2008-2010 ABC WESTERN FUTURITY
January 11-12, 2010 – Sonoita, Arizona
by Jessica Carlson
Even in Arizona, January weather can be unpredictable. In past years we have faced heat, cold, wind, and even sometimes snow at our January trials. But this year the sun smiled upon us for 12 full days as the Sahuaro and Greater Phoenix Brittany Clubs held two weekend trials, two All Age Championship stakes, and concluded with two days of the ABC Western Futurity. We had hoped to hold the Futurity show outdoors, and were again in luck with high 60’s warming our venue for the afternoon show at the fairgrounds in Sonoita. The Gun Dog and All Age stakes followed the next day at the Empire-Cienegas Resource Area, with equally pleasant weather prompting some to break out their T-shirts in the afternoon!
The Greater Phoenix club is a small one with only a handful of active members, so we knew that hosting the Futurity would be a regional effort. Our committee included last year’s Futurity coordinator, Robin Tomasi from Idaho who helped keep us apprised of “things you know after you’ve hosted a futurity”. Sara Taylor, Lyle Christiansen, Susan Hampton and Chad Connor from Arizona rounded out the committee and helped work out details for judging and plans before the events. Our “Sara of All Trades” was invaluable to the efforts throughout, from serving as Futurity Secretary, hosting two of our judges, driving the dog wagon at the trial, to bringing refreshments and stewarding at the show. A huge THANK YOU to Sara for all your work!!
These events are always a group effort to make happen on the day of the events so more thanks are due to Lyle, Robin, Margaret Saucerman, Gil & Jane Hopper, Larry Sandusky,Guy Shelander, Ned & Betty Castillo, Margaret Horstmeyer, Ed Tillson,and all who contributed in any big or small way, as well as to all who came and participated. We were pleased to host participants from eight states, including some from as far away as Florida and Michigan!
Thanks also to our judges, Dr. Bob G. Smith in the show, Ben Garcia & George Musser in the All Age, Tom Pescod & Andi Christensen in the Gun Dog for diligently applying themselves to finding the best potential dogs in this competition. I don’t believe we could have found a more attentive and dedicated group of judges for the task! And as always, many thanks to our perpetual sponsor, Purina, who helps keep our dogs in great condition to compete, as well as supporting the events themselves!
It is interesting to note that three litters each claimed two money winners in these events:
FC/AFC Megasmoke Grand Finale x CH Midas Blazin’ Amber Skies, breeder Dale Shores produced the 1st place All Age & the 3rd place Gun Dog;
FC/AFC Clyde’s Micro-Breeze x DC/AFC TJ’s Single Shot of Scipio, breeders Tom White & Margaret Horstmeyer produced the 1st place Gun Dog & the 4th place Gun Dog, who was also 3rd Money Female (show);
NFC/FC/AFC Shambo’s Dark Shadow x DC/AFC Jayhawker Tequila With A Twist, breeder Jessica Carlson produced the 2nd place Gun Dog & the 4th Place All Age, also Best of Opposite Sex (show) and Dual Award Winner.
Congratulations to those whose breedings produced double success in this “Breeder’s Stake”!
FUTURITY SHOW (12 dogs / 12 bitches)
Judge: Dr. Bob G. Smith
JUNIOR MALES (1)
1st Serendipity's Northern Sky. Breeder: Alex Findlay. by CH Starlight's Escaping Capella x Heavenly Cassiopeia. Owner: Alex Findlay
INTERMEDIATE MALES (10)
1st BluSilk's Flaming Arrow. Breeder: Patricia & James McCarthy. by CH Ammo's Gamblin' On Dually JH x Britt Haven's Silka JH. Owner: Patricia & James McCarthy
2nd Vict'rys Banner Ovr t'Point. Breeder: Diane Hedstrom. by CH Bantam's Shadow Image x CH Bantam's High Plains Vision. Owner: Nancy Noble
3rd Blueridge Hunter Gonna Fly. Breeder: David Downing, Laura Wilder. by DC/AFC TC's Match Boks Racer x DC T'Kalis Feel the Wind. Owner: Sandra Frost
4th Castle's Ready To Rumble. Breeder: I.J. Castillo. by CH Castle's How Sweet It Is x CH Castle's Magic By Millette. Owner: I.J. & B.J. Castillo
SENIOR MALES (1)
1st Blazin Tactical Weapon. Breeder: Steve Ralph. by NFC/FC/AFC Shambo's Dark Shadow x TJ's Prairie Starr. Owner: Linda Holcomb
1ST MONEY MALE: Serendipity's Northern Sky
2ND MONEY MALE: BluSilk's Flaming Arrow
3RD MONEY MALE: Vict'rys Banner Ovr t'Point
JUNIOR FEMALES (2)
1st Copley's Casino Royale. Breeder: R Tomasi, A Rodrigues, A & P Booth, L Langford. by CH Castle One In A Millennium JH x DC Sovereign Copley Kiss My Chips. Owner: Robin Tomasi, Haley Glick
2nd Blazing Scip O'Moonshine. Breeder: Peggy Doiron. by NGDC/FC San-Dee's Blazing Shane x Timberline Scip-O'Dee-Do-Dah. Owner: Linda McDonald
INTERMEDIATE FEMALES (6)
1st Shadow's Tequila Tryst. Breeder: Jessica Carlson. by NFC/FC/AFC Shambo's Dark Shadow x DC/AFC Jayhawker Tequila With A Twist. Owner: Jessica Carlson
2nd Hybrittin's PartyNaked. Breeder: Jessica Carlson. by NFC/FC/AFC Shambo's Dark Shadow x DC/AFC Jayhawker Tequila With A Twist. Owner: Judy Cohen, Jessica Carlson
3rd Tullamore With A Twist. Breeder: Jessica Carlson. by NFC/FC/AFC Shambo's Dark Shadow x DC/AFC Jayhawker Tequila With A Twist. Owner: Jessica Carlson
4th BluSilk's Shot of Irish Cream. Breeder: Patricia & James McCarthy. by CH Ammo's Gamblin' On Dually JH x Britt Haven's Silka JH. Owner: Patricia & James McCarthy
SENIOR FEMALES (4)
1st Wincrest Copley Cando One Grand Love. DOB: 1/30/2008. Breeder: R Tomasi, A Findlay, B Dayton. by DC Classic's Can Do Andrew x CH Wincrest Copley Melody of Love. Owner: Barbara & Tim Dayton, Robin Tomasi
2nd MTB Scipin The Breeze. Breeder: Margaret Horstmeyer, Tom White. by FC/AFC Clyde's Microbreeze x DC/AFC TJ's Single Shot of Scipio. Owner: Tom White, Margaret Horstmeyer
3rd Grouse Mt. Annie Oakleaf. Breeder: Debra Coyle. by Grouse Mt Shoshoni Legend MH x CH Grouse Mt Classic Edition, MH. Owner: Janice Schmoldt, Wayne Ricciardi
4th Clare's Moly Coated Bullet. Breeder: Arlette Hennessey. by K Nine Beeline Bullet x Truckers Wildthing. Owner: Thomas Clare
1ST MONEY FEMALE: Shadow's Tequila Tryst
2ND MONEY FEMALE: Wincrest Copley Cando One Grand Love
3RD MONEY FEMALE: MTB Scipin' The Breeze
BEST IN FUTURITY: Serendipity's Northern Sky
BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX: Shadow's Tequila Tryst
GUN DOG FUTURITY
The Winner and Runner-Up set the standard from the first brace of the morning. Mikey’s Spice Girl handled by Paul Doiron and Shadows In A Twist handled by owner, Jessica Carlson broke away fast to the front and in a few minutes both dogs were seen well forward under a bird. After their return, both Spice and Tripp disappeared over a hill to the front. Upon our approach Spice was found standing, then Tripp a few yards ahead of her. A bird was flushed in front of Tripp, with Paul taking a back for Spice. Sent on, Spice charged to the front and up over a hill, with Tripp making fast work of the hillsides and valley below, checking in occasionally. He again went out of sight over a hillside, and next we saw both dogs, Spice was found standing with intensity, as was Tripp, just a few feet from her. Both dogs held steady until Jessica got in front of Tripp, and he decided to flush the bird for them both. After a short chase Tripp went forward, working up the next hill and then down into the flat at the turn while Spice went up into the canyon and had a broke find on her own. It took Paul a while to flush this one, so Tripp took the front and was soon spotted standing by judge Pescod. This bird was flushed by the handler, unfortunately it didn’t fly far and Tripp tracked it down, pointed it a second and third time, finally retrieving it to hand. Tripp had a fourth solid find held to handler’s approach while Spice was catching the front, having three more finds along the way. Both dogs finished well forward, still searching for game at time.
Third place, Smokin Grand Finale (Moki) also handled by Paul Doiron ran in the third brace of the stake. Moki displayed excellent ground speed and scored two finds with outstanding style and finished manners. His range varied throughout his time down, displaying some fast forward casts and finishing with plenty of steam and desire left to spare.
Bringing home the fourth placement, MTB Scipin’ The Breeze (Scip) handled by owner Tom White is a litter sister to the 1st place winner. Scip had at least five finds, each of which she gently retrieved to Tom. She hunted energetically and stayed forward, working up into the hills and down into the wash.
GUN DOG FUTURITY (17 starters)
Judges: Tom Pescod & Andi Christensen
1st Mikey's Spice Girl.Breeder: Margaret Horstmeyer & Tom White. by FC/AFC Clyde's Microbreeze x DC/AFC TJ's Single Shot of Scipio.Owner: Jerry & Carolyn Cape, Handler: Paul Doiron.
2nd Shadows In A Twist.Breeder: Jessica Carlson. by NFC/FC/AFC Shambo's Dark Shadow x DC/AFC Jayhawker Tequila With A Twist. Owner/Handler: Jessica Carlson.
3rd Smokin Grand Finale.Breeder: Dale Shores. by FC/AFC Megasmoke Grand Finale x CH Midas Blazin Amber Skies.Owner: Mark D. Ambre, Handler: Paul Doiron.
4th MTB Scipin' The Breeze.Breeder: Margaret Horstmeyer & Tom White. by FC/AFC Clyde's Microbreeze x DC/AFC TJ's Single Shot of Scipio.Owner: Margaret Horstmeyer & Tom White. Handler: Tom White.
ALL AGE FUTURITY
Impressing the judges with maturity belying his 16 months was Midas Smoke’s A Blazin, handled by Paul Doiron. Larry bolted off the breakaway out of sight to the front, pointed out once by Paul as he headed over a far hill halfway to the turn. He was finally regathered from the rolling hills to the south to be watered at 12. Larry continued impressive casts into the steeper hills as we watched from the ridge. He swept down a hill on a bold move and upon his return to the front, pointed staunchly on the crest of a hill 100 yards away. His manners impeccable, Larry stood solid through the flush and shot and he was sent forward. He hunted down the hill to the lower part of the course and upon catching the front, he pointed again with style under a mesquite bush. Another stylish and mannerly find, and Larry was sent forward to continue working into the hillsides with his handler as his time expired.
Runner-Up, Mason Ridge’s Ajax Rebel was handled by owner Guy Shelander, the only amateur handler in this stake. This being Guy’s first All Age potential pup, he smartly chose to simply ride, sing, and let the dog do what came naturally. Jack headed off the breakaway and immediately took to the hills and ridgeline on the right side of the course. He was seen intermittently, always going to the front, then returned to Guy at the pond, watered, and headed on up the hills to the turn. Scout spotted him under a bird a hill over from his handler, and after chasing the single down Jack kindly retrieved it to hand. He continued working the course diligently and with speed to the front, seen turning down a ridge two hills over as we descended back to the lower valley. A brief absence brought Jack in from behind with 6 minutes to go, but he worked willingly forward with Guy in the valley until time.
Third place was claimed by Pike’s Racer Rex, also handled by Paul Doiron. Rex made a big move into the hills off the breakaway, quickly carding his first find. He maintained excellent ground speed throughout and finished forward, having two more classy finds along the way.
Claiming fourth to earn the Dual Award for this futurity was Shadow’s Tequila Tryst, a tri-color female handled by Ed Tillson. Slower to start partly thanks to a big burr patch early on, Tristyn began building her ground race as we reached the pond. She set her sights on the hillsides beyond and began stretching out bold casts across the ridges. A magnificently styled limb find that she held until the flush sealed the deal, and Tristyn finished forward as time expired.
ALL AGE FUTURITY (14 starters)
Judges: Ben Garcia & George Musser
1st Midas Smoke's A Blazin'.Breeder: Dale Shores. by FC/AFC Megasmoke Grand Finale x CH Midas Blazin Amber Skies.Owner: Mark Ambre, Handler: Paul Doiron.
2nd Mason Ridge's Ajax Rebel.Breeder: Judy & John Marinelli. by NFC/FC Rebel Jac's A Hammerin Dandy x FC Ajax Diamond Dynamite.Owner/Handler: Guy Shelander.
3rd Pike's Racer Rex.Breeder: Peggy Doiron. by NGDC/FC San-Dee's Blazing Shane x Timberline Scip-O'Dee-Do-Dah.Owner: Blair Pike, Handler: Paul Doiron.
4th Shadow's Tequila Tryst.Breeder: Jessica Carlson. by NFC/FC/AFC Shambo's Dark Shadow x DC/AFC Jayhawker Tequila With A Twist.Owner: Jessica Carlson, Handler: Ed Tillson.
DUAL AWARD WINNER: Shadow's Tequila Tryst