Impressive spring wins on the field trial circuit
Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017), on right, is posed by his owner Greg Johnson after Atlas’ third place finish in the Don Didcoct Amateur Classic held near Augusta, Wis.
What a successful spring it has been for our clients who compete in field trials with their dauntless dogs! Whether handled from horseback or foot, whether campaigned on released or wild birds and no matter the geography, dogs from our kennel garnered ribbons and trophies.
Congratulations to all! We’re very proud of you and your dogs.
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN
Three must be Greg Johnson’s lucky number. His dog, three-year-old Northwoods Atlas (Northwoods Grits x Northwoods Nickel, 2017), placed in three shooting dog stakes on three different grounds.
• 2nd — Minnesota Grouse Dog Association (MGDA) Open Shooting Dog held near Mora, Minn.
• 3rd — Don Didcoct Amateur Classic held near Augusta, Wis.
• 3rd — Moose River Grouse Dog Club Open Shooting Dog held near Moose Junction, Wis.
Two Northwoods’ dogs are in the money after the April 2 MGDA derby stake. First place (blue ribbon) was won by Northwoods Sigurd Olson (Northwoods Rob Roy x Northwoods Minerva, 2019), owned and handled by Chris Bye of Wisconsin. Northwoods Gale (Northwoods Grits X Northwoods Minerva, 2020), owned by Northwoods Bird Dogs and handled by Jerry, placed second (red ribbon).
Derby Northwoods Sigurd Olson (Northwoods Rob Roy x Northwoods Minerva, 2019), owned and handled by Chris Bye, also had a tremendous spring. Sig placed in three of his starts.
• 1st — Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Associations Open Derby held near Augusta, Wis.
• 1st — MGDA April 2 Open Derby
• 2nd — MGDA April 16 Open Derby
Sig narrowly missed winning the MN/WI Cover Dog Derby of the Year Award, losing by only three points to Bill Frahm’s worthy setter.
Other Northwoods-bred dogs placed in the spring MGDA trials, including two in the Open Shooting Dog stake.
• 2nd — Sadie (CH Ridge Creek Cody X Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), owned and handled by Ryan Bjerke.
• 3rd — The Highway (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus X Northwoods Carly Simon, 2018), owned and handled by Dave Moore.
And two derbies placed in their stakes.
• 1st — Lily (Northwoods Rob Roy X Northwoods Minerva, 2019), owned and handled by Jordon Pharris, in the April 16 stake.
• 2nd — Northwoods Gale (Northwoods Grits X Northwoods Minerva, 2020) owned by Northwoods Bird Dogs and handled by me, in the April 2 stake.
Jade (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2015) isn’t campaigned often because it cuts into owner Frank Ilijanic’s hunting time. But when she is entered in a trial, she is extremely competitive, including this second place in the Michigan Hunting Dog trial.
Meanwhile, in Michigan, a special female pointer named Jade (CH Rock Acre Blackhawk x Northwoods Vixen, 2015), owned and handled by Frank Ilijanic, won second place in the Michigan Hunting Dog stake held near Gladwin, Mich.
SOUTHEAST
Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), owned by Ben McKean, placed in two one-hour shooting dogs stakes. Gordy placed second in the Columbia County Field Trial Club stake held near Lake City, Fla., and earned third at the Mill Pond Field Trial Club held on the Burnt Branch Plantation near Ochlocknee, Ga. Gordy was handled from horseback by professional Tommy Rice Jr. to both of those wins. In the pointer-dominated southern circuit, the wins are especially impressive for a setter.
Flanked by pointers, Northwoods Sir Gordon (RU-CH Erin’s Prometheus x Northwoods Carly Simon, 2017), was handled by pro Tommy Rice Jr. to second place in the Columbia County Field Trial Club stake held near Lake City, Fla. Gordy is owned by Ben McKean of Minnesota.
NORTH DAKOTA
Back near his home in Minnesota, Northwoods Sir Gordon won third place in the Northwest Field Open Shooting Dog trial held near Hankinson, N.D. In this stake, Gordy’s owner Ben McKean, handled off horseback. Four-year-old Gordy is well traveled—he’s now placed in field trials in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Georgia and Florida.
Northwoods Sir Gordon, on left, won third place in the Northwest Field Open Shooting Dog trial held near Hankinson, N.D. Gordy was handled by his owner, Ben McKean, in this trial.
WEST COAST
Tian Elhew Verbena (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013) won runner-up champion In the Pacific Coast All Age Championship (a horseback trial) held near Waupin, Ore. Verbena is owned by Angela and Tim Schillereff of Suave Island Kennel near Portland, Ore., and handled by Tim. This wasn’t Verbena’s first win in a titular stake. She’s been named champion or runner-up in several western shooting dog championships, including the top spot at the American Pointer Club National Amateur Championship.
Northwoods Charles (CH Ridge Creek Cody x Northwoods Chardonnay, 2013), owned and handled by Bill Owen of Santa Barbara, Calif., added to his illustrious career by winning the West Coast Open Shooting Dog Championship (a horseback trial) held near Valley Springs, Calif. Charles is a now a 5X champion and 5X runner-up champion (!!), in addition to eight other field trial wins.
Tian Elhew Verbena (CH Elhew G Force x Northwoods Vixen, 2013), on right, won runner-up champion In the Pacific Coast All Age Championship held near Waupin, Ore. Verbena is owned by Angela and Tim Schillereff.