GSPIN
Newsletter
of
The German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Indiana
April 2006
President’s Message
Having just finished the first quarter of 2006, the club activities continue to be resounding successes. The first training session held March 12th, at Mike Osborne’s, near Fort Wayne, was well attended with 21 handlers and 25 dogs working with Andy Giegold’s guidance and training tips. The club wishes to thank Mike and his wife for hosting the event. The day started foggy and damp, but ended with sunshine and warmer temperatures. Andy gave training demonstrations on whoa, here & heel, and steadying up young dogs as well as honoring assistance for the more experienced dogs.
April 1st & 2nd saw one of the most successful and profitable hunt tests the club has ever sponsored. The results of the test are listed later in the newsletter and can be viewed on our website. The fall test date has been set for September 30th and October 1st, and has just been approved by AKC.
Many club members have participated either as handlers or helping run the days events. Special thanks to Donna Conley, who did an outstanding job as hunt test secretary. Chris Snyder as hunt test committee chair, and to John Kennedy, who handled the food preparation. Alan Montgomery kept the enthusiasm high at the starting line and kept the braces moving off the line with no delays and Clint & Casey Conley ran the score sheets back to the club house after each brace so that the scores were immediately available. Many members helped with the bird planting especially, Chris Snyder, Jason Barile, John Kennedy, Gary Miles, Chris Moore, and Ron Schwartz. Gunners Larry Harris & Dave Bertram did some nice shooting for the Masters & Seniors. If I have missed anyone, please accept my sincere Thank you for a job very well done.
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A Directors meeting is set for April 23rd, 1:00 p.m. at the Gander Mountain in Greenwood, Indiana (located just off Interstate 65 south). All members are invited to attend and add your input to the running of the club. A general membership meeting will immediately follow the directors meeting.
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Dates and events to remember ...
May 6th, when the club will participate in the Gander Mountain Collar Clinic.
June 11th at GVCC, when we will hold our annual picnic. Lunch will be served along with a fish fry compliments of Gary Miles. We will be demonstrating field training, water work, and perhaps some obedience, agility, and showmanship. Skeet shooting will be available with some instruction for youth and old timers alike. So bring your shotgun and brush up on your technique. We hope to see everyone there for a fun filled day!
More training sessions are being planned and will be announced as soon as birds become available later this spring.
The National Specialty Show will be held in Arizona this year. Anyone interested in more information should contact our Show Chair, Erin Schwartz, or Christy Featherston.
Field trial committee chair Doug Featherston has been busy working on locating grounds and is coming closer to eventually hosting a field trial event.
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The mosquito season is rapidly approaching and Heartworms continue to be a problem in Indiana. I recommend keeping your dogs on Heartworm and Flea protection year around. Indiana winters have not been cold enough lately to kill off the fleas or mosquitoes. Dogs should be tested annually or at least every other year even if prevention is used year around. Many products are available for fleas, ticks and heartworm prevention. Consult with your veterinarian to set up a program that is right for your dog. Rotational use of these different products is advisable as parasites seem to have a way of becoming resistant to most chemicals we throw at them.
An Animal Health Committee will soon be formed and we hope to have timely topics discussed in our newsletters.
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Membership is increasing everyday and a complete updated members list is enclosed with this newsletter.
A big Thank you to everyone who is participating in our club and events. Lets everyone keep working to improve our club. Come out and enjoy your dogs and socialize with others that are as crazy about their dogs as you are!
Thanks,
Ron Ferris D.V.M.
President, GSPCI
GSPC of IN Welcomes our newest members:
Please join me in welcoming these new GSPC of IN members: Ralph & Vicki Craig from Yorktown IN, Jay Davis from Mooreland IN, Dwight & Jody Kinser from New Castle IN, Joe Klase from Syracuse IN, Tim Knitter from Fort Wayne IN, Joe Marks from Churubusco IN, Christopher Moore from Mooresville IN, Matt Rhodes from Warsaw IN, Tim & Carrie Ryman from Albion IN, Gary Schmaltz from Indianapolis IN, Earl & Judy Schroeder from Greenfield IN, Kris Vollrath from Greenfield IN, Brian Wonderly from Hicksville OH, and Mark Young from Churubusco IN.
Spring Hunt Test Wrap Up
Spring Hunt Test - Wow what can I say, it was the best test yet. We had the honor of having an AKC Rep. on hand, he was impressed with how smooth our test ran brace after brace, with a super full day Saturday and two less braces Sunday it made for a full weekend. I think this test had the most GSP's ever, thanks to all the club members who participated or just showed up to watch. We signed up seven new club members at the test who really enjoyed themselves and looked forward to being part of the club I enjoyed meeting all of you.
I've got to thank the judges Cheryl Peterson and Greg Hedien for Saturday and Kathy Engelsman and Damon Lumkins for Sunday…great job! What can I say…thanks to our fearless leader Ron Ferris for getting the birds and horses at such a great price. The judges loved the horses. Also a big thanks to the Conley Family. Donna for all your hard work, what a paper work nightmare, you make it look so easy. Tim what can I say you're always there thanks so much, couldn't do it without you. Casey and Bubby you guys rock thanks for running score sheets all weekend. Thanks to John Kennedy on keeping us fed and keeping the bird fields seeded and the dreaded clean - up afterwards, thanks John. Also to Jason Barile who saved me after the fall hunt test paperwork disappeared, you really helped me out and not to forget the bird planting, thanks again Jason you saved me. To new member Alan Montgomery for getting the braces to the line, thanks Alan. Last but not least, Larry Harris and Dave Bertram best hunt test gunners out there, thanks guys.
I hope all who showed up had as much fun as I did, if you couldn't make it I hope to see you in the fall, thanks again to all.
Hunt On,
Chris Snyder
Spring Hunt Test Results
On Saturday, we had 1 Master, 2 Seniors, & 25 Juniors receive qualifying scores. On Sunday, we had 1 Master, & 24 Juniors receive qualifying scores.
Senior Qualifiers:
Conley/Otter/GSP
Ferris/Arko/GSP
Junior Qualifiers:
Giegold/Rocky/GSP
Bradfield/Buddy/GSP
Fines/Pixie/GSP
Gildow/Jack/Viz
Deaton/Milo/Britt
Wonderly/Tina/GSP
Bradfield/Oreo/GSP
Simmerman/Tarby/GSP
Fines/Gabby/GSP
Giegold/Mandy/GSP
McLeland/Ozzie/Spinone
Young/Tilly/GSP
Thayer/Roads/Gordon Setter
Montgomery/Axal/GWP
Deaton/Macy/Britt
Franklin/Pebbles/GWP
McVicker/Tryst/WPGriffon
Keesling/Baxter/Britt
Bradfield/Miranda/GSP
Fendley/Scully/Spinone
Schwartz/Gretta/GSP
Dorsett/Stormi/GSP
McLeland/Alonza/Spinone
Miles/Haven/GSP
McVickers/Ranger/WPGriffon
Sunday:
Master Qualifiers:
Troup/Jack/GSP
Junior Qualifiers:
Giegold/Falk/GSP
Fines/Pixie/GSP
Schwartz/Gretta/GSP
Young/Tilly/GSP
Simmerman/Tarby/GSP
Giegold/Mandy/GSP
McLeland/Cira/Spinone
Bradfield/Buddy/GSP
Schmaltz/Marty/GSP
Dorsett/Stormi/GSP
Giegold/Rocky/GSP
Thayer/Roads/Gordon Setter
Fendley/Brian/Spinone
Bradfield/Oreo/GSP
McVicker/Tryst/WPGriffon
McLeland/Ozzie/Spinone
Montgomery/Axal/GWP
Evans/Dakota/GSP
Wonderly/Tina/GSP
Bradfield/Miranda/GSP
McVicker/Ranger/WPGriffon
Miles/Haven/GSP
Featherston/Cracker/GSP
Franklin/Pebbles/GWP
Ft. Wayne Sport, Vacation and Boat Show
– by Andy Giegold
The GSPs were well represented at the Ft. Wayne Sport, Vacation and Boat Show. We put on four training demos during the four days of the show. The Featherston's Cracker, the Ryman's Mieka, as well as Rascal, Butch Johnson's Jake, and Mike Osborne's Greta all exhibited the skills we all expect of a German Shorthair. We were well received by the general public and had many people stay after the demos to ask questions and just enjoy the dogs. Additionally, the Indiana Chapter of Quail Unlimited exhibited an educational display of habitat development and gave away sorghum seed to landowners. Thanks to the Featherstons for that effort. My retriever club, Blackwater, did the retriever demos. Members and their canine partners put on an educational and entertaining display of talent. Presented were 11 week old puppies through Master Hunters and Master National Qualifiers. Hopefully, next year more GSP club members will have the opportunity to participate.
Greenwood Gander Mountain Gun Dog Day
Hello GSPIN members. My name is Matt Sanders and I am a new member of the club and the proud owner of Beulah Vom Montgomerycreek. I’m also the Hunting manager of the Greenwood Gander Mountain. On Saturday, May 6th, my store will be hosting a gun dog day from 11-3. Representatives from Tri-Tronics, Innotek, SportDog, and D.T. Systems will be there to answer any questions about their products. D.T. Systems are throwing in a training collar to be raffled for FREE at the event. I have asked the club to have an information table at the event and Ron Ferris, the Conleys, and others have volunteered to be there with their dogs. All the members are encouraged to come by with their dogs. I have asked a few other breed clubs to come and I’m expecting them to be there as well. I know this event will help the curious learn more about the different breeds while meeting the pros and seeing the areas’ largest hunting assortment. See you there; I’ll be the one with the perfect little black GSP….
The GSP of IN will participate in the Carl Kelly Memorial Youth Camp sponsored by the Indiana Conservation Officers, on June 21, 2006! We will have 3 -1 hour sessions with 112 Juniors! Overnight lodging will be provided for any volunteers from the club! Contact Alan Montgomery (812-597-5933 or AMontgomery@dnr.IN.gov) for further information!
-by Doug Featherston
This will be a quick update to let you know that we are making progress in holding a GSPC Indiana Field Trial. First, I want to thank Ron Schwartz, Michael Stovall, and Ron & Sharon Fitzpatrick for stepping forward to help with the FT committee. All have field trial experience and Sharon has had FT secretary experience with other clubs for several years and has graciously offered her experience and her mailing lists. I am still searching out club members with field trial experience to voice opinions on decisions and how we should proceed as a club. We are pursuing this for the club and I would like as much input as I can receive from all of you. If you have FT experience and have an opinion, please contact me at birddog111@aol.com or just give me a quick call at 317-714-0094.
I have spoken to the Performance Events department at the American Kennel Club and have determined the steps required for our club to hold a licensed trial. The AKC records showed that our club has a history of holding successful field trial events with our last being held in March of 1994. Because of our previous record, AKC will not require us to conduct sanctioned trials prior to holding a licensed trial as is usually the case for new clubs. A sanctioned trial is a fun trial or club training event that is just like a licensed trial however awards are not recorded by AKC towards championship titles. Placements and ribbons are awarded but points are not recorded by AKC. Although not required, it is our opinion that we may still want to conduct a sanctioned trial this fall as a test run before we jump into a licensed trial. This event would be a walking trial only for club members and friends. This would allow us to get some experience before proceeding with a licensed walking trial in the spring of 2007.
We are also making progress with obtaining grounds to hold the events. I recently attended a meeting and site visit of some reservoir properties with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, members of the Indiana Field Trial Association and the Greater Indianapolis Brittany Club. We looked at Mississinewa, Salamonie, and Huntington Reservoir properties and have determined that areas 20, 21, & 22 at Huntington may have potential for a walking trial grounds. The property manager is willing to work with the clubs and the director is supporting the effort to find temporary if not permanent field trial sites on state owned property. The ultimate goal of the new director and the IFTA is to develop one site in the northern half of the state and one in the southern half. Although this is a break through with the IDNR, I am still open to ideas from the membership on potential sites on private or public property. Again contact me with ideas and comments.
I have been in contact with the GSPC of America to coordinate dates and now have their application / approval form and their schedule of conflicting dates in hand. We must select our dates and get their approval in writing before submitting an application to the AKC. Additionally, I have been in contact with a wrangler that is willing to provide horses for judges, scouts and bird planting, so contracting horses should not be an issue. I am still looking for potential game bird breeders to contract the purchase of quail and or pheasants if any member has suggestions.
In summary, we are getting our ducks in a row and will be ready to proceed if we get the membership support and the board of director’s approval to proceed. Any and all feedback is solicited and welcomed. Please contact any member of the committee, myself or Ron and the board of directors with both pro and con comments. We need to know how important this is to all of you. This is a venture that will need the full support of the membership as does the specialty show and the hunting tests events. When the time comes we will need club members to volunteer support in various operational tasks and financially support us by providing entries.
Happenings and Brags
Shomberg’s Seneca War Chant JH CDX, owned by Chris Winston, finished his CDX title at the Little Rock, Arkansas, show on March 25th.
Pointsetter WR Warrior’s Blade, owned by Tim Tyree, won the 12 – 18 month dogs class Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 16 – 19, 2006; at the Louisville KC Shows. On Sunday, Blade went Winners Dog and Best of Winners for a 5 point major (leaving him one point shy of his championship). Blade also received an Award of Merit in Breed on Sunday.
Sure Point Smok'n Sensation JH went Winners Bitch on Saturday, March 25, 2006, at the Dubuque Kennel Club for 2 points. She went Reserve Winners Bitch on Sunday. Skye was bred and is owned by Ron and Sharon Fitzpatrick.
CH Foxgloves Mad About You JH CGC, owned by Lisa & Michael Stovall, earned the first leg of her Rally Novice title at the Tullahoma Kennel Club of Tennessee show in Franklin TN.
CH White River WP AllMale Revue JH CGC, owned by Lisa & Michael Stovall & Char Rutar, completed his Junior Hunter title at the Weimaraner Club of Greater Louisville’s Hunting test on April 9th. Chip also earned the first leg of his Rally Novice title at the Tullahoma Kennel Club of Tennessee show in Franklin TN.
Tabor’s Wannapnt Classic Touch, owned by Lisa Stovall earned 2 more qualifying legs to her Junior Hunter title at the Weimaraner Club or Greater Louisville’s Hunting test held on April 8th & 9th.
7XCh Brockway’s Grand Finale JH, CDX owned by Tom & Beth Rotundo earned his 7th NSTRA Champion in March with a 1st place at Shoebilly Farms, in DeMotte, IN. Finn is also well on his way to an 8th Champion.
Artemis Outlandish Dream bred and owned by Christin Featherston & Christy Featherston, earned a major out of the Bred By class at his first show at Belleville IL. Lander earned his second major his second weekend out at Saginaw, MI.
Huntabirds I've Arrived owned by Allison Moos and Christy Featherston, earned a major at Belleville.
CH Artemis Hoosier CornFed FarmBoy, bred and owned by Christin Featherston, went Best of Opposite Sex in Belleville and Best of Breed at the Northeastern Indiana Kennel Club.
Artemis Hoosier Hollywood, bred and owned by Christin Featherston, earned her first point out of bred by at the Northeastern Indian Kennel Club show.
CH Willow Runs Violet Moon JH, bred and owned by Kari Sowinski went Best of Breed over the 2005 NSS Best of Breed winner on Saturday March 18th at the Evansville Kennel Club show in Louisville.
GSPC of IN Whelping Box
Ch. White River Shot of Tabasco (Baxter) owned by Jason & Anna Barile sired a litter with Ch. Up N'Adam's Lil'Spitfire (Abby) owned by Tonia Agin out of Spitfire Shorthairs on March 12th. Eight very healthy pups were born: 5 females and 3 males. For more information, please contact Tonia Agin at: spitfiregsp@comcast.net -OR- visit her website at: http://home.comcast.net/~spitfiregsp.
Artemis Kennels is proud to announce their upcoming litter. Sandycreeks Sharp Dressed Man OFA Good CD clear X Artemis Hot Dam Sam I Am Huntabird OFA Excellent CD not yet back - Due 5/1/06 Contact Christy Douglas-Featherston (317) 538-9482 for more information or visit the website at www.artemiskennels.com
A Special Note of Thanks…
Special thanks go to the expertise and skill of his handlers and his excellent bloodlines: Dr. Amy Johnson-Edwards, DVM and co-breeder; Becky Feigh, Brianna Higgins & Taylor Dentinger who handled Blade to WD, BOW & the Award of Merit on Sunday. I would also like to thank Blade’s breeders: Charlie & Amy Edwards & Char Rutar; for their help, guidance, tips, training, handling and directions, etc. I want to thank the other members of the GSPCIN for their help and advice.
Thanks for everything,
Tim Tyree
Editor’s closing note:
Thanks to all the members who contributed to this newsletter. Without your contributions…the newsletter would not exist. As always, I welcome your contributions for consideration for the newsletter. After all…the newsletter will only be as good as the stuff the members contribute to it…so by all means send me your happenings & brags, litter announcements, informative articles, trivia tidbits, pictures (to be included when room allows), or anything else that you would like to see included in the newsletter. Email is the best way to get the information to me that you wish to contribute to the newsletter. My email address is mflkstovall@omuonline.net or you can give me a call 270-691-6283…if I am not home leave a message and I will call you back.
I am trying to keep the calendar page of the website updated so please check the website to view a list of current planned events. If you have pictures you would like to see uploading in the photo gallery on the website, please feel free to email them to me.
Thanks,
Lisa