Result: 96th New England Open Shooting Dog & Region 1 Amateur All-Age Championships

Location: East Windsor, Connecticut

Post Date: Jun 12, 2025

Submitted By: John Olfson

Miller's Special Cinderella, Winner of the 96th New England Open Shooting Dog Championship

The 96th New England Open Championship commenced Monday, April 21, at 8 a.m. in cool overcast conditions. The Championship is hosted by the New Britain Field Trial Club and the Association of New England Field Trial Clubs. It is the first leg of three consecutive events that we promote as "New England's Spring Fling Triple Header."

In 1927, the Massachusetts Fish and Game Association conceived the idea of having the New England Bird Dog Championship. After attempts in 1927 and 1928 to produce a champion (no champion declared), our present-day association, the Association of New England Field Trial Clubs, was formed to conduct the championship in 1929. However, no champion was declared, primarily due to the first heavy snow and plummeting temperature. Finally, the 1930 running produced an outstanding winner when Miss Magpie of Ware, a white and black pointer female, owned by Augustus B. Field, handled by L. B. Chapman, delivered a flawless one-and-a-half-hour race, with six stylish grouse finds to become the first New England Bird Dog Champion.
Beginning in 1934 and through 1949, the New England Bird Dog Championship was held on Hall of Famer (1959), W. Lee White's farm, also known as "Championship Game Preserve." The Whites' Pinch Street homestead in Scotland, Connecticut, held grouse and woodcock, as well as wild quail and pheasant.

In the early years, there seemed to have been a division between the traditional close-hunting New England grouse dogs and the more wide-ranging Southern type of dog. Initially, qualifying stakes were held for the respective different types of dogs. Eventually, a compromise was reached, stabilizing standards. Stabilizing resulted in the field trial dog we know today, which proved to be a better bird finder than the traditional dog.

In 1967, the event settled in at Hall of Famer (1987), Harry Townshend's Ragged Hill Farm in Pomfret, Connecticut, where it thrived for 47 years. In 1972, for the first time in the history of the event, the Directors conceded to allow the limited use of horses by the handlers, and this move brought in a record entry at that time of 51 dogs. Hall of Famer Harold Ray (2006) won with the Hall of Fame setter Tomoka (1974). After Harry's passing, the event moved to its present location, the Dr. John E. Flaherty Field Trial Area in East Windsor, Connecticut.

Judges Grace Ann Lawson, Powhatan, Virginia, and Dave Park, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, named pointer female Miller's Special Cinderella champion and pointer male Erin's Envy runner-up champion. Both dogs were handled by Mike Tracy. Cinderella ran a big forward race with four finds and a back. Always classy on point, exhibiting snappy moves while taking edges, and always hunting. Erin's Envy ran an extreme forward race while still handling nicely for Mike, producing three finds. Muriel and Bill Primm are the owners of Miller's Special Cinderella, and Joe McHugh is the owner of Erin's Envy.

Many thanks to 2024 Champion Waybetter Rebel owners Muriel and Bill Primm and Allen Linder for hosting the handlers' dinner.

We thank Greg Blair and Purina for their continued support. We are proud to award Pro Plan Sport to the winners. We all appreciate Purina's effort and support of all sporting breeds; they are far from second to none.

The source of the event history mentioned came from a publication Gene Casale provided, the 50th Golden Anniversary New England Bird Dog Championship, which was written by Frank E. Foss.

East Windsor, Conn., April 21
Judges: Grace Ann Lawson and Dave Park
96TH-NEW ENGLAND OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 44 Pointers and 7 Setters
Winner-MILLER'S SPECIAL CINDERELLA, F1696287, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. William & Muriel Primm, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.
Runner-Up-ERIN'S ENVY, F1705275, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Erin's Miss Maggie. Joe McHugh, owner and handler.

Erin's Evy, Runner-Up in the 96th New England Open Shooting Dog Championship

Region 1 Amateur All-Age Championship
The Region 1 Amateur All-Age Championship commenced Saturday, April 26, in East Windsor, Connecticut, at the Dr. John E. Flaherty Field Trial Area with judges John Stolgitis and Grace Ann Lawson mounted and ready for action. John and Grace Ann are experienced pointing dog handlers and judges with a great deal of championship experience. We are most appreciative that they accepted the assignment.

Under the joint effort of the Dr. John E. Flaherty Field Trial Clubs Association, and its president, Rich Murph, as well as the State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Eastern District Wildlife Biologist Ann Kilpatrick, the grounds were in as good condition as could be expected. We are thankful and appreciate this continued joint effort.
Pointer male Mohawk Mill Gangster was named champion. He was handled by Ed McCay and is owned by Ed and his wife, Megan. Gangster ran an exceptional all-age race. When entering the Dearborn section, most dogs take the inside edge; Gangster made a bold move along the outer edge, hunted his way to the top to be found on point with his bracemate backing. Turned loose after this spectacular birdwork, he took the back edge and continued to rim the outer edge on his way out of Dearborn to be found on point in the Pines.
Pointer male Mohawk Mill Patriot was named runner-up champion. He is also owned by Ed and Megan and was handled by Ed. He ran a true all-age race, making snappy moves, hunting, taking edges, and was very classy on point.

Greg Blair and Purina provided Pro Plan Sport to the winners as well. Thank you again, and we appreciate your ongoing support.

Many thanks to Jane Fogerty for taking care of the clubhouse and putting on all the delicious meals throughout the entire Spring Fling Triple Header.

Many thanks to our association President and Region 1 Trustee Eli Richardson for providing his three fine walking horses-- Mosses, Smokie, and Shadow--for the entire time. They were very helpful.

Thank you to all participants. We look forward to seeing everyone next year.

Judges: Grace Ann Lawson and John Stolgitis
REGION 1 AMATEUR ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 17 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner-MOHAWK MILL GANGSTER, F1685479, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Pirate's Legacy-Katie Lee's Wild Side. Ed & Megan McCay, owners; Ed McCay, handler.
Runner-Up-MOHAWK MILL PATRIOT, F1703194, pointer male, by Indian Creek Spur-Hirollins Fantasy Girl. Ed & Megan McCay, owners; Ed McCay, handler.

Region 1 Amateur All-Age Championship: Grace Ann Lawson (judge), Bill Bonnetti, John Olfson, Marcus Ramsuer with Mohawk Mill Gangster, Ed McCay, Joyce Taylor, Megan McCay with Mohawk Mill Patriot, Matt Basilone, and John Stolgitis (judge).