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2010 United States Brittany Championship and Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
Wimberley Jimdandy Captures The Title; Dogwood's Rowdy Wins Derby Crown
By Mary Karbiner
The 48th running of the United States Brittany Championship commenced on the grounds at Lake Murray State Park, Ardmore, Oklahoma on Saturday, March 6, 2010. This is the second longest running championship that is held on these grounds since its inception in 1963. The creation of this stake was to exemplify the ultimate competitive Brittany. I would like to quote from an article that Mrs. Judy Webb complied for the 35th anniversary of this association which appeared in the December 14,1996 issue of the American Field Publication to give you a review of the purpose of this event.
“In the early days stakes were foot handled. The originators of the United States Brittany Championship Association determined that it was time to take the next step, to initiate a stake for those who wanted to handle their Brittanys from horseback. The objective: to recognize and promote the superior Brittanys, dogs that all Brittany owners should include in their breeding programs, dogs whose names should be found in every Brittany pedigree. The test would emphasize endurance and intensity on point. To realize these objectives they chose to emulate the National Free-for-All Championship. The rules call for a one-hour qualifying series followed by one-hour finals. One change occurred over the years. No prior placement is now needed for the qualifying series. Pointing game in the first series and some slight lapses may be overlooked if the overall performance of a dog warrants another look.”
The Free-for-All is based on the Amesian Standard which is printed in the March 13, 2010 issue of the American Field Publication. Let us not forget that to maintain the quality and prestige of this event as established, there must be those that believe in the standards as set in the outline of the Amesian Standard. When the stats are review one sees repeated bloodlines of those dogs who have amassed many impressive placements competing against some of the best Brittanys across the country on different venues. One might note “you breed to the ultimate as nature produces the norm” says Loyd Budd.
The winner this year was Wimberley Jimdandy owned by Ginger and John Gay of Sherman, Texas. Dandy was handled by Scott Johnson of Kansas. Scott has been the handler of the runner-up and top qualifier in the past with this being his first “win” in the open stake. Dandy was bred by Jim and Meam Floyd who matched Poki-Dot to Leas Running Jayhawk. Poki was winner of this stake in 2000. Jake was top qualifier in 2000. Dandy is a coming seven year old, white and liver male that has an “attention getting” way of going.
Runner-up was TJ’s Prairie Blizzard whose new owner was on hand to watch him run. Vicki Rankin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has been rewarded with placements in the last few months under the whistle of handler Ed Tillson of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Blizzard was sired by Tequila’s Joker. TJ was Top Qualifier in 1995, runner-up in 1996 and winner in 1997 of the open stake. Blizzard’s dam is The Prairie Tornado which is a Tequila’s Joker female.
The Top Qualifier was Maxwell’s Blew By You bred, trained and handled by Terry Maxwell of Arizona. Chuck was the Victoire Nationale Derby Champion in 2006 along with being Top Qualifier in the first series also in 2006. He was the Open winner in 2008.
Judges….without credible judges in the saddle the standard can change before our eyes. Dr Gary Cowell and Garvin Collins both of Missouri have judge this event before. They have a keen eye and the knowledge to see beyond the “fluff”. Their attention to the details that set the winners apart from the rest was evident.
Nestle-Purina has been a sponsor of this event since the inception of their participation for hour stakes. They are one of the world’s largest manufacturers of pet foods and have on going research and development of their products. We gratefully acknowledge their support. We were pleased to visit with field rep. Roy Pelton who was on hand to answer questions.
Monday evening President Dr Bob Rankin sponsored a brisket and trimmings dinner for all participants at the clubhouse. Tuesday evening, Dave and Joyce Lincoln sponsored a winners party at Two Frogs. Dave was owner and handler of last years open winner and top qualifier Jo Lockapex Dark Roux Gumbo. To do both is a feat accomplished only five other times since 1963. Delmar Smith, organizer and longtime director of this association, was on hand to visit with folks and enjoy some of the braces after the soggy weather.
Dr Bob Rankin again marshaled and kept things moving. He and his committee had to make decisions to put the running on hold because of thunderstorms on Monday. Dr John Webb was our dog wagon driver. He has supplied us with a tractor that gets to places a truck couldn’t travel, making contact in the field more convenient. To all the other people who helped with all and the sometimes small tasks…..we couldn’t do it without you. A Big Thank You.
The Qualifying Series
Starlight’s Blazing Sirius, Burchett and TJ’s Thunder. Hazy skies, fifty degrees and thunder storms in the forecast for later. This pair had their running shoes on. Thunder has a unproductive midway in the hour and a nice find at 40’ in the mott before brushy point. Sy pointed in the long brushy tree line on our right. Relocated, he searched the area where he honored the flush of a single quail. Each dog ran reaching races looking for game.
Lafayette Kinmont Willie, Carrington and Primetime Outlaw Johnny, Kalina. We left the bear trap meadow. At 12’ Cash pointed at the edge of bird valley with all in order. He was out of pocket before the airport returning shortly. Willie had a find at the little pond finger. He turned to mark at the flight of the bird. Both dogs went to the right in the big woods at Manck’s crossing having to be ridden for near the back side of Rosco’s pond. Willie had finds at 40’ and 45’ with all in order. Cash would take to the country and show when asked. Willie had another find at 56’. Both dogs finished through the little rocky crossing headed up gun dog hill.
Havapal’s Renegade Billy Boy, Burchett and Lost Creek Timber Ridge, Tillson. We went south toward the chute and back on course one. Rowdy went west over the rock ridge. Both dogs were fast on the ground. Rowdy had an unproductive in the scout camp at 18’. Billy pointed in the grass cover near a feeder. Extensive flushing ensued, finally a single flushed from the cover. This pair covered a lot of country during their hour. The last 10 minutes of this brace we experienced thunder and lightning with spurts of heavy rain. We searched the weather stations. With bad storms predicted to move in during the afternoons the running was canceled for the day.
Joker’s Jackpot, John and Rico G’s Blazen Cyclone, Burchett. Tuesday started with lots of sunshine and a light wind with the forecast being up to 30 mph gusts. Jack started rough, he lost the front several times then settled into a more forward pattern. Cy was here and then gone requiring some scouting. The tracker was called for at 48’. Jack had a find at 43’ at the end of brushy point with all in order. He slowed near the end of the hour.
Two Rivers Sky Hawk, John and TJ’s Prairie Blizzard, Tillson. Sky runs effortlessly across the ground. She would hit the cover showing to the front. Blizzard had finds at 8’ and 13’. His race became stronger into the hour. Sky continued with a forward pattern. Blizzard had another find at 45’ just before pond dam four. He finished the hour going toward the big rock crossing as did Sky.
Wayside’s Blueridge Runner, Downing and T&W’s Diamond Jim, Kalina. This pair started wide on gun dog hill coming to the front. Jim went right at the gas well. On the tree line along the road he had a find at 16’ with all in order. Blue made some nice moves across the country. We went down brushy point where he had a breach of manners and was leashed.
DAY DOG: TJ’s Prairie Blizzard.
Shady Way Red Tail Hawk, John and Blueridge Grounds Keeper, Downing. With sunshine and windy conditions the ground was drying out this morning. Hawk had his track shoes on and was out of pocket from time to time and gone at 50’. Dub had a find at 35’ in tall grass just out of the tent pad finger with all in order. At 45’ he had a stop to flush in the grass as we headed into the brushy point. He hunted at moderate range during the hour.
Wimberley Jimdandy, Johnson and Justas Well Be Thegunner, Kalina. This pair started strong. Dandy running the edges and Gunner hitting the cover. At 14’ point was called in the icky finger. A single was flushed from under a deadfall. At 51’ Dandy hit the lake edge, scout dispatched, finding him buried in cattails at the lake edge. Extensive flushing produced birds with all in order. He finished the hour coming out of Lem Roberts camp area. Gunner was out of pocket and not returned to judgment.
Spanky’s Little Pill Bandit, Hancock and Carolina Sea Biscuit, Johnson. Bandit was a handful from the start. Biscuit had an unproductive in the scout camp. Bandit was leashed at pond dam one. Biscuit worked the cover having a find at 49’. He finished the hour at cedar point.
Tsunami, Johnson and Rico’s Hi Proof Bootlegger, Burchett. Rico had a find at the feeder to the right of the gas well with all in order. Su had crossed the road and pointed in a cedar mott at 14’ with all in order. Rico had a hard time maintaining the front and was leashed midway in the hour. Su had an unproductive and was leashed.
Dakota Luke, Kalina and Sovereign’s Git-R-Done, Tillson. Overcast skies and moderate temperatures with a weather change in the forecast. At 13’ Luke had a find in a brushy mott just before cedar point with all in order. Both dogs were erratic in application the first half of the hour. Luke had a find at 34’ near the icky finger feeder. Larry was leashed at 45’. Luke had an unproductive at 51’.
Day Dog braces 7-11: Wimberley Jimdandy
Boudreaux’s JJ, Johnson and Jo Lockapex dark Roux Gumbo, Lincoln. After a delay from thunderstorms we left camp at 12:00PM. JJ had an unproductive at 24’ then a point on a pile of feathers at 39’, with another unproductive at53’ when he was leashed. Roux had finds at 3’,14’,45’ and 55’. All were well located with style and range between them. He handled the country well during his hour.
TLM Comanche Chief, Milam and Maxwell’s Blew By You, Maxwell. We left the bear trap meadow and beyond. At 8’ point was called by the handler for Chief as we passed through the ditch in bird valley. He stood on our right with birds in sight. Handler started to flush and he had help from the dog. Chief was leashed. Chuck had a find at the edge of a brushy mott just before the airport with all in order. He covered a lot of country. Handler called point as he stood at the edge of the cover at the little pond finger. Birds were flushed and the dog sent on. The hour ended past Lem Roberts camp and through the woods on the ridge.
TLM Frequent Flyer, Gerardy and Kinwashkly Dakota Molester, John. Through the little rocky crossing and up gun dog hill Jack pointed at the edge of a brushy mott. Extensive flushing and relocation could not produce any game. We were in the scout camp when point was called from atop the flat. Upon arrival we find Jack pointing at the edge of a brushy mott and Lester on point, down in a swale, facing Jack. Flushing by both handlers put birds in the air and each dog was fired over. Released, Lester went forward and Jack went back to recheck the area and was leashed. Lester had a find at 37’ just out of the tent pad finger with all in order. At 47’ he had a find at the edge of tall grass coming out of brushy point. His posture suffered and he was leashed.
Windy Hill Ben, Burchett and KD’s Slip and Slide, Tillson. Both dogs started with erratic application. At 21’ Ben had a stop to flush just past the icky finger. Splash was out of pocket at 30’ showing later along the woods line above the road on our right where the handler went to collect him. Ben was out of pocket before Mancks crossing. Splash had an unproductive in the brushy finger just before pond dam four. The tracker was called for Ben as he had not been sighted. The hour ended up the ridge from Lem Roberts camp.
Ricochet's Cantilly, Burchett and Tub O Tee, Lincoln. Tilly was wide from the breakaway and not returned to judgment midway in the hour. Tubby had stylish finds at 14’,16’. He hunted the country having finds at 38’ and 43’.
T’Kalis Feel The Wind, Downing and Windtuck Rocket’s Red Glare, Milam Kali made some nice moves in the hour but had several unproductives during her time on the ground. Rocket was out of pocket at the bear trap meadow. Later, catching the front, point was called at the edge of bird valley. He had another find at 37’ near the little pond finger. He worked the edges checking the cover during the hour.
Breton’s Castle Rocket, John an Rocklan’s Whizzle Stop, Burchett. This pair took to the edges. Whiz was out of pocket before the scout camp returning near the pond dam one. At 36’ he had an unproductive. Rocket found game in the draw at 40’ with all in order. At 45’ deep in brushy point Whiz had a stylish find. Both dogs finished forward as the hour ended.
Tee’s Hurricane, Johnson and Rocklan’s Kid rowdy, Burchett. Sunshine continues to dry the soggy ground…forecast for later….more showers. Both dogs had trouble maintaining the front. Rowdy had an unproductive at 1’ just off the breakaway. Tee was up midway in the brace. Rowdy was leashed at 40’.
Me and you Alone Maverick, Carrington and Checote, Kalina. Coco was up early for a breach of manners. Mia started strong. At 36’ she had an unproductive. She changed her stride midway in the hour and was leashed.
Cast-A-Britt Micro Sammie, Burchett and Tequila With A Twist, Tillson. Both dogs were strong on the ground with forward reaching moves. Sammie had a hawk kill at 8’. At 17’ Taryn had a barren stand. An unproductive at 33’ for Sammie. Taryn pointed near the feeder before brushy point at 50‘. A lengthy relocation ensued. The birds were finally pined and flushed for her. At 56’ Sammie pointed near the feeder in brushy point. She released herself and was leashed.
The Finals
Maxwell’s Blew By You, Maxwell and Windtuck Rocket’s Red Glare, Milam. Friday morning. After light showers the night before we left camp in high spirits. Chuck was wide off the breakaway and remained so throughout his time on the ground. Rocket searched forward. He was out of pocket at pond dam one. Chuck showed to the front and the tracker was called for Rocket mid way in the hour. Out of the tent pad finger a scout was sent to the right, with Chuck showing forward on course. He searched the mott before brushy point. Shortly, he had a breach of manners and was leashed.
TJ’s Prairie Blizzard, Tillson and Wimberley Jimdandy, Johnson. Both dogs started strong, Dandy being the more forward of the pair throughout the hour. We headed to brushy point and beyond. At 8’ he pointed far to our right at the end of bird valley standing staunchly. Blizzard came to the activity and backed, cautioned by the judge. Game was flushed with all in order for both dogs. At 17’ point was called by the scout for Dandy. We had to ride to the bed springs area where game was flushed as he turned to mark the flight. At 32’ just before the airport point was called by each handler. The dogs stood at the edge of a large grassy mott some distance apart. Game was flushed, both dogs were shot over and taken on. At 37’ Blizzard carded another find near the road with all in order. At 47’ Dandy handled another find with style. Both dogs finished the hour with Dandy being consistently forward.
TJ’s Thunder, John and Primetime Outlaw Johnny, Kalina. We left the meadow before the little rocky crossing. At 4’ handler called point for Thunder. Game was flushed from under a deadfall with all in order. Cash covered the country showing when asked. Thunder was out of pocket before the tent pad finger showing later. Just before time, point was called by scout for Thunder. We rode to the bed springs woods. A lengthy and extensive flushing attempt could not produce any game. Cash had no game contact in the hour.
Jo Lockapex Dark Roux Gumbo, Lincoln and Blueridge Grounds Keeper, Downing. Roux had a reaching race for the hour but without game contact. Dub hunted the country digging in causing some pull and tug. He did not have any bird contact during the hour.
Ardmore, Okla., March 6
Judges: Garvin Collins and Dr. Gary Cowell
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—42 Brittanys
Winner—WIMBERLEY JIMDANDY, 556862, male, by Leas Running Jay Hawk—Poki Dot. Ginger & John Gay, owners; Scott Johnson, handler.
Runner-Up—T J’S PRAIRIE BLIZZARD, 1557567, male, by Tequilas Joker—The Prairie Tornado. Vicki Rankin, owner; Ed Tillson, handler.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP
This Derby was established in 1974 as a companion stake to the Open Championship. "It is the intention to glorify the Derby prospect most likely to win the United States Open Brittany Championship." It was and still is the only hour stake for Brittany Derbies. It is easy to see the purpose come to the fore when reviewing the statistics. The repetitive bloodlines of the long list of winners is very evident.
This year’s Championship drew a field of 20 entrants, some already amassing juvenile placements.
Our judges were Dr. Robert Rankin of Edmond, Okla., and Vic Carrington of Tolar, Tex. They were looking for the dog that fit the criteria of the standard.
In the fifth brace, Dogwood’s Rowdy and Jack’s Tequila Jake had the gallery sitting tall in the saddle. They were called back for a second series for bird work only which they each completed with adequate Derby manners. Dogwood’s Rowdy, owned by Nan Pullen of Boring, Ore., and handled by Scott Johnson, was declared the winner.
Runner-up was Jacks Tequila Jake, owned by Pedro and Susan Rodriguez of Leawod, Kan. Jake was handled by Jim John.
Jimmie’s Princess Amanda (Kalina) was bold and independent requiring scouting to maintain the front. Wayside Race the Wind (Downing) was out of pocket at the gas well and not returned to judgment.
Triple T (Johnson) and Blueridge Wind Racer (Downing). Tripp was a handful, being out of pocket from time to time. The tracker was called for midway in the hour. TC hunted the cover. At 42 he had an unproductive and finished the hour at moderate range.
Majestic’s We Think He Ate His Brother (Johnson) and Bony Bud (Lincoln) went toward the little rocky crossing and up gun dog hill. Both dogs hit the timber on our right. “Munch” was out of pocket at Rosco’s pond and not returned to judgment. Bud was in a hunting mode and leashed before pond dam No. 1.
Country Roads Night Rider (Burchett) hunted the course extensively in a nice forward pattern. He slowed near the end of the hour without any bird contact. J J’s Tasmanian Devil (Tillson) showed good stamina running at moderate range. He was out of pocket before the end of the hour and returned in the grace period also without bird contact.
Dogwood’s Rowdy (Johnson) and Jacks Tequila Jake (John) put on a show for us. Range, handling and stamina for the full hour. Each dog hit different edges of the course reaching forward. They used the country well during the hour. There was not any game contact for either dog.
Good Time Sara (Kalina) and Hybrittin’s Partynaked (Tillson) had minds of their own, sustaining absences from time to time. Naked was up midway in the hour. Sara was leashed shortly after.
Gunrunner’s Gotta Lotta Mo (Hancock) was erratic in ground application, being a handful. Shadows Tequila Tryst (Tillson) had trouble with ground scent and false points.
TLM Copilot (Gerardy) was gone frequently, requiring the scout to work hard. Blueridge Hunter Gonna Fly (Downing) would dig into the cover causing him to be lateral in application. Just before pond dam No. 4 he pointed in the low grass, rooted until a single left with him in pursuit. “Hank” had no game contact during his time on the ground.
LCH’s Edward Longshanks (Burchett) made some nice moves. He slowed near the end of the hour. Miss Iss Amazin (Kalina) was busy looking for birds, slowed and was leashed at 45.
Ruffwood’s Own Agenda (Burchett) and Gunrunner’s Diamond Forever (Hancock). “Gen” did some nice things, working at moderate range. She slowed and was up before the end of the hour. Dee liked to hit ail the cover causing her to be lateral in application. She also was up before the hour ended.
The judges required a second series. Dogwood’s Rowdy and Jack’s Tequila Jake were called back for bird work only. We left camp, traveled to gun dog hill and swung west. We turned to part of the original course where established coveys were located. Both dogs found game and pointed staunchly well into the flush, pleasing the judges.
Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
judges: Vic Carrington and Dr. Robert Rankin
[One-Hour Heats]—20 Brittanys
Winner—DOGWOOD’S ROWDY, 1618650, male, by San Dee’s Blazing Shane—Zippity Do Dot. Nan Pullen, owner; Scott Johnson, handler.
Runner-Up—JACKS TEQUILA JAKE. 1619008, male, by Tequila Jack—Truckers Willow Run. Pedro & Susan Rodriguez, owners; Jim John, handler.
