1989 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Dr. Robert A. Rankin
Tyoga's Teddy Bear, 5 1/2 year old male Brittany, was declared champion of the 1989 U.S. Open Brittany Championship. Owned by Bill and Rheta Cartmell and handled by Lloyd Budd, Teddy used a nice find and a solid second half-hour to garner the honors. Sired by Timbereast Marks Mark out of Timbereast Extension, Teddy’s breeder and original owner was Dan Tressler. Before his untimely death, Lloyd Manck campaigned him until the Cartmells purchased him. Previous one-hour stakes for him show a placement in the Chicken Classic, runner-up in the International Championship, and winner of the inaugural running of the Arkansas Brittany Classic.
The Championship ran one week after a twelve-inch snow covered the Ardmore grounds at Lake Murray. Change is the norm of Oklahoma weather and three of four days were run with temperatures reading in the low 80s. Scenting conditions were best early in the mornings and all day Wednesday when the temperature moderated some. With the dogs coming out of a late winter, still in heavy coats, it was assumed by many that it would be hard on them. Such was not the case as Tncy an ignored the warm weather and ran their hours with little trouble. Unfortunately, scenting conditions didn’t match the dogs overall stamina and many finished without game contact.
Lee Marten and Bob Rohner rode the judicial saddles for the duration of the stake. Both have trialed and campaigned dogs, Bob giving up the opportunity to run his dogs in the trial to judge it for us. Dr. John and Judy Webb, Barbara Wade and Dub Emde handled the daily chores and dog wagon duty keeping the trial running smoothly. The Lincolns, Lanhams, Greens, and Andersons came from Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska and Oklahoma to participate as did Cliff Sharer from Texas. My seven-year-old daughter came down to ride and personally wants to thank Cloid and Peggy Green for their hospitality. Diana Kubitz made her annual trek from Michigan for Oklahoma’s warm weather to help and ride and David Ayers came from Missouri in time for the Championship and to judge the Victorie National. Roy Pelton stopped by for a few days following an assignment in Arkansas.
Rosco, Kraig and Janet Staton, Jim and Chad Holman, Lyle and Marge Johnson, Lloyd Budd, Mary Karbiner, Marc Appleton, Vic Carrington, and Bob Burchett all brought their strings for the Championship. Their dogs were all well prepared, a tribute to their work this spring. Everyone was in attendance for the banquet Tuesday night, hosted by Barbara Wade and Judy Webb.
The hour qualifying series consumed three days. From those forty dogs the judges chose ten to run again Thursday. With the qualifying series behind them, each dog had a new hour to try and prove themselves.
The Running
Markar’s Jac’s A Dan D (J Holman)—Foot (Budd).—Both gone early with Foot showing to the front at 10. Jac showed briefly, but then was gone until 40 and finished birdless. Foot showed well to the front taking the edges, then pointed at 36 while casting along a woodsline. With good manners, he was taken on, handling to the front, showing good speed, and finished on a large cast to the front. His was to be the best hour of the qualifying series with his proud owner John Webb enjoying it with the rest of us. His hour earned Foot dog of the day and top qualifier honors.
Royal Britt Starbuck of Auten (Johnson).—Buck ran well for his hour, always to the front. He had a nice find at 17 but suffered a second nonproductive just before pickup.
Blaze (Holman)— Danaris Molloy’s Mischief (Johnson).—Clarence was the wider of the two, with Blaze hitting the cover hard. Both did well for the hour with Clarence showing promise for the future with a good forward pattern and Blaze leaving nothing overlooked while trying to find game.
Jake’s Magic Moment (Budd)—Star’s Cutty Sark Prime Risk (Burchett).—Jake chased on a find at 17, and Risk who was tired from an all night ride was picked up early.
Scattman (Lincoln)—Countess Ruffian (Appleton).—It was warming into the high 70s with breakaway down past the airport on the last part of the first course. Scatt was misplaced early, then returned to join Ruffian through the Bear Trap. Ruffian spent the hour to the front, running with a pleasing style, hitting likely cover, but was not rewarded with a find. Scatt ran with power until lost at 50 and was not returned.
Rimarda’s Gambler (C. Holman)—Pistol Britt (Burchett).— Following a prolonged break for lunch while hoping for cooler weather, this pair broke away at 3:30 with temperatures in the high 70s. Both ignored the heat and put down a nice hour with Gambler showing more speed and range than his bracemate, though Britt did a good job. Neither had birds.
Lavender and Lace (R. Staton)—Tomar’s High Plains Drifter (Appleton).—Drifter showed a little youth in his pattern though his stamina and will power were good. Daisy took the edges well, staying to the front with Rosco, but showing slight effects of the heat late. Neither had birds.
Brewster D Rooster Booster (Sharer)—Flatwood Tiger (J. Holman).—Breaking away through Manck’s crossing, both showed good ground speed. Tiger had a non-productive towards the lake on the third course as Brewster continued on. Both finished strong but without birds.
Again heat was to pose a problem with highs in the low 80s, but again the dogs all handled it well.
O’Cal Mac Attack (Budd)—Aux-Arc’s Hopo Dee Mark (Staton).—Mac was behind early, then had a nonproductive on his way up. Mark had a stop to flush at 17 and went on. Both were found pointing at 33 some thirty yards apart, and both had birds. Neither could quite get it all together the last half.
Minnehaha’s Tammy (Johnson)—Tumbleweed’s Texas Return (Carrington).—Recent surgery to remove a washer and screw from her right shoulder had Tammy limping slightly today. Not wasting a step in going from one birdy edge to the next, she had a nice find in a ditch line at 58 to finish her hour. Sam is a hard running, handsome dog which covered ample acreage for his hour. Going hard, staying forward, and hunting the edges describes his hour as this pair hunted the bear trap, on behind the airport and finished 15 minutes past Manck’s crossing. Sam’s race earned him dog-of-the-day honors.
Junkyard Jay (Staton)—Country Cousin’s Contender (Holman).—Jade, last year’s champion, was lost to the right soon after breakaway, but returned at 20. Jay was lost shortly on the ride through the wooded penisula on the third course, but both joined coming out. Jade had a nonproductive at 20, then both on back to the first course. Jay was lost as Jade made some spectacular casts his last half.
Scout Hunter’s Rusty (Johnson)—Amigo of Atzlan (Holman).—Amigo had some large casts, but was somewhat erratic. Rusty had a nice find at 35 coming out of the Evergreen Penisula and then caught up with Amigo at the mouth of the bear trap. Both finished slightly short but still trying.
Going Jesse (Appleton)—Far Out Bandit (Holman).—Neither could get started today and were relieved early, so a lunch break was called.
Unique (Johnson)—The Magic Moment (Hol¬ man).—Breaking away in the heat at 3:45, both took off towards the oil well. Unique found and chased a covey at 35. Jenny pointed a single from this covey a few minutes later below the pond dam. A little off the first half, Jenny made up for it her last 30, throwing some nice casts and finishing with good stamina.
Sir Jones Corkance (Budd)—Mizlu’s Timber Baron (Johnson).—Corky had been to the vet the day before with an abcess on his side and, following a non-productive at 45, was retired. Bear was birdless for his hour but showed stamina and finished on a large front cast.
Renegade’s Kansas Kid (Burchett)—Drifter’s Dusty Dude (Carrington).—Dusty was a handful for his hour, showing well in spots but getting caught up in others. Kid handled the third course well and had a find in a clump of trees at 25. As he broke out of the heavy cover with Dusty, their range increased for a good finish. The weather had cooled down and with five braces left, the high was to be in the 60s.
Franklin County Bandit (Holman). Brinie was scratched. Frankie had a torn ear which gave him trouble as he hit the cover. This became more obvious as the hour wore on and he was picked up early.
Slide Rule (C. Holman)—Lobo’s Cotton Candy (Lanham).—Breaking away east from the airport, both started well. Birds ridden up at 5, with Sly stopping at the flight. Down on through the bear trap and out. Both dogs seen standing about 40 yards apart just north of the dry pond dam. Holman saw birds leave before the judge arrived, Candy’s stand was barren. Bird seen at 45 and Sly was noted to be standing as we rounded the corner. Both dogs had a moderate final 15.
Tyoga’s Teddy Bear (Budd)—Sir Duke Mustachio (Staton).—Breaking away north of the airport Mike handled well while Teddy was a little rough. On through the big hay meadows and towards the wooded peninsula, Teddy pointed at 35 with a covey seen leaving while going to him. Mike pointed at 45, then both were taken on for a good finish. Teddy was dog of the day.
Max’s Bozo Lightning Strikes (K. Staton)—Rimarda’s Trademark (Holman).—Breaking from the oil well towards the fish ponds, both put down an exceptional hour. Except for a lack of birds, Trademark ran the best hour of the qualifying series. Lost twice, Trademark showed to the front on his own both times as his handler was out looking for him. Around the treeline Staton left the course to look for Bozo which showed in front of the gallery. He was taken on by Roy Pelton who had been a spectator until that point, and he kept him in front until Staton came back in. Both finished well to the front and with good stamina but no birds.
Far Out Scarlet Angelina (Holman)—Jehovah Jirah Jumping Jenny (K. Staton).—Breaking from the bear trap, both had a spirited though moderate race. On past the airport they went on for a good finish.
Final Series
Foot (Budd)—Country Cousin’s Contender (Holman).—Thursday started with good weather, though it was to get hot later. Six minutes out Foot got birdy. Two birds got nervous and flew some 15-20 yards ahead of the dog and gallery and it was too much for Foot which took some steps and was relieved. Jade continued on past the fish ponds and around the next pond. On his swing around the pond he stopped, turned back, and pointed just as a single popped up in front of him. Taken on, he needed better defined bird work, but was lost at 45 and returned after pickup.
Rimarda’s Gambler (Holman)—Minnehaha’s Tammy (Johnson).—Tammy’s leg was better and her ground speed was up to par today. Breaking east from the airport, her first find was in a ditch at 2, good style with all in order. Gambler continued down the hay field, both came out of the peninsula, were momentarily lost to the right on a sharp turn, then headed down to the evergreen peninsula. After an unproductive at 20 for Tammy, both headed for the mouth of the bear trap where Tammy wheeled and pointed at 35. Again with good manners on a small covey, she was taken on. Gambler spent some time to the side, but showed good ground speed while Tammy stayed to the front. With 30 seconds left Tammy pointed again. This unfortunately was an unproductive which ruined an otherwise exciting and purposeful hour. Gambler meanwhile had gotten to the side but came on out for a good finish, but without bird contact.
Tumbleweed Texas Return (Carrington)—Tyoga’s Teddy Bear (Budd).—Breaking away just past Manck’s crossing, both were turned back on the first course. Crossing the road past the oil well, Teddy came out of the woods on the left, around a dead tree, and pointed. Two birds left as Budd dismounted, so he walked in front of his dog and shot. Teddy watched their flight intently. Taken on he joined Sam which pointed at 20, good manners and intensity on a large covey. Both were a handful the first 30, somewhat more erratic than you would have wanted. Things changed the last 30 as Teddy cast around the pond and took the woodsline to the front. Around and then through the cut in the treeline, Sam continued on as Teddy missed the cut and joined him at the road. Both went on for a forward finish.
Sir Duke Mustachio (K. Staton)—Rimarda’s Trademark (Holman).—Trademark’s performance was a repeat of his qualifying hour, a great race but no birds. Once again he spent his time far to the front, taking edge, and running a smart race. Mike was a little more moderate in range, but covered ample ground and looked in all the likely cover. Two unproductives marred his performance. Meanwhile, Trademark was misplaced at 50. Point was called at 65 by scout Chad Holman. A long ride by handler, judge, and reporter was for naught as nothing was produced where Tammy had pointed her first covey.
The Magic Moment (Holman)—Max’s Bozo Lightning Strikes (K. Staton).— Holman’s luck (all bad) continued as Jenny put down a good hour but went birdless. Bozo a little wider, but a little rougher than Jenny. It had gotten warmer and though both dogs hit areas where birds were previously seen, neither could make contact. On for a good finish, both did an admirable job.
Ardmore, Okla., March 13
Judges: Lee Marten and Bob Rohner
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—40 Brittanys
Winner—TYOGA’S TEDDY BEAR, 288199, male, by Timbereast Marc’s Marx—Timbereast Extension. Bill & Rheta Cartmell, owners; Loyd Budd, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
By Barbara Wade
This stake continues to have so much interest and draws a lot of fine young dogs from all over the United States. Our winner was Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy, owned by George Allison of Sweetwater, Tex., and handled by Vic Carrington. Roy ran wide but lateral the first half of the brace. He pointed in the reeds and Vic finally produced a bird. After his find he ran a strong forward race and finished on a large cast to the front. Valleyview’s Ole’ Smokey is owned by Craig and Colette Nelson of Centerville, S.D., and was ably handled by Rosco Staton. To the runner-up spot Smokey ran hard the entire hour with a mix of casts to the side and to the front always hunting the edges. He ran a very consistent race coupled with one good find.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: David Ayres and Robert Rankin
[One-Hour Heats]—20 Brittanys
Winner—BLAZE AND LOBO’S EVIL ROY, bnreg., male, by Beans Blaze—Lobo's Cotton Candy. G. E. Allison, owner; Vic Carrington, handler.
Runner-Up— VALLEYVIEW’s OLE SMOKEY, unreg., male, by Rimarda’s Rhapsody—La Pitt Pixie. Craig & Colette Nelson, owners; Rosco Staton, handler.