Sandhills Pointing Breeds Club Hunt Tests
The Sandhills Pointing Breeds Club held two successful hunt tests near West End, NC on March 13 and March 14. A total of 46 dogs ran in the tests over the weekend. Participants earned qualifying scores in each class of dogs - 1 in Master Hunter; 3 in Senior Hunter; and 29 in Junior Hunter. Ray Godwin and his Brittany, Vandal, earned the Master Hunter qualifying score on Sunday. Ross Adams and his Weimeraner, Frankie, earned qualifying scores in the Senior Hunter division on both Saturday and Sunday. SPBC member, Betta Breuhaus and her Weimeraner, Maggie also earned a qualifying score in the SH class on Sunday. Most of the 36 participants in the Junior Hunter class earned qualifying scores in at least one of the tests with 13 out of 16 Junior dogs qualifying on Saturday and 16 out of 18 qualifying on Sunday.
SPBC members earned a total of four new AKC hunt titles over the weekend - all in the Junior Hunter division. The club extends its congratulations to new titleholders: Todd Camplin and his Vizsla, Ginny; Gary Konyesni and his Brittany, Abbe; and Lisa Mayhew and her German Shorthaired Pointers, Atta and Reggie.
In addition to new titles earned, five other club members and their dogs earned qualifying scores over the weekend. Betta Breuhaus and her Weimeraner, Maggie, earned a qualifying score in the Senior Hunter class on Sunday. SPBC Club President, Lee Holbrook and his English Setter, Niki, qualified in the Junior Hunter division on Saturday. Lois Pollard and her Brittany, Pete earned a qualifying score in the Junior Hunter class. Jeff Wade and his English Setter, Bonnie qualified in Junior Hunter on both days. Club founder, George Worst and his English Setter, Bonny earned a qualifying score on Saturday in the Junior class as well.
While very warm temperatures were forecast for the weekend, highs were only in the low 60s on both days luckily. Since high temperatures can severely test a dog's endurance and conditioning - particularly in the longer Senior and Master Hunter divisions - the stiff breeze out of the northwest was especially welcome. The combination of the breeze and some rain early in the week set up excellent scenting conditions for the dogs. Rolling hills and wide open fields allowed spectators to clearly view the dogs hunting for and pointing the farm-raised quail used in the test.
Nearly every variety of pointing breed dog recognized by the AKC was represented in the two tests. Hunt Test Judge Randy Hall commented, "The tests ran very smoothly. Scenting conditions were good, and we saw some really good runs by the dogs." Charles Gourlay and Wayne McDowell judged Saturday's hunt test. Randy Hall and Lee Holbrook were the judges for Sunday's hunt test.
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Qualified Senior Hunters Betta Breuhaus and "Maggie" - Ross Adams and "Frankie" |
