Super Storm, owned by Thor Kain and bred in our kennel, won 2nd place in the 71st Grand National Grouse Puppy Classic. “Fed” (originally named by Bob after his tennis idol Roger Federer) got right to business and he stayed right at it throughout his heat held March 31 at the Black Ash Club grounds, Guys Mills, PA. Staying forward, occasionally drifting out of sight then showing to the front, “Fed” flowed through the course from objective to objective–clearly hunting his way for the thirty minutes. He finished like he started. “Fed” showed his promise in trials last fall by winning the Nittany Valley Grouse Trial Open Puppy. However, it is in workouts on Thor’s training grounds where “Fed” really won over believers. He’s surely pointed more than 100 wild birds in his first year, standing nearly all until the flush. He has a remarkable knack for sticking woodcock and showing just enough respect for grouse to get them pointed without bumping them. He is magnificent on point. Planning goes into any winner of the Grand National Puppy Classic as their mating must be nominated into the Grouse Futurity for which fees are paid at the time of mating and after whelping. Planning even farther in advance occurred in “Fed’s” case as his sire is 5x wild bird Ch. Pennstar. We froze Pennstar’s semen and this is the first time that we have used it for ourselves. Precious as this semen is to us, we were quick to employ it in mating to our 9x Ch/RU Ch. and 3x Seminatore Award winner Straight Forward. While there were only 4 pups in the litter, we have kept two, “Fed” and his sister Deciding Point who won the 27 dog Nittany Valley Open Puppy a few weeks earlier. We are thrilled to get these two quality pups to hopefully carry on some of our most productive bloodlines and individuals.