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2007 Free-For-All ChampionshipBy
Kent D. Patterson
The time came and went as quick as a carnival tent... burying the best dog he'd ever owned was much harder than anticipated. He leaned the shovel against the side of the old Ford truck, wiped his forehead with his forearm and watched the sun drop slowly in the western sky. Dusk is a special time of day for bird hunters..a time reserved for silent reverence between a dog and his master, a golden light filled moment full of memories. Most of his frayed photos were taken at dusk. He sat down on the tailgate and caressed every inch of the smooth leather collar, the hours, miles, and memories racing in his head. He recalled the first day he saw the little bundle of joy bounding around the breeder's yard.oh how puppies are intoxicating. Their bond was instantaneous and it didn't take long for her to become a one man dog, a trait the brittany is known to possess. In a few short years she was skilled in the fine art of finding and handling wild birds. He'd had dogs before, just none as special as she. His hunting buddy's tactfully complained when she retrieved every bird to him, regardless of who made the shot. Gifted with a gait as smooth as aged bourbon, style that took your breath away and a desire to hunt the limits of any venue, she would put a "perma-grin" on your face. The field trial bug bit and he'd gotten a few placements with her, first on foot, then horseback. She'd hunted wild birds for so long prior to his field trial interest that it took some time to get her steady to shot and many a judge mistook her marking as a chase. Anybody that knew her, knew she never chased; she just needed to watch close as a matter of knowing where to go next. She never liked pen raised birds or pigeons and was obviously insulted when worked on them. In fact, she would occasionally go to the truck, jump on the tailgate and give that "you don't need me to find those things" look of disdain on her face. Because of her, he fell in love with the wonderful places in North America that held upland game.. from the breathtaking Saskatchewan wheat fields, to the sweet grass aroma of the Dakota's, to the edge country of the Deep South.
The Deep South Brittany Free-For-All Championship 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. In order to evaluate a field of talent, the association sought venues of natural habitat complimented by traditional farming practices. The Deep South Brittany Championship Association is truly grateful to landowners Kenny Bramlett, Alva and Katherine Caine, for use of Tara Hill Plantation and the Hamilton property. Located in historic Dallas county Alabama, it is the type of country that provides a magnificent backdrop for those performances that take on the "you know it when you see it" flavor. It isn't easy to go two rounds with Tara Hill, even in the "good weather" years the 45 minute qualifier and 1 hour championship series takes its toll on horses, dogs, and handlers. The list of those that have come through to be named champion are known and respected throughout the brittany field trial community.
CLICK ON A PHOTO ABOVE FOR THE STORY OF THAT CHAMPION Each of the above champions has proven their abilities across the country in diverse venues, varying weather conditions, and on multiple upland game species. The Deep South Brittany Championship Association is proud to be associated with these tremendous athletes, their owners, trainers, and handlers.
John was paired with Chris Rider of Smithfield, PA. I know of no individual that enjoys watching dogs perform more than Chris having ridden with him as the reporter for the 2002 National Amateur Championship. His memory and detail of a given dogs performance complete with wind direction, cover, and style never ceases to amaze me. I never worry about an update from him whenever the parties get separated. It was Chris's first trip to the championship and everyone enjoyed his fresh outlook and attentiveness over the week. Chris's daughter Nikki made the trip with him, both enjoying a respite from the cold Pennsylvania winter. Nikki has her father's passion for the sport.  The parking lot was full of guests from multiple states: From New Jersey-Joe Luisi; From Georgia- Vic Williams, Bo and Renea Ackerman, Scott Ackerman; From the Volunteer State of Tennessee - Warren Montgomery, Rob Donahue and Kent Patterson; Pennsylvanians - Chris Rider and Nikki Rider Trump; Texas - Dick Mantler; South Carolina-Ben Lorenson and Kyle Merrell; Virginia-Tom Tracy and Carla Foley; Martha and Tom Greenlee; Oklahoma - Jimmy Berneathy; Florida - Dick Krause; From Alabama- Boots Mitchell, James and Betty Doherty; Vermont-Tom Ettinger and Patty Hunt. Ms. Johnson provided her usual spread of authentic southern dishes throughout the week as everyone looked forward to the noon meal. Warren Montgomery and Boots Mitchell did a great job of cooking breakfast every morning in the big house with hot biscuits and homemade preserves brought over by Boots Mitchell. As always, Dick, Warren, James and Boots performed every job needed to make the trial run smoothly whether it is handling the dog wagon, horse trailer, or bird planting. James Doherty and Vic Williams did a tremendous job photographing each and every brace. William and Kelley Caine came down with their newborn child, each taking turns riding in the gallery and driving the SUV to help the infant sleep. Nutro, Trail Blazing Innovations, and Tri-Tronics continue to be valued supporters for this endurance event. Nutro's performance line of dog food fuels many of the top trial dogs in the country. The top qualifier received a Tri-Tronics G3 remote trainer, this innovative product is raising the bar for reliability and flexibility in electronic training devices. TBI provided one of the newly minted 32 caliber Alfa 209 starter pistols for the owner of the winning dog. The gun with highly visible hunter orange handles will become the standard for trialers over the coming years. Please patronize these great companies, they provide quality products at competitive prices while supporting the clubs that make it all possible
 Champion One-N-Only 1st Find Near Safford Road THE CHAMPION In February of 2006, a white and orange male named One-N-Only was relatively unknown when announced as the 2006 Deep South Free-For-All winner. In February of 2007, he became the second dog in the history of the event to be named champion in consecutive years, the other being Chancey Jackpot Lotto in 2004 and 2005. A product of Terry Maxwell's all-age champion, Lobo's Boss Man and Maxwell's Lucky Strike, Butch would finish 2006 in strong fashion by winning the Regional 19 Amateur All Age Championship in Bonesteel, SD then return to Booneville, AR for a placement in the American Brittany Club National Amateur Championship. He picked up at Tara Hill right where he left off the previous year for owner Kent D. Patterson of Franklin, TN and trainer Ben Lorenson of Corinna, ME. Butch jumped off Tara Hill, headed east and sailed down the edge of cover. He showed briefly at the gap to the big broom sedge field and headed on-course to the east. As the gallery reached the bottom of the hill, he was seen far to the front on a line of cover leading toward course 1. He streaked down a light edge of cover as the course turned toward the Suttle 40 staying wide to Safford Road where he was seen rimming an uncut soybean field. The party traversed the field to see Ben with his hat the air at 22, finding Butch standing with style on a covey near a roadside feeder. Taken across Safford Road and into the well pasture, he cruised the bottom edge and sailed out the front toward Camp No Sleep. The scout called point at 36, finding Butch standing a covey on a northern tree line not found by any other dog all week. The covey exploded to the north bobbing and weaving through the trees. Upon release he swallowed up real estate to the north choosing a long edge of cover near the Bramlett house. The scout once again calling point along a cedar filled fence line with running birds disturbed from low cover along a barb wire fence. He powered through the open space below Hamilton Road, crossed over and caught the long edge leading east toward the well pasture. Sprinting to an island of cover far to the front, he was deep in the country to the south at time. Both scout and handler rounded him up bringing him back and showing him to the judges at the well pasture fence.  RUNNER-UP CHAMPION Under the tutelage of Tom Tracy Jr, for owners Paul Pollock and Lisa Podraza of Medford, NJ, Mike took the left side of the course from Tara Hill. He powered to the gap, made a quick probe to the west then swung wide toward the pine mott. Last seen along the northern edge of the cover both scout and handler looked for some time before the gallery noticed Tommy standing on top of his horse waving his hat in the air, deep on course 1. Mike was styled up on the backside of an island of cover near coach's corner with birds well located. All manners were in order through wing and shot as the covey lifted in waves. He was forward and flashy along the long muddy tree line leading to Safford Road and shot to the bottom edge of the well pasture at the midpoint of the brace. Along the sweeping lines leading to the Camp No Sleep, he was in and out of pocket but always forward. A bit bullish through the Sedgefield alley, he popped out to the front near Hamilton Road and finished strong on the long lines of cover leading to the well pasture fence. 
Tuesday morning under broken skies and 34 degree weather
Brace 2: Dakota Shakedown (Tracy) One-N-Only (Lorenson) Rufus and Butch were throwing dirt as the blasted off from the Bramlett house. Butch took the bottom line to the Sedgefield alley opening and crossed over to the eastern edge of the course as the gallery headed east. Rufus shot straightaway down the broomsedge line and was seen rimming a small island to the south. Butch took a deep stroll toward Camp No Sleep as Rufus was on the tree line to the north making the Bramlett loop that turns toward Hamilton road. The gallery and Judge Rider waited at the bottom of the hill for Ben to gather up Butch which was taking some time only to hear he was up front with the other party. At 30, we had both handlers and dogs streaking down Tara Hill with Butch making a western cast deep toward the limestone gully as Rufus took the bottom edge of the big Sedgefield. Butch extended the cast deep onto course 1 that had him showing deep in the coach's corner with Rufus stopping at 38 on the backside of the Suttle 40 showing excellent style and manners throughout. Butch was rimming an uncut soybean field near Safford Road at time with Rufus along the Suttle 40 fencerow. Brace 3: Shady's Tia Maria (Berneathy) Just Call Me Roy (Lorenson) Tia and Roy were away from the well pasture with Tia traversing the open space toward the tree line to the east as Roy rimmed the cover to the south and swinging to the front. Both dogs went deep into the bottom of the pasture with both handlers working to pull them out and back on course. Tia was the first to return and showed in a flashy fashion along the long edges that lead to Camp No Sleep as Roy stayed deeper in the country popping out to the front near the gate and extended the cast to the south. At 25, Roy's scout called point on a far hill where he was found standing a large covey of birds in sparse cover..all manners in order. Tia was maintaining the front as we crossed the knob with Roy into the Sedgefield alley. It took Ben some time to recover Roy from that portion of the course. Tia's pattern was a bit erratic as we came down the Safford Road chute with Roy regaining the front halfway down the hill. Both dogs finished nicely across the road. Brace 4: Keystone's White Label (Lorenson) Clyde's Micro-Breeze (Tracy) The sun was out and temperatures into the 40's as Hank and Mike were shoulder to shoulder along the Safford Road cover as the gallery crossed diagonally to the big oak. Mike was seen on a big swing rimming the southern hill and into the bottleneck as Hank stayed to the north along the woods edge. Both handlers and dogs were together below Tara Hill Lake with Hank at moderate range. Mike had to be pulled out from near the Bermuda Triangle as the course turns down the hill. Hank hunted the pine island and sawtooth oak mott as Mike was swinging wider along course 1. The long muddy tree line toward Safford road had both dogs up front and moving nicely. Mike was seen far to the front ducking into cover with the handler having his hat in the air at 40. Mike was standing in a picturesque pose along a creek bank with birds well located to finish the hour. Hank was recovered to the west at time. Brace 5: Dakota Alleycat (Tracy) Tequila's Joker Jose Cuervo (Berneathy)
Sunrise Dot Com (Tracy) Gunrunner's Lady Man (Berneathy) Bill and Lutie were released at the Bramlett house then picked up the edge of cover that took both dogs over the pine tree knoll. The move takes dogs to the course and both showed perfectly as we came over the hill leading to the Bramlett Loop. Both dogs were seen to the front at the end of the loop and not seen again for 20 minutes with both handlers asking for the receivers near Safford Road. Brace 7: Royal Reverend (Lorenson) Early Times (Tracy) Luke and Earl streaked away from the well pasture to the southern tree line that makes for a showy cast, especially when the dogs get to the gap and go down course. In their case, they missed the gap and continued on around the bottom of the well pasture which seems to always pull dogs into cover that isn't easily managed by dog, scout, or handler. It turned into a back and forth event where one would get pulled out then follow the wrong handler back in..after about 5 minutes everything got going in the right direction as we headed toward Camp No Sleep. Both dogs were not seen again until 28 where Earl was found standing in cover that borders the Sedgefield alley, a couple relocations pinned running birds with all manners in order. Luke had not been recovered by 36 and Ben asked for the receiver. Earl ran the edges leading down the hill from Hamilton road with nice speed and flair with time being called at the well pasture fence. 
A Chamber of Commerce morning... blue skies and 43 degrees. Brace 8: Keystone's Double Shot (Lorenson) The Rock II (Tracy) Shooter was scratched as a recent virus had several dogs feeling puny. Rock started at moderate range but built in dimension over the first half of the brace making nice swings at the coach's place. He was out of pocket over the entire middle of the brace with Tommy out searching and eventually returning with the dog near the new lake. He appeared to be spent upon return and finished the hour near Safford road. Brace 9: Pistol Pete (Lorenson) Rumor Too (Berneathy) Pete and Rumor were lined up at the Bramlett house as everyone kept waiting for breakaway move that covers the nearly ½ mile to the Sedgefield property line. These two must have read their minds as Pete led the charge off the hill and blistered the bottom edge until you could hardly see him deep in the corner that turns back toward the course. Rumor made the cast as well, only moments later. Both handlers timed their meeting point well shooting the dogs to the eastern tree line that leads back to the Bramlett Loop. Pete went north and streaked the edges toward Hamilton Road as Rumor regained the front at near the lake. Both handlers were together at the Safford Road crossing with the Pete sailing down Tara Hill on the left and Rumor taking the right. Pete extended the cast down into the bottom and shot easterly being seen far to the front near course 1. He was gathered up and cast toward the Suttle 40 and at 32 was standing with style along a pin oak tree line with broom sedge cover. Ben put a nice covey to flight. Both dogs were carrying their speed into the Suttle 40, Rumor on the western edge and Pete finishing deep to the east in a soybean field. Brace 10: CJ (Berneathy) KT's Artic Gladiator (Tracy) CJ and Max chose the northern edge of the well pasture and took it all the way to corner where they ducked into cover that can be tough to handle.. They returned quickly and continued on around the bottom of the pasture where the handlers turned them south. Both were handling kindly towards Camp No Sleep where Max was rimming the pine mott and froze. Tommy produced a hard flying covey as Max maintained excellent style. CJ was at moderate range over the middle portions of the brace but making forward moves that carried up the long tree lines below Hamilton Road. At 34, he was standing with style buried in cover with Jimmy flushing a running group of birds. Max made a nice cast to the south that had him out of pocket until 41 where Tommy found him standing with birds close at hand. He handled the situation well and finished down the line toward the well pasture. CJ crossed Safford Road and rimmed the bean field, Jimmy calling point at time. A flushing and relocation effort eventually produced a bird to end the brace. Brace 11: Linvel's Ace of Diamonds (Tracy) Cooper's Ozark Traveler (Doherty) Ace and Cooper cruised the southern edge of the Suttle 40 as the gallery headed to the big oak. Both dogs showed below the bottleneck by rimming the western edge and disappearing into birdy cover at 10. Cooper was found standing with tremendous style near a feeder with James circling and flushing birds back over him, making a great picture. Ace was lateral around the lake and down the hill to the pine stand where he went deeper into cover to the north that got him behind as we popped out at the sawtooth oaks. Cooper was forward off the hill and was seen probing the tower of power field. It took some time to pull him out and the two parties were separated through the remainder of the brace. Brace 12: Ortho Acres Booker T (Tracy) Bye As a big white strong dog, Booker dusted the breakaway fence line like a Porsche on "high-test" gasoline. He was gathered up at the woods gap and shot toward the sawtooth oaks with an absence to the 20 minute mark. He returned from the south and crossed the big broom sedge field, rimmed the lost pasture, and showed at the limestone gully, a move that is not easy for the best of dogs. He returned to his handler at the lake and Tommy had him at heel near the Safford Road crossing. Cast toward the Sedgefield gate, he somehow got under the fence as the gallery awaited his return. It took some time to pull him back onto the coarse where he promptly shot down the fence line with a huge finish south of the Bramlett house. Brace 13: Dakota Luke (Mantler) Chancey Jackpot Lotto (Tracy) Luke and Chance were straining against the leashes and eager to get started as we released them at 2:05 PM below the Bramlett house. Chance to the western line as Luke chose the eastern edge. Both swung onto the course properly with Chance being wider and taking the backside of the knob. Both scouts went to work looking for them down in the Camp No Sleep area. Chance was found standing at 17 with birds well located and all manners in order. As he was being brought forward, he had another well executed find along the Bramlett loop. Luke was hunting the likely objectives as we dropped off Tara hill maintaining a forward pattern at moderate range along the showy edges leading to the Suttle 40. Chance was running a controlled race over the hill with both dogs forward and headed south at time.
 The participants gathered at the pavilion for the announcement of Top qualifier and dogs invited back for the championship series. (From Top Row - Left to Right then Bottom Row - Left to Right) Top Qualifier Pistol Pete (Maxwell's Farm Boy X Cheyenne VI); Kent D. Patterson; h Ben Lorenson One-N-Only (Lobo's Boss Man X Maxwell's Lucky Strike); Kent D. Patterson; h Ben Lorenson Dakota Shakedown (Blaze Dakota Trucker X Snake Eyes Double Down); Bo and Renea Ackerman; h Tom Tracy Jr. Early Times (Ortho Acres Booker T X Windy Hill Sho-N-Tell); Bo and Renea Ackerman; h Tom Tracy Jr. Ortho Acres Booker-T (Chubasco II X Shady's Chik-N-Little); David Webb; h Tom Tracy Jr. KT's Artic Gladiator (Chubasco II X Flatwood's Artic Express K.T.); Dennis and Lori McClary; h Tom Tracy Jr. Clyde's Micro Breeze (Breeze County Clyde X Air Mika); Paul Pollock and Lisa Podraza; h Tom Tracy Jr. Shady's Beanstalk (Bean's Blaze X Shady's Chik-N-Little); Clem and Marilyn Little; Rumor Too h Jimmy Berneathy
Broken skies and 44 degrees Brace 1: Shady's Beanstalk (Berneathy) Dakota Shakedown (Tracy) Jack and Rufus left Safford Road with gusto making the long fence line cast and extending it around the woods lot some 1/8 mile in front of the entourage. Jack crossed over to a tree line that was taking him away from the course with Jimmy working hard to turn him back north. Rufus took coach's corner in fine fashion and rimmed the broom sedge fields leading toward the lost pasture. At the coach's corner we had an unexpected visit from Mick, Jimmy's rat terrier. He traveled with us for a bit before Jimmy convinced him that trouble would be coming his way if he didn't go back to the trailer..he understood. We had both dogs forward and handling well near the tower of power. Both dogs were starting to stretch into the country as we crossed the lost pasture with both making big swings up to the limestone gully. Rufus sailed over the hill toward the lake and went into the Bermuda Triangle that, as usual, is difficult to manage. Jack was behind briefly as the field trial party rode below the lake. Rufus was recovered near Safford Road as Jack was standing in feed strip cover behind the lake. Jimmy flushed wide and thorough but no game was produced. Both dogs streaked down the Sedgefield fence with Jack turning east at the Hamilton gate and found standing a hard flying covey as the smoke from a 45 caliber filled the air. Rufus went deep into the Sedgefield alley and showed far to the front as the course swings east below the Bramlett house. Jack was down toward Camp No sleep as Jimmy was working to get him to swing north. At 58, the scout found Jack standing on the island of cover near Safford Road with excellent manners displayed throughout the flushing and firing. Rufus was out of pocket with both scout and handler out looking..he returned to the course at 58 and Vic Williams filled in as handler until time was called. Brace 2: Clyde's Micro-Breeze (Tracy) One-N-Only (Lorenson) See above Brace 3: Pistol Pete (Lorenson) Early Times (Tracy) Both got down to business quickly as they disappeared along the Safford Road edge of the Suttle 40. Pete was seen headed north along a long line as Earl worked a fence line to the south. Earl maintained the front staying on the southern edge of the course to the lake at Tara Hill. Pete wasn't seen again until the 12 minute mark where he crossed far down the hill on a big swing that took him to the course. Earl dropped off the hill to a finger of cover and jammed on the brakes. Tommy disturbed a small covey with Earl maintaining excellent style throughout. They were shoulder to shoulder down to the expanse of the big sedge field and turning north for the edges behind the pine mott. Earl was standing stylishly at 25 requiring several relocations before pinning a running covey. Pete was deep on course 1 breakaway fence line as the gallery rode the long muddy tree line back to Safford Road. Pete was found standing along the Safford Road ditch bank with a covey rising on the other side of the fence as Ben stepped into the cover. Both dogs were into the well pasture and on course to Camp No Sleep. Pete was seen at the gap leading in and not seen again until time. Earl's race shortened a bit over the last 15 minutes of the hour. Brace 4: KT's Artic Gladiator (Tracy) Rumor Too (Berneathy) Max and Rumor were a bit slow in starting but the energy level picked up as the party went the woods cut. Max was up front and made the cast along the east edge of cover leading to finger of cover near coach's corner where he swapped ends into a stylish point. Rumor had been in cover to the right and began to cross the field behind Max. Upon seeing him, she displayed excellent style and manners in a tough backing situation. Jimmy rode to her, dismounted, collared her and began to take her on, all prior to Tommy being in a position to handle his dogs find. After a brief conference, the judges asked Jimmy to pick his dog up. Max handled the confusion in fine fashion with Tommy moving some birds to the north. Upon release, he ran the edges leading toward the tower of power and was seen streaking towards the big sedge field. It would be last time he was seen as the party rode all the way to Tara Hill to end the brace. Brace 5: Ortho Acres Booker T (Tracy) bye Booker was released off Tara Hill where he promptly sprinted to the eastern edge of the course and cruised down the hill crossing to the gap and out into the big broom sedge field. He was seen briefly going into the pine stand and was absent for some time deep on course 1 with scout and handler working hard to pull him out. He was retrieved and cast down a long tree line to Safford Road as the gallery rode through the fields leading into the back of the Suttle 40. Once we arrived at the Safford Road crossing, Booker came down the road from the west and hit the top end of well pasture. He continued the cast on into the next field and was seen deep in the country near Camp No Sleep. Tommy and scout worked hard over the next 15 minutes attempting to locate him but cashed it in near the Hamilton Place to end the championship. The Deep South Free-For-All Championship Association with like to invite everyone to the 2008 championship. Special dogs, people and places make for great championships and time can get away..as quick as a carnival tent.
Safford, Al., February 6-8, 2007 Judges: John Kline and Chris Rider Deep South Brittany Free-For-All Championship [45 min qualifying heat] [1 hr championship heat] 24 Brittanys  Champion One-N-Only Brittany Male, by Lobo's Boss Man X Maxwell's Lucky Strike; Kent D. Patterson, owner, h Ben Lorenson  Runner-Up Clyde's Micro Breeze Brittany Male, by Breeze County Clyde X Air Mika; Paul Pollock and Lisa Podraza, owners; h Tom Tracy Jr. |
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