New England Open Results

New England Open Champion Great River Ice with Mark McClain, and Runnerup Champion Klee's Handsome Hank with Stacey Goodie. Rear from left, Chayton Scheuritzel, Bob Reed, Elias Richardson, reporter Janice Gregory, Karen Reed, judge Dave O'Brien, Jim Hathaway, Mike Tracy, judge Jeff Smith, Tom Gates and Dick Bembenek.

GREAT RIVER ICE

 NAMED CHAMPION 

AT 84TH 

NEW ENGLAND

 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Klee's Handsome Hank Named Runnerup

POMFRET, Conn. -- With a race that blew away the competition, Great River Ice, a pointer male owned by Great River Kennels and handled by Mike Tracy, beat a field of 34 pointers and setters to be named champion at the 84th annual New England Open Championship held Oct. 15-16, 2012, at Ragged Hill Farm. With impeccable manners and form, Ice logged 11 finds -- many in places where no other dogs had gone --  during his hour. He ran hard and was tuned in completely to his handler.

Runnerup honors went to last year's New England Open champion, Klee's Handsome Hank, a pointer male owned by Susan and Roger Duerksen and also handled by Mike Tracy. Hank logged six finds with a good shooting-dog race. He could clearly be seen hunting through the woods, was always to the front and ran strong.

Judges were Jeff Smith of New Hampshire and Dave O'Brien of Connecticut.