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EVENTS ARCHIVE FRENCH BRITTANY
GUN DOG ASSOCIATION, INC. By Wallace Huey and Fred Overby, Reporters Overview
Judges for this year’s trial were the Honorable Henri Xavier Guelou of France and the Honorable Butch Nelson of Montana. Both men have long and distinguished careers in judging major field trial stakes. Judge Guelou’s appearance and participation as this year’s head judge was historic for the Epagneul Breton breed in America in that no Frenchman is known to have appeared to judge his native breed in an American Field trial for about three-fourths of a century. The participants thoroughly enjoyed their interaction with Judges Guelou and Nelson, who were strict in judging, but constructive in their observations and tips to handlers. Judge Guelou teased an occasional handler by remarking on his judge’s card that some dogs occasionally “helped themselves to birds”, rather than standing staunchly for the shot. However, at the banquet Judge Guelou remarked that the overall quality of the dogs he watched perform was excellent in conformation and excellent in hunting ability, which he indicated “bodes well for the Epagneul Breton in this part of the world.”
FBGDA is also grateful to Mr. Rod Brehm, Park Director, of Veterans Memorial State Park in Cordele, Georgia, for his assistance with the liberated bird trial. Field Trial Co-Chair Billy Cannon also did a yeoman’s service in organizing the event to include arranging for the Crisp County-Cordele Chamber of Commerce to supply a barbecue lunch in the field at the Friday field trial. The grounds of this unique field trial venue in a Georgia State Park were manicured beautifully and provided an outstanding layout to hold the first National Level FBGDA liberated bird trial. Many volunteers assisted in planting birds, guiding and transporting participants, so that the trial heats ran smoothly.
Wild Bird Trial at Kolomoki On Wednesday, March 1, as the sun rose through the fog and beautiful pines of Kolomoki, a beautiful day was had by all to enjoy the grounds of Kolomoki as the sun shone brightly and the temperature was conducive to short sleeves. The only regret of the beautiful weather was that the day did not provide optimum conditions for southern quail hunting. The bright, sunny, blue-bird sky and warm temperatures had the birds holding close and not moving or feeding during most of the day. Even though the plantation can boast two-dozen coveys per day during excellent cool and overcast hunting weather, only five dogs actually had bird work on this day. The galleries for the two separately run Novice Class heats saw only a couple of coveys and a handful of single birds flush wild as they passed over the grounds following the judges and their entourages. The four Open dogs all performed well, but regrettably only one dog encountered wild birds. That covey appeared to flush wild in a place where Judge Henri Guelou could not see the dog, “Gus”, standing staunch where the covey had left from. There were no Passes and no placements in the Open Class.
The participants enjoyed a mouth watering lunch of barbecue ribs and chicken catered by a local well known “barbecue cook” and raconteur in the shade of the Kolomoki barn.
Liberated Bird Trial at Veterans Memorial State Park Friday, March 3, 2006, provided a cooler day, with better scenting opportunities during most of the day for the liberated bird trial heats. Most of the dogs did have finds on the continuous course, although the cover of the ground made pointing game a challenge. In the run in the morning, a beautiful eighteen month old female tricolor know as “Tuxedo” and handled perfectly by Mrs. Shelly Shipley of Kansas had two perfect finds and retrieves demonstrated with impeccable manners. As the young female handler came off the field with the young female dog leashed, she hugged “Tux” and bubbled with excitement. At the closing awards banquet, when the first ever National Level First Place field trial placement was awarded, Shelly and her proud husband Brett posed for photos with “Tuxedo”, her trophies, the judges and Todd Kellam of the UKC. “Vernon”, owned by Mark Dinsmore and handled by designated handler John Mooney of Minnesota, had an energetic and outstanding run, quartering nicely. The orange roan male dog had a nice find on a bird, which flushed in a direction towards thick cover, which made it difficult for “Vernon” to mark after the designated gunner’s shot. With the encouragement of his handler, “Vernon” searched diligently for the bird, finally locating him, and made a difficult retrieve to hand. On any other day, “Vernon” would have qualified for first place, but with stiff competition from the winner, on this day “Vernon” earned a Reserve placement for an excellent performance. Also, in the Open Class, “Gus” owned/handled by Tim Powell of Montana earned a Pass.
“Peche” owned/handled by Mark Bird of Georgia, had an outstanding run and point, and made a difficult retrieve to within a reasonable distance of her handler. While the retrieve did not qualify her sufficiently for a Reserve Placement, she earned a Pass. Likewise, Both Glen Gunderson of Minnesota, with “Gypsy” and Beau Dudley of Georgia, with “Armand” turned in solid performances in the Novice Stake, finding game and completing their retrieves. Both were also awarded Passes in the Novice Class Stake. The Novice Stakes in this year’s trials were run in two separate heats judged separately, but no dog performed sufficiently for Judge Nelson to have a potential placement. Thus no barrage was run at the conclusion of the heats in either of the Novice field trials. In addition to trophies and ribbons, Blackwood Pet Foods supplied the winners with a bag of Blackwood 2000 performance dog food.
Natural Ability Tests The previous day, five dogs earned TANS under judge Guelou. Annie handled by Dillon Dalrymple, Alan handled by Bill Wall, Alias and Aero handled by John Hughes and Vidonia handled by Don Rick earned their natural ability certification. Tuxedo handled by Shelly Shipley, Vernon handled by John Mooney and Armand handled by Beau Dudley earned TAN by way of equivalency in their field trial heats. Wild
Bird Field Trial at Kolomoki Plantation
Liberated Bird Field Trial at the Veterans Memorial
State Park
French
Brittany Gun Dog Association, Inc. By Shelly Shipley & Bob Olson, Reporters Overview This year’s French Brittany Gun Dog Association’s (FBGDA) National Specialty Show was held at the beautiful Veterans Memorial Sate Park near Cordele, Georgia. The weather was spectacular. A very sunny calm day was present throughout the show. The 2006 Conformation Show Committee was pleased to announce that the Honorable Rowdy Yates, a licensed UKC Conformation Judge, would be our Judge at the 2006 Epagneul Breton National Specialty Show in Cordele, Georgia. Rowdy resides in Macon, Georgia and has an impressive judicial resume, having judged a number of UKC National Breed Specialty Shows along with previously judging at the UKC Premier Conformation Show in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A part of the Conformation Committee’s judge selection criteria was the desire to have a UKC judge evaluate our breed at this year’s show so that he could help increase the education process and knowledge level for our breed among the pool of judges in America. The event was an enormous success, in no small part, due to Rowdy’s participation and active role with the educating for all in attendance. Rowdy was very prepared for our event with knowledge of our breed standard and conformation. Rowdy took the time after the conformation show was complete to demonstrate the proper way to “show”. Members who had little “show” experience but the desire to participate absorbed every word he had to offer. A total of 41 dogs were entered in the National Specialty which was held outside in a clearing among some towering pines, a very fitting setting for our gun dogs. Rowdy Yates opened the competition with some fitting words of wisdom, “We are here to have fun!” As is always the case, the Junior Showmanship handlers were the highlight of the conformation show. We had two Sub Junior handlers, the youngest being 5 year old Kyle Shipley. A total of 5 junior handlers showed the enthusiasm and determination that only young handlers can exhibit. Judge Rowdy Yates worked hard to ensure that the youngsters had fun and showed their dogs with smiles on their faces. Anne Gunderson “volunteered” to ensure that all the handlers were ready to enter the ring when their class was called. This was her first time in this role and she did an excellent job getting the handlers to the ring on time, with the right dogs, and the correct armbands. This is not an easy job. Her efforts were very much appreciated and will ensure she gets “drafted” for show duty next year! Our National Best of Breed winner was Cliathan Mighty McSmith handled by Ed Smith. Even more impressive is that Ed started in the Orange & White Senior Male Class and competed in head to head competition in the Best Male Variety, Best Male, and Best of Winners classes to reach the Best of Breed Class. Congratulations to Cliathan Mighty McSmith and Ed! Congratulations to all of the winners this year! National
Specialty at the Veterans Memorial State Park Junior Showmanship
National Specialty: Orange & White Variety
Other Variety
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This
year’s French Brittany Gun Dog Association’s (FBGDA)
National Level Field Trials featured both a wild bird field trial
at beautiful Kolomoki Plantation near Bluffton, Georgia and a
separate liberated bird trial on the designated Field Trial Grounds
at Veterans Memorial State Park near Cordele, Georgia. Both trials
were run on bobwhite quail, the grounds for both trials featured
towering Georgia pines interspersed with open areas beneath the
pine canopy. Both venues provided ideal southern bobwhite quail
habitat and hunting terrain. Some of the dogs from other parts
of the country had to adjust a bit to the blackberry briars native
to the region, while the dogs from the south felt at home.
FBGDA
is grateful to Mr. Jim Butler (owner) and Mr. John Ray Stout (manager)
for hosting the trial participants on the storied grounds of Kolomoki
Plantation, which is devoted exclusively to the management and
hunting of wild bobwhite quail. As well as providing a wonderful
venue, Butler and Stout personally served as guides for the entire
event. All of the field trial participants were able to view a
number of heats run from their gallery view on the bird buggy
and hunting jeep supplied by Kolomoki for the convenience and
use of the field trial committee.
In
the Novice Class, three nice dogs earned Passes. “Vignette”
handled by Stonie Patterson of Georgia, “Tregor” handled
by R.L. Dalrymple of Oklahoma and “Dixie” handled by
Ron Allen of Georgia, all earned Passing scores. However, both
judges indicated that ground coverage was not aggressive enough
by any of the three to earn a placement in the Novice Class.
In
the Novice Class trial, fourteen month old “Mae”, owned/handled
by Dr. Cecil Whitaker of Georgia, captured a First Place. The
black dog with white markings and freckles on her legs hunted
and handled superbly with a nice find on game. When the gunner
failed to connect with the flushed bird, a set up retrieve was
established by the judge and “Mae” gathered up the bird,
parading around with the hen quail until finally delivering her
prize to her proud handler.
Congratulations
to all of this year’s winners of the UKC Sanctioned, U.S.
National Level field trials for the Epagneul Breton! Special congratulations
to Shelly Shipley, Brett Shipley, Mark Dinsmore and John Mooney
as owners and handlers, who earned and achieved the first Open
Placements at a National Level Field Trial for the Epagneul Breton
breed in America. These outstanding little dogs, the Epagneul
Bretons, certainly demonstrated their ability as they performed
well in the “Piney Woods of Georgia.”