Straight Forward stood in the Championship circle for the fifth time as the announcement was made that she is the 2015 Runner-Up Champion at the prestigious Pennsylvania Grouse Championship. With 70 dogs competing for the crown, “Cracker” put forward her typical hard driving, snappy and far-reaching hunting effort. Relentless describes how she approaches the task of finding and pointing grouse. Again, “Cracker” showed her intelligence and savvy in handling a running bird. At 35 “Cracker” came into the area where her bracemate had just been released from an unproductive point. Just some fifty yards from that scene she pointed. Dave Hughes, her handler, flushed but no bird was put to flight. He tapped “Cracker” to ‘go on’ and she raced another 75 yards and slammed onto point. This time the elusive running grouse was flushed. From here “Cracker” finished her hour with forward, in the pocket, application. Earlier in the fall, “Cracker” was also Runner-Up Champion at the New York Grouse Championship. In both cases the event’s Champion was Ch. Grouse Hill Belle, a fabulous pointer owned by John Cappocci and handled by John Stolgitis.