Katie gets 2nd in Old Dominion Vizsla Club's Horseback Trial

On October 23, 2010 Katie earned 2nd place at the Old Dominion Vizsla Club's fall horseback trial. This American Field/AKC dual sanctioned trial had an Open Gun Dog stake with 24 entries. Katie had a very strong race and a stylish find to garner the red ribbon. Thanks again go to Jamie Fountain of Oconee Kennels for handling Katie. Jamie has done a wonderful job getting Katie back in shape and on track this fall after she whelped and raised the litter this spring.

Charlie Wins Michigan Woodcock Championship!

Our Charlie (CH Chip's Charlie Brown) was crowned the winner of the 2010 Michigan Woodcock Championship today, October 18, 2010. Charlie had 3 grouse finds and 3 woodcock finds during his hour on the ground in unusual heat. All were handled with good manners. There were 72 dogs drawn for this big trial and Charlie ran against some very serious competition.

We are so proud of Charlie. He loved to point from the time we brought him home at 8 weeks of age. At 2 months Charlie was finding and pointing the semi-wild pen raised birds which we had released in training Katie. Charlie continued to show his prowess during an early trip to Kansas for wild quail and pheasants. We then sent him for his spring puppy season with Chip and he has been a trial dog ever since.

We owe a huge debt of thanks to Steve and Ginny Chiappini (Chip's Kennels) for their mentoring and for letting us co-own Charlie, and to Marc and Scott Forman (Shady Hills Kennels) for their work in honing Charlie's skills in the field trial arena. We also appreciate the advice and encouragement of Jamie Fountain (Oconee Kennels) and Steve Groy while we were introducing Charlie to birds and giving him his early training during his first year. We would like to acknowledge the efforts of Craig Peters (Keystone Setters) for his breeding program that has produced yet another champion.

Katie gets 3rd Place at GSP of Ohio horseback trial

On October 11, 2010 Katie placed third at the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Ohio's fall horseback trial. Katie ran in hot weather and had multiple finds for handler Jamie Fountain of Oconee Kennels. This trial was a dual sanctioned American Field/AKC field trial.

Hawk and Smudge enjoy a break from the heat

We have finally got a slight break from the heat down here in south Georgia. The last couple of mornings have been below 70 degrees and I've been able to let Katie's pups, Hawk and Smudge, have a little longer workouts. They are both pointing birds and I can usually get in front to flush. Hawk is a bull in the thick stuff, and Smudge is really fast and reminding me a lot of his mom. Here are pictures from one of today's sessions.

Katie earns first placement of 2010 fall season

On September 5, 2010, Katie returned to her winning ways and back to her pre-pregnancy form with a 4th place in the Miami Valley Vizsla Club's Open Limited Gun Dog stake. Katie was 4th out of 26 dogs in this AKC horseback event. During Katie's brace she had the opportunity to show not only her run, but also her ability to find birds and her style and intensity while backing. Thanks and good job to Jamie Fountain for handling Katie in this event.

Katie's Puppies

Katie's puppies have reached 12 weeks old and are looking good. We decided to keep 2 of the males, Hawk and Smudge. They are bold, curious and crazy about birds already. Hawk is looking like he'll be a brute and Smudge is fast and already scent pointing quail. "Patch" went home to Steve and Ginny Chiappini's house, we miss her and are eager to see just how pretty she turns out to be.

Field Trial Placements for 2009-2010 season

Chip's Charlie Brown and Pine Straw Katydid both had a successful year, Charlie as a derby and Katie as a first year shooting dog. We were very happy with both of them.

Charlie won: 3rd place at the National Brittany Open Grouse Championship Association's Open Derby on October 4, 2009; 1st place at the Wolverine Derby Classic held by the Beaverton Grouse Dog Club on October 18, 2009; 3rd Place at the Joel Collier Derby Classic in March of2010; 3 rd place at the 2010 spring running of the Black Ash Amateur Derby; and 1st place in the Shooting Dog stake of the spring 2010 DuBois Beaver Meadow Field Trial Association.

Katie brought home: 3rd Place in the Central Georgia Pointing Dog Club's Open Gun Dog stake held October 4th 2009 (AKC horseback trial); 4th place at the Vizsla Club of Metro Atlanta (AKC horseback trial) in the Open Limited Gun Dog stake; 2nd place in the Amateur Shooting Dog stake (AF walking) at the IB Parnell Trial held by the South Carolina Bird Hunters in January of 2010; and 3rd place in the Open Shooting Dog stake of the Vidalia Trial (AF horseback) held in the spring of 2010 at Baxley, Georgia.

We would like to thank Scott and Marc Forman (Shady Hills Kennels) for their hard work with Charlie as well as Steve (Chip) and Ginny Chiappini (Chip's Kennels) for giving us the opportunity to co-own Mr. Charlie.

We would like to thank Jamie Fountain (Oconee Kennels) for his efforts and handling of Katie.