Result: 36th National Walking Shooting Dog Futurity

Location: Houtzdale, Pennsylvania

Post Date: Jun 18, 2026

Submitted By: Dave Park

36th National Walking Shooting Dog Futurity winners joined by participants.

This year marked the 36th running of the National Walking Shooting Dog Futurity. President Norm Meeder, Vice President Joe Cammisa, Secretary/Treasurer Krysta Munden, and I, the stake manager, would like to thank all who participated and helped make this trial a success. I would like to mention a couple of people who continually support this field trial: Deb Fazenbaker, who does a fantastic job of putting together a program book filled with this field trial's history, and, of course, Greg Blair for Purina's continued support. We had a total of 14 litter nominations, with derbies from 13 of those litters participating. April weather in the central Pennsylvania mountains can be quite challenging, and this year showcased it all over three days of running, from temperatures in the mid-80s to the low 40s, wind gusts well over 30 miles per hour, to rain, sleet, and even some snow! This weather challenged dogs, handlers, and judges alike, but there were plenty of desirable performances put down over the three days of running.

The Gene Uhlman Puppy Classic kicked the weekend off with some really entertaining and powerful performances, giving judges Sarah Gomes and Dave Park plenty to consider. Three dogs separated themselves from the rest of the field. Backcountry Remi for owner/ handler Chris Catanzarite, BK Main Attraction for owner/handler Brooke Lanning, and Charm City Mac for handler Robert Ecker all ran very strong, independent, and very well applied races to garner their three placements. The second of the companion stakes was the Open Shooting Dog, which also saw many dogs give strong performances over a plethora of varying weather conditions. Judges Paul Tipping and Brian Ralph named Hypointe Monarch Express the winner for owner/handler Russ Fazio, who ran a strong forward race with two well-placed finds. Miller's Hopped Up Version and Millers Dusty Version also offered strong performances for handler Mark Hughes to take second and third, respectively.

The following is a brace-by-brace synopsis of the National Walking Shooting Dog Futurity from reporter Joe Cammisa:

The Running
Brace 1, 12:45: Santee River Minuteman and Evan's Full Throttle. Minuteman stopped on the roadway between fields at 16; Stop-to-flush, Full Throttle came in and backed. Both dogs ran deep off the breakaway and ran a wide race, covering side to side. Pointed at 17, and a bird was produced with Minuteman backing. Full Throttle shortened some at 23 with both finishing.

Brace 2, 12:54: Mohawk Mill Thunder Struck and Grouse Hill Buddy. Buddy was standing deep in the pines at 8 with all in order, moved on to 12 for more of the same with this second find, and then suffered an unproductive at 18 on the hillside after the woods. Buddy made a very nice big cast at the end. Thunder Struck was picked up by the handler at 8.

Brace 3, 1:39, 67 degrees: Suemac's Southern Ambush and Double Deuce Dillan Oats. Nice breakaway by both at 7. Ambush was pointing with Oats backing, and a bird was produced. At 23, a bump by Ambush resulted in her then stopping and pointing the bird; the handler flushed and fired. Oats suffered an unproductive at 10 and was backing at 23.

Brace 4, 2:15: Mohawk Mill Ritzy Lady and Caliber Peak Apple of My Rye--Lady, the more independent of the two, "Sprout" the fancier. After a nice breakaway, the two split while hunting their own piece of ground. At 13, Lady made game, and all was in order. At 16, both were on a big cast after the woods crossing. Both had their moments.

Brace 5, 2:53, 67 degrees, warm and dry: Watch Me Whip and Grouse Hill Patch. Whip, the more independent, enjoyed a great breakaway with his bracemate Patch. Both took the breakaway to the limits. Both stayed with forward wide casts. Whip was watered at 10 and continued the wide race until the end, hunting hard. Patch had stopped at 11 and then started up on her own with no bird contact. Both had no bird contact but finished as strong as they started.

Brace 6, 3:31: Hitail Rolling Dixie and Hifive's Winged Reserve. A nice breakaway by both, with Reserve being the more independent. Dixie struck gold at 10 and went on a merry chase at 15. She finished her bid with a nice medium race. Reserve caught scent at 15, stopped, pointed, but suffered an unproductive. Reserve matched the bracemate with a nice medium race.

Brace 7, 4:06: Santee River Postman and Cerulean Stone. Very nice breakaway with a big race. Worked well with the handler and pointed at 24 with all in order. Shortened after the find. Stone went on his own hunting spree with a deep breakaway and found just before the woods at 10 on the left, suffering an unproductive. Additionally, he suffered one more at 20. Stone backed tall and proud at 24.

Brace 8, 8:27: Seldom Rest Pork Chop and Heartbreaker Bud Light. Pork Chop and Bud took off to the races in the cool morning air. Pork Chop hung to the right and dropped deep into the woods, making it difficult to stay in contact with his handler. He was picked up by the handler at 10. Bud went on to do a very nice job, settling in on two finds, one at 10 and another at 15. Smartly handling both, he continued to hunt hard. At 23, he suffered an unproductive--the black mark on his resume.

Brace 9, 9:03: Grouse Hill Dixie and Outlaws Cashn Out. Both were off to a good start and maybe were a little too enthusiastic, as at 10, both were on a happy chase. Cash was up by the handler at 16, but Dixie stayed in the game, pointing at 20 and looking very good on her bird. With all in order, she was moved on and finished strong.

Brace 10, 9:40: Cotton Joe On Fire and Smoke Rise Rock. A very deep and wide breakaway started off the brace with Joe on the same merry chase at 12 as the two dogs in the previous hour. Rock was up by the handler at 14, and at 18, Joe was standing, the bird flushed, and all was in order. Joe was moved on and suffered an unproductive at 21.

The judges for the Futurity were Chris Catanzarite and Eric Munden, both well accomplished, and we were very fortunate to have these two in the saddle judging dogs. We cannot thank them enough.

Houtzdale, Pa., April 17
Judges: Chris Catanzarite and Eric Munden
36TH NATIONAL WALKING SHOOTING DOG FUTURITY - 19 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-MOHAWK MILL RITZY LADY, F1716175, pointer female, by Rocky River Halo-Mohawk Mill Lady Justice. J. D. Waters & Caren Mansfield, owners; Tony Bingham, handler.
2d-EVAN'S FULL THROTTLE, F1713964, pointer female, by Double Deuce Zeke-Braggabull. Evan Smith, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
3d-MOHAWK MILL THUNDER STRUCK, F1716171, pointer male, by Rocky River Halo-Mohawk Mill Lady Justice. Daryl & Vicki Grantham, owners; Tony Bingham, handler.
4th-HEARTBREAK BUD LIGHT, F1710620, pointer male, by Toth's Tornado Reloaded-Grouse Trails Warrior Cat. Thomas Butts, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.

Judges: Sarah Gomes and Dave Park
GENE UHLMAN PUPPY CLASSIC - 11 Entries
1st-BACKCOUNTRY REMI, F1724439, pointer female, by Springflow's Backcountry P-Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.
2d-BK MAIN ATTRACTION, F1724180, pointer female, by BK Real McCoy-B K Lapaloma Blanca. Brooke Lanning & Eric Clink, owners; Brooke Lanning, handler.
3d-CHARM CITY MAC, F1721991, pointer male, by Hifive's Sonny Side Up-Hifive's Top Shelf. Michael McIntyre, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.

Judges: Brian Ralph and Paul Tipping
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 22 Pointers, 3 Setters, and 3 Irish Setters
1st-HYPOINTE MONARCH EXPRESS, F1704239, pointer female, by Springflow's Backcountry P-Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Russell Fazio, owner and handler.
2d-MILLER'S HOPPED UP VERSION, F1695106, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Carlos Escalante, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
3d-MILLERS DUSTY VERSION, F1706290, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Mike Husenits, owner and handler.