Result: 2026 Association of Michigan Field Trial Clubs Dog of the Year Awards

Post Date: Aug 6, 2026

Submitted By: Denise Peters

Michigan Cover Dog of the Year Derby winner Dunroven Hippie Girl with Richard Hollister (handler); Runner-up Derby winner Moss Meadow Searcher with Ken Moss (handler); and Puppy winner Lucy's Just Have Mercy with Ken DeLong (handler).

The 2026 Dog of the Year awards were presented by the Association of Michigan Field Trial Clubs on July 11, 2026, at the Gladwin Field Trial Grounds at the well-attended AMFTC annual meeting and luncheon. These awards have existed for decades and are run in accordance with the rules of UKC and the AMFTC Constitution. The following are the dogs rewarded for their accomplishments. Thank you to all the owners, trainers, and handlers who have made it all possible.

Michigan Horseback Dog of the Year owner/handler Bill Darr and Tom Vanecek holding winner Darrs Murphy Brown; owner/handler Jim Cipponeri and Ron Sposita holding runner-up winner Haney's Hammerin Hank.

Michigan Horseback Shooting Dog of the Year Darrs Murphy Brown (ESM)
Bill Darr, Owner & Handler
Murphy Brown had six placements: three first placements, two second placements, and one third placement.

Michigan Horseback Runner-up Shooting Dog of the Year
Haney's Hammerin Hank (PM)
James and Connie Cipponeri, Owners
James Cipponeri, Handler
Hank had four placements, three of which were first placements and one third placement in his inaugural adult season.
No Michigan Horseback Derby or Puppy of the Year were qualified this year.

Michigan Cover Dog Shooting Dog of the Year
Ralphy's Chasehill Rip (PM)
Brian Ralph, Owner
Scott Chaffee, Handler
Rip, a multiple-champion, placed runner-up at the Northern Michigan Cover Dog Championship with an entry of 70 competitors and placed first at the Wayne Fruchey Shooting Dog Classic in a field of 43 dogs.

Michigan Cover Dog Runner-up Shooting Dog of the Year
Springpond's Addy's Boy (ESM)
Lonnie Rademacher, Owner & Handler
"Otto" placed second out of a 39-dog entry in the Jack Secor Memorial Shooting Dog Classic and first in a field of 43 dogs at the NGBOCA Open Shooting Dog event.

Michigan Cover Dog Derby Dog of the Year
Dunroven Hippie Girl (ESF)
Chal Curtis, Owner
Richard Hollister, Handler
To receive this award, Hippie Girl scored four placements: 2nd, Wolverine Derby Classic; 2nd, Roger Johnson Cup Open Derby; 1st, Jack Plyer Memorial Open Derby Classic; and 1st, NBOGCA Open Derby.

Michigan Cover Dog Runner-up Derby Dog of the Year
Moss Meadow Searcher (ESM)
Ken Moss, Owner & Handler
Searcher also placed four times, including: 3rd, MAFTC Fall Amateur Derby; 2nd, John R. Stuart Derby Classic; 1st, 20th Eaton Spring Derby Classic; and 3rd, NGOBCA Jack Plyler Memorial Open Derby Classic.

Michigan Cover Dog Puppy Dog of the Year
Lucy's Just Have Mercy (PF)
Ken DeLong, Owner & Handler
With five wins to her credit, Mercy took 1st, BGDC Michigan Grouse Dog Puppy Classic; 1st, MAFTC Amateur Puppy; 1st, Chuck Pagano Memorial Amateur Puppy Classic; 1st, NBOGCA Open Puppy; and 2nd, NBOGCA Open Puppy.

Michigan Cover Dog Runner-up Puppy Dog of the Year
Pigeon Creek CJ (ESM)
Steve Colvert, Owner & Handler
CJ took 2nd, BGDC 45th Michigan Grouse Dog Puppy Classic, and 2nd, Chuck Pagano Memorial Amateur Puppy Classic.

Michigan Walking Shooting Dog of the Year Backwoods Wild Fire Blaze (PM)
Justin Mason, Owner
Mark Hughes, Handler
Blaze took 1st, Great Lakes Championship; 1st in the September Grand Valley Open Shooting Dog; and 2nd, March Grand Valley trial.

Michigan Walking Dog of the Year Shooting Dog Runner-up Wildland Wild Man with Krysta Munden (handler); Derby winner Juni Jones with J.P. Jones (handler); Puppy winner Country Girl with Christy Helmes (handler); Puppy runner-up Christy's Smoking Ember held by Richard Hollister (handled by Christy Helmes).

Michigan Walking Runner-up Shooting Dog of the Year
Wildland Wild Man (PM)
Krysta & Eric Munden, Owners
Krysta Munden, Handler
This two-time runner-up champion placed 1st, Grand Valley Open Walking Shooting Dog stake; 1st, Grand Valley Amateur Walking Shooting Dog; and 2nd, Wolverine Field Trial Club's Dave Fletcher Open Walking Shooting Dog Classic.

Michigan Walking Derby Dog of the Year
Juni Jones (PF)
J.P. Jones, Owner & Handler
Juni placed 2nd in the Wolverine Derby and 2nd in the September Grand Valley Derby.

No placements were awarded for the Michigan Walking Runner-up Derby Dog of the Year.

Michigan Walking Puppy Dog of the Year
Country Girl (PF)
Les Bressler, Owner
Christy Helmes, Handler
Placements were 2nd, September Grand Valley Open Puppy; 3rd, March Grand Valley Puppy; and 1st, Kalamazoo Southwest Michigan Field Trial Club.

Michigan Walking Runner-up Puppy Dog of the Year
Christy's Smoking Ember (ESF)
Christy Helmes, Owner & Handler
Ember's placements: 1st, March Grand Valley Puppy, and 3rd, Kalamazoo Southwest Michigan Field Trial Club.

Michigan Restricted Breed Cover Dog of the Year winner K Del's Eagle Magnum Hotshot with owner/handler Ken Delong; Runner-up winner Christys Kaylee Girl with Christy Helmes (owner/handler).

Michigan Restricted Breed Shooting Cover Dog of the Year
K Del's Eagle Magnum Hotshot (BM)
Ken DeLong, Owner & Handler
Shooter ran in multiple cover dog stakes over the course of the season. He was named champion in the Restricted Breed Open Grouse Championship last October, and placed 1st, Restricted Breed Open Shooting Dog stake in April.

Michigan Restricted Breed Runner-up Shooting Cover Dog of the Year
Christys Kaylee Girl (BF)
Christy Helmes, Owner & Handler
Kaylee also ran in multiple cover dog stakes; notably, she placed as runner-up champion in the October Restricted Breed Open Grouse Championship and 3rd place in the April Restricted Breed Open Shooting Dog stake.

The Bill Rogers Memorial award was awarded to Paul Renius. Paul has consistently volunteered his time and technical skills at all three Michigan designated field trial areas. Though his primary emphasis is the maintenance and farm management at Ionia, you will frequently see him participating in workdays at both Highland and Gladwin. Whenever a special request or emergency situation emerges, Paul answers the call with enthusiasm and sensibility.
Thank you to our point keepers, Jim Cipponeri, Bob Wheelock, Richard Hollister, and Ken DeLong, for providing the detailed information for this article and for their due diligence throughout the year.
A special thank you to President Jim Cipponeri, who consistently keeps this train on its tracks.

Bill Rogers Award Winner Paul Renius.