Author: janetbob

Straight Forward, daughter of Pennstar, was 2nd at the Venango Grouse Trial Club Open Derby, 11/14/2010.  This adds to a string of wins she has recorded this fall including 1st at the Pennsylvania Grouse Trial Club Open Derby, 2nd at the West Branch Grouse Trial Club Open Derby,and  3rd at the Nittany Valley Open Derby.  “Cracker” is among the leading contenders for the Flanagan Award for the top cover dog derby.  “Cracker” has become known for her drive and running class–two ‘must-have’ qualities for an all-age cover dog prospect.  She has handled birds with derby manners in each of these wins.  “Cracker’s” wins are a testament to her breeding,  Keystone Red Rage x Quixstar.  She is very much like her Mom who unfortunately passed away this month (11/10) at a young age.  Speed, flash and  remarkable bird handling ability were marks of Quixstar and we hope Straight Forward will continue to enhance her record and her abilities as she matures.

Sorber Run Serena, dam of Grand National Grouse Champion Full Tilt and multiple all-age grouse winner Bold Move, has died.  Serena was a dog bred by our kennel mating Grindstone to Scirrocco.  Grindstone was by Body Guard and Grindstone’s influence on the speed and flashiness of Serena’s offspring was obvious.  Grindstone was an exceptionally classy dog and this was passed on through to the next generations.  Serena’s dam was also sired by Grand National Grouse Ch. Body Guard.  Body Guard’s drive is apparent in Serena and her pups.

Serena was whelped in our kennel in the same year that we had a litter by Super Ghost x Ch. Northern Anndee.  This litter by Super Ghost produced two exciting pups who would go on to make a significant mark on the breed–Pennstar and his sister First Option.   In workouts that year, 2000, Serena had two formidable competitors for space on our dog truck.  Eventually we sold Serena to Donnie Spencer of Sugar Valley, PA, and he placed her–most notably winning the Lancaster County Open Derby with Pennstar 2nd.  Later, Donnie sold her to his buddy going back to high school days, Walt Konopke of Noxen, PA.  Walt used her to hunt grouse the rest of her life.  Through the generosity of Walt, we were able to lease Serena to produce litters by Pennstar.   It is from the first mating that we  got Full Tilt.  After she won the Flanagan Award, we repeated the mating and got our Bold Move.  Two terrific dogs that are currently competing  at the top of our sport is a great legacy made possible by Sorber Run Serena.  As Walt said when he reported her passing to me, “She went out on top–the dam of the reigning Grand National Grouse Champion”.

Jumpstart, daughterof Pennstar, won the prestigous Harold Y. Cooper Amateur Shooting Dog stake in mid-October, 2010.  Jumpstart was handled by her owner Mike Spotts of Bloomsburg, PA.   The Cooper Classic is a highlight stake of the Pennsylvania Amateur Grouse Trial Club’s fall program and has been run for decades with notable dogs having claimed this win.  “Woodie” had a fast, snappy and hard-driving race similar to those she put down in other starts and wins this fall (including 1st in the West Branch Open All-Age).  She interspersed her hunting with four perfectly handled and stylish finds to grab the first prize.

Wintergreen Max, son of Pennstar, was Runner-Up Champion at the inaugural running of the Northern Michigan Cover Dog Championship which began October 24, 2010.   The 86 dog draw is one of the largest fields ever to compete in a coverdog stake.  Max put forth a thrilling effort on the ground and near time point was called.  The one judge said he saw a grouse run from the cover.  “Mickey” Fancher of Hubertus, Wisconsin, Max’s owner and handler, showed confidence in his dog when he tapped him to relocate.  Mickey held his breath as Max ripped forward and then jammed up on point.  The grouse was put to wing with Max standing tall and steady.  This win adds to Max’s record that includes having won the Wisconsin Grouse Championship.

Fernwood Cove Bella won the 66th Grand National Grouse Futurity held at Milan, NH the last weekend of October, 2010.  Bella, daughter of Pennstar ex Magic Mist Bandit, is owned by Maine resident, Jim Gill of Harrisoin, ME.  She was handled by her breeder and trainer, Joe Dahl also from Bangor, ME.

 

 Bella had a forward, hard hunting race capped by a solid grouse find with good manners.   She’s a stylish dog who flows over the ground easily.  You could tell that she had been hunted hard in the weeks prior to the running by her owner as she went to the objectives in her search and was rewarded.  Bella began her winning with a placement in the Grand National Grouse Puppy Classic last spring and then she went on to also win this fall’s prestigous North American Woodcock Futurity.