2023 Midwest Vizsla Futurity

2023 Midwest Vizsla Futurity

Jim Edgar Panther Creek - Chad Chadwell

Midwest Vizsla Futurity 

The Midwest Vizsla Futurity was held at the Championship-quality grounds of Jim Edgar Panther Creek near Ashland, Illinois. This year the event enjoyed newly installed electric power to the clubhouse building and horse barn. These grounds and facilities continue to be improved by the Field Trial Clubs of Illinois, and include a horse barn, clubhouse, and bird house, as well as numerous drainage and course improvements in recent years aided by support from the AFTCA 20th Century Fund. Once again, the Illinois DNR had the grounds in excellent condition for showcasing our bird dogs. Thank you to Site manager Nate Goetten and his crew for course preparation over the year and for providing us horse water and access to a shelter during the severe evening storm activity! 

A special thanks to Nestle Purina for their sponsorship and continued generous support of this event and field trials in general. We also have a number of people to thank for their support of this event, including volunteers from the Vizsla Club of Illinois who helped run the dog wagon, planted birds, helped with the drawing, and prepared a delicious lunch. Thank you to Justin Hess for posting pictures and results online and for running our Derby calcutta. We also had a good group of people in the gallery who enjoyed watching these young Vizslas perform. 

The drawing took place the evening preceding the event at the Los Rancheros Restaurant in Petersburg, Illinois, and well attended by participants and interested visitors. 

The first brace cast off at approximately 8:08 am on Friday, March 31, 2023 with temperatures in the high 40’s. Temperatures would increase throughout the morning on a day when strong storm activity was expected for the evening. In fact, at least three tornadoes were sighted in Illinois that evening, with considerable damage particularly in the Sherman, Illinois area. 

Our judges, Jeff Staunton and Bill Padovano, are experienced judges who gave their undivided attention in watching our dogs. Their experience and dedication to the sport and this event are much appreciated. 

The winners: 

First Place—“Josie” 

Second Place—“Axle” 

Third Place—“Thorn” 

Fourth Place—“Mickey” 

The running: 

Brace 1A

CK Kentucky Rose (Rose) is owned and handled by Ron Chenoweth. Rose is out of Rogue’s Irish Boy and NFC FC CK Guy’s Hot and Spicey. Rose cast off with a purpose. She was found on point at 6 minutes by her handler near the first deep ditch. However, an extended effort to flush a bird was unsuccessful and Ron chose to move on. Rose caught the front quickly and joined her brace mate. At the top of the hill before the first creek crossing, Rose was seen on point. Rose moved forward and the bird flushed with Rose in pursuit. Ron fired his blank gun and moved Rose forward. Rose ranged well throughout the rest of the 30 minute course, but was occasionally a bit out of pocket at times. 

Brace 1B 

BGK Gotta Thorn In My Boot (Thorn) is owned and handled by Justin Hess. Thorn is out of NCH CH R/U NCH RU CH BGK Gotta Briar In My Boot and BGK Super Nova. Thorn cast off with his brace mate and was found pointing at 5 minutes just before a ditch. Justin successfully flushed the bird and fired his shot ahead of the staunchly pointed dog. At the top of the hill before the first creek crossing, Thorn again went on point. Her handler was able to work the bird with Thorn once again holding through the shot. At 18 minutes, Thorn went on point in front of the horses at the top of the hill in the grassed area adjacent to a wheat field, but his handler was unable to locate and flush a bird. At 21 minutes, Thorn again was seen on point. Justin was again unable to locate and flush a bird and elected to move his dog forward. Thorn finished the 30 minutes moving forward in the clover field near a parking area. The judges appreciated her consistent run and her manners on birds, and awarded Thorn third place. 

Brace 2A 

Mickey is owned and handled by Bill Elliot. Mickey is out of Rueben’s Pepper Jack Rascal and Smiley’s Klondike Bar. Mickey cast off from the parking lot at Wolf Road on the return course. Bill guided him across the clover and corn field at a good pace which Mickey maintained throughout the 30 minute course. He had a single find at 18 minutes along a fenced grassy area. Mickey had a nice run, although not as big as some of the other dogs. The judges liked this dog and awarded Mickey 4th place. 

Brace 2B 

Chloe is owned and handled by Mike Northwood. Chloe is out of Int CH 2xRUCH Millstar’s Lion Rampant and CV Whiplash Smile. Chloe cast off with Mickey from the parking lot at Wolf Road. Chloe handled kindly for Mike and had a find at 18 minutes. His handler was able to work the bird cleanly ahead of his young dog. Chloe finished the 30 minutes across the road from the horse barn. 

Brace 3A CK Guy’s Kentucky Josie (Josie) is owned and handled by Ron Chenoweth. Josie is out of 2xNCH 2xNFC NA FC 10xCH 3xRUCH DC AFC CK Touchdown Guy and CK Countryside Lizzy’s On Fire. Josie broke away from the starting line across the road from the

horse barn at a great forward fast pace and maintained that pace throughout the course. Josie was a handful for Ron, but consistently ranged well forward and used most of the course to her advantage. Josie had a point at 27 minutes and then moved in to flush her bird. The judges appreciated her big run and her potential as a bird dog and awarded her first place. 

Brace 3B 

NV Axle (Axle) is owned and handled by Mike Northwood. Axle is out of Int CH 2xRUCH Millstar’s Lion Rampant and CV Whiplash Lion Rampant. Axle ran with the first place dog and ran a good race, although not quite as big as Josie. Axle had a find at 8 minutes at the top of the hill before the first creek crossing and held point through the flush. After a brief chase, Mike collected his dog and moved forward. At 17 minutes, Mike declared a find, dismounted and fired a shot. However, the judges did not see a bird leave. Axle finished the course in the clover field near Wolf Road. The judges liked Axle’s run and potential as a bird dog and awarded him second place. 

Brace 4A 

CK Ginger’s Gin Girl (Gin) is owned and handled by Ron Chenoweth. Gin is out of Rogue’s Irish Boy and NFC FC CK Guy’s Hot N Spicey. Gin cast off into the clover field from the parking lot near Wolf Road. Gin had a nice point at 3 minutes. After the flush, she cast back for several minutes before Ron could move her forward. At 11 minutes, Gin again went on point in the second clover field after the first creek crossing. At 18, she pointed again, but no bird could be produced. Gin displayed good bird finding skills, but was a bit out of pocket at times for her handler. 

Brace 4B 

CK Gunner Macskak Reme JH (Gunner) is owned and handled by Jason Dungan. Gunner is out of 2xNCH 2xNFC NA FC 10xCH 3xRUCH DC AFC CK Touchdown Guy and CK Countryside Lizzy’s On Fire. He handled kindly for his foot handler throughout the course. At 4 minutes, Gunner pointed at the border of the first clover field. A bird was produced and the handler moved his dog forward. At 12 minutes, Gunner pointed then moved forward, flushed and caught the bird. His handler was able to collect Gunner and the bird, then moved his dog forward. Gunner handled well, but was a bit short in his casts. 

Brace 5A 

CK Rudi Toot Toot (Rudi) Rudi is out of Rogue’s Irish Boy and NFC FC CK Guy’s Hot N Spicey is owned by Todd Pederson and handled by Justin Hess. Rudi cast off at a fast pace from the starting line across from the horse barn, and was absent from view from the judges for an extended time. Rudi had great ground speed, but was out of pocket at times. Rudi did not have bird contact before the end of his 30 minute run.