Super Storm Hank, our 2021 pup, elevates to get an Open Derby win

Super Storm Hank

Super Storm Hank, but only 10 months old, was entered in the Open Derby stake at the Mountain View trial held October 17, 2021. When the dust settled, young Hank was placed third. Thor Kain handled Hank.

While still in his first season as a puppy and with only a couple of field trials under his belt, Hank rendered a performance that speaks to the potential we have witnessed in him throughout the summer. Hank hunted with enthusiasm and energy as he attacked the Murphy farm course. He was forward and handled well thorough the turns of the course. On two occasions he located and pointed quail. On both finds he was high and tight and stood a long time before being located.

Hank showed the promise and potential we’ve seen in workouts and it was rewarding to witness him demonstrate his ability on such a public venue.

Super Storm Cliff, 1st Mountain View Open Derby

Super Storm Cliff

Super Storm Cliff came back on day 2 of the Mountain View BDC trial and set the standard for the field in the Open Derby. Sunday, October 17, was an overcast morning but that didn’t dim Cliff’s desire, effort or competence. He ran stronger than he did the previous day in placing in the amateur shooting dog stake and he rang up 4 sharply executed, mannerly finds to win the event.

With his second performance on these grounds in two days, Cliff showed even more confidence as he reached boldly when the cover allowed. His demeanor on his four finds was also bold. It was a thrilling performance for a young setter really reflecting his genetics (thank you Blast Zone and breeder Jeremy Estep) and training (trainer/handler, Thor Kain).

Super Storm Cliff leapfrogs from derby to shooting dog and wins at Mountain View ASD

Super Storm Cliff

While early in his derby season, Super Storm Cliff was entered in the 16 dog amateur shooting dog stake at the Mountain View BDC on October 16, 2021. Showing confidence in Cliff’s ability to execute flawless finds as a shooting dog, Thor guided the young male around the course on the Murphy farm.

Cliff justified our confidence in him with a strong forward hunting effort. Along the way he found and handled with mature manners two encounters with game birds. He looked intense and cool on both finds, Where the course was open he reached out and in the thickets he hunted with determination.

Cliff’s early development follows the pattern set by his sire, Blast Zone, who was also advanced in his training and registered scores of finished finds as a derby on both wild and released birds.

Super Storm, 1st Mountain View ASD

Super Storm

Super Storm, our 4 year old male, continued his winning fall campaign with an impressive performance at the Mountain View BDC Amateur Shooting Dog stake. 16 competitors each hunted for 30 minutes over the Murphy Farm at Lake Ariel, PA. Super Storm racked up five well-spaced finds while the others in the stake had a maximum of two finds, to earn the blue ribbon.

Finds alone were not the whole story with “Fed’s” performance. Right from the breakaway “Fed” drove forward and hunted with intelligence, determination and drive. While the cover on the course was heavy at places (that’s necessary to hold the resident pheasants and quail), when there were open fields and patches “Fed” ran the edges with as much class and style as you could hope for in a bird dog. High, near 12 o’clock tail, with lots of crack and snap “Fed” demanded the attention of all as he went about his work. It was thrilling to watch him do the job. His finds were executed with grand style and intensity. It was simply a masterful performance

All four of our shooting dogs received invites to the US Complete Amateur Invitational

Super Storm
No Limit
Super Storm Liz

Super Storm, No Limit and Super Storm Liz will be competing at the US Complete Amateur Invitational Championship at the Flaherty Field Trial Area, East Windsor, CT beginning October 9, 2021.
They all will be handled by Thor Kain who guided them all to their qualifying wins. Deciding Point, our female, declined her invitation in order to compete on the grouse trial circuit during October and November. We’re excited and thrilled to have our shooting dog lineup invited based on their shooting dog wins during the 20-21 field trail season. The venue is an excellent one and the judicial panel is experienced and respected. It’s not just an honor to compete in this event but it should be a fun time as well.

Super Storm, 1st in ASD at Bucks County Trial

Super Storm

Last year’s US Complete National Amateur Shooting Dog of the Year, Super Storm, won the Bucks County Amateur Shooting Dog stake held October 3, 2021. Besting a field of a dozen shooting dogs, “Fed” racked up three sharp finds and added a back of his bracemate for good measure. The grounds at Clear Springs, MD invite a dog to reach out and run the edges of the fields. “Fed” obliged. Its rewarding to see “Fed” extend his record of quality wins into another field trial season.

No Limit

No Limit, “Fed’s” kennelmate, also handled by Thor Kain shared the winner’s circle as she was second in the Amateur Shooting Dog at Bucks County. “Zoey” had two finds and a half hour of hunting where she applied herself with determination and enthusiasm. She’s a bundle of energy and her effort was rewarded with a deserved placement.

Super Storm Liz places at Ridgerunners

Super Storm Liz

Super Storm Liz, now of shooting dog age, was placed 3rd at the Ridgeruners Bird Dog Club Amateur Shooting Dog held September 11 at the Freeland Kennel Club, Weatherly, PA. Liz ran very fast and forward, perhaps a little too fast and forward, for the compact Freeland grounds, as her first contact after the breakaway was when she was found 7 minutes later on point straight ahead. She’s a lot of dog for these grounds but this made for an exciting brace as she was matched with Dean Avillion’s spectacular female, “Penny” “Penny” was similarly paired with”Liz” last spring when both placed here in the ‘brace of the year’.

Once the first find was dispatched sucessfully, “Liz” went on to hunt to the front but not so extreme as in the first half of the course. She still is fast and she registered another sharply handled find on the back course to complete her heat.

While this is the first win as a shooting dog now that she is of that official age, remember that “Liz” was run as a shooting dog most all of the second half of her derby-age eligibility period. She was 2nd last spring in the amateur shooting dog at this trial.

Deciding Point ,1st Ocean State ASD

Deciding Point

Deciding Point returned to the Ocean State BDC held September 19, 2021, at the Arcadia Wildlife Mgt Area, RI, and defended her spring, ’21 first place win by again winning 1st in their Amateur Shooting Dog stake. “Bek” was handled by Thor Kain for owners Bob Watts and Dick Brenneman.

“Bek”, who has been a grouse field trial competitor all her life, was felt to benefit from running in some events where she would have a shot at more finds than is typical in a grouse trial. “Bek” is from the same frozen semen litter (Pennstar ex Straight Forward) as National US Complete Amateur Shooting Dog of the Year Super Storm. Thor had both dogs as pups and he chose Super Storm for himself. Dick and Bob continue to campaign “Bek” with Dave Hughes in grouse trials and immediately after her win in Rhode Island “Bek’ was off to Dave’s string and headed to Michigan grouse trials in early October. Dave only runs “Bek” in grouse championship stakes.

Notably “Bek” had a litter this past winter ’21 and her pup Super Storm Hank was also in the winner’s circle at this trial–keeping it in the family. He too was handled by Thor and running under his ownership.

Our pup, Super Storm Hank, gets on the board

Super Storm Hank

Super Storm Hank, our 9 month old pup sired by Maximum Resistance ex Deciding Point, started his competitive field trial career with wins at the Ridgerunners BDC (PA) and at the Arcadia FTC (RI) in September, 2021.

We had 7 male pups in Hank’s litter and we gave them all a hard look before choosing our stylish, athletic moving and strongly built boy. Best of all, Hank stood out for his ability to find and get wild birds pointed consistently. His composure on game was critical to him being selected from an excellent litter of pups. Importantly, Hank has a cooperative, yet bold, personality. He and his littermates stood out for their desire to please and want to be doing with you (whatever you’re doing) personality. You’ll be hearing more from Hank and from his littermates going forward.

In both of Hank’s appearances we saw the traits we look for in prospects. Running style, light on the ground, cracking tail- even out in the open, straight tail, bold personality. want to please attitude and intensity on point are the main things we look for and see in Hank. The majority of pups in his litter had most all of these qualities. This confirms that we are building bird dogs for the future that will improve the breed and be a thrill and a pleasure to hunt with

Super Storm Cliff’s fast start as a Derby

Super Storm Cliff

Super Storm Cliff, last year’s US Complete Am. Puppy of the Year, transitioned into his derby form in outstanding fashion by winning first in the Ridgerunner’s Walking Amateur Derby on Saturday, September 11. Cliff had three sharp finds with adult manners to eclipse the field. He coupled this mature birdwork with a strong forward race.

The following day at the horseback trial sponsored by the Sandy Valley Field Trial Club held on the same Freeland Kennel Club grounds, Cliff again won first this time in the Amateur Horseback Derby. This was the first time he was ever handled off of horseback. His aggressive, classy forward hunting was rewarded with three letter-perfect finds. On each find Cliff was not only high-tailed and intense but he maintains that composure after the flush and shot. He added a back of his bracemate for good measure in besting a field of veteran horseback handlers and their charges.

Cliff notched another nice placement in which he registered multiple finished finds at the Arcadia FTC in RI, September 25. The Arcadia grounds are completely different from those in his previous derby wins. Dry, sandy with brutal scrub oak. Undeterred, he rendered a powerful hunting effort and his birdwork was again steady-to-wing and shot.