Katie Finishes Her AKC Field Champion Title

Pine Straw Katydid has had an amazing fall. She ran well but didn't place in the Montana Shooting Dog Championship and the National Amateur Grouse Championship (in which she got RU last year). After those two prestigious events, Katie has won first place in 5 different stakes and third in two others. She amassed enough points to complete her FC title and is now just 3 amateur points shy of the Amateur Field Champion title. Two of the first place ribbons and one of the third place ribbons came from horseback stakes. At one point Katie earned 3 blue ribbons in a seven day time frame.

Katie has proven to be versatile and to be a great bird finder. She is biddable and wants to please, but still has the fire to go big. We have hopes for more great things to come for Katie, the next thing on the list is another go at motherhood. More on that to come.

Smudge excelled this fall!

Smudge has had a really good fall. He won first place in the Open Derby stake of the Central Georgia Pointing Dog Club trial on November 22. This was a dual sanctioned American Field / AKC horseback field trial. Smudge was handled by Jamie Fountain of Oconee Kennels. Smudge has also gotten the following placements this year: second place in the Open Derby at the Kentuckiana Pointing Breeds Association (AKC), third place in the Amateur Derby stake of the Michigan Amateur Field trial clubs fall grouse trial (AF), third place in the Open Derby at the Vizsla Club of Metro Atlanta's AKC horseback trial, and fourth place in the Amateur Derby Stake at the GSP Club of South Georgia's AKC trial. Because of his AF wins, he is now qualified for both Open and Amateur championship trials.

Not Just a Pretty Face!

Pine Straw Katydid has continued her winning ways. After a solid performance at the National Amateur Grouse Championship where she didn't place, but garnered compliments from many people including the judges, Katie has earned two more placements. These placements came in two different stakes of the Central Georgia Pointing Dog club trial. Katie got 3rd in the Amateur Limited Gun Dog on October 8, and 1st in the Amateur Gun Dog on Sunday the 9th. These were both horseback stakes and the competition was comprised of several field champions and national field champions.

Katie can be seen in the attached photo with some of her winnings. She has placements on wild birds and planted birds as well as walking, horseback, and coverdog stakes. She is a RU-CH with the AFTCA/American Field and has 6 points and one major toward an AKC Field Champion title.

We are now looking forward to having Katie bred this winter (2011-2012). Please check back here to see the litter announcement which will be posted once the breeding is confirmed. You can also call me at 912-256-3826 or email me at esetters3@yahoo.com if you have questions about the breeding or would like to reserve a pup.

Katie starts the year off with a Bang!

Pine Straw Katydid got our trial season started off right with a victory over 22 other dogs at the Old Dominion Vizsla Club's North Dakota fall trial. Katie had a great race and 2 well mannered finds for pro Jamie Fountain. This AKC horseback first place is a great win for Katie as it earned her a 4-point major. This was Katie's second try of the season, her first coming in the Montana Shooting Dog Championship where she held her own, but didn't place. We have plans to breed Katie this fall and every win she gets shows that her bloodline deserves to be carried onward.

Smudge gets his first placements, Hawk scores again

On March 5th and 6th, the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Atlanta held an AKC walking trial. Smudge got his first two placements with a 1st place in the puppy stake and a first place in the derby stake as well. He was handled by my wife Amber, who obviously did a great job and brought Smudge the luck he needed. Hawk got second place in the derby stake. It was a fun weekend, and Smudge's two first place wins got him his juvenile points toward an AKC Field Champion/Amateur Field Champion title.

As a reward for his efforts, Smudge has been given a month at camp with pro trainer Jim Tande. Jim is going to evaluate Smudge to help us determine if his talents lean toward horseback or walking events. Almost every judge that has looked at him and Hawk have indicated that they should be running horseback. We'll see what comes of Smudge's time at camp.

Charlie and Hawk both get first horseback placements

The Middle Georgia English Setter Club held a dual-sanctioned (AF/AKC) horseback trial February 4th through the 6th at Stockton Plantation. Jamie Fountain of Oconee Kennel handled Charlie in a shooting dog stake (AKC-Open Gun Dog) and garnered 3rd place out of 26 entries. In the Derby stake, Hawk had a nice run with a couple of good finds to take 2nd. I handled Hawk, and this was my first horseback placement as a handler. All in all it was a pretty good weekend.

Pine Straw Blackhawk gets 2nd place in open puppy!

On Saturday, January 22, 2011, Pine Straw Blackhawk placed 2nd in the Open Puppy stake at the NBHA Northeast Regional Championship Trial. Hawk surprised us with a huge run, outracing a much older pointer pup and staying far to the front for most of the twenty minutes. This is the first placement for Katie's pups and we couldn't be happier. Smudge had a great race, but was constantly molested by his brace mate, which prevented him from covering the ground in his usual style. Jamie Fountain of Oconee Kennels helped prepare the pups for puppy trials by introducing them to horses for us. Thanks to Jamie as always.

Pinestraw Black Hawk earns first two legs of Junior Hunter

Pinestraw Black Hawk earned two legs of his junior hunter at an AKC hunt test recently. Hawk had multiple finds and held his points until the flush on every bird. He was complimented by the judges and had a fun time. Hawk ranged well, as far as any dog that ran, and his first point on both days was over 100 yards out. We are proud of the big boy.