Winners - 2011 New England Open

Ch. Klee's Handsome Hank with Chris Palmer, and RU Ch. Great River Ice with Heather Palmer. Rear, from left, judge Dave O'Brien, Stacey Goodie, judge Pat Casey, John Fino, co-chairmen Dick Bembenek and Janice Gregory, reporter Margaret Drew, Earl Drew and Mike Tracy.

KLEE'S HANDSOME HANK

NAMED CHAMPION

OF 2011 

NEW ENGLAND OPEN;

GREAT RIVER ICE

NAMED RUNNERUP

Getting ready at the breakaway. Not a lot of fall color this year thanks to the recent hurricane.

      POMFRET, Conn. - With six finds and a powerful race, Klee's Handsome Hank, a pointer male owned by Roger and Susan Duerksen, and handled by Mike Tracy, was named champion at the 2011 New England Open Championship held at Harry Townshend's Ragged Hill Farm.

Judge Dave O'Brien

Runnerup was also last year's runnerup, Great River Ice, a pointer male owned by Great River Kennels, also handled by Mike Tracy. Ice had six finds and handled well, but Hank's performance really made the judges sit up and take notice. He pointed his birds precisely, standing up on his toes in anticipation of the flush, and gave an all-around electric performance.

Judge Pat Casey, right, with John Stolgitis

     Honorable mention goes to, in no particular order, Klee's Shooting Star, a pointer female, and Octavio, a setter male, both handled by Mike Tracy; and Sukara's Grace, a setter female, handled by Jeanette Tracy.

From left, Gene Casale, Harry Townshend and Bruce Jacobs

The event was held Oct. 16-17.

Twenty-nine dogs were entered in the event. Judges were Pat Casey of South Hill, Va., and Dave O'Brien of Marlborough, Conn. A cocktail party was sponsored by Ross Callaway, owner of last year's winner, Caladen's Sawmill Struttin', a pointer male handled by Mike Tracy.

Bird planters Riley, left, and James Scheuritzel

From left, Bernie and John prepare the lobsters while Dick supervises.

Erin gets ready to ride.

John Fino goes in to flush for Sugar Knoll Jack.