Click here to view photo gallery from this event
2021 United States Brittany Championship and Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
By Jan Kilparick
It was the 61th renewal of this 2021 United States Open Brittany Championship at the Lake Murray Field Trial Grounds in Ardmore, Oklahoma. 42 dogs from across this great country of ours were drawn and competed for this prestigious title. To paraphrase from Dr. Robert P. Knowles, “On Winning At Field Trials”: It was a blend of people from wide-ranging areas of the country and all walks of life bonded together by a shared love of following bird dogs over all sorts of terrain on horseback. Time and time again we witnessed the fierce but friendly competition combined with an unspoken willingness to help the other fellow, be it with a lost dog or a tired horse; these things are still alive and well among those of us who participate in and love the sport of field trialing.
We want to thank Purina for once again sponsoring this event. Their donation of food and monetary support were well received by all participants and we look forward to a continued partnership with Purina for many years to come. The silver spurs awarded to the Top Qualifier are generously donated by Scott & Harlene Johnson and we thank them for their continued support of this long-lived Championship.
We are thankful to everyone who lent their support before, during and after the actual running. On a special note, this year, Mary Karbiner who has managed the affairs of the US Open Championship Association for years has decided it is time for her to step down from this position. Mary, we thank you for your service, not only as Secretary/Treasurer but as a judge, reporter and dog wagon driver, plus everything else you do to keep this Championship a first-class event year after year. Welcome Jessica Carlson on board as the new Secretary/Treasurer of the Association. Over the years Jessica has spent untold hours in the saddle catching notable occurrences with her camera and turning them into visible memories that not only become a permanent part of the US Open and Victorie Nationale history but also precious personal memories for dog owners as well. Dr. Bob Rankin has worn many hats over the years in his service to the Association, most notably judging and marshalling both jobs that require long hours and undivided attention. Once again, we thank Bob for making his horse trailer available for transporting weary judges, reporters, handlers and their trusty steeds back to camp after long mornings and afternoons in the saddle. Also, a big thanks to everyone who helped with these transport duties, as well as the bird planting, hospitality and all the other things that make these trials come together.
This year’s Judges were Dr. Alex Jacocks and Virgil Moore, both of whom are well respected for their knowledge of bird dogs and field trialing. We thank them for their many hours in the saddle and the positive learned consideration they afforded each and every dog. Both agreed they were looking for dogs exhibiting a far-reaching range, an intelligent application that would prove to be bird productive and the endurance to finish with undiminished range and speed. Both felt these attributes were absolutely essential in a championship performance of an all-age dog.
Champion: MK’s My Lil Ammo “BB” showed extreme range and maximum velocity as she negotiated parts of Course 1 and 2 in her qualifying Tuesday morning run. At 26 Scout Richard Beaver called point for BB who was buried in an overgrown tree line standing tall and tight. Handler thrashed through the cover trying to locate the running birds. Judge spotted them and ordered the shot. BB remained calm and cool through all the thrashing and the shot. It was an excellent dog find on the scout’s part and an outstanding piece of birdwork for BB. BB was released and continued making bold moves and carded another find at 55 which she handled with style and manners. She finished as strong as she started and for her effort BB was awarded Tuesday’s Day Dog and the Top Qualifier in the First Series after completion of all the other braces on Thursday.
BB actually elevated her performance in the Final Series running as top dog in Brace 1. Her race was classy and forward with plenty of speed and range as she made multiple big moves covering all edges and feed strips on the course. Finding birds seemed paramount in her game plan as she scored 4 solid finds at 20, 40, 50 and 58 all handled with style, intensity and manners. BB moved consistently forward through her entire hour with a remarkable amount of speed, range and stamina to capture the well-deserved Championship title.
Runner-Up: CVK’s Spartan King “Leo” has history on these grounds being the 2019 Victorie Nationale Champion. In the Qualifying Series Leo ran a far-flung eye pleasing ground race, stretching out to all forward objectives. His big casts were to all the right places and he was rewarded with 3 stylish and mannerly bird finds at 13, 22 and 30. For his superior performance and finish Leo was named Thursday’s Day Dog and earned a well-deserved spot in the Final
Series.
The Final Series had Leo running as bottom dog in Brace 3. Leo ran a powerful forward far-reaching ground race with one find at 35 where he stood tall, tight and mannerly through the flush and shot. Leo had the shortest turn around time in the Final series but his stamina never waivered through the entire hour. For his superior efforts, Leo was pronounced Runner Up Champion.
THE RUNNING
Day 1 - Monday, March 8, 2021 - Mostly sunny, humid, Temp 38-63, Gusty Southwest winds 9-22 mph
Brace 1 Ru Jem's Last “Penny", Tom Tracy Jr & Highpoints Spikes Southern Gal “Ellie", Ben Kuykendall - Penny won this event in 2019 and always puts down a good race and today was no exception. She was all business making bold forward moves and had her first bird find at 20 on a well-executed relocate. Ellie pointed at 24 but no birds were found. Ellie was not pleasing her handler and he picked her up at 45. At 55 Penny was seen running an edge to the front but her handler was nowhere to be seen. Judge requested someone in the gallery to handle Penny and John Perry stepped in to keep eyes on her until Tom showed up a few minutes later. Penny finished out her hour moving strongly to the front hunting hard. For her fine efforts Penny was called back for the Final Series.
Brace 2 Just Call Me Lucky “Ned" Pepper, Frank Campbell & WW's Gin & Tonic, “Ginee", Burton Wice - Ned had finds at 33, 42 and 58 which were handled in a mannerly fashion. Ned ran at moderate rate and range but appeared fatigued by the end of his hour. Ginee had a find at 18 and a back at 33 but she slowed down midway through and was ordered up at 48.
Brace 3 Maxwell's Prickly “Pete", Tom Tracy & Sniksoh Little Diamond “Kate", Scott Johnson
Pete was lost at 15. Kate was intense and stylish on her bird at 18 but handler elected to pick her up early stating he felt she wasn't running an all-age race.
Brace 4 Georgia's White Lightening, Tom Tracy Jr. & JJ's “Levi" The Lion Hearted, Joe Williams - Levi had birds at 16 with all in order. Lighting had a find at 24 with all in order but Levi failed to back and was ordered up.Lighting got hot and tired and was picked up by handler at 42.
Brace 5 Sundance Kid's Rule Breaker, “Bud", Frank Campbell & B & T's Sonndance Kid Rock, “Rocky", Scott Johnson - Bud was up at 30 for a bird indiscretion. Rocky showed intensity and manners on his birds at 10 and 19. Through the girl scout camp Rocky had a nonproductive at 40 but finished his hour to the front still hunting hard. For his efforts Rocky was named Monday Day Dog and called back for the Final Series
Brace 6 Sigbrit's Not In Kansas Anymore, “Dottie", Scott Johnson & Jagoub's Spell Caster “Tabu", Tom Tracy Jr
Dottie and Tabu were eye-catching in their races, exhibiting graceful fluid casts to all the right places over Course 3. Dottie was stylish and mannerly on her first two finds at 34 and 38. Just after Rocky Crossing both were found standing on an incline; Tabu standing tall on the rise and Dottie down lower on the slope. A divided find was called and both handlers flushed and fired with all in order. Tabu scored again at 52 looking good standing tall and tight through the flush and shot. Both finished with energy to spare. For their first-class performances both earned a ticket into the Final Series.
Monday Day Dog: B & T's Sonndance Kid Rock
Day 2: Tuesday March 9, 2021 - Mostly Sunny, Humid, Temp 50 - 75, Gusty Southerly winds 8-23 mph
Brace 7 Dan-De Tyghten Up, “Louie", Steve Chang & Piney Run “Jake", Kent Patterson - Jake was up at 30 for a bird indiscretion and Louie was dismissed at 38 at the judge's request.
Brace 8 MK's My Lil Ammo, “BB", Scott Johnson & Piney Run Hilltop “Blew", Kent Patterson - BB's Championship performance is described above. Blew was lost and up at 21.
Brace 9 “Willie" Makeit, Scott Johnson & Almaden's Under Lock And Key, “Oudi", Ed Tillson - The wind was howling by the time Willie and Oudi were sent on their way and both went missing early on.
Brace 10 MK's Magnificent Bandito “Chico", Scott Johnson & Marjo's Fille De La Bretagne, “Brie" John Perry - Brie had a nonproductive at 18 and was picked up by handler at 25 due to Brie's wind related navigation problems. Chico was not pleasing the handler and was picked up at 19.
Brace 11 Quanah, “Chief", Tom Milam & TJ's Black Diamond, “Coal", John Perry - Chief and Coal were both picked up early also navigation problems due to the heavy winds.
Brace 12 Tejas One and Only, Vic Carrington & Kashmir, “Kash", Tom Tracy Jr - Tejas was lost at 40. Kash was picked up at 50, handler's option.
Tuesday Day Dog: MK's My Lil Ammo
Day 3, Wednesday, March 10, 2021 - Mostly Sunny, Temp 61-84, Gusty S winds 9-22 mph
Brace 13 J & M Rodeo Romeo “Tuff", Ed Tillson & Highpoint Blazin' “Meg", Ben Kuykendall - Tuff and Meg had a good breakaway and shared a find at 13 with things mostly in order. At 15 Meg had another find at but took steps when handler flushed ending her day. Tuff made the same mistake on his find at 25 and was ordered up.
Brace 14 Arrow's Tequila Rustler, "Rusty", Richard Beaver & Blazen Big Mac XIV, Tom Tracy Jr - Mac was not pleasing the handler and was up at 18. Rusty put down a big forward race that was pleasing to watch. He had a nice covey find at 40 standing staunchly through the flush and fire. Rusty finished to the front as strong and energetic as he started.
Brace 15 Light-em Up Louie, Steve Chang & Roustabout's All In “Al", Tom Tracy - Louie had birds at 15 with all in order but became weary and was ordered up at 40. Al had a big forward ground race but ending up getting lost.
Brace 16 Prairie Wind Pistol Pete, Tom Tracy Jr. & “Scout" Upland Trailblazer, Ed Tillson - Pete was not pleasing his handler and was up at 23. Scout put down a solid ground race and had a nice covey find at 50. He had a strong forward finish and earned himself a spot in the Final Series for a job well done.
Brace 17 Chief's Cross Plains “Copper" Breeze & CVK's Ironman, Tom Tracy Jr - These two took off for parts unknown and were declared missing in action.
Brace 18 JWB Artic Cat “Kimber", Tom Tracy Jr & Tequila Scorcher, “Lincoln", Ed Tillson - Kimber, last year's US Open Champion and the 2018 Victorie Champion, had all the right stuff to just it done on these grounds but this day she proved a hard handle; exhibiting a just leave me alone I'm gonna do my own thing attitude and wound up lost at 25. Lincoln, the 2016 US Open Champion was lacking motivation this day so handler removed him from the competition at 30.
Wednesday Day Dog: Arrow's Tequila Rustler
Day 4, Thursday, March 11, 2021. Cloudy, Temp 52-69, Northerly wind 6-16 mph
Brace 19 Rebel's Fly Me To The Moon, Ed Tillson & CVK's Spartan King, “Leo", Tom Tracy Jr - Leo's RU Champion run is described above. Moon made a big move from the breakaway and never returned to judgment.
Brace 20 Hoochie Coochie Man, “Karl", Ed Tillson & Dakota Sun's Semper Fi, Vic Carrington
Karl posted a nonproductive at 18 and went birdless. Dakota was erratic and up at 45.
Brace 21 SS “Rig's" Colorado Gunrunner, Tom Milam and Godfather's F.N. Rock Star, Steve Chang - Rigs was moving forward from the get go and posted a nice covey find at 26 which he handed with style and manners. At the top of the big hill as we are leaving the outback territory for the gun dog course both dogs posted a long absence after some deer were seen running in the area. From our panoramic view up top, we witnessed Rigs and Tom coming back on course running the long edge at warp speed. It looked good but Rigs took the inside edge and was gone, never to be returned to judgement. The judges and gallery crossed over Pond Dam 4 and heard a loud call of point at 45. We rode fast to find Rockstar pointing into an overgrown edge but handler was unable to produce any birds. He continued on his way showing fatigue in his finish.
Thursday Day Dog: CVK's Spartan King
Top Qualifier of First Series: MK's My Lil Ammo
Final Series
Friday, March 12, 2021. Cloudy, Temp 52-71, Variable winds 9-14 mph
Brace 1 MK's My Lil Ammo, "BB", Scott Johnson & Jagoub's Spell Caster "Tabu", Tom Tracy
BB's Championship performances are described above. Tabu had a lovely way of moving across the country,
making it look so easy. She had an honor at 50 but did not have any birds of her own.
Brace 2 "Scout" Upland Trailblazer, Ed Tillson & B & T's Sonndance Kid Rock, "Rocky", Scott Johnson
Scout had a nonproductive at 10 and handler picked him up at that time. Rocky wasn't in his usual form this day
but had birds at 30 but judges ordered him up before time.
Brace 3 Arrow's Tequila Rustler, "Rusty", Richard Beaver & CVK's Spartan King, "Leo", Tom Tracy Jr
Leo's Runner Up Champion runs are described above. Rusty had his running shoes on again making big
forward moves to all likely objectives. He had a nice find at 38 which was handled with intensity and proper
manners. At 50 point was called and Rusty was found all buried up in tangles pinning a single which handler
flushed then fired with all in order. At 55 Rusty failed to stop at the flush of a bird in a timely manner and was ordered up by the judge.
Brace 4 Sigbrits Not In Kansas Anymore, "Dottie", Scott Johnson & Ru Jems Last "Penny", Tom Tracy Jr
Both these girls had on their running shoes during this warmish windy last brace of the Championship. Dotie's
pace was somewhat moderate at the beginning but she started getting serious after taking a plunge in the lake
and swimming out to greet two guys fishing in a boat close to shore. After a few minutes she swan back to
shore and entered a big meadow where she pointed at 25 but no birds could be produced. Dottie then started
ranging out and applying herself to the mission at hand. She ran the remainder of her hour fast and forward and
pointed with intensity at 58 standing solid through the flush and shot. Penny, always a serious contender, was
away fast and forward moving through all likely spots in her search for birds. Penny pointed at 30 and was staunch and mannerly through the flush and shot. She finished with a little less zip than when she started but all in all it was a consistent overall performance.
Ardmore, Okla., March 8-12, 2021
Judges: Dr. Alex Jacocks and Virgil Moore
UNITED STATES OPEN BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals]—42 Brittanys
Winner—MK’s MY LIL AMMO, Female, Sire: FC/AFC Sniksoh Free Boy, Dam: FC/AFC Chief’s Nubbins Ridge Runner. Owner Nick Blasi, Handler Scott Johnson
Runner-Up—CVK’s SPARTAN KING, Male,Sire: Maxwell’s Outer Limit, Dam: Cedar Valley Lilly. Owners Jack Alexander & Dr. Bob Rankin, Handler Tom Tracy Jr.
VICTOIRE NATIONALE DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Victoire Nationale Derby was established in 1974 "to glorify the Derby prospect most likely to theoretically win the US Open Brittany Championship one day." Eighteen promising juvenile dogs from across the country competed for the honors in 2021.
Once again, we thank Purina for their continued sponsorship and monetary support of this Derby
Championship. Purina also donates Pro Plan dog food to the winning canine athletes most of whom are fueled
by this premium product every day to keep them performing at a peak performance level.
Judges Alex Jacocks and Virgil Moore were looking for all-age potential with a forward course covering
application at an extended range and reasonable willingness to handle. Though they needed to see a dog point,
broke manners were not essential. The two dogs adjudicated as the best exhibiting their criteria were:
Champion: Cedar Valley Luke moved fast and forward hunting hard with purpose throughout his hour. Luke pointed with intensity on his two bird finds at 14 and 40 then showed acceptable derby manners. Luke’s display of extreme range, coupled with his intense style on birds and a strong forward finish earned him the Championship title.
Runner Up Champion: Piney Run White Lightning, "Buzz" had an eye-pleasing way of moving across the country. He made big line moves throughout his hour that belied his young age having turned one year old the day before he ran. Buzz had two stylish finds which he handled with acceptable derby manners. He shortened late but continued with a good, forward finish. A fine promising young dog well deserving of the Runner Up Champion title.
THE RUNNING
Saturday March 13, 2021. Weather was warmish, breezy and humid for the am braces then just dadgum hot and windy for the afternoon braces.
Brace 1 Bullets Mon Petite "Lucy, Vic Carrington & Code of "Noble", Steve Chang. Lucy was lost at 40. Noble had birds at 18 and 55 but his race and application were erratic.
Brace 2 Piney Run Senor, "Big", Kent Patterson & Cedar Valley "Zeke", Tom Tracy Jr. Big had a nice forward race going to all the right places but found no birds. Zeke ran mostly forward and had stylish points at 18 and 55 which were handled with acceptable derby manners but just didn’t have the range or application of the winning dogs
Brace 3 Dan-De Stihl Going, Steve Chang & Cedar Valley "Luke", Tom Tracy Jr. Luke’s Championship run is described above. Dan ran short and erratic with one find at 45.
Brace 4 Who Dat When I Say "Who Dat", Tom Tracy Jr & Piney Run White Lighting, "Buzz", Scott Johnson. Buzz’s run is described above. Who Dat was erratic in his application but carded two bird finds then slowed down considerably towards the finish.
Brace 5 CVK’s Jungle Land "Clarence", Tom Tracy & Frosty Meadows Rambling Man "Bo", Scott Johnson. Both Clarence and Bo exhibited mostly forward races but had no bird contact in the 45 minutes they were on the ground.
Brace 6 Alar’s Sun Dancer, Ed Tillson & JoWills Duchess of Destiny, Joe Williams Duchess had a stylish find at 25 but both dogs were picked up early.
Second Day: Sunday, March 14, 2021, Cloudy, cooler and breezy but very humid.
Brace 7 Rusty Ridge Busting Loose "Buster", Claude Kilpatrick & Roustabout "Freddie", Tom Tracy Jr. Freddie was not performing to his handler’s expectations and was picked up at 18. Buster handled kindly moving forward at a fast efficient gait and had bird contact at 20 with no point observed. He continued moving smoothly over Course 1 but his range was shorter than the dogs being carried so he was picked up at 40.
Brace 8 American Urban Legend, Steve Chang & TMR’s Lucky Betts, Tom Tracy Jr
Legend couldn’t get it going this morning so up at 17. Betts has a solid point handled with acceptable derby
manners at 25 then became sticky and was picked up at 30.
Brace 9 Been There, "Tip", Tom Tracy Jr & Piney Run "Zack", Kent Patterson. Tip and Zack made fast casts forward from breakaway with Tip scoring a bird find at 6 with acceptable derby manners. Both continued forward still making some good all age moves but their races had slowed considerably so they were picked up at 45.
Victoire Nationale Derby Championship
judges: Dr. Alex Jacocks and Virgil Moore
[One-Hour Heats]—18 Brittanys
Winner—CEDAR VALLEY LUKE, by Maxwell's Prickly Pete--Roustabout Shine. Owner Todd Babbel, Handler Tom Tracy Jr
Runner-Up—PINEY RUN WHITE LIGHTNING,by Piney Run Jake--Piney Run Candy. Owner John Chejne, Handler Scott Johnson
