2002 AMERICAN BRITTANY CLUB
NATIONAL FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP WRITEUPS

Photos

The 2002 American Brittany Club National Championship was conducted over the Blue Mountain Wildlife Demonstration Area at Boonevile, Arkansas. This Championship for the All-Age Brittany is a highly contested event, with rigid qualifications for entry. It commenced on Monday, December 2nd and was concluded on Saturday, December 7th.

The 2002 National Champion emerged as Micro Chips of Nutmeg. Meg is owned by Tom White and Margaret Horstmeyer and was handled to this prestigious win by Paul Doiron. She is the result of the mating of Chips of Gold II and Kas'lbrooks Kassie.

Runner-up honors were bestowed upon Tejas Iron Mike. Mike was handled by Vic Carrington for owner Tom Graves. Mike was sired by Shasta's Spoke From Evil Roy and is out of HIghspoint Sill-O-Ette.

Lea's Running Jayhawk was named third. He is owned by Bo Ackerman. Jake was handled to this placement for Tom Tracy who stepped up to the plate to help out his friend and fellow trainer, Rob Rohner, who sadly was unable to attend. Jake is out of the breeding of Silver Lakes Wishes Blaze and Rhapsody's Ramblin' Rose.

Lobo's Klickatat County Line owned by Delmar McCallister and capably handled by Tom Tracy was placed fourth. This dog is a fine example of line breeding, being th eresult of the mating of Lobo's Blazing Candy Man and Lobo's Blaz'n Gypsy Girl.

Seventy-three dogs were entered in this time honored event; seventy-two came to the line. The Championship title was awarded following a two-dog runoff. Those two dogs emerged as Champion Micro Chips of Nutmeg and Runner-Up Champion Tejas Iron Mike. The fact that they were tied following the one hour heat speaks very highly for both dogs.

The judicial panel for this Championship comes with high qualifications. Sherry Ebert has experience as trainer, handler, scout and judge. She sees well and knows what she is looking at. Her years of experience with the Smith Setters gives her insigt to what a dog is thinking. Sherry has trained dogs of nearly every pointing breed for amateur owner/handlers. She has judges prestigious trials throughout the nation for several breeds and numerous American Field Championships for pointers and setters. She pays close attention, often spotting a dog before its handler does. Sherry is out there to see the best dog win the trial and gives the job her all.

Dave King is a professional handler with many Championships to his credit. he trains all breeds but the German Shorthair is the most prevalent in his string. Dav is a cheerful person who enjoys dogs and field trials. He has a keen eye and can quickly sort what he is witnessing. His dedication to the job makes him an excellent judge.

John Ivester has had a life long relationship with bird dogs. He began as a hunter at a young age. He progressed to shoot-to-kill trials and then on to horseback field trials. He has been active in Brittany clubs since the early 70's. John is well down in pointer circles and holds the honor of owning 2000 National Champion Marques Gold Rush. John has judged many trials throughout his years in bird dogs. He has judged major championships in both AKC and American Field competition. John was a good addition to this panel.

THE WINNERS AND OTHERS
The judges posted seven dogs during the course of the trial. These "day dogs" were all in contention at the time they were named. The performances of those top dogs is given below in the order in which they occurred. The Call Back that was used to separate the eventual Champion and Runner-Up is described following the individual performances.

Shambo's Dark Shadow, handled by Jim John, appeared in brace No. 6. He was released into Haydan camp near the end of what is generally considered course No. 1. Shadow broke left along the river. It took him a few minutes to get it together but he was looking great by the time the course neared the bridge. He did a nice job on the ground from the bridge, through Riblin bottoms and on across old 109. Shadow and his bracemate pointed at the feeder at the head of the alley at 34. Shadow's bracemate broke on the birds, bumping Shadow in the process. Shadow was flawless. Shadow made attractive moves through the back loop and into Parrish field. He took the ridge edge but came off it before the end. He was sent to the road edge and was forward when the hour expired.

The next dogs to be posted came from brace No. 10. TJ's Apache (John) and Micro Chips of Nutmeg (Doiron) were released into the big field at the midway point on course No. 1. "Bandit" was consistently forward in his applicatin but his range was not as wide as those of the winners. Bandit pointed in the feed patch near old 109 at 24, all in order. He carded a second nice find at 29. He took the ridge edge of Parrish field then was sent to the road edge. He was picked up ahead at tim,e just beyond old 109. "Meg" took the left edge from cast off, showing nicely foward. She rimmed every field all the way to the bear trap. Into Haydan camp she took the river edge, popping to the front before the horse bridge. She took the ridge edge leading to the bridge, an attractive move. She dropped into the cover and did not cross the bridge. Instead she crossed the water and once more showed smartly forward, an impressive move, especially on such a cold morning. At 24 she politely honored her bracemate. Upon crossing old 109 she made strong moves all along the woods. At 37 her handler rose up a single before noticing her on point. This was at the corner feeder at the alley. Meg had a covey in front of her, amnners perfect. She took the ridge edge around the back bowl disappearing for a time. She returned from behind at the water hole. Into Parrish field she made intelligent use of the wind, running just inside the woodsedge. Meg was called out before she completed the move and was asked to go to the road edge; she did so willingly. At the hour she was standing along old 109. She glanced away at cautioning of the other dog but then regained her intensity. She was high and tight for the flush. She was on the top of the board.

Lobo's Klikitat County Line (Tracy) was the next dog to be posted. He was in the 14th brace, the finale on Tuesday. He was released into Parrish field. "Jim" pointed along old 109 at 7, all in good order. He handled forward across 109. After being heeled across the bridge he took the right side of the course. Jim pointed at 34; the birds would not fly but Judge Ivester called sight of them. The shot was fired, Jim was mannerly. He pointed at a feeder but Tracy sent him on at 40. He was absent at Mario's hill but showed by the oak tree near the creek crossing. Point was called with birds in the air at 46, Jim was stopped. He finished the hour forward.

Mo-Kan Razzle Dazzle was handled by his owner Dan Hinsky. The fifth dog to make the board appeared in the 15th brace, the first on Wednesday morning. Dzzle was strong from the start and was gone 16 minutes when he was spotted standing to the front at 18. It was a very good find. He was absent prior to the bear trap but came up with the scout. Dazzle showed well hrough Haydan camp, taking the river edge. He showed forward from 51 until time. His finish was shorter than his start.

Tejas Iron Mike (Carrington) was in No. 23, the first Thursday morning. Thursday dawned clear and cold but thankfully without frost. Mike took everal minutes to warm to his race. Once he was ready he was strong and consistent. He was found on point at 29 along the ridge edge of the big field, a great piece of work. Mike made impressive moves through the field all the way to Cartmell's gate and pointed on the left edge at 39. The birds were walking around but would not fly. Mike handled this well. He came through the bear trap in good shape. He took the left edge in Haydan camp then crossed to show forward. Mike was gone as the course turned back along the river at the bridge but was picked up forward at time. His performance gave the judges a dilemma; they now liked two dogs equally.

Lea's Running Jayhawk, the final dog to be posted, was handled by Tom Tracy in the last brace on Friday, the 36th. His brace turned loose on course No. 2 from the bridge. He broke ridge and used the first part of this course better than any otehr dog in the stake. At 13 "Jake" was pointed on the left edge of Riblin. This was nice work. Jake was pointed again at 18 but even a lengthy relocation proved fruitless. He went up the left edge and needed assistance to come back to the front. At 34 he pointed at the feeder at the head of the alley. HIs style and manners were faultless. Jake made nice moves on the right edge of the back loop, came through the pocket nicely and headed for the water hole on the left. He pointed there at 47, all in order. Jake made some big casts in Parrish field, taking the ridge edge, leaving it to check a feed plot and then returning to the edge. Jake pointed along old 109 at 57, ending the hour with an orderly find.

THE CALLBACK
A callback was needed to separate the two dogs being carried for the top spots. It was run on course No. 2 on Saturday morning but would not use the back bowl loop.

The judges announced that the pair would be champion and runner-up regardless of what happened in the callback. They had already beaten the rest of the entrants. If one made a mistake on game it would automatically be runner-up. Otherwise they would run until the judges made a decision. With a desire to see what the dogs did naturally, scouting was restricted. The judges required that scouts would have to be sent out and must return to the gallery immediately after completing his or her mission. With these ground rules clearly set, the following pair was released.

Micro Chips of Nutmeg (Doiron) and Tejas Iron Mike (Carrington) took the ridge edge and swung forward. They crossed the front without being seen and came back from the front to show at the gap. Mike made a back cast. Meg worked through the trees and crossed the front. She dropped out of sight until the course approached old 109 where she again crossed the front. She went through a gap ahead. Mike caught up from behind and went right. Both were next on the left edge looking good. Across old 109 Meg went immediately to the right edge and took it all the way around the field. Mike crossed the field, hit the far line and passed Meg going in the opposite direction. Meg got confused with the calling for Mike and briefly came off the line. She went back to it and was next seen on the left edge at the road. She was nearly buried on point in a feed patch at 23. This was unproductive. Mike was absent at this time.

Meg was on he left line when the course turned right, putting her briefly behind. The course turned left across Parrish field. Mike was on the ridge so it was a tough turn for him. Neither dog made the best use of Parrish field edges. Back to 109, Meg scored a clean find at the feeder. Mike was brought up by his scout at that time. Meg was lost to the left before the bridge and had a hard time catching up because of the gallery crossing the bridge. Mike was along the woods on the ridge side of what would be course No. 3. Once again he needed scouting to get him forward. Meg was forward at Mario's hill and across Lick Creek. Beyond the creek she began to show signs of slowing. Mike was brought to the front by his scout just before the pavillion and the judges made their decision. The stake was over. Micro Chips of Nutmeg had won, thanks to her predominantly forward, natural pattern.

NFC DC AFC Micro Chips of Nutmeg "Meg" 2002 American Brittany Club National Field Champion, Dual Champion, Liver/White Brittany Female owned by Tom White & Margaret Horstmeyer, trained and handled by Paul Doiron