1996 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Dr. Robert A. Rankin
The 34th renewal of the United States Brittany championship was held in late February at the Lake Murray venue, its usual site. It was the first time in many years that the trial was run in February. Draught conditions continue in the Midwest. There was a light shower one day, the first in months, but the dust was blowing minutes later. Ponds were dry but the cold weather made it tolerable for the dogs.
As a judge said many years ago, “You have to win it twice”. The dogs use the first series of one-hour heats to show their endurance, range and intelligence. They do not have to have birds. If they do they have to handle them faultlessly. Then comes the grueling second series test of an additional hour to perform at a higher level after a short recovery period.
Jim De in Bob’s was named champion in a field of 28. This was his second championship win in two weeks, having gained the Texas Open on these grounds just days earlier. He and his owner, Bemie Crain of Raymore, Mo., won the National Amateur Championship in November at Booneville, Ark. He was “third” in the 1996 National Championship as well.
A handsome orange, white and ticked dog that will be seven years old in July, this is his fourth championship win. He is the son of Markar’s Jac’s A Dan D, a Brittany Hall-of-Famer, and Jim De Bob’s Chengokta, which also won some hour stakes before her untimely death. It is notable that Sparky’s daughter, Jim De Bob’s Super Starr, was last year’s winner. She did not defend her title because she had just whelped a litter.
Runner-up honors went to Tequila’s Joker, owned by Ed and Judy Tillson of Albuquerque, N.M. Joker has also had his share of hour wins. He’s also in the string of Jim John who has handled the winning dog in this Championship for the last four years; a remarkable achievement.
The “top qualifier” was Microdot, owned by William Oliver of Wichita, Kan., and handled by Lyle Johnson. Under an hour format he would have been the winner but an injured leg hampered his second stint.
Judges were Hugo Ford of West Columbia, Tex.. and Bob Reynolds of Kansas City, Mo. They tended to business and their professionalism was appreciated. Bob was accompanied by his wife Katherine who enjoyed riding this Championship.
Since last year many improvements have been made on the grounds. Some bad crossings were fixed and concrete poured. A contractor has been hired and on March 18 he will begin a cedar thinning project.
Our thanks go to J. W. (Dub) Emde for his time given to the grounds. He is a true steward of the area. Again Pro-Visions ProPlan provided a generous donation of dog food for the winners and participants. Their financial support is most appreciated.
It is rewarding to see amateurs Jack Murphy, Greg Savage and Jim Hearne prepare their dogs for such a strenuous task. We thank them and the seasoned suppporters of this stake for their participation. There were many in attendance and the gallery was always full. There was participation from Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. All enjoyed the tailgate party on Monday night provided by Mary Karbiner and Linda Milam.
The late Miss Barbara Wade, longtime Brittany secretary, was deeply missed. Her estate continues campaigning her Bay Arbor entries.
The Runniing
A nice morning greeted Jasper Ban Dee (Budd) and Chip’s Rebel Rouser (Rohner), a slight southerly wind, overcast, enough chill to make it comfortable. Away from the bam, running clockwise, Jasper dropped down into the big valley and did not return. Rebel was gone the first fourteen minutes to the north on deer. When he returned he was worn out and never recovered.
A Bunch of Butch (Murphy) and Blaze Dakota Trucker (Rohner) were away at the mouth of the evergreen peninsula. Both dogs patterned well for the first ten minutes. Point was called for Trucker along the road in a grove of trees but no birds
were produced. Butch went on through the mouth of the Bear Trap. Trucker was catching up and wheeled and pointed into a patch of scrub oak, had the birds nicely located in front of him and was staunch on point. At 30 Butch pointed in a thicket along the ridge; a small covey was flushed and Butch looked good. Both dogs joined up near the airport and started for Manck’s crossing. After the crossing Butch had a nice find about a third of the way up the field, again showing nice style, turning to mark the flight. Trucker pointed at 53 in a small peninsula after stopping for water, with a stop to flush at 58, all in order.
Sundance Butch II (Budd) and Boss Hoss (Johnson) broke away going down the chute past Roscoe’s pond. Boss pointed at 30 in a little group of trees by the road, the birds well located and well handled. They changed leads, for the next twenty minutes, Boss staying to the front, covering the territory well. Butch was not performing to expectations and was leashed at 50.
Spring Valley Bandit (Appleton) and Bay Arbor Sooner (Budd) were away after lunch at the bam. Tom and Linda Milam were riding to see Bandit. Bandit didn’t take long to make his mark as he pointed at 5, a single scattered from the morning, Sooner backing. Sooner pointed at 16 showing good composure during a long flushing attempt. Both dogs continued on, Bandit hitting the edges looking very good. Point was called at 37 for Sooner; he was relocated but could not pin the birds.
Rebel’s Tough is Tyrone (Savage) and Tequila’s Joker (John) followed. Ed and Judy Tillson of Albuquerque, N. M., were riding to see T J. The gallery celebrated the sound of thunder in the distance, something not heard in these parts for months. Tyrone progressed nicely until he had an unmannerly encounter at 30 and was leashed. T J was seen little during the hour but when he showed he was always to the front and going strong.
Top dog for the first five braces was Spring Valley Bandit.
Huskey’s Trail Blazen Tasha (John) was down as a bye. She ran well for the first thirty staying to the front with a spritely gait, taking the edges. She disappeared into the trees at the Bear Trap as the gallery rode on. Scout went back and found her on point with a large covey. She continued the hour with a good race, at times sparkling.
Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D (John) and Microdot (Johnson) were the first pair of the second day. It was a lot cooler and a sprinkle fell. “Mike” took the left edge and Sparky dropped down into the big valley. He crossed over to the right at 10, both looking good. Both dogs crossed Lem Roberts Road where Sparky had a find near the “amateur” hill. Both dogs dropped off the hill, crossed the pond dam and took the lake edge. Mike was a quarter of a mile away when he pointed at a feeder: no birds were found and he was taken on. While being taken to the front he pointed at 25; a covey was nicely located. At 35 Sparky pointed but took an unproductive. Both dogs finished strong doing a nice job.
Finale (Johnson), also running a bye, did not have a favorable heat. He was picked up at 30.
Hill’s Just Judd (Johnson) and Euchee Rocky (Budd) were loosed at the top of the chute. Both dogs took the right edge, then went into the woods trees. Both showed ahead, coming out of the trees just before the oil well, crossing Lem Roberts well ahead of the gallery, hunting different areas. They continued on, hunting and running well, Judd a little stronger. Bird contact was not made until the final minutes. Judd entered an area, left it, then returned and pointed in good order. He was sent on and a minute later had a stop to flush.
Silver Lake’s Wishes Blaze (Rohner) and Evil Roy’s Vapor Trail (Hearne) were away from the bam after the luncheon. Both made it through the chute and “Lightning” pointed at 20. No birds were produced. He was taken to the front, joining “Vic” at the pond dam. Vic pointed at 35, a nice covey located. He looked good. He had another well handled find at 40 in a draw. Lightning had finds at 41 in an evergreen peninsula and at 44 when a single flew from Vic’s second find in bird alley. They finished with Lightning stronger.
The day dog for the second five braces was Microdot.
Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy (Budd) and Gator’s Chili Bean (John) were away just past the little rocky ridge about five minutes from the airport. Chili went east and crossed Lem Roberts. He was gathered up and both dogs crossed Manck’s Crossing together. Chili had a stop to flush at 20. Point was called for him at 30 in a briar thicket. Handler worked hard to get the bird out. All in good order. Roy had an unproductive going down the chute. Both dogs crossed Lem Roberts, over the “amateur” hill and made nice cast as the gallery crossed the pond dam. Roy wheeled and stopped, pointing staunchly as he was about to enter an evergreen area. A single was flown from a broken covey raised earlier that day.
Sir Wimberly Sam Mr. Jake (Green) and Rebel's JJ Wishful Thinking (John) followed. Wish needed a good bit of scouting for the first half of the hour. Behind the airport Jake pointed and Wish came in for a back. A bird was reported leaving before
judges arrived but they did not see it. They finished the hour, slowing some. This ended the second day.
Rebel's Wild Sparks (Savage) and Huskey’s Almighty Sinbad (John) began the third morning. It was about 26°, with the wind blowing. Sinbad had a bird at 5, all in order. He was taken on but was lost at 30 and not returned. Sparks had a serious breach of manners at 40 and was put on the wagon.
Evil Roy’s Sonic Boom (Hearne) and Don’s Ben Hur (John) broke away at the mouth of the Bear Trap, wind blowing strongly, very penetrating. Neither dog was on today. We saw too much of Boomer and not enough of Ben. Neither had game.
Kolicko’s King Kay Cee (Johnson) pointed at 2 with Shasta’s Spike from Evil Roy (Green) backing. Both stood firm for the flush and shot and were taken on. Another find for Kay Cee at 18 as he worked a peninsula on his own, a small covey well located. Point was called for Spike at the same time about forty yards away. The birds were out as Kay Cee had another point at 20, all in good order. Spike had an unproductive but caught up just as Kay Cee was about to enter Bear Trap. Spike pointed at 28 with Kay Cee coming in for a back. Spike looked great on his birds. Both dogs continued, out front with Kay Cee a bit wider. Very pleasing performances by both dogs.
Kolicko’s King Kay Cee was the top dog for the last five braces and Microdot was named top qualifier.
Championship Finals
Starting at 1:15 from the barn, about 32°, nice dog weather. Tequila’s Joker and A Bunch of Butch broke away well, up over the hill, both entering the chute to the front. T J broke out into the open first, crossed Lem Roberts Road and had a nice cast. As we passed through “amateur” hill he checked in just in time to find the covey known to hang out there. He looked tight throughout his stand. He was released and made a nice cast up the treeline on the right of the pond as gallery crossed the pond damn on the left. Both dogs continued on, taking the evergreen peninsula. Handlers went looking with John bringing T J out. Murphy could not find his dog and went to the front where Butch showed. Going towards the Bear Trap T J could be seen making a nice cast to the front at a good distance. Butch got off to the side and came in from the rear. At the entrance to the Bear Trap Butch pointed but was not very intense even though birds were raised. Both dogs took the lake edge out of the Bear Trap working their way north. The bed springs covey was at home and Butch nailed them, this time showing more intensity and style. He made his way to the water, picked up steam and finished the hour strong. Time was called. Handler and scout rode to the front to retrieve T J. Point was called at the little rocky ledge with judge riding to the point. T J was standing with head up and looked good through flush and shot. He had put down a pleasing hour with two very nice finds.
Spring Valley Bandit and Blaze Dakota Trucker were off well to the front. As we started down the hill at the little rocky ledge Trucker was seen standing where T J had his birds after time. Trucker corrected himself and went on. Bandit was hunting through the area and found the birds just recently flushed. As they were riding up to him the birds left but he stayed. Handler dismounted, fired and took the dog on. As we crossed Manck’s crossing both dogs were seen to the front. Both made it through the chute, Bandit perhaps a little stronger. All was for naught as both ended their chances on the birds at “amateur” hill.
Husky’s Trail Blazen Tasha, a bye, made her hour, out front but with moderate range. She had a nice stylish find at the little rocky ledge but her race did not show the sparkle needed.
Thursday A. M. temperatures were in the mid-20s, a slight wind, completely overcast. Breakaway from the bam. Microdot and Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D. Sparky started the excitement early with a find at 5 near Roscoe’s pond. He was released and shot down the chute and pointed again at 10. He took a barren stand. At 15 he pointed the “amateur” hill covey looking extremely pleasing. Sparky pointed again at 25 at the feeder down from the red mud road. He was loose as if the birds had walked off on him. He was relocated, pinned them some yards away, standing staunch and intense. He was taken to the front, catching up with “Mike” which was running good, out front and hunting but no bird contact. Point was called for Sparky at the bed springs. He had the birds well located and looked good. He was released before the pond dam taking the right. He made a tremendous cast toward the road and the motte that is divided by the road before you reach the bear trap. Hitting the treeline he took the edge going north and finished the entire length before cutting back left to go through the thick peninsula. Both dogs came out of the thick peninsula making the left turn at the little rocky ledge. Time was called. Handlers went to retrieve their dogs. Mike was found behind the airport on point. Judge rode a good half mile and reported all was in order. Excitement in the gallery indicated that the standard had been set.
Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy and Sir Wimberly Sam Mr. Jake were off at the little rocky ledge, heading north towards the airport. Point was called at 1 for Jake but waved off. At the same time Roy pointed some thirty yards away but took an unproductive. As Roy was being taken to the front he pointed. This time he had the birds well located and showed his usual statuesque pose. The dogs were moving nicely, obviously enjoying their work. Jake was rewarded east of the oil well with a small covey, manners in order. Both dogs dropped off the “amateur” hill, Roy out of pocket for awhile. Point was called for Jake after he came out of the evergreen peninsula, good location and style. Roy pointed at the divided motte. Judge rode up a bird some thirty yards away; handler could not raise another bird and fired. Both dogs were out front, made some good casts, but none outstanding.
Hill’s Just Judd and Silver Lake’s Wishes Blaze. Point was called for Lightning at 5. He showed good style and intensity until the birds flushed over his head and he chased. Judd continued, showing fast ground speed, staying to the front. He pointed at 20, not very staunch, with his mouth open. He stayed through the shot and was taken on. He finished the hour staying to the front, showing good stamina and hunting smartly.
Kolicko’s King Kay Cee and Shasta’s Spike from Evil Roy (Green). Spike wheeled into a point at 10 looking very intense and stylish. At 25 he jumped into a pond. A bird flew out of the reeds; Spike came back out of the water and stopped. He knew something had happened and did not know quite how to handle the situation. He went to the wagon. About the same time point was called for Kay Cee off to the right, a small covey well located and nicely handled. He took the right edge of the lake going into the Bear Trap. Kay Cee continued on making some nice casts but never showing the range he needed. He had a find at the airport just at pickup, all in order.
Ardmore, Okla., February 26
Judges: Hugo Ford and Robert Reynolds
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—26 Brittanys
Winner—JIM DE BOB’S SPARKS A DAN D, 1364568, male, by Markar’s Jac's A Dan D—Jim De Bob’s Chengokta. C. B. Crain, owner; Jim John, handler.
Runner-Up—TEQUILA’S JOKER, 1402540, male, by Beaugardes’ Golden Tequila—WWW Ban Dandy. Ed Tillson, owner; Jim John, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
This is the only Brittany Derby stake of an hour’s duration, again offering a superior breeder’s forum. Many young Brittanys have been presented here that continued on to do great things. Also, breeders can choose from a number of superior sires and dams after seeing its progeny here. Most Derbies can run a creditable thirty-minute heat; only real athletes can successfully perform here in an hour. As most things in the natural cycle have their ups and down, this certainly must be the “up” part of the curve. This juvenile class presented numerous exhibitions of real all-age potential and made the future encouraging.
Aluvia’s Sugar and Spice (John), the winner started with several nice casts to the front, showing good pace. She had a nice find at 40 at the mouth of the evergreen peninsula. She finished strong and to the front displaying stamina and real all-age potential.
Second was Spike’s Evil Angel (Green), which showed good speed, a forward running dog, demonstrating strength and vitality. She never got behind and had a spritely gait. Her one find was mature and beautiful. She is the granddaughter of Evil Roy and looks just like him on her game. A real compliment and a challenge to live up to.
Jim Crawford, with Sam’s Silver Bullet, was the lone amateur in the stake but presented a well trained and conditioned dog. He took third with one broke find, slightly faltering in his second half.
MoKan Razzle Dazzle impressed the judges but did not have birds. Others that competed included: Tejas Iron Mike, Mighty Rivers Flash Rio, Charlie Mack A Dan Sparks, Blueridge’s Bon Chasseur, Dublin of DMR, Tomar’s All That Jazz, Logan’s Colt Sixshooter, Lae’s Running Jay Hawk, Dundee Dub, Avono’s Ruff and Rowdy, Friskca’s Little Abbygail, Miss Business, Blueridge’s Nosey Lady Kate, Ramblin Willie, Blueridge’s Ambren Express.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Hugo Ford and Dr. Robert Rankin
[One-Hour Heats]—19 Brittanys
1st—ALUVIA’S SUGAR AND SPICE, unreg., female, by Twinoaks Viewpoint of Aluvia—Bear Creek’s Ramblin Rose. Sheldon Coles, owner; Jim John, handler.
2d—SPIKE'S EVIL ANGEL. 1448412. female, by Shasta’s Spike—Blazes Bonnie Bell. Bonnie Bass, owner; Allison Green, handler.
3d—SAM'S SILVER BULLET. 1434213. male, by Sir Wimberly Sam—Tex's Hello Dolly. James & Mary Crawford, owners; James Crawford, handler.
