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2015 United States Brittany Championship and Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
By Mary Karbiner
The 53rd running of the United States Brittany Championship commenced on March 2 at Lake Murray State Park near Ardmore, Okla. Since 1963 this has been the longest continuously run championship on these grounds. This event has traditionally followed the Sooner Brittany Club regional trial. This year 31 entries were drawn and competed.
The winner was Glade Run Irish, Brittany male owned by David Webb of Virginia and handled by Tom Tracy. He is a six-year-old out of Ortho Acres Booker T ex Flying Feather Cocobean. He carded two finds in the hour.
Runner-up was Kinwashkly Fat Bastard, owned by Bo Ackerman of Clermont, Ga., and Leslie Andreas of Saskatchewan, Canada and also handled by Tom Tracy. This seven-year-old male was sired by Leas Running Jay Hawk ex Kinwashkly French Velour. Fatz was credited with a back and two finds.
March weather in Oklahoma can be a challenge. We had to postpone rurming one day because of temperatures, rain to sleet to snow with high winds. By the end of the week the sun was out and muddy conditions lessened.
Our judges for the Open were Dr. Alex Jacocks of Edmond, Okla., and Fred Smith of Mountain View, Mo. We thank them for their attention to each dog's performance.
Nestle Purina has been a longtime sponsor of performance dogs. Their donation of dog food for the winners and monetary help is what aids these events to be held. Purina is one of the world's largest pet food manufacturers. Their research and development is ongoiug. Mr. Roy Pelton, field rep, was on hand to congratulate the winners and field questions about various products.
On Tuesday evening the winner's dinner was held in honor of Shadow's Tequila Tryst, owned by Jessica Carlson and handled by Ed Tillson. "Tristyn" was last year's open winner and has accumulated many hour placements since that time. A good time and good food were enjoyed by all.
We thank all the members who run the event -from bird planting, dog wagon driver, marshal and for the lunches each day. Thanking the dedicated few who know what it takes to run an event.
The Qualifying Series
We began under cold, cloudy and muddy conditions with Kinwashkly Fat with good finds at 18;32 and 55 covering the country. Ocaje had a strong race with a find at 11, unproductives at 15 and 32. At 43 she handled a stop to flush nicely. In brushy point she pointed; after extensive tlushing, a nice size covey was flown. At 57 she pointed on our left going into Cedar Point. With extensive flushing and relocation toward the lake, she pointed and birds were put to flight.
Tequila Scorcher (Tillson) had a find at 12 at the Bed Springs Corner with all in order. He was strong on the ground. Dakota Sun (Nakamura) thoroughly hunted the cover. He pointed midway in the hour, hesitated as a bird flushed from the path and he went with it.
Georgia's Texas Two Step (Tracy) was wide and fast in her application. She had a find at 7 and an unproductive at 31. Wayside's Blueridge Runner (Johnson) was forward off the breakaway, being out of pocket and not returned to judgment at 35.
GR's Bookin and Cookin (Tracy) and Sllady Way Red Tail Hawk (John). "Race" had an ill-fated encounter with birds at 5. "Beau" was out of pocket at 20.Later, when he returned, it appeared he had a foot problem and was leashed.
Wimberley Rowdy Bo Dandy (Johnson) covered a lot of country searching for birds but was not rewarded. Jagoub's Buzzin Bayou (Tracy) dug into the cover causing him to be lateral in application. He had an unproductive in evergreen finger, then he carded a nice find at the feeder before the Icky Finger.
Joker's Jackpot (John) started fast and forward, out of pocket at 5 and not returned to judgment. Roux Bee (Tillson) also was fast. She pointed at 44 with intensity, moved up, pointed again. The bird flushed and she went with it.
Day dog: Kinwashkly Fat Bastard.
Day No. 2 dawned with overcast skies with a heavy mist_ Temperatures would climb to the upper 50s.
Dakota Gunrunner's Buckshot (Tracy) had a mind of his own and he was leashed at 20. Firestarter's Crossed The Line (Tillson) had two unproductives at 29 and 35. At 41 across pond dam one he handled a stop to flush nicely when a wild covey flushed.
Sparky's Prairie Wind Gypsy (John) started strong on the ground with quality finds at 12, 19 and 26, an unproductive at 44, finishing with a good race topped off with a find at 58 with all in order. The Crash Scene (Tracy) had finds at 6, 24 and 49. He handled a back at 19 very nicely. Crash had an unproductive at 29 with a fast and forward race.
Powder River's Tri Ur Luck (Johnson) and Checote (Nakamura) were off fast and furious from the rock ledge. "Lotto" had a pair of unproductives and he was leashed midway in the hour. "Coco" was a handful, in and out of pocket. We went through the lil' rocky crossing and up the brushy draw. She pointed in the thick scrub cover. Extensive flushing, a relocation, she pointed again and it was too much and she put the bird to flight.
The Ace of Spade (Tracy) had a find at 18 in the big mott across Lem Roberts Road with all in order, and an unproductive at 40 in the brushy finger. He had a nice find at 53 in the evergreen peninsula with good style. Spade handled a stop to flush nicely at 58. He hit the edges making some nice moves during the hour.
Shadow's Tequila Tryst (Tillson) was a handful, in and out of pocket. She had two unproductives and was leashed before the end of the hour.
Hal J's Smarteyes Joker EZ Ace (John) and Chancey's Frozen Asset (Tracy) were quick off the breakaway from Bird Valley. "Maggie" had mannerly bird contact at l. Ace pointed birds at the edge of the Bear Trap Meadow then knocked them. At 29 Maggie pointed in the lil' pond finger. Nothing was found but a hawk kill. At 38 she had a find in Manck's Meadow near the feeder, but her race was erratic.
Jax Sugar Babe (Johnson), as a bye, was strong on the ground, out of pocket from time to time, then the string broke and the tracker was called for at 40.
Day dog: Sparky's Prairie Wind Gypsy.
Wednesday's running was called off because of the weather. Thursday dawned with sunshine and calm winds and snow on the frozen ground.
Glade Run Irish (Tracy) had three well spaced finds and a very consistent race, maintaining the front with bold moves. Sniksoh Sweetness (John) was last seen off the breakaway and not returned to judgment at 25.
At 3 Uncle Kracker (Tracy) and Shady's Desert Knight (Johnson) shared a find with all in order. At 13 Knight had a find just before Bird Valley with Kracker backing nicely. At 19 both dogs had find5 not related to the same birds; each had good manners. Kracker was out of pocket at the airport. At 35 Knight had a find in the lil' pond finger with nice style. At 42 he had another find near the feeder in Manck's Meadow but decided to follow the birds out of the country. Kracker returned to the front and finished the hour.
The temperature was warming, snow melting; muddy conditions prevailed.
Both Cedar Valley Fly By (Tracy) and Summertime Buddy's Bandit (John) were wild off the breakaway. Fly appeared to bull up and was up at 25. Bandit was in and out of pocket and up midway in the hour.
McChesney's I got My Mojo Working (John) hacl.a find at 12 and decided to hunt all the cover and was later leashed. Maxwell's Outer Limits (Tracy) was out of pocket at 5 and not returned to judgment.
Day dog: Glade Run Irish. The top qualifier was Glade Run Irish.
Final Series
The weather was pleasant with sunshine but sloppy underfoot.
Glade Run Irish (Tracy) was hunting the cover and digging in. He was out of pocket at 40. Sparky's Prairie Wind Gypsy (John) had a find at 33 under the cedars past pond dam one with all in order. At 42 she stood high and tight for another find. Going forward on the path a wild covey flushed and she was ordered up by the judge. At 51 Irish had a find on the left as we entered Cedar Point. He stood in tall grass with a level posture. At 57 he again stood in tall grass at the end of Bird Valley. Handler flushed birds with all in order. He was sent forward as time was called.
Kinwashkly Fat Bastard (Tracy) and Wimberley Rowdy Bo Dandy (Johnson). At the breakaway both dogs went to the right. Fatz was forward on the treeline and Rowdy crossed into the stand on the right. Point was called at 4 for Rowdy as he stood under a cluster of cedars. Relocated, he pointed birds that ran out of the area into the green briars which inhibited flushing attempts. The birds finally flushed, he was fired over and taken on. This pair ran forward and at 18 near the feeder before Icky Finger the dogs were standing when we arrived, Fatz backing and Rowdy indicating game. Handler moved in to flush and the dog's posture softened at the flush and he was leashed. Fatz had a find with a long relocation in Manck's Meadow with level posture. He made some nice moves but not consistently in the hour with his finish at moderate range.
Uncle Kracker (Tracy) and Firestarter's Crossed The Line (Tillson) left from the top of the rock ridge with both dogs going to objectives. At 1 Kracker pointed, relocated, pointed then a single flew. At 8 Ty pointed near a feeder and Kracker passed him and was leashed. Ty was relocated but nothing could be produced. He was leashed later in the hour.
The Crash Scene (Tracy) ran as a bye. His race was erratic with two unproductives. He was leashed at 40.
The Ace of Spade (Tracy), also a bye, was forward from the breakaway. At 8 he pointed. A bird flushed over his head and he turned with a few too many steps and was leashed.
Ardmore, Okla., March 2
Judges: Dr. Alex Jacocks and Fred Smith
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—31 Brittanys
Winner—GLADE RUN IRISH, 1624850, male. by Ortho Acres Booker T—Flying Feather Cocobean. David Webb, owner; Tom Tracy, handler.
Runner-Up—KINWASHKLY FAT BASTARD, 1624964, male. by Leas Running Jay Hawk—Kinwashkly French Velour. Bo Ackerman & Leslie Andreas, owners; Tom Tracy.
Tommy Tracy pointing out birds in front of Glade Run Irish
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Victoire Nationale Derby was added to the Open in 1974. Its intent was to show the potential of the juvenile dogs and going on to compete in the Open Championship. Many have done just that, proving that winning begets winning.
Most of year's entrants had five or more placements in juvenile Derby stakes in several regions. This stake is the only one-hour Derby event for Brittanys. Championship status was granted in 2005 and has always been the premier Derby for the breed.
Winner was Rusty Ridge Pepper Rey Ann, owned by Jan Kilpatrick of Hico, Tex., and handled by Claude. She is a tricolor female just coming two years old. Her sire is Kinwashkly Dirty Ned Pepper ex Shadow's Tequila Tryst, winner of the Open in 2014. Pepper Ann runs with purpose and animation as she points her game with intense style. She carded five finds in the hour.
Runner-up was Kashmir, owned and handled by Tom Tracy. "Kash" is a well built white and orange male with bird savvy. He was sired by Cedar Valley Flyby ex Super Natural. His race was not as consistent as the winner's but he knew where to find birds.
This Championship is also supported by Nestle Purina and we are sincerely thankful for the donation of dog food for the winners.
The judges this year were Vic Carrington of Tolar, Tex., and Mitsue Nakamura of Spring, Tex. They were observant of each dog's performance.
Blazin Pepper Hollie Norwood (Kuykendall) and Splash's Fire Goddess (Tillson) had bird contact early in the hour and again at 44. Hollie was a pull and tug as she wanted to hunt the cover. Splash had a forward race using the edges nicely.
Kashmir (Tracy) had two finds at 12 and 16. His race was consistently forward but slowed at the end. Rammer Jammer Jax (Kuykendall) was out of pocket at the Bear Trap Meadow, returned and was gone again. He was not returned to judgment.
Markar's Double Down (John) pointed a bird at 7 in Derby fashion. His race was independent but he wanted to hunt the cover causing him to be lateral. Highpoint Blazin Buck (Kuykendall) had a strong race but did it his way. He needed some scouting to stay on track. He had no bird contact in the hour.
Kinwashkly Copperhead Road (Johnson) was in and out of pocket during the hour without bird contact. Abigail's Jackpot (John) had two finds at 49 and 55 while running a moderate race.
Rusty Ridge Pepper Rey Ann (Kilpatrick) had five well spaced finds in the hour. Her style on point was classy while holding most of the birds to flush. She finished the hour with energy to spare. Whitecroft's Son Of A Gun (John) was a handful, wanting to hunt all the cover, causing him to be lateral and behind.
High Point Blazin Meg (Kuykendall) didn't want to run today and was up at 25. J and M Shoot The Breeze (Johnson) made some strong forward moves then slowed to hit the cover, up at 45.
Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
judges: Vic Carrington and Mitsue Nakamura
[One-Hour Heats]—12 Brittanys
Winner—RUSTY RIDGE PEPPER REY ANN. 1651262, female. by Kinwashkly Dirty Ned Pepper—Shadow's Tequila Tryst. Jan Kilpatrick, owner; Claude Kilpatrick, handler.
Runner-Up—KASHMIR. 1659332. male, by Cedar Valley Flyby—Super Natural. Tom Tracy Jr, owner and handler.
