Result: Greensburg Trials

Location: Rochester, Pennsylvania

Post Date: Oct 5, 2026

Submitted By: Mike Husenits

Open Walking Shooting Dog (l-r). Miller's Special Upgrade with Mark Hughes, Saddled Up Sadie with Tyler Bowser, Backcountry Fearless with Chris Catanzarite, Standing judges Brian Riggle and Tim McClurg.

The fall 2026 running of the Greensburg Pointer and Setter Club semi-annual field trial took place September 11 through 13 at the grounds of the Beaver Valley Pointer and Setter club located near Rochester, Pennsylvania. Weather conditions ranged from near ideal for humans but a bit less than ideal for dogs and horses with temperatures surpassing 80 degrees on at least two of the three days.

Credit for management of the 76-dog entry belongs to Justin Mason and Nick Lasica for their thoughtful planning and precise implementation of their plan. The trial concluded without a hitch or complaint. Immense credit and sincere thanks also extended to Gianna Lasica and Karah Thatcher for providing delicious food for lunch daily. Special thanks to Kathleen Smith for her help in the kitchen.

Sponsorship support from Purina and Greg Blair is a tremendous reason this club plus numerous others survive and thrive. All winners were awarded discount coupons for Purina dog food. Additionally, Lion Country Supply donated gift certificates for the judges. Thanks for the generous support.

Others making significant contributions by providing help wherever needed included Bob Smith, Reese Carroll, Norm Meeder, Dave Hughes and Tom Butts and Tyler Bowser who shared all necessary duties including bird release, hauling water, transporting dogs and people plus all other tasks that required attention. All accomplished using three donated side by side UTV's.
Of special note, the club hosted a Saturday evening top dog awards celebration for last season's Pennsylvania Walking Association winners. The association sponsored a scrumptious barbeque dinner catered by Mission Barbeque of Cranberry. Association Vice-President Nick Lasica awarded recognition to all past season's winners and presented owners and handlers present with nicely engraved certificates. All winners named will be added to the Hall of Fame display in the Beaver Valley Clubhouse.

The all-important judging assignments were handled professionally and fairly by a panel of active field trial patrons, namely Brian Riggle, Dave Park, Tyler Bowser, Tim McClurg, Paul Tipping and Justin Mason. Their decisions were well received.

The program kicked off Friday with the Open Horseback Derby. Although light on number of entries, quality was high. Named first was Gambler Cape Cora, fancy moving pointer female owned by Joe Gamble and handled by Matt Basilone. Cora laid down a far-reaching front running ground race and proved quite stylish with fine derby bird work. Second and third went to a pair of littermates bred by Chris Catanzarite. Backcountry Remi got the nod for second for owner/handler Chris Catanzarite with a derby find while litter brother Backcountry Jetson won third with a strong ground race. Both showed plenty of promise for the future.

The Derby was followed by the horseback Open Shooting Dog. The winner was multiple champion Backcountry Bruiser owned and handled by Chris Catanzarite. Bruiser ran far to the forward objectives and was found standing stylishly at 12 along distant edge. Bruiser held high and tight throughout the flush and shot, then added a second mannerly find and a lone unproductive before speeding to a strong finish. Second was Outlaws Cashin Out, pointer male owned and handled by Nick Lasica to a well-directed forward ground heat coupled with a mannerly find where Cash demonstrated deportment of the highest order. Third was Mac's Evie Wonder, pointer female owned and handled by Ohio sportsman Tim McClurg. Evie had a well-applied and directed ground race combined with a stylish well-mannered find.

Saturday's running featured the Open Walking Shooting dog that carried a guaranteed purse of $1,500. A highly competitive field of 25 vied for top honors, the winner emerged in Miller's Special Upgrade, champion pointer female owned by Carlos Escalante and handled by Mark Hughes to a wide-ranging race that showed the wisdom to hunt the birdy objectives. She notched a pair of perfect finds and finished her stint with a far-reaching cast. Second went to the winning pointer female named Saddled Up Sadie, she owned by Joe Cammisa and handled by Mark Hughes. Sadie proved to be the bird finding star of the stake with a forward well applied ground race and stylish mannerly finds at 15, 20, 25 and 29. Her overall range not quite as wide as the winner. Third was Backcountry Fearless, orange marked pointer female owned and handled by Chris Catanzarite to a well applied ground heat with a solid find at 15 and another at pick-up, an overall fine performance. This was a quality stake with several others performing well enough to have their hat in the ring at one time or another. In order of appearance included possibilities were Walter with Ron Guidos, Bruiser with Chris Catanzartie, Dusty with Mark Hughes followed by Lucky, Jack and Moose.

Sunday started with the amateur shooting dog stake, a highly competitive event with several performances worthy of note. First place was won by one of the region's top amateur handlers in Doug McMillen. Double Deuce Miles set the unmatched standard with a fast-paced stylish well-applied effort complete with bird work handled to perfection. Second was Hackberry's Elhew Rubee, classy pointer female owned and handled by Deborah Hrunek with a medium range hunting effort and perfect bird work. Rio Bravo, orange marked pointer male owned and handled by Ron Guidos nailed down third with a hard hunting workmanlike effort and polished bird work on his three finds and lone unproductive.

The final stake was the open "gun dog" shooting dog which seeks to award recognition to dogs that handle kindly and provide their handlers opportunities that resemble real hunting experiences. This type of competition seems to have grown in popularity in the past several years in the local region. Whisky, handsome Vizsla male handled by Ryan Moore was first on the merits of a hard hunting effort combined with superior bird finding and handling. Second went to a classy pointer female called Cassie, handled by Deborah Hornek, who covered the ground with sweeping casts, scoring multiple well-handled finds. Gabby, a well conformed pointer female handled by Christy Helms took third with a eager forward ground effort and impressive bird handling.

Rochester, Pa., September 11
Judges: Dave Park and Brian Riggle
OPEN DERBY - 5 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-GAMBLES CAPE CORA, F1727440, pointer female, by Haney's All In-Ramey's Elhew Sunny McGee. Joe Gamble, owner; Matt Basilone, handler.
2d-BACKCOUNTRY REMI, F1724439, pointer female, by Springflow's Backcountry P-Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.
3d-BACK COUNTRY JETSON, F1724436, pointer male, by Springflow's Backcountry P-Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Paul Tipping, owner and handler.

Judges: Tyler Bomer and Brian Riggle
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 14 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-BACKCOUNTRY BRUISER, F1672645, pointer male, by Erin's War Creek-Backcountry Tornado. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.
2d-OUTLAWS CASHN OUT, F1713963, pointer male, by Double Deuce Zeke-Braggabull. Nick Lasica, owner and handler.
3d-MAC'S EVIE WONDER, F1700896, pointer female, by Mac's Siner Chief-Mac's Silver Shadow. Tim McClurg, owner and handler.

Judges: Tim McClurg and Brian Riggle
OPEN WALKING SHOOTING DOG - 19 Pointers, 3 Setters and 3 Brittanys
1st-MILLER'S SPECIAL UPGRADE, F1695107, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Carlos Escalante, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
2d-SADDLED UP SADIE, F1699757, pointer female, by Double Deuce Zeke-Beaver Meadow Rose. Joe Cammisa, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.
3d-BACKCOUNTRY FEARLESS, F1705245, pointer female, by Springflow's Backcountry P-Apple Annie's Sweet Delight. Chris Catanzarite, owner and handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog (l-r). Double Deuce Miles with Doug McMillen Jr., Hackberry's Elhew Rubee with Deborah Hornek, Guide Us Rio Bravo with Ronald Guidas.

Judges: Dave Park and Paul Tipping
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 8 Pointers and 2 Brittanys
1st-DOUBLE DEUCE MILES, F1691405, pointer male, by Double Deuce Zeke-Bucket List Bella. Doug MacMillen Jr., owner and handler.
2d-HACKBERRY'S ELHEW RUBEE, F1704631, pointer female, by Hackberry's Elhew Falco-Hackberry's Addie Blackhawk. Deborah J. Hronek, owner and handler.
3d-GUIDE US RIO BRAVO, F1727973, pointer male, by Double Deuce Zeke-Shady Hills Zeena. Ronald Guidas, owner and handler.

Handler Mark Hughes and Association VP Nick Lasica display season's top Open Shooting Dog awards for Miller's Special Upgrade and Saddled Up Sadie.

Handler Mark Hughes displays Open Derby awards for Evan's Full Throttle and Cerulean Stone.