1995 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Dr. Robert A. Rankin
The 1995 renewal of the United States Open Brittany Championship was won by three-year-old Jim De Bob’s Super Starr. This orange roan female is owned by Roy Hines and handled by Jim John. Her sire is Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D, which also ran in the championship series, while her dam is veteran field trial performer Huskey’s Ramblin Roan Brook. This youngster had two stellar finds with a wide, searching ground race to capture the title.
Runner-up went to Tumbleweeds Texas Return owned by Cheryl Carrington and handled by Vic Carrington. This steady veteran performer showed a nice foward pattern with one solid find to garner runner-up.
This year’s judges were Rick Smith of Pleasanton, Tex., and Hugo Ford of West Columbia, Tex. Both gentlemen are veteran field trialers and bird hunters who graciously agreed to judge.
The weather included three drizzly, cool days for the qualifying series followed by a sunny, warmer day to run the final series. The Monday night banquet was special this year as Delmar Smith, who started the U.S. Open Brittany Championship some thirty-plus years ago, was on hand to partake in the meal with us. Delmar and his friend stopped by for the night and then continued on the next day toward the East Coast where he was presenting some seminars.
The trial ran smoothly with help from all the participants as well as the judges. This was a good week for running and some fine performances were noted.
This was Jimmy John’s third year in a row to win this stake. He’s done it with three different dogs. He brought a nice string with him this time. Good dogs were evenly divided among the handlers this year for the championship series and a number of flawless performances were noted throughout the championship series. This year it took just a little something extra to win and Starr showed that in her hour.
We'd like to thank Purina Pro Plan for their participation in the trial. This was also an IAMS points trial, and a bonus trial at that! My thanks to all the participants, as well as the workers. We look forward to another itood trial next year.
Qualifying Series
Shasta’s Spike from Evil Roy (Green) and Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D (John) broke away with the temperature in the 50s. Sparky took the ridge and established point at 7. Following the find Sparky disappeared to the right for 15 minutes. Spike continued on making a nice cast to the front showing good speed and pointed a small covey at 15, well located. He was staunch on point and was taken on to the front again casting well forward, looking good. Meanwhile, Sparky had made his way back to the front and both dogs caught the big meadows and headed towards the bear trap where they circled across the mouth. Sparky pointed at 45 just across the mouth of the bear trap. The birds were well located; he looked good throughout flush. Both were taken on and were strong their last 15, showing well to the front and casting along the edges.
Country Roads Bay Arbor JoDee (Budd) had finds at 5 and 15 and did a nice steady job throughout her hour showing to the front but not quite having the range that was necessary. Bowie’s Bluebonnet Lightning Sam (Carrington) never quite got everything together and was birdless.
Rimarda’s Allied Max (John) had two nice finds for his hour and ran hard but had problems with directions and got to the side too often. Tumbleweeds Texas Return (Carrington) started well to the front and remained there for the hour. He glided around the edges, taking each objective as it came. He had one staunch find. He had a strong finish well to the front showing around the edge. He’s always been a steady, forward competitor and showed this again today.
Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy (Carrington) started hard to the front and continued there for his hour, showing well and covering the ground as it came. Spring Valley Bandit II (Appleton) was a little immature in his pattern at times and got out of pocket on a few occasions. Both dogs ran hard for the hour but neither had birds. Roy did his usual good job and was later mentioned for his ground effort.
Buck Sir Charles of DMR (Wild) hustled for his hour, showing along the edges but never making the big cast that we were looking for. He had one unproductive but was otherwise birdless for his hour. Huskey’s Almighty Sinbad (John) ran hard and showed some large casts, although he was a little inconsistent at times. There was never a question about his stamina, going hard the entire time. Unfortunately he was birdless.
Jasper Bandee (Budd) and Blue Ridge’s Sundance Express (Wild) broke away 10 minutes from the bear trap and hustled on their way around the edges of the large hayfields. Express established point just before the bear trap with a small covey well located. Jasper caught up at this point and pointed coming out of the mouth of the bear trap. No birds were produced. Both continued on for the next three-quarters of a mile until they both established point behind the airport. Express chased; it was too much for Jasper and he followed.
This ended the day’s running. Tumbleweeds Texas Return was named dog of the day. Again the weather started in the 50s with light rain. It was pretty much a carbon copy of Monday when we rode in light sprinkles off and on all day long.
DeCartier’s Ben Jamin (Harris) and Bay Arbor Dolly (Budd) came across the oil well area, on across the road to the first group of trees where Jamin pointed a small covey in the first motte. Dolly came in for a back as the birds were flushed, all in order with both dogs. They continued down along the pond, along the side of the hill and on up into the woods. Both cast well to the front, changing the lead as the terrain dictated. Into the hay meadow and toward the next pond they continued their forward patterns. Dolly had a nice find at 35 and was taken on headed toward the bear trap. Jamin had stopped to flush just around the edge of the bear trap, all in order as he was on a downwind cast. Both dogs went on for a nice finish, showing ahead along the edge as time expired.
Jim De Bob’s Super Starr (John) started the hour with finds at 5 and 10 minutes with Ditto Ditto (Carrington) backing. He looked good on both pieces of work. Both dogs went on throughManck’s Crossing and up the hill to join back up to the No. 1 course. Deer were seen in the area and Super Starr was out of ken for awhile with Ditto being taken on around and back up to the oil well. Super Starr caught up at this point but handler was still behind. He was taken forward on his own showing well as his handler caught back up with us and urged him forward. Ditto pointed at 50 with Super Starr backing, everything in order. Both dogs were taken on for a strong finish, both looking like they could go another hour.
Blaze’n Texas Sun (Carrington) and Euchee Rocky (Budd) had somewhat erratic starts. Rocky was seen under birds at 5 and picked up. Sun was back to the front and had a find just behind the airport at 20. Sun continued on for the hour, sometimes a little short in his moves, but working hard and to the front. He finished strong.
Tequila’s Joker (John) and Just Flaire (Budd) were the first brace after lunch. Skies were still overcast, another good afternoon for the dogs. Flaire was gone early and not returned. Joker continued to the front on his own, casting along the lake edge as he stayed ahead. He was absent a couple times but returned on his own and had three nicely spaced finds in his last half hour. He was staunch on each, the birds well located. He continued to run hard, looking as strong at the end of the hour as he had at the beginning.
Huskey’s Blazin Tasha (John), a bye, had a nice find at 15. She was in and out for the next 40 minutes and then was absent and not returned. Don's Ben Hur (John) ran hard for his hour but was only rewarded with an armadillo.
Bay Arbor Sooner (Budd) started off well with a good first 15 minutes and then an unproductive. At 30 he pointed, a nice covey well located. He continued to run hard, taking the edges when they came to him and showing that he had matured over this past year. He continued ahead and disappeared momentarily at pickup but was found within time.
The day’s top dog — Tequila’s Joker.
Wednesday started the same as the others, overcast and drizzly.
Sundance Butch II (Budd) had two finds at 35 and 59. He hustled around the course but didn’t show as well as he could when he had the chance. He finished the hour strong but not always with the forward race we were looking for. Drifter’s Rose Bud (Carrington) ran a nice hour but was birdless.
Bart Simpson (Appleton) showed well early with a nice find at 15. He continued down along the edges carrying himself around the lakeshore in good fashion. Lobo’s Blazin Bandit (Budd) stayed to the front, showing well where he could. He went birdless. Both continued on for a good finish.
Cody’s Maverick Brett (Carrington) and A Bunch of Butch (John) began well. Brett had a covey in the woods at 5. Butch was last year’s winner but was lost at 15 and not returned. Brett continued on to 45 where he wasn't living up to expectations and was picked up. The top dog for the last five braces was Bay Arbor Sooner. The top qualifier was Tequila’s Joker.
Championship Series
The sun finally started to come out for the finals, a little warmer than it had been with temperatures in the 60s. It was warmer by the end of the day but the dogs were up for the task and showed well throughout the day.
Tequila’s Joker and Tumbleweeds Texas Return broke to the left and took the ridgeline down to the chute, through the treeline and on up to the oil well, with Joker being momentarily to the side. Crossing the road both dogs made a wide cast up the hill on the right and came down to water in the pond at the end of the cast. Point called at 33 for both dogs but birds were seen in the air before anyone arrived so no credit was given. Through the evergreen peninsula both dogs navigated well and onto the grassy fields leading to the bear trap. On around the mouth of the bear trap Joker pointed the “bedspring covey”. He was staunch and mannerly for the flush and shot. Texas Return continued ahead with a wide-seeking cast that carried him up across the mouth of the next peninsula where he pointed a small covey at 48 beneath the grove of trees. He was staunch throughout the flush and watched as the birds flew off. Both dogs continued to the front with Texas Return taking the treeline edges on a forward pattern and Joker running wider to the side. They finished strong behind the airport for a good hour.
Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy uncharacteristically got under birds at 5 and didn’t get stopped and was picked up. Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D went on through Manck’s Crossing, up the hill when he got behind deer and wasn’t returned for 30 minutes when he was picked up.
DeCartier’s Ben Jamin and Shasta’s Spike from Evil Roy took the shoreline to the left and circled the peninsula down deep into the east side and back up towards us as we went right. They caught up with us and went back up through the woods up front. On down to the next set of woods the dogs arrived in the big hayfield at the same time. Both dogs crossed the pond dam crossing and into the evergreen peninsula and on around to the hayfields leading to the bear trap. Jamin crossed the road and made a huge cast while Spike hunted the left side, down along the shoreline, through a group of trees. On around the mouth of the bear trap Jamin was steppin’ out as Spike established point at 37. A nice covey was located in front. He was steady on point and staunch throughout the flush. Both dogs continued behind the airport with Jamin establishing point just short of Manck’s Crossing. No birds were produced although feathers were seen and Jamin was taken forward to catch up with Spike. Jamin was speedy but could not come up with any birds. Spike hustled for his hour, showing good casts and a lot of common sense when it came to finding the edges.
Spring Valley Bandit II and Bay Arbor Dolly were away after lunch. Bandit got off to the right and was on his way out until brought back by the scout. Across the treeline area and down to the oil well both dogs were working their way forward. Around the big pond on the side of the hill both dogs continued on until Bandit pointed at 25. He relaxed as Appleton approached and was soon relocated, again pointing, but no birds were produced. He was taken on and caught up with Dolly. Dolly pointed at 33. a nice covey, but had a little mishap after the flush and was picked up. Bandit pointed at the mouth of the bear trap; three birds from the scattered covey were well located. Bandit pointed again at 52 and 57, again nice finds, although he was a little loose, possibly because of the heat. He had run a good hour and had shown well.
Jim De Bob’s Super Starr and Bart Simpson were away on the back side of the course. Both worked their way through the wooded area behind the airport, around the corner to Manck’s Crossing and up the hill where we caught up with the No. 1 course. Super Starr ran hard and showed well to the front. Bart was ahead but not with quite the same range as bracemate. Across the road by the oil well Super Starr entered a little group of trees, stopped and pointed, her head up. She had a covey well located in front of her. She showed nice manners on game and never flinched at flush and shot. Super Starr made a big cast around the large pond taking the treeline area around and showing to the front as Bart continued ahead. Through the woods, down the hillside and across into the big hay meadow Super Starr led the way searching for birds. She went into a peninsula and worked her way around the edge and back to the front as we came up to join her. Bart was doing a good job for a young dog but had been gone to the side a couple of times on the way up to Super Starr. Taking an edge at 48 Super Starr wheeled and pointed, a single from a broken covey well located in front of her. Again head up and no movement as the bird was flushed. Across the front of the bear trap Super Starr went on to finish in the big hayfield, a quarter mile to the front, still going away at time.
Blaze’n Texas Sun and Bay Arbor Sooner took the edge to the right and ran across the front to join us. Sun got into birds early and was picked up. Sooner continued down on through Manck’s Crossing and up the hillside, showing well to the front. Sooner continued up the hillside and rejoined the No. 1 course, down across the road by the oil well where he pointed. The bird had run off and he relaxed as Lloyd got there. He was relocated and again looked staunch as the bird was flushed in front of him. Sooner pointed again at 52 and looked good until he chased after the shot.
Ardmore, Okla., March 13
Judges: Hugo Ford and Rick Smith
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—29 Brittanys
Winner—JIM DE BOB S SUPER STARR, 1428696, female, by Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D—Huskey’s Ramblin Roan Brook. Roy Hines, owner; Jim John, handler.
Runner-Up—TUMBLEWEEDS TEXAS RETURN, 1359739, male, by F and S Count Geoffery—Commemorativo. Cheryl Carrington, owner; Vic Carrington, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
Rebel’s Wild Sparks (Jim John) had four bird contacts for his hour and ran with good spirit in a forward gait. Second went to Rebel JJ’s Wishful Thinking (John). This dog had three bird contacts and again showed stamina throughout the hour. Third was Frisca’s Little Abbygail, handled by Ed Wild.
Other notable young dogs were Microspot and Rebel’s Tough Is Tyrone, both handled by Jim John, and TLM Son of a Gun Jet handled by Milarn. These dogs did a nice job and should be commended for their efforts.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Hugo Ford and Mary Karbiner
[One-Hour Heats]—10 Brittanys
1st— REBEL'S WILD SPARKS, unreg., female, by Jim De Bob's Sparks A Dan D—Rebel’s Chenango. Greg & Fran Savage, owners; Jim John, handler.
2d— REBEL JJ'S WISHFUL THINKING, unreg., female, by Jim De Bob's Sparks A Dan D—Rebel’s Chenango. Joleen Kovaly. owner: Jim John, handler.
3d—FRISCA'S LITTLE ABBYGAIL, 1428694, female, by Chikamin's Mr. Walker—Rimini’s Blaze’n Chick. Matthew Rigdon. owner; Ed Wild, handler.
