284 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 16, 1893. 



NORTHWESTERN FIELD TRIALS. 



EAkely if ever was there a pleasanter or more satisfactory 

 field trial to all concerned than that of the ISTorthwestern 

 Field Trial Club, which commenced at Morris, Man., in the 

 early mom of Sept. 4. Every one connected with it filled his 

 part in a manner truly sportsmanlike. The management 

 was skillfully conducted, the judges were most thorough, 

 firm and accurate, the handlers ran their dogs quietly and 

 without any displays of ill-temper toward each other or 

 toward any one. The judges' decisions were accepted with 

 respectful consideration, and were accepted, too, as final by 

 all. In short, it was a field trial in the true sense of sports- 

 manship. 



The judges were "W". Hamilton Spence, of Grand ForkSj 

 Dak., who acted in a like capacity last year for the club, and 

 Mr. John Davidson, well-known throughout the land as a 

 field trial and bench show judge. Their duties, briefly 

 stated, were well done. The running was most thoroughly 

 and impartially conducted. The good do^s were sifted out 

 with an accuracy which came from practical knowledge of 

 field work and of competition and how to conduct it. The 

 trial — the first one of the kind, I think, so run in this country 

 —was run without any set rules. The dogs were placed in 

 the judges' charge to pass upon without restrictions. The 

 running and results thoroughly demonstrated that judges 

 who are competent do not need rules. It has been quite as 

 clearly shown in the past that rules were valueless when 

 judges were incompetent. Good sense is gradually taking 

 the place of mathematical sta,ndards which cannot be applied, 

 and rules which are supposed to be a substitute for practical 

 knowledge in the event that the latter be absent. 



There were birds in abundance, both sharp-tails and prairie 

 chickens. They were tame and easy for the dogs to work on, 

 excepting now and then when an old bird, which had grown 

 wary and wise from experience, made his puzzling run and 

 turns for the dogs to follow. It was much like the good old 

 days in Minnesota and adjacent States a decade ago, when 

 shooters made bags of a hundred birds easier than they make 

 one-quarter of that quantity now. I learn, however, that 

 chickens are quite abundant in Dakota and Minnesota, par- 

 ticularly in the northern sections, on the lines of the Great 

 Northern Railway. This road runs hundreds of miles 

 through sections where wheat stretches from horizon to 

 horizon, where wheat gives the landscape the color of old 

 gold, and where it makes prairie chickens fat and plentifixl. 



The grounds were mixed grass prairie and wheat stubble, 

 with an occasional flax or oatfield here and there. The birds 

 were found in both grass and stubble. They had not begun 

 to pack, hence were always easy to find. 



The Derby. 

 TUESDAY. 



Most of the youngsters in this stake showed a lack of ex- 

 perience in their work on birds. The competition was of an 

 inferior quality. The weather conditions were unfavorable 

 for good work, a large part of the day being oppressively 

 sultry and calm, unfavorable weather conditions for sharp 

 point work or well sustained ranging. There was a breeze 

 in the morning, but it gradually died away till in the after- 

 noon a dead calm obtained. In the long grass where the 

 direct and reflected heat was strongest the puppies after a 

 few minutes' running were greatly distressed and required 

 water frequently, and, too, care was required in working 

 them. Notwithstanding the unfavorable conditions, once in 

 awhile some ^ood exhibitions of scenting power were dis- 

 played in roading and locating birds, yet there was a notice- 

 able unevenness in all the point work, due apparently to in- 

 experience in that work. As a whole, the work was decid- 

 edly inferior, though many of the pupiaes appeared to have 

 good native capabilities. The short period available for 

 preparation in late summer does not admit of the necessary 

 training or physical conditioning being established by early 

 September. To postpone the trials to a later date, however, 

 would be to run the risk of bad weather, packs of chickens 

 instead of bevies if bad weather sets in early, and shooters 

 in action in different directions on the grounds, which would 

 seriously obstruct the trials. 



As an offset against the sultry, unfavorable weather which 

 prevailed, it may be mentioned that the birds were slow to 

 take alarm, made short flights, and were easy to work. 

 They often endured a deal of pressing before taking wing. 



Mr. A. P. Heywood lionsdale owns the winner. Dogwood 

 a good ranger and worker. He does not run idly. He seeks 

 for game constantly and displays intelligence i"n his work 

 With more experience, he will make an excellent chicken 

 dog. The most unselfish pleasure was expressed at the 

 honors falling to Mr. Lonsdale, and truly his pluck in send- 

 ing his dogs so far, merited such generosity. 



Dolly Shaw, owned by Mr. R. W. Shaw, of Galveston, 

 Texas, displayed a good nose in roading and locating. She 

 pointed her birds well, but was somewhat too painstaking 

 or overcautious in roading, though quite accurate. Her 

 range when she was with a fast competitor was lacking in 

 independence, she prefen-ing to follow betimes a faster and 

 wider ranger, as was Dogwood. 



Selah, owned by the Charlottesville Meld Trial Kennels, is 

 a good ranger and is industrious, ;but her unsteadiness, 

 which he irregularly exhibited, undoubtedly set her back in 

 the judges' estimates. She had, however, but a limited ex- 

 perience on chickens, and this factor being considered she 

 really did well. 



There were twelve starters, which would have been in- 

 creased by quite a number more but for unavoidable adverse 

 circumstances. Mr. Thos. Montgomery, of Winnipeg, who 

 intended to start four dogs, injured his knee a few days be- 

 fore the trials, so badly that he is temporarily crippled. Mr 

 J. C. Phillips could not be present with his four entries in 

 consequence of important business needing his personal at 

 tention. 



Some new handlers participated. Mr. Sefton Hallam re- 

 cently from England in charge of Mr. Lonsdale's dogs, made 

 his American field trial debut at Morris. He has a most 

 sunny and friendly disposition, handles his dog intelligently, 

 and bids fair to become a good American inasmuch as he 

 thinks he may settle in America permanently. Mr. Joseph 

 Spracklin, well known to bench show goers, also handled in 

 these trials. 



Following is the order of running: 



Chas.W. Armstrong's white and black bitch Lauria A. fRov 

 McD.— Flirt A.), Thos. Sheldon, handler, ^ 

 against 



I>avey's blue belton bitch Monk of Furness Lill 

 (Monk of Furness— Sue of Hatchie), Thos. Hallam, handler. 



_ W. B. Wells's black, white and tan setter dog Mars (Cin- 

 cinnatus— Daphne), Joseph Spracklin, handler, 

 against 



Aulthouse's white, black and tan VlctoSia (Rego— 

 Nell), Thos. Sheldon, handler. 



/T^i}l«^',^°T^^?°^'^ ^^^"^^ ^'^^ "^'^^^^ pointer dog Paul Franke 

 (Ightfleld Upton— Genevieve), Sefton Hallam, handler, 



against 



A. Gale's lemon and white pointer bitch Frankie (Lord 

 Graphic— Bab Bab), Thos. Sheldon, handler. 



/T^-x^-,?^?'^'^^^?;'^^^^'^ pointer bitch Dolly Shaw 



(Ightfield Upton— Genevieve), Sefton Hallam, handler, 



against 



Eddie & Annstong's orange and white setter dog Monk of 

 Furness Sting (Monk of Furness- Sue of Hatchie), Thomas 

 Hallam, handler. 



Thos. Johnson's black dog Ponto (Manitoba Toss— Pitti 

 Sing), Sefton Hallam, handler, 



against 



T. G. Davey's liver and white pointer dog London (Lord 

 Graphic— Lassie Faust), Thos. Hallam, handler. 



A. P. Heywood-Lonsdale's liver and white pointer dog 

 Ightfield Dogwood (Ightfield Dick— Cowslips), Sefton Hal- 

 lam, handler, against 



Charlottesville Field Trial Kennels' liver and white 

 pointer bitch Selah (Rip Rap— Dolly Dexter), Capt. C. E. 

 McMurdo, handler. 



The Running, 



Laueia and Moi?k of Fueness Lill gave an inferior per- 

 formance in the competition. Lauria did not remain out at 

 her ranging. In fact, she required kind urging to keep her 

 out from heel. In the tour to and from the Red River, the 

 birds were numerous enough to afford many opportunities 

 for good work, but they were flushed by dogs or men. In 

 this heat, which lasted 55m., there was no satisfactory per- 

 formance. 



Mars and Victoeia were next, but the former being sick 

 in town, Victoria was run alone. Sheran about ten minutes, 

 making a point and one or two flushes. 



PONTO AND London started briskly. Ponto, in attempting 

 to locate, flushed some birds, and, again on them where they 

 were marked down, made game, but found nothing. A de- 

 tour was made to get out into open ground. On some birds, 

 each did inferior work, Ponto making a poor point and a 

 flush, and London making a poor find. They ran 45m. 



Selah and Dogwood began the first meritorious ranging 

 of the day. They stayed out well in their casts and were 

 speedj', Dogwood the better in that respect. They were in- 

 dustrious and sought for birds. Dogwood made game and 

 was about to point as the bird flushed. Selah took a long 

 cast and pointed, flushed and made a mild chase. But little 

 was done on the marked birds other than flushes by dogs and 

 men. Dogwood showed more steadiness. Selah was disposed 

 to be unsteady, though having decided merit in speed, range 

 and finding abilities. They ran 55m. 



Feankie and Paul Fbankie were to run next, but the 

 latter being so lame that he could hardly use the injured leg, 

 Mr. Johnson, on requesting of the judges the privilege of 

 withdrawing him, was permitted to do so. Still, with all 

 his crippled condition, the dog was working and might have 

 performed creditably, yet humanity was on the side of with- 

 drawal. Frankie ran alone. Her work was inferior. In 

 the 30m. devoted to her she made one inferior point and one 

 or two flushes. She was not in the best of condition, being 

 too fat for work. Her range was limited to a narrow scope. 



Monk oe Furness Sting and Dolly Shaw ran briefly 

 together, the former refusing to hunt soon after starting, 

 he preferring the comforts of walking at heel. He was 

 returned to the wagon. Dolly worked enthusiastically. She 

 found and pointed a bevy well. Cast oft' again, after a ride 

 in the wagon a short distance, she soon caught scent, but 

 failed to locate the birds. The judges flushed the birds 

 afterward. She did not display full confidence in herself 

 when on birds. Down 50m. 



The party then went to lunch. 



The judges announced the list of the next morning as 

 follows: Monk of Furness Lill with Victoria, Ponto with 

 Lauria A., Selah with Dolly Shaw, Dogwood a bye. 



Monk of Fdrniss Lill and Victoria.- A short interval 

 was occupied in partaking of luncheon, and the running was 

 resumed at 13:09. Lill made two flushes and Victoria flushed 

 a bevy. Down 27m. The weather was sultry and calm, and 

 good work was difficult under the conditions. 



Lauria and Ponto ran 30m. without any competitive re- 

 sults. Lauria ranged in and out, to and from her handler. 



Selah and Dolly Shaw were given a short run. The 

 former, at the end of a long cast, flushed and pointed foot- 

 scent. 



The weather was so oppressively close that further running 

 was postponed till 4 o'clock. The work was then resumed. 

 But the faintest of breezes then could be felt betimes. It 

 was too hot for prolonged exertion, and far too hot for a,ny 

 sharp, spirited work. A few minutes were sufficient to get 

 the dogs heated too much for them to perform well, though 

 they kept at work. Frequent watering was necessary. A 

 bird was marked down in grass and Selah pointed it, marring 

 the work by springing forward and flushing. Dolly backed. 

 Sent on, Selah took a cast about 150yds. and pointed a bevy 

 nicely. She showed unsteadiness to wing and shot. At the 

 same time Dolly roaded to an excusable flush on a chicken 

 which ran on to plowed ground. When sent on she began 

 roading and pointed. She roaded on about 40yds. and the 

 bird flushed wild. Another bird was flushed near her last 

 point. She showed intelligence in her roading, hut was over- 

 careful. Up at 4:26. Selah had the wider and better range. 

 On birds she showed finding abilities, but was lacking in 

 staunchness. 



Dogwood and Dolly Shaw were called to run after giv- 

 ing the latter a reasonable rest. Dogwood was the faster 

 and wider in his range. Dolly often chose to follow him 

 instead of working independently. Dogwood pointed a 

 single. Sent on, each at the same time flushed a single. 

 Dogwood in the stubble and Dolly in the grass. Sent on, 

 Dogwood wheeled to point, but the bird flushed a moment 

 too soon for him. At this juncture the atmosphere was 

 closer and most uncomfortably hot. The dogs were watered, 

 put in wagon, and a short detour made to get the wind. Sent 

 on, Dolly nicely roaded and pointed a single bird. Dogwood 

 made a point, yet he showed indecision, possibly from being 

 excessively warm He moved on. Judge Davidson rode up 

 to where he had pointed and flushed a chicken. Dolly 

 roaded prettily to a point on a bird. Dogwood backed, broke 

 his back, drew in and stole the point. He showed unsteadi- 

 ness, but stopped to order. He finished with a point on a 

 single. Dolly, swinging in, got a point on the same bird. 

 LTp at 5:35. 



The judges soon announced Dogwood first, Dolly Shaw 

 second. Selah third. 



The All-Age Stake. 

 WEDNESDAY. 



An early start was made, all the party leaving the hotel 

 before 7 o'clock. The morning was densely cloudy and a 

 light fog obscured the view. About an hour after start- 

 ing the weather thickened and rain fell for a short time. 

 Gradually the clouds broke away and the weather cleared up. 

 The comfortable coolness changed to close sultriness, and the 

 breeze gradually died away. The afternoon was much like 

 that of the previous day, oppressively warm with barely per- 

 ceptible breezes. 



The dogs were frequently watered, and no extremely long 

 heats were run. The morning work was very poor but the 

 scent was undoubtedly bad, as nearly every dog seemed un- 

 able to scent keenly. 



This stake, like the preceding one, was finished on the day 

 it was started. The dogs were thoroughly tested and skill- 

 fully selected. The decisions gave the most complete satis- 

 faction. It was a pleasure to see a field trial concluded pleas- 

 antly. Long usage has not sanctioned "kicking" at field 

 trials, but the absence of it was something of a novelty. In 

 this particular instance there appeared to be no one who had 

 any of the common grounds of "kicking, " namely, ill tem- 

 per; a desire to advertise dogs in any manner at any free op 

 portunity; vnification of the judges to pacify a dissatisfied 

 employer or to prejudice the public, and avarice and a natu- 

 ral fondness for brawling all seemed to be absent. Could all 

 trials be so satisfactorily run and pleasantly terminated. 



they would be a source of uniform enjoyment and a pro- 

 moter of good fellowship and good sportsmanship. 



A decidedljr superior quality of work was exhibited by 

 several dogs in the stake. Some of those which were un- 

 placed showed excellent capabilities. The winners, however, 

 were most skillfully selected by thorough tests in running, 

 which was managed with excellent judgment. 



Mr. John Wootton's English setter dog Dick Bondhu 

 (Duke Bondhu— Manitoba Belle) would be a dangerous com- 

 petitor with the best. He ran a very even race, his excellent 

 work being well sustained in every heat. He not only 

 worked on his birds with rare accuracy and a keen apprecia- 

 tion of how to manage lying or running birds— bevies or 

 single birds— but he was most amiably observant of working 

 carefully to the gun. Thoroughly trustworthy, a hitrh 

 ranger, skillful in locating and pointing, he won his honors 

 without question. Yet his modest owner or handler could 

 hardly believe that he was the winner. 



Mr. T. G. Davey's setter dog Brighton Tobe made a uni- 

 formly good competitition for second. He has a wide, well 

 managed range, is a good finder, roads with skill and accu- 

 racy and points well. He is lacking in animation when road- 

 ing, carrying his tail and head a bit low. He knows how to 

 work on chickens, be they tame or cunning, lurkers or run- 

 ners. His work was well sustained throughout. 



Mr. W. B. Wells's setter bitch Chloe was a very close com- 

 petitor for second, and In sharpness and quickness inordin- 

 ary point work was superior to Tobe. However, she did not 

 possess his skill in following the trail of a cunning old bird, 

 nor was her range quite so well sustained throughout the day 

 though her performance was excellent. 



Following is the order of drawing: 



W. B. Wells's black, white and tan setter dog Luke (To- 

 ledo Blade— Cambriana), J. Spracklin, handler, 



against 



Thos. Johnson's blue belton bitch Manitoba Patti(Dukeof 



G. — Flora), S. Hallam, handler. 



W. T. Hunter's black bitch Duff (Manitoba Toss— Pitti 

 Sing), W. S. Richards, handler, 



against 



W. B. Wells's black, white and tan. dog Mafcane(Mark J.— 

 Cambria), J. Spracklin, handler. - 



W. B. Wells's black, white and tan bitch Cleopatra (Mingo 

 II,— Cambriana), J. Spracklin, handler, 



against 



Thos. Stone's liver and white dog Sam (Coton— Psyche), H. 



H. McCullough, handler. aji-ue,/, .n. 



Thos. Greeley's black and tan setter dog Swab (Manitoba 

 Toss — Pitti Sing), Thos. Johnson, handler, 



against 



John Wootton's black and white setter dog Dick Bondhu 

 II. (Dick Bondhu— Manitoba Belle), owner, handler. 



Eddy & Armstrong's black, white and tan ^setter dog To- 

 ledo Bee (Toledo Blade— Maggie Bee), J. Spracklin, handler, 



against 



L. W, Smith's black, white and tan setter bitch Atalanta 

 (Jean Val Jean— Shena Van), owner, handler. 



T. G. Davey's black and white setter dog Brighton Tobe 

 (Locksley— Leddesdale), Thos. Hallam, handler, 



against 



Thos, Johnson's liver pointer bitch Diamond (Uoton — 

 Blithe), S. Hallam, handler. ^ 



T. G. Davey's pointer dog Jone (Lord Graphic— Devonshire 

 Fan), T. Hallam, handler, 



against 



Thos. Johnson's black setter dog Winnipeg (Manitoba 

 Toss— Pitti Sing), Capt, 0. E. McMurdo, handler. 



W. T. Hunter's black setter bitch Pet (Rod erigo— Florence 

 Gladstone), a bye. N, S. Richards, handler. 



The Running. 



Luke and Manitoba Patti began at 7:05. Birds were 

 found in abundance, but no points were secured till Patti 

 made a good point on a single bird. Patti showed good 

 speed and range. The point work was very inferior, Down 

 35m. 



Duff and Matane were started at 7.59. The performance 

 of both on birds was simply a succession of lost opportunities 

 or errors. They had numerous opportunities to do good 

 point work, with the advantages of wind and location in 

 their favor, but they seemed to work diligently only to re- 

 sult in errors. Both had good speed. Dutt" had the better 

 range. Down 43m. 



CleopAtea and Sam started at 8:46. Cleo, set a lively 

 pace, showing vivacity, sharpness and fair accuracy in her 

 work. Sam, too, exercised excellent judgment in beating 

 out his ground. He flushed repeatedly, but unintentionally 

 when instead he had good opportunities to point. Cleo. 

 pointing well an outlying bird of a bevy, then, as she was 

 drawing on to locate better, the bird flushed wild. Next 

 she pointed some remaining birds after Sam had flushed an 

 outlying one. Sam made a good point on a single, and was 

 well backed by Cleo. The latter ranged well, was very 

 sharp and quick in her work on birds, and her speed was 

 superior. Sam had a good range and stayed out well, but 

 his work on birds was faulty, though he was anxious and 

 careful to be coiTect, Down 42m. 



Swab and Dick Bondhu II. began at 9:33. They started 

 their bird work by a bad flush of a large covey on the 

 stubble. On 1 he scattered birds each flushed twice. Dick 

 made a long cast and pointed a covey nicely on the stubble, 

 holding his point nicely till his handler came up. He moved 

 on to locate, but lost scent, and ca.st off to the right. Swab 

 started in to road and the birds flushed. They were takeu 

 to new grounds. Each, about 200yds. apart, pointed. Swab 

 had no birds, Dick had two. Dick next made a point and 

 Swab a flush. 



Toledo Bee and Atalanta ran a half hour, beginning 

 at 10:55. While they ranged well they did not succeed in 

 doing any bird work. 



Brighton Tobe and Diamond started at 11:30. Diamond 

 pointed a bevy soon after being cast off, then roaded on to a 

 flush. She was steady to shot. Tobe made a good point on 

 three birds, and was steady to .shot. Diamond dropped to a 

 point on a small bevy. She next flushed three times. Tobe 

 pointed a single. He ranged well and roaded his birds 

 accurately, though his manner of roading was not spirited, 

 he carrying a low head and tail. Diamond's work on birds 

 was awkward and faulty. Down 37m. 



The running was suspended till late in the afternoon, as 

 the weather was sultry. In the meantime, the party went 

 to town to lunch. 



JONE AND Winnipeg started at 3:51. Winnipeg had the 

 better range, he covering a great deal of ground speedOy. 

 Jone also had good range. Winnipeg made a good point, 

 while Jone roaded to a flush. Down 40m. 



Pet and Manitoba Patti began at 4:36. Patti showed a 

 wide, excellent range. Pet's range was irregular and rather 

 narrow; she flushed three times. Patti took a long cut and 

 pointed a covey well, doing a good piece of work. She next 

 pointed a marked covey and Pet backed unsteadily. Patti 

 showed good judgment. Up at 4:,53. 



Sam and Duff were cast oft' at 4;.57. Sam again showed 

 excellent judgment and speed in beating out the ground, 

 but his work on bii-ds was faulty. Duff droned to a point 

 on a bevy. Duff ne.xt made two flushes. The latter dog 

 appeared to be indifferent as to errors. Up at 5:03, 



