Greypointe FTC September 2011 Report
Greypointe Field Trial Club
By Doug Meyer
Pictured: Front - Greypointe Hasta Lavista with Doug Meyer, Bittercreek’s Top Grade with Frank Schoenborn and Sir Honest Abe with Matt Pethan
Back - Greg Morgan, Bob Lais, Marvin McDowell-judge, Brian Jones, Mike Hatfield-judge, Brandon Biddle, Bruce Huffman, Bill Seiter, Les Neer
The Greypointe Field Trial Club held forth on an absolutely beautiful early fall weekend September 24th and 25th on the banks of Stranger Creek north of Tonganoxie, KS. Temperatures were in the forties for our 8AM starts and barely reached 70 degrees with low humidity. Unusually dry conditions of late had left our grounds without the wet prairie marsh crossings we all deal with but the farm’s CRP grasses and wildflowers were still high and lush. Mowing provided a good course thru the CRP and the harvested hay fields allowed for some stretching out to keep the majority of dogs to the front. We had a good representation of handlers from Iowa, Kansas and Missouri and we thank everyone for their entries and making the trial a good social environment.
Judges Marvin McDowell and Mike Hatfield looked at the Open Shooting Dogs and Derbies and provided constructive comments for the trialers after the running. Marvin, duly elected to the Kansas Field Trial Hall of Fame is celebrating his 80th birthday this fall and is still going strong. Grace Meyer provided a nice hot lunch and baked Marvin a cake. Marvin blew out the candles to applause as the group sang Happy Birthday. We really appreciate Mike Hatfield and Marvin for taking the time to look at our dogs. Rarely does a weekend walking trial have more experience in the judicial saddles!
Dozer, a quick, compact built white and liver pointer male captured first place for Doug Meyer with a hustling race and a single piece of bird work after a nice forward cast up a woodline. Frank Schoenborn’s Region 17 Walking Champion, Grady took second with a nice race and solid bird work. Missourian Matt Pethan took third with young Abe after a three find performance. The Derbies were a handful befitting the early fall date and conditions. All the Derbies used were placed with bird work and a couple had very nice manners including first place Sue for Brent Hoehns of Knoxville, IA. Spike for Jimmy Wirths of Boonville, MO was well along in his maturity to take second. Zip had a good performance for third place for Justin Crooks of the Joplin, MO area. The judges also singled out Chris Zupancic’s Buddy for his strong forward race and John Markham’s Vizsla female Sis for her energy and application.
The puppy stake was won by Joe Zimmer with George and Larry Carpenter’s Amy took second with Kelli Johnson bringing John Markham’s Sis around for third. The Amateur Shooting Dog belonged to Fritz for Joe Zimmer after four solid finds. Doc Suzie for John Hortin continued her winning ways with a second place finish and nearly broke bird work. Seventeen year old Vinnie Nickells handling in his first trial brought his dad’s Shorthair male around for third place making his dad very proud. His find was well mannered and he also had a solid back.
Thanks to Barry Ward and Brandon Biddle judging with me on the Puppy and ASD stakes and to Bruce Huffman, Brian Jones, Joe Stude and Brandon for planting birds, keeping the dogs on the line and driving the dog wagon for pick-ups. You cannot run a field trial without good help and these members of the Stranger Creek and Greypointe Field Trial Clubs are a well oiled machine.
Thanks to everyone for coming out and particularly to Purina, Tri Tronics and Gun Dog Supply for their continuing support. We drew for two $25 gift certificates provided by Gun Dog Supply with Rob Jones and LG Barnard the lucky winners.
