1969 United States Open Brittany Championship
Gringo De Britt Wins Title; Juchoir’s Choctaw, Runner-up
By Walter W. Hume Jr.
Gringo de Britt, two and one-half year old orange and white Brittany dog, owned by Dr. and Mrs. Tim Poling of St. Francis, Kan. and handled by Tim Poling, won the seventh running of the United States Open Brittany Championship, held March 17 and 18, at Lake Murray near Ardmore, Okla. Gringo was trained by professional Lyle Johnson. Tim Poling is particularly proud of Gringo because his dam, Shannon De Britt, was Tim’s first Brittany and Gringo was his pick out of the first litter that he raised. Gringo is from a family of field trial winning dogs. His dam is a field winner and his sire, Kay Cee Bandit, has been a consistent winner with quite a number of first places. I recall a northern trial in which Gringo was first in the Puppy, Shannon De Britt was first in the Derby, and Kay Cee Bandit was first in the Amateur All-Age. Gringo has a total of fifteen puppy and Derby places in American Brittany Club sponsored trials, with eight of them first places. He started running all-age last fall and won three first places.
Juchoir’s Choctaw, liver and white dog, owned by M. F. Guest of Hollis, Okla., and handled by Ed Wild, was named runner-up. Choctaw is also from a field trial winning family of dogs. His dam, Wisp, was a field trial winner and his sire, Juchoir’s Chocolate Candy, has been a consistent field trial winning dog. Two of Choctaw’s noteworthy wins are his first in the American Brittany Club sponsored Chicken Classic, and his second place win in one of the Quail Classics. Choctaw, an excellent bird-finder, rarely goes birdless.
The U. S. Open Brittany Championship has been patterned along the lines of the National Free-for-All Championship which, because of the rugged physical demands, is considered to be a particularly tough stake 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 for one hour and finals for the Championship are also an hour. Only work performed in the finals is taken into consideration in naming the Champion. In a sense, no dog is out of the stake until the Champion is named.
The field trial grounds proved to be among the finest in the country. Scenting conditions were excellent and the bob-whites plentiful. Every brace of dogs pointed birds during both series of this trial. The weather was confortable and the sun shone on both days.
This trial could not have been as it was without the help of Wayne Porter who drove the dog wagon for us and was always at the right places at the right time.
The Club installed new officers prior to the trial. The new officers are: Dr. Claude T. Young president; C. A. Springfield, vice- president, and Walter W. Hume Jr., treasurer.
Herm David of Cleveland. O., bird dog editor for Hunting Dog, and Harvey A. Butler, professional from Allen, Okla., were the capable judges. Herm David entertained the group each night by showing his many interesting slides. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Butler. Harvey campaigned Brittany spaniels about ten years ago and the Brittany supporters have missed him.
The New Champion and Runner-Up
In the qualifying heats, Gringo De Britt had an excellent ground heat with one find. He took to deer for about ten minutes which detracted from his over-all performance but he was brought back on course and he finished strong. In the finals Gringo ran a hard driving forward race with one find on a single which he handled letter-perfect. He handled well throughout the entire hour. Gringo had an overall class performance and he was the obvious choice for Champion.
In his qualifying heat, Choctaw ran a determined race with a divided find with Barney Bazooka. Choctaw remained steady while Barney chased at flush. In the finals, Choctaw came back stronger than the first day and ran a more forceful ground heat, making wider casts. He had a covey find that was perfectly located and he handled this find with excellent manners.
Qualifying Heats
Dusty’s Shining Chevalier-Rusty de Morningside.—Rusty had good ground coverage with two nonproductives. Chevalier had three finds with a restricted ground effort.
Gringo De Britt—W. Hume’s Mike.—Mike had a good ground heat, slowed near the end and had no known bird contact. Gringo’s performance has been covered.
Bazooka’s Brandy—Paul of Leeway’s Red.—This was probably the most exciting brace of the qualifying series. Brandy had a hard driving class ground heat. He really reached out to the objectives and had one find. Paul had an excellent ground heat with one outstanding find. Paul was lost on point for about ten minutes and when found he was stacked up on point with a covey perfectly located.
Freck O Dee—Tipsy Dancer.—Freck had an excellent ground heat with three finds. He took a few jumps on the third find. Tipsy Dancer covered the course at restricted range and chased a bird.
Barney Bazooka—Juchoir’s Choctaw.—Barney ran a wide searching race with a divided find and chased at flush. Choctaw’s performance has been covered.
W. Hume’s Holliday Pete—Fisty Miss Kaer.—This pair showed a lot of interest in one another. Fisty had one find. Pete had contact with one covey that was not seen by the judges. Both had good ground heats.
Lil Tago Joe—Shannon De Britt.—Both dogs worked at restricted range. Joe bumped a covey and Shannon caught a bird.
The Finals
Bazooka’s Brandy—Gringo De Britt.—Brandy ran a hard searching ground heat and had one clean covey find, a stop to flush on two coveys, and a bumped single. Gringo’s perfomance has been described.
Paul of Leeway’s Red—Freck O Dee.—Paul was determined to find birds and make a superior effort in this respect until he was lost on deer and when brought back on course he went birdless. Freck had a searching effort. He bumped a covey, had one non-productive, and pointed a single which he handled with excellent manners.
Barney Bazooka — Fisty Miss Kaer. — Barney pointed a covey and Fisty refused to back, and as she moved past him took the birds out. Both dogs were picked up at this time.
Rusty de Morningside—Juchoir’s Choctaw.—Rusty had an excellent ground heat with a back and a point on a rabbit. Choctaw’s race has been covered.
Ardmore, Okla., March 17
Judges: Harvey A. Butler and Herm David
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—14 Brittany Spaniels
Winner— GRINGO DE BRITT, 800744, dog, by Kay Cee Bandit—Shannon De Britt. Dr. and Mrs. Tim Poling, owners; Dr. Tim Poling, handler.
Runner-Up— JUCHOIR’S CHOCTAW, 717334, dog, by Juchoir’s Chocolate Candy—Wisp. M. F. Guest, owner;
Ed Wild, handler.
Gringo de Britt