Result: Spruce Brook Bird Dog Club

Location: East Windsor, Connecticut

Post Date: Jun 12, 2025

Submitted By: Gary Tavares

Open All-Age (l-r): High Drive Drinkaby with Kevin Joyce, Little Miss Margaret with Tim Cavanaugh, and Hog Hill Fafo with Rose Bonnetti, joined by participants.

This year's running of the spring field trial was sponsored by the Southern Bird Hunters Association. We would like to thank them for all the good things they do for field trials.
The Spruce Brook spring field trial was held May 24-26 at the Dr. John Flaherty Field Trial grounds in East Windsor, Connecticut. On Thursday, the area received three inches of rain with a little more on Friday morning. The trial started Saturday morning with temperatures in the 50s under cloudy skies with occasional light showers. The temperature was cooler this year than normal, which was great for the dogs and handlers. There were a lot of families on hand, and the kids were having fun. It was great to see our future field trialers. We would like to thank Kaitlyn Nichole Adventure K9 Photography for all the pictures taken during the field trial, especially of the future field trialers and their involvement.

At this time, I would like to thank our judges: John Stolgitis and Gene Casale Jr. (Open All-Age); Dave Obrien and Gary Tavares (Open Derby); Bill Bonnetti and Tim Cavanaugh (Open Shooting Dog); and Matt Basilone and John Stolgitis (Amateur Derby and one-hour Amateur Shooting Dog). The placements were well received by all.

On Friday night, for the arrival of all the competitors and attendees, John Stolgitis prepared a dinner of mussels, grilled chicken, and corn on the cob. Jayne and Bill Bonnetti provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, consisting of muffins, pastries, and coffee. Lunch was soup, sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs. Dinners were pasta and meatballs, salads, chicken, green beans, rice, rolls, and desserts. We cannot thank you enough for all your hard work. The meals were delicious.

On Saturday night, we celebrated Matt and Mandy Basilone's birthdays. Their field trial family and friends were in attendance.

The Open All-Age stake started Saturday morning under cool and cloudy skies. High Drive Drinkaby, owned by Allen Linder and Madison McDonald, was first handled by George Tracy. She ran a strong forward race with three finds. Tim Cavanaugh placed second with Little Miss Margaret with a similar race and three finds. Tim also handled the third-place dog Hog Hill Fafo. All dogs ran a good race and looked good on their birds.

The next stake was the Open Derby with 10 competitors. First place was Nation's Split Second, handled by Matt Basilone. She ran a strong forward race with two finds. Second was Thats Ike All Right handled by Tim Cavanaugh, also with a strong forward race and two finds. Third was Birdpatch General Lee handled by Marcus Ramseur with a competitive race and two finds.

The Open Shooting Dog was next. Fort River's Lucky Charm, owned by Gary Tavares, topped the field with the honor of first place, handled by Matt Basilone. John Stolgitis handled the second and third-place dogs; Chasehill Poison Ivy was second, and Chasehill Snoop Dog was third. It was a very competitive stake; all dogs placed ran well and were exceptional on their birds.

The Amateur Derby ran on Sunday morning. First place was Sonic Chance. He ran a youthful race with two finds handled by Alene Levasseur. Second was Windems Front Runner Purdy Girl, running a closer race with two finds. The third-place dog, Fort River Iron Man, a littermate to the first-place dog, ran a closer race with some bird contacts. Their sire was the winner of the Open Shooting Dog stake.

The one-hour Amateur Shooting Dog stake was very competitive. Smoke'N'Mirrors, handled by Marcus Ramseur, topped the field of competitors with a strong forward race and seven finds. Second was Mohawk Mill Patriot, handled by Ed McCay; his race was similar to the winner's, with seven finds also. Ed McCay also handled the third-place dog, Red Alert Lane, which was very close to the other winners with multiple finds.

East Windsor, Conn., May 24 - One Course
Judges: Gene Casales and John Stolgitis
SBHA OPEN ALL-AGE - 8 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-HIGH DRIVE DRINKABY, F1705283, pointer female, by Miller's High Heat Index-Osceola's Seminole Wind. Allen Linder & Madison McDonald, owners; George Tracy, handler.
2d-LITTLE MISS MARGARET, F1693526, pointer female, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Tim Cavanaugh, owner and handler.
3d-HOG HILL FAFO, F1711945, pointer male, by Tattle Tailer-Ms. Antebellum. Tim Cavanaugh, owner and handler.

Open Derby (l-r): Nation's Split Second with Melissa Basilone, Thats Ike All Right with Tim Cavanaugh, and Birdpatch General Lee with Marcus Ramseur, joined by participants.

Judges: Dave O'Brien and Gary Tavares
SBHA OPEN DERBY - 7 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-NATION'S SPLIT SECOND, F1716294, pointer female, by Confident Nation-Wiggins Pree Dawn Reward. Karen Lordi, owner; Matt Basilone, handler.
2d-THATS IKE ALL RIGHT, F1708258, pointer male, by Tattle Tailer-Ms. Antebellum. Rod Champion, owner; Tim Cavanaugh, handler.
3d-BIRDPATCH GENERAL LEE, F1705914, setter male, by Bozeann's Rex-Knitone Pearl Too. Smoot Carter Jr., owner; Marcus Ramseur, handler.

Open Shooting Dog (l-r): Fort River's Lucky Charm with Marcus Ramseur, Chasehill Poison Ivy with Ed McCay, and Chasehill Snoop Dog with John Stolgitis, joined by participants.

Judges: Bill Bonnetti and Tim Cavanaugh
SBHA OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 13 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-FORT RIVER'S LUCKY CHARM, F1681132, setter male, by Mohawk Mill Lucky Charm-Fort River Jackie. Gary Tavares, owner; Matt Basilone, handler.
2d-CHASEHILL POISON IVY, F1694453, pointer female, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. William & Karen McFadden, owners; John Stolgitis, handler.
3d-CHASEHILL SNOOP DOG, F1703110, pointer male, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. John Stolgitis, owner handler.

Amateur Derby (l-r): Sonic Chance with Alene LeVasseur, Windems Front Runner Purdy Girl with Melissa Basilone, and Fort River Iron Man with Gary Tavares, joined by participants.

Judges: Matt Basilone and John Stolgitis
SBHA AMATEUR DERBY - 6 Setters
1st-SONIC CHANCE, F1714555, setter male, by Fort River's Lucky Charm-Shine Down. Alene LeVasseur, owner and handler.
2d-WINDEMS FRONT RUNNER PURDY GIRL, F1706369, setter female, by Tin Man's Heart-Pocas Blue Tornado. Jessica Carito, owner and handler.
3d-FORT RIVER IRON MAN, F1714551, setter male, by Fort River's Lucky Charm-Shine Down. Gary Tavares, owner and handler.

SBHA AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 8 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-SMOKE'N'MIRRORS, F1679185, pointer female, by Just Irresistible-A Whiskey Lullaby. Stacey Goodie & Richard Gillis, owners; Marcus Ramseur, handler.
2d-MOHAWK MILL PATRIOT, F1703194, pointer male, by Indian Creek Spur-Hirollins Fantasy Girl. Ed & Megan McCay, owners; Ed McCay, handler.
3d-RED ALERT LANE, F1700854, pointer male, by Lester's Prime Poison Lane-Southern Ritz Lane. Megan McCay & Edward Hunter III, owners; Ed McCay, handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog (l-r): Smoke'N'Mirrors with Marcus Ramseur, Mohawk Mill Patriot with Ed McCay, Red Alert Lane with Matt Basilone.