Legends of Coverdog: Blue Streak
4X CH/4X RU-CH Blue Streak
At the banquet preceding the 82nd running of The Grand National Grouse Championship held in early November in the Eau Claire County Forest near Eau Claire, Wis., our 4X CH/4X RU-CH Blue Streak was named this year’s Legends of Coverdog.
Legends of Coverdog is a special award given by The Grand to dogs “that have had a profound impact on the sport of coverdog field trials.” Streak joins only six other bird dogs to earn this award. Jerry and I were shown a commemorative plaque that will be hung in the National Bird Dog Museum in Grand Junction, Tenn.
It was an evening we’ll never forget. We were, at once, honored, thrilled and humbled for Streak to have achieved such distinction.
Blue Streak (Spring Garden Tollway x Finder’s Keeper, 1995) was a setter female Jerry and I bred and owned her entire life. We called her Little because she was the smallest in her litter. But apart from her 36-lb. frame, everything else about her was big—her heart, her drive, her fire and her bird finding.
“She is independent, adaptable and has bottomless guts. What great qualities!”
~Craig Peters, reporter, 2001 Pennsylvania Grouse Championship
Streak’s 22-win career spanned 10 years. She was handled by Jerry and scouted by me. Her first derby placement was in 1996 and, as a 10½-year-old, her final field trial was the 2005 Grand National Grouse Championship where she was named Runner-up Champion.
“Her considerable effort, featuring a pair of good grouse finds added to by a woodcock find, stood up for the runner-up position despite the challenge of 80 other contenders.”
~Dave A. Fletcher and Ryan Frame, reporters, 2005 Grand National Grouse Championship
Streak’s breakout year was 2001. She was entered in six cover dog championships and placed in five: Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational (RU); Pennsylvania Grouse Championship (CH); Minnesota Grouse Championship (RU); Wisconsin Cover Dog Championship (CH); National Amateur Grouse Championship (RU).
Based on that “streak,” Streak won two prestigious awards in 2002: the Michael Seminatore English Setter Award and the William Harnden Foster Award. In addition, she won the Minnesota/Wisconsin Cover Dog Shooting Dog of the Year award in 2002 and 2003.
“Streak finished this brace to the front and hauling the mail. It is seldom that I witness an hour I will never forget, but this will be one that is stamped in my memory. Fantastic!”
~Steve Studer, reporter, 2002 Minnesota Grouse Dog Championship
Although bred only twice, Streak left her mark by producing eight field trial winners including CH Bobby Blue and Blue Silk. Blue Silk won the 2001 Minnesota/Wisconsin Cover Dog Derby of the Year and produced winners CH I’m Blue Gert and CH Satin From Silk.
Of prime significance, Blue Silk’s sons, Blue Shaquille and Northwoods Blue Ox, are foundation sires for our setter breeding program. Through these grandsons, Blue Streak’s legacy continues in 5X CH/5X RU-CH Northwoods Charles, CH/RU-CH Erin’s Three Leaf Shamrock, CH/RU-CH Northwoods Sir Gordon, RU-CH Northwoods Atlas, CH/RU-CH Northwoods Cedar, RU-CH Northwoods Nirvana and RU-CH Cody’s Sadie Bell.
“In her hour, Blue Streak showed us bird savvy, style, race, endurance and excellent manners.”
~Brett Edstrom, reporter, 1999 Region 19 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship
“She had two grouse finds, four woodcock and a back. Combined with a strong, forward easy handling race, it truly was a championship performance.”
~Rod Lein, reporter, 2001 Wisconsin Cover Dog Championship
A personal note from Jerry: Blue Streak challenged me more than any dog before or since. Her tremendous desire to hunt game—whether feathers or fur—along along with her endless stamina would sometimes get the best of her. In the days before GPS tracking, this led to her spending a night or two alone in the woods! Streak gave me the highest highs and the lowest lows, but she also taught me important lessons. If you believe in your dog, forge a bond and put in the effort, you can go farther than you ever imagined. In fact, it can change your life.
From Betsy: From the beginning, Little was destined. I remember our first puppy walk with her. Instinctively, right out of the dog topper, Little was off. She charged into the woods, independent but hunting, and she didn’t want to stop. A lifetime of memories also come to mind but my final time with her was especially poignant. More than ten years later when Little had serious lung complications, I stayed up with her all night as she struggled to breathe. Her big heart simply would not quit.