2014 Region 1 Walking Championship

Region 1 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Champion One Bad Winter, with owner/handler Karen Unsworth, and runnerup champion Snuff  Mill Bailey, with owner/handler Lanny Dellinger. Rear from left, judge Tom Mercier, Kelsey Dellinger, John Stolgitis, chairman Richard Giuliano, reporter Janice Gregory and judge Jeff  Smith. 

ONE BAD WINTER 

WINS REGION 1

 AMATEUR

 WALKING

 SHOOTING DOG

 CHAMPIONSHIP

Runnerup Champion

 Is Snuff Mill Bailey

EXETER, RI -- With four finds and a strong, forward race, One Bad Winter, a 3-year-old pointer female owned, trained and handled by Karen Unsworth of Richmond, RI, was named champion at the 2014 Region 1 Amateur Walking Championship held April 12-13, at Arcadia Management Area in Exeter, RI. 

Runnerup, with three finds and a slightly shorter race, was Snuff Mill Bailey, a 3-year-old setter female owned, trained and handled by Lanny Dellinger of Saunderstown, RI.

Karen Unsworth stands with One Bad Winter who's backing Fox Cobble Zeva. Bill Whigham goes in to flush while judge Jeff Smith watches.

The winner came from the 11th and final brace. One Bad Winter was paired with Fox Cobble Zeva (Whigham). Winter started out with a strong find at 7, with her bracemate backing. They switched off at 12, when Zeva successfully pointed a quail under a pine tree, with Winter backing. Zeva went on to have two more very nice finds with good manners, but was picked up close to the half-hour mark for failing to back.

Winter had an unproductive at 20 followed by finds at 26, 34, 36, and 44. She ran a hard, forward race for the entire hour, hunting the outer parts of  the course, checking in occasionally and standing her birds staunchly. 

In the fourth brace, Woodcock Haven Stella (Ogilvie) and Snuff Mill Bailey (L. Dellinger) went head to head.

Stella started out strong with three well-placed, nicely-executed finds. However, something caused her to lose steam and concentration in the second half. She was not as forward or convinced of herself as she had been in the first and her performance suffered. 

Bailey ran the perfect walking shooting dog race. She was very in tune with her handler, checking in just enough but not too much, running through the woods head and tail high. Judges were impressed with her animation and her happy-go-lucky way of going. She started out with a beautifully executed back and followed that up with a stop to flush and three additional textbook finds. Bailey was still running strong when time was called.

Runnerup Champion Snuff Mill Bailey with owner/handler Lanny Dellinger, Kim Dellinger and Kelsey Dellinger. 

Judges for the event were Jeff Smith of Loudon, NH, and Tom Mercier of Voluntown, Conn. Field trial chairman was Richard Giuliano of Coventry, RI.

THE RUNNING

On the first day of the championship, the sun was hot, the grounds were dry and the air still. Scenting conditions would prove to be poor and the first two braces showed this as all four dogs were picked up. Unproductives would be the order of the day.

In the first brace were Wizard’s Ploughman Poet (Hathaway) and Indian Creek Great White (Cavanaugh). In the second, Ironstone Stoney (Bonnetti) and Sunkhaze Whoa Nellie (Flewelling). None of the dogs made it around, with three of the four suffering unproductives and one (Poet) a bird infraction. 

In the third brace, Grouse Hill Belle (Capocci) and Quinton Oaks Abby (Lewis) faced off. Belle ran her usual stylish nice race. However, she suffered two unproductives and was picked up. Abby also ran a strong race, carrying a high tail. She had one find with impeccable manners, but followed that up with an unproductive. And then Abby hit the road and was gone for a good 10 minutes when time was called. Handler and scout rounded her up within the requisite time.

Fourth brace. Previously described.

Islander with Pete Kazic.

Islander (Kazic) and Richfield Almond Joy (Giuliano) were paired in the fifth brace. Joy was found standing at 9 minutes with Islander backing. Joy moved on her birds and was picked up. Islander, who ran a strong, forward race, went on to have another find and an unproductive but wasn't pleasing his handler. He was picked up at 26.

Richard Giuliano and Richfield Almond Joy.

Iron Lady with judge Jeff Smith watching and handler Bill Bonnetti flushing.

Iron Lady (Bonnetti) and Yank's Bucky Boy (Skut) were in the sixth brace. Bucky started with an unproductive and was picked up shortly thereafter. Lady also started with an unproductive, then had one nice find in the woods with a single quail being flown. However, with the next unproductive, after two relocations, she was picked up.

Frank Skut going in to flush for Yank's Bucky Boy.

In the seventh brace, Kissamee Pool Shark (Cavanaugh) was paired with Chase Hill Ben Franklin (Flewelling). Shark started quickly with a nice find where he stood with head and tail high. However, he was another victim of unproductives and after two he was picked up. Franklin caught the judges' attention early. He had three well-spaced finds and one unproductive following a relocation. The pointer hunted all aspects of the course and ran a fast, forward race. 

Handler Mike Flewelling heads back to Chase Hill Ben Franklin.

The eighth brace kicked off Sunday morning. Temperatures were about 15 degrees lower than the previous day, with partly cloudy skies. Scenting conditions had improved considerably.

The eighth brace paired Grouse Hill Dixie (Capocci) and Chase Hill Big Bradley (Giuliano). Dixie was gone from the get-go and the tracker was called for early on. Bradley found birds everywhere and at the end had logged six finds, some steady, some not so much, but gave a decent performance nonetheless.

Quinton Oaks Bud Lite (Lewis) and Richfield Silver Lining (Flewelling) were paired in the ninth brace. Both dogs got off early and were gone for an extended time. Bud Lite had one unproductive at 18 and was picked up at 40. Silver Lining was having no luck finding birds this day and was picked up at 30.

Breakaway for Brace 10, Snuff Mill Atalanta with Kelsey Dellinger and Chase Hill Little Bud with Mike Flewelling.

In the 10th brace, Snuff Mill Atalanta (K. Dellinger) was braced with Chase Hill Little Bud (Flewelling). Atalanta handled easily for the entire hour. She never got too far away from her handler, but with the number of birds she was finding, there was no reason to expect her to. She hunted out the woods, checking all possible bird-hiding areas. She started with a back and followed that up with six finds -- her first at 27, and the following at 32, 36, 40, 54 and 58. Bud had a find early on and went on to point at 35 and 41. He suffered from some extended absences.

Kelsey Dellinger stands with Snuff Mill Atalanta who's backing Chase Hill Little Bud. Mike Flewelling is flushing. 

Eleventh brace. Previously described.

SIDELIGHTS

A cocktail party was held Saturday night hosted by Jim Kilrain, owner of last year's champion Chase Hill Little D-Lite. Catering was done by John Stolgitis, who continues to impress with his culinary prowess. His hors d'oeuvres ran the gamut from fancy cheeses and crackers to fresh shellfish caught off the Rhode Island coast.

Everyone pitched in to help whether it was driving the gallery truck or setting up lunches. Region 1 couldn't do without its many volunteers and thanks each and every one. 

The Region also thanks Purina for its continued support, and sends out a special thanks to judge Jeff Smith, who soon will be permanently moving from New Hampshire to North Carolina. Jeff has held many position within Region 1 over the years and never has turned down a request to judge. His honesty and straightforwardness is appreciated by all and we will truly miss him.

Judge Jeff  Smith.