Event Coverage

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 – Danville, Virginia

Day 2 dawned with overcast skies and temperatures in the mid 40’s. There was very little breeze. The conditions had improved over night with the mud starting to dry. Throughout the day the skies slowly cleared and the temperatures climbed to near 70 degrees with the wind only picking up slightly from the north/northwest.

Brace 13) Palm Glades Cotton Gin “Ginnie”, Dave Walker, Cliffside’s Tee time at Maple Run JH “Levi”, Jamie Fountain. This pair started strongly, disappearing from sight, to the front. At seven minutes the judges observed both dogs, off to the left, in the trees, standing. Ginnie was pointing into a line of small trees and shrubs with Levi backing. Both dogs were impressive in style. All was in order and both dogs were taken on. Leaving the second field, Ginnie was again on point along the left side of the field. Her style was high and her manners were again excellent. As we entered the next field, Levi swapped ends as he hunted the cut corn field. Ginnie came in and backed Levi. Levi looked like there would be birds right in front of him but none could be produced. Sent on, both dogs settled into a comfortable gundog pattern. They kept busy and hunted hard but would have no further bird contact. Ginnie was called back to demonstrate her retrieving ability, which she did nicely.

Brace 14) DC AFC Barben’s Martini with a Twist JH “Tzeitel”, Ray Douse, FC AFC Palm Glades White Litntin “Litntin”, Dave Walker. Tzeitel started the action when she pointed birds in the trees at the entrance to the second field. She looked very good as she had the birds located well and was quite mannerly for the flush and shot. From here she settled into a comfortable pattern, searching and forward, but would finish without further bird work. She did card a stylish back of her brace mate’s third find. She was afforded the opportunity to demonstrate a retrieve after time was called. Litntin was impressing all with his front running pattern. He was fast and to the front as he made several impressive casts. In the “turn around field” he took the far edge all the way around and at 13 minutes he established point. He stood with his head and tail high throughout the flush and shot. Released to continue, he shot to the front, into the next cut corn field, and found the cover along the ditch line that borders the right side. At twenty six minutes, he was found on this line with a covey right where he said they were. Again his manners were above question. Sent on, he continued his strong tour of the country, at twenty six minutes; he was again found pointing into a thin group of trees, just before the final field. Here, his brace mate came in and naturally backed. Litntin was mannerly for this work and was able to complete his retrieve without difficulty.

Brace 15) NAGDC FC AFC Prairies Edge Tippy “Tippy”, Pat Vande Hei, Alpenblick’s Southern Bell “Bell”, Matthew Basilone. Bell was quickly forward, disappeared, and was not seen again under judgment. Tippy put down a race that took very little handler input. She toured the course with intelligence and drive, never losing touch with her handler but demonstrating her ability to fill up the country. At the ten minute mark she was found standing in a brushy corner, with grand style and a sure location. Her good training was apparent in her manners throughout the flush and shot. She recorded a second find in the chute that leads into the final field. All was in order. She had not gotten to retrieve and her call back showed the high level of retrieving work she is capable of. Her bird landed where she could not mark the fall, in heavy grass and shrub cover. Her retrieve was fast, accurate, and of course, to directly to hand.

Brace 16) Barben’s Courious George “Rio”, Jamie Fountain, AFC Palm Glades Mr. Spock, “Mr. Spock”, Tim Smelcer. Rio put down a good race that had us all watching as he effortlessly covered the ground. His first find was in the corn field after the “turn around field” where he had the stance of a dog that came in at high speed and stopped abruptly. Mannerly for the flush and shot, he was sent on. Four minutes later he was pointing again. Here he demonstrated high style and performed a very nice retrieve. Sent on, he was shortly pointing game again. It was at this juncture that his bid ended. Mr. Spock is a powerful dog that is not afraid to cover ground in his search for game. Running the lines intelligently, he was soon pointing on the edge of the large cut corn field at the north end of the course. All was in order and he was sent on. After this point his response to his handler diminished and he was soon put in a harness.

Brace 17) Stoney Hill Mr. Dixon “Dixon”, Jamie Fountain, Lady easy Braveheart “Easy”, Mike Millineaux. Dixon was gone early and would not return to judgment. Easy certainly made it look easy. She went right to work, catching an edge and going forward at an impressive rate of speed. Touring the opening fields her application and her quick, attractive gait had all on hand paying attention. As she rimmed the “turn around field” she swapped ends, pointing with her head and tail reaching for the sky. Steady for the flush and shot, she was taken on. She continued filling up the country and hunting for her handler, finishing her time well to the front, showing no wear for the effort. Called back to retrieve she handled this work very nicely.

Brace 18) FC Harley’s Dream Saddle “Harley”, Mile Mullineaux, FC AFC Palm Glades Lee’s Madeline “Maddie”, Dave Walker. Released at 1:50, this pair went quickly forward, impressing with some powerful moves. Their strong hunting pattern led to a divided find, in the far right corner of the final field before the turn, this at the twenty two minute mark. Both dogs displayed good style and manners. Four minutes later both dogs were again stopped with Harley pointing and Maddie backing. Harley’s retrieve was successfully completed. Near time Maddie carded a second find, on the right hand side of the chute leading to the final field. All was in order and she completed a very nice retrieve.

Brace 19) FC AFC Ricochet’s Lightning Feather “Curlew”, Ray Douse, FC AFC Texas Flying Wizard “Harry”, Gene Moseley. This pair of dogs diligently hunted the cover displaying good application and an eye catching gait. Harry scored a good find at twenty five minutes, pointing into heavy covey on the right side of the course. He was very classy as he showed his good training. He finished his time with the same jump he had started with. Curlew was pointing with just minutes left in the brace. Despite a determined flushing effort, and a relocation, no birds were produced and she would finish birdless.

Brace 20) FC AFC Palm Glades Mighty Mite “Mite”, Dave Walker, CH Up N’Adam Margarita U.P. “Margret”, Matthew Basilone. Away smartly, this pair was displaying a pleasing gun dog race. Margret showed well but near the half way point she had a transgression and was up. Mite scored on game at fifteen minutes, with a good covey of birds. Her manners were impeccable. She carded her second find at twenty five minutes. Here she had a small covey pinned. As with her first find, she stood tall, intense, and mannerly for the work. On her second find she retrieved very well.

Brace 21) FC AFC Palm Glade’s Shameless Lenny “Lenny”, Tim Smelcher, FC Field Quest Itty Bitty “Dixie”, Ray Douse. Dixie was allowed only a short time on the ground as she was not responding as her handler would have wished. Lenny started strong, with good application. He pointed at eleven minutes, on an edge of cover where birds had regularly been found. No birds could be produced. Feeling he was not challenging the leaders, Lenny’s effort was ended soon after.