1997 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Dr. Robert A. Rankin
Tequila's Joker, handsome six-year-old male owned by Ed and Judy Tillson of Belen, N. M., and handled by Jim John, captured the 35th renewal of the United States Brittany Championship. He demonstrated a far reaching ground race, biddable handling and stylish bird work as he bested the field of 37.
This is a sweet win for the Tillsons as Joker is the son of Ed’s longtime competitor Beaugardes’ Golden Tequila. The breeding on both sides goes back several generations to Ban Dee and Gringo De Britt. Joker announced his potential in 1992 when he was second in the Texas Derby Classic and runner-up in the Victoire Nationale Derby Classic. Before this win he had six adult hour placements, twice being named champion.
Runner-Up was Spring Valley Bandit, five-year-old male owned by Tom and Linda Milam of McKinney, Tex., and handled by Marc Appleton.
This venue suits his fancy as he was named champion in the 1995 Texas Amateur Championship and runner-up in the 1997 Texas Open Championship, both on these grounds. The Milams were lucky to buy him after his previous owner found him “running too big!” His pedigree shows Perry’s Rustic Prince several generations back.
The 1995 winner, Jim De Bob’s Super Starr, was named Top Qualifier. She is owned by Joleen Kovaly and was handled by Jim John.
The festivities for this 35th running began with the drawing at the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce. Past president Dr.. Claude T. Young was in attendance and enjoyed the championship scrapbook. He, as an amateur, won the 1971 renewal with Gundy. J. W. Emde and his wife Tomi were present and received thanks for the many hours he spends shepherding the grounds.
A recap of the 34 previous renewals, format and history can be found in the December 14, 1996 Christmas Issue of The American Field.
The week continued with visits by several distinguished friends. Pounding member Delmar Smith was enjoyed by all. Rick Smith, winner of seven U. S. Opens, came for a few days. Several of the handlers in attendance go back to the early years: Lyle and Marge Johnson of Cambridge, Kan.; Loyd Budd of Bellevue, Tex.; Marc Appleton of Yukon, Okla., and Ed Wild of Waurika, Okla. Wayne Oliver, owner of Hall-of-Famer Ban Dee, watched his new charge run in the Victoire Nationale.
It is always a credit to this Championship when amateurs prepare their dogs for such a grueling test. We thank Everett Davis, Gregg Savage, George Allison and David Harris for that honor. Vic Carrington, Bunny Green and Jim John round out the handlers present. Attention must be given Jim John for handling five consecutive champions. A feat never before accomplished.
The gallery changed daily. Phil Dangerfield drove from Florida, Annette and Jerry Overlease from Tulsa. A large Texas contingent was on hand: Jim Hearne, Larry LaRue, Bonnie Bass, Gary Smith, Raymond and Rachel Helton. Marv Nelson of Nebraska was in attendance the entire trial. His father won the first ABC National Amateur Championship in 1966 with Towsey’s Bub. Bub was entered in our first championship in 1963.
Club members Tom and Linda Milam, John and Judy Webb performed duties needed and also rooted their charges on. Mary Karbiner did yeoman’s service as secretary and scout.
A special thanks to the judges, Roy Pelton and Ron Smith. It was our good fortune to have them. Roy Pelton is a longtime friend of the Brittany. He was instrumental in helping the American Brittany Club establish, with the lams Company, the lams Eukanuba Award. This award was established in 1986 to recognize “dogs capable of winning one hour stakes, to promote endurance, to reward consistency, and to help keep interest in one hour trials.” It has accomplished its purpose, an award treasured by all recipients. Ron Smith is a consummate professional. He trains bird dogs and spends the hunting season in South Texas guiding. He is most qualified.
Pro-Visions Pro Plan continues to help our championships with financial and product endorsements. We sincerely thank them.
Qualifying Series
The 35th renewal broke away with overcast skies Sunday morning running clockwise from the bam.
Husky’s Almighty Sinbad (John) and Spring Valley Bandit (Appleton) were the lead-off pair. Bandit immediately moved over the hill and down the chute looking snappy and alert. Both dogs crossed Lem Roberts Road with Bandit the wider of the two. He dropped off Amateur Hill and made a good cast, following the lake edge all the way around the peninsula, showing to the front on his own. Sinbad was not in sync with his handler the first half but did have a find at 50 on the Bedsprings covey. The birds walked off and Sinbad’s composure suffered; a bird was flushed some fifty feet away. They finished the hour with Bandit putting on a performance to be proud of.
Orions Major Eclipse (Smith) and Bay Arbor Sooner (Budd). Sooner pointed at 3, the dog staunch and tight, Major backing. Handler flushed birds and both dogs stood for the shot. This was a pleasing find with both dogs looking good. Point was called for Major at Manck’s Crossing on a small bevy; he was intense and stylish. Going through the meadow after Manck’s Crossing Major tallied a well located covey, looking good through flush and shot. Sooner made a large cast through the meadow and required scouting for the hard turn back to course No. 1. He showed past Lem Roberts Road and finished strongly.
Ditto Ditto (Carrington) and Muffin of DMR (Appleton). Ditto found a small covey in the Bear Trap motte at 9. In a nearby location Muffin suffered an unproductive and was taken on. Muffin was lost near the half. Ditto finished the hour to the
front but somewhat short.
Finale (Johnson) and Dave O Rocky (Davis) broke away in a strong storm as winds turned from the north and brought a brief hard rain. Both dogs enjoyed the cool temperature and rain and showed their heels with speedy ground races to the front, looking good. Rocky slammed into point at 36 with Finale brought in for a whoaed back. Rocky had a breach of manners and was leashed. Handler took Finale on toward the Bear Trap showing some speed, taking the edges. He finished the hour strong and to the front, displaying an enjoyable ground race but without birds.
Microtye (Johnson) and Tejas Iron Mike (Green) were away in large field before little rocky ledge. Tye had a nicely located covey at 15, tight and handsome. He pointed again at 21 but with less intensity. Mike was hung up on the peninsula before Manck’s Crossing as Tye proceeded on. Mike caught up but had a mind of his own and was not in tune with handler.
Blue Ridge’s Sundance Express (Wild) and Hildebrandt’s Diamond Jem (Budd) broke well showing good ground speed and forward movements. The gallery enjoyed the RC airplanes as they rode by the airport. Both ran well hunting in the right places but finished the hour without game.
Spring Valley Bandit was named dog of the day.
Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D (John) and Roy’s Thunder II (Carrington). The second day started with last year’s champion in the first brace. The temperature was in the high 40s, not much wind and the sun shining. Thunder had a covey find at 6, stood well and was taken on through the chute. Point was called for Sparky at 16, all in good order as Thunder was off to the left. Point was called for Thunder at 44 on a single from a broken covey, well located, standing well for flush and shot. Thunder pointed again at 46 with Sparky backing. It was another single and both dogs were tight and intense.
Sir Wimberly Sam’s Mr. Jake (Green) and J and M Hello Texas Dolly (Appleton) had early breaches of manners with separate pieces of bird work and found themselves in the wagon before 15.
Rebel’s Tough is Tyrone (Savage) and Blaze N Texas Son (Carrington) broke away in the big meadow past Manck’s Crossing. Both dogs looked good as they made the turn down the chute. Point was called at 26 for Tex, standing well throughout flush and shot. Tyrone dropped into the large gully taking it to the end as Tex caught up, both running well. Tex had another attractive find at 38, all in order. Tyrone looked good as he took the shoreline before the Bear Trap. Tex scored again at 42 for his third find, again showing a class stance. Point was called at 45 for Tyrone, steady on flush and shot. Tex finished the hour as he began, in front with an intelligent race and pleasing bird work.
Poki Dot (Johnson) and Dave O Doc (Davis) were off from the bam, the first brace after lunch. Point was called for Doc on a single bird near Rosco’s Pond, looking very nice on point with a lot of intensity. Both dropped down the chute running well. Point was called at Amateur Hill for Doc and again he showed good style and intensity, Poki was wider, making a large cast to the right. Doc shortened after his find and started hunting. Point was called for Poki with all in order. Poki had another find at 36 showing better style. Doc went on to have two more finds. Both dogs ran acceptable but not spectacular races and had multiple finds. At 59 Poki errored on Doc’s last find but neither had shown the sparkle necessary.
Jim De Bob’s Super Starr (John) and Mokan Power Glide (Appleton). Starr, the 1995 U. S. Open Champion, and daughter of Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D, had point called for her at 12, standing intense, both ends up. Both dogs did a nice job, taking edges, coming around on their own. Point was called for Starr on a single. The weather had warmed but both dogs continued making pleasing casts, the strongest brace thus far. “Rip” finished to the front but had no birds.
Hill’s Just Judd (Johnson) and Chuy (Green) broke away from the Bear Trap with both making long casts down the edges of a hay field, Chuy on the right and Judd on the left. Chuy had an unproductive near the airport. Judd continued the hour with a ground searching true all-age race, catching the edges and taking them to the front, but was not rewarded with game.
Jim De Bob’s Super Starr was named dog of the day.
Don’s Ben Hur (John) and Jasper Ban Dee (Budd) were away from the barn, lots of moisture on the ground, sunny skies and temperature in the 40s. Ben went to the right as we crossed the breakaway hill, didn’t make the chute and was absent as we passed the oil well. Jasper ran to the front, making some nice casts. He was off to the left as we crossed the first pond dam but came around as we went into the woods. He pointed a covey at the feeder just past the red muddy road, standing tight and staunch throughout the flush and shot. Ben showed after a lengthy absence and was a handful. Jasper was doing a nice job, going to the right places and staying to the front. He was rewarded at 45 with a single, all in good order. Going into the motte at the Bear Trap, Ben had a well pinned covey, all in order. Both dogs finished strong with Jasper making a big cast to the right and then coming back into the woods. Ben’s long absence tainted his hour.
Buck’s Sir Charles of DMR (Wild) and Rebel’s Wild Sparks (Savage). Neither dog found birds this hour nor presented the race of others. Sparks made some nice casts but was inconsistent.
Tequilas Joker (John), a bye. Running as a bye was no detriment to T J. He started well and had an early find on the ridge well ahead of the gallery. He was standing head and tail high when we arrived and stood firm throughout the flush and shot. He continued through Manck’s Crossing, up the big meadow and kindly made the turn into the chute. After crossing Lem Roberts Road the amateur covey was at home and he pinned them. He finished the hour to the front with a pleasing cast, taking the edges and hunting the right places.
Miss Business (Budd) and DeCartier Ben Jamin (Harris) were away in the big hay field where both dogs took the edge and followed it to the end. This was by far the warmest temperature we’d had. They crossed the pond dam and then up into the next field, both running nicely to the front. They skirted the Bear Trap and Ben pointed in some shrub oaks with a covey well pinned; he was taken to the front. The dog wagon called point for Ben at the little rocky ledge. Again all in order. “Lacey” tended to business with a pleasing gait and attractive forward race, really reaching.
Euchee Rocky (Budd) and Rebel JJ’s Wishful Thinking (John) were away from the barn at 1:30. All was well as we crossed the big hill, down through the chute, past the oil well and across Lem Roberts Road. “Hope” pointed in a plum thicket, the birds walked off and she loosened some until birds were flushed. Rocky was found pointing at 40 with Hope pointing some twenty feet away. A bird was flushed in front of Hope, both dogs were fired over and taken on toward the Bear Trap. They finished the hour making several nice casts.
Gator’s Chili Bean (John) and Dublin of DMR (Appleton) broke away just before the little rocky ledge. They made their way by the airport, down the rocky ledge through Manck’s Crossing into the largehay field. Point was called for Chili on the right edge. He stood with head up, tail up and birds well located in front. After the shot he was taken on, making the hard turn to the No. 1 course. Dublin was not pleasing his handler and was picked up at 30. Chili had another find and finished the hour going into Bear Trap.
Sundance Butch II (Budd) and Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy (Allison) were the last brace of the qualifying series. Roy won here in 1992 and was runner-up in 1994. After a few minutes of testing each other the dogs got down to business. At 20 point was called for both dogs some fifty yards apart. Butch suffered an unproductive. Roy could not pin the birds and released after a relocation. As handler was getting on his horse Roy pointed again and birds were produced. Both finished the hour but neither exhibited the excitement needed.
Tequilas Joker was dog of the day; Jim De Bob’s Super Starr was top qualifier.
Championship Series
Jim De Bob’s Super Starr and Mokan Power Glide (Appleton) broke from the bam. “Rip” took the left side and Starr the right. Point was called for Starr at 7 with a small covey well located. She was tight and looked good. The birds flushed over her head and she wheeled to mark the flight of the birds. Rip was lost at the oil well when he got on the left side of the road and did not return. Starr dropped down off Amateur Hill following the lake edge around, through the woods and out into the next meadow far to the front. She pointed again, stood well through flush and shot and was sent on. Point was called and again she was tight and demonstrated attractive style and manners. Stancontinued the hour having two additional intense finds and one unproductive. She hit the right spots, followed the edges and gave a pleasing all-age performance.
Spring Valley Bandit and Tequilas Joker were away in the meadow just before the little rocky ledge. Both dogs immediately went to work. Bandit took the right side, crossed Lem Roberts making a large cast, catching up to T J before the airport. They went through Manck’s Crossing, taking the woods to the right and showing well to the front, both handling well and looking good. As the gallery prepared to make the turn at Roscoe’s Pond both dogs were in the bottom to the left and needed direction to the course. As they were collected and started down the chute Bandit pointed where a known covey hangs out. Handler could not produce game and released Bandit after a relocation attempt. Both ran independently and hit the right places with T J a bit wider. At 59 the gallery approached the Bear Trap motte; point was called for both dogs at different locations. As the handler rode to Bandit he moved up and stopped, intense, head and tail high. Both handlers flushed with birds produced for both dogs. A very rewarding and pleasant hour, two extremely attractive performances.
Contessah’s Jasper Ban Dee and Finale were off from the Bear Trap meadow. Finale made his move to the right with a large cast. Jasper was a little rough at first but corrected and searched the little peninsula, pointing as they reached little rocky ledge. He caught up to Finale at the airport but continued to be a handful. At 36 Jasper was seen under a bird and went to the wagon. Finale did not show the sparkle needed and was picked up at 40.
Bay Arbor Sooner and Hill’s Just Judd broke away at the barn, both dogs familiar with the course. As they passed Amateur Hill, Sooner took the pond dam route as Judd made a wide cast to the right on the treeline. They entered the woods together and showed on the other side on their own. Sooner pointed at 28 but no birds were produced. After a relocation he was taken on. Judd crossed Lem Roberts making a nice cast to the right and pointed the Bedsprings covey. He was relocated with suspicious bird work but was taken on. Sooner stayed to the left by the lake edge and found the Bear Trap motte covey. The birds were flushed, all in order, and he was taken on. Sooner made the turn and pointed birds that Judd had just worked; his bird work was not pristine. Though handler took him on it soon became apparent to both handlers that their charges would not displace earlier performances and the dogs were both up at 50.
Miss Business and Blaze N Texas Son had their chance but did not have the correct combination. Blaze had an infraction with birds at Roscoe’s Pond and Miss was lost at the oil well.
Ardmore, Okla., March 9
Judges: Roy Pelton and Ronnie Smith
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—37 Brittanys
Winner—TEQUILAS JOKER, 1402540, male, by Beaugardes’ Golden Tequila—WWW Ban Dandy. Ed & Judy Tillson, owners; Jim John, handler.
Runner-Up— SPRING VALLEY BANDIT, 1431995, male, by Max Point—Twister Murphy Bone. Tom & Linda Milam, owners; Marc Appleton, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
To quote the April 20, 1974 issue of The American Field: “The Victoire Nationale was John Doak’s monicker for the newly inaugurated one-hour Derby Classic.”
Since its inception the list of winning dogs reads like a who’s who in the Brittany world. A large percentage of these juveniles went on to earn a place of respect in the dog world, showing the value of breeding and dedication to perpetuate the quality of the breed.
This year’s winner was Comanche Attacker of DMR, owned by Norm Duplaessis of St. Albert, Alberta, Canada and handled by Marc Appleton.
Runner-up was Dee Evil Roy’s Hunter, owned by Ed Troop of Oklahoma City and handled by Jerry Overlease.
Chili Joe (John) was braced with the winner, Comanche Attacker of DMR (Appleton). Joe was slow to start. He searched the cover for birds but midway into the brace he was leashed. “Jack” was fast on the ground, making independent casts, working the fingers, and required scouting to regain the front. He was credited with two bird contacts in his hour.
Hanging Jaze Hawlalewya (Schroder) was paired with the runner-up, Dee Evil Roy’s Hunter (Overlease). Jake’s dog made some nice moves throughout the hour, searching for game, but was not rewarded. Hunter started a strong forward race. After the first contact he hunted all the cover independently. He was rewarded with two additional finds to finish his hour.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Dr. Robert Rankin and Jim Crawford
[One-Hour Heats]—27 Brittanys
Winner—COMANCHE ATTACKER OF DMR, unreg., male, by Brucie’s Prince Sparky—TM Red Hot Spicey Lady. Norm Duplaessis, owner; Marc Appleton, handler.
Runner-Up— DEE EVIL ROY’S HUNTER, 1448086, male, by Blaze and Lobo's Evil Roy—Bay Arbor Dee Dee. Ed Troop, owner; Jerry Overlease, handler.
