The eleventh renewal of the National Walking Shooting Dog Futurity was held April 21 on Pennsylvania State Game Lands near Florence, PA. Morning Rain and gusty winds gave way to a sunny afternoon with mild temperatures. This year's entry was on the light side - eighteen starters from 53 nominated litters.

Organizations responsible for the success of this Futurity include dedicated members of the Pennsylvania Walking Shooting Dog Association and the High Point Pointer and Setter Club. Chris Catanzarite handles the secretary-treasurer duties with precise attention to the many requirements and minute details. Chris has performed these duties since the Futurity was resurrected from the dead and carries on year after year with enviable dedication. His efforts are appreciated by all.

Barry Leezer serves as president and was ever present upholding the leadership responsibilities commensurate with the title.
Sorely missed this year was vice-president Al McKinney, who was originally slated to judge with Chris Rider. Last minute work details kept Al away.

Other members in attendance who pitched in to help set up camp, plant birds, cook food, haul supplies and attend to the many details included John Kirsopp, Tim Swonger, Paul Tipping, Lloyd Davidson, Joe Collura, Russ Kohser, Dwayne Gaskins, Al Romagna and others I'm sure I missed due to the responsibilities afield.

A large crowd turned out to enjoy the atmosphere and the delicious picnic style dinner, auction and raffle held Saturday evening. Attendees included Dave Blakley, B.B. Graham, Henry Caruso, Steve, Greg and Ginny Chiappini, Kellie Fogg, Frank Jackowski, Carl and Collin Bishop, Roger Neri, Dave Cascais, Bill McFadden, J.R. Williams, Howard Kerr, Jim Frost, Gerry Mercatoris, Gary Pritts, Paul Horchen, Tom Vassen and many others. Sponsors who contributed mightily included Purina with a generous supply of dog food, hats and other essential amenities. Local representative Pat Lamantia was in attendance. Bob West has remained dedicated to supporting this event and has judged here in the past. Additional support included the Ruffed Grouse Society, Al Romagna and others for donations for the auction and raffle.

Judges were Chris Rider of Uniontown, PA and Mike Husenits of Indiana, PA. Chris was the returning judge from last year. Mike stepped in for Al McKinney, who had to pursue work interests. Chris and I rode in complete harmony and strove hard to press recognition upon those that appeared to have potential to carry on.

This was not a stake laden with near perfect Derby performances. Most made youthful mistakes and/or injected some doubt as to weather or not their futures would be in winning photographs of important events. First place Devil May Care did not fit in this category at all. Her performance ranked high, even as compared to several past winners of this event that went on to gain national acclaim in walking and horseback shooting dog championships. This classy pointer female was bred and owned by Bob and Meredith Kennedy of Rockwood, TN. Roger Neri, who has taken charge of her development since early 200, ably handled "Maggie". Maggie's breeding indicates a strong gene pool of the famed Elhew bloodlines, sired by Elhew Stagger Lee out of Cy's Elhew Mojave. She hits the ground in light-footed fashion and carries a high cracking tail. She reminds this writer of anther great Elhew bred bitch with roots in Wester, PA, that won the National Open Shooting Dog Championship. Her name was Elhew Links Jewel. Devil May Care appears to have the same potential. Her performance here came in the very last brace.

Maggie showed from the slip of the leash to the finish that her main goal in life is to hunt happily for birds. She covered both sides of the course in merry fashion and was rewarded with an immaculate find on the left hillside near the halfway turn where she stood with arresting style and permitted handler to put the bird in the air. Earlier Maggie had returned to handler with a dead bird - nothing officially seen to determine the cause. Her ground race was ever forward with dazzling speed to the finish. Barring any unforeseen training or health problems, Devil May Care is one to watch.

Second place Chip's Torquato is a handsome large framed and muscular built setter owned, bred and handles by the highly successful Chiappini team, Steve and Ginny of Butler, PA. Steve had the honor of handling the swashbuckling youngster on this occasion. Torquato's pedigree looks like a who's who list of setter greats, his sire the notable Been's Great Day, his dam Chip's Double Ott. This big setter covered the ground in an eye-catching manner with smooth gait and cracking tail. He stretches to the limits while remaining aware of the handler's location and direction. His efforts were rewarded with two solid finds at 9 and 20. Both were handled with derby manners, sky kissing style and rock solid intensity. "Torquay" couldn't resist the temptation of helping a wet walking bird get in the air on his second find, stopping nicely for the shot. He finished well ahead still going strong and attractively.

Third place Sky High Samantha is a very classy liver marked pointer female owned and handled by James Frost of Edinboro, PA. Her breeder is well-known and popular veteran Busty Ventura of New York. Her breeding shows Alc'Azar as her sire and Diamond Dancer Belle as her dam. Samantha's performance here consisted of a handling medium range ground heat directed to all likely objectives. Her purpose and stylish eye-catching way of going were never in doubt as she systematically hunted both sides in forward fashion. Four times she contacted game and four times she nailed her quarry with intense pointing attitude, holding mannerly while handler put the birds to wing and fired. On the last find, Samantha sat down upon harsh voice reprimand after the bird was in the air. Her overall race was not quite as aggressive as the higher placed winners but nonetheless loaded with potential for the future.

Fourth place was awarded to Grouse Patch Thunder, a large sized setter male owned by Grouse Patch Kennels and handled by Joe Collura of Pittsburgh, PA. Thunder is a littermate to second place Chip's Torquato, bred by Steve and Ginny Chiappini. Similar in size and ground speed to his brother, Thunder's tail carriage is not quite as high but just as active as he hits the cover in dedicated fashion. The hard hunting setter logged finds at 5 and 7, with bracemate rooting the bird out on the first. Thunder pointed solidly with elevated tail and held in derby fashion. His final contact was at 20. Thunder pointed initially then put the bird in the air for a merry chase. He finished ahead with plenty of power to spare.

Aside from the winners, several others could have been in the money with a little luck. Starting with the first brace, Rock'n' Roll Josie and Cross Creek Sundancer set the initial standard with front running performances. Josie stopped momentarily on a bird at 17 and put at least two others to wing. Sundancer had an unproductive at 7 and later contacted a quail and a woodcock. Night Rebel Clancy was classy in motion, had a mannerly find at 21 but lacked overall range. The Country Gentleman tore up the country from start to finish and could have won the stake if he had held birds long enough for handler to get to him. His two contacts were basically puppy flash points and chases.

Night Rebel Lady was attractive moving but short in range. She had a bump at 10 and shared a point with bracemate at 15. Shaunavon was looked as good as they come early and was getting the job done with a find at 15 but shortened to a close quartering pattern the second half. Lookout Wind'um had an in-out type ground race with two contacts. Highly Unlikely looked good on game at 18 and 22 but was very short up until the last five minutes.

Barmore's Maxfly hunted hard and contacted game three times with less than acceptable pointing demeanor. Just Imagine rooted a bird at 5 and was later lost. West Wind Molly literally flew through the country and appeared to be the one to beat until disappearing for the count at 20. Moondance Aspen Scout had a stop to flush at 7, a well-handled find at 18 but hunted behind most of the heat. Lookout Lemon Twist was away like a rocket but forgot to come back. Waybetter Babe was medium and stylish with no significant bird work.