Month: April 2012

Jared Specht’s setter male, Michter’s Rock N’ Rye,  handled by pro Dave Hughes, won the 2012 running of the International Cover Dog Futuity at the Flanagan Farm, Oxford, NY, 4/13/12.   As a derby “Riley”, sired by Ch. Lilley Hills Secret Stash x our Grand National Ch. Full Tilt, has won consistently with his strong ground efforts and sharp skills in pointing and handling birds.  In callbacks throughout the fall and spring of this trial season Riley has demonstrated finished manners on game.  “Riley” is the Spechts’ first consistent winning field trial dog and they have done an excellent job of developing him and giving him the opportunity to win in the top level stakes.   Professional trainer Dave Hughes deserves credit for being a major part of “Riley’s” development.

 

Jumpstart, owned and handled by Mike Spotts, ripped across the hour course at the Pennsylvania Grouse Trial Club’s Open All-Age scoring two grouse finds in the process to earn first.   Laying consistently to the front, “Woodie” was found pointing her second bird after a lengthy search.  She had the grouse right in front of her nose.  “Woodie”, daughter of Ch. Pennstar,  won this prestigous stake against a large, high quality field that included the full strings of all the top east coast professionals from PA to Maine.  Throughout the spring “Woodie” has been in contention at most every grouse trial, demonstrating her bird finding and consistency on each occasion.  This is “Woodie’s” biggest win and we’ll be hearing more from her in the seasons ahead.

Bold Move

 

Bold Move, our son of Pennstar, is retired.  “Fire” has been a favorite of ours for several years.  Handled by Dick and at other times, Dave Hughes, “Fire”  racked up a string of derby wins and then competed successfully for a couple of season as an all-age.  Full brother to Grand National Ch. Full Tilt, “Fire” rendered many exciting performances and established himself as a dog who could deliver the goods, be it in NH, NY,PA or MI.   “Fire” produced one litter and his daughter, the young female, Spitfire, has scored several wins including a first in a large open derby field. 

It’s painful to retire a good dog.  With our limited time, “retirement” from trialing usually means finding a good home with a hunter.  “Fire” will finish out his life hunting grouse and woodcock in PA and pheasants in South Dakota with his new owner.  We are confident “Fire” has found a home worthy of his ability and record and we continue to have access to him as a sire when we or others find a strategic place to insert him into a breeding program.

Full Tilt

 

Grand National Grouse Champion Full Tilt (retired) whelped a litter of seven pups in early March, 2012.  Sired by our young all-age male, Impact Player, the pups are linebred Ch. Pennstar breeding as Pennstar is the sire of both parents.  This is “Callie’s’ second litter.  Her first litter has had some significant accomplishments that include winning the International Cover Dog Futurity (Michter’s Rock and Rye, 4/12) and the International Woodcock Futurity (All In, 9/2012).  Two other pups from her first litter have been recorded firsts in open derby competition while still officially puppy age.  We are excited at the looks of this new litter and this encourages us to give the pups every chance to be top flight grouse dogs.