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Result: Region 2 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Houtzdale, Pennsylvania

Post Date: Aug 4, 2026

Submitted By: Al Fazenbaker

Region 2 AWSD ChS26

Winners of the Region 2 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship

The Region Two Amateur Walking Championships held its annual renewal the weekend of April 25 at the Warriors Mark Wingshooting Club in Houtzdale PA. This hunting and field trial venue consists of 2700 acres of prime grounds well suited for field trialing. The Region Two Walking Amateur Championship was the third of three premier bird dog events at Warriors Mark, beginning with the National Walking Shooting Dog Futurity, followed by the Mid Atlantic Shooting Dog Championship, and concluding with the Region Two Championship. The grounds were well prepared for field trialing, with a course venturing through a mix of open fields, feed strips, and wooded areas of conifers and hardwoods mixes. The venue requires a dog that can reach out yet handle well and be an intelligent bird finder.

The stake manager duties were well handled by Eric and Krista Munden, who not only fulfilled the duties of completing the draw, but also procuring two excellent judges who gave their utmost attention to each and every competitor to arrive at a judicial conclusion well received by the handlers. Eric and Krista also provided food for the handlers and guests, arranged for birds, and other responsibilities of the trial chair. A special thanks to Mark and Dave Hughes and Russ Fazio for providing side by side vehicles for the trial, and to Chris Catanzarite and Tony Bingham for providing safe and efficient horses for the judges and scouts. Also a huge thank you to Justin Mason for his help planting birds for the trial. Last but not least a huge thank you to our sponsors Purina, Garmin, and Lion Country Supply for their support of this and other field trials. Their sponsorship allows us to continue this great sport, and we hope you will consider these labels when you are considering a purchase.

Weather conditions during the trial were challenging, with temperatures ranging from below freezing to the upper 70s, making the wildly gyrating temperature conditions difficult for dogs, horses, and handlers. A special thanks to the folks at Warriors Mark who kept everyone well supplied with water throughout the trial. Also a big thank you to everyone who pitched in to assist moving dogs to the line, helping with pick-ups, and just being good sports!

Our judges for this Championship were Leroy Long of Berkey, Ohio and Greg Strausbaugh of Newport, Pennsylvania. These two judges brought a wealth of experience to the trial, and their time in the saddle was much appreciated.

The Region Two Champion for 2026 is Backcountry Pure Gold, a white, orange and ticked female pointer sired by Springflow's Backountry P out of Backcountry Tornado. Running in the last brace of the trial, this classy 5 years female owned, bred and handled by Chris Catanzarite showed the high caliber needed to win a championship under a challenging weather pattern and a challenging course.

The Runner-Up Champion, Double Deuce Zeke, a white and liver pointer owned, and handled by Doug McMillen Jr., in the 4th brace of the trial, showed what a veteran 10-year-old bird dog can do. Zeke was not only a bird finder under challenging conditions, he did so with class and grace. Zeke is sired by Double Deuce Peter out of Funseeker's Holiday.

The Running
Seumac's Wicked Heat (PM/Munden) and Double Deuce Jack (PM/McMillen). Jack scored the first find of the trial with a single pointed on the treeline at 6 minutes. Heat scored in the open field at 7 minutes. Jack scored again at 12 along an edge, and again at the top of a ridge at 31. Both dogs showed a wide and forward race; Jack was a challenge on the handle and was lost to judgement. Heat likewise was lost at time.

CC Lenni Lenapi (RSM/Fazenbaker) and Backwoods Wildfire Blaze (PM/Munden). Blaze scored his first find at 18 before the large open field; he scored again at 23 along the edge of the road, at 37 in the pines along the bottom, and again at 45 in the bottom of the course. He showed a wide and forward race. Lennie was not seen from the breakaway and the tracker was pulled at 29.

Lucky Bee's Outlaw (PM/Lasica) and Wildland Wild Man (PM/Munden). Wild Man scored his first find along the left edge of the breakaway field; Outlaw was found standing at the top of the breakaway in the tree line. Both dogs were found standing at 28; Outlaw had a find near the road, taking a few step as the handler flushed. Wild Man pointed in the woods near the road. Outlaw suffered a nonproductive at 39; both dogs showed a strong forward pattern and finished to the front.

Double Deuce Zeke (PM/McMillen) and Wildland Hide the Wine (PM/Munden). Zeke scored the first find of the brace at 12 in the woods at the end of the breakaway, with Wine honoring. He scored again at 15 at the top of the hill. Wine scored his first contact at 23 with Zeke honoring. Zeke took the lead and scored at 26 with Wine honoring, and Wine returned the favor at 31 with Zeke honoring. Each scored 2x times again, honoring each other's contacts. Zeke scored a woodcock find in the bottom near the finish; both dogs showed a strong forward pattern, with Zeke slightly outpacing Wine. Both dogs finished to the front, with Zeke garnering the runner-up Champion for his efforts.

Wildland Nick of Time (PM/Munden) and Hypointe Monarch Express (PF/Fazio). Monarch showed a strong race forward, scoring her first find at 24 at the top of the course; she scored again in the wooded bottom, and then pointed a chukar at 52, finishing strong and to the front. Nick scored his only find at 52, showing a moderate forward race to finish.

Double Deuce Miles (PM/McMillen) and Backcountry Bruiser (PM/Catanzarite). Miles suffered a nonproductive at 6 at the end of the breakaway; Bruiser scored the first find of the brace 15 just before the big open field, with Miles honoring. Bruiser notched a Stop To Flush on a relocation effort at 18; he scored a find at 21 at the treeline, with a few small steps on the flush. After suffering a nonproductive at 28, Bruiser scored a nice find on a relocation in a grassy area at the top of the course. Miles scored a nice find on a relocation at 57. Both dogs finished to the front.

Hitail Roxy (ESF/Fazio) and Backcountry Pure Gold (PF/Catanzarite). Gold, this year's Champion, scored her first find at the end of the breakaway at 12, with Roxie honoring. Gold scored again at 22 at the tree line before the big field. Roxie suffered a nonproductive at 25, but then nailed finds at 27 and 31. Gold was found pointed at 33, with Roxie honoring with a little movement. A divided find was marked for the dogs at 52, but Roxie was on the leash after giving a hearty chase to the lifting bird. Gold finished to the front, showing a wide pattern but a very nice handle to take the Championship spot.

Hope to see you at our gathering again next year!

Houtzdale, Pa., April 23
Judges: Leroy Long and Greg Strausbaugh
REGION 2 AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 12 Pointers, 1 Setter and 1 Irish Setter
Winner-BACKCOUNTRY PURE GOLD, F1694791, pointer female, by Springflow's Backcountry P-Backcountry Tornado. Christ Catanzarite, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-DOUBLE DEUCE ZEKE, F1673940, pointer male, by Double Deuce Peter-Funseeker's Holiday. Doug McMillen Jr., owner and handler.