Result: Beaverton Grouse Dog Club

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: May 9, 2025

Submitted By: Tom Fruchey

Wayne Fruchey Open Shooting Dog Classic (back row, l-r): Christy Helmes (judge), Tom Fruchey, Roger Johnson, and Dave Heavlin (judge). (Front row): Ken Moss with Moss Meadow Seeker, Chuck Rowling with Rowling's Star, and Bert Benshoof with Moss Meadow Distant Belle.

The Beaverton Grouse Dog Club held its annual spring trial April 18-19. While this year's event coincided with the running of the Grand National Invitational in upstate New York, the thought was that it would be a very small trial. That speculation proved wrong as we had a very good turnout of new and older amateurs attending this year's running to compete with their dogs, making for a very successful trial!

The Beaverton Club would like to offer many thanks to our panel of judges who volunteered their time to carefully watch over the field of contestants and give their unbiased opinions for the outcome of each event, and all their decisions were well-received. The Club also would like to thank all who helped marshal, moved cars, and assisted in many ways to make for a most enjoyable two days in the field. A special thanks to Jenny Hollister for providing and wrangling the horses for our judges, making for smooth transitions between courses and events.
The second running of the Wayne Fruchey Open Shooting Dog Classic drew 34 entries. It was capably judged by Dave Heavlin and Christy Helmes. While the warm and dry conditions made birdwork tough to come by, Moss Meadow Seeker, owned and handled by Ken Moss, rose to the occasion to collect the blue followed close by Rowling's Star, owned and handled by Chuck Rowling, to capture the red and Moss Meadow Distant Belle, owned and handled by Bert Benshoof, brought home the yellow ribbon!

The Michigan Grouse Dog Puppy Classic was judged by Club President Shane Haskin and Director Jeff Sweet. First place went to Ahoy Captain Boomer, owned by Danial Gehring and handled by Thom Butler. Second place was awarded to White Indian Outlaw, owned and handled by Thom Butler. Erin's Green River, owned and handled by Mike Francus, rounded out the placements by taking home the yellow ribbon, all showing the potential of becoming supreme classy grouse dogs!

The Eaton Spring Derby Classic ran on Saturday and drew 20 youngsters to the starting line. This stake was very capably judged by Bert Benshoof and Travis Whitfield. First place was awarded to "Honey," a pointer female handled by Bruce Minard. Taking second place was a female setter owned and handled by Jerry Furnish named Clover Valley's Evans. Third place went to Rowling's Donna, a setter female owned and handled by Chuck Rowling. Once again, the youngsters proved there is a lot of good potential talent coming up from the farm club to make for a strong all-age league in the near future!

Meredith, Mich., April 18
Judges: Dave Heavlin and Christy Helmes
WAYNE FRUCHEY OPEN SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC - 10 Pointers, 22 Setters, and 2 Brittanys
1st-MOSS MEADOW SEEKER, F1676726, setter male, by Moss Meadow Rambler-Moss Meadow Maggie. Ken Moss, owner and handler.
2d-ROWLING'S STAR, F1675772, setter female, by Long Gone Studly-Rowling's Nike. Chuck Rowling, owner and handler.
3d-MOSS MEADOW DISTANT BELLE, F1697793, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Moss Meadow Kate. Bert Benshoof, owner and handler.

Eaton Spring Derby Classic (l-r): Nick Mellon, Bruce Minard with Wilhites Michigan Honey, Bert Benshoof (judge), Jerry Furnish with Clover Valley's Evans, Travis Whitfield (judge), and Chuck Rowling with Rowling's Donna.

Judges: Bert Benshoof and Travis Whitfield
EATON SPRING DERBY CLASSIC - 4 Pointers, 15 Setters, and 3 Brittanys
1st-WILHITES MICHIGAN HONEY, F1706758, pointer female, by Titanium's Hammer-B K Rolling Dice. Nathan Wilhite, owner; Bruce Minard, handler.
2d-CLOVER VALLEY'S EVANS, F1705659, setter female, by Northwoods Atlas-Clover Valley's Millie. Jerry Furnish, owner and handler.
3d-ROWLING'S DONNA, F1710740, setter female, by Moss Meadow Seeker-Rowling's Star. Chuck Rowling, owner and handler.

Judges: Shane Haskin and Jeff Sweet
MICHIGAN GROUSE DOG PUPPY CLASSIC - 6 Pointers
1st-AHOY CAPTAIN BOOMER, F1714641, pointer male, by Hifives Rolling Stone-Speed Dialing Kaia. Daniel Gehring, owner; Tom Butler, handler.
2d-WHITE INDIAN OUTLAW, F1709779, pointer male, by Light of Day-Perkins Beautiful Disaster. Thom Butler, owner and handler.
3d-ERIN'S GREEN RIVER, F1713040, pointer male, by Erin's Grey Justice-Erin's Red Smoke. Mike Francus, owner and handler.

Michigan Grouse Dog Puppy Classic (front row, l-r): Racheal Butler with Ahoy Captain Boomer, Thom Butler with White Indian Outlaw, and Mike Francus with Erin's Green River. (Back row): Tom Fruchey and Roger Johnson.