1990 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Dr. Robert A. Rankin
The 28th running of the U.S. Open Brittany Championship was won by The Magic Moment, orange and white female Brittany handled by Jim Holman. This fine bitch has a long, solid history of wins in hour stakes and has done well for her owner Don Young of Springfield, Mo. “Jennie” utilized good ground speed in a strong forward race, along with multiple finds, to garner the win in this prestigious stake.
Runner-up went to Rimarda’s Gambler which used a strong forward race coupled with one find for his runner-up spot. Gambler showed a lot of speed and stamina during his hour, but the bird savvy of Jennie proved too much for him.
The 28th running of the United States Open was held at the Lake Murray field trial grounds near Ardmore, Okla. The week showed changes in weather as is common for Oklahoma that time of year. Rain on the weekend was coupled with short rain squalls most of Monday when the temperature was up and the humidity was high. Tuesday morning broke clear and proved to be fine weather for the dogs. Wednesday brought us back to heavy rains, which postponed the qualification series until around 11 o’clock. The last two braces were run and it was decided to put off the final series until Thursday morning in order to have things even up for all the dogs.
Our judges this year were Ron Doering of Percy, Ill., and Scott Rennick of Manhattan, Kan. Both have been associated with dogs for a number of years. Scott was well known in the Brittany circles during his time as a professional handler. He is now retired from this and helps run a business, which takes him back and forth from Kansas to California quite often. His pretty young wife and their kids keep an eye on the kennel while Scott stays busy at his endeavors.
We were pleased to have Ron Doering come out to judge for us. Ron had always wanted to see the Lake Murray grounds and thought this would be a good opportunity for him to view the grounds and see some good dogs run. Both he and Scott were attentive and spent a number of hours in the saddle watching the dogs.
The trial ran smoothly, due mainly to the work of Dr. John Webb, his wife Judy, and Barbara Wade. The threesome ran the dog wagon, got the lunches ready, kept the banquet well stocked with food on Monday night, and just paid attention to all of the details. John is now serving his third term as president of the American Brittany Club and although we all recognize him as president, we also recognize that without Judy, John would never be able to handle all the work that he does. While John helps make decisions, Judy is a leading force in keeping things running. John has been instrumental in the U.S. Open for a number of years, long before I joined the club. Having always been one of his favorite trials, John and Judy helped build it up over the years and continued to strengthen it during their time as president and secretary-treasurer for the U.S. Open Championship.
It is hard to say enough about the hard work put forth by Barbara Wade. Long before the trial starts, she is helping call to get judges, lining up everything that needs to be done, helping find a place to hold the banquet and so on. Never one to jump out into the spotlight, she goes about her work to make sure that everything is ready for the start of the trial. The Oklahoma weather made it difficult to smile all the time, but even it held off for the championship series by making the day an enjoyable one.
Qualifying Series
Tyoga Teddy Bear (Budd) and Rimarda’s Gambler (Holman).—Both dogs broke away strong and to the front. Point was called at 6 for Teddy, but he was seen to chase and was picked up at this point. Gambler ran big, and was scouted some, both to keep him forward, and to check his progress. He is a strong running dog that covers a lot of ground, and continued to do so throughout his brace. Gambler was well out when point was called at 36. He held his style throughout the flush and was taken on. He was momentarily lost at 55, but found during the grace period. These started off showing the range, stamina, and style that we all have come to know from the United States Open.
The Magic Moment (Holman) and Lobo’s Evil Roy (Carrington).-—They broke away at 9:00, both dogs taking the edges to the front. Point called for Roy at 18, and Jenny at 22, but both ended with unproductives. They continued for the hour in a searching manner with nice forward patterns. Both finished well into the front, with Jenny having the advantage for the hour.
Jim DeBob’s Chengotka (John) and Country Cousin’s Contender (Holman).—Both Cockleburr and Jade broke away from behind the airport heading down across Manck’s Crossing at the creek. Both ran a fine race, until Jade was lost at 40. Cockleburr continued to the front and was seen on point at 45. All was well through the flush, though he took a few steps after the shot. He was taken on to finish the hour.
Rebel Samantha Sue (John) and Flatwood Tiger (Holman).—Sue was scratched. The sun had come out from under the clouds and it had started to get hot. Following the rain of the days before, the sun and the temperature led to hot, humid conditions. Tiger is a strong young dog that tried, but the weather started to tell. He finished the hour without birds.
Unique (Johnson) and Blaze (Holman).-—Upon breakaway Nicky was misplaced at 10, but brought back in plenty of time. She had an unproductive at 25 and was taken on, staying to the front for her hour, and finished on a nice cast to the front. Blaze had a find at 15, but wasn’t running with the range that his handler was looking for; when he started to get hot he was picked up.
Danube River Mandy (John) and County Lawyer (Holman).—Away down into the evergreen peninsula, Mandy wheeled and pointed at 12 with a small covey well located. She stood well to the flush and shot and was taken on. Both then continued the hour with Mandy having a good race though sometimes immature. Lawyer ran forward and overall did a nice job, though he had some short inconsistencies. Both finished the hour well and still going.
Jake’s Son of a Gun Runner (Schroeder) and Rusty Max III (Burchett).—This twosome started well until Sonny cut his ear at 20. He finished the hour, but it was easy to tell that it affected him some. His pattern remained good for most of the brace, and he and Max both put down a very nice first half. Another rain squall came through at this time, and the temperature was starting to cool, and both dogs felt well for their hour, though both went birdless. This ended the day’s running. It was now too dark to put down any dogs.
The “day dog” was Rimarda’s Gambler in the first brace. The day had seen cool weather in the morning, then hot, humid weather in the early afternoon, then rain squalls throughout the late afternoon which helped keep it somewhat cool.
Rimarda’s Trademark (Holman) and Tumbleweed’s Texas Return (Carrington).—This day started off overcast, cool, and with scattered rain. Both dogs out of the chute well and were feeling good. T M had the first find at 15, with a nice covey located in front of him. His style was very good and he was taken on to run a very nice hour. He was out of pocket a couple of times, but was almost always seen out front some distance. He felt good for the hour and finished strong. Sam started with two singles, at 22 and 25, from a scattered covey. His first time he was found by the gallery after he had been ridden past by the handler and judges. All was in order for both finds and he continued scooting around the course until he pointed again at 35, this time with a small covey in front of him. This had been a fun brace to watch, with both dogs doing a good job, showing a lot of stamina and style and finishing the hour strong.
Jake’s Red Ball Express (Schroeder) and Boss Hoss (Lincoln).—Breaking away into the evergreen peninsula, Hoss pointed, then chased at 15. Schroeder’s dog had two quick unproductives and was likewise relieved of duty half way through the brace.
Renegade’s Kansas Kid (Burchett) and C J’s Savanah Deelite (John).—Kid put down a good hour. His first covey came at 7. He had to relocate on a running covey, which he did with style, and then was taken back to the front, hunting the edges the entire way to catch back up with C J. C J was a little short and as Kid hunted in the peninsulas he would get behind. He continued to hunt well. We all rode past him at 20; he was found pointing by the scout just past where we had gone, then he handled it with style and intensity and was taken on to finish the hour well. C J was somewhat short during her hour and went birdless.
Brewington Brinie (Budd) and Minnehaha’s Tammy (Johnson).—This was a fun brace, with six finds during the hour. Tammy had finds at 5, 10, 15 and 25 and Brinie had finds at 5 and 20 with a back of 10. Both dogs did an extremely good job for the first half-hour, with Tammy making some wide casts and staying well to the front, Brinie doing the same. Brinie shortened some for the last 20, but finished to the front. Tammy continued on during the hour, hunting the edges well and making her way to the front. She covered a lot of territory, and handled well, making every step count.
Franklin County Bandit (Holman) and Scattman (Lincoln).—Frankie has had a lot of bad luck in the United States Open, last year having problems with a cut ear. This year, both his front feet were sore and bleeding. He was relieved at 10. Scattman was lost.
Jack’s Rustic Bounce (Appleton) and Slide Rule II (Holman).—Holman and Slide had a little trouble coordinating their efforts early and he was relieved as he ran through a covey at 15. Bounce was a little short early, but then she turned it on, and did a very nice job for the last 45 minutes. She stayed to the front, hunting the edges and worked well with the handler. She continued the hour with a better finish than start, and except for lack of birds, did a very nice job.
Sir Duke Mustachio (John) and Drifter’s Dusty Dude (Carrington).—Dusty had been bitten by a snake at the weekend trial and his face was still somewhat swollen. He had finds at 7 and 25, but appeared somewhat ill from the bite, and was slower than his usual. At 45 he misplaced the handler only to show up to the front and remain ahead for the final 15 minutes. Duke had a nice find at 28, but was a real handful throughout the hour. He required a lot of scouting and missed a couple of important turns from which he had to be brought back. He ran hard for the hour, never quitting and appeared as a strong contender. His only problem was his pattern, in that style and stamina were both seen in him. He finished with a strong cast to the front.
Scott’s Gingerbread Lady (Holman) and Renegade’s Kid Flash (Burchett).—Lady and Flash both ran the hour though without birds. Flash was a little inconsistent, but appeared to be a young dog, with good potential. Lady got to the side more than she would have liked to have been, but ran hard, and overall put together her usual good race. She showed a lot of potential for her hour.
Minnehaha’s Tammy was named “dog of the day’’ with four finds in a strong forward race. We had seen a number of good races today, including Trademark, Texas Return and Kansas Kid.
Wednesday morning greeted us with heavy rains, which kept us from an early start. The rain continued until around noon, at which time we ran the last two races and then quit for the day, thereby starting the callback series on Thursday.
Foot (Budd) and Amigo of Aztlan (Holman).—They broke away in fine fashion on a cool day, only to run into rain at 15, which continued until 50 minutes through the brace. Foot and Amigo both had on their running shoes with Foot having the edge on distance. Foot had one find on a single from a scattered covey, which he handled well, and finished the hour past the usual pickup place, having covered the territory in fine fashion. Amigo too ran a fine race, but was birdless for his hour. He finished strong, the way he had started.
Bay Arbor Dolly (John), a bye.—The rain had stopped, and this brace started at just past noon. Dolly ran a forward, busy race with an unproductive and a rabbit, but couldn’t find birds. She stayed forward for her hour, working the cover well, always searching for birds. Her range was modest at times, but seemed to fit the cover that she worked.
Foot was named “dog of the day.”
The qualifying series ended with Minnehaha’s Tammy being named “Top Qualifier.” Some excellent performances had been noted during the initial series; not only good races, but bird work as well.
Championship Finals
Renegade’s Kansas Kid (Burchett) and Rimarda’s Trademark (Holman).—Kid pointed at 8 near the hilltop just down the chute from breakaway. He had a small covey well located with all in order and was taken on only to be misplaced. Both dogs were gone at 17 with scouts out, but only Kid was returned. T M could not be found and was done for the day. Kid handled rough throughout this hour and couldn’t get it put together like he did for the qualifying series. He worked the cover and never quit trying through his hour. At 58 he again pointed, with two birds well located in front of him. He was taken on for a finish down through the last open peninsula.
The Magic Moment (Holman) and Minnehaha’s Tammy (Johnson).—It would be hard to find a nicer pair of bitches than that which ran today in Jennie and Tammy. Tammy had the upper hand for the first 20 minutes with better range, and a nice forward pattern, while Jennie had a little slower start, but finished strong. Jennie was seen pointing at 11 with Tammy backing and all in order as they were taken on into the “evergreen peninsula.” Jennie pointed at 17 again all in order, with Tammy going on point at 19 down in the evergreen peninsula. Coming on around and out, Jennie pointed at 21 with a nice covey in front. They worked their way out of the peninsula and down along the lake edge, covering the open fields to the front to a point past the mouth of the bear trap. Tammy pointed just on the edge of the woods, having negotiated the mouth of the bear trap, and a large covey rose as we rode over to her. Point was called for Jennie at this time, back down deeper in the woods along the edge of the treeline towards the water. All was in order for her as she was taken on, both dogs negotiating the area of the short pond dam and down into the next peninsula. The bedspring covey which we hadn’t seen for awhile, was pointed by Tammy at 38 with all in order. Both dogs taken on around the peninsula and down across the open fields to the lake edge. On down through the woods and around, Jennie’s race widened and she gained momentum as the hour went along. Tammy continued on in a forward pattern, with Jennie leading the way the last 20 minutes. Both continued on down the back hunting the cover well, always showing to the front. Both finished the hour strong with Tammy having the first 20 minutes and Jennie showing strong the last 20. Both had done an excellent job for their hour.
Rimarda’s Gambler (Holman) and Tumbleweed’s Texas Return (Carrington).—This brace covered more ground than any I have been associated with in a long time, The dogs literally pushed each other for the first half hour. Though not racing each other, they covered the ground to the front. We continued at a very fast pace forward for the first half hour, finishing up from our start behind the airport, down through Manck’s crossing, then cutting back to the No. 1 course. On down to the fish ponds, near the lake edge and then back around through the woods and past the airport we went. At the place where the usual pickup would have been for this brace, we still had 15 minutes of time left. Sam pointed at 35 in the woods and had good style as all was in order. He was taken on, running with Gambler and doing a nice job. He suffered two unproductives, but stayed down for his hour never varying from his intent to stay to the front. Gambler showed speed, endurance, and a nice forward pattern that carried him along for the entire hour. Pushing himself along the edge at 50 leading down into the evergreen peninsula, Gambler literally wheeled and pointed into the edge of the woodsline. He had a small covey well located in front of him. He was taken on for a strong finish, showing fine endurance.
Amigo of Aztlan (Holman) and Sir Duke Mustachio (Johns).—Temperature in the 50s with the sun beginning to shine as we broke out of the evergreen peninsula and headed toward the bear trap. Neither dog could quite get things going the way they had in the qualifying series and though both finished the hour strong, both were somewhat in and out for their hour. Neither was able to locate birds though birds were seen in the vicinity as we rode in the gallery.
Scott’s Gingerbread Lady (Holman) and Foot (Budd).—This pair broke well, Lady pointing at 12. The birds left and Lady left, not chasing but just didn’t stay. She was picked up. Foot continued on. Point called for Foot early in the brace and handler flushed and fired before anyone got there. Judges had not seen the birds so Foot was taken on. He continued a diligent, forward race, showing very well to the front, never tiring in his efforts. He ran extremely well the first 40 minutes, setting a pattern for himself that could have taken him to the winners’ circle. Point called as we had come around the mouth of the bear trap and across the little pond dam. Foot had some birds well located in front of him that were seen to run off through the woods. A considerable flushing effort was made by the handler which unfortunately included pushing against a large branch from a tree. When this was let up, it hit the dog in the face and the birds flew and handler fired, the dog got a face full of tree. This was too much for him as he lost some composure and was taken up. He had set a good pace and likely had been under consideration.
Ardmore, Okla., March 12
Judges: Ron Doering and Scott Rennick
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—33 Brittanys
Winner—THE MAGIC MOMENT, 1331505, female, by Kentucky White Lightning—Home Acres Allspice. Don Young, owner; Jim Holman, handler.
Runner-Up—RIMARDA’S GAMBLER, 1323683, male, by Rimarda’s Trademark—Windgail’s Desert Dust. Hugh Wilson, owner; Chad Holman, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
By Barbara Wade
The only one-hour Derby stake for Brittanys again drew a good entry. A lot of fine young dogs with potential for future open competition competed and were impressive. However, the judges felt that none of the contenders put together a complete hour performance, therefore, they chose to name first, second and third winners. Their evaluation was that any of the three placing dogs could have been named champion of the stake had they been able to maintain their performance the entire hour.
Sunnyvale Rhett of Windagail, owned by Jack Clark and Joan Addison and handled by Jim Holman, was named first, Bird Vaders Birdwalker, owned by Vincent and Floyce Wattson and handled by Lyle Johnson, was second and Bay Arbor J D Flash, owned by Barbara Wade and handled by Jim John, was third.
The remaining dogs and their handlers included: Stillwell’s Sadie Special (Burchett), Arkansas Zipman (Holman), Renegade’s Jessie Bell (Burchett), Patches of Son (Carrington), Rose Bud (Carrington), Royal Britts Maverick (Johnson), Strong’s Thirst Quencher (Burchett), Stony II (Johnson), The Proper Perspective (Holman), The Texas Politician (Budd), Smart Operator (Holman), Cotton Candy’s Blazing Ranger (Johnson), Mark of Contention (Holman), Bay Arbor Dee Dee (John).
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Max Kammerlocher and Patricia Kammerlocher
[One-Hour Heats]—21 Brittanys
1st—SUNNVALE RHETT OF WINDAGAIL, 1331009, male, by Sunnyvale Skipper—Echo Valley Dandy Sandy. Jack Clark & Joan Addison, owners; Jim Holman, handler.
2d—BIRD VADERS BIRDWALKER, unreg., male, by Flambeau’s Dusty Dee—Jim Freckles. Vincent & Floyce Wattson, owners. Lyle Johnson, handler.
3d—BAY ARBOR J D FLASH, 1325239, male, by Bay Arbor Jay Flash—Bay Arbor Dolly. Barbara Wade, owner; Jim John, handler.