1986 United States Open Brittany Championship
by Dr. Robert Rankin
Minnehaha's Tammy, four and a half year old white and orange Brittany female, owned by Dick Culbert and handled by Lyle Johnson, was undisputed champion of the 24th running of the U.S. Open Brittany Championship. Courting three perfect finds and handling well at extreme range, she truly showed everyone what a champion is made of. In heat at the time of the trial, she was relegated to the last brace of both the qualifying series and the final series. Consistency, range, stamina and class on point belonged to her both times down as she bested a field of excellent quality.
Markar’s Jac’s A Dan D, six-year-old male, owned by Bob Weisz of Oswego, Ill., was named runner-up. He was handled by Jim Holman.
Good dogs, good company and good weather made a successful trial. Darrell Gaynor of Oklahoma City and Warren Montgomery of Indianapolis were our able judges. Both men have successfully campaigned dogs on the circuit, judged national events, and know what they are looking for. Darrell’s wife Earlene accompanied him to the trial, watched some of the dogs, and helped out whenever help was needed.
The trial is set up under strict all-age criteria. A onehour qualifying series is run and from this group the finalists are chosen at the judges’ discretion. Dogs are braced and run according to the judges’ choosing. Nine professional handlers and four amateur handlers entered a starting field of 42 dogs. From this qualifying series, fourteen were chosen for the finals. The top qualifier in the series was Ace Deuce, a nine-year-old female fresh off a litter of puppies. She set the standard early and must be commended for her effort.
Bruce Fredrick came down from Toronto, Canada, to watch his fine young dog Rimada’s Rhapsody compete. David Ayres from Missouri, David and Joyce Lincoln from Colorado, and Bill and Sharon Young from Houston, and Joe Epperley from Oklahoma City came to compete with their dogs. A large contingent of Texans included Danny Barwich, Doug Croxton, Cheryl Girton, Bunny Brown, Robin Zellner, and the Jimmy Harper family. Bill Gerrard came down from Denver and Sue Hansen from New Mexico. Rick Jarez-Moreno was also in attendance from Oklahoma.
Members of the Board of Directors in attendance included Doyle and Elta Bradford, Dr. John and Judy Webb, D. W. and Ethel Dawson, Leon and Evelyn York, Lloyd Manck, Barbara Wade, Al Gorrow, Rick Smitth, Ike Zamrzla, Joe Epperley, Bill Norvell and myself.
We’d like to thank all the handlers who came to participate along with their best dogs. Though not all the dogs ran to their usual standards, the overall quality of the stake was excellent and bird work was abundant. The weather was perfect for the trial as a cold front moved through just before we started, keeping temperatures down for the entire week.
Championship Running
Sir Brandy K (Young)—Reeds Bonine Max (Staton).—It was 40° with overcast skies and a 10-15 mph wind out of the south. Both dogs broke away well. Point was called for Max at 5 and he showed good intensity to shot and flush on a single. All was in order as he was taken on. At 16 Brandy pointed a covey beside a feeder. Although a little loose on point, he held well. Both dogs continued to run intelligent, forward races and at 22 Max pointed, Brandy backing. Brandy was taken on as Max was charged with an unproductive. Brandy continued on with a forward race as Max was out of pocket for about 15 minutes. He was found in front and point was called for him at 55. All was in order as the covey was flushed and both dogs finished strong and to the front.
Markar’s Bet I.M. Magic (Holman)—Hi Score Sugar Pop (Mar).-—Following a good breakaway point was called for Pops at 12, all in order, but a second chance at 16 proved too much for him as he chased. Magic covered a lot of ground during his brace and was seen infrequently but to the front on each occasion. He required considerable scouting but showed at opportune times and always in good position. He appeared to be running as hard at the end of the race as he was at the beginning and although birdless, showed the desire and stamina.
Duke of Brittmont (C. Holman)—Beau Charles (Appleton).—Digger was the bigger running of the two. A young dog, Digger covered a lot of ground with his long legs but still had some problems with his bird work. Duke began hunting with finds at 25, 37, 39 and 45. He showed good style and intensity on all of his finds but his race became more moderate as the hour went on. Digger missed a chance to back at 37 and was picked up when he helped Duke’s birds get up to 39. Duke showed a lot of maturity on his bird work but his race was somewhat moderate.
F and S Count Geoffery (Appleton)—Jones Bonine Zacharia (Gorrow).—Following lunch we again started on No. 1. They crossed in the front and established point at 6. The divided find was awarded to them as both handlers got down with the birds being flushed and the dogs being fired over. Both showed good style and intensity and were taken on until point was called at 18 for the Count. At this point Zach refused to back and was picked up. The Count retained his style on point as the other dog flushed birds and was taken on. He retained his good pattern showing well to the front and hunting the edges in a nice pleasing style. At 40 as we watched him take a tree edge a few hundred yards off he did not appear where all thought he should. A scout was dispatched and he was found on a stylish point on a covey of quail. He finished the last 20 minutes in good order, staying to the front and hunting well throughout the rest of the brace. He had run a good hour, showing his bird-finding ability, style and stamina throughout his allotted time.
Radar’s Rickasak (Gorrow)—Overland’s High Card (Carrington).—Rick started well but following an unproductive pointed a covey and then chased. Ace ran a little shorter than usual on this day and following an unproductive at 18 had a nice find at the end of the bear trap at 30. Always a stylish pointer, he looked good throughout the flush and was taken on. He finished a little short and somewhat tired but had otherwise done a nice job.
Rush Creek Buckhorn Bandit (Greene)—Superchief (C. Holman).—Bandit was a little wider. Chief is a young aggressive dog that hits the cover well but sometimes has trouble following directions. Following an
unproductive at 18 fqf Chief, a divided find was shared at 38. The dogs were separated by approximately thirty feet, both pointing intensely throughout the flush. Following some problems at 50 Bandit was picked up and by this time. Chiefs early pace had slowed him considerably.
Scatt Man (Holman)—Ace Deuce (Johnson).—Scat Man was lost at the end of his breakaway cast not to be returned during the hour. Deuce is gaining a little age and had just had a litter of puppies some two months previously but showed that a veteran’s ability still overcomes a youngster’s enthusiasm. She put down the best hour of the qualifying series by hunting the edges well, staying to the front at all times, and requiring a minimum of handling. Using most of her brace on the No. 1 she pointed a pair of birds at 32 that were scattered from Count Geoffery’s first find. Always intense, she handled the birds without difficulty and was taken on, again to race to the front and stay there. Entering some woods approximately 200 yards off her handler’s path, she did not reappear. A scout was dispatched and Deuce was found with a staunch covey find at 47. She was again taken on to quickly make her way to the front until just before pickup when she didn’t show coming around an edge. Again scout was dispatched and point was called but during the ride over there the scout reported that a single bird from a previous covey had left. When the handler whistled, she went on, knowing there were no more birds in the area. She then finished her brace as she started it, to the front and far ahead.
Reeds Bonine Max Skipper (Ayers)— De Lamont Babe of My Heart (Young).—Both broke somewhat slow but soon picked up speed. Skipper pointed at 18 and following a lengthy flushing attempt by his handler at 18, suffered a breach in etiquette and was picked up. Babe ran hard but suffered from an immature pattern. She had a nice find at 28 in the end of the bear trap but still couldn’t get her race together during the rest of her time down.
Royal Britt Starbuck of Auten (Johnson)—Hard Rock Dandy (Greene).—This was the first brace on Tuesday morning following an inch of rain Monday night. The weather was cool. The weather would remain favorable for us the rest of the week. Dandy went right to work with a good find at 6. At 15 he had a little trouble getting stopped on a covey as most birds left before we got there, but a few remained in the area to be flushed by the handler. He followed this with a good find at 30 but got a little close to some birds at 33 before getting stopped. His final find was at 47 but between his bird contacts he had a little trouble getting his directions straight. Starbuck couldn’t find the form that won him the Texas Championship. He had an unproductive at 30 and his race wasn’t quite up to his abilities.
Rimada’s Rhapsody (Staton)—Drifter’s Dusty Dude (Carrington).—Both dogs took off and were big, wide, and fast and remained that way throughout the brace. Both handled somewhat rough in spots but covered a lot of ground. Dusty had a find in the end of bear trap at 22 and after establishing point, stayed when two birds decided to leave and remained intense while his handler flushed the rest of the covey. For all the ground that the young dog Rhapsody covered, he was unable to place himself in front of any birds and finished the hour with a good run but no birds. Dusty slowed some towards the end and was somewhat erratic in the last half.
Radar’s Buckshot De Ranbo (Gorrow)-—Franklin County Bandit (Holman).—Away on the No. 3 course at Manck’s Crossing, both dogs started off in a kindly manner. Bandit had recently won the National Championship and his ground speed, race and pattern showed how he had accomplished this. Buckshot is a veteran trial dog and both dogs put down a nice effort, staying to the front and showing when needed on the course. The rain seemed to have rearranged the coveys which weren’t in their usual location and both dogs went birdless. Bandit was a little wider, and faster and was to be called back later in the finals because of this.
Tu Tu II (Gorrow)—Magic Moment (Holman).—This was the first brace after lunch with winds out of the south at about 10-15 mph. Tu Tu set the pace far ahead to the front. Magic got behind a little bit early but caught up and then showed a strong, forward race. Never underfoot, Tu Tu spent some of her time a half course ahead but visible to the gallery. She went on to have an unproductive at 45 but her ability didn’t go unrecognized as she was called back for the finals. After suffering an unproductive at 35, Magic pointed again at 47. When birds were not produced she was asked to relocate which she did with style about forty feet from her original stand. She went on for a nice finish.
Green Pasture’s High Ace (Epperley)—Gringo’s Touch of Class (Johnson).—Ace was picked up early when he got turned around 6n the course and could not be returned. T C ran a bold, classy race throughout his hour and pointed at 58 at a plum thicket. Even with Johnson crawling on the ground, birds could not be produced. As the dog relocated he had trouble getting stopped as the birds got up.
La’Jean’s Johnnie of Connie (Chad Holman)— Mr. Tim’s Express (Mar).—Johnnie suffered two unproductives early and then Tim had trouble finding the front. Both dogs were relieved of their duties by their handlers.
Far Out Bandit (Holman)—Dave O’Ben (Staton).—Both started well with Ben being a small snappy dog. Following a large cast Ben pointed into an evergreen at 31 and stood through the flush and shot. Taken on he continued his wide searching, but somewhat immature pattern tiring only somewhat at the end. Bandit ran the hour without birds but had a commendable pattern and finished well.
Butterscotch Chip (Smith)—Way Kan Duke II (Gorrow).—Both started well with Duke a little wider of the two. Chip was a young dog that made up for his immaturity with an aggressive pattern. Chip had a find at 8 and was taken on. Duke suffered an indiscretion at 28 and when Chip’s pattern became more erratic, both dogs were retired early.
Renegade Kansas Kid (Johnson)—Jug (Holman).—Wednesday morning started clear and cool with temperatures in the high 30s. Jugg was lost early not to be returned and Kid couldn’t stand to watch a covey fly away without him.
Rocky of Connie (Holman)—Birch Hill’s Teddy (Lincoln).—Teddy took off the wider of the two and continued his hour with a hard running, ground-searching race. Rocky was a little more moderate in his tempo and had a stop to flush at 15. Following a find at the end of the bear trap he continued on for the rest of his hour with a somewhat moderate pace. Teddy was lost at pickup but was found on point. Unfortunately birds were not produced and thus ended the brace.
Bad Land Sierra Sam (Gorrow)—Jac’s A Dan Dee (Holman).—Away north out of the bear trap, Jac started early with a nice find at 2, well located in front of him. Sam started off wide and fast but suffered an unproductive at 5 and was relieved when he had trouble with birds at 20. Jac continued on with a nice brace, having another single at 28 and a nice covey find just before pickup. He did a good job throughout, showing well and hunting the cover like the veteran he is.
Buckhorn Dusty Jr. (Greene)—Ramada’s Trademark (Holman).—Both started well. Trademark got out of pocket early only to return to the front following a long absence. Dusty had a nice find at 30 with good style and manners. Trade pointed in the cattails at 40 and held staunchly even as the birds ran in front of him. In the meantime, Dusty continued to the front hunting the edges wisely. He established himself at 56 and the birds left on their own as we rode to him. He continued with good manners as his handler dismounted and fired.
Lavender’n Lace (Stanton)—Minnehaha’s Tammy (Johnson).—This turned out to be one of the better braces of dogs run in the qualifying series. Both dogs are young bitches owned by Dick Gulbert. They started off wide and to the front with Lacey covering a little more ground, but Tammy covering the edges well. Tammy ran a little more mature race but Lacey made up for this with speed and an aggressive, forward race. Tammy had finds at 30 and 35, showing intensity on point and style throughout the flush and shot. Point was called for Lacey at 38. She had a single located well in front of her. Both dogs continued throughout the hour, never slowing and finishing to the front in a very pleasing manner.
Fourteen dogs were called back by the judges. Following a short discussion we chose to run the finals on two courses rather than three so that the courses could be laid out in a somewhat equal manner. Because Tammy had run in heat, it was decided to start the final series on Thursday rather than to put any other dogs down on Wednesday afternoon. This allowed us all time to prepare for the final series but still made it possible to run all of the dogs on Thursday.
Championship Finals
The morning of the championship series dawned bright and clear with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s and a 10 mph wind out the north. There was a large gallery on hand.
Reeds Bonine Max (Staton)—Markar’s Betim Magic (Holman).—Magic was noted by the dog wagon driver to cross the road at the oil well 5 minutes ahead of us and was not found for the remaining hour. Max set out to show his ability and following a 10-minute absence was found on point a quarter-mile away along the edge of the treeline. Following the long ride over, he maintained his intensity throughout the flush and shot and was taken on in good order. He continued his ground-reaching casts down along the lake edge and while making a long cast around a pond again established point at 35. This time he had a single from a scattered covey pinned in front of him and again showed his style on point. Taken on forward, he again pointed at 45 and as we were riding over to him the covey lifted and Max took a few steps. Had it not been for this, he certainly would have been in contention; he had put down 45 minutes as a true all-age.
F and S Count Geoffery (Appleton)—Ace Deuce (Johnson).—Deuce had been the top qualifier and the Count had run as a strong contender. Count started off with point at 8 on a small covey. Both dogs hit the edges well in a business-like fashion and were a joy to watch. Deuce got behind a little bit early when she got mixed up on a peninsula, ahd it took her awhile to get back to the front. To her credit she hunted hard the entire time down, showing the desire that we all like to see. The Count continued on in a very pleasing manner until establishing point at 39. He relaxed some as we went to him as if the birds had left or the wind had shifted. An unsuccessful attempt was made by the handler and the dog taken on. Unfortunately as he was leaving the area a bird got up in front of him and he stopped in a mannerly fashion. Both dogs then continued on in a forward manner until 56 when both were found pointing the same covey. It was a pretty sight with both dogs heads held high and the birds located well in front of them. They both finished heading to the front.
Sir Brandy K (Young)—Franklin County Bandit (Holman).—Brandy unfortunately did not live up to his qualifying series and was a little bit erratic. Bandit started and continued his brace with wide, sweeping casts.
This dog is not afraid to hit the cover and runs with an aggressive style. At 27 point was called for Bandit down in a ditch, being observed only by the handler. As Holman rode over to Bandit he put up a bird from a previous covey that had been scattered. The judges did not see Bandit on point, and were only able to observe him after the birds were gone. He continued out his heat strong and to the front, unfortunately without more bird work which he needed for better definition.
Tu Tu II (Gorrow)—Magic Moment (Holman).—Both tried their best but had problems with unproductives early. Uncharacteristically, Tu Tu chased at 34 and was relieved of her duties. Jennie continued on but was unable to locate birds for the rest of her brace.
Dave O’Ben (Staton)—Jac’s A Dan Dee (Holman).—Away after lunch as the wind shifted to the south, both dogs started off wide and to the front. Ben again showed a little immaturity in pattern, but no lack of desire or ability. Jac ran a more mature pattern, staying to the front until point was called for him, hunting the edges, and running probably one of the nicest first half hours of the Championship. As he continued on one of the wide casts he pointed a covey at 30 some 200 yards to our right. As we were riding over, Ben came in for a back and both dogs were standing well as we got there. As the birds were flushed in front of Jac, Ben chased, but Jac was not bothered by this and stood throughout the ordeal. Jac was loosed and continued ahead to be lost from sight about 5 minutes later. Following a prolonged absence he was returned to the front and finished out his last 10 minutes as he had run his first 30. One more piece of bird work would have helped him in his quest for the championship, but overall, he showed great ability and bird sense.
Far Out Bandit (Holman)—Buckhorn Dusty Jr. (Greene).—Bandit started trying too hard and chased at 15. Dusty began in a pleasing manner with casts to the front and a smooth, easy gait. At 20 Dusty pointed but as we rode over he looked somewhat unsure of himself and was relocated. Again establishing point, he was somewhat unsure though birds were flushed and all remained in order. He then continued on for the rest of the hour without bird contact. Sometimes showing strong, forward casts, he became slightly erratic in spots but was a dog to be proud of.
Lavender’n Lace (Staton)—Minnehaha’s Tammy (Johnson).—Both started off as they had in their qualifying brace with Tammy’s breakaway cast being interrupted for a find at 2. About a block in front of us she was noted to be pointing, staunch on a covey with head and tail up. She was then taken on just as Lacey had trouble establishing point at 10 and was relieved of her duties. Tammy in the meantime continued along a treeline at 10 o’clock some thirty yards distant. Because of the prevailing winds and a sharp corner she had to be brought around the handler when she was unable to hear him singing. Once again in front going down the No. 1 course, she ran what would be considered close to a perfect race. Always to the front, hunting diligently, taking the edges but not ignoring cover, she continued down past the oil well and towards the fish ponds. She ran the entire brace as if she knew exactly where she was supposed to be at all times, and where to look for birds. She continued on until establishing point at 43 some 200 yards off the course, again with head and tail up on a single from a scattered covey from the morning. There was no detraction from her style throughout the flushing attempt. She continued in a forward manner; again established point at 56 on a covey previously seen that morning. She put down the best hour of the entire stake. This was personally one of the best performances I had seen in a number of stakes and was something anyone would have been proud of.
Ardmore, Okla., March 17
Judges: Darrell Gaynor and Warren Montgomery
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—42 Brittanys
Winner— MINNEHAHA’S TAMMY, 251525, female, by Allair’s Evereddy—Sacagawea Charbonneau. R. L. Culbert, owner; Lyle Johnson, handler.
Runner-Up— MARKAR’S JAC’S A DAN D, 137740, male, by Jacque of Connie—Smokestone Dan Dee. Robert Weisz, owner; Jim Holman, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
The winner of this one-hour Derby Classic was Moore’s Fantastic Kate, owned by Bobby Fox of Rome, Ga. Her entire hour featured a strong, well run ground race, coupled with one bird contact at 40, when handler fired. She sustained her range and pace to end of the hour.
Shoal Creek Spanky, owned by Tom Dunn of Cameron, Mo., and handled by Rosco Staton, was runner-up. Spanky was found standing in a draw where birds were produced. He continued with a strong hour, but some lateral casts hurt him in terms of topping the winner.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Bill Trabue and George Wilson
[One-Hour Heats]—19 Brittanys
Winner— MOORE’S FANTASTIC KATE, 245656, female, by R Lucky Brandy’s Bazooka—Prince’s White Tail. Bobby Fox, owner; Lyle Johnson, handler.
Runner-Up— SHOAL CREEK SPANKY, 227817, male, by Reeds Bonine Max Skipper—Dak’s Bent Penny. T. J. Dunn, owner; Rosco Staton, handler.
