English Cocker Spaniel ‘Ike’ Wins National Open Championship & Owner-Handler Sets Record As Youngest to Win

A show-off with natural bird sense and spot-on ability, a 4 ½-year-old ticked liver-and-white male English Cocker named “Ike” (NFC FC Green Gable’s Maximum MH) delivered a perfect balance of independence and teamwork to win the 2021 National Open Cocker Championship. Meanwhile, owner-handler Jaelee Schwartz became the youngest winner of the prestigious annual event.

“Ike is the most incredible dog I’ve ever run,” says the 20-year-old pro trainer from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. “He was consistent through all five series and in tune with me as well. He ran hard and had great bird finds.”

Schwartz, who runs Green Gable Gundogs, got a head start with sporting dogs from her father. Pro trainer Jeff Schwartz specializes in training English Springer Spaniels for spaniel hunt tests and field trials, though his daughter prefers field trials. “I am a perfectionist who likes to train to a high level,” she says. “In a field trial, you know you are the best that day.”

After attending college and trying a few jobs, Schwartz returned home to follow her passion training English Cockers. “We have a routine,” she says. “I start the foundation training of puppies up to steady to flush and then my father handles them in puppy stakes up to about 3 years of age when they come back to me.”

Born April 29, 2017, Ike was sired by FC Stonewaller Bridger MH out of AFC Green Gable’s Fearless Wonder. His maternal granddam is Rock River’s Anne of Green Gable MH, Schwartz’s first English Cocker and her foundation bitch. Ike’s litter was bred by Mark Schinderle and John Kriegl, both of Iron Mountain, Michigan. Schwartz, who got Ike at 6 weeks of age, put his Field Champion title on him at 3 years old and Master Hunter at 4 years old. 

Besides winning the National Cocker Championship in 2021, Ike won back-to-back open field trials at the Minnesota Hunting Spaniel Association in May. “This doesn’t happen too often,” Schwartz says.

As to Ike’s National win, she says, “I went with the attitude to just have fun. There are always things you can’t control like at the 2020 National when Ike was eliminated after first series when the bird slipped behind me. This year, Ike had a spark and was showing off. I was happy for the opportunity to show what he can do.”

Ike is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice.

NSTRA’s Purina Top Performance Award Winner Is Pointer Named ‘Jill’

Consistent, quality bird hunting, determination and endurance in multiple National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSTRA) field trials gave a 4 ½-year-old orange-and-white female English Setter named “Jill” (7XCH Resa’s Mohawk Jill) the most points ever recorded to earn the 2021 Purina Top Performance Award. Along the way, Jill won her second consecutive NSTRA UKC Performance Classic — the first dog to win in back-to-back years — and whelped a litter of puppies.

The highly competitive Performance Classic, held May 2021 in Waverly, Nebraska, included the top 128 qualified dogs. The elimination event has five 30-minute stakes run over three days, and then two finalists run in a one-hour championship final. As in 2020 when she won, Jill delivered a nail-biting victory.

Breeder-owner-handler John Resa of Shelbyville, Missouri, says, “Jill gives her all every time she hunts. She was in great shape going into the pregnancy and bounced back after having pups.”

The Performance Award is based on field trial points earned by all dogs in the country from June 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021. Jill’s record-setting 3,350 points included winning the Performance Classic and placements of third in the Dog of the Year trial, fourth in the Trial of Champions, and fourth in the Midwest Regional.   

Born Feb. 23, 2017, Jill represents Resa’s third generation of NSTRA winners. Her maternal great-granddam, 6XCH Sue Maggie Sue, won the 1995 Dog of the Year trial, and her maternal grandsire, 17XCH Resa’s Trouble Mace, won the 2005 NSTRA Top Performance Award and the 2008 NSTRA Grand National Championship. Her dam, 12XCH Resa’s Maize, won the NSTRA 2014 UKC National Championship and the NSTRA 2016 Purina Endurance Classic. All are NSTRA Hall of Fame members.

NSTRA began in the late 1960s to extend the upland bird hunting season from a few weeks to a longer period via field trials and championships. Resa, who has competed in the sport for 37 years, is true to the sport, as he enjoys hunting wild birds with his dogs, including Jill.

Jill is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice.

Beagle Named ‘Chief’ Leads the Pack to Win NHBA Sectional Series

Natural ability, quick brainwork and a lot of desire pushed a 7 ½-year-old red tick male Beagle to the front to win the National Hunting Beagle Association (NHBA) Sectional Series, a national points-based, yearlong competition, out of over 1,400 entries.

As the dominant cast winner, “Chief” (WORLDHBCH GRHBCH HOF GRCH PCH TNT’s 3MC CHIEF) tallied points by winning the Southern Classic in Virginia and the Michigan State Hunt, as well as winning casts in nine states. “Although not as fast as when he was younger, Chief won the Sectional Series running at a very consistent clip against younger dogs in their prime,” says breeder-owner-handler Trever McQuain. 

“He started winning, and we started traveling all over the country trialing him. He won at a very high level at an age when many hounds are retired. We are pleased that he did so well,” says McQuain, who co-owns the high achiever with his wife, Traci McQuain, and brothers Cory McQuain and Josh McQuain, all of Kimbolton, Ohio.

Recognizing Chief for earning 50 cast wins during his lifetime, the UKC awarded him Hall of Fame status in March 2021. He is the second of three Beagles who have achieved the honor since the program began in 2020.

In February 2021, Chief won the West Eliminator in Dixon, Missouri, out of 95 hounds. In September 2021, he placed sixth at the UKC Hunting Beagle World Championship in Caldwell, Ohio, out of 232 hounds. Chief made it through three 90-minute competition rounds over two days, though he did not advance to the fourth and final round. In 2018, Chief won the UKC Beagle World in Fairmount, West Virginia.

Born Nov. 2, 2014, Chief was sired by GRHBCH TNT Cooperstown, McQuain’s first field-trial bred Beagle.  “Chief is pretty special,” McQuain says. “He and I share a bond. He enjoys going with me everywhere. Chief has been a consistent field trial hound who puts his heart into his work. That has put him on top.”

Chief is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice.

Plott Hound Named ‘Legs’ Wins UKC World Bench Show Championship

A gorgeous 4 ½-year-old brown brindle female Plott Hound named “Legs” (WSHOWCH NGRCH CGRCH GRCH(3) GCH CCH ‘PR County Line Tuesday’s Legacy) continued her streak of consistency in a truly outstanding year of coonhound bench shows to win the 2021 UKC World Championship in September in Peru, Indiana. With confidence and graceful, effortless movement, she edged to the top over 137 coonhound competitors.

“I had showed Legs all year, and she had done very well,” says breeder-owner-handler Christina Officer of Ravenna, Kentucky. Legs is co-owned by Susan Ragsdale of New Hartford, Iowa.

Officer won her first UKC World Championship with Legs after 26 years in the sport. She had come close to winning the prestigious event in 2006 with Leg’s great-aunt, AKC CSG CH, PKC CH, UKC CCH GRCH ‘PR’ County Line Liberty Belle, the Reserve Champion.

Leg’s consistency streak led to her winning the 2021 Purina Outstanding Bench Show Coonhound Award. Among her wins that contributed to that honor were Grand Plott Female and the Purina Bench Show winner at Treeing Walker Days; Grand Female and Plott breed winner at Black & Tan Days; Overall Grand Female and Purina Bench Show winner at BBOA National Bluetick Days; and Grand Female and Plott breed winner at the BBCHA Fall Round Up.

Whelped Nov. 26, 2016, Legs was sired by AKC GRCH CCH, UKC GRCH CCH WCH ‘PR’ County Line Roosevelt. The dam is GRCH ‘PR’ River Ridge Terrible Tues. Legs is named for GRCH ‘PR’ County Line Terrible Tuesday, her maternal granddam and paternal great-granddam, the foundation bitch of Officer’s breeding program for her County Line Plotts.   

In February 2020, Legs won Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club. In September 2020, she won National Grand at Autumn Oaks. Leg’s success in UKC bench shows in 2020 made her the Overall Plott winner and qualified her for the Top Ten runoff, held in February 2021, where she won the Overall Top Ten.

As to her World Show Champion’s success, Officer says, “I like everything about Legs. She has a great personality and is easy to handle. She is an attractive, powerful female, who owns the ring.”

Legs is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice.

Meeker Classic Champion ‘Alice’ Becomes Most-Accomplished Border Collie in North America

Winning the 2021 Meeker Classic was the crown jewel for “Alice,” a 9 ½-year-old rough black-ticked tricolor Border Collie. One of the toughest sheepdog competitions in North America, arguably the world, drew a large entry of 170 teams. Those lucky enough to be one of 15 Finalists faced a challenging course.

A double lift required skillful maneuvering of first one, and then a second, group of sheep across a 550-yard rocky pasture into a pen. Handler Scott Glen blew whistle commands to Alice, as the talented stock dog worked in unison with him, exuding confidence and intelligence.

It was a bittersweet victory. Only weeks later, Alice was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her condition worsened quickly, and Glen made the difficult decision to have her euthanized. The Meeker Classic was the bookend of a successful career that many handlers only dream about. 

“Alice’s attitude was that she was 10-feet tall and bulletproof,” says Glen, her owner and a professional trainer from New Dayton, Alberta, Canada. “She was a pretty honest stock dog. ”

It was Glen’s third win in Meeker, Colorado. In 2005, he and “Pleat” won, and in 2019, he won with “Taff.” “You have to do everything right at Meeker, and typically one thing or another goes wrong,” says Glen, who owns Alta-Pete — Scottish for Aim High — Stock Dogs. In between training and trialing, Glen teaches herding clinics.

Bred by Wendy Schmaltz of Mankota, Saskatchewan, Canada, Alice was Glen’s puppy back, as her sire was his male “Don,” the 2009 and 2015 U.S. Border Collie Handlers Association (USBCHA) National Champion and the 2014 Reserve Champion at Meeker and the National.   

Winning trials for Alice started early at the USBCHA National Nursery Championship for dogs under 30 months of age. When she won in 2013 as one of the youngest competitors, Glen says, “It was a surprise.” The next year, Alice was the National Nursery Reserve Champion. 

Alice is a three-time winner of the USBCHA National Championship — something only three dogs have done. She won in 2016, 2017 and 2019. Notably, she is a third-generation National Champion. Besides her sire Don winning two times, her granddam, “Star,” won three times.

In 2016 and 2017, Alice won the Western Canadian Championship. In 2018, she won the Soldier Hollow Championship, Bluegrass Classic and the Canadian Championship. In 2020, she won her third Western Canadian Championship.

Reflecting proudly, Glen says, “During her career, Alice won every major trial at least one time. At Meeker, she ran as nice a run as you’ll see. Alice always found a way to get things done. She was a good dog.”

Alice (Nov. 3, 2011-Oct. 20, 2021) was fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice.

Natural-born bird sense, keen desire and youthful athleticism came together for a 1 ½-year-old white-and-liver Pointer named “Ivy” (CH Chasehill Poison Ivy) at the New England Open Grouse Championship. The powerhouse female topped seasoned field trial dogs to capture an impressive open win in her derby career.

Handled by pro trainer John W. Stolgitis of Ashaway, Rhode Island, and owned by Allen Raiano of Newtown, Connecticut, Ivy took to deep cover finding her first grouse within 14 minutes of the one-hour walking stake. Eight minutes later, she pointed a woodcock, followed by a second grouse find 20 minutes later. “It’s unusual for a dog to win an open championship in its derby year,” Stolgitis says.  

Ivy reminds Stolgitis of some of the five generations of Chasehill grouse champions behind her.  Her maternal and paternal great-grandsire, 19XCH 19XRUCH Chasehill Little Bud, was a winner across all-age and shooting dog horseback stakes as well as cover dog stakes. “Bud” was handled by Stolgitis to win the 2016 North American Woodcock Championship.  

Co-bred by Stolgitis and his daughter, Erin Stolgitis, Ivy’s litter was whelped Feb. 27, 2020, at their Chase Hill Kennels. Sired by CH Panola Bacon out of CH Chasehill Little Izzy, the Futurity-nominated litter produced four females running in trials. 

Prior to Ivy’s win at the New England Open Grouse Championship, three of the four littermates placed in the North American Woodcock Futurity in Canada. Little Miss Margaret took first, Ivy took second, and Chasehill Hidden Jewel took third.  

One month later, Ivy ran a flashy, forward race with impeccable bird work to win the Grand National Grouse Futurity. Often described as a breeder’s stake, the Futurity showcases up-and-coming stars. Ivy’s performance in the first brace did not disappoint.

“Ivy fully covered the course, going along the edge and then making a nice cross from right to left,” Stolgitis says. “She has a lot of style and hunt in her that will be fun to watch as she matures.”

Ivy is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice.

A hard-running 7 ½-year-old Weimaraner named “Cage” (2XNFC NCH GFC FC Saga’s Major Cage) gained momentum during the one-hour 2021 National Weimaraner Association (NWA) National Championship. In the last 15 minutes of the horseback stake, the muscular male locked on point, statuesque and stunning, as a wild quail covey was flushed out of the cover. Cage won his third National Championship in March at Camp Robinson in Conway, Arkansas. 

Handled by pro Diane Vater of Grand Marais, Michigan, and scouted by her husband, Chuck Cooper, Cage also earned the Grand Field Champion (GFC) title for pointing breeds during the one-hour stake. “As he’s matured, Cage has gotten stronger and is really smart and perceptive,” says Vater, the Weimaraner Club of America’s (WCA) 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. 

Prior to the NWA National, Cage received Weimaraner Best of Breed honors for his performance at the AKC Pointing Breed Gundog Championship in February 2021 at Camp Robinson. A career highlight for the standout bird dog was winning the WCA National Field Championship in 2019 and 2020. Although other dogs have won two times, few have won in back-to-back years.

The high-achieving Weimaraner was bred by and is owned by Mary B. and Jeffrey Brown of Purcellville, Virginia. Cage represents their Saga Weimaraner bloodline begun 30 years ago. Whelped June 2, 2014, Cage was sired by NFC NAFC DC AFC Snake Break’s Saga V Reiteralm CD MH RDX SDX VX2 FROM HOF out of Waybac’s Skylar Saga. The Browns owned the sire, who won the WCA National Field Championship in 1999. Mary Brown handled “Saga” to his win at the 2002 WCA National Amateur Championship.

One thing all who know Cage agree on is his kind, gentle, calm ways when not doing fieldwork. “When he’s at home, he goes to work with me and is a therapy dog,” says Mary Brown. “He also loves to play with toys. He is a very easygoing dog.”

Cage is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice.

A powerful, far-ranging 7 ½-year-old male Vizsla named “Scout” (NFC NCH RUNCH 5XCH 4XRUCH FC Post Route Scout) has come into his prime as a formidable force in horseback field trials. In 2021, Scout won two Vizsla National Championships, a Runner-Up Vizsla Championship, an all-breed open shooting dog championship, and Runner-Up at a regional Vizsla shooting dog championship. 

“Scout has always been athletic, but he uses wisdom and experience more as he’s gotten older. He’s firing all cylinders,” says pro handler Brian Gingrich of Red Mesa Kennel in Prewitt, New Mexico, who has trained the big-running dog since his derby year.

Scout’s impressive back-to-back wins in November at the National Vizsla Association (NVA) National Quail Championship and Vizsla Club of America (VCA) Open National Field Championship run at Pyramid State Park in Pickneyville, Illinois, culminated a successful year. In September, Scout was Runner-Up Champion at the NVA Midwest Vizsla Shooting Dog Championship, and in March, he was Runner-Up Champion at the NVA National Championship. In January, he outperformed Pointers, Setters and German Shorthaired Pointers to win the Arizona Open Shooting Dog Championship. Scout is owned by James L. Gingrich of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Gingrich, a pro since 2009, counts Scout as his second top-winning Vizsla, with 12 championships earned. Scout’s sire, 2XNCH 2X NFC NAFC 10XCH 3XRUCH DC AFC CK Touchdown Guy, won 20 championships including the VCA Open National Field Championship in 2013 and 2017 and the NVA Open National Championship in 2014 and 2019.

Born Aug. 12, 2014, Scout was bred by Mark Sullivan of Paducah, Kentucky. The ambitious youngster started strong from the git-go winning the NVA National Derby Classic in 2016 and then the NVA Open National Championship in 2017, becoming only the second dog in breed history to win both events. 

“My goal is to bring out the power-driven, bird-finding ability of Vizslas to run competitively in shooting dog and all-age stakes,” Gingrich says. “Scout takes the game to a whole different level charging hard until he finds a bird.”

Scout is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice.

A forward-running, powerful 9-year-old white-and-orange male English Setter named “Mac” (8XCH 3XRUCH Ponderosa Mac) affirmed his elite status as an exceptional cover dog by winning the 2021 Grand National Grouse Championship. It was his eighth championship win and set a record making Mac the winningest cover dog in history.   

Handled by trainer Scott Chaffee of Pioneer Kennels in Clare, Michigan, a three-time Cover Dog Handler of the Year, and owned by Steven C. Snyder of Ellendale, Minnesota, Mac did not disappoint despite the elusive game and challenging course. His persistence during the one-hour stake, working to the front and taking direction from Chaffee, combined with his style and an excellent grouse find put him on top.

“Mac had a great race and perfect manners,” Chaffee says. “He has tremendous drive to find birds and is extremely intelligent.” 

The veteran setter also won in 2021 the New York State Grouse Championship and the Wisconsin Cover Dog Championship. Cover dogs, named for their ability to find game in thick brush, or cover, may travel many miles during a one-hour walking trial.

Mac is the only cover dog to place in four consecutive Nationals. At the Grand National Grouse Championship, he was Runner-Up Champion in 2017 and Champion in 2018. At the Grand National Grouse & Woodcock Invitational, he was Champion in 2018 and Runner-Up Champion in 2019.

Bred by Chaffee and his wife, Tammy, Mac was whelped May 19, 2012. He was sired by 2XCH 2XRUCH Jetwood out of 2XCH RUCH Cooper Mountain Pepsi. On the sire’s side are four generations of Champions and Runner-Up Champions. His paternal grandsire is CH 2XRUCH Jetsetter, whom Chaffee says was a great all-age dog who gifted Mac with endurance.

“Mac is just a really nice dog to be around,” Chaffee says. “He has a calm temperament and gives 100 percent every time I work him.”

Mac is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice.

It was a near clean sweep for a 7 ½-year-old liver-and-white male German Wirehaired Pointer named “Quinn” (2XNFC NAFC DC GFC AFC Weidenhugel Quinn V Teddy) at the 2020 and 2021 German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America (GWPCA) National and National Amateur Championships. Making up for 2020’s canceled events due to COVID-19, the four field championships were held in late September to early October 2021 at Ionia, Michigan, with only a weekend between them. The hard-charging Wirehair won all but the 2021 National Amateur, where he placed second. 

Handled by co-owner John Williams, an amateur competitor since 2002, and scouted by Joe Proulx, both of Bend, Oregon, Quinn also earned the Grand Field Champion (GFC) title for pointing breeds for his wins during the one-hour horseback championships.

“Quinn did an exceptional job running to the front and turning along the tree lines and the cover in heavy woodlands,” Williams says. “The course was much different than what Quinn is used to at home in the high desert on the eastern side of the Cascades. He had nice quail finds throughout the four championships.”

Bred by co-owners Cynthia Heiller, DVM, of Santa Rosa, California, and Kathleen Boyd of Oakley, California, Quinn was already a Bench Champion when Williams started working with him at about 2 years of age.

The late Randy Berry of Rio Vista, California, a renowned trainer, had seen Quinn in a trial for derby-age dogs and encouraged Williams to reach out to Dr. Heiller and Boyd to see if he could run Quinn in field trials. Berry, who trained Quinn and three generations of National Champions behind him, provided the professional expertise that led to Quinn’s success.  

Whelped Nov. 13, 2013, Quinn was sired by NFC 2XNAFC DC AFC Tumalo Teddy out of CH Weidenhugel Hope V Joey SH. His maternal grandsire is 2XNFC DC AFC Tumalo Joe, and his paternal granddam is NAFC DC AFC Cascade Tumalo Tess. His paternal great-grandsire and maternal great-grandsire on both sides is NFC 3XNAFC DC AFC Rudolph’s Blitzen Von Duffin ROM Supreme.

“Quinn is a consistent performer in the field,” Williams says. “As the National Championship events progressed, he continued to get better with each stake. He worked the tree lines like an experienced Midwest field trial dog.”

Quinn is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Beef & Bison.