Continuing on her hot start to the fall trial season, Straight Forward, our 7-year old female, was announced as the winner at the New England Open Grouse Championship, September 23, 2016. The Kilkenny Management Area of the White Mountain National Forest, NH, saw 53 pointers and setters vie for the title. Drawn in the first brace of the event on Monday, “Cracker” went out and put on a display of hard, forward, intelligent hunting which yielded two sharply executed stylish grouse finds. At the end of the hour everyone in the gallery knew they had seen a very special bird dog performance. Indeed the entire field, which featured many grouse notables with multiple finds, did not eclipse “Cracker’s” effort. Recall “Cracker” was RU Ch. at the NY Grouse Ch. two weeks earlier. She’s an exceptional bird dog and trainer/handler Dave Hughes has brought out the best in her.