2013 United States Brittany Championship and Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
By Mary Karbiner
The 51st running of the United States Open Brittany Championship commenced March 4 over the Lake Murray State Park courses near Ardmore, Okla. The 50th Anniversary was celebrated in 2012. This renewal began a second fifty years of field trial tradition. This event is the longest continuously run championship on these grounds.
The inaugural running was held in February, 1963. The visionaries patterned this event after the National Free-for-All with emphasis on endurance, intelligence and bird sense. 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 — Winning Begets Winning. When breeding true Brittanys their pedigrees would include names of past multiple time champions in this stake, such as: Way Kan Jill, Britt’s Bazooka, Ban Dee, Perry’s Rustic Prince, Jacolet’s Wandering Star, Tall Oaks Bandolero, Minnehaha’s Tammy, MarKar’s Jac’s A Dan D, Timberline Teddy Bear, Rimarda’s Gambler, Tequilas Joker, Shambo’s Dark Shadow.
Named champion was Ocaje (o-ka-hay), which means Grace, as she is called by Kansas owner/handler Terry Gowin. Grace is a strong bird-finder with style and intensity. She attacks the ground with determination. Her sire is Ch. Just Call Me Roy and Terry’s other female, Nahela, is her dam, she sired by Sintaska ex Bar None’s Red Ribbon, both fine hunting dogs.
Runner-up was Shady’s Desert Knight, owned by Rick Conner of Texas and handled by Scott Johnson. Knight is a six-year-old white and liver male that is showing well in hour stakes this spring. He finds birds and sails across the country. Knight was sired by Gunrunner’s Lady’s Man ex Desert Rose.
Our longtime sponsor Nestle Purina is again thanked for their participation and dedication to the sport of field trialing. Purina is one of the world’s largest pet food manufacturers having extensive research and development programs. This club was one of the original organizations to be grandfathered into Purina’s ongoing sponsorship. They provide monetary support and dog food for the winners. Purina rep Roy Pelton was on hand to answer questions and add stories about past field trial events.
Garmin-Tri-Tronics was gracious enough to offer a Garmin Alpha dog tracking device for the winner this year. Their new representative Rick Smith is one of the original directors of this Championship. We thank them for their research into the training and recovery of animals. They offer invaluable training devices that just keep getting better.
Judging this stake was Gary Young of Lawton, Okla. Gary campaigns pointers and is very familiar with these grounds. Our advertised judge could not attend and Dick Wilber of Lubbock, Tex., stepped up. Dick has run Weimaraners on the field trial circuit. The judges paid close attention to each and every entrant.
Any event takes the help and cooperation of members and participants. We thank all those who stepped in to assist. A steak dinner on Tuesday evening was enjoyed by all, courtesy of “The Bingo Man”. Thank you one and all.
The Qualifying Series
TLM Copilot (Tom Milam) and Mr. Magic (Jim John) were off under overcast skies and 60°, the forecast of upper 70s and sunshine later in the day. “Hank” was last seen below Rosco’s pond. Mac pointed stylishly in a thicket near Rosco’s pond; the bird flushed over his head and he gave chase. Hank was still AWOL through the scout camp and the tracker was called for.
Tonk Valley Runaway Red (Vic Carrington) and Carolina Sea Biscuit (Scott Johnson) left from atop pond dam No. 1, into the finger, where both dogs had a problem with frisky birds and leashed.
Brushbuster’s Lakota Jill (John) had a very good all-age race, covering lots of country, but had no bird contact during her bid.
Ocaje (Gowin) had an unproductive at 13 with relocation. At 21 scout called point in bird alley. She stood nicely through flush and shot. At 58 she carded another find in the large mott, over the rock ledge with all in order. “Grace’s” race was reaching and snappy.
TLM Frequent Flyer (Milam) and T J’s Prairie Blizzard (Ed Tillson). At 5 handler called point for “Jack” at the edge of a mott near Rosco’s pond. Jack scurried around the mott, moved into the next thicket and pointed. After extensive flushing Judge Wilber spotted the birds in thick cover. Jack was fired over. At 22 in scout camp, near the rain collector station, Jack had a find under a cedar tree. At 26 he again pointed into a mott at the turn atop the rock ridge. He was fired over with all in order. Jack continued to run hard through the end of the hour. Blizzard had a pleasing way of going. He ran the edges, having a forward reaching race without bird work.
Wimberley Rowdy Bo Dandy (Johnson) and Shadow’s Tequila Tryst (Tillson). The temperature had changed. The sunshine and dry conditions took their toll. Tristyn tried to search the terrain. She was leashed at 25. Rowdy had an unproductive at 8. At 18 he stood nicely at the edge of the brush just before the airport. A covey was flushed with all in order. He finished the hour forward.
Day dog: Ocaje.
Me And You Alone Maverick (Carrington) ran a reaching race. She had an absence going into the scout camp, returning out of the tent pad finger. At 48 she pointed staunchly at the edge of the large mott before brushy point with all in order. Kinwashkly Dirty Ned Pepper (Johnson) had his track shoes on, covering the terrain with a forward reaching race and had two nicely handled finds at 12 and 55.
The second day began with different weather conditions than the day before — cooler temperatures and a strong wind under sunny skies.
Both Tequila Scorcher (Tillson) and Shady’s Desert Knight (Johnson) were wide from the start. At 19 Knight had a mannerly find in the thicket before scout camp. The tracking device was called for “Lincoln” at 40. Knight scored on a large covey at 42 just before brushy point, followed by another nice find at 51, standing high and tight throughout flush and shot. His race was forward and strong using the edges wisely.
When the gun powder cleared there were eight finds, a stop to flush, a back, between Wimberley Jimdandy (Johnson) and Campbell’s Razz Ma Tazz (Campbell). Dandy had finds at 5, 12, 28, 39 and 56, plus race. Tazz had finds at 11, 17 and 41, and a back at 28. He also was credited with a stop to flush off pond dam No. 4, then a back at 56 with the rabbit sighting plus race. This brace resembled a ping-pong game riding to the finds.
Cheote (Carrington) was wide from the start. Milam had a handle on Windtuck Rocket’s Red Glare. At 15 Rocket was up, not pleasing handler. Coco covered some country. At 31 she knocked birds at the edge of the large thicket.
Alar’s Tango Bar (Tillson) had a forward, fluid race, an unproductive at 16. At 40 scout called point for her. Tango was buried in the heavy thickets past pond dam No. 1. She stood staunchly through flush and shot. Even the coyote was there for lunch. Shady Way Red Tail Hawk (John) used a lot of the country for the hour but had no bird contact.
Day dog: Kinwashkly Dirty Ned Pepper.
Joker’s Jackpot (John) ran a wide race, being out of pocket from time to time. We last sighted him at Manck’s crossing midway in the hour. Tequila’s Barbed Wire (Tillson) started hunting for game. She slowed about 40 and was leashed.
Jo Lockapex Dark Roux Gumbo (Lincoln) started wide and wild, a handful. He made the loop of the finger before pond dam No. 4 where he was credited with a stop to flush. At 30 a nice find in a brushy thicket was his undoing. A single barreled out and Roux took a few too many steps. K D’s Slip And Slide (Tillson) was forward, searching all the likely places for birds. Near time point was called. A lengthy flushing attempt and relocation failed to produce any game.
This morning was crisp and sunny with a light breeze. Sparky’s Prairie Wind Gypsy (John) had her afterburners working. She covered a lot of ground, being out of pocket then showing to the front. At 57 in bird alley she stood high and tight through flush and shot to end her hour. Dakota Sun (Carrington) had a forward race searching the cover for game.At 58 at the end of bird alley he pointed. An extensive flushing attempt only produced feathers.
Wayside’s Blueridge Runner (Johnson) and Hal J’s Smarteyes Joker EZ Ace (John). We crossed the meadow toward the bear trap finger. Both dogs immediately went to work. At 14 Ace stood high and tight beneath the big oak tree just out of Icky Finger. His style was rock solid through flush and shot. Blue covered the course hitting the right places, headed over the rock ledge and was found on point at the edge of the large thicket at 48. He was very stylish through flush and shot. The judge stated he saw Ace behind birds and he was ordered up. Blue continued to make forward casts to end the hour.
Final Series
The judges called back eight dogs, paired them and drew in the order that they wished to see them run.
Kinwashkly Dirty Ned Pepper (Johnson) and Ocaje (Gowin) were loosed under sunny skies and a light breeze. Ned had two nice finds with a wide reaching race, a brief absence, with a strong forward finish. Grace had a back at 6. She had finds at 10, 19, 39, 44 and 55. She attacked the course with a forward, fast application and looked good on her game.
Wimberley Jimdandy (Johnson) had a find in a thicket about pond dam No. 3 with all in order. He was out of pocket midway in the hour and not returned to judgment. The weather had warmed, and T J’s Prairie Blizzard (Tillson) had a find in a thicket just before the airport with all in order. Clear skies and sunshine the rest of the morning. Blizzard slowed and became methodical in his forward search.
Both Shady’s Desert Knight (Johnson) and T L M Frequent Flyer (Milam) started in bold fashion, each covering some ground. “Jack” was out of pocket before little rocky crossing. Knight had a stylish find in a thicket across from the gas well. Jack was not returned to judgment at the half. Knight’s race was snappy and forward. He carded another find at 39 in the thicket after pond dam No. 1. He finished the hour with a strong forward pattern.
Wayside’s Blueridge Runner (Johnson) and Alar’s Tango Bar (Tillson) started strong searching the cover. In the thick cover near Rosco’s pond both dogs worked game and were relocated and moved through the cover and pointed. Handlers flushed birds with all in order. Tango carded a find at 42 coming out of tent pad finger with all in order. Blue went wide and Tango hunted the cover. Both dogs were up shortly before the hour ended, not pleasing the handlers.
Ardmore, Okla., March 4
Judges: Richard Wilber and Gary Young
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—28 Brittanys
Winner—OCAJE, 1616443, female, by Just Call Me Roy—Nahela. Terry Gowin, owner and handler.
Runner-Up—SHADY’S DESERT KNIGHT, 1613586, male, by Gunrunner’s Lady’s Man—Desert Rose. Richard Conner, owner; Scott Johnson, handler.
Terry Gowin flushing for Ocaje
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP
The 40th running of the Victoire Nationale Derby commenced Friday, March 8. This Derby was added in 1974 as a companion classic to glorify those Derby prospects that would theoretically go on to win the U. S. Open Brittany Championship. When you look at the stats you see repeated names in pedigrees of past winners, which was the intent of this stake. In 2005 it was granted championship status, proving that the visionaries were on track with the criteria set forth —- endurance, intelligence and bird sense.
The Winners
Our champion was Sniksoh Sweetness, aka Taylor. She is a snappy, consistently forward, white and orange female handled by Jim John. She showed her stamina throughout the hour, not letting down. She pointed stylishly twice. She was scouted by her owner Steve Ralph of Minnesota who bought her as a brood bitch. He now has had to rethink the direction this talented female will go. Taylor is sired by Rocklan’s Whizzle Stop ex Cast A Brit Micro Sammie with strong Hoskins-Sniksoh line breeding on the dam’s side.
Runner-up was R J’s Shadow Runner, handled by Ed Tillson for owner Rod Blackwell of Iowa. This dog exemplifies what this stake has proven. Sired by Shadow Attack, last year’s Open winner, he by Shambo’s Dark Shadow, which won the Open twice and was runner-up twice with over 40 hour placements during his career. Runner’s dam is Runner’s Tequila Rose, going back to Tequila's Joker.
Advertised judges for the Derby were Dr. Robert Rankin of Oklahoma City and Mary Karbiner of Bellevue, Tex. Early in the second brace “Bronco Bob” had a horse mishap and was unable to continue. Fortunately, David Downing was riding and was pressed into service.
This event is one of the grandfathered Nestle Purina sponsorships. Purina has long supported bird dog competitions. We greatly appreciate their participation.
We thank all those who participated, especially those who traveled long distances. Helpers are always at a premium and were available to make the event run smoothly and be successful.
And Others
J and J Fearless Sam (Johnson) started strong, while Sawtooth Sam’s Drew Brees (Novotny) looked over the cover. Sam had trouble establishing point on two different occasions. Brees had two finds and his application improved into the hour. Sam was out of pocket at the end of the hour.
Rex S and B Shiver (Kuykendall) had an erratic application and his attention didn’t seem to be on hunting. Triple Shot of Tequila (Tillson) was pull and tug and ran on his own agenda.
Kinwashkly Tempo (Tillson) was strong, finishing the hour with energy to spare. Her pattern showed some immaturity. Rusty’s Royal Run (John) had a find at 9, holding to the flush. He carded another find at 38. He ran an intelligent strong race the first half of the hour, finishing at moderate range.
Cody Tejas Ranger (Kuykendall) was erratic in application until his find at 21 for which he stood high and tight. His application improved and he carded finds at 27 and 37 with good style. He ran the hour at moderate range. R J’s Shadow Runner (Tillson) ran a strong hour using the country. His application was not as consistant as the winner. He pointed his birds with good Derby manners.
Alleycat’s Drought (Williamson) started strong but slowed at the half and was up at 45 without bird contact. Coco Dot (Johnson) had an erratic application and a hard time maintaining the front. She was up at 45 also.
Both Sniksoh Sweetness (John) and High Point’s Southern Revival (Kuykendall) swung left into the thicket off the breakaway. Each pointed staunchly as the birds left. “Taylor” went to work showing maturity and intelligence in application. She had another find at 59 standing high and tight. Released, she blew across the meadow. “Dixie’s” find early in the hour started her to hunt every bush. She was up at 25.
Mac’s Tequila Rose (Tillson) started strong but her application lacked consistent forward direction. She slowed midway in the hour. Sadie’s Starry Surprise (Kuykendall) started hunting and searching every area causing her to be lateral. She was up at 35.
Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
judges: Dr. Robert Rankin and David Downing
[One-Hour Heats]—14 Brittanys
Winner—SNIKSOH SWEETNESS, 1646984, female, by Rocklan’s Whizzle Stop—Cast A Britt Micro Sammie. Steve Ralph, owner; Jim John, handler.
Runner-Up—R J’S SHADOW RUNNER, 1648280, male, by Shadow Attack—Runner’s Tequila Rose. Rodney Blackwell, owner; Ed Tillson, handler.
