Event: Mohawk Mill Miss You, Champion; Chasehill Snoop Dog, Runner-up
Result: Northeastern Grouse and Woodcock Championship
Location: Frankfort, Maine
Post Date: Dec 8, 2025
Submitted By: Russell Ogilvie
Northeastern Grouse and Woodcock Championship: Mohawk Mill Miss You with Bill McFadden (owner), Chasehill Snoop Dog with John Stolgitis (handler), Jonathan Cullen (judge), and Dale Hackett (judge).
The champion, Mohawk Mill Miss You ("Pearl"), owned by Bill McFadden and handled by John Stolgitis, came out of the fifth brace. Pearl was braced with Elhew Snakewood but ended up having the course to herself with a late scratch. Pearl, a super fancy female pointer, broke away under warm conditions. With a very wet spring and then a dry summer, everyone knew that birds would be at a premium. Pearl, running on the Beaver Hole course, did not disappoint. Pearl stopped in the alders at 22 just off the edge of the course. Stolgitis walked out in front to flush with the judge, and as he was doing so, the grouse doubled back and blew out in back of the dog. The handler took Pearl on, and they headed across the powerline. Once they got across, Pearl would stop again at 37 on the course, but in more open timber. Not a very likely bird spot. Given her style and confidence, Stolgitis flushed, and a grouse erupted just as he stepped in front of the dog. Pearl finished the hour going strong in the warmest part of the day.
The runner-up came in the seventh brace. Chasehill Snoop Dog, owned by Bill McFadden and handled by John Stolgitis, ran a very strong race. He was braced with Snuffmill Callie, a fancy female setter. Both ran really well, but it was Snoop that had the good fortune on this day. After scouring the first part of the course, Snoop was rewarded with a woodcock at 32, and with that, a sweep of the trial for Bill and John.
While the spring was a wet one and the summer was a dry one, the wild bird game can be a challenge, to say the least. Added to that, our entries were down this year for a variety of reasons, but most call it life. That being said, birds were seen on all the courses, so they were out there to be found. Once again, we could not ask for nicer weather, great people, classy dogs, and fabulous food to make this such a fun event. What is better than a warm fall evening, eating steak and lobster while catching up with old friends after a day of running dogs?
Without the support of people both far and wide, this event would not happen. The Mid-Coast Maine Field Trial Club would like to thank Purina once again for its gracious support. Each and every owner that enters a dog, whether it's one or 10, makes this a successful trial. Thank you to the handlers for steering your dogs around the course that the club has created and modified in hopes of providing a quality venue. While maybe the judges didn't wear out a pair of shoes, Dale Hackett and Jon Cullen stepped up and gave every dog the attention that they all deserved, and at the end of the day, they had dogs to talk about. We are extremely lucky that we not only run on public land, but we also have the support of the town of Frankfort to make this trial happen. While it may not be much, a portion of each entry goes to the town's scholarship fund, and the courses that we have created end up being hiking and skiing trails for the local residents. Thanks again, and we hope to see everyone again next year.
Frankfort, Me., September 26
Judges: Jon Cullen and Dale Hackett
NORTHEASTERN GROUSE AND WOODCOCK CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 15 Pointers and 3 Setters
Winner-MOHAWK MILL MISS YOU, F1703199, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Big Stuff-Mohawk Mill Dolly. William & Karen McFadden, owners; John Stolgitis, handler.
Runner-Up-CHASEHILL SNOOP DOG, F1703110, pointer male, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Erin Stolgitis, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.