Straight Forward wins the prestigious PA Grouse Championship

Straight Forward
Straight Forward

Straight Forward, our young setter female, put down a strong, forward and hard driving one hour hunt that included a grouse find and a back to win the PA Grouse Championship for 2012 over the Allegheny National Forest courses near Marienville, PA.  This was the 100th anniversary running of the PA Grouse Ch.   “Cracker” was handled by Dave Hughes.  It took a nearly perfect performance to win over the other 59 entrants, a number of whom put on championship level displays of hunting and bird finding prowess.  Congratulations to Ch. River’s Edge Sadie owned by Pat Cooke and handled by Mark Foreman for winning Runner-Up.  Sadie, the 2011 Seminatore Award winner, had two finds and mounted a strong challenge.

Everything came together for “Cracker” during her brace.  She was consistently laying forward at 100-200 yard range, driving from one objective to another.  Only on one turn did she come from the side.  At 25 “Cracker’s” bell stopped and the scout found her more than 150 yards away with the grouse right in front for the flush.  At the flush “Cracker” was motionless.  Later in the hour, she backed on her bracemate’s find.  “Cracker’s” last ten minutes were as strong as the first ten and she finished well ahead searching.  It’s a thrill to watch a performance like this one and to win the Championship we covet most, other than the Grand National.  All the work that I put into her as a pup and all the work Dick and Helen Brenneman (often “Cracker’s” handler in workouts) put into her as a derby/all-age has paid off.  Pro Dave Hughes has polished “Cracker” and his expert skills as a handler let “Cracker” show off her talents ideally. 

“Cracker” is sired by Craig Peters’ Ch. Keystone Red Rage ex our daughter of Pennstar, Quixstar.  We chose Red Rage as the sire to breed to Quixstar based on his exceptional athleticism, drive, running class and intensity around wild birds.  Rage’s dam, Keystone’s Red Ryder has been to the Championship circle and recorded a long string of wins.  Rage’s sire, Steve Chippini’s, Ch. Chip’s Torquato, has proven to be a sire with important influence in raising the quality of coverdogs, as he appears in the pedigree of a good number of top dogs on the circuit.  “Cracker’s” dam, Quixstar, is sired by 5X Ch. Pennstar ex Barnburner (whose offspring have won 68 times).  The dam’s side of the pedigree brings a strong dose of our Grand National Grouse Ch. Body Guard blood leading back to Ch. Ghost Train.   When we decided to breed Quixstar she was in the care of Jim Smythe of Lititz, PA.  When we retired females or when we chose not to campaign them, Jim has taken them as hunting companions while allowing us to mate them if we wish.  On a trip Jim and I took to North Dakota,  Quixstar was the star bird finder and the most exciting dog on the ground and on point–we took several of our other top dogs on this trip.  Quixstar could really roll,  was light on her feet and had a knack for digging up birds and pinning them like few others we have owned.  She passed away in 2011 and we are especially happy to know that her blood will go forward through her daugher, Straight Forward.

Full Blast awarded both the Flanagan and Foster Awards

Ryan Frame, Bob, Dave Hughes, Dick, Dean Reinke
Ryan Frame, Bob, Dave Hughes, Dick, Dean Reinke

On the eve of the start of the 2012 Grand National Grouse Championship at Marienville, PA, Full Blast was recognzed as the winner of the Flanagan Award for the top setter derby during the 2011-2012 trial season.  Co-owners Dick Brenneman and Bob Watts additionally received a plaque for “Jeb’s” success in winning the Harden Foster Award for the top coverdog derby, regardless of breed.  Jim Chambers of Uniontown, PA, is the breeder of “Jeb”.  Purina, represented by Dean Reinke,  hosted the event which was attended by many of the professional trainers, club officials and handlers prepared to run in the Grand.  Dick Brenneman along with Dave Hughes were recognized as the handlers of “Jeb” during his fine string of wins.  A large cash prize,  funded by Purina, went to Dave for his success.

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).

Dick Brenneman Honored with Service Award

 

Dick and Helen with Bold Move
Dick and Helen with Bold Move

Dick Brenneman received the inaugural “Service Award” from the grouse trial clubs of Pennsylvania.  The recognition came at the annual meeting and work day held at the Marienville, PA, grounds and clubhouse.  Dick was recognized for four decades of work in support of the grounds, trials and clubs in the Pennsylvania grouse circuit  The participating clubs include the Venango, Pennsylvania, West Branch, Nittany Valley, Black Ash and PA Amateur Grouse Trial Clubs.

 

It’s no surprise that Dick receives this award as he has presided over the PA Grouse Club for decades.  But it’s for putting his back and hands to work for the clubs that he is best known.  He has done yeoman’s work on the grounds each year. . he organized this work day,  just as he has each year for as many years as anyone can remember.  Fittingly when it came time for lunch and handing out the award, Dick was just returning with a gang he insisted ought to keep working to clear out all the half hour courses.  From moving cars from course to course, to helping the wrangler, to getting judges refreshments, to marshalling an uncountable number of one hour braces, to hosting the draw, to getting the judges, Dick has done it all and done it for years with no sign of letting up.  Helen, Dick’s wife, has been deeply involved and a big help in putting on the grouse trials over the years and especially since her retirement from Penn State.  She too was recognized in the presentation address delivered by Joe Cammissa.

 

A plaque with a photo of Dick along with a description of his service will be placed on the clubhouse wall at Marienville.  This recognition appears alongside historic photos of other stalwart grouse dog field trialers and their dogs.  This is a place in history of the sport that has been well earned.

Full Blast wins the Foster Award to add to the Flanagan Award

Jeb2 - Full Blast

Full Blast

 

Full Blast, son of Pennstar,  has won the Harden Foster Award for the top coverdog of any breed for 2011-2012.  Earlier he was announced as the winner of the Flanagan Award for the 2011-2012 field trial season.  The Flanagan Award recognizes the top cover dog setter derby.  “Jeb” scored a number of big wins to top a strong field of young contenders.  Jeb started off the past season with a first at the DuBois-Beaver Meadows open derby.  While this trial is not a part of the cover dog circuit, Jeb’s three finished finds and strong hunting effort made us realize he was something special.  Some of his finds were well off the path and this kind of composure on game is rare for a dog who is less than a year and a half old.  Always calm and cool, “Jeb” went on in the fall to capture 1st in the prestigious Blakely Derby Classic.  This stake accompanies the PA Grouse Championship and virtually all the top derby dogs were there with their trainer/handler.  In the spring, first place awards over large fields at Nittany Valley and the West Branch Grouse Trial Club elevated “Jeb” to the forefront of the competition for the top setter derby.  One judge exclaimed at the end of his West Branch brace, “what a specimen”.  Late in the season, “Jeb” placed in the International Cover Dog Futurity.  In all his wins, “Jeb” was handled by co-owner, Dick Brenneman. 

 

“Jeb” was bred by Jim Chambers of Uniontown, PA.  When we acquired him, we immediately put him into our puppy program which Bob Watts has been building since the 1960s.  Lots of exposure to new situations, learning to stake out, travel for significant periods of time in a crate, standing calm on the whoa bench and time in the field, on a 3X a week schedule, with as much wild bird contact as possible synthesizes the puppy program.  “Jeb” came along fast on wild birds as he was handling wily pheasants in late fall and winter.  In the summer prior to his derby year, “Jeb” was in training with Dave Hughes and Ryan Frame.   Dave deserves much of the credit for “Jeb’s” advanced development around game.  Back home with Dick and Helen Brenneman, Jeb was worked in grouse and woodcock covers exclusively on the 3X a week program.  When Mike Spotts took Jeb along to Maine in September for grouse and woodcock, “Jeb’s” training and instincts really shone with many solid points on these wild birds.   The stage was set for the trial season and all this work came together with “Jeb’s”  strong drive, pointability, style and desire propelling him to come out on top of the Flanagan award competition.  “Jeb” is the third winner of the Flanagan Award that we have owned.  Earlier our Topseed (Ch Body Guard sired) and later-to-be Grand National Grouse Ch. Full Tilt (another Pennstar prodegy) had won this award.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Michter’s Rock N’ Rye wins the Cover Dog Futurity

Michter's Rock 'N Rye
Michter's Rock 'N Rye

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.