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United States Brittany Championship and Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
2012 Renewal Marks 50th Anniversary Running
By Mary Karbiner
The United States Brittany Championship Association celebrated its 50th running of this premier stake March 5. It remains the longest running championship on the grounds at Lake Murray State Park, Ardmore, Okla.
The Championship Association was incorporated in September, 1962, and the inaugural running was held in February, 1963. The directors still hold the drawing the night before the start of the Open Championship. There were 29 entries drawn and taken to the line.
The winner this year was Shadow Attack. His recent injury showed no ill effects as he bested the field with sterling bird work and intelligent application. Ed Tilison of New Mexico skillfully handled “Tack” for his owner Phil Dangerfield of Atlanta, Ga. No runner-up was named.
Tack is the son of 43-time winner Shambo’s Dark Shadow, a two-time U. S. Open Champion (2002 and 2006) and The Prairie Tornado. Shadow was owned by Phil Dangerfield and then Bemie Crain. The Prairie Tornado is by U. S. Open Champion Tequila’s Joker, both being owned by Ed Tilison. Tornado is also the granddaughter of Jim De Bob’s Sparks A Dan D, another U. S. Open Champion (1996) which was owned by Bemie Crain.
Once again it has been demonstrated that offspring from previous championship winners produce winners in hour stakes, fulfilling the belief of our founding directors of a true breeders’ stake. The owners’ and breeders’ beliefs are carried on through the object of this stake: Endurance and intensity on point.
Our judges were Rick Smith of Virginia and Al Gorrow of Illinois. The directors, in planning the 50th anniversary celebration, suggested that the judges believe in the ideals of this stake — intelligence and intensity on point. Both of these gentlemen have competed in or judged the Open and Derby through the years. We thank them for their service throughout the years that this event has been held.
We wish to thank our sponsor Nestle Purina. This event is one of the original grandfathered recipients of Purina’s
generosity and support of bird dog competitions. Purina’s research and development is ongoing. They have been leaders in the pet food industry for many years and are known worldwide for their quality products.
This year we were proud to offer SportDog electric collars for the winning handlers of the Open and Derby Championships. SportDog is making inroads into the training aids for bird dogs. They were the industry’s first combination e-collar and GPS unit. Their donation was well received and appreciated.
There are several people who are still strong supporters and workers of this event and that perhaps is why it is a premier stake and is referred to as “better than the nationals” by many.
Delmar Smith won his first Brittany National Championship in 1955 with the legendary Towsey and his competition history is endless. Dr. John Webb of Texas has been a contributor since the mid-1970s. Currently serving as president and marshal is Dr. Robert Rankin. He has been involved since 1986. These gentlemen have held the office of president, marshal, secretary and/or reporter and are currently active in the welfare of bird dog competitions as movers and shakers. At this event they put on their “working” hats to assure that the prestige is maintained.
Tuesday evening we held a 50th Anniversary Celebration dinner at the clubhouse on the grounds. It was catered by Rhonda’s Catering of Ardmore. The guests enjoyed a delicious meal and much storytelling and many photos were taken. Those who joined us were Bret Lindback of Minnesota, Rosco and Janet Staton of Missouri, Ronnie and Susanna Smith of Oklahoma. Others, upon reading the ad in The American Field, called or sent a note to say “Congrats” and “Do you remember when?”
The founding Director Delmar Smith of Oklahoma was on hand to enjoy the celebration. He spoke of the early competitions where the Brittany competed with the long tails as there were no organized Brittany competitions until the early 1940s. Those were foot handled stakes back then. When this stake took form it was to be a horseback handled stake and Delmar was the proponent of doing that. Much controversy was endured but still today we have horseback handled events. He recounted a lot of bird dog history for the audience to enjoy. He also explained that the formation of this type of stake was to be a “breeder’s stake”. The statistics through the years have proven this to be true.
Rick Smith also spoke. He introduced Ronnie Smith who has been a judge at this event in the past. He also introduced
Susanna Smith and thanked her for all the photos taken during this event. Rick reminded us of the importance of this type of stake.
We also unveiled the new rotating trophy that will be presented at the 51st running to the winner of the Open Championship. The original trophy will be retired to the Brittany Museum at the Bird Dog Foundation in Grand Junction, Tenn.
On a lighter note, Dr. John Webb drove the dog wagon and as always was “on time”. One afternoon of the Open Championship Delmar and Rosco rode with Doc. It was speculated about in the horse gallery, “Did they all talk at once?”
The Running
Both TLM Copilot (Johnson) and Shady Way’s Red Tail Hawk (John) were wide and wild from the breakaway, showing from time to time. At 37 “Bo” had not returned to judgment, and the tracker was called for “Hank” shortly after.
JJ’s Tasmanian Devil (Tillson) and Kinwashkly Dakota Molester (John) left from the front of the airport. “Lester” had a find at 12 near the feeder at cedar point. “Taz” jumped a deer deeper in the same finger and was in hot pursuit and not returned to judgment. Lester had an unproductive at 21 at the bed springs corner. We rounded the bear trap meadow and Lester pointed again. He was relocated and worked a long distance into the reeds at the lake edge but nothing was produced. He finished the hour strong on the ground with forward application.
Chief’s Iron Gunsight (Bemeathy) and Ocaje (Gowin). At 5 “Grace” had an unproductive. She backed at 9 nicely then was taken on as “Shooter” was relocated; nothing was produced. At 19 Grace was crossing pond dam No. 4, spun and pointed. Shooter failed to back and was leashed. She stood through flush and shot. At 25 Grace pointed again near a small bush. As the handler flushed a single flew into the branches causing a commotion with Grace following the action to end her time on the ground.
Ugh Stumblin From the Shadow (Tillson) and Carolina Sea Biscuit (Johnson). Temperatures had warmed and the wind was moderate. Both dogs worked the cover, Biscuit being wider of the pair. “Bubba” pointed nicely at 43. From the short grass a single was flushed with all in order. At 45 Biscuit spun and pointed as Bubba moved in, backing on his own. During the flushing attempt Biscuit’s posture relaxed and he was leashed. Bubba finished the hour working with forward application.
Tonk Valley Runaway Red (Carrington) seemed to want to do his own thing, being a pull and tug for the first half until he was leashed. K D’s Slip and Slide (Tillson) shortened and limped midway. The handler checked him over and elected to leash him.
Day dog: Ugh Stumblin From the Shadow.
Both Desert Rose (Bemeathy) and Me And You Alone Maverick (Carrington) broke away strongly under overcast skies with a brisk wind this morning. At 17 Rose had a find at the end of a brushy finger with style. “Mia” continued to hit the cover. At 24 Rose had another stylish find just before the litde rocky crossing. Both dogs had a brief flat spot midway in the hour. Rosie finished forward and Mia dug into the cover.
Powder River’s Nobody But Me (Downing) was drawn as a bye. At 18 in the scout camp "Blake" pointed but nothing could be produced. He worked forward handling easily. At 35 out of the tent pad finger he spun and pointed. During the flushing attempt his posture suffered and he was leashed.
T and W’s Diamond Jim (Carrington) and Tsunami (Johnson) started strong. Tsu had a find at 11 with all in order. We headed toward bird valley and she pointed near the feeder on therock ridge. Jim failed to back, knocking the birds. Tsu stood valiantly through it all. She was out of pocket as time was called, returned in the grace period.
Kinwashkly Dirty Ned Pepper (Johnson) hunted the cover getting stronger, out of pocket at the little rocky crossing but later returning. His hour had no bird contact. Banjo (Berneathy) had a find at 10, all in order, then an unproductive at 30. He had slowed his application and was leashed before the end of the hour.
Jacks Tequila Jake (John) and T J’s Prairie Blizzard (Tillson) had reaching races. Jake took an unproductive at a dead tree snaggle, then near the end of the hour had a stylish find with all in order. Blizzard worked the edges with forward application. He had a find at bird alley handling it nicely.
Day dog: Jacks Tequila Jake.
Tequila's Barbed Wire (Tillson) and Wimberley Rowdy Bo Dandy (Johnson) worked the cover. After we crossed pond dam No. 4 point was called for Rowdy in a cedar stand. A short distance away “Trouble” also pointed. At the flush and shot of the bracemate’s birds she left in pursuit. Rowdy shortened his race near the end of the hour.
Mr. Magic (John) had a pull and tug race, covering lots of country. Blueridge Hunter Gonna Fly (Downing) started
hitting objectives, searching the likely places for game. At 58 he had a find with all in order. Hunter ended his hour at moderate range.
Kinwashkly M L Benjamin Patrick (Johnson) and Hal J’s Smarteyes Joker EZ Ace (John) were off with gusto. At 12 near Rosco’s Pond birds were seen in the air with both dogs involved.
Wayside’s Blueridge Runner (Downing) hunted the cover having an unproductive at 38. He continued to search the likely places for game. Joker’s Jackpot (John) was hitting the terrain fast and furious. Midway he slowed with apparent foot problems and was leashed.
Wimberley Jimdandy (Johnson) and Shadow Attack (Tillson) attacked the course going to the right places and showing to the front. “Tack” had an unproductive at 36. He had well established finds at 40 and 45. His application was not as fluid as Dandy’s. Dandy ran a forward race with good application. He had a classy find at 53; the handler put a covey to flight.
Day dog: Wimberley Jimdandy. Top Qualifier: Jacks Tequila Jake.
The Finals
The judges do the pairing and bracing of the dogs in the finals series.
Jacks Tequila Jake and Shadow Attack. A fresh day with rain in the afternoon forecast. Jake was out of pocket after Rosco’s Pond. “Tack” went to the right places, showing at the opportune times. He had a find in the treeline before cedar point which he handled nicely. Jake returned after an absence and was leashed. At 51 Tack carded another find. He had the birds well pinned. He finished taking the edges forward with a long cast for the gallery to see. A performance others knew they would have to beat.
Tsunami and Desert Rose broke away from the bed springs meadow. Tsu was out of pocket before Manck’s Crossing,
returning at the rock ridge. Rose started slow, hunting all the cover. Tsu had an unproductive in a thick briar tangle at 24. Rose had an unproductive just before pond dam No. 4. At 32 point was called for Tsu at the end of the long draw. She stood high and tight through flush and shot. Rose had gained range in her casts near the end of the hour. Tsu was out of pocket and not returned to judgment.
Wimberley Jimdandy and T J’s Prairie Blizzard went to work immediately showing us what seasoned dogs should do. Out of the tent pad finger Dandy had bird contact that left him remorseful. Blizzard was out of pocket at the tent pad finger turn, returning shortly. At 37 he pointed intensely but nothing could be produced and he was sent on. Blizzard slowed in application and was leashed before the hour ended.
Ardmore, Okla., March 5
Judges: Al Gorrow and Rick Smith
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—29 Brittanys
Winner—SHADOW ATTACK, 1608599, male. by Shambo’s Dark Shadow— The Prairie Tornado. Phil Dangerfield, owner; Ed Tillson, handler.
Ed Tillson going to flush for Shadow Attack
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP
The field was small this year with nine entries but most showed future potential, perhaps not as consistently as the winner Roux-Bee did. She is owned by Ben Hunt of Hastings, Neb., and was handled by Ed Tillson. Roux-Bee exemplified intelligence and stamina along with bird-finding ability. Her race was consistently forward and searching the right places.
She was sired by Jo Lockapex Dark Roux Gumbo which was amateur owned and handled to the 2009 Top Qualifier and Open Champion title. Her dam is Tick Time.
Runner-up was Hawk, handled by Jim Bemeathy and owned by Dale Pool of Tennessee. Hawk’s application was not
as consistent as the winner but showed promise and bird-finding ability. His sire is Hi Proof Whizki out of Special Edition.
Our judges also came from the “long timers list”. Dr Bob Rankin of Oklahoma and Mary Karbiner of Texas. Both are longtime active supporters of this event.
We also thank Nestle Purina for their contribution to the sport of bird dog competition. They provided product for the winners.
From page 620 of the April 20, 1974 issue of The American Field — “added to the program this season was the Derby Classic. Its intention, most surely, is to glorify the Derby prospect most likely to theoretically win the United States Open Brittany Championship.”
The Victoire Nationale was John Doak’s moniker for the newly inaugurated one-hour Derby Classic, consisting of a single series. To this day it remains the only one-hour Derby stake for Brittanys. The current rotating trophy was donated by John Doak and is still in service today.
When you view the list of winners since 1974 there are many notable names in the pedigrees. Again, emplifying it as a “breeders’ stake”. The late Barbara Wade initiated the challenge to obtain championship status for the one hour Derby. In 2005 championship status was granted by the Field Dog Stud Book.
Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
judges: Mary Karbiner and Dr. Robert Rankin
[One-Hour Heats]—9 Brittanys
Winner—ROUX BEE, 1623785, female, by Jo Lockapex Dark Roux Gumbo—Tick Time. Ben Hunt, owner; Ed Tillson, handler.
Runner-Up—HAWK, 1642683, male, by Hi Proof Whizki—Special Edition. Dale Pool, owner; Jim Berneathy, handler.
Roux-Bee on point with Ed Tillson flushing