Event: Champion Chasehill Wicked Wilma and Runner-Up Fireside Sally Forth
Result: New York State Grouse Championship
Location: Ellenburg, New York
Post Date: Oct 1, 2026
Submitted By: James Welsh
New York State Grouse Championship, front row (l-r). Front row (l-r). William McFadden with Chasehill Wicked Wilma, John Stolgitis (Handler Wilma), Adam Dubriske (Handler Sal), Dave Phillips with Fireside Sally. Standing (l-r). Jamie Welsh Reporter, John Olfson Judge, Pat Cooke Trial Chair, Jeff Keller Judge.
The New York State Grouse Championship and an accompanying derby stake was long a fixture at the Partridge Run WMA in the gentle rolling hills outside of New York's Capital Region. Pat Cooke's stewardship of the Championship began in 2011 while still at Partridge Run. The Championship has resettled after a brief stint at the famed Flanigan grounds in Oxford, New York in the Northern Adirondacks on Bill McFadden's Panther Forest Grounds in Ellenberg. McFadden's contribution to the sport of field trials continues to develop and with birds on every course and consistent stewardship the grounds will continue to provide the cover dog field trial community with great grounds to prove dogs on.
Championships are not won by reputation but by the dogs that show themselves to be the best amidst the field of the given event. John Stolgitis has been a fixture of the Northeastern cover dog landscape since the late 90s and in that time has amassed an impressive record built on thorough preparation, hard work, and countless hours in the woods while no one is watching. Following taking the top two spots in McAdam New Brunswick, John returned Chasehill Wicked Wilma to the winners' circle and while other dogs on Stolgitis's string provided worthy performances, fellow professional Adam Dubriske handled Fireside Sally Forth to the runner up finish at this New York State Grouse Championship. Thank you to Purina, Pat Cooke, Bill McFadden, Andy Weik, and notably to the judges John Olfson and Jeff Keller for their time and effort in putting together a great championship.
The Winners
After a promising first day featuring several dogs through with solid bird work and performances, a fast start to the second day presented the judges with work necessary to deem a champion and runner-up champion. Bill McFadden's Chasehill Wicked Wilma, under the whistle of John Stolgitis got the nod. Combining a strong ground performance and crisp bird work in optimal conditions, Wilma showed classily to the front with power and stamina to spare. Wilma's bracemate Fireside Sally Forth who is called Sal, owned by field trial newcomer and setter aficionado, Dave Phillips put together a strong performance exhibiting the style, range, and independence all required of a class shooting dog. The dogs broke away nicely in the first brace of the second day promptly on time at 7:30. Each dog making a long forward move off the line and handling to the singing provided to keep them with. Around 5 minutes in, the handlers separated with John Stolgitis pausing to locate his recently stopped dog. Stolgitis worked to a standing Wilma, with perfect tail, high head, as Stolgitis flushed, a grouse stormed out, shot fired and the dog was collared, brought back to the course, briefly watered and sent on. As Wilma returned to the front, Dubriske and judge Jon Olfson were deep in another thicket of alders working to locating a classily standing Sal at 15. With a grouse produced, shot fired, and all in order the dog was brought back to the course and sent on. Reappearing well to the front before the handler and judge caught back up. Both dogs bells came to stop in heavy grass punctuated with softwoods, raspberry bushes, and young poplar growth. Wilma's bell was first to stop with Sal coming in behind but ending up in front. The judges noted a divided find at 22, with grouse flushing as both handlers, judges, and reporter worked to the dogs. A total of 4 grouse got up. No flaws in either dog, handlers collared their dogs and wisely elected to bring them to the road crossing before sending them on. Each dog exhibited a strong race with Wilma and Stolgitis pushing the front. Wilma and Sal were found standing together again at 50 with Sal in close proximity but behind Wilma in thick cover 75 yards at least in and closer to the third course than the second. John called a grouse which the judge confirmed both dogs were collared brough back to the course and finished their hour out to the front.
The Running
Brace 1: 7:26 AM Wild Apple Paskungameh Peat, a well-built pointer male owned and handled by Jamie Welsh was braced with Mohawk Mill Fired Up, "Rosie" a diminutive but powerful pointer female. Both dogs started nicely showing a very nice blend of independence and desire making strong casts to the front and handling nicely through the early cover. Just before the course turns to head into the long stretch of patchwork cuts, both bells came to an abrupt stop nearly simultaneously on a clutch of four grouse. Both dogs were still standing after 2 birds flushed and a shot had been fired, with Welsh still working to his dog two more birds took flight and Peat went with them. The dog was promptly collected and Stolgitis continued on with Rosie to the conclusion of the brace with the dog showing a nice ground game and proclivity for the front.
Brace 2: 8:32 AM Fox Brook Top Secret "Maddie," setter female, under the whistle of Adam Dubriske was braced with Shady Hills Lefty, a liver and white female pointer under Marc Forman's whistle. Maddie started strong reaching in a variety of directions. While Lefty worked through the cover within bell range. At 12, Maddie was found standing with no bird produced and a UP recorded. A wild flush grouse took flight around 18 and by the road crossing Dubriske elected to call for the tracker at 30. Forman continued on with Lefty making the hour.
Brace 3: Chasehill Snoop Dog, pointer male under the whistle of John Stolgitis ran alongside a well-built Pointer Female Highfive's Balvenie, under Adam Dubriske's command. Both dogs made large forward seeking casts to start the brace with neither showing themselves much for the first ten minutes of the brace before settling into a more manageable pattern as the course crossed over a well-built foot bridge into a section of softwood before entering a sweeping 5-10-year-old cut. Balvenie proved hard for Dubriske to get a handle on but they finished the hour together with the dog exhibiting a strong seeking race and plenty of power. Snoop, fresh off a runner-up champion performance at the North American Woodcock Championship, delivered another solid performance. Showing his typical drive and determination, Snoop was quite at ease to seek objectives and move hard to the front. Found standing at 45, with a grouse produced, Snoop was collared, watered, and sent on. The hottest part of the day, Snoop showed his toughness and gritted out the next 15 minutes but was not at his peak. His bell stopped at 55 and a 10-minute search ensued with Scout, Lanny Dellinger, Judge Jeff Keller, and the reporter searching for Snoop in thick cover. Dellinger called point, five minutes after time, John worked to the dog producing a grouse, firing, and Snoop remained standing statuesquely. Snoop was brought to the course, leashed and returned to the truck, pleased with his performance.
Brace 4: Chasehill Poison Ivy, pointer female with John Stolgitis and Pool Brook Doby, setter male with Adam Dubriske. Both dogs started well with a few yo-yo's from Doby before settling into a more fitting pattern. A lengthy pair of unproductives took place with both dogs in the same cluster of cover at 14, with both dogs released again at 17. Doby showed some signs of the heat and steepness of the course at 27. Ivy showed little sign of relenting at the halfway point, with a slight moment caught behind when she showed to the front she was as strong as she was at the breakaway. Ivy was located on point at 38 with nothing produced, the handler elected to pick the dog up at 40. Doby finished the hour.
Brace 5: Hypoint Monarch Express pointer male with Marc Forman and Snuff Mill Magnum Force setter female with Lanny Dellinger. Both dogs started out strong in tough conditions, making big ranging casts and seeking objectives. The heat got the better of Maggie, and Dellinger picked her up at 25. Forman kept going and with the strong pointer well out and called for the tracker at 36.
Brace 6: S + L Scotch, setter male with Marc Forman and Mooselook Texas Star, pointer male with Adam Dubriske. Brace 6 got under way in relatively hot conditions which clearly had an effect on the dogs. Tex, settled into a tempered race showing both his age and wisdom. Scotch ran hard and after a rough start with some directional challenges Foreman navigated him back to the course reuniting the handlers around the 20-minute mark. Tex produced a woodcock, with a nice tail and high head the dog exhibited strong manners in thick cover at 32. Both dogs finished the hour affected by the heat.
Brace 7: Snuff Mill High Caliber (Callie), setter female, with Lanny Dellinger and Timberdoodle Sal, a pointer female, with Marc Forman. The second of Dellinger's nice pair of setters, Callie, stopped early at 14 directly in the trail, with John Stolgitis scouting for Dellinger who was behind. The dog stopped strong beautiful tail, high head, with a grouse going as all moved toward the dog. Dog was collected and watered and sent on. Exhibiting signs of heat but not relenting the tracker was called for at 45 by Dellinger ending Callie's bid. Sal worked nicely with Foreman and worked through likely objectives. Tightening as necessary. True to her name she produced a woodcock at 52 and then had a UP at 58 to close her hour out.
Brace 8: See winners
Brace 9: River's Edge Gus, setter male, with Pat Cooke and Hightail Roxy Afield with Marc Forman. Two big strong running setters were cut loose for the second brace of the day. Around ten minutes, both handlers were looking for their dogs in thick cover on opposite sides of the bridge crossing. Neither produced their dog standing and both dogs moved across the bridge with handlers well apart. Cooke to the front and Forman and Roxy to the back, Forman found Roxy standing at 20 but was unable to produce anything for her. Judge Jeff Keller reported a wild flush grouse at 14 and the reporter nearly stepped on a grouse at 20 working into the cover looking for Cooke's dog. Gus emerged to the front after a lengthy absence and at 38 was found standing in the thick cover a young cut with Cooke producing a woodcock for the strong dog. Continuing forward and showing no signs of relenting Gus was found standing again at 55, unable to produce a bird, he took the UP and concluded his hour. Jeff Keller reported 2 more wild flushed woodcock. Roxy concluded her hour strongly to the front but with no birds.
Brace 10: Points North Pour Another (Quila), pointer female, with Jamie Welsh and Mohawk Mill Miss You (Pearl) with John Stolgitis. The pair of light-footed female pointers broke away nicely pushing each other before each diving into cover and showing the tendency to want to be in the cover. Through the first creek crossing both dogs were not seen but also remained in the pocket. A wild flush grouse was noticed by the handlers as their dogs made the turn to head towards the significant uphill of the course. Quila's bell stopped, started, and stopped as the handler and judge headed in her bell went again producing a bird, she stopped stood and then went, ending her day with a crash at 14. Pearl and Stolgitis continued on, after Pearl's second unproductive at 38, Stolgitis leashed the dog and ended her day.
Brace 11: Resin, setter male, with Marc Forman and Mohawk Mill Good Advice (Blaze), pointer male, with John Stolgitis broke away at 11:15 on the demanding 5th course of the Championship. Forman opted to end Resin's day at 28 given the conditions. Blaze stopped hard 30 yards off the course in thick 15-year growth and two grouse were produced. The dry conditions and thick cover on the second half of the course proved too much for even the strong running, gritty blaze. Stolgitis picked up at 42.
Brace 12: Anna Lake Sami, pointer female, with Marc Forman and Niantic River Ava, setter female with Adam Dubriske. Sami, a nicely built female pointer made several significant casts and Forman worked hard to keep her in touch, the dog showed significantly to the front around 25 with handlers separated. Ava showed a snappy run, affected by the heat, but smart to find water where she could that allowed her to stay in the game. With a few yo-yo's and an unproductive at 4 and 33, her handler chose to pick her up at the road crossing at 35. Forman also requested the tracker and elected to pick up his charge at 35 as well.
Brace 13: Superstorm Cliff, setter male, with Adam Dubriske and Higby Arcade Fire (Cade), pointer male, with John Stolgitis. Cade, another strong male on Stolgitis's string and the older but still strong Cliff, broke away with nice cloud cover and perhaps a slight drop in temperature. With both dogs making good casts, a wild flush around 14 minutes was perhaps a precursor of an early end for Cade. At 16, Cade started, stopped, started again, choosing to work to pin rather than exhibit caution Cade finally knocked the grouse he'd been working and went with it before staring at it in the tree it landed in. Cade was collared, leashed and returned to the truck. Dubriske carried on for a few more minutes but chose to pick up Cliff before entering the first cut at 25.
Ellenburg, N.Y., September 16
Judges: Jeff Kellar and John Olfson
NEW YORK STATE GROUSE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 14 Pointers and 12 Setters
Winner-CHASEHILL WICKED WILMA, F1698454, pointer female, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Harley D. McClung, owner; John Stolgitis, handler.
Runner-Up-FIRESIDE SALLY FORTH, F1694393, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Winterset Black Betty. David Phillips, owner; Adam Dubriske, handler.
Gallery Photo from Brace 4, second day. John Stolgitis handling Mohawk Mill Good Advice and Marc Forman handling Resin.