Power Forward got her fall campaign off and running with a fine effort at the Northern Bucks FTC event held October 3, 2020 at Clear Springs, MD. “Abby” had been on injured reserve status with a deep juncture wound in her paw. She’s recovered after weeks of not being able to train or trial. At Northern Bucks, “Abby” racked up 3 quail finds to go along with a sharp stop-to-flush on a covey and 2 backs of her bracemate. The 20-dog stake was loaded with quality contenders and “Abby’s” 3rd place win was well earned. It’s good to have her back in action as she’s been running hard and fast and showing a lot of desire since returning from her injury.
Super Storm Liz continued her remarkable string of first place derby wins at the Northern Bucks FTC, held at Clear Springs, MD, October 3, 2020. The Amateur Derby was not a big stake but “Liz” put on a show that those who saw it will long remember. She hunted the 30 minute course with drive and a clear desire to find game. She was found standing, sometimes hundreds of yards ahead, in fencerows with quail accurately located. Four times Thor declared that he could no longer hear “Liz’s” bell and that she must be on point. Four times his or scouts search was rewarded finding her buried in cover. On each occasion “Liz” demonstrated shooting dog manners as birds were produced. She finished going away. Some who had ridden all the stakes, including the horseback open stakes the previous day, remarked that hers was the finest performance they’d witnessed in the entire trial.
No Limit, Thor’s setter female, got herself rolling in the Amateur Shooting Dog stake at the Sandy Valley FTC Amateur Shooting Dog stake, Falls, PA, September 26, 2020 placing 3rd. “Zoey” had herself a hayday over the well-maintained grounds at DeCoverly Kennels. Flying from one objective to another the classy girl found birds on five occasions. Her 3 stand tall finds were mixed in with a stop to flush on a running pheasant and a stop-on-the-dime stf on a large quail covey that got up on their own as “Zoey” screeched to a halt. Speedy, flashy and hard driving “Zoey” kept Thor busy fully engaged up with her and going to her birdwork. From here “Zoey’ headed home to her other and most favorite job as babysitter for Thor’s 1 year old son, Jackson.
Super Storm, Thor and Bob’s male setter, continued his Fall ’20 win streak at the Sandy Valley Field Trial Club Shooting Dog stake, September 26, 2020. The event was held on a cloudy, drizzly day at the headquarters of DeCoverly Kennels, Falls, PA. Thor handled “Fed” who fired over the course, driving hard from one objective to another. At 12 “Fed’s” bell stopped on a fencerow 75 yards ahead. As Thor went to him his bell started up briefly and then stopped. A running covey was now pinned in the fencerow–a masterful job. On across the open fields and through the woods section of the course, “Fed” could be seen ahead, flashing the running style he’s become known for. Another sharp find on the back course was followed by a ‘going away’ finish which propelled him to 2nd place in the 20 dog stake. It’s “Fed’s” third win this fall.
Super Storm Cliff , Bob and Thor’s young son of Blast Zone ex Gold Rush, scored 2nd at the Sandy Valley FTC Amateur Puppy, September 26, 2020. “Cliff”, handled by Bob, found the grounds at the famed DeCoverly Kennels, Falls, PA to his liking. Open fields, switchgrass rows and thick, woody fencerows are identifying features of this northeastern Pennsylvania bird dog training and hunting facility. “Cliff” capped his solid hunting effort with a find at time where he stopped 100+ yards ahead in a bottom. “Cliff’s” bell had gone dead just moments before time was called. He was found standing tall and intense and credited with a find on a chukar that survived from previous hunts.
Super Storm Liz, our daughter of Blast Zone, continued her winning ways this fall adding three terrific derby wins to her earlier 1st place win at the Mohegan BDC. Thor Kain handled “Liz” to all her placements. At the Ridgerunners BDC, 9/12, Liz had two sharp finds to go with her well applied, forward ground effort to earn 1st in the amateur derby in their US Complete event. The next day, 9/13, Sandy Valley BDC was running a horseback derby trial over the same Freeland Kennel Club grounds that Ridgerunners used the previous day. While we don’t generally run horseback and while Liz had never been worked off of horseback, we entered her and she responded with another fine job. Without hardly noticing that her handler was on a horse, “Liz” took off and at 10 point was called 150 yards off the path by her scout. This find was handled with shooting dog manners as was her second find that came on the back course. Throughout “Liz” reached forward demonstrating her exceptional cracky, snappy way of going. She has a lot of eye appeal in motion. The following weekend, 9/20, Thor traveled to RI to the Acadia trial and in their amateur derby she added her 4th win of the early fall season scoring two finds in dry, dusty conditions that had bird finding at a premium. She earned second place for her effort.
Super Storm’s three sharp finds at the Ridgerunners trial, September 12, earned him another shooting dog placement as the fall 2020 trial season gets rolling. It took a strong effort to be in the money with the 24 dog stake featuring many multiple find performances. “Fed” drove hard over the Freeland Kennel Club grounds searching and being rewarded for his effort with well located finds on three occasions. Despite the warming temperatures “Fed” stayed busy and forward throughout placing him in good position to connect with game. Down the stretch he finished going away with enthusiasm.
Super Storm, our young male setter, kicked off the fall trial season with an exciting performance to win the Peter Ecker Amateur Shooting Dog Classic held at the Murphy Farm, Lake Ariel, PA, on August 22, 2020. “Fed” was in the first brace of the event that was run on pre-released and wild birds. The cover on the farm featured fields with high, thick weeds and fence rows thick with vines and saplings. “Fed” attacked the cover with enthusiasm and determination. He’s a machine in motion reflecting traits from his sire, Pennstar, and dam , Straight Forward. Flashy and eye-catching, “Fed” bore forward with a single-mindedness to his task. At about the 10-minute mark point was called for “Fed”. Thor Kain, handler, approached the tall standing setter and flushed a covey of quail for “Fed”. No quail were released this year on the farm. On they continued and again point was called in thicker cover off the mowed path. This time “Fed” had a pheasant pointed and it was quickly flushed, cackling as the cock departed. Manners ideal. Throughout the remainder of the brace “Fed” continued to hunt going well ahead and deep into the bird haunts the farm is known for. After all 20 of the entrants were run, “Fed’s” efforts stood up as the most outstanding of the day and a super start to his fall season.
Super Storm Liz, sired by Blast Zone, got off to a fast start in her derby career with a 1st place win at the Mohegan Bird Dog Club trials held on the Murphy farm, Lake Ariel, PA, August 22, 2020. “Liz” hunted fast and forward over the farm where the cover was thick and high. She dug in with determination and drive. Near the halfway point, handlers and gallery came over the top of a knoll and there ahead 40 yards was “Liz” jacked up high on both ends. She was picture on point that will last in our minds for a long while. Her bracemate came on the scene and milled about with “Liz” motionless. The chukar was put to wing and “Liz” stood like a statue. From there she continued to pour on the energy despite the August temperatures. At the pickup the gallery knew they’d seen a special performance from a very young setter and the judicial panel agreed with one claiming it was the best derby performance he’d ever seen.
Super Storm Nell, Jeremy Avery’s young derby, got off to a solid start in her first derby event as she placed 2nd at the Setter Club of New England Open Derby, August 29, 2020. Adam Dubriske handled Nell for Jeremy. “Nell”, sired by Blast Zone, was bred by Jeremy. Bob Watts picked up Nell as an 8 week old pup and started her at his kennel partnered with Thor Kain. “Nell” showed strong potential. At about 6 months of age, Jeremy called and said he loved his pup from the litter and wanted us to look at her as he felt his pup deserved a shot at going to the top trials which Thor and Bob attend. We were highly impressed with the pup when Jeremy sent us video. We switched pups, “Nell” went to Jeremy and “Liz” came to Bob and Thor. This was a good move for both dogs as “Nell” won the Ridgerunners Amateur Puppy in the spring of ’20 to verify her ability and “Liz” just won the Mohegan Open Derby. Everyone is happy for these two young females.
Also, in the same open derby stake, Doug Dix placed his female also sired by Blast Zone. Details on “Suzie’s” performance weren’t available at the time of this report. Good luck to this duo throughout the fall.
