1987 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Dr. Robert A. Rankin
The 25th anniversary running of the U.S. Open Brittany Championship was won by Minnehaha's Tammy. Having come to defend last year’s title, she again showed herself to be up for the task, scoring two finds during her hour’s showing. Not a new face in the winners’ circle, she has accomplished much in her four years, having placed in the Nationals, the Classics, and American Field Championships such as the U.S. Open.
Runner-up was Royal Britt Starbuck of Auten which showed a consistent pattern sprinkled with three finds.
We were pleased to have Jack Hires from Michigan and Chuck Alff from Ohio make their respective journey to judge the Championship. Jack and Ruth drove down, stopping off at the Oil Capital trial on their way to Ardmore. Jack has finished numerous Brittanys in the past years and now owns a nice young pointer. Retired, his most recent endeavor has been to finish his house on the edge of the field trial grounds near Ionia, Mich., a distance from the grounds for training and trialing. Chuck still actively trials and shows Brittanys, rushing to the plane after handling dogs in an Ohio trial. Having won the Nationals with Roc in 1980, he’s busy handling his descendants.
At 25 years of age, the U.S. Open is one of the longest running American Field recognized Championships. Many famous names appear in the list of winners, including Bazooka’s Brandy, Pacolet Cheyenne Sam, Gringo De Britt, Ban Dee, Jacolet’s Wandering Star, Perry’s Rustic Prince, and Tall Oak’s Bandolero, to name a few. Ten of the 25 champions have been females and, except for Bandolero, the multiple winners of this trial have been females. Way Kan Jill was the inaugural winner and repeated in 1966; Jacolet’s Wandering Star won three times and Minnehaha’s Tammy has now won twice. Bayou’s Lonesome Sue won in 1980 and, since still of Derby age, won the accompanying Victoire Nationale.
Championship Series
Again this year two courses of equal test and birds were chosen for the final series. Dogs were braced together and on a certain course depending on the judges’ wishes and reckonings. Dogs were chosen on their ability to catch the judges’ eyes, whether it be on race, birdiness or both.
Franklin County Bandit was the top qualifier and a consistent young dog—something to be reckoned with. A repeat of her first day’s performance with more defined bird work could mean victory for Magic Moment. Tammy wanted to duplicate her last year’s victory. Could Jubilee find more turkeys? So it went, with ten dogs chosen by the judges to show their wares for a second hour.
Three days running put out of their minds, the judges started with a new trial.
Thursday started warm and with little to no wind—nicer for the gallery than the dogs. But so it is meant to be with the U.S. Open really two trials in one. The first to pick out the best, the second to declare a winner. Some years the best hour is seen in the finals as was the case last year. Other years had to top qualifier as the best hour. But such is the test of this trial, its own unique feature.
Gringo’s Touch of Class (Johnson)—Mac’s Gun Runner (Budd).—Both covered the south side of No. 1 down
the chute to the oil well, showing coveniently and swapped sides towards the fish pond. T C acted birdy at the halfway mark but worked the area throughly and without contact. Both continued hunting opposite sides of the course, both well in front and constantly moving. In his eagerness, Mac got a covey up at 46 and was harnessed. T C pointed at 50, but relaxed during the flushing attempt so was taken on. Pointing again moments later, the same sequence occurred and no birds were found. His final minutes were to the front — birds were needed but none were found.
Minnehaha’s Tammy (Johnson)—The Magic Moment (J. Holman).—Both broke away from the road down the hayfield leading to the evergreen peninsula, Tammy along the top of the ridge, Jennie along the bottom. As with last year’s finals, Tammy went to work early, scoring her first find at 2. The intensity was there, location good with a large covey produced in front of her. Jennie worked on ahead with Tammy coming into the evergreen peninsula from the far side, pointing again at 10. Once again intense with tail higher than her first find, she stood well for the flush. Both dogs joined together and hunted as a team well ahead across the mouth of the Bear Trap and back towards the airport. Taking turns in the lead they continued on with Jennie at one point swimming a thirty-yard stretch of lake to keep from back tracking to catch us. Tammy stayed well to the front staying on the right treeline approaching Manck’s Crossings. Going through and up the left treeline point was called for Jennie at 56. Tammy came up and across the area, shielded somewhat by the cover, and passed Jennie. Did she not see the other dog on point or did she miss an opportunity to back? Brought back around by the handler and cautioned, she stopped. Not pretty, but no interference. Jennie maintained intensity, but no birds were produced. Thus ended the hour, both with fine races, Jennie without birds. One question mark on an otherwise fine performance by Tammy—the door was still open should some dog duplicate her hour minus the last minutes.
Hi Scor Julie’s Jubilee (Mar)—O’Cal’s Damion (Budd).—Away well back towards the No. 1 course, negotiated the turns and went down the chute. Point at 9 for J J, good intensity and manners on a small covey. Damion’s long-gaited stride covered ground early, but the temperatures had begun to rise and it began to show on both dogs. Diligent efforts but somewhat moderate races were seen the second half for both and Damion was without birds.
Royal Britt Starbuck of Auten (Johnson)—Franklin County Bandit (C. Holman).—Frankie’s hour was reminiscent of his qualifying hour. To the front strong and bold he continued huniing likely edges. Covey ridden up by handler at 34 near where he had been, but rising temperatures and little wind had shortened the scenting cone and Frankie ended birdless. Starbuck smelled things differently and scored finds at 9, 13, and at 25 following an unproductive. Slightly loose on his first find, his second and third proved his intensity. His race was more moderate than that of the eventual winner, but his bird-finding ability could not be questioned. Not one to cover “nonbirdy” areas, his time was spent seeking out birds in shady areas on a warm day. Thus, his tally and ability showed well today.
Hi Plains Spirit of BanDee (Johnson)—Sir Jones Corkance (Budd).—Both were away well with Corky somewhat wider. Back to the oil well, the fish ponds and then on around. Corky established point some 75 yards away in the 2 o’clock direction, maintaining his style as we rode around the pond to him. Taken on the dogs joined together and hunted the woods and back up across the road near the airport. Corky missed the turn and required scouting as Casey went down the next peninsula and established point at 44. All was in order as the birds came up. Corky meanwhile had been gathered in and placed on the next hillside, some 10 minutes ahead of Casey—a move viewed with disfavor by the judges. He continued at a good pace to the end but suffered an unproductive at 55. Casey slowed his final quarter but pointed at 55. His intensity had faltered slightly but his hunting ability remained as birds were produced by the judge riding to view him.
Ardmore, Okla., March 17
Judges: Chuck Alff and Jack Hires
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—50 Brittanys
Winner— MINNEHAHA’S TAMMY, 251525, female, by Allair’s Evereddy—Sacagawea Charbonneau. Robert Rankin,
owner; Lyle Johnson, handler.
Runner-Up— ROYAL BRITT STARBUCK, 224511, male, by Sequani’s Spade of Kennisau—Auten’s Misty Morning. Al & Sharon Van Wieren, owners; Lyle Johnson, handler.
Minnehaha's Tammy with Lyle Johnson, Royal Britt Starbuck of Auten
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
This stake continues to have so much interest and draws a lot of fine young dogs a number of whom could
have been in the winners’ circle. Our winner was Silver Lake Red Boy, owned by Jim Littell of Augusta, Kan,, and handled by Loyd Budd. The entire hour saw a blistering pace with a successful find at 55.
Jake’s Red Ball Express, owned and handled by Jake Schroder, was named runner-up. Red hunted hard the entire hour, and his placement was awarded on class.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Leon Milligan and Bob Weisz
[One-Hour Heats]—23 Brittanys
Winner—SILVER LAKE RED BOY, unreg., male, by Powell’s Free Spirit—Powell’s Wandering Gypsy. Jim Littell, owner; Loyd Budd, handler.
Runner-Up— JAKE’S RED BALL EXPRESS, 271876, male, by Lost River’s Cowboy—Del Oro Sue Ellen. Jake Schroder, owner and handler.