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US Open Championship & Victoire Nationale Derby Results

2001 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Mike Boydston

Blaze Dakota Trucker, a deep orange roan male, coming seven years of age, has won the 2001 running of the United States Open Brittany Championship. The talented six-time champion was handled by Rob Rohner for owner Randy Walth of Hawarden, la. Runner-up was Shambo’s Dark Shadow, run by Jim John and owned by Phillip Dangerfield of Tampa. Fla.
This venerable Championship was conducted across the famous field trial grounds at Lake Murray State Park, outside Ardmore, Okla. The title was awarded at the conclusion of five days of running on March 23.

This was the 39th running of what is recognized as the most demanding and prestigious championship on the Brittany major circuit. Fifty dogs were entered in an event that brooks no compromise. The format is unique—a one-hour qualifying series followed by one-hour final heats. Do not bring a 45-minute show dog to Ardmore! Shooting dogs need not apply. Anything less than a true all-age performance will be painfully obvious. This one is for major leaguers!

Unseasonably warm weather all week added to the challenge. At the end of the qualifying series. Judges Keith Johnson and Larry Cox identified eight performers that had shown the stuff it takes to stand out. This group came back on a hot, sunny Friday to run it off. Oddly, the stake produced enough wild bird work to excite even the most traditional purist despite the harsh weather conditions.

As is the case with any great championship, a tremendous team of leaders is at the helm. Bob Rankin, well-known Oklahoma City physician, has chaired the event since 1986. During his tenure he has ridden and marshalled every brace of every running save one year when he was at home with his family grieving the death of his father. He is a detail-oriented chairman who leaves nothing to chance, down to the daily lunch break! He is assisted by Mary Karbiner, who serves as secretary with impressive competence. They get big assists from Linda and Tom Milam, Donna and Frank Pride, Jim Hearne and a host of volunteers that would make any organized field trial committee envious.

No bird dog championship at Ardmore would be the same without the presence of Dub Emde. This longtime pillar of strength serves as resident historian, a sort of “chairman emeritus’’ if you will. No one who comes to Ardmore remains a stranger after they meet Dub. His charming wife, Tommie, is also a part of the festivities and the sense of history these two afford is truly priceless. Over the years Dub has been a part of virtually every development, improvement, repair or controversy that has gone on here. He describes the origins and evolution of this venue as though he were detailing the history of his family farm.

Adding to the excitement of this renewal is the companion Victoire Nationale Derby. This test offers juvenile hopefuls the first sixty-minute challenge of their young careers. Coming as it does in the midst of the unorthodox Brittany “Futurity” season, it presents a stern evaluation of the emerging crop of future contenders. Down through the years, this Derby stake, more than any other, has offered a benchmark for measuring championship all-age potential. It is clearly the most coveted juvenile win the youngsters compete for and adds considerable stature to the Championship program.

In this day and age, field trial championships are dependent on first class sponsorship(s). Ralston Purina’s Pro Plan brand adds a touch of class with its presence. A generous donation of feed, along with promotional materials, stamp the Ralston influence on this program.

Innotek Products, the world-class manufacturer of electronic training aids, has joined in supporting the running. It seems like only a few years ago that dog training equipment available was limited and primitive. This company has raised the bar and through professional field resources such as Rick Smith has become a major contributor to the sport with high-tech innovative products.

The Drs. Foster and Smith catalogue has long been a staple in the kennel or barn office. They also support the trial and are much appreciated.

Two excellent judges presided over the Championship. Larry Cox of Alvord, Tex., runs setter shooting dogs across the Lone Star State. He is no stranger to Brittany enthusiasts, having judged both the Texas Open and Amateur Brittany Championships. He also judged the Region 7 Amateur Walking Championship and is highly respected as an attentive arbiter. Keith Johnson claims the Brittany as his breed of choice. The Houston field trialer has been active for over ten years and like his partner judged the Texas Open Brittany Championship. These two sportsmen are excellent horsemen, paid close attention and gave the big entry full opportunity to show its quality.

Qualifying Series

During the first series, considerable discretion is given the judges. They look for reasons to call back, not for reasons to disqualify. Using the Amesian standard, they filter through the field, picking out the true sixty-minute all-age dogs.
In any given year, it is possible that not all the good one-hour dogs make the final cut. The one thing that doesn’t happen is for an unqualified dog to slip into the finals because of luck, off days by the others, weather, etc. When the callback list is read, participants know the field is tough and that any one of the finalists has the talent to win it all.

The qualifying series began with Linvel’s Blazin Sunspot (Kline) and Blueridge Major Adventure (Downing). “Spot” demonstrated power off the break and was running wide and to the front while “Major” was absent immediately. John raised his hat for Spot at 20 back in the scout camp loop. All was in order. Major showed periodically and managed to stay under judgment until 35 when David decided he wasn't satisfied with his dog’s effort. Spot pointed again at 38 over a fresh hawk kill. Spot made a great finishing cast down cedar point at 55. As he came around the lake, he capped off a fine hour with a second buried up find.

Tequila's Joker (John) came to the line with Condessa Bigote (Wild) and showed he can still get it done. He was on point at 4, a single well-located. For the first twenty minutes, “TJ" put on a show but eventually got out of hand. At 40 Jimmy called for his tracker. Ed elected to pick "Tess" up soon after.

J and M Ace High Jax (Carrington) and Lobo's Legend (Johnson) worked the heavy cover in prime wild bird country. "Jack" was on fire and "Raleigh" was working hard through the west country. At 46 Jack had a broke find back in the scout camp loop. He then took “tent pad” point around past the fish rearing ponds and made his way to the front. Following an unproductive at 58, Raleigh was leashed. Jack put on a terrific finish, earning his way into the finals.

Monday afternoon began with Scarface (Budd) and The Prairie Tornado (John) running in warm, sunny conditions. "Twister” jacked up everyone’s attention with a beautiful wild covey find under the well at 11. We had ridden past this spot at least ten times from the beginning of the Derby on Saturday. Despite the heat she found and pointed them. It was an exciting prelude to what was to be a great hour. She followed that effort w ith a second piece of work one minute later. At 31 she worked another single flawlessly. In the meantime. Loyd was having trouble finding Scarface which had stormed off the breakaway. For good measure Twister added a fourth piece of all-age bird work at 45. She showed a big finish, disappearing down into the bear trap. As she emerged from that cast. The hour ended and she jumped into contention for a spot in the callback.

Next were Lobo’s Bossman (Maxwell) and Pride and Joy's Bunch of Annie (Pride). "Boss” started with a find at 1 . He added a nice piece of work at 7. "Annie” found birds at 12 and was broke. Boss roared by her at full stride and was excused for the afternoon.

The first day of qualifying ended with Kahula II (Carrington) braced with Poki Dot (Johnson). Both of these dogs showed great speed and determination. “Poki” had finds at 13 and 30. "Jesse” got in trouble at 45.

Following the day’s running, The Prairie Tornado was named day dog.

Shambo’s Dark Shadow (John) and Absolute Proof (Budd) began Tuesday morning wdth strong forward breakaways. During the second half of the hour, “Shadow” put on a bird-handling clinic. At 31 he handled a running covey after a nifty relocation effort. Then at 40 he abruptly stopped and honored the flight of a wild bird which sailed over the top of his head from behind. He worked birds at 45 and 53 and easily established his credentials for the finals. In the meantime “Hank" was scorching the course as well. His bracemate's bird work
could have overshadowed his effort but all who saw it thought we might be seeing him again on Friday.

As Bar None’s Rockin Robin (Johnson) came to the line with Apache (Maxwell), the morning was heating up to unseasonably warm weather. Scott sensed something wasn’t right with his dog and leashed her at 15. Terry followed suit shortly after.

Joker's Our Gang Alfalfa (John), running with Dakota's Copper Nickel (Budd) blew out of the country early. "Duke” presented one of the classic all-age ground races of the stake, wide, forward and just barely under control. His finish, far to the front and barely visible, was highlight film quality and he staked his claim for a berth on Friday.
The morning session concluded with Sadie Fair Lady (Johnson) and Breeze County Clyde (Kline). “Clyde" had two nice finds early in the hour but later fell victim to the urge to catch one and retrieve it. “Sadie” wasn’t up to her normal standard on this day and went to the wagon at 30.

Make My Day Dude (John) and Chikamin's Repeat (Budd) were off in great style with huge breakaways. After an unproductive at 16, “Dude" found a wild covey back in the scout camp loop. He finished a nice hour in the heat. Loyd was never able to get his back.

The second hour on Tuesday afternoon featured Gilbert's Tiger Kat (Kline) and Frisca’s Little Abbygail (Carrington). “Abby” started out with great promise, pointing a large wild covey at 4. She wasn't pleasing her handler, however, and at 20 went to the wagon. "Kat” hunted diligently down through the west country. Late in the hour, a covey flushed wild and John found Kat standing at the spot. When released the dog began hunting singles. Eventually the harsh scenting conditions led to a less than satisfactory encounter with a running bird.

Blaze's Ramblin Mo Kan (Rohner) and Cheyenne Joker's Star Buck (Cross) finished the day on the third hour. “Buck" got turned around in the wind and was never able to get lined out. John picked him up at 30. "Mo” put down a solid hour without bird work.

Shambo's Dark Shadow was the dog of the day on Tuesday.

Oak’s Gold Diggin Blake (Kline) came to the line with a hidden injury and was leashed immediately after being released. Comanche (Maxwell). running on tender pads, disappeared off the breakaway and this brace ended in twenty minutes.
Smokey Hill Peg (Garrow) and Teltex She's A Dan D (Wild) ran and hunted hard in the heat but were unable to get birds pointed.

The morning session concluded with Jocin’s Mister Micro Tye (Johnson) and Far Out Applebee (Kline). They divided a find at 8. At 26 “Ty” really stuck the wild covey we had been seeing back in the west country. Although we’d seen them all week, this was the first dog to really nail them with certainty. “Applebee” got in trouble with John during a relocation effort and was lifted. Tye capped off his hour with a second scintillating piece of work on the wild covey that Twister had found at the well on course No. 1 . Seeing these birds at this location was a treat the first time. To have them again in the same exact spot was true theater and lifted everyone’s spirits.

The afternoon session opened with Pride and Joy’s Butchman (Pride) and Lea’s Running Jayhawk (Rohner). “Butch” disappeared immediately. “Jake" suffered two unproductives in the first forty minutes.

J and M's Lightning's Magnum Max (Carrington) and Diamond Hill Dan (Kline) were next. “Max", a young enthusiastic flyer, contrasted with the talented, accomplished, multi-titled “Dan”. Both dogs were getting it done today! Dan made a beautiful flowing cast around evergreen point and headed for the bear trap. Max headed the same direction with Vic in pursuit. John brought him around in good order. At 13 Dan pointed the famous “bedsprings” covey. John accentuated his flushing technique with an excellent break dancing exhibition which added a nice East Coast touch. Man was having trouble getting lined out and at about 40 Vic determined that something was not right with his dog and ended his hour. Dan closed out an impressive hour with a second find at pond No. 3. Sometimes a dog's reputation precedes him. On this occasion Dan validated his.

D Bar K's Ramblin Sam (Rohner) and Mo Kan Powerglide (Boydston) were next. “Rip" began his hour with an uncharacteristic unproductive back in the west country where we had moved so many wild birds. He managed to work his way around the heavy cover and get out into open country. At 22 he and "Sam" pointed at the end of a pond dam under pond No. 4. Both dogs continued on and were out of sight a great deal of the time. At 40 Sam was buried up in cover along the chute that leads down course No. 1. Rip came upon the scene following a brief session in Rosco’s pond. His vision was blocked by the judge and horse. In an extraordinary display of sportsmanship, Rob cautioned him and he slammed to an immediate stop, looking away from the action, seeking his own handler. Birds were produced for Sam. both dogs mannerly. A potential train wreck was avoided and both finished the hour.

Diamond Hill Dan was posted as the day dog.

Mischief's Dust in The Wind (Baird) began her hour with bird work at 13. Woodsedge Dream (Milam) worked hard but was unable to get it done.

Neither Linvel's Apple Dumplin (Kline) nor Ramblin Willie (Burton) were able to overcome the heat and harsh scenting conditions.

Mo Kan Razzle Dazzle (Rohner) ran birdless as Cedar Hill Pierre (Baker) endured his handler’s nasty fall. As the final afternoon of qualifying began.

Microchips of Nutmeg (White) took off with Rebel's Tough Is Tyrone (Nelson). “Meg” got going the wrong direction right off the breakaway and was never returned to the front. “Tyrone” was one giant economy sized handful for Marvin and the rope was employed at 30.

Blaze Dakota Trucker (Rohner) came out with Hillside Sweet Ol' Bob (Milam). “Trucker” had a good find at 26 followed immediately with another at 28. “Bob” backed beautifully on the second piece of work. At 41 Tom called attention to his dog which was standing at the base of a scrub oak tree as birds flew out. Both of these dogs seemed to gain strength as the hour wound down, a tribute in itself considering the heat.

Rambling Rose VII (Rohner) and Mo Kan Bimbo (Garrow) ran in the final brace on Thursday. “Bimbo” carded a find at 22 and “Rosie” scored at 36. Neither had enough to crack the finals and they were excused at 45.
Blaze Dakota Trucker’s name was posted as the dog of the day.

Excitement began to build as everyone on hand anticipated the announcement of the callback dogs. In an event of this format, out of fifty starters there are probably a dozen which could come back out, put on a creditable performance and perhaps annex the title. There are probably another dozen that have no chance at all for one reason or another—youth/inexperience, age/condition, recovering from whelping/injury/illness, incapable in the first place, etc. In the middle of these two groups is that pool of dogs, which, on a given day, under the right circumstances, might put on a career performance and be a credit to the stake. It’s that large group that brings life, anticipation and romance to the sport.

Judges Cox and Johnson had decided before the first brace that they were looking for eight and only eight qualifiers. None of the rest knew that but with that standard in place, it guaranteed a tough field for the championship running.
One by one they heard their names called: Dakota's Copper Nickel, Shadow, Spot, Twister, Jack, Absolute Proof, Trucker and the top qualifier, Diamond Hill Dan! The field was set and there were few surprises.

Championship Finals

Trucker's championship win here is one of the real “feel good" stories of the year. Rob Rohner at just 30, is already a nine-year veteran of the Brittany major circuit. He has amassed a trophy room full of titles with as high a quality string of Brittanys as there is on the road. He holds the distinction of being the first, and at this writing, only Brittany touring pro to win the Brittany National Shooting Dog Championship and the Brittany National All Age Championship in the same year (1995). He is considered simply “one of the best" in his business.

To strangers or those who don’t know him well. His politeness could easily be mistaken for passiveness. That would be a huge miscalculation. Behind the quiet smiling facade burns a competitive passion that drives him to excellence. Timid professionals, in any sport, do not achieve his level of success. Despite his popularity and the respect he has earned from his peers, he came to Ardmore unfulfilled. A win at this great Championship had eluded him. As he loaded up to leave his family, including a beautiful new two-week-old baby daughter, he once again committed himself to the task at hand. The road is cruel to most dog trainers, particularly the young with growing families. But Rob didn’t allow his emotions to interfere. He came in determined to win. Things didn’t go well early on, but this is the U. S. Open and he knew if he kept working, one of his good ones would come through.

Trucker’s performance is a story in itself. This is his sixth championship. He has won the Kansas, Missouri, ABC Pheasant and Prairie State Amateur (twice) along with this U. S. Open. He is out of the Rohner operation’s breeding and was whelped in their kennel. At the time he was born, Rob was summering in McCluskey, N.D. One of his local landowners happened by one afternoon and offered as how he needed a pup. Rob invited him to take one from a litter he was raising and the big strong roan male left for a new home. He ran loose in North Dakota for a year until the following summer when Rob saw him and worked him out. One can only imagine the adventures a young pup might have growing up loose in a wild game paradise. But whatever the case, Rob quickly replaced him with a more suitable hunting prospect and called Randy Walth who had been looking for an all-age dog. This was the perfect match.

Randy and his brother, Ronnie, soon became popular personalities at the trials. From break dancing to karaoke to bucking broncos, they do it all. If you’re not in a good mood when you run into them, you better get in one. If you don’t, they might just pick you up by the ankles until all the bad humor runs out the top of your head!

Randy loves competition and is usually on hand for the majors. A serious back injury of undisclosed but dubious origin kept him home. The entire Brittany crowd looks forward to his full recovery and return to action.

Tom Hanks, in his baseball manager role in the movie "A League of Their Own” at one point tells his lady professional baseball team, “There's no crying in baseball". If ever an expression applied to field trials, this one did! You pay your entry and take your chances. Trucker was the only qualifier that ran on Thursday and had to come back out 24 hours later and put down another hour in the bright spring sunshine, heat and humidity. Three finalists were called back after Monday performances. Three more made the field from Tuesday and another on Wednesday. Though all but Trucker had a minimum two days rest, "There’s no crying in field trials!”

Rob came to the line, smiled, turned him loose and went for broke. He carded his first find at 22 after going around the point, back in the scout camp loop. He ran hard and to the front, taking the edges around briar and cedar points. At 40 he pointed again at the dam under pond No. 2. Rob flushed for him and away he went. The dog kept up a torrid pace all the way to the bear trap meadow. He charged across the hayfield and headed for the timber. Time was called on this courageous, remarkable hour. Rob dug him out of the woods and the Championship was his.

The runner-up. Shadow, had demonstrated his bird-finding skills in the qualifying hour. He had the glamour find of the stake during his callback appearance. Running on course No. 2, he handled the heavy cover around “icky” point and stayed gone a lot. Though the dog didn’t show any indication he wasn’t in tune with his handler, the heavy cover/timber required that Jim stay after him. They got separated briefly as the course headed down into the west country where wild birds had been so reliable. At 45 with handler out looking for him, he was spotted far to the front. As the judges made their way down the trail, it appeared he was paused, looking for his handler. The closer we got the more apparent it became that he was standing on point. The dog never so much as rolled his eyes as a large group of riders approached. The gallery stopped to give him room and the call went back to Jim that his dog was on point to the front. Shadow did. indeed, have a large wild covey pinned in the mid-morning sunlight, back in the heavy timber along the lake. Given the setting and all the collateral activity that went on. this was a thrilling wild bird find. This is the stuff of major championship field trial competition. He pressed Trucker for the top spot with on a difference in their patterns separating the two.

The long history of this Championship reveals that very few top qualifiers come back to win it all. In sports the only thing harder than winning any major championship or title is repeating the victory the next year! So after besting 49 other talented dogs, is it any wonder coming back and doing it a second time in the space of a week is such a formidable task?

This was the challenge for Diamond Hill Dan (Kline) as he broke away with Dakota's Copper Nickel (Budd). He was wide off the breakaway and promptly drifted out of sight and out of the stake. “Duke" ran a terrific all-age hour and did everything it takes on the ground to win. He was simply unable to find birds on this day.

Linvel’s Blazin Sunspot (Kline) ran with Shambo’s Dark Shadow (John), whose hour was detailed above. Spot was also doing a job on the ground. Shortly after Shadow’s wild bird find, they found Spot pointing a wild single along the edge of the lake.

The Prairie Tornado (John) and J and M Ace High Jax (Carrington) were plagued by the temptation to chase the deer that seemed to be uncommonly active on this morning. Both handlers had to ride hard to keep them under judgment. Despite sparkling ground races neither could get birds pointed.

Absolute Proof (Budd) was Trucker's bracemate. He was gone before 30.

Ardmore, Okla., March 17
Judges: Lary Cox and Keith Johnson

UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—50 Brittanys
Winner—BLAZE DAKOTA TRUCKER. 1474235. male, by Silver Lake's Wishes Blaze— Rhapsody's Rambling Rose. Randy Walth. owner; Rob Rohner. handler.
Runner-Up—SHAMBO'S DARK SHADOW, imrcg.. male, by Cam Sham's Shambozo—Starr's Aapricot Lulu. Phillip Dangerfield, owner; Jim John, handler.


VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC

Some years back the juvenile stake was moved to the weekend prior to the Championship. That scheduling arrangement produces a festive mood among the gathering crowd, as the youngsters, many with glittering Derby records, assume the spotlight. This year, two well-known, highly respected judges agreed to sort them out. Loyd Budd is the dean of Brittany trainers. He’s one of those people who accomplish something in their careers that define them professionally. Early on he teamed up with Wayne Oliver and together they campaigned a young dog named Ban Dee. Many Brittany enthusiasts believe this dog may have had the most influence on the breed in modern times. It all happened because Loyd won back-to-back national championships with the dog, a feat that has still not been duplicated. He is straight and true. His beliefs haven't changed much over three decades. Ask him what he likes and it's short and to the point, "runnin" dogs and walkin’ horses". He happened to be in between young dogs this year and agreed to return something to the sport by serving as judge.
Gary Smith is a north Texas field trialer who always competes. He works his own dogs, wins consistently and like Loyd wasn’t planning on running a Derby in this stake. The quality of this Victoire Nationale Derby was certainly elevated when these two mounted the judicial saddles.

The 2001 winner is Blazen’s Frisco Kid, white and orange male owned by Barbara and Mike Huska of Southlake, Tex. Vic Carrington handled him. Runner-up was Pete's Turning Trix, also from the Carrington string. Mary and Jim Crawford, outstanding Houston. Tex., devotees, own him.
Runner-up Pete’s Turning Trix (Carrington) was down with Wichita (Wild). They began the morning with huge breakaways.

Trixie had a good Derby find, buried up in cover at 8. Jake disappeared off the breakaway and likely fell victim to temptations of the area's deer herd. Trixie, pounding the cover, was rewarded again at 30. She is very stylish, intent on point and continued to hunt hard. She finished her first hour challenge in good form.

Blaze’n Frisco Kid, the winner, was paired with Ramblin Casey (Davis) and he was “smokin”! After a showy cast along the edge of pond No. 1, he found birds at 40 and looked great on them. Evert picked “Casey" up at 35. "Kid” really poured it on the last twenty minutes and was pointed out going away at time.

VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Loyd Budd and Gary Smith
[One-Hour Heats]—26 Brittanys
Winner— BLAZE' N FRISCO KID. 1520992, male, by Blaze’n Texas Son—Evil Roy's Stormy Weather. Mike & Barbara Huska. owners; Vic Carrington, handler.
Runner-Up—PETE'S TURNIN TRIX. 1518700. female, by Chikamin's Repeat-— Sam's Smokin Sally. J. R. & Mary G. Crawford, owners; Vic Carrington, handler.



SIDELIGHTS FROM THE U.S. BRITTANY OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

• One of the most enjoyable qualities of this Championship is the “national” atmosphere that exists during the week. Margaret Horstmeyer and Tom White made the trip all the way from San Bernardino, CA to run their fine all-age bitch Meg, who we don’t get a chance to see that often in the central part of the country. Come to think of it, we didn't see much of her this time either! John Kline and his scout Fred Gammon came out from Virginia with a fine string and got a couple into the callback. Evert Davis, a long-time regular who hadn’t been here for a while came with a couple of good Derbys he’s high on. Wayne Oliver, who for years was a force to be reckoned with, running such stalwarts as BAN-DEE, THE REAL THING, JACKS-OR-BETTER, showed up on a gorgeous 3-yr old Paint Walking Mare. Rheta and Bill Cartmell visited for a few days and James Daugherty flew in for a meeting on Saturday night. Terry Maxwell was here from Michigan, as was John Cross and Ed Tillson from New Mexico, who actually showed up twice!

• This Championship is run about as straight as you can make it. The drawing is double blind without regard to anybody’s individual needs, requests, desires etc. Those wonderful “laptop” computers have surely changed the face of this sport. Fifteen minutes after the drawing is complete the participants are reviewing professionally printed brace sheets.

• Hospitality is in no short supply either. On Sunday evening, following the Derby, the association hosted a delightful buffet in one of the camp dining halls. Everyone gathered to swap stories and congratulate the winners of the Victoire Derby Nationale. Nothing beats a good ole Texas/Oklahoma Bar-B-Que feed at a big field trial. (Or should that be Oklahoma/Texas?)

• And speaking swapping stories; if you ever get a chance to visit with Dub Emde don’t miss it. This man is a virtual encyclopedia when it comes to the history of the Ardmore grounds and the trials that go on here. Did you know this land was originally a cotton farm?

• Nostalgia and history were honored here this week. A group of long-time field trialers journeyed out to the Bear Trap meadow to the site of what is referred to as the “bedsprings covey”. Wayne Oliver and Lloyd Budd spread the ashes of the legendary BAN-DEE across the area. This was the location of the find that iced the dog’s second consecutive National Brittany Championship, an accomplishment that has never been duplicated. In a brief informal ceremony, Lloyd retraced his flushing steps and gave a play-by-play of that great moment in Brittany history. It was a touching display of nostalgia for a group of people not generally given to displaying such emotions.

• It’s easy to see why so many long-time all-age field trialers consider this Championship the “true” national.

• The early season heat took its toll on horses. Can’t remember seeing so many suffer so much discomfort, all at the same time.

• Mary Karbiner and Loyd Budd reminded that Barbara Wade’s remains were also spread across the same area on these grounds. One of her fine dogs finished a Championship on this same covey. Loyd and Mary ran dogs for Barbara during the latter part of her life, and were of great comfort and support to her during her illness.