1994 GSCA Championship Results

G.S.C.A. 1994 National Amateur Championship

22 starters

Judges: Dr. Austin Sumner & Lynn Hadlock

1994 National Amateur Champion

FC & AFC Belmors Doubledee Diamond

owner/handler: Gwynne McDevitt (PA)

2. FC Doubledee Dice

3. Springset Straight Talker

4. Falcons Awesome Strike

The trial grounds at Ionia were gorgeous in their fall splendor. The weather was ideal. The clubhouse and yard were the gathering places for good fellowship and delicious food. The host club, Nodrog, had all of the bases covered from Irish oatmeal to roast pig to a bone-warming fire.

The Course. The course consisted of various grassy sections lined on all sides with tree lines and growth and/or woods. Some of the sections contained grasses and weeds about chest high where most dogs elected to stay on the path; others were partially mowed. (I was informed by one of the judges, Jack Hires, that various bird dog clubs in the area are responsible for maintaining different sections. Some take that responsibility more seriously than others).

The starting point was down a hill from the clubhouse, over a bridge that crossed a sparkling creek, and through two tree lines. We'd break away, heading due west up a small rise with a tree line at our immediate right. At the top of the hill, we'd pass through a north/south tree line and proceed through a large section bordered by a woods. On both our right and left were "islands" of trees and weeds.

The path took us through another north/south tree line, where we headed southwest along a timbered hillside at our immediate left. As we crossed another east/west tree line, turned right and followed it, we passed through a section of short grass with a pond bordered by trees and brush. Continuing west, we passed through another tree line where lots of points were called. Several yards ahead we rounded the tree line and headed north through a large, open field of low grasses. Up ahead we passed through another tree line where we also saw many points called. At this spot, game was not always produced because some of the birds refused to fly and ran through the underbrush, hunkering down elsewhere.

Next we passed through a very large, partially mowed field of rolling hills bordered by woods and lots of brush and growth and veered northeast towards another north/south tree line that almost always produced points right in front us as we'd top a rise. I called it Bird Tree Row.

As we passed through it, we headed down through a low spot that contained a small island of trees and cover with woods to our left and a vast open section to the right and forward up a rise. Then north and continuing along the woods, passing another east/west tree line, through a very overgrown section, through another tree line and heading down a steep hillside offering a beautiful vista of trees in their varying shades of autumn colors of red, gold, green, and orange. A few finds were called here in a tree/shrub row midway down the hill. At the bottom, we crossed over a creek on a footbridge and turned right, heading through a lightly woodedsection where a few dogs would stay to our left and show well along the hillside of grass and sparse trees.

The course continued up a hill and along the hillside of an open, heavily wooded section, down the hill and to the front. We proceeded through another tree line and through a wide corridor toward a north/south tree line. This section produced some nice finds in a thin stand of trees off to the right. As we approached a farm fence, we turned right and headed down a more narrow corridor. The bushes along the fence to our left held many birds and we had lots of finds in this area. The final leg of the 45 minute course took us through some trees, down a hill, across a wide wooden bridge, up a hill, through a tree line and then southeast through a tree lined section back towards the starting line.

The Running.

Brace 1. Springset Hunter Of Harvey JH (Springset Zenith Quest x Springset Solar Flare), owned by Laureen Marinetti-Sheff and Norman Sorby, handled by Laureen with FC/AFC Falcons Doubledee Dixie (Falcon's Field MacKnight x Doubledee Bonnie Dell), owned and handled by Gwynne McDevitt. This first brace cast off 12 minutes after..the scheduled starting time of 8:00 am. due to one of the handler's having trouble obtaining a horse. At about one minute out, Dixie went on point at the first north/south tree line. She was very intense, holding her tail straight off her back with the end curved up. As Gwynne stepped in front of her to flush the bird, her tail came down a little. Hunter was racing off to the left, far down along the east side of the tree line. Laureen passed through the trees and yodeled to him. Gwynne could not produce a bird and then Hunter joined us from the rear.

By this time Dixie had mowed and was just standing there. Since Austin was already off his horse trying to see where the bird was that Dixie had pointed and Laureen was not nearby, he collared Hunter and moved him on. I wondered if Hunter had been charged with a fail to honor, but both dogs were sent on with a bird never produced. All of this took about 10 minutes and then we were off again, with Dixie off to the left, skirting a tree line and Hunter to the front. Both dogs were really driving.

At about 14 minute out, Hunter was off to the left and moving nicely; Gwynne had sent Pat Sanborn, who was scouting for her, to the right to locate Dixie. She found her standing behind a bush. Dixie's tail was low and she looked unsure. She mowed on down the row. These birds didn't want to fly, choosing to run through the cover. Dixie was relocated, stopped, dead tail; Gwynne fired, all in order.

We proceeded to the front and joined Laureen and Hunter-just after he had a find. What a beautiful day! At 30 minutes out Laureen sent her scout, Steve Askin, off to the right along a tree line and over a rise in a section of chest high grasses and weeds. Gwynne was up ahead, half way down the steep hill and produced Dixie's pointed bird. I was too far back to see her work on this bird.

Hunter scurried through the gallery and we headed for the bottom and the foot bridge where both dogs were directly in front of the handlers. After we crossed the bridge, Hunter broke to the right and Dixie was directly in front of Gwynne. As we climbed the steep path, and I was the last of some 20 riders, I noticed a cloud of steam rising up in the crisp morning air from all the breath and heated equine bodies. We were out about 40 minutes and were headed up the side hill. It was a picturesque view with Gwynne, her scout and the judges up ahead about 100 yards and both dogs to the front driving along the tree line. We headed for the farm fence and as we turned south with about 1 1/2 minutes left, Pat raised her hand to indicate Dixie was standing. The gallery hustled up for a look. Gwynne produced the bird without difficulty as Dixie remained steady.

Brace 2. Black Brook Bonanza, "Lucy" (Ch Gordon Hill Alabirna Slammer JR x Ch Bumside's Island Sea Witch), owned and handled by Stu Famham with Pars HyHopes For Birdies, "Peggy" (Ch Beaconfield Hard To Be Humble x Ch HyHopes Scarlett O'Hara JR WDR), owned and handled by Jerry Churton. Lucy and Peggy cast off at 9:16 with Lucy breaking away to the front in a far reaching dash along the tree line. Peggy seemed a little confused and remained directly in front of the gallery looking for her handler. It began to cool a bit; the clouds were building and it was getting breezier. As we made the turn west along the tree line, Lucy was coming back in from our left, passed through the gallery, and headed on to the front. Peggy was keeping close contact with Jerry; she was off to the left a bit, checking some cover, then back in amongst the gallery. At 6 minutes out, Lucy was in cover off to the right and then through an opening in the tree line and on to-the front. After we made the turn and headed north, Lucy was at 10 o'clock and heading in to the timber. I believe Peggy wa over there too.

As we crossed a partially mowed field, Peggy was moving straight away. She has a nice, strong stride; carries her tail a little below level. She headed off to the left, along the tree line. At l2 minutes out Lucy appeared just off to the left along a tree ime to join the gallery as we headed through a break; she went to the front. Peggy was keeping close to her handler. At 14 minutes, Lucy passed through a break where the course took us through the overgrown section of weeds and grasses and cast off to the right along the tree line. After a few moments Stu sent his scout to see if she was on game. As we headed down the north line of this section and down the steep hill, Lucy, in front of her scout, joined us and moved out front.

Peggy was hunting very short was we approached the foot bridge at 19 minutes. As we traveled east along the side hill, Lucy was to the front. Peggy was running ahead a bit through the meadow. Lucy was to the front and kept stopping to look.at something. At 25 minutes out, we were heading due east through the wide corridor with woods on both sides. It was a beautiful day; the sun's rays were shining through the clouds. Jerry rode off to the right where Peggy was working in some light cover. At 27 minutes we were heading due south along the farm fence with both dogs fairly close and to the front. Lucy approached from the edge of-the woods on our right and crossed in front to the cover along the fence to our left. Peggy was hunting the timber's edge, just off to our right. Point was called on my left. I heard a shot, but did not see the action. Stu was off his horse and Lucy was running up and down the tree line. Jerry and Peggy were off to the west. There was a gun shot and he sent his dog on. There were no more finds.

Brace 3. Windwalker Marley (Windwalker Barabas x Windwalker Joie Dc Vivre), "Marley," owned and handled by Steve Askin with Tartana Clarion Clipper (Ch Gordon Hill Alabama Slammer JR x Tartana Black Magic Maggie), "Clare" owned and handled by Jean Webb. These two broke away at 10:01.

Marley crossed in front along the first tree line. Clare broke off to the-right through an opening and crossed in front along the west side of the first tree line in front of us. Marley came from the left and went to the font. Both dogs moved with speed and ease.

Clare was off tothe left checking the tree line we'd just crossed through. She followed this line to the south and appeared at 9 o'clock and went on to the front. At 6 minutes out Clare made a short cast along the north edge of the east/west tree line and came back in.

Marley headed west along the tree line, showed interest in a spot and then turned and came back towards his handler, cut through to the gallery and headed to the front. At this time the wind was really gathering force. At 9 minutes we turned north and both dogs appeared from the cover on our right and headed to the front. At 12 we crossed the east/west tree line and headed north into the partially mowed section with Marley running strong off to the left and front through the tall grassy part of a big unmowed portion.

Clare made a short cast off to the left and cut to the front. Both dogs headed north thorough the mowed area. Marley crossed jhe ridge and headed for the timber up front. Clare was miming the same pattern, a bit to the right of Marley and both disappeared over a rise. Clare cut back and checked out Bird Tree Row, as her handler passed through. Marley was not in view. At 14 Jean, the judges and the gallery rode north on Bird Tree Row where Clare was on point, tail straight off her back, intense. Marley came in and did a nice honor; good manners, not much style. As Jean stepped in front of Clare, she let down some. When the bird flushed, Clare's head went up, tailed stayed low.

While trying to remount, Steve's saddle pulled to the side and gentleman Jim Basham gave Steve his palomino, George, while he resaddled the rental horse. We were all off again. Clare had another find at 18; very intense, tail down and out straight. Marley, Steve, Lynn Hadlock (the judge) and scout were off to the right and heading north, going through another tree line. At 24 Jean called point on Clare again. The bird was wet and barely flew. Clare figure this was her best opportunity for a retrieve. Bummer. l.Jp ahead I spotted Steve remounting, but I did not hear a shot. We headed down the picturesque, steep hill, across the footbridge and spotted Marley on point just ahead in some long grasses. He looked unsure, flagging, looking around. Steve sent him on and Marley checked the area -- nothing. Marley had a merry, snappy way of moving, used his tail a lot as he ran. No more finds.

Brace 4. Karen Gatchell's Tri-Sett Zenith Brite Judee was scratched and Pat Sanborn's Strike is mowed to the 12th brace.

Brace 5. Springset Straight Talker (Springset Lazor Blast x Gordonsward Charcoal Sheer), "Buster," owned and handled by John Ward with FC Pal Joey (FC Shadowfax Casey Jones x AFC Sure To Be), "Joey," owned by Jim D'Amico and Marianne Goodwin and handled by Marianne. "Buster" and "Joey" cut to the front and crossed each other's path, both looking strong and boyish. Joey's tail was very stiff, indicating, perhaps, some boyish posturing. Marianne was on his case, and handled him off to the left. He headed to the front and was just running around, looking very stylish, but not really down to hunting yet.

Buster was not in view. As we rounded the south end of the course, and headed north, Joey made a cast off to the left and Marianne called him in; he was driving strongly. John sent his scout off to the left where he had last seen Buster ahead. As we all rode through the east/west tree line and into the partially mowed section, a mean looking storm cloud was to our west and the wind was blowing with force.

At about 10 minutes out we spotted Buster to the west on point just inside the woods. His tail was straight off his back with a bit of a dip in the middle. As John approached, the judge dismounted and bent down for a closer look. (The judges did this often as the birds preferred to run through the cover, rather than flush and they wanted to verify the bird). John was having a hard time producing this one, but Buster retained his style, started to pant a little, not letting down a bit. After quite some time of trying unsuccessfully to produce this bird, Buster let down just a little.

Marianne had continue on while Joey, who must have been off to our left, came up from the rear and stylishly honored Buster who was again on point, both dogs very stylish. John was unable to produce a bird, so Marianne sent Joey on. John relocated Buster who took only a couple of steps and locked up. John produced the bird that barely flew a few feet. We're off again, thankful that that awful looking cloud just passed us by without dropping any moisture.

We were about 25 minutes out and both dogs were driving very hard, in fairly close, as we cut through the tree line and entered the overgrown area. Joey checked off to the right and came through the center of the field to meet us and his bracemate as we began the descent down the steep hill.

Buster slammed on point right off the path at about 30 minutes. John dismounted, Austin doing the same. Bird flushed, gun was fired, all in order. Weather was getting pretty nasty! At 33 Joey was picked up; no stop to flush. We crossed the bridge and headed up along the side hill. Buster looked great as he sailed along the edge of the woods down at the bottom of the hill and cut through the tree line.

We met him as he approached the farm fence. He cut across the wide corridor for the small stand of trees and we didn't see him come out. John rode over and called point. I couldn't see the dog, bird flew, all in order. It was raining. We proceeded toward the farm fence and turned right as Buster darted into the brush and didn't come out. Austin rode into the cover to see if he was on point. He was. John dismounted, Buster let down a little, but his tail was still above horizontal. It really started to rain and we all hurried back to the starting line; those who hadn't donned their raincoats scrambled to do so.

Brace 6. FC/AFC Belmors Doubledee Diamond (Belmors Stonewall x Belmors Rocket), "Diamond," owned and handled by Gwynne McDevitt withD /4J.CCordon.RI. .Hangie(ch Rockaplentys Ultimatum x DC Gordon Hill Chantilly Lace CD), "Hobie," owned by Ron Anthony and Susan DeSilver, handled by Susan. Diamond and Hobie were off at 11:45 and raced, neck and neck, all the way to the second north/south tree line where Hobie broke off to the right to check up along that far line. He joined us at about four minutes out, as we rode through the dip and headed on to the front running strongly. As we turned to the west, Diamond was on the other side of the tree line that we were riding down. He had a powerful stride; carried his tail very high, sickle. The sky was again, a beautiful blue with billowy white clouds and a bright sunshining though. We had all gotten a little damp from that cloudburst.

Diamond was heading off to our left through an open area toward the "island" of trees the pond. He checked the edge of that and headed on to the front. Both dogs carried nice tails and exhibited merry ways of going. Diamond made aside cast all the way across the tree line that borders the south end of the partially mowed section we were soon to enter.

Hobie was running out in the open, short of the tree line. Diamond located a bird and locked up, very stylish, tail came down as Gwynne flushed the bird, very mannerly. He had another find at 13, but I was too far back and did not see it. Diamond disappeared to our left as we passed through Bird Tree Row, and headed east through the dip and up the rise. Gwynne's scout was sent and she located Diamond in the timber and brought him forward where they met up with us as we headed left approaching the tree line to south of the overgrown field.

We caught up to Suzy who was dismounting to Hobie's point off the path at the other end of the section. All I could see was his red collar, as the weeds and grasses were so high. No luck in producing a bird, so she relocated him. Hobie hunted the area and mowed on. "Oh, Well" as Suzy said.

We began the steep descent, out 19 minutes and Diamond established point next to the path in the tall grasses and Hobie came in for an honor. All I saw was the bird fly as the gun went off, but all was apparently in order. As we were about to cross the foot bridge, the horses seemed to be moving awfully fast. In the clearing on the other side, the dogs headed along the side hill looking good and went through the trees into the next section at about 28 minutes. As we rode up the hill and entered the next section, we saw both dogs on the path going away into the next section. As we entered the wide corridor area, I spotted Diamond on point, just off the path with Hobie honoring, tail just hanging down.

Diamond was somewhat intense with his tail about 3 inches below level. All was in order here, and we headed up a rise as Diamond cast off to the right along the woods and headed for the small stand of trees out from the timber where Buster had had a find last brace. He established point there, tail ticking a little and as Gwynne rode up, he tightened up. Hobie sailed by; did not see his bracemate. Before Gwynne dismounted, Diamond relocated and she sent him on.

My apologies to everyone, but at this point, with about 13 minutes left, my recorder malfunctioned without my knowing it. It began recording again at brace 11, so my report of the intervening braces was from memory, and that is not one of my assets these days!

Brace 7. Alexandria Argos Bright Star (Ch Northern Mystic Bright Star JR. WDR x Ch Celestial Grace Bright Star), owned by Tom Byers, handled by Matt Czarnecki with Tartana Time Traveller CD/MH owned by Sandy Clock, handled by Charlie Clock. I'm not sure of the details of this brace. Sorry.

Brace 8. Gordonach Remington Steele (Springset Ice Hot x Shadowfax Rachel's Promise) "Lexy", owned by Becky Borer, handled by Jean Wagner with FC Doubledee Dice (Falcons Skywalker x FC/AFC Falcons Knight Jenny), "Dice," owned and handled by Gwynne McDevitt. Lexy had a very snappy run. She had one point on the tree line going south, just past the pond. She looked really cute and stylish. She jumped at the shot and spun. She was picked up .later by the farm fence, for a small infraction. I was told by the judge that he had eliminated her from judgment on her first point for what he called a break.

Dice had ground eating stride. He looked particularly classy in the partially mowed field as he took the mowed area all the way north to the timber line and then worked his way east along the line to meet us as we passed through Bird Tree Row. He had some find, including one in the small stand of trees near the farm fence, but Gynne had trouble producing birds.

Brace 9. Ch Chaparral Urchin SH (Ch Chaparral Gamut JR x Ch Chaparral Nadeen CD iN), "Urch," owned and handled by Bill Holloway with Halcyon Nothing Ventured (DC/AFC Gordon Hill Hangfire x DC Halcyon Guarantee Nothing), "Tory" owned by Bill and Blue Stryker, handled by Jean Wagner. This brace got separated early and I stayed with Tory, so did not see Urch's performance. Tory has a very intense and stylish point, but she was not steady.

Brace 10. Locust Hill Aim To Please (Springset Ice Hot x Shadowfax Rachel's Promise), "Randy," owned and handled by John Ward with Ch Beaconfield Par Excellence (Ch Buteo's Confederate Dream x Ch Beaconfield Dreamgirl), "Hellion," owned and handled by Jerry Churton. Randy had a stylish point right off the line at the first north/south tree line. Hellion failed to honor and was picked up.

Brace 11. The Shootist (Springset Ice Hot x Shadowfax Rachel's Promise), "Shooter," owned and handled by Gynne McDevitt with DC Wyld Torrtht Bright Star SIWD(Ch Heatherhill Battlestar x Ch Highland Duchess Bright Star), "Poncho," owned by Matt and Wendy Czarnecki, handled by Matt. Shooter and Poncho cast off at 4:10 with Poncho following the tree line off to the left and Shooter zoomin' off to the right. Matt sent his scout off to the left and Poncho joined us from behind. He had a merry way of going; cracking tail.

Shooter was off to the north in the distance. Poncho wanted to follow the tree line off to our left, but his handler insisted he come forward along the route we were taking. Poncho came our way, but again broke left toward the trees and handler got on him. He came around into the grass close to Matt. Dog looked, momentarily, a bit intimidated, but then got cranked up a little. He started down the east/west tree line and Matt called him around and he came. As we approached an opening Poncho headed down the north side of the tree line and Matt called him to move along the south side of the east/west line we were riding. Poncho came through and headed to the front, then cut to his right and back to the north side of the row as he'd started.

At 19 minutes Shooter was up ahead and running strongly. Poncho was off to the left, reaching down the tree line and Matt called him to "come around." At 26 minutes out Poncho is called in for a drink after completing a long cast straight away all the way to edge of the woods, along an unmowed section of the field. Shooter was heading up the hill toward Bird Tree Row. He had a ground eating stride, but was in rather close at this time and was running more out in the open. We halted at 28 just past and up the hill from

Bird Tree Row, as we were about to turn left and head for the overgrown section.

Poncho was gone for a bit, Matt though he saw him standing in timber, but could not locate him. He was then spotted moving. Gwynne and Shooter were up ahead, past our view. Poncho came in and was trotting along the path with the gallery, when he went on point at the north end of the overgrown section. I did not see, but all was in order.

At 38 we met up with the other judge, marshall and (+wynne, who had picked up Shooter for a slight infraction he incurred as he ran between a pair of quail. As they popped up, he ignored them and also failed to stop. With one minute left, Poncho pointed, started to flag, mowed forward and bumped the birds.

Brace 12. Falcons Awesome Strike (Falcons Skywalker x FC/AFC Falcons Knight Jenny), "Strike," owned by Pat and Nils Sanborn, handled by Pat with FC/AFC Shadowfax Blade Runner (FC Tomars Gone With The wind JR x Shadowfax Midnight Promise), "Buddy," owned by Cliff Schnepf and Jim D'Amieo, handled by Jim. -

The last brace of the championship cast off at 5:05 p.m. Buddy had a very stylish point at the first N/S tree line right off the line. The birds were flushed and when the gun was fired, Buddy twirled around and took about three steps. Jim's glasses were knocked off by a tree branch. Buddy was collared while the glasses were located. At the next north/south tree line, Buddy to the tree line to the north and disappeared through the other side. After some calling, Jim sent his scout, John Ward, to look for him. When Buddy came around, we had cut the course to meet up with Pat and Strike as they were heading north through the partially mowed section.

Strike had a find at the east/west tree line, Just before entering that section. Pat had just remounted and Strike had another find about 20' ahead. At this point, Jim galloped up to Buddy and picked him up. I was not able to see what the infraction was.

We were now out 17 minutes and back on course with Strike tearing up the country at the edge of the timber. Even though she appeared to be carrying a few extra pounds, she was running strongly and carrying a merry tail as she went. As we approached the overgrown section, Pat sent her scout, Gynne McDevitt, along the tree line to the right, but as we passed through the tree line, Strike was spotted on the other side. She checked out the northern tree line off to the right also.

We crossed the foot bridge at 28 minutes and Strike was quartering in close. As we headed east through the wide corridor approaching the farm fence, Strike locked up near the small stand of trees and moved on. Time was called.

At this point, we all hurried back to the barn and hoisted our wary bodies off of our mounts, found our way, quickly, to the buffet table and relaxed in the warm and convivial club house. The running of the Amateur Championship was completed. Only two more days to go!

(Linda sent word that future installments will be arriving soon. We'll bring them to you when they do.)

--Linda Sanders (NV)