Event: Little Miss Bella Named Champion; Super Storm, Runner-Up
Result: Region 1 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Exeter, Rhode Island

Post Date: Jun 8, 2023

Submitted By: Richard Giuliano

Region 1 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship Winners (front, l-r): Little Miss Bella with Tim Cavanaugh (owner) and Super Storm with Thor Cain (owner). (Behind): Sarah Conyngham (judge) and Mitch Swierczynski (judge). [Photo by Jennifer Broome, Artistry Afield].

The 2023 Region 1 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship, hosted by the Arcadia Field Trial Club, took place at the Arcadia Management Area in Exeter, R. I., on the weekend of April 15-16. The stake drew 20 entrants consisting of nine setters and 11 pointers.

Sarah Conyngham from Hope Valley, R. I., and Mitch Swierczynski from nearby Griswold, Conn., judged this year's event. Both train and handle Brittanys in competition and know firsthand what a championship performance should be. They were attentive to each participant, and their decision was well received.

It takes plenty of work to host an event of this importance, and the Region can be proud of those individuals that rose to the challenge. Bob Fleury was in charge of having water on the course, Dick Bembenek released birds and drove the gallery truck, and Jane Fogarty helped prepare our lunch and made sure the cocktail party went off without a hitch. Our club members, Lanny Dellinger, and Jaime Nee, ran dogs and filled in wherever needed. All in all, the trial was well organized and, truly, a fun-filled event. Thank you all.

The Nestle Purina Company provided the winner and runner-up with complimentary Pro Plan Performance dog food. Thank you to Purina and rep Greg Blair for their continued support.

The champion and runner-up were repeats from last year's event. Winning, again, was Little Miss Bella, a pointer female owned, trained, and handled by owner Tim Cavanaugh from East Hampton, Conn. Tim is active in all phases of the sport and is a force in our area. Thor Kain, from Carbondale, Pa., is also heavily involved as a competitor, an officer in the U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association, and a club official. Thor handled his setter male, Super Storm, to the runner-up position.

On behalf of Region 1, we want to thank everyone who participated in this year's event
and hope to see you next year.

Exeter, R. I., April 15
Judges: Sarah Conyngham and Mitch Swierczynski
REGION 1 AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 11 Pointers and 9 Setters
Winner--LITTLE MISS BELLA, 1664328, pointer female, by Chasehill Little Bud-Shaula. Tim Cavanaugh, owner and handler.
Runner-Up--SUPER STORM, 1675530, setter male, by Pennstar-Straight Forward. Thor Kain, owner and handler.