ed had a beautiful find. Nolen Cathey flushed a large bevy and cautioned Ed after he had moved a step.
Pacolet’s Cheyenne Sam—Rendezvous Gus.—Mr. and Mrs. Ken Jacobson were in the gallery to watch their Sam run. Both dogs immediately reached for distant horizons. Similiar in color and markings, handlers had difficulty claiming their canines. They set a torrid pace. At 58, point was called for both dogs. Sam had a statuesque point about forty yards from edge of timber. At handler's approach, Sam knocked a bevy in the grandest of Derby form. Gus had a pair of quail pointed near waters edge and his manners were above reproach.
Dusty’s Little Tex—Eppler of Siouxland.—Tex had but an unproductive and did not seem to be up to par. Epper had an unproductive, a beautiful find, then knocked and chased the birds.
Way Kan Mandy—Biffer Boy.—These two champions had a large gallery on hand. Mandy, last year's champion, had a stop to flush and went on to finish a classy race. Boy grabbed chunks of terrain as he raced to birdy objectives, his race one of the finest you could ask for.
Jocko Poker Chip—Le Bon Garcon.—The weather was turning bitterly cold as these two were cast off at 4:56. The two canines seemed more interested in each other than the task at hand and the handlers elected to pick them up.
Wednesday morning, 10° weather and heavy sleet and snow. The judges canceled the running until noon.
Stephen's Lord Lucky—Freck O'Dee.—Released at 12:09 into a cold and gusty wind, they broke away fast but the wind soon took care of their fast pace. Freck pointed at 12:40 and manners were good. Fired up, perhaps to much, he soon found another bevy but knocked and chased. Lucky went birdless.
Tyoga Sally—Tigar’s Jocko.—The Bill Cartmells had traveled from New York to run their own dog but, unfortunately, Sally was involved in a quail fiasco immediately after breakaway. Bill chose to pick her up. Jocko has a very attractive way of going but he was to have his problems, too. Jocko’s first stand was fruitless; he then had a stop to flush, but finished with a sterling find and his manners were above reproach. Rustic gave us all heart failure as he swam a large fish pond in bitterly cold weather. Rogue pointed and relocated a running bevy, manners okay.
Tyone De Malibeau—Scamp’s Boy Duke.—This pair of stylists drew a lot of interest from the gallery and they were not disappointed. Duke seemed interested in ground-scent occasionally, but at times his race was very good. Duke had a stop to flush. Tyone also had stop to flush. After crossing Lem Roberts road, Johnson called point for Tyone deep in timber. It was a well-earned fine. Sent on, Tyone continued on with his great desire to find game and was soon rewarded with an outstanding find.
Bucky Beaver—Pierre La Chasseur.—Both canines were found pointing in wild rose thicket and a large bevy was produced in front of them. Thursday morning the weather was clear and Ole Man Sol was in his gory, but it was still cold, temperature about 15°.
Destry with Mel’s Red Rover.—Cast off 7:29, the canines went bird-hunting but the quail seemed to elude them. However, Destry was found on point at 7:58. As Johnson flushed the bevy, Destry jumped a couple of steps and was whoaed sharply. Destry nailed game at 8:03 and 8:17, and his deportment was excellent. His race was very good and he finished going away. Rover had an unfortunate episode with a few quail at 8:11 and was picked up.
Bazooka’s Brandy—Paul of Leeway.—Released at 8:33, these two classy running Brittanys were reaching for the limits and at 8:45, Brandy was found pointing, Paul backing. As Smith flushed and fired in front of Brandy, Paul broke and gave chase, Brandy remaining motionless. Cy Sprinfield picked up Paul and with a big broad smile said that he would have his dog broke next time. Brandy pointed fur at 8:59, and had a dandy point and relocation at 9:09. During the hour, Brandy sustained a severe cut on his rear leg and blood flowed profusely for a few minutes, but he gallantly continued on and finished admirably.
Scrappie Boy—Captain Thrap.—Wild called point for Boy, and Thrap was brought in to back. Boy made a few jumps at wing and shot but stopped at command. Thrap then pointed unproductively, had a nice find but deportment was not up to par. Boy had an unforunate fracas with a single and was picked up. Johnson also picked up his charge early.
Juchoir’s Choctaw—Leeway’s Skyline Charlie.— Choctaw’s race was not up to par but he did have a divided find with Charlie. Charlie had a great race for 45, but weakened fast and ended with an unproductive.
Beau Kiki—Tearaway Broccho.—Both handlers said their dogs were not up to par and elected to pick up.
Goldstone Duke—Charlie Dee.—This brace lasted about 10 seconds because Duke and Dee teamed up on a large bevy and merrily gave chase and, of course, they were ordered up.
Colorado Yankee Timber—Rendezvous Huck.— Timber set down a great race. Huck’s race was rather on the short side and he seemed interested in ground-scent.
Mar Ko Valkerie—Joel’s Copper Jacques.—Ko started out to set the world on fire, but hooked onto deer for twenty minutes and lost his zip. Jacques failed to connect on birds, but he laid down a fine race and finished strong.
Britt’s Bazooka—Early Times.—Early failed to connect with game. Bazooka pointed early, manners not too good, and his next stand was uneventful. Midway Smith called point at edge of timber, a real dandy, with excellent deportment.
Rusty de Momingside—Kidd Kiki.—This pair of classy bird dogs was released at 5:01 in a steady downpour of snow. Vision was not hampered but the handlers were rather pessimistic of the outcome in the bitter cold weather, plus the snow. Little did we realize that this would be the most exciting hour of the trial. Everyone had retreated to the warmth of their cars except the judges, the two handlers and one ole die hard field trialer, the popular John Munson of California. Action picked up fast as rusty stabbed a bevy at a rose thicket, with Kiki backing. At 5:25, Kiki nailed a pair inside of timber. At 5:26, Rusty was statuesque as Smith flushed a bevy. Then Kiki pointed bevy in sage grass at 5:29, Rusty backing. Sent on, Kiki streaked down timber line as Rusty reached out for the bulrushes near waters edge. Kiki was found at 5:37, at end of timber, standing like a bull. As Phillips flushed the bevy in front of Kiki, another bevy rose to the right of his stand. As Phillips sent Kiki on to new horizons, we heard the feport of Smith’s gun. Judge Hawthorne later reported Rusty had another great find at 5:40. Rusty and Kiki soon raced across the rolling hills and bore into woods, where later handlers found their charges standing on well-earned finds. Thus ended a great hour of real quail hunting.
Friday turned into a beautiful day, but the temperatures stayed in the high 20s and low 30s. Some of the terrain was still frozen and the rest was good footing except for a few boggy crossings. The cold weather had been most unusual for this time of the year.
Jamie’s Wego Jill—Trooper's Wendy.—These two canines were fired up and ready to go, perhaps too fired up. Shortly after breakaway, they indulged in a small fracas with a large bevy, and were ordered up.
Lil Joe, a bye.—Handler reported Joe was ill, and picked him up.
The Finals
Joel’s Copper Jacques—Colorado Yankee Timber.—Released at 9:32, they raced across big country. At 9:57, Lee Holman found Jacques on point, and Timber was brought in to back. Johnson cautioned Timber sharply, and he backed. As Holman flushed, both dogs whirled and marked flight of quail. Both were somewhat weak at the end of the hour.
Destry—Biffer Boy.—Both set sail early and moved out well but they pottered some and seemed too interested in ground-scent. Destry pointed; Johnson failed to produce, and asked Destry to relocate. Destry moved up about forty yards and pointed; nil. Johnson clucked dog on and after some time. Destry nailed the birds. Boy had an unproductive. They then had a divided find, manners akay. Later, both dogs had unproductives and a stop to flush.
Tyone de Malibeau—Rusty de Morningside.—The former went birdless but did finish very strong. Had he connected on game; well, that would be another story. Running the last brace of the previous day showed telling effects on Rusty and as he gallantly tried to finish his hour, he connected on two bevies but he finished tired, and wound up with two bevies and an unproductive.
Rendezvous Gus—Kidd Kiki.—Handler reported Kiki had torn his pads the previous day in his fine hour and his final hour proved uneventful. Gus, however, was ready for the task and he looked tremendous as he reached to one objective after another. He was rewarded with a beautiful find and remained motionless at wing and shot. It was a very satisfying piece of work to young Jim Holman. There was a spirit of excitement running through the gallery as Gus was sent on to new horizons, but he failed to connect on quail again. Although he slowed some in the last few minutes, he was still strong at the finish.
Bazooka’s Brandy—Way Kan Mandy.—Mandy failed to find birds but it was not because she didn’t try, for she gallantly dug into the woods searching for the unpredictable bobwhite. Brandy’s hour has already been expanded upon.
Ardmore, Okla., February 20
Judges: Donald C. Bodiford and Dr. Dorwin E. Hawthorne
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—43 Brittany Spaniels
Winner— BAZOOKA’S BRANDY, 741884, dog, by Britt's Bazooka—Way Kan Jill. Dan Huddleston, owner; Delmar Smith, handler.
Runner-Up— RENDEZVOUS GUS, 664255, dog. by Casa Blanca Mike—Ferd’s Sunflower Babe. L. D. LaFleur, owner; Lee Holman, handler.