Result: Minnesota Grouse Dog Association

Location: Mora, Minnesota

Post Date: May 7, 2026

Submitted By: Ryan Hough

Open Shooting Dog (front): Little Hawk with Paul Cook, Northwoods Cedar Edge with Lindsey Saetre, and Blind Faith with Jordan Pharris. (Behind): David Moore (judge) and Ryan Hough (judge).

At 8 a.m. on Friday, March 27, entrants, judges, and trial organizers watched as the first brace of spring trial season broke away on the MGDA grounds. With a draw of 36 shooting dogs, 27 derbies, and eight puppies, the club would have their hands full with the largest spring entry in club history. Due to new logging operations in the area, much effort had to be spent creating new courses before the club could host trials. Without the outstanding efforts of club members mapping, flagging, and cutting new courses, this trial would not have been possible.
With the leadership of new club president Eric Saetre and the determined efforts of many club members, the trial would conclude as a resounding success. Grouse were observed on nearly every brace of the stake over the three days, and several dogs would finish their hours clean with work on grouse and woodcock.

Although judges Dave Moore (Big Lake, Minnesota) and Ryan Hough (St. Bonifacius, Minnesota) would enjoy overseeing many strong performances, it would be a pair of female setters along with a female pointer that would earn the judges' nod.
Coming in first place was Ch. Little Hawk, owned and handled by Paul Cook. "Little" had a strong forward race, reaching for distant objectives while maintaining contact with her handler, despite a strong wind that made things very difficult. A gorgeous find on a drummer, while in a full run through unlikely cover, caught the attention of judges and gallery alike. Little maintained perfect composure and style when Paul flushed a grouse that was flattened and hiding in very close proximity to the dog.

Second place was claimed by 3-year-old female setter Northwoods Cedar Edge, owned by Lindsey and Eric Saetre, and handled by Lindsey Saetre. "Enni" displayed a fancy, powerful forward race and maintained it throughout the entire hour. About halfway through Course 6, she would fall off her bell and be found standing forward to the right of the course. As Lindsey was flushing, a grouse flew with all in order.

Coming in third place, running in the third brace was female pointer Blind Faith, owned and handled by Ben Fleischacker. "Cece" had a purposeful and fast application, rarely operating out of the pocket. Two early scores on woodcock, paired with a stylish back on her bracemates' grouse find left a great impression on the judges that would hold throughout the three-day stake.

The Derby was judged by experienced trial regulars Lindsey Saetre (Holyoke, Minnesota) and Brett Edstrom (Hudson, Wisconsin). With such a large entry, it was crucial to have the discerning and keen observations of these two successful trailers to sort things out.
First place went to an orange and white male setter named Lead Belly ("Wayne"), owned and handled by Scott Anderson. Wayne was in likely cover and found a woodcock in a thick aspen cut. He stayed steady as the handler and judge searched for him.
Second place went to a tri-colored female setter named Clover Valleys Pure Grace ("Gracie"), owned and handled by Jordan Pharris. Gracie stayed forward and hunted hard in likely cover. She flushed a grouse along a swamp edge.
Third place went to a black and white female setter named Clover Valley's High Hopes ("Hope"), owned and handled by Rachel Furnish. Hope ran a strong race and was connected to her handler. She flushed a woodcock in cover along a swamp edge.
The Puppy stake was run on a single course and judged by Paul Bukovich (Sauk Rapids, Minnesota) and Ben Brettingen (Waconia, Minnesota). The judges had very nice things to say about all entrants.

Mora, Minn., March 27
Judges: Ryan Hough and Dave Moore
OPEN SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 8 Pointers, 24 Setters, 1 Brittany, and 1 German Shorthair
1st-LITTLE HAWK, F1698254, setter female, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-War Paint. Paul Cook, owner and handler.
2d-NORTHWOODS CEDAR EDGE, F1703153, setter female, by Snyder's Pioneer Scout-Northwoods Cedar. Eric & Lindsey Saetre, owners; Eric Saetre, handler.
3d-BLIND FAITH, F1706568, pointer female, by Miller's Blindsider-Nine To Five Nation. Ben Fleischacker, owner; Jordan Pharris, handler.

Open Derby (front): Lead Belly with Scott Anderson, Clover Valleys Pure Grace with Jordan Pharris, and Clover Valley's High Hopes with Rachel Furnish. (Behind): Lindsey Saetre (judge) and Brett Edstrom (judge),

Judges: Brett Edstrom and Lindsay Saetre
OPEN DERBY - 27 Entries
1st-LEAD BELLY, F1713001, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Snyder's Josephine. Scott Anderson, owner and handler.
2d-CLOVER VALLEYS PURE GRACE, F1724092, setter female, by Northwoods Sir Gordon-Clover Valley's Millie. Jordan Pharris, owner and handler.
3d-CLOVER VALLEY'S HIGH HOPES, F1724089, setter female, by Northwoods Sir Gordon-Clover Valley's Millie. Rachel & Jerry Furnish, owners; Rachel Furnish, handler.

Judges: Paul Bukovich and Ben Brettingen
OPEN PUPPY - 3 Pointers and 5 Setters
1st-CLOVER VALLEY'S HIGH HOPES, F1724089, setter female, by Northwoods Sir Gordon-Clover Valley's Millie. Rachel & Jerry Furnish, owners; Rachel Furnish, handler.
2d-NORTHWOODS PEREGRINE, F1723767, setter female, by Cold Creek Hank-Northwoods Stardust. Chris Bye & Roberta Scherf, owners; Chris Bye, handler.
3d-ASPENS EDGE MOORE THAN DANDY, F1723295, setter female, by Northwoods Homer-North Star Ash. Jeremy Moore, owner and handler.

Open Puppy: Rachel Furnish with Clover Valley's High Hopes, Paul Bokovich (judge), Chris Bye with Northwoods Peregrine, Ben Brettingen (judge), and Jeremy Moore with Aspen's Edge Moore Than Dandy.