1994 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Dr. Robert A. Rankin
The United States Open Brittany Champinship was run over the Lake Murray grounds near Ardmore, OkIa. This year’s winner was A Bunch of Butch, a four-year-old white and orange male owned by Jack Murphy and handled by Jimmy John. Butch is the son of Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy out of High Card Sara. Butch utilized three finds with a forward race in the final series to garner the title.
Both Butch and his father, Evil Roy, were named top dogs of the day; Roy was the top qualifier. It was enjoyable to watch this father and son team run together in the finals, the son showing the same positive traits as the father. Both show good ground speed, intelligent race and intensity on point. Roy ran in the same brace as his son to garner runner-up after a brilliant performance in the qualifying series.
The weather was warm and sunny with no rain. Judges for this renewal were Ronnie Smith of Big Cabin, Okla., and his friend Allen Vincent of Collinsville, Okla. Both young men are well versed in bird dogs and kept a watchful eye on their braces. Their decisions were well accepted by all.
Again a number of people attended the trial. Dr. John and Judy Webb continuously worked during the trial along with Barbara Wade to keep it running in a smooth fashion. The ladies again put on a banquet which was well attended. Everyone in attendance helped during the trial and with all the work the trial went smoothly.
Our thanks to Harold Kirkes, the Pro Plan representative who was on hand throughout the running. Not only did he bring dog food and hats for the contestants, he helped run the dog wagon and was always on hand with a horse trailer to help pick up people and ferry them back and forth. This trial was sponsored by Pro Plan and our thanks to Harold for all of his fine work.
Roy Pelton representing the lams company came to ride a day and to witness one of the qualifying trials for the Iams award.
The Championship
Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D (John) and Spyke De Cambo (Budd) headed towards the oil well. Spyke pointed at 15 with all in order. Sparky was behind early but back to the front following Spyke's find. Spyke was under a bird at 35 and relieved. Sparky whirled and pointed at 33 showing good intensity on a small covey. He covered the edges down towards the bear trap and pointed along the edge of the motte. Again a small covey was present with all in order. Taken on he ran the edge of the lake and picked up the treeline, taken into a small feeder where a covey find was again recorded. With 15 minutes remaining he continued running strongly, showing to the front. He finished with a strong cast ahead.
Huskey’s Trail Blazin Tasha (John) was a handful throughout as she ran hard but was missing on more than one occasion. Ditto (Carrington) showed his bird-finding ability with finds at 11, 30, and 56. He exhibited good intensity with each find and had only one unproductive. He showed some good casts in the forward location with some ability but didn’t quite get everything put together.
Bay Arbor Dolly (Budd) and Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy (Carrington) broke away towards the bear trap. Dolly pointed a quarter-mile to the front, Roy coming in for a back. Both handlers were on the ground as Budd flushed first one bird then another. The second was too much for Dolly. Roy stood throughout. He was taken around the edge of a woods where he pointed a single from a broken covey at 6. He again pointed at 10, having found a single from the broken covey. He held both birds with style and intensity, head up with good location. He ran a wide, searching forward race. Back towards the oil well he showed well through the woods and then had an unproductive at 48 in some brambles. He continued on with a wide seeking cast and finished in good order.
Tequila’s Joker (John) and Rimarda’s Allied Max (Staton) broke away down past the large pond. Joker was missing while Max continued on to the front. Max had a few problems with direction early but continued to the front. Joker was running hard when seen. He made some nice casts to the front when he was there but somehow seemed to slip away at inopportune times. Max had a find at 53 in the old bedspring covey area. Both showed stamina but had some problems with direction.
Jasper Ban D (Budd) and Silver Lakes Wishes Blaze (Rohner) showed their heels through a large hayfield. Point was called for Jasper at 15 with Blaze backing. Both dogs looked good as the covey was flushed. Blaze continued with a strong, forward race as Jasper got off to the side. Both dogs continued strong until the last 15 minutes when Jasper got behind and Blaze continued ahead. Point was called for Blaze at 50 with good location and a tight find on a small covey. He looked good throughout the flush and shot and rendered a strong finish.
At the breakaway Jim De Bob’s Super Star (John) veered in the wrong direction. John had to go get him and they caught up at 15 just as Bay Arbor Dee Dee (Budd) pointed a small covey showing good location and intensity. Dee Dee again pointed at 38, another nice covey, well located. Both dogs continued well, Dee Dee at a moderate range but with good intentions. She hunted the edges well and continued on up through this and back around to the No. 1 course. Super Star continued to run hard but had trouble staying with us. In the chute on the No. 1 course Dee Dee pointed and had a huge covey well located. She pointed again at 50, another covey well located. She continued on to her finish hunting the edges and doing a nice job. Super Star finished without birds.
Dog of the day: Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy.
The nice weather continued into day two. A Bunch of Butch (John) and Kar Kar’s Sharpshooter (Staton) were away clockwise from camp. Butch continued a hard, front running race and was taking the edge of the field when he wheeled and pointed at 30 just at the start of the evergreen peninsula. He had good location and intensity as the handler flushed a nice covey in front of him. Sharpshooter began to tire and was relieved at this point. Headed on towards the bear trap, Butch wheeled and pointed at the mouth of it as there was a small covey feeding at the edge of the hayfield. He exhibited high headed intensity as birds were flushed in front of him. He continued to set a nice standard for the day with a strong finish. He showed stamina and ability during his hour.
Scatterdot (Budd) broke away on the left and essentially stayed on that side for the first 30 minutes. He hunted hard and was rewarded with a find at 23, showing good location. He then started to slow and was picked up early. Dave O Doc (Staton) ran through a bird at 10 and was taken up.
DeCartier’s Ben Jammin (Harris) and Bay Arbor Sooner (Budd) ran a strong half hour working their way slowly towards the bear trap. Both hunted the edges well and showed some ability as the day started to turn hot. They got into water early which helped them continue. At 30 Jammin pointed along the mouth of the bear trap with Sooner coming in for a back. As birds were flushed the temptation was too great for Sooner. Jammin continued on until he got too hot at 45 and was picked up.
After lunch the weather was still warm but a breeze had sprung up. Area Manager Bryce Todd was riding this afternoon.
Ed De Vert (Budd) and Mo Kan Playboy (Staton) got over the edge of the hill and down deep into the gulley. They found their way back up on their own. Playboy got misplaced at this point and was not seen again. At 23 Ed had an unproductive and was taken on. He continued to run a strong, forward race taking the edges well and showing style and stamina for his final half hour.
Tumbleweed Texas Return (Carrington) moved down through the first opening and just in the treerow prior to Manck’s crossing pointed on a small covey. He showed his usual good style and intensity as Carrington flushed in front of him. Aux Arc’s Mark (Staton) was misplaced at this point and not seen for another 35 minutes. Return continued hunting the edge of the next opening all the way to the end and back around onto the No. 1 course. He continued strongly and finished well. He had shown good ability and had pointed his covey well.
Bay Arbor Jo Dee (Budd) and Husky’s Ramblin Roan Brook (John) ran a nice hour. Jo Dee worked the first 30 in workman-like fashion, taking the edge and staying to the front. Her range was not extreme but her pattern was excellent. Brook was a little wider but required more handling early until she settled into a front-running race for the last half. Jo Dee had an unproductive at 25. They continued to run well for their hour, showing ability and stamina but were not rewarded with birds.
The dog of the day was Bunch of Butch; the top qualifier was Evil Roy.
The Finals
Wednesday morning dawned bright and clear with a breeze but a warm day ahead!
Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy (Carrington) and Bunch of Butch (John). This was a father/son duo. Butch, a relatively young dog, matured early. Butch continued on as we turned south and was seen going through the edge of the peninsula down towards the lake. Handler went to look for him and called point at 15, a nice covey well located. Meanwhile Roy had continued ahead. As Butch was working his way to the front he pointed at 25, another nice covey well located. He showed good intensity and location on both of his finds and was then brought on. Both dogs continued down through the mouth of the evergreen peninsula, back around to the open fields, taking us to the bear trap. They glided along, hunting the edges. Roy wheeled on a treeline, pointed at 44, a small covey well located. He showed his typical strong intensity and good location as Carrington flushed the birds in front of him. Butch was brought out of the bear trap and both dogs continued into the next opening. The birds were starting to move now as Butch hunted along the edge to the front and wheeled and pointed in a grassy area at 47. A small covey was feeding as Butch showed good location and stood well throughout the flush and shot. Roy got behind on the next opening and both dogs finished well, Butch a little tired but with good intentions.
Ed De Vert (Budd) and Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D (John) ran good races early, though without the same range as the first two dogs. Both showed well to the front, working the edges to the left and then to the right as they carried on down through Manck’s crossing. Both dogs cooled off in the creek and were taken up through the next chute with Sparky to the left and Ed hunting the middle up to the hilltop pond where they both again watered. Around the edge and back to the No. 1 course both dogs continued to show their ability. Sparky wheeled at 57 and pointed but this turned into an unproductive. They were both taken on for a good finish with Sparky having a find after time.
Silver Lake’s Wishes Blaze (Rohner) and Tumbleweed’s Texas Return (Carrington) broke towards the airport with Blaze the wider of the two and Return running a smart, forward race taking the edges to the front. They continued hard for the first half until Blaze got under a bird at 38 and was picked up. Return continued for his hour running a forward race but was unable to find any birds.
Both Bay Arbor Jo Dee (Budd) and Husky’s Ramblin Roan Brook (John) broke away and hunted for the hour, Brook the wider while Jo Dee ran a smart, controlled race. They continued for the hour to the front but not showing the range that would be necessary for today. Jo Dee pointed at 58, a single from a broken covey in front of her and which was produced on a relocation. She continued on for a good finish.
Ardmore, Okla., March 14
Judges: Allen Vincent and Ronnie Smith
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—24 Brittanys
Winner—A BUNCH OF BUTCH, 1360337, male, by Blaze and Lobo's Evil Roy—High Card Sara. Jack Murphy, owner; Jim John, handler.
Runner-Up—BLAZE AND LOBO’S EVIL ROY, 130 male, by Beans Blaze—Lobo’s Cotton Candy. George Allison, owner; Vic Carrington, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
Our one hour Derby stake had hot, humid and windy conditions. The wide running dogs had difficulty showing adult bird work. First place went to Euchee Rocky, owned by Glynn McCauley handled by Loyd Budd. Rocky had a good find and consistent run the second half of the brace.
Sooner Starburst, owned by Pat Okey and handled by Vic Carrington, had bird contact and enough run for second place.
Sundance Butch owned by Richard Brewington and handled by Loyd Budd, had five good finds and an adequate race.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Dr. Robert Rankin and Rick Smith
[One-Hour Heats]—12 Brittanys
1st—EUCHEE ROCKY, 1415778, male, by Dutch Master—Starbuck’s Lucky Lady. Glynn McCauley, owner; Loyd Budd, handler.
2d—SOONER STARBURST. 1412824, female, by F S Count Commando—F S Maria Miriah. Pat Okey, owner; Vic Carrington, handler.
3d—SUNDANCE BUTCH. 1388175, male, by Scattman—Call Girl. Richard Brewington, owner; Loyd Budd, handler.
