Blast Zone, son of Ch. Full Blast, is off to an impressive start to his derby career. “Strike”, handled by Thor Kain, has shown an amazing ability to handle grouse and woodcock with finished manners at his young age. Thor, an amateur and friend of ours, had “Strike” this summer and set videos of “Strike” on dozens of wild bird finds with steady-to-wing and shot manners. When the trial season started with the Mohegan Wild Bird Trial in August “Strike” went right to work with a scouted stylish woodcock find steady-to-wing and shot for a first placement. Then in September at the New York Grouse Championship open derby, “Strike” ran his driving, snappy race and scored on a grouse, again with adult manners. This first place win was followed by his performance at the West Branch Grouse Trial where he was the only dog in the entire trial, including the all-age, to find and handle a grouse with finished manners. He threw in a steady woodcock find to cement his first place win. Later in October, Strike earned a fourth open derby placement at the Nittany Valley Grouse Trial. We are excited about Strike. He runs hard, as big as the cover with lots of class and eye-appeal. He is the earliest and most naturally developing wild bird handling young dog we have ever had. That statement would include a lot of dogs and some great dogs in our 35 year program. Much of “Strike’s” success certainly goes to Thor for all his hard, consistent work over the last months with Strike.