Spitfire, Mike Spotts’ female, wins the National Amateur Grouse Championship

Spitfire
Spitfire

Spitfire, 3-year-old setter female, owned and handled by Mike Spotts of Bloomsburg, PA, won the title of National Amateur Grouse Champion on October 13, 2012, over the extensive wooded venue at the site of famed Grouse Ridge Setters, Norwich, NY.

  “Lola” faced down a strong 39-dog field of top grouse dogs handled by amateurs. “Lola” ran  fast, smooth and forward and with arresting style.  She consistently hit objectives near and far as they were presented.   At the 25-minute mark her bell was believed to have stopped and scout Dick Brenneman found her standing proudly with high head and tail.  The grouse was right in front where she said it was and “Lola” was motionless for the flush and shot.  She carried on with drive and responsive handling for the hour and finished with undiminished pace…going away at the pickup.

Spitfire is a product of our kennel.  Her early start here found her matched with another nice female pup of similar age in Straight Forward, who was Runner-Up Champion at the Northern New England Woodcock Championship just a few weeks previous.  Mike had his choice of the two pups from different litters and his journey with Lola testifies to his making a good choice for both himself and “Lola”.  “Lola”  is the product of Mike’s hard work and dedication as an amateur.  While Lola has never been with a pro, she and Mike benefit from the advice of professional Tom Gingher and the occasional use of his grounds outside Bloomsburg, PA.

Spitfire’s breeding (Bold Move X Jumpstart) reflects a strategic effort on the breeders’ part to reinforce and fix the blood of 5X Ch. wild bird Ch. Pennstar in Lola’s litter.  Pennstar is the sire of both Bold Move (Pennstar X Sorber Run Serena) and Jumpstart (Pennstar ex  Grouse River Jessie).   Bold Move, brother to Grand National Grouse Ch. Full Tilt, is now retired.  He was campaigned with success on the grouse circuit as a derby and all-age competitior.  Jumpstart, now owned by Mike, also has had a number of recent all-age wins under his whistle  and she has been challenging in Championship stakes for the last year.  She won the prestigous Pennsylania Grouse Trial Club, Open All-Age stake in the spring of 2012. 

The moment when the announcement of Lola’s win was made was all the sweeter for Mike as his wife Amber and 7 mo. old son, Jacob (first field trial),  were at his side.  It does not get any better than this!

 

Mike, Amber and Jacob with Spitfire

High Impact gets on the board

High Impact, male pup from our Impact Player ex Grand National Grouse Ch. Full Tilt, kicked off his competitive career with a 2nd place win at the West Branch Grouse Trial Club open puppy stake.  “Razz” was six months old when he put down a hard hunting and very stylish effort for Bob Watts, handler.  Both Bob Watts and Mike Spotts have been working “Razz” and we are excited with his smooth running style, high cracky tail carriage and serious hunting application.

Straight Forward, RU Champion at the Northern New England Woodcock Championship

Straight Forward
Straight Forward

In late September 2012 forty-four cover dogs gathered in Maine to compete in the one hour Northern New England Woodcock Championship.   Our young female Straight Forward (Keystone’s Red Rage ex Quixstar) was named the Runner-Up in a stellar field.  Dave Hughes handled  3-year old “Cracker” to this win in the early weeks of the fall 2012 coverdog season.  As a young dog “Cracker”  won steadily as a puppy and derby and in the spring of 2012 she scored wins in cover dog all-age stakes with Dick Brenneman handling.  When she is at home “Cracker” has generally been handled in workouts by Helen Brenneman.  “Cracker” is expected to complete the fall trial season with Dave Hughes.

Pennstar continues at stud and producing accomplished coverdogs

Pennstar

Pennstar

Pennstar, now 12 years old, continues to produce pups that have high potential to excel as cover dogs.  “Rock” sired a quality litter for Scott Chaffee early this summer from a daughter of Taz.  We made the trip to MI to pick out a pup and were impressed with the animated, bold, straight-tailed pups.  We picked out a female.

As we have done for the last several years, we had “Rock’s” semen analyzed by Dr. Martin, a reproductive specialist, in Lewisburg, PA.  In September 2012, Dr. Martin declared that Rock’s semen had a remarkably high sperm count with a high percentage of normally shaped sperm that had excellent motility.  “This dog has the semen quality of a two year old!”, he exclaimed. 

We are fortunate to be able to continue offering 5X Ch. Pennstar’s stud services to the public.  He sired this year’s winner (Full Blast) of both the Flanagan and Foster Awards for cover dog derby of the year.  This is the 4th  winner of the Flanagan Award that Pennstar has sired.  Additionally he has sired winners of the Grand National Grouse Championship, the Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational, three 1st place winners of the Grand National Grouse Futurity and more than 30 Cover Dog Classic winners.

Ghost Train Cody, son of Full Tilt, wins Runner-Up Ch. at Region 4

Ghost Train Cody, 3-year-old son of our Grand National Grouse Champion Full Tilt, was named the Runner-Up Champion at the Region 4 Amateur Championship run on wild birds in MI.  Cody is owned by Tom Fruchey who handled him to this title in “Cody’s” first all-age season. 

Sired by Lilley Hills Secret Stash, “Cody” has a solid record of derby wins and now at a remarkably young age he has stepped into the Championship circle.  Earlier, offspring from this litter won the Cover Dog Futurity (Michter’s Rock N’ Rye) and the North American Woodcock Futurity (All In).