2003 United States Open Brittany Championship
By Mary Karbiner
The 40th running of the United States Brittany Championship was held on the Lake Murray grounds — venue for this stake since the inaugural running on February 23, 1963.
The Championship Association, sponsor of the titular stake and the Victoire Nationale Derby Classic, has endeavored to pattern this stake along the lines of the National Free-for-All, for breed improvement, its intention to glorify the class Brittany. Because of the rugged physical demands and high standards it is generally considered to be the toughest stake in the Brittany world to win.
The light entry of 21 starters was a disappointment, even though the quality of the stake was up to highest expectations. Several different theories were offered for the cause: about to declare war. the economy since 9-11. recent hike in gas prices.
The grounds are continually being groomed and improved. Birds were released late last summer. The release was “Tennessee Reds”, among their attributes being a heartier bird. During the running we found coveys of bobs and reds. The new “rave” is the use of quail callers. Pros and cons of this new equipment can be long involved “head butting” conversations among veteran trainers and handlers. Electronics have come into this sport full blast.
Harold Brown of Granbury, Tex., and Preston Trimble of Norman, Okla., judged the Championship. Both men have handled and or judged dogs over these grounds through the years.
Our thanks to association President Dr. Robert Rankin who marshalled all the braces in both stakes; dog wagon driver Loyd Budd who moved the dogs across the muddy country into hard to access areas; and thanks to those who picked up the slack and those who supported this Championship.
Purina has been a sponsor of this event since the original involvement with field trials. They offer Pro Plan dog food for the winners and contestants. Also provided are hats and informational brochures. The monetary donation is what sometimes makes the difference between “black and red” on the bottom line.
Qualifying Series
Castoff from headquarters was under sunny skies, 60° and a light breeze out of the east-southeast, with rain in the forecast.
Kahlua (Carrington) and Shambo’s Dark Shadow (John). “Jessie” pointed at the edge of a small motte atop the hill at 3. Asked to relocate she moved cautiously forward and pointed; well out in front of her original stand a nice covey was flushed. At 8 Shadow pointed a covey just into the chute past Rosco’s pond with very nice style; Jessie stopped to honor the flight of the birds. Both dogs were building up steam. Jessie went left to the woodsedge as Shadow cruised toward the youth camp. Shadow used the country, past pond dam No. 2, over the little rock ledge; he took the brushy finger on our right. Scout called point at 52. He was standing tall in the high grass; handler flushed birds a distance in front of him as he maintained his lofty posture. Jessie was not returned to judgment, Shadow finished his hour rimming cedar point.
Hi Jax (Ward/Drake) and T J’s Bustin Loose (John) were away in a flourish toward the bear trap. At 9, as both circled the meadow, they examined the feeder at the edge of the woods. Jax stood as the birds flushed; “Buster" was a bit more inquisitive and was leashed. Jax could not get the fire back and was leashed shortly thereafter. During our break, jackets came off as it had warmed considerably.
Poki Dot (Johnson) and Joker's Starbuck (Cross) were off at the bedsrpings finger. “Buck” pointed atop the rock ledge. He relocated but nothing was produced. He hesitated at a pile of feathers just before pond dam No. 4, went to hunting the cover and was leashed early. Poki was not returned to judgment.
After lunch, T J’s Apache (John) and Hanging Jaze Power Stroke (Rohner) were away under warm sunny skies; the breeze had picked up a bit. They were strong from the start. Some of their reaching casts required scouting. Midway in the hour the clouds moved in and temperatures dropped a little. At 41 “Turbo” was buried in the brambles along the little rocky ledge, standing with nice style. Extensive flushing and relocation could not produce any game. At 53 he pointed along the alley, standing staunchly for the flush and shot. “Bandit” continued to search the country for game. At 59 Turbo was running the woodsedge at the bear trap meadow and a single popped from a thicket. He honored the flight with style. Both dogs finished the hour as they started.
Absolute Proof (Sapp) and Tee Bone (Johnson) were fired up. “Hank” was wide from the get-go. Tee made some nice moves. At 1 1 handler called point as Hank down into the fingers. At midway Hank was seen behind deer across a deep brushy draw with no way to reach him quickly. Tee pointed just before pond dam No. 4 but only a hawk kill could be found. He slowed to a hunting mode to finish. Hank was not returned to judgment.
Leas Running Jay Hawk (Rohner) and Tejas Iron Mike (Carrington) were off from atop the big rocky ledge, through the rock crossing and out on the meadow. This pair had us watching. At 8, as we started down the chute, point was called for "Jake”. Birds lifted as handler approached. Jake stood high and tight. Both dogs took the woodsedge to the oil well and across Lem Roberts Road, going down the draw on our right. Coming across the flat Jake pointed at the edge of a heavy thicket at 17. During the flushing attempt Mike was being returned to the front by the scout, came in and backed nicely. Jake was relocated to no avail; both went on to the youth camp. These dogs covered some country. At 38 Mike pointed in the woods going into the brushy point, having a nice covey pinned. We crossed pond dam No. 2 and both went wide to the right and around the heavy draw. At the end was a mott where Mike stood with Jake backing proudly. A long flushing attempt produced birds close to Mike; at the flush his posture suffered greatly.
Dog of the day: Tejas Iron Mike.
After a delay for thunderstorms passing the area, we left the bam in a light rain. Smarteyes Joker (John) and J and M Ace High Jax (Carrington) covered some country. At 14 Jax was pointing in the large mott across Lem Roberts Road,
all in order. Jax was out of pocket when we came through the woods after pond dam No. 1. “Jordan” had slowed his attack and was leashed. Returned just before pond dam No. 2, Jax headed toward cedar point where he pointed at 56 at the end of the draw. It was a barren stand.
Into cedar point, both Hanging Jaze Howlalewya (Schroder) and Dakota Alley Cat (Rohner) headed into the cover. At the lake edge “Tiger” spun and pointed; up popped a single bird under his nose. It was too much temptation. “Luke” made some nice moves, his application being bold and purposeful. At 11 he pointed in the middle of the large motte just before the bear trap meadow, intense for the flush and shot. At 42 he pointed in the brush at the double concrete crossing, relocated several times to no avail and was leashed.
After lunch the rain had cleared with temperatures in the low 60s. Make My Day Dude (John) went over the hill
and had a confrontation with a feeding covey and was leashed early. Blueridge Major Adventure (Carrington) pointed, head high, in the large mott just across Lem Roberts Road at 16 with all in order. At 18 he suffered an unproductive. He had an absence going into the youth camp. At 30 in the bottom of the youth camp swing he stood on the edge of the large thicket. Handler sighted a bird as it went deeper into the cover. Major was fired over and taken on. He was out of pocket and returned as we crossed pond dam No. 2. At 57 he was sighted standing in a small motte at the edge of cedar point. Extensive flushing was futile as the hour ended.
Lobo's Legend (Johnson) ran as a bye. "Raleigh” dug into the cover for most of his time on the ground. He was leashed before the end of the hour. The spring trees were in bloom; wild plums and the red bud were open and fragrant.
Blaze Dakota Trucker (Rohner) and Sadie Fair Lady (Johnson) left pond dam No. 4 after a short break. This pair moved forward into the cover. At 4 Trucker pointed a large covey near a feeder. He stood high and tight through flush and shot. At 15 he was atop gun dog hill. Point was called as he stood in a small mott; nothing could be produced. At 29 near the base of a dead cedar with tall grass he pointed again but extensive flushing was futile. Sadie had not been seen since breakaway. Trucker was reaching more as the hour continued. At 49 he stood in the woods just across pond dam No. 1. His lofty stance was maintained throughout flush and shot. At 51 he pointed game with all in order. He finished the hour going away.
Tuesday’s day dog was Blaze Dakota Trucker.
We returned to headquarters for the naming of the top qualifier and the bracing of the dogs called back for the final series. Tejas Iron Mike was named top qualifier.
Championship Finals
Oh, what a difference a day makes in Oklahoma. Early morning fog burned off with upper 40s and sunshine but still muddy conditions on the ground.
Blaze Dakota Trucker and T J’s Apache were revved from the start, each going forward down the chute. We crossed Lem Roberts Road when, at 13, point was called for Trucker in the big mott. His style and manners were “10s”. Both dogs made a swing around the youth camp. Trucker cruised around pond dam No. 1 on the woodsedge. As we came out of the woods on tent pad finger both dogs were out of pocket. Trucker was sighted forward. He had another nice find at the edge of the meadow going into cedar point with fine manners. He had an unproductive near a feeder where a quail caller was sounding. Bandit was not returned to judgment. Trucker made the swing around the bear trap meadow, across dam No. 3, atop the rock ridge at bedsprings comer. We watched as he made a wide forward cast to the right along the alley to finish the hour.
Hanging Jaze Power Stroke was braced with Blueridge Major Adventure. “Turbo” was the wider and stronger of the pair. At 25 Major had a find in a sumac thicket. He stood nicely through flush and shot. Turbo continued to cover a lot of real estate. Major searched the cover and at 4) he pointed a covey near a feeder just before the fickle finger. Major handled through the wooded area and out of rock crossing. Atop the hill near Rosco’s pond he had a find at 59 with style. Turbo finished his hour with as much punch as he started but without bird contact.
After coffee on this beautiful spring day we were away down the chute from Rosco’s pond with Leas Running Jay Hawk braced with Tejas Iron Mike. This pair showed determination. At 22 we started through the woods on tent pad finger and Mike was pointing just off the path; a single was put to flight. Out of the woods “Jake” pointed at the edge of tall grass. Mike moved in, backed nicely and was taken on before the relocation. Extensive flushing could not produce game. Both dogs made forward casts, Mike on the high side and Jake along the lake. At 47 Mike pointed in a brushy finger. Birds were put to flight and he maintained his staunch manners. At 48 at the feeder on the edge of the bear trap meadow Jake scored a find, his style and manners solid. Sent forward both dogs finished the hour headed into the icky finger.
After lunch we were away from headquarters under sunny skies and upper 60s. still lots of mud.
Shambo’s Dark Shadow and J and M Ace High Jax were off like rockets, Shadow running with purpose and Jax showing his exuberance. Through the woods Jax was out of pocket. Shadow showed strongly to the front. Jax was returned, working the cover; he was rewarded with a find near the base of a big tree. His manners were proper. At 50 Shadow’s scout called point. He stood at the edge of a deadfall in the alley then exhibited impeccable manners through flush and shot. Jax had slowed his gait since his find. We left the bear trap meadow where Shadow took the edge on our right, through the heavy cover. As we started to cross pond dam No. 3 Shadow was ahead, standing rock solid. Jax was cautioned to back. Handler flushed a pair of quail as Shadow maintained his intensity. The hour ended with both dogs out front.
Tee Bone ran as a bye, away from the feeder atop the hill. He dropped into a heavy finger behind the airport and was out of pocket. Upon being returned he was on the short side and was leashed.
Ardmore, Okla., March 15
Judges: Harold Brown and Preston Trimble
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—21 Brittanys
Winner—TEJAS IRON MIKE, 1457159, male, by Shasta's Spike From Evil Roy—Highpoint Sill O Ette. A. B. Green & Tom Graves, owners; Vic Carrington, handler.
Runner-Up—BLAZE DAKOTA TRUCKER, 1474235. male, by Silverlake’s Wishes Blaze—Rhapsody’s Rambling Rose. Randy Walth, owner; Rob Rohner, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
By Dr. Robert Rankin
This juvenile stake was inaugurated by John Doak, then president of the Association, in 1974 and is still the only one-hour Derby for Brittanys.
The front cover of The American Field of February 9, 1974 stated, “A spectacular new event—Derby competition at its best”. Introduced “seeking to exalt the class Brittany Derby dog—the dog bred, trained and campaigned to improve the breed and exemplify class.”
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.
The true all-age got the nod from the judges. This year’s winner of the Derby Classic was Kolicko’s Sunrise Bailey, owned and handled by Jake Schroder and aptly scouted his wife Jojo. Bailey had a wide ranging race with one covey find.
Runner-up was Tequila Jack II, handled by Jim John and owned by Dr. Robert Rankin. He had a hard running forward race to garner his well earned placement.
Judges for the Derby were Al Gorrow of Broughton, III., and Pam Baird of Clearwater, Fla. They also gave honorable mention to Woodsong’s Texas Tornado, owned and handled by Joyce Miley of Texas and Wildhorse, owned and handled by Ed Wild of Oklahoma. These dogs pushed the winners with their ground heats.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CLASSIC
judges: Pam Baird and Al Gorrow
[One-Hour Heats]—16 Brittanys
Winner—KOLICKO’S SUNRISE BAILEY, 1525427, female, by Hanging Jaze Giant Killer—Tequila Sunrise. Jake & Jojo Schroder, owners; Jake Schroder, handler.
Runner-Up—TEQUILA JACK II, unreg., male, by Tequilas Joker—Smarteyes Microbeans. Dr. Robert Rankin, owner; Jim John, handler
