DAVE HUGHES NOTCHES 100TH CHAMPIONSHIP WIN WITH A SWEEP AT THE NEW ENGLAND OPEN GROUSE CHAMPIONSHIP

CH FIREAWAY

From Lloyd Murray

"Champion; Fireaway, setter male. Owner, Mark Hughes ; Handler, Dave Hughes
Runner Up ; Long Gone Studley, setter male ; Owner, L. Murray and Jason Banks, Handler, Dave Hughes

Honerable mention; One Bad Winter, pointer female, Karen Unsworth , Owner. John Stolgitis , handler.

I want to say " THANK YOU "
To all the folks who pitched in and made this years renewal so enjoyable. First, Bob Lang, Stake Manager,from Canterberry , NH who was there from Sun. until it was all over yesterday afternoon ( wens. Sept. 24) Handling all the paperwork and money, taking the judges out to dinner, getting lunches, coordinating all vehicle movement between braces, annoucing each brace, giving "THE SPEACH " about no running....doing all the things needed to make a succesfull trial, so BOB, a major, THANK YOU ! I want to thank all the pros who came and ran dogs, or who scouted. Dave Hughes, Bob Little, John Stolgitis, Tony Bly, Steve Levesque and Craig Doherty.
I want to thank our judges Jim Curtin, ( second year ) and Tim Cavanaugh from Mass. and Conn. respectivly. It is not easy to walk Kilkenny for 6 hours a day for three full days in a row, each courses being almost 2 1/2 miles over blowdowns, rocks, mud and big hills, both up and down. Thanks boys ! You earned your judges presents !
Birds numbers were good, all courses had multiple grouse finds.
The weather was good, but the courses very dry, as we badly need rain.
The Champion ran on Deer Mountain on day two, and had two finds, the second being a small brood. The Runner Up ran on day three on the Golden Rod course, he also had two finds, the second being a big brood with 10 seconds left in the hour. Many other dogs rendered very strong performances, and it was a fun trial to watch.
The Bill Kearns Memorial Open Derby Classic ran after the championship was concluded, and the winners were placed on wild birds.
We had a special presentation, complicments of Thom Richardson, Jeff Smith and Ray Gorman from The Northern NH Bird Dog Club and The Setter Club of New England. A framed print of The Smith Setter Champions ( a 20th century fund print ) to be given to Dave Hughes for his many years of support of New England Trials, both spring and fall. Dave was very moved at this surprise, as of course he was at The Championship announcement, as it was his 100th championship win,( and 80 th Runner Up ) and to do it with his sons good dog,made the moment that much more meaningfull.
Again Thank you to all club officals of the Setter Club and Northern NH who were here all week to help,Jim Hathaway, setter club secretary ( and derby classic judge ) Jim Curtin, President of The Setter Club of New England, the oldest bird dog club in New England ( and championbship judge )Thom Richardson, Dr. Solon Rhode, Steve Levesque, Tony and Marie Bly and anyone I am forgetting !!!
We are all looking forward to hunting season up here which opens next Wensday ( Vermont grouse on Sat. ). Hope to see you all next year at The New England Open!"