Event: Grouse Ridge Mags Wins 34th Running of the
Result: Michigan Woodcock Championship

Location: Gladwin, Michigan

Post Date: Dec 18, 2023

Submitted By: Members of the Ruffed Grouse Field Trial

Michigan Woodcock Championship Winners (l-r): Bryan Wood (field trial chairman), Christy Forman, Scott Forman with Grouse Ridge Mags, Bob Wheelock (judge), Brent Peters (judge), Robert Ecker with Blue Ribbon's Harper Bella, and Craig Merlington (club president).

It was a collaborative effort by the members of the Ruffed Grouse Field Trial Club. "Four days, 23 braces, 51 grouse and 55 woodcock. Every course held multiple birds."

That was the 34th running of the Ruffed Grouse Field Trials Club's running of the Michigan Woodcock Championship in a nutshell. As with all wild bird trials, one of the biggest questions is always the same. Will the birds be there? Well, this year, there was no doubt that the answer was yes! Fifty-one grouse and 55 woodcock were witnessed during the 23 braces. Every course had multiple birds! This made for some tough judging, as 23 dogs finished their runs, all with clean bird work. A quality Championship indeed!

Starting October 11 at the famed Gladwin Field Trial Grounds, 46 dogs were drawn to run under judgment from two well-known and respected judges, Bob Wheelock and Brent Peters. A staple of Gladwin field trials, club vice president Bryan Wood once again reigned over the trial as stakes manager.

This year's championship win was awarded to a beautiful tri-color female setter by the name of Grouse Ridge Mags. Mags was handled by the veteran trainer and handler Scott Forman. Runner-up champion went to another veteran trialer, Robert Ecker, with a black and white pointer named Blue Ribbon's Harper Bella. Both dogs put on a performance not to be forgotten!

As with every cover dog trial, it took many people to keep things running smoothly. Many thanks go to Rich and Jenny Hollister as the horse wranglers, whose steady steeds make the judges' duties much easier. These horses know the courses and are as steady as any you will ever find. Additionally, many hands were on deck to help with marshaling, moving vehicles, and providing lunches. The RGFTC has added a number of new directors and members in the past couple of years, and they really stepped up! Chris Wasserman, our new vice president, handled the puppy stake. Club directors Rob Ellis, Lonnie Rademacher, and Marc Dozeman all marshaled, moved vehicles, and helped out in any and every way needed. Members Betsy Dozeman and Sami Libby provided snacks and yummy food for lunches. Club president Craig Merlington was there, marshaling, providing donut break refreshments, and generally keeping everything running smoothly. Club secretary Tammy Chaffee handled the financial duties and helped out where needed. In addition, members Mike Rosario and Travis Burnett stepped up and judged the accompanying derby and puppy stakes. There were many more who pitched in, too numerous to remember, but we thank them all.

Once more, a huge shout-out must go to Purina for their continued support of the cover dog world. Purina provided certificates for bags of dog food for the championship winners and coupons for discounts on dog food for the derby and puppy stake winners.

The Winners
This is a first-time championship win for Grouse Ridge Mags, a 3-year-old female setter owned by William (Billy) Ballin III of Norwich, New York, and handled by Scott Forman of Shady Hills Kennel. Billy raised this litter, sired by Shady Hills Whiskey Bonfire out of Grouse Ridge Jaz, a dog from the famous Grouse Ridge Kennels. Whiskey himself is a previous Michigan Woodcock champion. Mags is a family dog, being raised in the house with the Ballin crew, among them Billy, his wife Rachel, and their three children, Fyn, Bryn, and Liam. You will often see this family at trials held at the Flanagan Farm.

Mags ran in brace No. 8 on courses 11-12, which is a mixture of covers starting with scrub oaks, a swamp ravine into an older poplar cut. Mags wasted no time in connecting with her first find, a proper relocation on a running grouse at the 8-minute mark. As a result of the relocation, the group got behind the bracemate, and Mags made for the front, with scout Christy Forman keeping contact with Mags until Scott could make the front. At the end of course 11, at the 55-minute mark, scout Christy and judge Wheelock found Mags on point with a pair of woodcock. Brought back to the course and heading to the crossover to course 12, Mags again locked up in the cut at the start of 12, and a covey of grouse was put to flight as time ran out. A fitting end to a championship performance.

This year's runner-up is Blue Ribbon's Harper Bella, a female pointer owned by Martin Festa and handled by Robert Ecker. Marty is a hands-on owner and has hunted, trialed, and plays a major role in her development. This is not Harper's first appearance in the winners' circle. She previously was named champion in the 2022 Northern New England Woodcock Championship in Fryeburg, Maine, with a nine-woodcock find hour. She also won the U. S. Complete Great Lakes Regional Championship last May at Highland, Michigan.

Harper ran in brace No. 13 on courses 5-6. Course 5 has plenty of open spaces for a dog to roam, while course 6 has multiple types of bird cover. Harper's race was wide and forward and required minimal handling while scouting out all the available cover. At the last minute, in a young, thick poplar cut, Harper's bell went silent. Upon reaching her, a woodcock was flushed as time ran out, with Harper displaying perfect manners.

Brace by Brace
Day 1
Brace No. 1--Miller's Hopped Up Version (PF/M. Hughes) and Pine Straw's Cover Queen (ESF/Ellis) on courses 13-14. The weather was cool and cloudy, and the first brace of the championship was away at 8:15 a.m. At 20, both dogs' bells came to a stop some distance from the course. A divided grouse find was credited to both dogs, with Cover Queen, unfortunately, taking it for a ride. At the 45-minute mark, Version was lost, and Hughes asked for the tracker.

Brace No. 2--Pistol Patch Bullet (PM/S. Forman) and Flambeau River Meg (ESF/Colglazier) on courses 15-16. Pistol suffered an unproductive at 8 while Meg scored on a grouse at 31. Pistol and Meg went on point at the juncture of 15 and 16 at 35. Both dogs were released to relocate, and a woodcock was handled by Meg while a second also took flight from the area. Shortly thereafter, Forman elected to leash Bullet. At 45, Meg connected with a second grouse.

Brace No. 3--Westwind Big Jake (PM/M. Hughes) and Bo (PM/Ecker) on course 1-2. At 45 Bo had a pair of woodcock. At 56, Bo pointed another woodcock. Hughes elected to pick up at the road crossing on course 2.

Brace No. 4--Braggabull (PF/M. Hughes) and Ponderosa's Copper Penny (ESF/Ellis) on course 3-4. Penny pointed at 24 with Braggabull honoring, but no bird was flown. At 44, Penny stood again with no bird. At 46, Braggabull had a woodcock find, followed by a second find at 54. At 56, Penny pointed again with Bragabull backing. With a relocation after time, Penny scored on a woodcock.

Brace No. 5--Kalamity Cinder (IS/ Sloan) and Timberdoodle Farms Sal (PF/M. Forman) on course 5-6. Sal had a grouse find on course 6 before the tote road, and Cinder was lost to judgment.

Brace No. 6--Backwoods Wild Fire Blaze (PM/Hughes) and Grouse Hill Bullet Proof (ESM/S. Forman) on course 7-8. Blaze was lost at the breakaway, and Forman called for the tracker for Proof shortly thereafter.

Day 2
Brace No. 7--Jarsway Leroy (ESM/Hughes) and Mountain Top Ryn (ESF/M. Forman) on course 9-10. Cool and clear morning for the start of Day 2. Leroy scored a woodcock at 20, and Ryn had a woodcock at 30 and 35. Leroy scored again on another woodcock at 40, then was picked up. Ryn had a woodcock at 45.

Brace No. 8--Grouse Ridge Mags (ESF/S. Forman) and Peach (ESF/Holmes) on course 11-12. Mags' performance as the champion was reported. Peach pointed a woodcock at 44 and a second at 57.

Brace No. 9--Full Breeze (ESF/D. Hughes) and Stan (ESM/Fruchey) on course 13-14. Full Breeze ended his bid at the road crossing on 13. Stan was leashed at 50.

Brace No. 10--Roy (ESM/Mueller) and Parabellum (ESF/Ecker) on course 15-16. Ecker elected to pick Parabellum at 12, and Roy was leashed at the end of course 15.

Brace No. 11--Wayward Flyin Tomato (ESM/M. Hughes) and Speck (ESF/Merlington) on course 1-2. Speck had woodcock finds at 25 and 40 and was leashed. Tomato had a woodcock at 41.

Brace No. 12--Game Winner (ESF/D. Hughes) and Warrior's Mean Louie (PM/Kivikko) on course 3-4. Louie produced a woodcock at 40 and then was lost to judgment. Game Winner was picked up at the half.

Day 3
Brace No. 13--Travel Alert (ESM/Holmes) and Blue Ribbon's Harper Bella (ESF/Ecker) on course 5-6. Another cool and cloudy morning to begin the day. Harper's runner-up performance was reported. Alert ran to the edges but had no bird encounters.

Brace No. 14--Mojo's Remington Steal (ESF/Hughes) and Shady Hills Zeena (PF/M. Forman) on course 7-8. Zena scored a woodcock at 2, a grouse at 10, another grouse at 12, with a third at 15. Remington was up at 13. Zeena continued and had woodcock at 45 and at 48, then finished with a grouse at 59.

Brace No. 15--Double Deuce Zeke (PM/Hughes) and Dun Rovens Midnite Ike (ESM/Ecker) on course 9-10. Zeke had a woodcock find at 7, with Ike scoring third at 38. Ike added another woodcock find at 55. Zeke had a final find at time.

Brace No. 16--Warrior Zeke (PM/Hughes) and Shady Hills Whiskey Bonfire (ESM/S. Forman) on course 11-12. Whiskey had a stop to flush on a triple of grouse at 12. Both dogs were picked up at the road crossing on 12.

Brace No. 17--Mulberry Fields Molly (ESF/Hughes) and Grouse Hill Pepper (PF/S. Forman) on course 13-14. Both dogs were leashed by the half.

Brace No. 18--French's Grouseringer Woody (ESM/M. Forman) and Bundy's Buckeye Molly (ESF/Erne) on course 15-16. Molly had a woodcock find at 4 and additionally had two more woodcock finds on course 16. A divided find on a grouse was credited for the pair on course 16.

Day 4
Brace No. 19--A Distant Spec (PF/Hughes) and Jack (ESM/Ecker) on course 1-2. Point was called off the breakaway for Spec, with Jack honoring. Spec sent on to relocate, but no bird was seen. Spec was subsequently leashed at 31. Jack was picked up at 23.

Brace No. 20--Suemac's Sashay (PF/Hughes) and Rowling's Star (ESF/S. Forman) on course 3-4. Star scored a woodcock at 43, with Sashay carding one at 46. Star pointed a second woodcock at 47 and was seen under a group of spooky woodcock at 52.

Brace No. 21--Flambeau River Annie (ESF/Colglazier) and Mac Daddy (ESM/Dozeman) on course 5-6. Annie had a grouse at 50 and Mac stood a woodcock at time.

Brace No. 22--Miller's Special Upgrade (PF/Hughes) and Blast Off (ESM/M. Forman) on course 7-8. Blast off handled a woodcock at 30. Upgrade was up at 25.

Brace No. 23--Deciding Point (ESF/D. Hughes) and Tea (PF/Ecker) on course 9-10. Ecker elected to pick up on course 9. Point had two woodcock finds, then walked off point on the third.

Gladwin, Mich., October 10
Judges: Brent Peters and Bob Wheelock
MICHIGAN WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP
[One-Hour Heats] - 16 Pointers, 29 Setters, and 1 Irish Setter
Winner-GROUSE RIDGE MAGS, 1696739, setter female, by Shady Hills Whiskey Bonfire-Grouse Ridge Jaz. William Ballin III, owner; Scott Forman, handler.
Runner-Up-BLUE RIBBON'S HARPER BELLA, 1682768, pointer female, by Bud of Piney Woods-Blue Ribbon Bella. Martin Festa, owner; R. J. Ecker, Jr., handler.
Bill Wendt Memorial Open Derby Stake
This stake was judged by Travis Burnett and Shane Haskins, who presided over a field of 25 young potentials. The winner was Grouse Feather Tilly, handled by Rich Hollister. Tilly ran a hard hunting race with multiple finds on both woodcock and grouse. Second was Liam's Little Wallace, handled by Marc Forman, who carded a grouse find on course one, coupled with a hard-charging race. Third was Mac Sullivan, handled by Tammy Chaffee. Sully covered all the likely places and was rewarded with a woodcock find on course 10.

Bill Wendt Memorial Open Derby Winners (l-r): Bryan Wood (field trial chairman), Travis Burnett (judge), Rich Hollister with Grouse Feather Tilly, Shane Haskins (judge), Marc Forman with Liam's Little Wallace, and Tammy Chaffee with Mac Sullivan.

Judges: Travis Burnett and Shane Haskin
BILL WENDT MEMORIAL OPEN DERBY - 6 Pointers and 19 Setters
1st-GROUSE FEATHER TILLY, 1703250, setter female, by Grouse Feather Hawk-GF Southern Belle. Custis Coleman Jr., owner; Richard Hollister, handler.
2d-LIAM'S LITTLE WALLACE, 1704025, pointer male, by Double Deuce Zeke-Shady Hills Zeena. Liam Patrick Ballin, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
3d-MAC SULLIVAN, 1703646, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Springpond's Autumn Adeline. Leeann Parnell, owner; Tammy Chaffee, handler.

Kim Kinne Memorial Open Puppy Stake
The puppies were judged by Mike Singleton and Mike Rosario, utilizing the new puppy course. First place was Twilight's Flying Solo ("Jaxx"), handled by Marc Forman. Jaxx covered the course well with a hunting purpose. Jaxx's littermate, Twilight's Problem Child, also handled by Marc Forman, was a close second, showing the same potential. Third was Sutter's Little Red Vixen, with a quick-moving race to the appropriate cover.

Judges: Mike Rosario and Mike Singleton
KIM KINNE MEMORIAL OPEN PUPPY - 1 Pointers and 12 Setters
1st-TWILIGHT'S FLYING SOLO, 1706123, setter male, by Wayward Flying Tomato-Twilight's Echoed Promise. Mark Deneka, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
2d-TWILIGHT'S PROBLEM CHILD, 1706124, setter female, by Wayward Flyin Tomato-Twilight's Echoed Promise. Marc Deneka, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
3d-SUTTER'S LITTLE RED VIXEN, 1706341, setter female, by Sutter's Backwoods Rumble-Dun Roven Briar. Paula Giulitto, owner; Richard Hollister, handler.

Kim Kinne Memorial Open Puppy Winners (l-r): Chris Wasserman (club vice president) and his son Theo, Marc Forman with Twilight's Flying Solo, Mike Rosario (judge), Deb Nihart with Twilight's Problem Child, Mike Singleton (judge), and Rich Hollister with Sutter's Little Red Vixen.