1993 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Dr. Robert A. Rankin
Bonine's Lucky Bandit, handled by Jim John and owned by Herb Rea of Wichita, Kan., won the 1993 U.S. Open Brittany Championship at Lake Murray at Ardmore, Okla. This four-year-old liver and white male exhibited consistency throughout his initial hour and during the finals to garner his prestigious win. Sired by Bonine’s Count Bud out of Bonine’s Cassandra Crossing, the breeder was Herman Bonine, who owned the dog through his early years until Herb Rea saw him run at a trial at age three. At that time Herb purchased Bandit and put him in the string of Jim John. He has been a consistent winner since that time, best known for his steady forward pattern and style on birds.
Runner-up laurels went to Microdot, five-year-old liver and white male owned by Bill Oliver of Wichita, Kan., and handled by Lyle Johnson. The dog was bred by Jack Brooks out of Microchip by Scipio’s Super Jet. Also known for his consistency, Mike put down two good hours during the qualifying and final heats to earn runner-up.
Judges for this year’s event were William Cartmell of Nichols, N.Y., and Rick Smith of Pleasanton, Tex. Both have seen many a dog run and were well qualified to judge the Championship. Bill and Rheta were wintering in the Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas area. Rick came up from Texas with his wife, Debra. He had just finished another winter in a hunting camp in south Texas and was looking forward to this engagement. Debra had field trialed some years ago and renewed her acquaintance at Lake Murray. Luckily the ground was soft as her first time back on a horse in a number of years proved to be an interesting experience for her.
This trial was sponsored by Pro Plan and we appreciate their interest in the U.S. Open Championship. It’s also an IAMS award trial and Roy Pelton was on hand to ride some of the braces. The weather proved favorable for the trial with only a hint of moisture during the last day. The trial went extremely well thanks to Barbara Wade and Doc and Judy Webb.
Qualifying Series
Spyke De Cambo (Bud) and Valley View Old Smokey (Staton) were away down toward the oil well. Deer were seen early but did not cause any problems. Past the pond and through the woods point was called for Smokey at 32. Everything went well until after the flush when he took a few steps. Spyke continued ahead, showing good speed and maintaining his position. Point was called at 50 for Spyke. He was a little lax as the bird was well off to the side. At 58 he again pointed; this time the bird was well located in front of him and he looked good throughout the flush and shot. He finished to the front.
Following a wide swing to the left Huskey’s Ramblin Roan Brook (John) came back to the front and pointed at 4 but chased and was picked up. Jake’s Sonofa Gunrunner (Schroder) continued on for his hour always steady and to the front but not showing the range that he’s known for. He hunted diligently and was rewarded at 59 with a single from a previously flushed covey just past the oil well.
Ed De Vert (Budd) found birds at 2 minutes on his breakaway cast. He had a small covey well located with good tight conformation. Taken on he and bracemate Sydney David (Burchett) cast well to the front, Ed with a little more speed but Sydney with a good cast and no wasted motion. Point called at 20 for Sydney, which had a well located find in front of him. He looked good throughout the flush and shot. Both dogs cast towards the bear trap where Sydney again pointed at 24 and 26. He was a little loose at 26 so was immediately relocated by the handier. He repointed approximately forty feet to the front, again with his good light conformation. Both dogs' continued on with Ed the stronger but Sydney showing front running application. Both were picked up at Manck’s Crossing at the hour.
Renegade’s Kansas Kid (Burchett) and Jake’s Red Ball Express (Schroder) started off on good early casts. Kid showed his heels for the first half well to the front, with good ground speed along the edges. Red had an early unproductive with a back by Kid. Red also showed early to the front with a hard driving gait that took him along at good speed. He had nice finds at 20 and 50 minutes. He had the birds well located on both finds and with good manners. Kid hunted well but only had an unproductive for his efforts. Red continued on well to the front, showing stamina and range throughout. Both finished well to the front for a good hour.
It started to warm up in the afternoon but there was a nice breeze to keepit from getting unbearably hot.
Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy (Carrington) was last year’s U. S. Open Championship winner and both he and Bonine’s Lucky Bandit (John) started strong with Bandit caught up on the right for a while until he crossed back to the front. Roy had a staunch find at 20 and looked good on his birds. Taken on, Roy had an unproductive at 40 but this did not detract from his pleasing gait and forward manner. Bandit continued on, always to the front, taking the edges where they were available. He showed diligence in his search and stamina for his hour but did not come up with any birds.
Rowdy Napolean (Burchett) and Maybe Baby (Schroder) started slowly but gained momentum during the first half. Point was called for Baby at 20 where she was seen with a nice find on a small covey just before Manck’s Crossing. Rowdy pointed at 34 but had to take an unproductive and was taken on when he failed to back Baby at 35. He was relieved of duty. No birds were found in front of Baby and she was relocated; nothing was found. Taken on she was misplaced for awhile to be returned before pickup and finished on her nicest cast of the hour.
Jake’s Red Ball Express was named day dog.
A nice, cool morning and Ditto Ditto (Carrington) and Bay Arbor Dolly (Budd) broke well, both showing their heels in the cool weather. Dolly worked scent at 18 but couldn’t locate any birds. She was taken on and backed Ditto at 20 in what eventuated as an unproductive. This'time two minutes out Dolly pointed with extreme style on a small, well located covey. She looked very good throughout the flush and shot and was taken on where she pointed at 40 in a small motte by a feeder. Again she looked good throughout the flush. Both dogs continued on towards the bear trap when Dolly was seen under a bird that had gotten up in a treeline. She was taken up. Ditto had a second unproductive and was taken on. He finished the hour with good range but no bird work.
Scatterdot (Budd) started well and had a nice find at 25 but had to be relocated. She accidentally got into the birds at this point but really had not done anything on purpose. She had done well for her time down and will be back for another day. Aux Arc’s Mark (Staton) got started early with a nice find at 4 behind the airport, well handled. He continued on through Manck’s Crossing with another find at 20, again well located on a small covey. Taken back around to the first course he stopped in the middle of the path, again showing style. As handler flushed on both sides birds were seen cowering in the path and were finally flushed for the dog who handled the situation well. He made a wide cast to the left shoreline as we went by to the right and had to be returned to the front. Again he cast well to the front with another large cast that took him on through the next woodsline and on down and around. Picked back up at 55 he finished his hour with a long cast to the front down along a large treeline. He ran well and had three nice pieces of bird work.
Bird Vader’s Quail Nightmare (Johnson) and Tequila’s Joker (John) made their way towards the bear trap. They handled the first 30 minutes well. Point was called for Gomez at 10. He had birds well located in the bedspring covey area, followed by an unproductive behind the airport. He worked his way through Manck’s Crossing and had another find at 44. Joker was a little immature and started to tire during the last half. Gomez had a couple of nice casts for his hour and two nice finds.
Country Roads Bay Arbor JoDee (Budd) and Kolicko’s King Kaycee (Schroder) worked hard for their hour and stayed busy although they really never got anything going to their advantage. JoDee had an unproductive at 33 and a find just at time, all in order. King had a find at 35 with JoDee backing and both dogs stood well through the flush and shot. They remained busy for their time down, hunting in likely areas.
The first brace after lunch — Smooth Operator (Staton) and Jake’s Gundol De Gambel (Schroder) — started with a little warmer weather, although there was a cool breeze off the lake. Both dogs ran well for their hour but without birds. They exchanged leads throughout the hour but were unable to catch an edge and lake it with consistency.
Argyle Addie (Burchett), a bye, had problems getting started and was picked up early.
Aux Arc’s Mark was named day dog.
It was nice and cool Wednesday morning with a breeze out of the north with the temperature about 40.
Tumbleweed's Texas Return (Carrington), as a bye, broke away from camp with a nice tailwind as he hunted the edges. He showed good stamina in the cool weather and had a nice find at 42 on an extremely large covey at the mouth of the evergreen peninsula. There were approximately thirty birds in the air at the flush; he handled the covey well. Taken on down past the peninsula he continued at a nice gait through the mouth of the beartrap and on for a good finish.
CF Double Brandy Kid (Burchett) and Dave O Renegade Ben (Davis) started well, Kid pointing at 12 and Ben offering a stylish back. Both held well throughout the flush and shot. Ben had a strong find at 27. Kid pointed going through Manck’s Crossing with birds located along the edge, then had trouble with a covey at 45 and was picked up. Ben stayed on the side and was hard to get to the front and was finally picked up when he didn’t please Everett.
It was a good day for both Microdot (Johnson) and Bay Arbor Dee Dee (Budd) with Mike being just a little stronger for his hour. Point was called at 19 on a good find by Mike with Dee Dee backing. Both dogs looked good throughout. The pair hunted well to the front, covering the edges and taking turns at the lead with Mike showing a strong, forward gait throughout his hour. At 32 Dee Dee scored a good staunch find on a small covey showing good manners throughout. Although each suffered an unproductive, Mike’s second find at 50 was as good as his first. Both were taken on for a forward finish.
Dave O’Doc (Davis) had a super find at 5 minutes but had trouble finding the range for the last part of his hour. Kar Kar’s Sharpshooter (Staton) got misplaced for a prolonged absence which detracted from his hour. Back to the front he continued on, showing ahead but not making up for his time gone.
Rustic Winchester (Johnson) and Jasper Ban Dee (Budd) hustled around for the first 40 minutes with Jasper having a nice covey find at 25. Rusty ran well for his first 40 minutes, showing well to the front with a strong gait. Jasper stayed with him throughout this time also showing good strength. Rusty pointed at 42 and Jasper entered the area and also came to point. Both dogs then got worried that the other one was going to find something first and both put up the covey and chased.
Renegade’s Jessie Bell (Burchett), a bye, tried for 20 minutes but wasn’t getting anything put together and was relieved by her handler.
Day dog was Microdot and the top qualifier named by the judges was Aux Arc’s Mark.
Final Series
Aux Arc’s Mark impressed from the start, putting together two spectacular casts in his first 30 minutes. Jake’s Red Ball Express continued his front-running ways showing well to the front, casting along the edges. Both dogs went through the chute without trouble and on down past the oil well. Taken on down by the pond and through the woodsline Mark’s cast took him to the front and down towards a peninsula. When Mark didn’t reappear the scout was dispatched and he was seen standing with a nice covey well located. In the meantime Red Ball had a nice find at 25, showing good intensity throughout the time. At 30 Red Ball got a little too close to some birds which got up before he was established. Mark continued on and was seen pointing well to the front at 42 but then put the bird up, chased and repointed him. Both dogs were relieved at this point.
Renegade’s Kansas Kid and Ed De Vert broke away well, Ed the stronger through the first 20 minutes. Point called at 17 for Ed. Flushing attempt produced nothing and an unproductive was recorded. Ed pointed at 25 at a feeder just before Manck’s Crossing. Again a short flushing attempt was blank; Ed was asked to relocate where he got up two birds and stopped. He was mannerly and was taken on but this undoubtedly hurt him. Both dogs were brought through Manck’s Crossing and back up to the No. 1 course where they broke down through the chute and on past the oil well. At 40 Kid was seen standing near the edge of a small mott and as we rode over Ed came in and was then seen in front of Kid. Undoubtedly Ed did not see Kid as Kid was behind and covered by bushes. Birds were put up in front of Ed but credit was also given to Kid at this point. Both dogs were taken on, Kid later suffering an unproductive at 43. They continued on, although both had slowed some in the last 15. They finished to the front with a game effort for their hour down.
Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy and Microdot broke down through the evergreen peninsula. Both exhibited good strides, taking them to the forward edges. On past the evergreen peninsula the pair came out and went on the right side of the road on the way down to the beartrap. They stayed on the right throughout the ride to the beartrap, were caught near the mouth and taken back down towards the bedspring covey. They continued to show well ahead, Roy with his long stride and good ground speed, Mike covering the edges and staying to the front. Both dogs handled well and at a distance. Behind the airport point was called for Roy at 35. No birds could be found and he was taken on through Manck’s Crossing. Mike took the left side and Roy took the trees on the right all the way to the end. This put him in a forward position as we came back on to the No. 1 course and was taken down the chute, again showing well to the front. Mike caught up and moved forward past the oil well, across the road and to the area of the small motts on the hilltop. With 2 minutes left in the heat Mike pointed along the edge of a motte into a small plum thicket. All was in order as Johnson flushed in front of him with a pair of birds flown. Mike was taken on for his finish. Roy finished strongly to the front but for his hour down was not rewarded with bird work. Mike had shown a good forward pattern throughout his hour with a nice find at 58 minutes.
Bonine’s Lucky Bandit and Bay Arbor Dee Dee were ready for the hour with a good breakaway cast. Bandit ran hard and to the front with Dee Dee close by on the left. She was then lost in the woods for a short absence but brought back to the front and continued on. Bandit pointed at 11 exhibiting good style, high head and tail, and good intensity on a small covey. He pointed again at 14, again showing similiar style. Birds weren’t flushed and he was relocated. As he was working the relocation the judge accidentally rode up the birds in a more open area as they were trying to run off. Bandit was then taken on as he went down through the evergreen peninsula and worked it on his own. He followed some deer out and was caught at this point and put back in front where he continued down along the lake edge towards the beartrap. Dee Dee had an unproductive at 20 and followed Bandit on down the shore line. Bandit stayed to the front, showing stamina and a nice, snappy gait. Past the mouth of the beartrap both dogs were brought back around and headed towards the airport. Again Bandit was seen to the front following the edges ahead. He worked peninsulas on his own, going in and coming out as we continued to ride to the front. Dee Dee had tired some but continued working her way to the front and trying hard. Point was called for Dee Dee at 48, a nice covey was located. She looked good throughout. Bandit meanwhile continued showing to the front and handling the terrain with no difficulty. He went through the woods behind Manck’s Crossing and again showed to the front. He was still strong at 50 minutes as he continued back past the airport and on towards Manck’s Crossing. He was last seen before pickup crossing the edge of the horizon, well to the front. At time Bandit was nowhere in sight. A ride forward found him some 150 or 200 yards out to the front. For his hour Bandit had stayed to the front the entire time, showing consistency throughout. His gait never waivered, showing the same strength in the end that he had in the beginning. His style was pleasing, his bird work impeccable and he clearly had done a superior job in his final hour.
Ardmore, Okla., March 8
Judges: Bill Cartmell and Rick Smith
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—33 Brittanys
Winner— BONINE’S LUCKY BANDIT, unreg.. male by Bonine s Count Bud— Bonine’s Cassandra Crossing. Herb Rea, owner; Jim John, handler.
Runner-Up—MICRODOT, 1339217, male, by Micro Chip—Scipio’s Super Jet. Bill Oliver, owner, Lyle Johnson, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
By Barbara Wade
This companion Derby Classic had a good entry. Most of the dogs showed some immaturity in establishing all-age running patterns and adult bird work. The placed dogs all had good finds. The judges chose to name first, second and third places. First went to Hanging Jaze Dolly’s Molly, owned by Jake and JoJo Schroder and handled by the former. Molly showed good ground speed. She had acceptable Derby behavior on birds. Renegade’s Bullseye Bazooka, owned by David and Karen Healey and handled by Bob Burchett, was second. Evil Roy’s Vapor Trail, owned and handled by Jim Hearne, was third.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Marc Appleton and Dr. Robert Rankin
[One-Hour Heats]—21 Brittanys
1st— HANGING JAZE DOLLY’S MOLLY, 1366959, female, by Jake’s Red Ball Express—Jake’s Gundol De Gambel. Jake & JoJo Schroder, owners; Jake Schroder, handler
2d— RENEGADE’S BULLSEYE BAZOOKA, 1386344, male, by Renegade's Kansas Kid— Renegade’s Jessie Belle. David & Karen Healey, owners; Bob Burchett, handler.
3d— EVIL ROY’S VAPOR TRAIL, unreg., male, by Blaze and Lobo's Evil Roy—Overlands High Card Sara. Jim Hearne, owner and handler.
