1971 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Dr. C. T. Young
The ninth running of the United States Open Brittany Championship was begun on February 15 at Lake Murray, Ardmore, Okla. This is the only Brittany stake in which a dog must qualify for the championship series, both qualifying and championship series being one-hour heats. This year the dogs had to prove that they could hit the cover and virtually dig the birds out. The cover was dry and dusty and the birds spooky. The dog that is named winner of this Championship is beyond a shadow of a doubt worthy of the honor.
Three previous champions of the stake were in attendance: Bazooka's Brandy, Gringo de Britt and Pacolet Cheyenne Sam. Brandy is a previous National Brittany Champion as is Way Kan Fritz, which was also drawn into the stake. Gringo de Britt has won the National Amateur Brittany Championship for the past two years; S'No Fun Mack, International Brittany Champion, was also drawn.
The judges, Bob Danley and Elmer E. Pillers, both of Oklahoma City, Okla., did a terrific job of analyzing this outstanding field of dogs.
The Winners And Others
Gundy, 3 1/2-year-old male Brittany, owned and handled by your scribe, Dr. C. T. Young of Oklahoma City, Okla., came forth in the final series to set the gallery buzzing with one find and an outstanding race to emerge as the winner. The new Champion was campaigned very little as a puppy and Derby. He did, however, amass twelve placements. He was then used exclusively as a shooting dog. In May, 1970, Gundy’s potential was recognized and he was acquired by Dr. Young. Gundy is the son of a noted previous winner of this stake, Britt’s Bazooka. His dam, Princess Shabur Rocaro, has been used entirely as a shooting dog. This nick has not only produced Gundy but the Brittany Futurity winner in 1969.
Brandy’s Bullet, owned by Bill and Millie Norvell of Richardson, Tex., and handled by Rick Smith, was braced with Gundy in the final series. Bullet Had a fine, searching race, but couldn’t come up with the birds.
Tip Top’s Jean, owned by Jim Leverich of Pampa, Tex., and handled by Frank Roach, had what this writer considers a very outstanding race. Had it not been for an unfortunate incident on a covey find, this female would have been very tough to beat.
The qualifying series enjoyed outstanding field trial weather. The select field of 25 saw some interesting performances that enabled the astute judges to pick ten for the finals.
Finals
Sam De Collines—Boy’s Agate.—The weather was unbelievably warm for the middle of February, being in the 40s at 8:00 A.M. Both dogs were away nicely. At seventeen they took a likely draw with Sam in front. A large buck deer went out the end and both dogs went with it. Agate was back in contention at 28 but Sam was not seen again. Agate ran well for forty minutes and came in short at the finish.
Pacolet Cheyenne Sam—Jake of Richmont.—The temperature was climbing and a good breeze was off the lake. Sam had a nice searching race but not up to his standard in the qualifying series. Jake was rather short at times. Neither dog could come up with that coveted covey.
Bazooka’s Brandy—Tip Top’s Jean.—Both dogs were away in big, bold, searching casts, digging in deep along lake edge. Jean pointed with Brandy backing; however, Roach could not produce and both dogs were sent on. Both dogs pointed again, one hundred yards ahead, but still no birds. Then Jean went around the lake edge and pointed, Brandy backing in a nice pose; Roach flushed the birds and Jean dropped at shot. The dogs were sent on and Brandy pointed along lake edge some four hundred yards up from Jean’s find, with Jean backing. Evidently Brandy was on top of his birds, as he sat down. Smith flushed the birds close in. Both dogs were moved on. Brandy began to tire at 35 but picked up again. Brandy pointed and Smith flushed a half dozen birds; dog stood nicely to shot. Brandy began to tire again at fifty, with Jean well out in front at pick-up.
Gundy—Brandy's Bullet.—The temperature was climbing into the middle 60s by 11:20. Both dogs were away and running well. At about fifteen, Gundy made an ambitioux cast to border of dense wood near lake edge. Scout was sent out; he found the dog reared up and pointing birds as they should be pointed, with perfect location. Dr. Young booted out a nice covey, and Gundy showed exemplary manners throughout flush and shot. The dog was sent on as Bullet was well ahead on course. Both dogs were running well to the front. At forty, Bullet and Gundy were watered by handlers. The pair went ahead nicely, Gundy laying down a large, searching race and digging deep into woods south of the paved road. Springfield was again sent out to scout. Both dogs finished very well in spite of the heat. Gundy’s finish was the most outstanding of the stake, and at pick-up time he was entering his next objective, a wood tract, one-half mile from the handler. Unfortunately, Bullet had no bird contact.
Boy’s Little Rex—Gringo de Britt.—The temperature was reaching into the high 60s as the last brace was cast off. This first course on a hot day is a real test for the Brittany—the cover is high and the terrain is rough. Both dogs were moving well ahead, covering their objectives nicely. At 27, Gringo pointed and Dr. Poling tried unsuccessfully to flush. Gringo was sent on and he was found on point again. The flushing attempt was again futile. At 45, both dogs started to tire. At 47, Springfield called point for Rex. The dog was sitting on point with a nice covey immediately under his nose. Rex was moved on and he finished the hour fairly well. Gringo was tiring considerably at pick-up.
Ardmore, Okla., February 13
Judges: Bob Danley and Elmer E. Pillers
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—25 Brittany Spaniels
Winner— GUNDY, 825737, dog, by Britt’s Bazooka—Princess Shaburr Rocaro. Dr. C. T. Young, owner and handler.