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2000 Free-For-All Championship
By
Kent D. Patterson
On a cool, crisp morning in the piney woods of the Florida panhandle, as steam rose from fine Tennessee Walking horses and crystalline frost filled the air, two dogs and handlers were loosed to begin the inaugural running of the Deep South Brittany Free-for-All Championship. This day and event will be noted in history as the beginning of a very special tradition that is destined to become one of the premier stakes before the brittany community for years to come. It should not go unnoticed this new event is occurring in the new millennium with a format designed to test the breed in a manner more in tune with its rich history as a hunting dog first and foremost. A stake unique in its format and requirements, one that takes all "comers" in a test to see who "measures-up". The Free-For-All format is not new to the field trial community as A.G.C. Sage, New York entrepreneur and owner of such heralded pointers as Luminary, Superlette, and Pandemonium, introduced the format to the National Field Trial Club in nearby Letohatchee, Ala. His 1913 ad in the American Field setforth several prominent statements to the field trial public with its main focus being the thorough testing of every contestant before being placed. The members at that time felt there had been a marked tendency at field trials for a number of years to place so-called "class" dogs running linearly through the country to the extent that intelligence and true bird-finding ability was being lost in the breed. So it is with the organizers of this event, some 87 years later. A 45 minute preliminary round with a 1-hour call back to acknowledge a bird dog of the first order. A bird dog whose application is in keeping with the country before him, his class and style befitting this regal game bird, his subservience to the gun and master never in doubt. A performance that elevates not only the winners but also a breed. A champion named for brilliance of overall performance rather than on the basis of errorless mediocrity. The American Field ad defined the Deep South Brittany Free-For-All standard as follows: The Deep South Brittany Free-For-All is seeking to name as a champion an individual who exhibits an intense desire to find birds, tempered by a maturity displayed through the proper application of speed, intelligently directed range, bird sense and nose. Responsiveness to his mounted handler is paramount, but he should hunt to the front in an independent manner without continuous direction. He should accurately locate game and indicate its presence by pointing with intensity, lofty style and staunchness. He must maintain this attitude while remaining steady to wing and shot and when afforded the opportunity, he should willingly honor a bracemate on rigid point. There are a number of noteworthy items in the standard above. The most obvious is the omission of any reference to a stake name or typical dimension terms….all age, shooting dog. In evaluating the dogs called back for the championship series there were an equal number of each type. The successful all-age dogs shortened in the cover and ran their normal dimension when the course allowed. The successful shooting dogs ran their normal dimension in cover and expanded their range when the course allowed. In summary, smart, honest bird dogs. The Deep South Brittany Championship Association members, James Doherty, Bo Ackerman, Jerry Kendrick, Tommy Oakley, Dr. Ed Palmer, Dr. Tim Stewart, Dick Krause, R.D. Hinson, C.M. Mitchell, Vance Schlenker, Mike Dowd, Alan Powell, Scott Ackerman, and Ron Zook are no strangers to the field trial community. Their bird dogs hold titles ranging from American Field Champions to AKC NationalChampions with progeny still winning and producing today. Many of them and their canine companions will be nominated and inaugurated into the Brittany Hall of Fame over the coming decades. They are individuals who believe strongly in "raising the bar" for evaluating and measuring contestants. In keeping with the standard set by the U.S. Open, the Deep South Brittany Free-for-All Championship is designed to name a champion based on an elevated level of performance in a field of elevated competition. The Deep South Brittany Championship Association also sponsors and conducted the 45-minute R.D. Hinson Derby Classic in keeping with an overall objective of evaluating high quality juvenile dogs for future development.
This event is actually two trials. A 45 minute qualifying round and a 1-hour championship round. The performance in the championship round does not take the qualifying round into consideration. It takes a championship performance to get in and an elevated performance to win. The following is a summary of the 45-minute qualifying round braces:
We had a nice crisp morning with temperatures in the 40's to start the day. Temperatures expected to reach into the 60's with broken cloud cover. Brace 1 Royal Blazin Bonz (Bonz)-Kendrick Pawsat's Gracious Gretta (Gretta)-Kline Both dogs took the right from breakaway with excellent speed and dimension. At 6, deer were seen out front and both handlers did a good job of keeping their dogs with them as we crossed Cooley Road. At 22, Gretta was found standing to the right of the course, John flushed with no success. She was relocated and circled back across to the left of the course with a nice stop to flush on a single. Both dogs continued to hunt well at moderate range for the remainder of the brace but were birdless.
Brace 4 Locar's Double or Nothing (Clark)-Tracy Piney Run Sam-Lorenson Both dogs were wide and a handful early with showy casts in the "Seed Orchard". Clark had a find at 18 in a thick gallberry patch with Tom bringing him out of the cover on his shoulder. Sam was doing a nice job of hunting the course but could not dig up any birds. At 25, Clark had a stop-to-flush on a pair of birds near a dead treetop. At 40, Sam had shortened and Clark was out of pocket. Time was called on Clark and the brace ended. Brace 5 Johnson(Johnson) - Lorenson Linvel's Blazin Sunspot (Spot)-Kline Clear blue skies and in the 60's after a great lunch. Both dogs were away nicely with Spot on the right and Johnson on the left. At 12, Johnson had a slow stop to flush on a single bird just off the course to the left. Johnson had been to the veterinarian a few days prior to the trial for a cyst on his right jaw and wasn't up to his usual style and speed on this day. Ben elected to pick him up. This young dog owned by Vance and Leah Schlenker is a great competitor and one to watch in the coming years. Across Cooley Road, Spot flashed across the front and at 22, had a liberated covey well located with excellent style and manners. At 33 he was watered at "Capps Crossing" and finished his brace well to the front. Brace 6 Bo's Lightning Bismark-Bo Ackerman Uchee Creek Mo Man-Tracy This was an exciting brace as both dogs are strong running athletes. Mo was consistently forward and seen at 5-7 minute intervals around the course with no bird work. Bismark was a handful as he was seen on a limited basis in the early going. Bo went back to look for him and he showed with the other handler and gallery as we crossed Hardy Road. Steve Sager was appointed as his handler until Bo returned at 34 to complete the brace. Bismark had no birdwork. Brace 7 Shady's Chick-N-Little (Chickee)-Walker Diamond Hill Dan (Dan)-Kline Both these dogs were running well in the early going with Dan showing nicely on an edge around a big dove field at 12. Chickee's range was building and was seen less and less over the 1st half of the brace. At 24, she was declared out of judgement for time. Dan continued to impress the gallery with his speed and dimension and ran on a course with quite a bit of cover. He had a nice 45 minutes with no birdwork. Brace 8 The Whiz Kid(Whiz)-Walker Windy Hill Show N Tell(Telley)-Tracy Whiz was away to the right with Telley to the left. We had both dogs as we crossed the service road. Telley had a nice find with style at 11. Point was called for Whiz at 14 and an extended flushing attempt by Dave did not produce birds. Upon relocation, Whiz searched the area wider and wider then made a cast back down a line away from the course and did not return in time to remain in judgement. At 17, Telley began to make game for about 45 yards. Birds came up and Telley went with them to end the first day.
Friday morning breakaway temperature was at 61 degrees with moderate cloud cover. A nice breeze was blowing. Brace 9 Julry's Gem Dealer (Dealer)-Tracy Keystone's Part of the Plan (Annie)-Lorenson At breakaway, Dealer took a line on the left and showed up across the hill with Annie taking the right. Dealer returned at 7 with Annie showing well in the dove field at Cooley Road. At 18, deer were seen and Annie was watered. Dealer never returned from his second cast and Tom went to look for him. Annie continued to hunt to the front at moderate range for the remainder of her hour. Brace 10 Dixie Gambler(Dixie)-Kendrick Belloak's Mo(Mo)-Tracy Dixie was away to the right and across the hill with Mo getting started a bit slower in some cover. At 9, on the left side of the course Tom raised his hat for Mo but he was moving before Tommy could get on the ground. Both dogs worked this area but nothing was found. At 17, Mo was watered and went back on Tommy and that ended his day. Dixie continued to hunt hard at medium range for the remainder of her brace without bird contact. Brace 11 Just Dew It (Dewey)-Tom Tracy Lea's Running Jay Hawk (Jake)-Bo Ackerman Jake made a nice cast through the dove field and out the end in front of the handler and gallery. At 10, both dogs flashed across the front with nice speed . At 36, Dewey was standing on the right side of the course, upon relocation he nailed a covey in a gallberry thicket with everything in order. Both continued strong to the front being seen around the course in the proper places. Jake did not have bird contact. Brace 12 Chubasco (T)-Walker Gilbert's Tiger Kat (Kat)-Kline We started in the "Seed Orchard"; a nice place to show a dog at breakaway and both dogs streaked to the edges of the area and on across Hardy Road. At 6, Dave called point for "T" but waived it off. At 11, as we entered "Bird Alley", "T" was standing to the left of the course but no birds were produced. Kat was flying around and being seen intermittently. At 17, Kat was standing staunchly on the left near a downed treetop. John flushed in the area and relocated the dog. He moved towards the end of the treetop and 2 birds got up with Kat stopping on his own. Across the course at 19, "T" had a stop-to-flush on a covey that was "spooky" all week. Dave shot and all was in order. At 32, both dogs were watered as the dust, cover, and heat started to take its toll. "T" finished with a nice cast to the right. Brace 13 Winchester of Hanging Jaze (Chester)-Ackerman Oak Run's Flamin Annie (Annie)-Kline The first brace after lunch got started with temperatures approaching 70 degrees with moderate cloud cover. The grounds continued to be very dry and the gallery created dust clouds as it road the course. Both dogs were away in good fashion and were hunting at moderate range. As we crossed Cooley Road, Chester began to stretch his race and was found standing to the left of the course in wiregrass at 14. The wild covey came up around him with all manners in order. Taken on both dogs continued to attack the course with Annie having a find at 25 but the scout was a little to close as the birds left before the judge was in place to witness the action. At Cooley Road, Chester was watered and Annie had shortened. John elected to pick her up at 42. Chester finished nicely. Brace 14 Linvel's Apple Jack (Jack)-Kline CoChief (Chief)-Patterson Jack and Chief were away on Course 2 and showed nicely over the hills toward Hardy Road. Chief was standing on a hill near the dove field, in an area where birds had been moved previously, but a flushing and relocation effort did not produce any game. Jack continued to work both sides of the course. Across Hardy Road, Chief went down a hill and along a draw, popping out to the front and over the hill. After both dogs were watered at 31, Chief made a big cast to the left with Jack crossing to the right. Jack was out of pocket at 35 just prior to Hardy Road and was rounded up to finish his hour. Chief was found standing at 42 near a lespedeza strip. Kent flushed a nice wild covey and released the dog to finish the brace. Brace 15 Triple Creek Pocket Rocket (Tucker)-Tracy TBF's Hot Roddin Howie (Howie)-Lorenson At 10, both dogs were to the front and running well in cover that was tough. At 14, Tucker flashed across the backside of a dove field showing good speed. At 21, Ben called point for Howie with a single well located. At 29, both dogs were standing in heavy cover, both handlers shot as a wild covey exploded from a gallberry thicket. At 40, we crossed Hardy Road with both dogs in hand headed to the "Seed Orchard". Both dogs finished nicely down a line to the left. Brace 16 Piney Woods Samiam (Sam)-Krause Triple Creek Blazin Hot Jilly (Jilly)-Tracy We broke away in the "Seed Orchard" and both dogs went to the edges quickly crossing into cover. At 4, Jilly handled a small covey of birds with everything in order. At 6, Sam was standing on the edge of a thick gallberry patch. Dick relocated him and he moved into the thicket pinning a nice covey. At 18, Jilly pinned a couple of birds near a dead tree that had been giving dogs trouble all week. Moments later, Sam came through the area and began working the same birds. Having just been worked, they were a bit nervous and came up wild with Sam having a short chase. Dick leashed him at 20. Jilly continued on around but the heat and cover began to take its toll. This young dog had a phenomenal derby year in 1999 and will be one to watch in the coming years. Brace 17 Scratched-----HiProof Bootlegger (Boots)-Walker Linvel's Apple Dumplin (Dump)--Kline Ed's Pike Road Fudge (Fudge)-Tracy Boots was scratched due to a "pad" that was injured so Linvel's Apple Dumplin moved up to run with "Fudge". Both dogs were away on course 1 showing nicely to the front and were in hand as we crossed Cooley Road. Fudge had been in and out of pocket over the early portions of the brace and appeared to not be feeling well. At 19, Tom decided to pick him up. John watered his dog at 20 and at 22 he was standing on the backside of a ring of cover with a nice covey well located. Taken on, he finished his brace at moderate range. Brace 18 Brigadoon's Madabout Max (Max)-Kline Bye Max is a nicely marked orange and white dog that blasted away on course 2. His initial cast took him out of sight and out of contention, as he had not returned at the 20-minute mark. John asked for his tracking receiver and the gallery headed home to await the announcement of the dogs for the Championship series.
THE RUNNING
Sunday morning broke with cloud cover and temperatures in the mid 60's. Some portions of the course had received a light rain overnight but it was going to be a tough day of battling the heat and cover. Brace 1 Chubasco (T)-Walker Breeze County Clyde (Clyde)-Kline Both dogs streaked away with "T" taking the left and Clyde the right. "T" crossed a draw and showed nicely on a hill from left to right in front of a gallery that held upwards of 40 people. Both dogs were out of pocket at 10 with handlers separated and working hard to round them up. John found Dave's dog across Cooley Road to the front. When Dave arrived, he indicated he had seen Clyde some 400 yards back near a pine thicket. John went back to look for him but didn't return in time to remain in contention. At 15, "T" was watered at the Rock Field and began to expand his range. At 37, we crossed Three Notch Road and he was wide and showing nicely over the rolling hills. At 55, "T" began to make game on a side hill and roaded up to a stylish point. Dave had an extended flushing attempt involving several relocations that finally produced a covey that sailed down the hill. All manners were in order and "T" was released to end the brace. Brace 2 Linvel's Blazing SunSpot (Spot)-Kline Uchee Creek Mo-Man(Mo Man)-Tracy We broke away just across Three Notch Road with both dogs sailing out of sight and both handlers pointing them out going over the hill. At 12, both dogs were out of pocket with handlers attempting to get them back. Spot returned at 18 with Tom continuing to search for Mo Man. At 28, Mo Man was out of judgement for time. Spot continued to run a nice race and was standing on a ring of cover down the hill from the course at 35. John couldn't produce a bird and his relocation effort was barren.. The brace ended at the Beaver Dam with Spot having shortened a bit and no birdwork. Brace 3 Hot Roddin Howie (Howie)-Lorenson CoChief( Chief)-Patterson These two dogs had been on the dog wagon for over 2 hours and appeared sluggish from the start. At 8, deer were seen leaving the area with Chief in pursuit, he returned on his own at 11 but had spent valuable energy. Howie was maintaining the front at medium range. At 23, Howie had a nice find on the edge of a dove field. At 27, Chief was standing in wiregrass to the right of the course with Kent flushing a wild covey of over 20 birds into the piney woods to the north. At 33, both dogs were in the "Seed Orchard" with Chief making a big forward cast to taller cover across Hardy Road and was out of pocket until 40. At 51, both handlers had their hats in the air with dogs standing some 25 yards apart and pointing back in the same direction. Ben produced a covey of wild birds in front of Howie with Kent relocating Chief to no avail. Both dogs seemed happy to hear their handlers yell "Whoa" to end the brace as temperatures reached into the 70's. Brace 4 Hi Scor Jac D Ruffian (Hank)--Lorenson Winchester of Hanging Jaze (Chester)-Ackerman Both dogs were away from the hill above the Coldwater Recreation Area. At 5, Ben's hat was in the air with Hank standing in the middle of a wild covey that exploded in all directions as Ben walked in front. He displayed excellent manners in a tough situation. Across Cooley Road, we had both handlers and dogs with Chester showing nicely at the end of a dove field and Hank coming from right to left. At 20, Chester was seen across a hill to the left, as cloud cover began to move in and the temperature cooled somewhat. At 25, Hank and Chester were together at "Capps Crossing" and watered at 32. At 43, Chester had a brief absence with Hank making a big cast down to the left. At 54, both handlers were looking for dogs. As the judge said "pick'em up", Hank was pointed out well to the front across Three Notch Road with Jerry Kendrick going up to handle the dog in Ben's absence. Bo pointed out Chester on a hill far to the left. Brace 5 Just Dew It (Dewey)-Tracy Lea's Running Jay Hawk (Jake)-Ackerman The clouds continued to build and conditions were improving for the last brace. Both dogs were away to the front with Jake making a big move from left to right. Dewey was out of pocket at 14 and returned at 21 as a light rain began to fall. At 28, Bo was looking for Jake as we crossed back across Hardy Road. Dewey showed nicely in the dove field and both handlers were together at 34 as we headed toward the "Beaver Dam". At 40, Jake was well forward and to the right with Dewey on the left. Both dogs continued with nice application for the hour but were birdless.
The Champion! At the Coldwater Recreation Clubhouse, Hi-Scor Jac-D Ruffian was named champion of the inaugural running of the Deep South Brittany Free-For All Championship. This seasoned veteran is well known to the brittany community as a tough competitor that consistently rises to the occasion. The fact that he was the top qualifier and returned to win the championship series is a testimony to his tenacity and heart. Runner-up went to Dave Walker and Chubasco for an excellent performance from a stylish, young dog that did an excellent job of handling terrain unlike any found in the western states where he is primarily campaigned. A final thanks to all the participants, organizers, and canine contestants for a memorable championship that has everyone eagerly awaiting its renewal next spring…….on a cool, crisp morning.
Munson, FL. Feb. 10-14, 2000
Judges: Wade Major and Randy Cohron Deep South Brittany Free-For-All Championship 45 minute qualifying heat/One hour Championship heat 36 Entries  Champion: Hi-Scor Jac-D Ruffian 1368257; Brittany male; by Markar's Jac's A Dan D X Countess Ruffian of JMR. Jerry and Diana Kendrick, owners; Ben Lorenson, handler.  Runner-up Chubasco II 1481733; Brittany male; by Shady's Lil'Clipper X Spotlight II; Clem and Marilynne Little, owners; Dave Walker, handler. |
