Event: Higby Arcade Fire named Champion, and Mohawk Mill Fired Up named Runner-up
Result: North American Woodcock Championship
Location: Mcadam, New Brunswick
Post Date: Sep 11, 2025
Submitted By: Robert Little, Reporter
North American Woodcock Championship (back row, l-r): Donald Hederson (judge) and Russell Ogilvie (judge). (Front row): John Stolgitis with Higby Arcade Fire and Mike Flewelling with Mohawk Mill Fired Up.
This year's trial represented the 53rd running of the North American Woodcock Championship in New Brunswick. For the first number of decades, the trial was held in Havelock, NB, with names like Jack Mayer Sr. and Jr., Bob Buzzell, and, in later years, Mike Jackson and Ian Corbett at the helm. The trial later ran for a few years at Dave Palmer's farm near Nackawic, NB, and since 2016 on courses near McAdam, NB.
In March 2025, this reporter stepped down as President of the Maritime Bird Dog Club, turning the reins over to a younger executive group led by Donald Henderson as President and Jonathan Wilkins as Vice President. These men acted as trial co-chairs and put a lot of work into the Championship this year. I am staying on as an advisor and will help out wherever I can.
The Maritime Bird Dog Club wishes to express gratitude and thanks to the following:
Inukshuk Professional Dog Food for the continued unwavering support of the Maritime Bird Dog Club trials. Our partnership is greatly appreciated.
Larry Costigan of Calgary, Alberta, for providing a painting of the champion dog on a yearly basis. Thank you, Larry.
The Gun Dealer, Ross and Justin Faulkner of McAdam, New Brunswick, who kindly donate a significant raffle item each year as a fundraiser for our Club. Thank you, Ross and Justin.
Our judges, Russell Ogilvie of Jefferson, Maine, and Donald Henderson of Oromocto, New Brunswick, for a long two days of walking and looking at our dogs' performances. Thanks, guys.
Hoof and Paw Outfitters in McAdam, New Brunswick, as field trial central for accommodations, meals, cocktails, stories, and more stories. Thanks to Norm, Flora, and Paulie for all your help.
A good time was had by all with a successful raffle and superb Hoof and Paw turkey dinner on Friday evening.
A very dry summer led to the Province of New Brunswick closing the woods to all industrial and recreational use for two weeks in August. The woods were reopened only ten days prior to this trial, and we were very pleased to hold the trial and not have to cancel. The woods remained very dry with no water anywhere on the courses. Despite the dry and warm conditions during the trial, a surprising number of birds were moved over the two days.
The Winners
The Champion
Higby Arcade Fire was named champion. Arcade Fire, a white and liver pointer dog, is owned by Judith Hamilton of Palm City, FL, and handled by professional John Stolgitis of Ashaway, RI.
Higby Arcade Fire ran in the 7th brace, which was the first brace of the second day, and braced with Mooselook Texas Star, handled by NH professional Adam Dubriske.
The brace was run on the "Canoose" course, which is adjacent to the headwaters of the Canoose River, with the immediate area known as the Canoose flowage.
Both dogs broke away at 8 a.m. sharp under overcast skies and very high humidity. Arcade Fire took the front while Texas Star wanted to back cast a bit for the first few minutes before taking to the front. At 8, Fire stopped to the right of the course and stood with style as Stolgitis put a woodcock to flight. Both dogs continued on strong despite the humidity. At 38, Texas Star's bell stopped to the right of the course about 25 yards in, but didn't stay silent long enough as a grouse took to flight that ended his brace. Higby Arcade Fire continued on with a strong forward effort and carded another woodcock at 49. He then finished strong in the pole timber near the end of the course.
The Runner-up Champion
Mohawk Mill Fired Up, a white, orange, and ticked pointer female owned by Thor Kane of Carbondale, PA, and also handled by John Stolgitis, was named runner-up.
Mohawk Mill Fired Up ran in brace 6, the last brace of the first day, and was braced with Lucy's Pride, a setter female handled by Adam Dubriske. The brace was run on County Line South, which is probably the best course for showing a running dog. The temps were hovering around 75 F with high humidity when these dogs broke away. Lucy's pride put up a valiant effort but faded at 32 and was picked up by the handler. Fired Up showed a lot of guts in this brace and maintained a very strong and light-footed race throughout. At about 42, handler Stolgitis was heard saying, "There has to be a grouse here somewhere," as we approached a likely section of the course. At 45, like a prophecy, her bell stopped suddenly to the left of the course in the black muck and alders. After a bit of scouting, Stolgitis and Judge Ogilvie found her further to the right and down course from where they thought and quickly put a pair of grouse to flight. She finished the hour with seemingly lots left in the tank.
The Running
Brace 1 (Canoose): Pool Brook Dobby (Dubriske) and Mohawk Mill Good Advice (Stolgitis). Dobby moved up on a woodcock at 44 and was picked up. Good Advice had an unproductive at 5, woodcock finds at 26, 52, and 59, and finished.
Brace 2 (Old Farm): Chasehill Poison Ivy (Stolgitis) and Still Meadows Little Sunray (Dubriske). Ivy stopped to the front less than a minute into the brace, and after a 19-minute search, the tracker was requested, with Ivy found standing within sight of the course but in the very thick cover. Sunray was going good until she went with a woodcock at 49.
Brace 3 (County Line South): Cairds Cracklin Rosie (Little) and Fox Brook Top Secret (Dubriske). Rosie stopped at 15 and moved on after extensive scouting, had woodcock finds at 23, 29, and 56, and finished. Top Secret got turned around in the early going and ended up back at the truck.
Brace 4 (Canoose): Cairds Rip It Up (Little) and Sunkhaze Orange Gerry (Flewelling). Rip It Up had a woodcock find at 5 and 23, stopped and tapped on at 39, and another woodcock at 50, and finished. Gerry was over exuberant with a woodcock at 5.
Brace 5 (Old Farm): Super Storm Cliff (Dubriske) and Cairds Dreaming of Jeannie (Little). Cliff had an unproductive at 10 and picked up on a second unproductive at 53. Jeannie had an unproductive at 19 and picked up by handler at 53.
Brace 6 (County Line South): Refer to "The Winners" above.
Brace 7 (Canoose): Refer to "The Winners" above.
Brace 8 (Old Farm): Niantic River Ava (Dubriske) and Mohawk Mill Miss You (Stolgitis). The dogs shared a divided find on a woodcock at 1, and after that, it was pure chaos with woodcock going everywhere and a large brood of grouse mixed in. According to the judges' books, there were nine woodcock contacts along with the grouse brood. The dogs had a good time, but the handlers not so much, and both dogs were picked up at 43.
Brace 9 (County Line South): Mohawk Mill Dreamer (Stolgitis) and Deb's Jane (Kennedy). Jane failed to back and was picked up at 22. Dreamer was picked up by handler at 50.
Brace 10 (Canoose): Boomer of Blackwater (Flewelling) and Paucek's Up For Adventure (London). Boomer was picked up by handler at 21 just after Up For Adventure had an adventure with a brood of grouse at 15 and was up.
Brace 11 (Old Farm): Sunkhaze Vera Masardis (Flewelling) and Super Storm Nell (Dubriske). Vera had a woodcock find at 3, and handler asked for tracker 19. Nell was picked up by handler at 22.
Brace 12 (County Line South): Chasehill Snoop Dog (Stolgitis) running as a bye dog. Snoop had unproductives at 33 and 43 and was picked up.
McAdam, N. B., September 5
Judges: Donald Henderson and Russell Ogilvie
NORTH AMERICAN WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 14 Pointers and 9 Setters
Winner-HIGBY ARCADE FIRE, F1700551, pointer male, by Paola Bacon-Higby Bon Hiver. Judith Hamilton, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.
Runner-Up-MOHAWK MILL FIRED UP, F1706690, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk-Bear Creek Rebellion. Thor Kain, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.
North American Woodcock Open Derby Classic
This was the inaugural running of the North American Woodcock Open Derby Classic, which replaces the North American Woodcock Futurity. At a meeting of the Maritime Bird Dog Club in May 2025, it was decided to hand over the Futurity to John Stolgitis and the South County Bird Dog Club in Rhode Island to run in conjunction with the Southern New England Woodcock Championship held there in March each year. It was felt that more breeders would be inclined to nominate litters if the trial were held somewhere in New England.
The Classic drew seven entries with one dog scratched on trial day and six dogs competing.
The Maritime Bird Dog Club wishes to thank judges Jon Cullen and Seamus Smith for looking at the young hopefuls at this trial.
Each dog that placed had bird work and exhibited fall derby manners.
Judges: John Cullen and Seamus Smith
NORTH AMERICAN WOODCOCK DERBY CLASSIC - 1 Pointer and 6 Setters
1st-SPINDRIFT'S LILLY DEQUAN, F1714582, setter female, by Long Gone DeQuan-Lilleyhill's Georgia. Tom Carton, owner; Robert Little, handler.
2d-HIGHFIVE'S BALVENIE, F1709068, pointer female, by Little Traverse Django-Hifive's Top Shelf. Deb Sloan, owner; Adam Dubriske, handler.
3d-NIANTIC RIVER ECHO, F1712817, setter female, by Pacesetter's Equinox-Erin's Red Rose. David J. Phillips, owner; Adam Dubriske, handler.
North American Woodcock Derby Classic (back row, l-r): Seamus Smith (judge) and Jon Cullen (judge). (Front row, l-r): Bob Little with Spindrift's Lilly DeQuan, Deb Sloan (owner) with Hifive's Balvenie, and Adam Dubriske with Niantic River Echo.