Result: Black Moshannon Field Trial Club

Location: Philipsburg, Pennsylvania

Post Date: Oct 12, 2026

Submitted By: Jeff Keller

Open Shooting Dog (front row): Deb Nihart with Timberdoodle Sal, Marc Forman with S+L Scotch, and Robert Ecker with Gracie Ballroom Star. (Back row): Judges Jeff Keller and Rob Boos.

The Black Moshannon Trial Club held its fall trial in early September at the Black Moshannon State Forest trial grounds. The stakes were Open Shooting Dog, Open Derby, Amateur Shooting Dog, and Open Puppy.

Friday morning, we left the boat launch at 7:30, with the first brace of the Open Shooting Dog starting on Course 2 at 7:45. With the day being hot and dry, very few birds were moved, but several dogs had good runs to be considered if callbacks were needed. Saturday morning, we started on Course 2 again with similar weather. On Course 3, both Gracie Ballroom Star (Robert Ecker) and "Lefty" (Marc Forman) had strong runs but were not able to come in contact with any birds on the hilly course. Then on the newly designed Course 3B, "Scotch" (Marc Forman) pinned a woodcock shortly after leaving the tight cover at the beginning of the course.

On Course 5, Midnight Coal went missing, leaving "Sal" (Marc Forman) the final 20 minutes of the course to herself. Just after the road crossing, she pinned a woodcock in thick cover but was perfect on her manners during a tough flush. With no further bird contacts as the day warmed up, Gracie Star was called back with Lefty in reserve. Gracie was perfect on her quail, and the stake was ended. The judges' decision was first to Sal, second to Scotch, and third to Gracie Star.

Saturday afternoon, as the Open Shooting Dog finished up, judges Marissa and Dean Everett started the Open Derby on Course 6B. On Course 7B, "Star" (Robert Ecker) ran a strong race without any bird work to put herself into contention. On Course 2B, "Lola" (Deb Nihart) ran an easy-handling, strong forward race, but again no birds in the 70+ dry conditions. Then, as the last brace was breaking away on Course 3B, we started to get a light rain. "Willow" (Robert Ecker) took advantage of the changing conditions with a big run and a grouse at the 20-minute mark, just before the skies opened up. As conditions worsened with thunder, the judges decided to place dogs on race. First went to Willow, second to Lola (Deb's first derby placement), and third to Star.

With rain overnight, conditions were much better for the start of the Amateur Shooting Dog. Again, leaving the boat launch at 7:30, the first brace broke away on Course 4. Ash Creektug put down a strong race with a woodcock on Course 5B down in the swamp near the airport fence. Several grouse were also heard that brace, but none handled. On Course 6, "Tipper" (Dean Everett) stopped in the old aspen cut. Not putting up a bird, Tipper was relocated and this time held high and tight as Dean flushed a woodcock. Then on Course 7, just as the dogs crossed the first creek, "Pearl" (Art Bruno) stopped hard and was perfect on a woodcock. After some debate, judges George Hetrick and Bill Drawl announced their decision: Tug took first, Pearl second, and Tipper third.

Philipsburg, Pa., September 11
Judges: Rob Boos and Jeff Keller
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 42 Entries
1st-TIMBERDOODLE SAL, F1695198, pointer female, by Wynot Atom-Wild Apple Snake Charmed. Deb Nihart, owner; Marc Forman, handler.
2d-S+L SCOTCH, F1706581, setter male, by Shady Hills Whiskey Bonfire-Shine's Breezy Lombardo. Rollin Swank & John Lombardo, owners; Marc Forman, handler.
3d-GRACIE BALLROOM STAR, F1694839, setter female, by Sunrise Star-Lucy Two Star. George Najor, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.

Open Derby (front row): Seph Renner with Miss Willow Mae, Deb Nihart with Mountain Top Lola, and Robert Ecker with Sunrise Double Barrell Star. (Back row): Judges Dean and Marissa Everett.

Judges: Dean Everett and Marissa Everett
OPEN DERBY - 1 Pointer, 13 Setters, and 1 Irish Setter
1st-MISS WILLOW MAE, F1722734, setter female, by Grouse Hill Bullet Proof-Shady Hills Panda Bear. Seph Renner, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.
2d-MOUNTAIN TOP LOLA, F1719629, setter female, by Shady Hills Whiskey Bonfire-Mac's Mississippi. Jeffrey Keller, owner; Deb Nihart, handler.
3d-SUNRISE DOUBLE BARRELL STAR, F1721031, setter male, by Sunrise Star-Mia Star. George Najor, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog (front row): Jerry Burke with Ash Creektug, Art Bruno with Bruno's Piney Run Pearl, and Dan Everett with Lizard Creek's One Too Many. (Back row): Judges George Hetrick and Bill Drawl.

Judges: William Drawl and George Hetrick
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 5 Pointers, 7 Setters, 1 Brittany, and 1 Irish Setter
1st-ASH CREEKTUG, F1700419, setter male, by Ash Creek Domino-Ash Creek Cloe. Gerard Burke, owner and handler.
2d-BRUNO'S PINEY RUN PEARL, F1690605, Brittany female, by Piney Run Jake-Piney Run Candy. Arthur Bruno, owner and handler.
3d-LIZARDS CREEK'S ONE TOO MANY, F1705746, setter female, by Chip's Charlie Brown-Rouge River Wing Nut. Marissa Everett, owner; Dean Everett, handler.

Judges: Tom Kieffer and Bob Stine
OPEN PUPPY - 2 Pointers and 5 Setters
1st-SAGER GULF MEMORIES, F1728541, setter male, by Jaike's Jax-Kelly's Rainbow Aspen. Jeffrey & Clare Sample, owners; Robert Ecker, handler.
2d-LIZARD CREEKS ALL RILED UP, F1729761, setter female, by Long Island Ice-Lizard Creek's One Too Many. Marissa Everett, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.
3d-KEYSTONE CRACK'N ICE, F1729025, pointer male, by Titanium's Hammer-Hifive's Unsweetened Sandy. Dave Reberchak, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.

Open Puppy (front row): Robert Ecker with Sager Gulf Memories, Marissa Everett with Lizard Creeks All Riled Up, and Dave Reberchak with Keystone Crack'n Ice. (Back row): Jeff Sample and judges Tom Kieffer and Bob Stine.