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2005 Amateur Deep South Brittany ChampionshipOn February 12 and 13, the 2005 Deep South Brittany Amateur Championship was again contested over the three well-groomed; one hour courses of Alva Caine's Tara Hill Plantation. The inclusion of the additional acreage of Dr. Kenny Bramlett's hunting camp ensures smooth transitions between the courses and adds additional dimension to this already spacious venue.Mr. Alva plans and oversees the development of the courses each year and by changing the way fields are mowed or planted creates subtle differences in each course from year to year. This is big country with big tree and hedge lines designed to show off the talents of experienced bird dogs. A new cut through a fencerow smoothed a portion of the second course behind the Bramlett camp and there were also several new feeders installed this year. Mr. Alva normally has a covey of quail at each feeder and I would guess there are 40 or so feeders on the property.
This years Deep South Brittany Amateur Championship winner Just Call Me Roy had the same sort of hour starting off by being separated from his brace mate within seconds of breakaway, with a well-located covey feeding in the middle of the course. The result being that although he ran an intelligent; forward; energy conserving hour with multiple covey finds, both groups of the gallery party were rarely together. I was separated from the portion of the party following Roy so I asked famous wordsmith Kent Patterson to relate Roy's performance for us. Kent's observations follow.
2005 CHAMPION JUST CALL ME ROY From the lake at Tara Hill running in brace 11, Roy sailed to the western tree line and began his trek north. Some 100 yards down, he broke the cast, cautiously moved to the center of the course, and froze on ground with sparse cover. Kent flushed briefly and a small covey was raised to everyone's surprise. Upon release, he began to go up through the gears hitting the line at the bottom of the hill and turning his attention to the distant stand of pines some quarter mile to the front. Last seen streaking into the broom sedge cover near the pine stand, he was found, by scout Dick Krause, 500 yds to the north on a feeder near the Course 1 turn with birds well located. Released toward Safford Road, he made an eye catching line cast that took him out of sight as the handler, judge and gallery cantered to catch the front. The party rode for 10 minutes to the Suttle 40 where Roy was found standing on a well-hidden covey near Safford Road. His style, manners, and composure were rock solid. Crossing Safford Road, the other half of the field trial party was visible deep in the well pasture so Kent and Roy caught the front near Camp No Sleep with Roy flying down a tree line. His extended cast took him down near the well pasture where Kent had to ride hard and pull him back on course as the course turns west. Gathered up at the tree line gap in the Bramlett pasture he motored north on an extended cast where he swapped ends, moved up, and froze. The long ride to him found a tight holding covey that exploded some 20 yds in front of him. He finished his hour with a cast to the west across the Bramlett pasture. At time, he was out of sight and returned from the Sedgefields alley to finish a brilliant hour.
2005 R/U CHAMPION HIPROOF WHIZKI Away from the Suttle 40 in brace 6, Whiz eats up the right side of the first two fields disappearing into the broom sedge on the far edge of the second field. Whiz is found standing with good style at a feeder close under some large oaks. Whiz stands well for flush and shot but moved slightly as if to go on when riders following the other dog passed a gap in the hedgerow to his left. Sent on Whiz showed well, running north along the west edge of the creek bottom paralleling Tara Hill. As the course crossed the creek going from west to east, Whiz followed the edge of the creek east until he was almost lost to view and then turned North showing well, at extreme range, through the large mowed field headed toward the hilltop planted pines. Negotiating a virtual hairpin turn he flew south in an almost unbroken cast down the west edge of the big muddy field to the third Safford Road Crossing, where both dogs and their handlers waited for the Party to arrive before continuing on. Whiz made a fine showing through the well crossing pasture and the next field beyond to finish his hour with a well-located covey in Camp No Sleep at time.
We were very fortunate to have Brian Spear and Billy McCurdy both of Lowdesboro, Alabama consent to judge this year's running. Neighbors and friends, these two experienced field trial patrons run a couple of trials on their combined properties, playing host to many amateur handlers each year. Their contiguous properties are groomed for hunting. They not only provide a great venue to run but they also do all the work, from cooking the best barbeque pork you've ever tasted to marshalling what usually turns out to be at least a four-day trial. When they aren't working or running trials Brian takes business clients quail hunting over his dogs while Billy hosts deer hunting clients. They are very much the kind of gentlemen you want to judge your dog in important stakes because they successfully train and run their own dogs in trials and championships and they know through this and actual hunting experience what a good bird dog is. Purina, our major sponsor since this championship's inception, was joined this year by Tri-Tronics in helping to make this year's event a great success. Purina representative Pat Lamantia made contributions including a choice of Purina products delivered to the winner's door. This is the most professional way I have seen this handled over the years. The winning handler fills out a request form indicating which Purina product he chooses and upon receipt Purina ships the product directly to the address indicated. 300 lbs. of product for the champion and 150 lbs. for the runner-up was this year's donation. Tri-Tronics' sponsorship was not arranged until after the main print advertisements were finalized but we managed to have their sponsorship announced on our web site before the trial began. Events and promotions coordinator Debbie Fitzpatrick graciously provided a Tri-Tronics Sport 80M remote trainer to be awarded to the winner. The 2005 running of the Deep South Brittany Amateur Championship was made simple with the aid of 3 things that are not simple to put together. 1) The gracious invitation to run on quality grounds combined with the use of equipment, barns and houses freely given to "use it like it's yours" by Mr. Alva Caine. 2) Billy McCurdy and Brian Spear, knowledgeable and courteous gentlemen conscientiously judging each dog against our written standard to name the dog that best fits our stated ideal. It was related to me by a participant that both of the Deep South Brittany championships were the only trials that he knew of that you could be confident before you left home what kind of dog the judges will be looking for, as it is stated in our Standard which accompanies all advertisements and also the fact that our organization has been faithful to that standard each year. 3) Sponsors such as Purina's Pat Lamantia and Tri-Tronics' Debbie Fitzpatrick who are as committed to the health, well being and training of our dogs and to the success of our event as we are. All of our stars were in alignment this year. Thank you all!
Breaking away at 8:00 under lofty overcast skies this Saturday morning began with a light frost and a slight breeze that escalated into a moderate wind as the morning progressed. Brace 1 TJ'S APACHE (Bandit) - Ed Tillson DAKOTA ALLEY CAT (Tiger) - Bo Ackerman Both dogs are seen until they reached the first tree line past break-away and only Bandit was visible as the party left the trees behind and progressed further down course 1. Bandit remained in sight of the Party for a few minutes and then lost himself. At about 30 Ed pointed out Tiger running along the dam of the new pond and Bo gathered him up and sent him to the front, going left as he approached Tara Hill. Bo went left in search and found Tiger standing near a feeder along the wooded creek bottom. A single was produced with Tiger standing tall and tight with excellent manners at flush and shot. Upon release Tiger went directly to the front and after crossing Safford Road scored another find along the Sedgefields fence line. Style and manners were in order as Bo flushed a small covey from this stand. Ed asked for the tracker receiver at this time and Bo sent Tiger on, going onto Dr. Bramlett's property at this time. Tiger made a good move to the front down Sedgefields alley and time was called while he was out of pocket. The judges told Bo that they would wait where they were while he and his scout produced Tiger, who returned on his own within a minute or two. Brace 2 ORTHOACRES PHANTOM OF TJ - David Medford CHANCEY JACKPOT LOTTO - Vic Williams Breaking away from Tara Hill both dogs are well away with TJ showing the most dimension at the outset. TJ went straight across the next big field into the planted pine stand at the top of the hill and a short search found him on point with what was described as great intensity and style at flush and shot. Chance chose to follow his own path today and was deemed out at about the 36-minute mark. TJ made some nice edge casts and made the second Safford road crossing alone and proceeded to take the left edge of the well pasture. The entire party could see him as he pointed a covey along the left tree line. Sent on from this find TJ took the left again going through Camp No-Sleep and was rewarded with a find that was handled in the same manner as the others. Taken on TJ was found standing on a nice covey within minutes on the right side of the next field down course with all in order once again. TJ finished his hour at moderate range going away behind the Bramlett camp. Brace 3 MAXWELL'S WHITE SPIRIT (Butch) - Kent Patterson EARLY TIMES - Bo Ackerman Breaking away from the Suttle 40 Butch smoked the edges of the first two fields. Disappearing down a far left edge the party was surprised to see him next coming in from the right. Sent on down the left edge Butch momentarily got sidetracked to the Bramlett property but Kent returned him shortly sending him down Tara Hill and out across the next large field, showing well and disappearing to the front. Up until this point Earl has been close, but as we travel with the hilltop planted pines on our right both dogs are being scouted. The party approaches the far tree line and point is called to the left of our line of travel. Both dogs are found on this stand. The handlers handled this as a divided find but it appeared to me that Earl was backing this time. Both dogs stood well for flush and shot with Butch's intensity slipping just a bit at our approach. Released from this stand Butch barreled to the left and ran course one backwards. Kent calmly rode on and Butch showed right where he should be back on course three. Earl continued on at moderate range and was leashed at about 35. Butch blew away from the saw tooth oak stand down course and as the Party watched from the big muddy field he held the inside of the right edge and all that could be seen was a white dot blazing straight to the front. Kent waited with Butch until the Judges and the rest of the Party reached the third Safford Road crossing and sent his charge on easily negotiating this tight spot still showing the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Ivan. Once again in open terrain Butch showed well to the front as time was called. We stopped for one of Mrs. Johnson's wonderful lunches and were back in the saddle about 1:15. The sky was still showing high clouds but the day had warmed up considerably. Brace 4 SHAMBOW'S DARK SHADOW (Shadow) - Ed Tillson KEYSTONE'S DOUBLE SHOT (Shooter) - Bo Ackerman Shadow started slowly and never really showed his usual far-reaching ground speed. Passing the Party from right to left he pointed the covey that hangs out behind the caretaker's house. His style and intensity were as expected and he was sent on. Shooter had not been seen much since break away until 29 when he was found on point in the hillside planted pines well to the left of the course. As Bo flushed Shooter exhibited level but intense style through flush and shot. Coming from this find we didn't regain the front until the Sedgefields fence and Bramlett's Camp. Shadow was alone through much of this country as Shooter was off to the left of the course. Passing behind the Bramlett camp Shadow is found pointing a single at a feeder. Released he has another find on a covey within 100 yards and taken through the tree line he went through the new hedge opening to have his third find in 10 minutes! Shadow stood tall as Shooter chose this time to arrive and failing to honor Shadow's stand proceeded to flush the covey being pointed as Shadow; Judge Spear and I looked on. I am always intrigued by Southern parlance and it was at this juncture I learned that "When the butter slides off the biscuit, you're done." Time was called and we proceeded to brace 5 breakaway. Brace 5 COOPER'S OZARK TRAVELER- James Doherty SMOKE'S HUNGRY HEART -Boss - Vic Williams Away from Tara Hill both dogs don't seem to have their minds on the business at hand and it takes a few minutes to get them to ignore some of the wonderful smells they encounter in the open fields. Cooper starts to get his act together just before the second Safford road crossing. Upon entering the well pasture Cooper takes the left edge to its logical conclusion to the front. Boss never made the edges of the field until Vic crossed to the next line. Both dogs then crossed the open field to enter the Camp No Sleep field at the far end. Cooper is found standing near a pine thicket and Boss has a find at the same time near a feeder. Both dogs exhibit good style and intensity on their respective finds and are turned loose together. Within minutes both dogs are standing again to the right of the next field. Cooper stands well as Boss fails to stop and the birds are put to flight. Vic leashes Boss and Cooper is sent on to a non-productive stand on the verge of the Bramlett camp. Cooper finishes his hour to the front along Sedgefields alley. Brace 6 HI PROOF WHIZKI - James Doherty MAKE MY DAY DUDE (Dude) - Ed Tillson Whizki's hour has already been recounted. Dude seemed more inclined to quarter the first couple of fields but lined out well as we hunted the lower areas of Tara Hill and on across the large mowed field toward the hilltop planted pines. He made the turn going back to the third Safford Road crossing with no problem. Dude was a bit behind Whiz but made the whole uninterrupted cast heading for the road crossing, where both dogs and handlers waited for the Party to arrive before continuing on. Dude had a fine find on the East end of the well pasture. Sent on he had a non-productive stand and the handler elected to pick him up at 58.
Sunday morning began with portents of doom coming from The Weather Channel. Everyone was ready early so the judges suggested we begin a bit early and try to beat the rain. We broke away at 7:45. Brace 7 DIAMOND HILL DAN - Paul Pollock COCHIEF - Kent Patterson Dan was last seen today at the end of the first course break away field and Chief suffered two non-productives early in the brace and Kent elected to pick him up. Brace 8 DUDE - Hans Borgman ORTHO ACRES BOOKER T - Bo Ackerman Breaking away from Tara Hill Dude showed well going down the right edge of the break away field while Booker went hard left giving Bo some anxious moments as he returned him to the course. Booker made a wonderful cast east through the large mowed field and Bo gathered him up and sent him south toward the second Safford road crossing by the well pasture. Booker and Dude made the crossing together. The Kill Deer in this next field caused Dude to lose his concentration somewhat but Hans brought him around. Booker made some large casts through this area and was lost from judgment. Dude had a non productive just past Camp No Sleep and released had a find within 100 feet displaying loose posture. Dude continued at moderate range until time was called. Brace 9 KID HUMMER - H - Vic Williams HARLAN COUNTY COWBOY - Dave Medford Cowboy just didn't have his mind on business today and Dave picked him up early. H hunted hard for about half the brace but was leashed shortly after the third Safford Road crossing. Brace 10 TARYN - Ed Tillson CLYDE'S MICRO BREEZE - Paul Pollock This brace was uneventful and both handlers leashed their charges by the 30 minute mark. Brace 11 JUST CALL ME ROY - Kent Patterson SMART EYES JOKER (Jordan) - Ed Tillson Roy's hour has already been related. Jordan made a fine cast down Tara Hill and out into the large mowed field, negotiating the turns and tight spots on this course handily. Jordan pointed along the east edge of the well crossing pasture and after a lengthy flushing attempt Judge Spear pointed out a single bird coming out from under the dog. Jordan kept his cool in this situation and was sent on. Hunting hard Jordan had very stylish finds at Camp No Sleep and behind the Bramlett camp within the next 15 minutes and continued on to finish his hour.
Safford AL., Feb 12-13,2007 Judges: Billy McCurdy and Brian Spear 2005 Deep South Brittany Amateur Championship [45 Minute Heats] --- 22 Entries Winner Just Call Me Roy o. Tom Ettinger, h. Kent Patterson Runner-Up Hi-Proof Whizki o./h. James Doherty |