Blast Off, Son of Full Blast, 1st, The Grand National Grouse Futurity

Blast Off
Blast Off

Justin Evans’ Blast Off won the 71st Grand National Grouse Futurity with pro Mark Foreman handling.  “Sam”, sired by Grand National Grouse Champion Full Blast, attacked the cover on the Loleta area of the Allegheny National Forest near Marienville, PA.  Braced with eventual third place winner, All In (his dam a littermate to Full Blast), “Sam” hunted with excellent application when the cover presented itself.  When the woods opened up, “Sam” opened up.  His speed was apparent and the judges were looking for a dog who could get from one objective to another efficiently.  The judges noted that “Sam” was the best at doing this.  From the breakaway and throughout his thirty minute effort, “Sam” showed not just the drive but jump and cracking tail that sets a class dog apart from other fine dogs.  In a callback, “Sam” flat out nailed the bird and his poker-straight, high tail stuck out above the heavy cover for his handler to find him with the bird exactly where “Sam” said it was located.

The Futurity is a breeder’s stake.  Blast Off was insightfully bred by Ken Moss of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, two years ago and based on his analysis of the pedigrees and characteristics of the sire and dam, Ken put up the money to nominate the breeding in the Futurity.  The dam Moss Meadow Rose is by Ken’s Grand National Grouse Ch. Moss Meadow Traveler ex a daughter of Pennstar.  The sire, Grand National Grouse Ch. Full Blast is a son of 5X Ch. Pennstar and thus Ken’s  linebreeding strategy has paid off.  There are several other winners from this litter.  Earlier “Sam” placed in the most prominent puppy stake in the east, the Venango Puppy Classic.  He has other puppy wins to his credit.

Originally, as the owners of the sire, we were going to take a pick pup instead of the stud fee.  Recognizing that Justin was new to the bird dog/field trial game and that he was sincere in his commitment to develop a quality competitor, we offered Justin the pick.  Justin was quick to accept and he and his son travelled to Michigan to exercise their pick-of-the-litter.  I chatted with Justin while he was on his journey to Michigan and recounted for him how in 1980 my then 8-year-old son and I similarly traveled to Michigan to pick out our first English setter pup.  We went to Terry Shermoe’s home and chose a male from his Ch. Ghost’s Star.  On the way home we had the pup in the front seat with us.  At one point on the journey, the pup fell asleep on the seat between us.  My son, whispered to me “Dad, look at the pup!”.  “Look at that tail!”  He was sleeping with his tail absolutely straight and perpendicular to his back…at 8 years of age, Seth knew what we were looking for.  We named the pup, Wire (17-41-309) and he is the foundation dog of our kennel and of Dick Brenneman’s and my 34-year bird dog partnership.  I’ll never forget that moment and that memory.  When I finished my story, Justin said “yeah, that’s what we are doing too, making memories”.  His son, River, was at the trial when “Sam” made a memory that will certainly last forever.