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2014 United States Brittany Championship and Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
By Mary Karbiner
Since the inaugural running in 1963, this is the longest continuously run championship held at Lake Murray State Park venue near Ardmore, Okla.
A start date of March 3 was delayed until the next day because of very cold, windy conditions. Twenty-two dogs were drawn for the Open Championship.
The winner was Shadow’s Tequila Tryst, handled by Ed Tillson and owned by Jessica Carlson of Idaho. Tryst is a tricolor five-year-old female by Shambo’s Dark Shadow ex Tequila With A Twist. Her sire is a multiple winner of this stake (2002 and 2006) and many other hour events. Her dam likewise has impressive credentials and was runner-up in this stake in 2008.
Tryst’s race in the final series was heads above the rest showing what this stake emplifies: stamina, intelligence and bird sense.
The runner-up was Blueridge Hunter Gonna Fly, owned by Sandra Frost of Texas and handled by Scott Johnson. Hunter was sired by T C’s Match Boks Racer ex T’Kalis Feel The Wind. He was diligent in searching the cover for game, His application wasn’t as consistent as the winner’s.
Our judges were Howard Burbach and Garvin Collins of Missouri. These gentlemen have judged together at other venues. Garvin stepped in to fill the slot of our original judge who was unable to serve. They shared many stories of dogs and people, endured the cold temperatures with a smile on their faces.
Longtime sponsor, Nestle Purina, has supported bird dog competitions for many years. Purina supplies product, hats and informational brochures for the participants. Purina is one of the world’s largest pet food manufacturers whose extensive research and product development continues to benefit all divisions of performance animals. Field rep Roy Pelton was on hand to answer questions and congratulate the winners.
This year SportDog training products donated collars for the winners. Their products for training and tracking are a great benefit for handlers. They strive to improve their products for ease of use and up-to-date technology. We thank them for their generous participation.
As with any event the organizers are the backbone. Very few things are left undone. We thank those who on a regular basis give back to this sport by helping at any event that they attend. At the dog wagon, warm drinks and snacks were enjoyed during the cold temperatures. Lunches were available along with lots of camaraderie.
Our president, Dr. Bob Rankin, marshalled and planted birds. Tom and Linda Milam helped wherever needed. Ed Tillson and Scott Johnson assisted with the behind-the-scenes jobs.
The Qualifying Series
Wimberley Jimdandy (Johnson) and Roux Bee (Tillson) started fast and forward. Dandy had a bird pop in front of him at 12. He didn’t get stopped fast enough. Roux Bee was a bit erratic in application, and out of pocket from time to time. Tillson picked her up at 45.
Shady Way’s Red Tail Hawk (John) and Shadow Attack (Tillson). At 15 Tack had a nice find with all in order. Hawk was last seen before the bear trap meadow. He was out of pocket at 40 and not returned to judgment. At 27 Tack had another stylish find with good manners. Tack maintained his fast and forward pattern until time was called.
McChesney’s I Got My Mojo Working (John) had his running shoes on. He was out of pocket at Manck’s crossing at 45 and not returned to judgment. Blueridge Hunter Gonna Fly (Johnson) worked his way around the course. At 57 he was rewarded with a find. He finished the hour going forward over the ridge.
Tonk Valley Runaway Red (Carrington) and T L M Copilot (Gerardy) started strong. “Hank” had a find in tall cover at 17 with all in order. “Rusty” started strong then it became a pull and tug, being erratic in application. He had an unproductive at 45. A bird popped from the cover and caught Rusty’s attention so he went in search of it and was ordered up by the judge.
Hal J’s Smarteyes Joker EZ Ace (John) had an unproductive at 7. At 15 he carded a mannerly find in tall grass just before the bear trap meadow. At 40 Checote (Carrington) had an unproductive near the little pond finger. Ace was out of pocket at the new gas well. Upon return his application slowed, finishing toward the treeline. At 55 “Coco” encountered a bird that flushed in front of her and she didn’t get stopped in time.
Ocaje (Johnson) and Redrock’s Siesmic Sniksoh (Lincoln). “Grace” was strong on the ground. “Mickie” had an unproductive at a minute plus. At 7 Grace had point called by the scout. She stood at the edge of cover on the long finger on our left, just before pond dam four. We rode nearly to the end of the finger to her find. Mickie had traveled in that direction. She backed Grace with good manners. Handler flushed a single as she stood high and tight. At 34 Grace had an unproductive just up from the little rocky crossing. Mickie used a lot of the country during her race. At 51 Grace had another find. She finished the hour forward with energy to spare.
Ocaje was named day dog.
Dakota Sun (Carrington) made some good casts early. Then it became a pull and tug. At 53 he had a find in the fall fingerlings, relocated to pin the bird in cedar point. Powder River’s Tri Ur Luck (John) also made some good opening casts then settled into a shooting dog mode. He had a stylish find at 17 in the large mott across from the gas well. At 43 he carded another nice find at the dead tree fall going into brushy point.
Wimberley Rowdy Bo Dandy (Johnson) and Tequila Scorcher (Tillson) broke fast and far to the front. Rowdy scored at 13 in the cedar clump. before the icky finger. He was relocated and pinned the birds. “Lincoln” searched the cover for birds. At 56 he handled a stop to flush nicely as he traveled along the big ditch before pond dam four. Rowdy was out of pocket heading toward Lem Roberts Camp and showed from the front when time was called.
From the meadow both Shady’s Desert Knight (Johnson) and Shadow’s Tequila Tryst (Tillson) were wired. At 1+ Tryst had a find and again at 5, both handled with good manners. Knight was traveling through tall grass and a bird popped but he couldn't stop soon enough and was leashed. Tryst made some good moves using the terrain. She tallied good finds at 22 and 33. At 53 she had an unproductive, finishing the hour forward.
Kinwashkly Dirty Ned Pepper (Johnson) and Jo Lockapex Dark Roux Gumbo (Lincoln) started fast and wide and maintained that application throughout the hour. Ned had a find at 31 just past pond dam 1 in the cedar clump. He was out of pocket after the tent pad finger, returning just before cedar point. At 50 Roux scored going into cedar point. He stood at the edge of the tall grass with good manners throughout flush and shot. Ned had a find at 52 as he headed out of cedar point. He worked the brush and pinned a bird with style. He had a brief absence at the rock ledge. Roux was well forward at time.
Wayside’s Blueridge Runner (Johnson) and Joker’s Jackpot (John). We left the meadow before the bear trap turn. Jack had a bird pop in front of him at 4 but he couldn’t get stopped in time. Blue had an unproductive at 12 near the feeder before the icky finger. He ran to the big oak tree and pointed at 14. Game was flushed with all in order. He hunted the terrain for the remainder of his hour.
Shadow’s Tequila Tryst was named day dog, and Ocaje was top qualifier.
Final Series
For the finals, the judges determine the order of running. Dogs are to have a different bracemate from the qualifying
series and a different course if possible.
When we left camp Ocaje and Shadow’s Tequila Tryst went over the hill to the woodsedge. Tryst showed to the front at Rosco’s Pond. At 19 she had an unproductive going into the Girl Scout camp. At 42 she was credited with a nicely handled stop to flush. “Grace” had not been seen and the tracker was called for. Tryst was strong and forward. At 49 she pointed near the deadfall going into brushy point. She stood high and tight through flush and shot. Time was called and she was far to the front.
Kinwashkly Dirty Ned Pepper and Shadow Attack were away at bird alley, headed toward the bear trap meadow. Ned had a full head of steam and ran over a pair of quail which caught his eye and he went to investigate. Tack was working at moderate range and was up early in the hour.
From the bear trap meadow and beyond Redrock’s Seismic Sniksoh and Blueridge Hunter Gonna Fly started strong. “Mickie” was fast and snappy. Hunter was out of pocket early and returned before the airport. Mickie headed across the field toward the airport, swapped ends and pointed in a swale at 12. Her handler flushed a pair of quail from the grass with all in order. She pointed at the edge of the dense wooded area just before the little pond finger; birds were flushed with good manners. Hunter pointed at the edge of a brushy finger at 28, relocated but nothing was produced. At 30 Mickie was pointing in Manck’s meadow, credited her with another find. Past Linda’s pond and over the rock ledge Hunter pointed at the edge of the large mott. Mickie came over the ridge and was cautioned to a back. Searching the briars was difficult. Hunter was asked to relocate and Mickie was taken on. Hunter searched and found game. Birds were flushed, manners nice. Mickie finished the hour hard driving forward. Hunter was forward when the hour ended.
Ardmore, Okla., March 3
Judges: Howard Burbach and Garvin Collins
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—22 Brittanys
Winner—SHADOW’S TEQUILA TRYST, 1618658, female, by Shambo’s Dark Shadow—Tequila With A Twist. Jessica Carlson, owner; Ed Tillson, handler.
Runner-Up—BLUERIDGE HUNTER GONNA FLY, 1609080, male, by T C’s Match Boks Racer—T'Kalis Feel the Wind. Sandra & Don Frost, owners; Scott Johnson, handler.
Shadow's Tequila Tryst on point in the second series, with Ed Tillson flushing and judge Garvin Collins watching
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP
"In 1974 this program was added with the intention, most surely, as to glorify the Derby prospect theoretically most likely to win the U. S. Open Brittany Championship." In 2005 this stake was granted championship status and remains the only one-hour Derby championship for Brittanys.
A nice field of ten entries was received, all with multiple placements under their belts. In the past many of these entrants go on to make their mark in the Brittany world carrying their pedigrees of winning sires and dams with them.
Judges were Dr. Bob Rankin from Oklahoma and Mary Karbiner from Texas. Both have judged, competed in or observed this stake for many years.
They were looking for the ultimate performance which Whitecroft’s Son of A Gun displayed. J N J Fearless Sam showed his drive but was not as consistent as the winner.
J N J Fearless Sam (Johnson) and T L M Tejano Bob (Milam) had bird contact at 4. This fired up their desire to find game. Sam ran wider of the pair. Bob searched the cover, being lateral at times. At 49 Sam pointed into a cedar clump coming out of brushy point. He moved as handler approached and flushed birds. His race became more reaching but needed to be gathered at times. Bob was forward in application, thoroughly working the cover.
Teltex Mr. Ranger (Johnson) and Whitecroft’s Son of A Gun (John) started strong. Ranger pointed early in the hour with puppy fashion. “Gunny” ran “smart”. His race was consistent, showing intelligence and desire in his application. Ranger had slowed to a hunting mode. Both dogs hit the large mott past Linda’s pond. They found game, pointed until the birds flushed. Gunny finished the hour as strong as he began.
Power’s Abby Sez So (Johnson) pointed at 5 with Derby manners, and Sniksoh Sweetness (John) went wide of the breakaway returning after a brief absence. At 14 Abby pointed and held to the flush. The wind had increased and was tough for this pair to buck. “Taylor” was out of pocket at gun dog hill and not returned to judgment midway in the hour. Abby had shortened and was up at 40.
Pistol Annie (Johnson) and R and R Midnight Express (Carrington) had to run into the wind. They worked the
cover in a hunting mode. They went to the wagon midway in the hour.
Merkel’s June Rose (Carrington) wanted to hunt everything today, causing her to be lateral and a tug to get her forward. Rusty Ridge Pepper Rey Ann (Kilpatrick) ran a snappy hunting race. Both handlers also elected to pick up midway in the hour.
Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
judges: Mary Karbiner and Dr. Robert Rankin
[One-Hour Heats]—10 Brittanys
Winner—WHITECROFT’S SON OF A GUN, 1654031, male, by Tippy Toe Blum—Whitecroft’s Blazin Shadow. John Shelton, owner; Jim John, handler.
Runner-Up—J N J FEARLESS SAM, 1646136, male, by Rocklan’s Whizzle Stop—Cast A Britt Micro Sammie. Joseph Jung, owner; Scott Johnson, handler.
