U.S. Complete Shooting Dog Association
2009 Futurity

U.S. COMPLETE SHOOTING DOG FUTURITY
By Yvonne McKeag

            The Thirteenth annual U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Futurity was held on March 19-21, 2009 at the Dick Cross Wildlife Management Area in Boydton, Virginia.  This year the Futurity was judged by Jim Crews and Jim Jones both of Virginia.  This year’s crop of hopeful derbies was smaller than usual with only 10 hopefuls coming to the line.  According to the Judges, however, it was an outstanding group of young dogs worth watching in the future. 

This year Grand Heritage Motion, owned by Bruce Cooper, bred by David Whitaker and handled by Robert Ecker, Jr. took top honors.  Sired by Ragged Hill Bandit out of Ida O’Pippin, this impressive Setter Male scored 4 finds with an outstanding snappy forward race.  He applied himself on the course hunting all of the cover while always moving forward.

Next on the judges score card was Urban’s Wicked Tina, a pointer female owned by Troy Terlizzi and Khrystal Predium, also,  handled by Robert Ecker, Jr.  She was bred by Khrystal Predium who bred Calico’s Dakota to Talisman.  Tina scored two stylish finds, while putting down an animated race making pleasing lateral moves. 

In third place was Elhew Signature, a pointer female owned and bred by Greg Isenberg and handled by Bobby Phillips, who handled her for Greg when he was unable to attend.  She was sired by Elhew Commanche out of Miss Fearless Scooter.  She scored 4 nice finds.  Her ground race was a little eratic, making the difference from the other winners.

In fourth place was a nice young setter male, Merritt’s Zackery.  He is owned, handled and bred by Terry Merritt.   He was sired by Merritt’s Blaze out of Merritt’s Pearl (who is this year’s National Open Championship Runner-Up).  Zackery had multiple bird contacts and two steady finds while putting down a pleasing ground race.

Preceding the Futurity was the Annual Robert E. Lee Open Shooting Dog Classic, which drew 24 starters this year.  In the saddle were Ashby Morgan from VA and Phillip Culbreth of NC.  In first place was Grousewoods Reese, an English Setter male handled by Robert Ecker, Jr. and owned by Jack Brobsts and Kelsey Orris.  Second was Miss Anna a pointer female owned by Jeff Walker and handled by Tony Bingham.  Owned and handled by Bobby Phillips, Bob’s Elhew Wendy a pointer female took third place.

Following the Futurity was the Puppy Classic.  In the saddle was the standing USCSDA National President, Jim Bush of SC and Johnny Lewis of VA.  Ten hopefuls came to the line and in the end Hard Bargan Pete a pointer male owned by Jameson and Jimmy Crandall handled by Jimmy Crandall took top honors.  Bob’s Miller Jade a pointer female owned and handled by Bobby Phillips.  In third was Attitude’s Bewitching Sue owned and handled by Edward Autry.

As always this trial is not possible without the generous support of Precise Dog Food Products.  A huge thanks to Meredith and Judy Jones who stepped in and chaired the trial this year.  They wanted me to thank all the folks who supported the trial – the professionals, Bobby Ecker, Tony Bingham, Pat Casey, Tommy Tracy and all of the owner/handlers who traveled from Virginia, Connecticut, and West Virignia.  There is an expression that goes like “you got have good help to get the job done right” that is how Meredith described all of the help he had for the trial.  The help he and Judy had for the trial were Yvonne McKeag, who kept all the money, the paperwork, food, grounds and trophies.  All of the judges including several club officers (Jim Bush, Ashby Morgan, and Phillip Culbreth) who not only gave of their time and knowledge for the trial but also gave up their opportunity to run their own personal dogs.  Jim Jones, besides judging planted birds for us in the other stakes.  Johnny Lewis who judged and then hauled the gallery wagon back for Meredith.  Waverly Coleman who came out to drive the gallery wagon, other bird planters, Ray Rinker, Jameson Crandall, Yvonne and Verlene Stephenson.  George Ramkey came on Saturday and wanted to know what he could do to help.  Kirk Regensburg came on Friday to check things out.  There are to many to thank that helped scout dogs when a handler did not have a scout.  One last thanks to all who attended and helped Meredith and Judy jobs were made easier because these people went about their tasks with little or no direction.  Meredith last comment was “Because of all of you this trial was a great success and our job was easy.”  Hope to see everyone again next year.

In front is Robert Ecker, Jr. with Grousewoods Reese, Ashby Morgan, Judge, Miss Anna with Tony Bingham, Bobby Phillips with Bob’s Elhew Wendy, Meredith Jones.  In the back is Judy Jones, and Phillip Culbreth, Judge.

Ray Rinker with Grand Heritage Motion, Bob Ecker, Jr. with Urban’s Wicked Tina, Bobby Phillips with Elhew Signature, Terry Merrith with Merritt’s Zachery.  In the back is Jim Jones and Jim Crews, judges and Yvonne McKeag

Back row is Johnny Lewis, judge.  In the front is Jimmy Crandall with Hard Bargan Pete, Bobby Phillips with Bob’s Miller Jade and Edward Autry with Attitude’s Bewitching Sue.

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