Result: National Brittany Open Grouse Championship Association

Location: Meredith, Michigan

Post Date: Jun 5, 2025

Submitted By: Kenny DeLong

Jack Plyler Memorial Open Derby Classic (l-r): Christys Kaylee Girl with Christy Helmes, John Paul Jones (judge), Anna Lake Kali with Mark Forman, Bill Yant, and Meadowink Rae of Sunshine with Scott Chaffee.

The last weekend in April saw a big entry of 97 bird dogs compete at the fabled Gladwin grounds over a three-day stretch, with dozens of fine four-leggeds of all ages showing their stuff.
While not super abundant due to very dry conditions and a month of trialing preceding our event (the last of the season), birds were flown everywhere: 15 grouse and an equal number of woodcock over the long weekend. A woodcock was even pointed staunchly on the Puppy course!

Thank you to everyone who entered dogs, watched dogs, moved vehicles, provided food, snacks, and walked braces, and shared stories! Thanks to the Hollister wranglers. Thanks to Steve McKalko for preparing our sumptuous tailgate lunches. Thank you to Purina and Greg Blair for supporting the sport we all love so much. Nice to have dog food for the winners! It was a great weekend! Fun and fellowship with old friends and welcome new faces.

Judges Shane Haskin and Joe Wohlfort trained their eyes on a formidable field of 42 Open Shooting Dogs Friday and Saturday, with plenty of fine ground races and some very nice birdwork. Named to the top spot was the seasoned setter Sid, a frequent visitor to the winners' circle, owned by LeeAnne Parnell/Roger Johnson, and expertly handled by Coverdog Queen, Tammy Chaffee. Sid ran a fancy race and scored a picturesque grouse find. The red ribbon fell to the animated young setter Otto, owned and aptly handled by Lonnie Rademacher, to a super stuck find on woodcock. Third place was awarded to Ole "Little Man" Justice, the liver and white veteran pointer owned and handled by Kenny DeLong. Justice ran a very forward race with a nice grouse find (keenly observed sneaking out the side door by Judge Haskin) and then late in the brace, a tightly holding mudbat that was hunkered down just off the dog's front paw. While no nest was observed, the stubborn Doodle refused to fly until it almost stepped on, at which point it shot straight up in the air, grazing the motionless pointer's cheek.
Saturday's Open Puppy was hotly contested, with a small but uber-competitive field of eight making Judges Kenny DeLong and David Miotto's job difficult, but very enjoyable! Pointer Power prevailed throughout, with Tom Butler's strong, forward-running Wyatt, snagging the Blue! Close behind was the lively liver pointer Bud, handled by, yeah, Tammy Chaffee, taking second place honors. The yellow ribbon went to Dan Gehring and his charging pointer, Boomer. Any one of these three dogs could have been in the top spot on a different day. This was a strong stake -- any of the eight could have placed on any given day.

Some 30 Open Derby Classic dogs competed Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning in the Jack Plyler Memorial stake. This event was very competitive and tough to judge, but JP Jones and Craig Merlington had little trouble coming to an agreement on the most outstanding ground race, application, and handling. This stake yielded "All-Pro" results. Christy Helmes's liver Brittany, Kaylee, topped the field with an impressive performance and strong finish. Marc Forman handled the hard-running white and orange setter Kali to second place. Rounding out the placements was another almost all-white setter female, Sadie, who was forward and easy handling for Scott Chaffee.

We were so very pleased to have a substantial field of nine braces for our Restricted Breed Open Shooting Dog stake run on Sunday. Brittanys, Shorthairs, and Irish Setters competed as Denise and Brent Peters scrutinized. Both judges later commented that this was the strongest restricted field they had witnessed in some time. Shane Baxter's veteran GSP "Doc" bested the rest with a strong race and a super impressive limb find on woodcock. Doc had to dig deep on Course 14 to the find and then stand staunchly and patiently for several minutes until handler, judges, and gallery heard the scout shout the million-dollar word, "POINT!" Not a twitch at the flush, all in order. So cool! A well-deserved Blue for a seasoned team. Kenny DeLong's 10-year-old multiple champion Brittany "Chancey" snapped up the red ribbon on the strength of her race, application, and handling, that, according to the judge, "had virtually no holes." Grousewoods newcomer, but veteran trialer, Thom Christnagel, was able to show his liver Britt's cover dog savvy, getting the third-place nod. Judges liked the way "Deke" applied himself and covered a lot of ground, staying forward at moderate range.

We had a great lunch on Saturday -- oh my, what a crowd for a tailgate event! Shooting Dog and Puppy announcements were featured, while McKalko's preparations and the potluck contributions made for a very enjoyable hour of food and fellowship at midday. We closed out Sunday with a nice meal at Alibi, followed by Derby and Restricted Open Shooting Dog announcements.

Once again, we praise the Lord for His Grace, and we thank everyone for their entries, and all the help and fellowship/friendship that make field trialing possible and enjoyable. We look forward to seeing everyone at our summer trial in late August. Our featured Junior Handler stake is a highlight! In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!"

Meredith, Mich., April 25
Judges: Shane Haskin and Joe Wohlfort
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 17 Pointers, 23 Setters, 1 Brittany, and 1 Irish Setter
1st-SPRINGPOND ROCKIN SIDNEY, F1689212, setter female, by Springpond Rockin Autumn-Tailsup Olive. Leeann Parnell & Roger Johnson, owners; Tammy Chaffee, handler.
2d-SPRINGPOND'S ADDY'S BOY, F1699904, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Springpond's Autumn Adeline. Lonnie Rademacher, owner and handler.
3d-FAITH'S MAXIMUM JUSTICE, F1660276, pointer male, by Nelson's Van Max-Wild Apple Faith. Kenric DeLong, owner and handler.

Open Puppy (l-r): White Indian Outlaw with Tom Butler, Heartbreaker Bud Light with Tammy Chaffee, and Ahoy Captain Boomer with Dan Gehring.

Judges: Kenny DeLong and David Miotto
OPEN PUPPY - 8 Pointers and 1 Brittany
1st-WHITE INDIAN OUTLAW, F1709779, pointer male, by Light of Day-Perkins Beautiful Disaster. Thomas Butler, owner and handler.
2d-HEARTBREAKER BUD LIGHT, F1710620, pointer male, by Toth's Tornado Reloaded-Grouse Trails Warrior Cat. Tom Butts, owner; Tammy Chaffee, handler.
3d-AHOY CAPTAIN BOOMER, F1714641, pointer male, by Hifives Rolling Stone-Speed Dialing Kaia. Dan Gehring, owner and handler.

Judges: John Paul Jones and Craig Marlington
JACK PLYER OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 6 Pointers, 20 Setters and 3 Brittanys
1st-CHRISTYS KAYLEE GIRL, R331-522, Brittany female, by Bailey's Ramblin Rusty-Bailey's Lil Cady Wink. Christina Helmes, owner and handler.
2d-ANNA LAKE KALI, F1706129, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Winterset Black Betty. Robert Matson, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
3d-MEADOWINK RAE OF SUNSHINE, F1705287, setter female, by Dun Rovens Zip-Castle Rock's Autumn Breeze. William P. Yant III, owner; Scott Chaffee, handler.

Open Restricted Breed Shooting Dog (front, l-r): Bax Star's Doc Holiday with Shane Baxter, K Del's Eagle's Chance to Soar with Kenny DeLong, Waypoint Deacon of the Hunt with Thom Christnagel. (Behind): Denise and Brent Peters (judges).

Judges: Brent Peters and Denise Peters
OPEN RESTRICTED SHOOTING DOG - 13 Brittanys, 1 Irish Setter, and 3 German Shorthairs
1st-BAX STAR'S DOC HOLIDAY, F1688064, German Shorthair male, by Friedelsheim Freight Train-Star's Stolen Heart. Shane & Christine Baxter, owners; Shane Baxter, handler.
2d-K DEL'S EAGLE'S CHANCE TO SOAR, F1659339, Brittany female, by K Del's Eagle Flyboy Roy-Chance's Hope. Ken DeLong, owner and handler.
3d-WAYPOINT DEACON OF THE HUNT, F1669312, Brittany male, by Waypoint Chancey Diamond Riker-Ammo's Arms Deal. Thom Christnagel, owner and handler.

Open Shooting Dog: Tammy Chaffee (handler) and Roger Johnson (co-owner) of Springpond Rockin Sidney.

Open Shooting Dog: Lonnie Rademacher with Springpond's Addy's Boy.

Open Shooting Dog: Kenny DeLong with Faith's Maximum Justice.