1998 United States Open Brittany Championship
A Bunch Of Butch Annexes Title
By Mary Karbiner
The 36th running of the United States Brittany Championship and Victoire Nationale Derby Classic were held over the Lake Murray State Park, Ardmore. Okla., commencing March 17.
Our returning judge was Ronnie Smith of Big Cabin, Okla., and in the other judicial saddle was Devin Inglove of Monet, Mo. These gentlemen were professional in their conduct, both having spent many hours training dogs, and have an eye for detail.
It has been said that “winning begets winning.” A Bunch of Butch, white and orange male, seven and one-half years of age, is no stranger to the winners' circle at this prestigious event. He won this stake in 1994 over his runner-up sire, Blaze and Lobo's Evil Roy. Roy won this title in 1992. Interestingly, Roy was grandsire of the companion stake Victoire Nationale Derby Classic winner — D Bar K's Casino and sire of the Derby runner-up — Dakota's Copper Nickel.
Butch is owned and handled by Jack Murphy of Nowata. Okla. He was also the top qualifier in the first series. To obtain both titles has been called the “kiss of death" by veteran handlers, a feat not seen since 1980 when Bayou’s Lonesome Sue garnered the titles. To quote Dr. John Webb: “The man said it's a trial you have to win twice”. And Butch did.
The runner-up, Jim De Bob’s Super Starr, has been a very competitive female during her five year career. She was the winner here in 1995 and top qualifier in 1997. She placed fourth in both the American Brittany Club Amateur and Open National Championships last December. Starr is owned by Joleen Kovaly of Hickman, Neb., and was handled by Rosco Staton.
The weather had been bad, strong winds and rain, but turned to perfect dog weather.
All the directors of the association were present and participated in one capacity or another. In January, Tom Milam and Dub Emde mowed portions of the courses that are used, really enhancing these areas. Our thanks to Dub and Tom for their time given to these grounds. Longtime Brittany enthusiasts Doug Croxton and Darrell Gaynor were on hand several days. They viewed the running and visited with folks. We enjoyed hearing “Do you remember when so and so ran . . .?”
Purina has been a big supporter of premier events. Rick Smith, now representing Purina, was on hand to lend ideas and answer questions about product. Purina provides hats, informational brochures and product for the winners and participants. The United States Brittany Championship Association is fortunate to be looked upon generously by this company.
Championship Series
The day began under overcast skies, scattered showers, temperatures were in the upper 40s. We were away from the barn, Gator’s Chili Bean (John) and Comanche Attacker of DMR (Appleton) were using the country. Jack ran wide and a bit bullish, out of pocket as we crossed Lem Roberts Road at the oil well. Chili showed to the front from the woods on our right. At 26 point was called for Chili just out of the big woods. He stood through flush and shot with style. Jack regained the front and both made casts along the edges of the course. At 31 Chili pointed in a mott, again all was mannerly. He crossed the second pond dam and pointed into the viney ground cover; after extensive flushing nothing was produced. Jack had bird contact at 52. He suffered a breach of manners and was leashed. Chili made a wide swing through the woods at the bear trap turn. Point was called in a mott before the bed springs finger. Handler put the covey to flight as Chili stood mannerly. He finished the hour going over the ridge.
Don’s Ben Hur (John) and Pride and Joy’s Bunch of Annie (Pride) were away just before the northern end of the little rocky ledge with moderate wind and a dampness in the air. This pair hit a lick. Ben was out of pocket when point was called at 24 for Annie in a tall grassy area. The handler could not produce any game. As we started down the chute, Ben had not been returned to judgment. We crossed Lem Roberts Road and Annie made a cast to the right along the woods' edge. Point was called by her scout. She stood at the edge of the woods, birds were flushed, all in order. She continued to run in an aggressive manner. In her hour she had deer contact — figuratively and literally! She was working a brushy finger near the airport, pursued a deer, and put it in the lake to escape. Tenaciously, she went “along for the ride”. As handler, judge and scout arrived to see beyond the cattails, she was “aboard” the deer’s back. Her handler was able to return her to dry land to continue on. It is one of those encounters you have to see to believe. More excitement at 53 when she pointed in a thicket where birds were flushed in a mannerly fashion. She finished headed through the big woods.
Sir Wimberley Sam’s Mr. Jake (Green) and Dogwood’s TM Dan D (Appleton) broke away along the draw going south. At 5 Jake pointed at the beginning of cedar point finger. He was rock solid in his indication of game. At 19 he pointed in the woods at the bed springs finger. He was intense through the flush and shot. Dan D had been inconsistent in his application, not pleasing the handler, and he was leashed. Jake continued to make some nice moves, forward and fluid in his application. At 47, just out of Manck’s Crossing, point was called. He stood in a plum thicket. Handler flushed with all in order. He continued his forward race to the finish.
Chick’s Blazen Brandy (John) and Spring Valley Bandit (Appleton) were away from the oil well going south. Early in the heat Bandit had a breach of manners on game but was allowed to stay on the ground. Brandy showed her heels early. At 12 point was called in heavy cover. After extensive flushing and relocation all that was seen was a rabbit. She had another unproductive at 20. At 32 she pointed in a mott after the bear trap turn. Birds were flushed, all in order. She slowed nearing the end of the hour.
Frisca’s Little Abbygail (Green) and Blazen Texas Son (Carrington). From the breakaway Abby was the wider of the pair. We crossed Lem Roberts Road at the oil well where point was called for Tex at 14. He showed a bit of insecurity as the handler approached and birds were flushed. Abby was out of pocket as we crossed the pond dam. Through the big woods point was called by the gallery for Tex. He stood in the thick grass on our left. His birds were flushed with all in order. Point was called by the scout for Abby at 23; she was stylish through flush and shot. She regained the front as Tex was sent on. Tex swapped ends at the edge of a grassy finger at 28. Game flushed with all in order. Abby was running an edge, swung around to a large, brushy mott where she pointed. At the flush she whirled with the flight of the covey and was leashed. Tex continued to use the terrain as he maintained his forward race. We rounded the mott at the bear trap and saw Tex pointing at the edge of the cover. Handler conducted a lengthy flushing attempt, during which Tex’s posture suffered. Relocation was to no avail. At 53 he pointed in a mott before the bed springs finger, all in order. He finished his hour forward, working up the draw.
Tequila’s Joker (John) and Evil Roy’s Sonic Boom (Budd) were away late afternoon, headed toward the bear trap. Both dogs moved through the wooded areas, TJ the wider of the pair. At 16 point was called by the dog wagon for Boom. He stood in tall blue stem, hidden from the handler’s view. Game was flushed, handler’s gun misfired and Boom became anxious. TJ was out of pocket as we approached the rock ledge crossing at the airport and was not returned to judgment. Boom ran the woods, handled a bit bullish, pointed at 21 with style and intensity. He finished the hour working in the wooded areas.
Kahlua II (Green) and Jim De Bob’s Super Starr (Staton) were away under overcast skies with a moderate wind. We headed south from the airport area. Both dogs hit high gear, used the terrain, maintained a forward race. At 31 point was called for “Jessie” near the lake edge, as we made our turn to the rock ridge crossing. Game was flushed with all in order. At 34 Starr stood in high grass and scrub brush, at the north end of little rocky ledge. Birds were flushed and she maintained her posture. Past the airport Starr was out of pocket and Jessie was handling more kindly. Starr regained the front, just through Manck’s Crossing. Both dogs finished the hour with forward application.
Day dog was Sir Wimberley Sam’s Mr. Jake.
Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D (John) and Chuy (Green). From the barn this brace broke away under overcast skies and a light wind. Both dogs headed for the outer limits, each using the country. At 22 Chuy came out of the big woods near the two ponds of the tent pad finger and pointed in the heavy cover. A covey was flushed as he stood high and tight. At 23 Sparky pointed in the cover at the edge of a mowed area. Throughout the flush and shot he was staunch. Handler paused on a knoll to look for Sparky. The judge spotted him, almost hidden from view, in high cover, across a swale. After a lengthy flushing attempt he was relocated. As he moved on the handler walked up the covey. Midway in the brace Chuy worked along the edge of a large thicket, stopped, moved up as we approached, then put the birds to flight. Sparky continued his diligent race and search for game. At 49 he pointed in a mott near the bear trap finger, maintaining his style through flush and shot. Again he found game at 57. He was found standing near the lake edge before the rock ledge crossing, game flushed, all in order.
Hildebrandt’s Diamond Jem (Budd) and Orion’s Major Eclipse (Smith) were wide and fast as we traveled north from the airport. They covered a lot of ground, each required some scouting. Major was out of pocket from time to time as he used the country, returning in a timely fashion, apparently on his own. At 48 point was called along the edge of a draw. Game was flushed, all in order. “DJ” continued his reaching race but was not rewarded with any game. Major finished his hour headed toward the bear trap.
Tejas Iron Mike (Green) and Rebel JJ’s Wishful Thinking (Staton) headed north from the bear trap finger. Both dogs worked the cover, “Hope" being somewhat lateral. At 46 we crossed Lem Roberts Road, where Mikey pointed at the edge of a mott. Hope came down the edge, failed to back and was leashed. Mikey showed the pressure but held through the flush and shot. We came through the big woods where Mikey pointed at 57. He stood along the grassy edge. After a lengthy flushing attempt his posture suffered. He was relocated and pinned a single. He was mannerly through flush and shot.
Euchee Rocky (Budd) and A Bunch of Butch (Murphy) had their running gear on. Rocky ran the reaches of the terrain, being fast and forward. Butch hit the edges in his forward race. At 37 Rocky was seen to the front, pointing in a mott just before the alley. Birds were flushed with all in order. Point was called for Butch at 40 west of the alley by his scout. Birds were flushed from the cover with Butch standing stylish. Rocky’s second find was at the edge of a brushy finger, just before the bear trap turn. At the flush he was stylish. As we swung the bear trap Rocky showed ahead in the area of the bed springs covey. Here Butch joined us, coming up from his find. Both dogs were away and to the front. Butch’s scout called point at our turn to cross the rock ridge. Birds flushed with all in order. Rocky came around from his swing on the tight finger before the rock ridge crossing and came to the front to join Butch as he was released. Both dogs were away again to the front. Rocky was sighted again just at the rock ledge before the airport and again prior to Manck’s Crossing. Butch had been out of pocket since the airport but as we approached Manck’s Crossing we could hear “point” being called to the right deep in the woods. He rejoined the front just before Lem Roberts Road and continued his skillful race for the remainder of the hour.
J and M Hello Tex's Dolly (Appleton), a bye, worked the edges of the grounds. At 41 she pointed along the draw before the tent pad finger. Birds were flushed with Dolly being attentive to the flight and shot. She had no further game contact.
Rebel’s Tough is Tyrone (John) and Roy’s Thunder II (Carrington) were away to the north from the bed springs finger. Both dogs took to the right along the edges of the mowed areas. Thunder worked forward up a ditch line, spun and pointed at 4. Tyrone, running back down the same edge, spun as the birds popped. Both dogs left the area.
Day dog was A Bunch of Butch; top qualifier for the series, A Bunch of Butch.
Championship Finals
The second series consisted of ten dogs that the judges wanted to sec again. The day began under overcast skies, moderate breeze and temperatures in the low 40s.
Gator’s Chili Bean and Sir Wimberley Sam’s Mr. Jake broke away from the barn as the sun peeked over the treetops. Chili covered a lot of country early. Jake was forward at the edge of our sight line. Chili was out of pocket at the oil well crossing and not returned to judgment. At 28 Jake pointed just before the pond dam. At the flush he turned to mark the flight of the birds. He continued to search the cover and was rewarded with a find at 48, displaying his usual intensity and style. He ran the course with forward application. At 59 point was called at the turn before the rock ridge crossing. Again through flush and shot he maintained his style.
Blazen Texas Son and Orion’s Major Eclipse (Smith) headed north from the little rock ledge; Major was the wider of the pair. At 20 Tex whirled and froze as a bird flushed from nowhere. Nice work. At 33 he suffered an unproductive. Major continued his wide, hard running race, requiring some scouting. We worked toward cedar point where Tex pointed near a plum thicket. During the lengthy flushing attempt his posture suffered. Handler relocated, Tex worked another 75 or more feet in the cover. He pointed where a single was put to flight by the handler. Major covered a lot of country but was not rewarded with game contact.
Kahlua II and A Bunch of Butch moved south toward the bear trap. Both dogs pointed early. At 4 Butch pointed in the sparse sumac at the bear trap turn, steady through flush and shot. At 5 “Jessie” pointed at the edge of a mott and handler flushed a single back over her head. She turned to mark the flight and turned back to the handler. At 13 point was called by the scout for Butch. He stood along the lake edge as we turn to a rock ridge crossing. He was relocated and on the other edge of the thicket he pinned a single. He was intense as the handler flushed. Butch was forward in his application. At 24 he pointed in the large brushy area west of the airport. Again he maintained his intensity through flush and shot. At 32 he was acting birdy as he worked up a long draw just before Manck’s Crossing. He pointed near some downed trees. An extensive search could not produce any game. At 40 Jessie pointed in a patch of heavy grass, before our turn at Rosco’s hilltop pond. She released herself but could not locate any game. Point was called by Jessie’s scout at the end of the woods at the oil well crossing. She had a single pinned in the leaves and handled it mannerly. Butch was working around the edge of a mott to our left, entered the wooded area and carded another find. Both dogs finished the hour going over the ridge toward the pond dam.
Jim De Bob’s Super Starr and Tejas Iron Mike were off from the barn after lunch. The wind increased during the morning, temperatures remained in the upper 40s. These two started slow, becoming stronger as they worked. Coming forward from the tent pad finger Mikey had a stop to flush with all in order. At 32 Starr made a swing on our left along the edge of the lake just before pond dam #2. Birds were sighted by the judge. When we approached Starr was standing head high and tight in the cattails. It was the first time this covey was moved. During Mikey’s second game contact he had a breach of manners and was leashed. Starr made nice moves in her application. At 51 she was rewarded with a find in the woods at the bed springs finger with all in order. Released, she ran the ridge to the next wooded area. As we wove our way through she was spotted pointing. Again a covey was flushed with classy manners. Taken over the ridge she was released to the front as time was called.
Euchee Rocky and J and M Tex's Hello Dolly were away before the little rock ledge, Rocky the wider and faster, showing well to the front. Dolly worked the edges, making some nice moves. Point was called by Dolly’s scout atop the ridge near the airport. She became anxious as handler approached and put the covey to flight. Rocky continued to be strong and aggressive in his application until just before the bear trap. At 48 he was out of pocket and not returned to judgment.
Ardmore, Okla., March 17
Judges: Devin Inglove and Ronnie Smith
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—25 Brittanys
Winner— A BUNCH OF BUTCH, 1360337, male, by Blaze and Lobo’s Evil Roy— High Card Sara. Jack Murphy, owner and handler.
Runner-Up — JIM DE BOB’S SUPER STARR, 1428696, female, by Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D — Huskey's Ramblin Roan Brook. Joleen Kovaly. owner; Rosco Staton, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
By Loyd Budd
The Derby was first run in 1974 and is still the only one-hour Derby for Brittanys. The front cover of The American Field of February 9, 1974 stated that “A spectacular new event — Derby competition at its best”. This stake seeks to exalt the class Brittany Derby dog — the dog bred, trained and campaigned to improve the breed and exemplify class. To achieve this the heats were of one-hour duration. The judges for this year’s event were Rick Smith and Dr. Bob Rankin. Rick needs no introduction to those in the know in the bird dog world. Bob has been a longtime active supporter of this stake. Both of these gentlemen have judged this stake previously and strive to maintain the standards for "competition at its best".
The winner was D Bar K's Casino, owned by Dale and Kay Barker of Cedar Hills, Tex. "Cash" was handled by Buny Green. Cash is a flashy white and orange male. The runner-up was Dakota's Copper Nickel, owned by Jim Leverich of Pampa, Tex., and also handled by Bunny Green. "Duke" is a large orange roan male.
Mr. Leverich was a director of the association when the Derby Classic was added to the program. Jim's dog, Way Kan Jill, was the winner of the inaugural running of the U.S. Open Brittany Championship in 1963 and again in 1966. Duke is a new dog for Jim and gets him "back in the sport". The grand sire and sire, respectively, of these dogs is Blaze and Lobo's Evil Roy. Roy won the Derby in 1989, went on to win the Open in 1992 and was a top qualifier and runner-up only to his son A Bunch Of Butch in 1994.
D Bar K's Casino stood alone in this one-hour Derby test. Although his range was not excessive, he used the country with intelligence and purpose. At 19 his bracemate was seen under a covey and shortly thereafter point was called for Cash. As his handler arrived Judge Rankin stated that birds had lifted from this area moments earlier; he was sent on to the front. At 21 point was called again. Cash stood stylish. No bird could be produced but it could have been a straggler from the previous activity. At 37 point was called for the bracemate. Cash came around the edge and backed nicely. Shadow's handler proceeded to flush and he lent a hand putting the birds to flight. Cash rose a bit taller through all this. As this brace continued so did the wind, gusting at 20-30 mph. At 52 scout called point for Cash. As we approached the area he could be seen pointing nicely into a brushy area just off Lem Roberts Road. As handler flushed and shot Cash stood high and tight. He finished the hour using the country effectively.
Runner-up Dakota's Copper Nickel laid down the classic race of the stake. He ran to the front, using the edges nicely and handling with ease. We turned at Rosco's hilltop pond and went south down the chute; Duke let up a bit. We crossed at the oil wells ahere he was seen taking the long draw to our right. He hit the big woods as time was called, making a fine finishing cast.
The day began with 15-20 mph winds, increasing to 20-30 mph, with gusts to 40-45 mph having an effect on all the young contenstants.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Dr. Robert Rankin and Rick Smith
[One-Hour Heats]—14 Brittanys
Winner—D BAR K'S CASINO, 1464820, male, by Shasta's Spike—Highpoint Sill O Ette. Dale Barker, owner; Bunny Green, handler.
Runner-Up—DAKOTA'S COPPER NICKEL, 1460486, male, by Blaze and Lobo's Evil Roy—Sally Mae Tanner. J. E. Leverich, owner; Bunny Green, handler.
