Monday, October 26, 2015

Results -- 2015 Region 1 ASD Championship

 Front from left, Alex Smith with Champion Calico's Touch of Class, and Brian Sanchez and Tom Brown with Runnerup Champion Sugarknoll War Paint. Rear from left, chairman Richard Giuliano, John Stolgitis, Tiffani Smith, Erin Stolgitis, Elizabeth Malone, Gene Casale Jr., judge Dom Preite, Brooke Robinson, judge Pat Casey, Mary Tracy, Aidan Malone, reporter Janice Gregory and George Doyle.

CALICO'S 
TOUCH OF CLASS
WINS REGION 1
AMATEUR
HORSEBACK
CHAMPIONSHIP

Runnerup is Sugarknoll War Paint

EAST WINDSOR, Conn. -- The 2015 Region 1 Amateur Horseback Shooting Dog Championship was a two-day event (Oct. 17-18) that took its sweet time getting going. 

On the first day, birds that were proving too wild for their own good were causing dog after dog in brace after brace to crash and burn. Out of 14 dogs run the first day, only one would have multiple clean finds and complete the hour -- Elias Richardson's setter male, Ironstone Lone Star. In total, during the entire weekend, more than half of the 27 dogs entered would not make it around the course.

Things were looking bleak, but on the second day, circumstances began to change for the better.

In the ninth brace, Erin's War Creek, a pointer male handled by Brian Sanchez, broke the drought. War Creek smoked the course with eight finds. Said judge Dom Preite, "This dog had a cast that was forever, and he never, never left it. He ran like that all the time, right on the edges and he found the birds. And he was magnificent on point."

And from there, things just kept improving.

In the 10th brace, the hot streak continued. Judges Preite and Pat Casey gave their full attention as John Malone's pointer female, East Coast Sally, had four finds in a clean hour. Dogs were finally starting to make it around the course. In the 11th brace, with temperatures dipping and snow beginning to flurry, Erin's Stonecutter, a pointer male handled by Kevin Stuart, and Kate, a pointer female handled by Kevin Joyce, would both stay down for 60 minutes, each dog having four finds.

But it would take until the 12th and 13th braces to produce the winner and runner-up.

Sugarknoll War Paint, a 6-year-old pointer male owned by Allen Linder and Pete and Chris DelCollo, would run in the 12th. With seven finds and a good, forward race, he would be named runner-up.  And from the 13th and final brace came the champion, with a remarkably strong and precise race, Calico's Touch of Class, a 5-year-old pointer female owned by Calico Kennels, Pete and Chris DelCollo and Dale Hernden and handled by Alex Smith. 

Said Preite, "The first-place dog was a great handling dog. And Alex sat in the saddle like a gentleman. The dog went out there and did a nice job. She had six finds and one back and [War Paint] had seven finds. [He] was a little bit harder-handling dog, a bit more to try to control, but a real good bird dog. We were very pleased with both."


Photos by Tim Doyle
A find right off the breakaway in an area that would prove perplexing to a number of dogs. 


THE RUNNING 

First brace: Dry Creek Jessy James (Doyle) and I'm Earl (Drew). Jessy was up early for not backing. Earl was cruising along, doing a great job with two finds and one unproductive, when, with 17 minutes left, his owner detected a slight change in the dog's gait and decided to pick him up. Earl had recently recovered from a torn ACL and just reinjured it the previous week at the New England Open. Handler didn't want to risk any further injury so I'm Earl's hour was finished.

Jeff Smith, left, and George Doyle.


Ironstone Lone Star (Richardson) and Hog Hill Katie (Cavanaugh). Lone Star would be the lone dog who finished the complete hour on this first day. He had three finds. Katie had two finds where all was in order, then went on to suffer an unproductive. She then had a divided find with Lone Star and was ordered up after taking a jump on the birds.

Jeff Smith


Great River Class (Sanchez) and Dry Creek White Lightning (J. Smith). Class had two finds and two unproductives. She was picked up after the second. Lightning had a good start with a find right off the breakaway. He went on to have another find but was picked up when he took out a bird.

Jim Thomas, left, and John Malone


The fourth brace paired One Bad Winter (Unsworth) and Thomas Adirondack Mason (Thomas). Winter was scratched and the bye dog, BraeVal Bearcat Laddie (McCluskey), was brought up to fill in. Laddie had one find but was picked up for taking a bird. Mason was making some serious money with five cracking good finds. However, with 15 minutes left, he bumped a pheasant as he was crossing a field and was ordered up.


Gene Casale Jr., above,
and daughter, Anna, below.



Railway Jill (Casale) and No Hitting No Spitting (McKay). Jill had three good finds but on the fourth she went with the birds. No Hitting was ordered up early for not backing.

Maureen and Kevin Joyce

Wizard's Ploughman Poet (Hathaway) and Tess (GSPF) Joyce. Tess had a find right off the breakaway. Poet didn't back and was picked up. The tracker was called for for Tess at about 30 minutes as she been out of ken for too long.

Elizabeth Malone

Moonshine Magic (Malone) and High Drive Snapshot (Sanchez). Magic had one find, then she was gone. Snapshot had four finds and was also lost.

In the first brace on the second day -- a day that would feature cold, wind, and snow flurries -- Calico's Casanova Cowboy (A. Smith) was braced with Chasehill Little Thudd (Richardson).  Both dogs were picked up early for bird infractions.

Railway Danny (Casale) and Erin's War Creek (Sanchez). Danny had one nice find then was picked up for not backing. War Creek had eight finds and was "something to see," said judge Preite. But as good as it was, the performance wouldn't beat the winners. 

East Coast Sally (Malone) and Talladega (Richardson).  Sally had four finds and made a clean job of her hour.  Talladega was picked up shortly after the breakaway for not backing.


Maureen Joyce

Erin's Stonecutter (Stuart) and Kate (Joyce). Stonecutter would intersperse four finds in his hour. A good running dog, he finished going away. Kate had four finds but was somewhat immature in her pattern, according to judges.

Sugarknoll War Paint (Sanchez) and Waybetter Tommy (Brown). War Paint, the runner-up,  was previously described. Tommy had two finds but an eventual refusal to back got him the hook.

Calico's Touch of Class (A. Smith) and North Country Girl (McKay). Class, the winner, was previously described. Girl and Class shared a find early and Girl went on to have two more finds, but a refusal to back got her leashed early and the championship was over.


SIDELIGHTS

* On Saturday night, a cocktail party was hosted by John Stolgitis, owner of 2014 winner, Chasehill Little Bud, handled by Elias Richardson. A lavish shellfish spread was followed by a baked lobster dinner. Not only was the dinner in celebration of Bud's 2014 Region 1 championship win, but also marked the occasion of the talented pointer's retirement. Always a threat whether running in the horseback circuit, on the walking circuit, or in the grouse woods, Bud will be missed.

* Many thanks to Purina representative Greg Blair for providing dog food to the winners and hats to participants. 

* And many thanks to chairman Richard Giuliano and the members of Region 1 who stepped up to help whenever necessary, whether it was planting birds, marshalling or cleaning the clubhouse at the conclusion of the trial. No trial could be held without help from people such as these and we thank each and every one of them.


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

2015 New England Futurity Results

2015
NEW ENGLAND
FUTURITY
WINNERS



New England Futurity Winners; 1. Neely's Paint The Town with George Tracy; 2. Chasehill Double Trouble with Erin Stolgitis; 3. Wild Blue with Mike Tracy; 4. Rentz's Fire & Ice with Dillon Shaffer. Rear from left, judge Bill Bonnetti, George Doyle III, Buddy Kennedy, Tim Doyle, Mary Tracy,  John Malone, John Stolgitis, judge Pat Casey, Elizabeth Malone, Aidan Malone, Earl Drew, Jeanette Tracy and Bob Reed.




Wednesday, October 14, 2015

2015 Region 1 ASD Championship Running Order




RUNNING ORDER
REGION 1

AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG
CHAMPIONSHIP

EAST WINDSOR, Conn. -- Twenty-seven dogs have been drawn for the 2015 running of the Region 1 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, at Flaherty Field Trail Area. Judges are Pat Casey of South Hill, Va., and Dom Preite of Franklinville, N.J. Chairman is Richard Giuliano of Greene, RI.

The first brace will break away Saturday at 8 a.m.

RUNNING ORDER

1-1 Dry Creek Jessy James PM Doyle/J.Smith
1-2 I'm Earl PM Drew

2-1 Ironstone Lone Star ESM Richardson
2-1 Hog Hill Katie PF Cavanaugh

3-1 Great River Class PF Sanchez
3-2 Dry Creek White Lightning PM Doyle/J.Smith

4-1 One Bad Winter PF Unsworth
4-2 Thomas Adirondack Mason ESM Thomas

5-1 Railway Jill PF Casale
5-2 No Hitting No Spitting PM McKay

6-1 Wizard's Ploughman Poet ESM Hathaway
6-2 Tess GSPF Joyce

7-1 Moonshine Magic PM Malone
7-2 High Drive Snapshot PM Sanchez

8-1 Calico's Casanova Cowboy PM A.Smith 
8-2 Chasehill Little Thudd PM Richardson

9-1 Railway Danny PM Casale
9-2 Erin's War Creek PM Sanchez

10-1 East Coast Sally PF Malone
10-2 Talladega PM Richardson

11-1 Erin's Stonecutter PM Stuart
11-2 Kate PF Joyce

12-1 Sugarknoll War Paint PM Sanchez
12-2 Waybetter Tommy PM Brown

13-1 Calico's Touch of Class PF A.Smith
13-2 North Country Girl PF McKay

14-1 BraeVal Bearcat Laddie ISM McCluskey
14-2 Bye



2015 Northeastern Results


Handler Jeanette Tracy with Northeastern Champion Pine Straw Blackhawk, and handler George Tracy with Runner-Up Champion Sugarknoll War Paint. From left, Earl Drew, championship chairman Gene Casale Jr., Anna Casale,  chef Tony Forte, scout Dillon Shaffer, reporter Margaret Drew, judge George Doyle, Mary Tracy, judge Jeff Smith, Sal Morelli and Keith Cagle.



PINE STRAW
 BLACKHAWK

WINS
 NORTHEASTERN

Sugarknoll War Paint
 named runnerup

WINDSOR, Conn. -- Pine Straw Blackhawk, a setter male handled by Jeanette Tracy and scouted by Dillon Shaffer, was named champion from a field of 38 at the 2015 Northeastern Open Shooting Dog Championship Wednesday at Flaherty Field Trial Area. Runnerup was Sugarknoll War Paint, a pointer male handled by George Tracy. 

Hawk, co-owned by Mike and Jacob Reeves, is out of a breeding of RU Ch. Pine Straw Katydid to Ch./RU Ch. Chip's Torquato

Judges were Jeff Smith of Beaufort, N.C., and George Doyle of South Hill, Va. Chairman was Gene Casale Jr. 

Gene Casale Jr., left, and chef Tony Forte.


Tony Forte was presented with a plaque by chairman Gene Casale Jr. to celebrate Tony's 40 years of serving as chef for the Northeastern. 



Sunday, October 11, 2015

Winners -- Townshend Classic



HARRY TOWNSHEND
 AMATEUR
 SHOOTING DOG
 CLASSIC WINNERS




From left, Dick Bembenek, Nadine Thomas, John Fino, Jim Thomas with Classic winner Thomas Adirondack Mason, Jim Hathaway, Earl Drew, Margaret Drew with second-place dog, I'm Earl, Tad Dorry, Janice Gregory, Elias Richardson and Brandon Ross with third-place dog, Talladega, judges Richard Giuliano and Pete Flanagan. 


2015 Northeastern Running Order



RUNNING ORDER:
2015 NORTHEASTERN

SHOOTING DOG
CHAMPIONSHIP

EAST WINDSOR, Conn. -- Thirty-eight dogs have been drawn for the 2015 Northeastern Shooting Dog Championship starts Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 12, at Flaherty Field Trial Area. Judges are Jeff Smith and George Doyle.

   1-1 Little Girl Creek  PF  Mike Tracy
1-2 Millers Vanilla Snow  PF  George Tracy

  2-1 Covey Up Black Ice  PM  Jeanette Tracy
2-2 The Lobbiest   PM   George Tracy

   3-1 Jessie’s Bojangles SM  Jeanette Tracy
3-2 Backcountry Tornado PF Mike Tracy

   4-1 Steel City Arapahoe  PM  Jeanette Tracy
4-2 Enhancement Southern Belle  PF  Mike Tracy

    5-1 High Drive Ranger  PM  George Tracy
5-2 Land Cruiser Scout  SM  Jeanette Tracy

    6-1 Great River Dakota  PF  Mike Tracy
6-2 Sugarknoll War Paint   PM George Tracy

    7-1 Indian Summer PF  Jeanette Tracy
7-2 Suemac’s Roll Tide  PM  Mike Tracy

   8-1 The Kings Hand PM Jeanette Tracy
8-2 Walden’s Ridge Liz   PF George Tracy

   9-1 Pine Straw Blackhawk  SM   Jeanette Tracy
9-2 Great River Ice  PM Mike Tracy

10-1 A Keystone Kid  SM Mike Tracy
10-2 Erin's War Creek  PM  George Tracy

11-1 Great River Journey   SM  Jeanette Tracy
11-2 Great River Mackenzie PM  Mike Tracy
1                        
      12-1 High  Drive  Rogue PM George Tracy
12-2 Walden’s Rider Chatter Box PM  Mike Tracy

    13-1 Covey Up Woody PM  Jeanette Tracy
13-2 Bully Bragg PM   Mike Tracy

14-1  Fast And Furious  PM   George Tracy
14-2 Vanilla Creek  PM    Mike Tracy

 15-1  Jessie’s Bonanza  SF  Jeanette Tracy
15-2 Come Fly With Me  PF  Mike Tracy

16-1   Calico’s Touch Of Class PF  George Tracy
16-2 Calico’s Cowboy Casanova  PM  Mike Tracy

17-1  Hillhavyn’s Stump Jumper PM  Jeanette Tracy
17-2 Palara   PF Mike Tracy

18-1 Steel City Karen PF  Jeanette Tracy
18-2 Coosawhatchie Smooth Ride PM Mike Tracy

19-1 Grand Heritage Commotion  SF Jeanette Tracy

19-2 Hightailing Miss Kate PF   Mike Tracy

Friday, October 9, 2015

2015 New England Open Winners


From left, championship chairman Dick Bembenek, Judge Al Fazenbaker, chairman Janice Gregory, Jeanette Tracy, George Tracy with Ch. Erin's War Creek, Earl Drew, Mary Tracy, Ted Faust, Sal Morelli, owner of RU Ch. Palara, Dillon Shaffer with RU Ch. Palara, Buddy Kennedy, reporter Margaret Drew, judge Kevin Stuart, handler Mike Tracy and chef Tad Dorry.

ERIN'S WAR CREEK
NAMED WINNER
AT 2015 NEW ENGLAND
OPEN SHOOTING DOG
CHAMPIONSHIP

PALARA IS RUNNERUP

POMFRET, Conn. -- Erin's War Creek, a pointer male handled by George Tracy and owned by Al Linder, was named champion at the 2015 New England Open Shooting Dog Championship held this week at Ragged Hill Farm. Judges were Al Fazenbaker and Kevin Stuart. Runnerup was Palara, a pointer male handled by Mike Tracy and owned by Sal Morelli.

Judges Kevin Stuart, left, and Al Fazenbaker.
Handler George Tracy.


Lance Bembenek and Tom Gates get things started by putting up the tent.

From left, championship chairmen Dick Bembenek and Janice Gregory, reporter Margaret Drew, and Tom Gates.

Judge Kevin Stuart and George Tracy.

Judge Al Fazenbaker and Tom Gates.

Our color-coordinated reporter, Margaret Drew!

Point!


At the breakaway.

Flushing



Through the cornfield.

Ready to go. 

Tom Gates and landowner Deb Townshend.







The expansive grounds at Ragged Hill Farm.



Mike Tracy waits to run.  


Chairman Janice Gregory and Tom Gates.

Ready to roll.

Through the woods. 

Jeanette and George Tracy.

Janice Gregory, Tad Dorry, Chef Dan from the Thompson Rod & Gun Club, and chairman Dick Bembenek.



Wednesday, October 7, 2015

2015 New England Futurity Running Order



NEW ENGLAND
 FUTURITY 
RUNNING ORDER
Starts Thursday, Oct. 15 at Noon
Flaherty Field Trial Area 
East Windsor, CT

Judges: Pat Casey and Bill Bonnetti

Derby Name - Breeder - Owner -Handler

1-1 Ignite The Nite Sanchez-Sanchez-MTracy
1-2 Pine Straw Sweet Tea Reeves-Reeves-JTracy

2-1 Dymond's Bud Emerson-Dymond-GTracy
2-2 Chasehill Baby Beanie JStolgitis-EStolgitis-JStolgitis

3-1 Thomas Adirondack Turbo Giuliano-Thomas-Thomas
3-2 Fire & Ice Tracy-Sanchez-MTracy

4-1 Prue Confidence Giuliano-Cavanaugh-LaBella/Stolgitis
4-2 High Drive War Paint Calico Kennels-Linder-GTracy

5-1 Bail Me Out Tracy-Puckett-MTracy
5-2 Beaver Meadow Rose Giuliano-Commissa-Stolgitis

6-1 Walden's Ridge Rocky Top Tracy-Steele-GTracy
6-2 Great River Survivor Sanchez-Sanchez-MTracy

7-1 The Slightest Edge Tracy-Lordi-MTracy
7-2 Steel City Tank Conroy-Blaine/Reed-JTracy

8-1 Deacon Jones Drew-Drew-Drew
8-2 Jamback's True Grit Tracy-Richardson/Verner-GTracy

9-1 Bad Bourbon Tracy-Primm-MTracy
9-2 Ice's Jack Is Back McHugh-McHugh-JTracy

10-1 Klee's Dakota Jake McHugh-Duerksen-MTracy
10-2 Misty Acres Buck Tracy-Hilyer-GTracy

11-1 Sassy Creek Ruth-Ruth-JTracy
11-2 Bacardi On Ice Emerson-Joyal-MTracy

12-1 Chasehill Double Trouble Drew-EStolgitis-JStolgitis
12-2 Neely's Paint The Town Calico Kennels-Linder-GTracy

13-1 Summerhill Lillian Bishop-Tracy-GTracy
13-2 Teacher's Pet Drew-Drew-Drew

14-1 Klee's Geechee Gal McHugh-Duerksen-MTracy
14-2 Steel City Last Waltz Drew-Blaine/Reed-JTracy

15-1 Wild Blue Moses-Moses-GTracy
15-2 Rentz's Fire & Ice Mercer-Rentz-JTracy

16-1 Icy Luci Emerson-Chambers-MTracy
16-2 Bye







Monday, October 5, 2015

Running orders: NE Open/Harry Townshend Classic




RUNNING ORDERS:
NEW ENGLAND
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

and Harry Townshend Classic

POMFRET, Conn. -- Thirty-one dogs have been drawn for the annual New England Open Championship set to start Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 a.m. at Ragged Hill Farm. Judges are Kevin Stuart and Al Fazenbaker.

The inaugural Harry Townshend Amateur Shooting Dog Classic will follow, starting Saturday, Oct. 10, at 8 a.m., also at Ragged Hill. Ten dogs have been drawn for that stake. Judges are Pete Flanagan and Richard Giuliano.

Stake chairmen for both trials are Richard Bembenek and Janice Gregory.

NEW ENGLAND OPEN
RUNNING ORDER


1-1 Walden's Ridge Liz PF GTracy
1-2 The King's Hand PM JTracy

2-1 Backcountry Tornado PF MTracy
2-2 Wizard's Ploughman Poet ESM Hathaway

3-1 Steel City Karen PF JTracy
3-2 Calico's Touch of Class PF GTracy

4-1 Jessie's Bojangles ESM JTracy
4-2 Enhancement Southern Belle PF MTracy

5-1 Calico's Cowboy Casanova PM MTracy
5-2 Miller's Brown Eyed Girl PF GTracy

6-1 Pine Straw Blackhawk ESM JTracy
6-2 Miller's Vanilla Snow PF GTracy

7-1 Great River Dakota PF MTracy
7-2 Jessie's Bonanza ESF JTracy

8-1 Palara PF MTracy
8-2 Fast And Furious PM GTracy

9-1 Great River Journey ESM JTracy
9-2 High Drive Ranger PM GTracy

10-1 Great River Mackenzie PM MTracy
10-2 Covey Up Woodie PM JTracy

11-1 Sugarknoll Warpaint PM GTracy
11-2 Great River Ice PM MTracy

12-1 Land Cruiser Scout ESM JTracy
12-2 High Drive Southern Bound PF GTracy

13-1 Bully Bragg PM MTracy
13-2 Steel City Arapahoe PM JTracy

14-1 Great River Joe PM GTracy
14-2 A Keystone Kid ESM MTracy

15-1 High Drive Rogue PM GTracy
15-2 Covey Up Black Ice PM JTracy

16-1 Erin's War Creek PM GTracy
16-2 Bye

HARRY TOWNSHEND
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG

CLASSIC
(Saturday 8 a.m. start)

1-1 I'm Earl PM Drew
1-2 Ironstone Spectacular ESM Richardson

2-1 Thomas Adirondack Mason ESM Thomas
2-2 Talladega PM Richardson

3-1 Ironstone Lone Star ESM Richardson
3-2 Southbound Strech PM Fino

4-1 Deacon Jones PM Drew
4-2 Blackstone Stony PM Richardson

5-1 Wizard's Ploughman Poet ESM Hathaway
5-2 Mike ESM Richardson