Southwest/ Kalamazoo field trial winners.

OSD
1. Fireside Nick Of Time SM Mary-Beth Esser/Minard
2. Geisha PF Bruce Young/Grubb
3. Silverwhip PF John Paul Jones

Derby
1. Leet's Sinderella PF Robert Leet/Minard
2. Dan PM Grubb
3. Titanium Vanna White PF Doug Baumann/Minard

Scottish Heart was found dead in his kennel Feb. 2nd. He had been checked for a breathing problem by the local vet and a culture was made and we were awaiting the results. Seems he had a rare fungus develop in his lungs. The Vet said he could have been carrying it for up to a year before it took over both lungs. David Grubb had him almost ready to debut on the circuit and his passing leaves a big hole in the Scottish Brigade. He was a direct son of National Champion Lester's Snowatch.

Dated 12-5-13

"Made the trip down to Selma, AL. with no problems, and the new truck ran well, lots of power, a little better gas mileage and soooo quiet. Greeted with 70 degrees the first day and in the low 80's since. Worked on the kennels and horse lots. Found several covies of birds. Getting the dogs ready to run at Mr. Fitch's trial."

Lake Orion, Mich.—David Grubb has filed an end of the training season report, noting that he’s enjoyed a pretty fair summer of training so far.

“Lots of rain brought high and lush cover,” he said, “but the dogs have overcome it. I’m happy to report that bird numbers are up in quite a few places and some mornings every dog had multiple finds.

“I’m excited about three Derbies. Dick Wilson of Oakland, Mich., has a bird-finding demon in Maswood Shady Lady, Paul Tutro’s youngster, from frozen semen by Blackhawk, is sheer poetry in motion, and Scottish Heart, which we purchased from Dewey Mullins, has tremendous potential.

“Several have been to ‘camp’ this summer, including Jerrell Bryan of Philadelphia, Miss.

Jerrell has had some heart issues, but is having stents put in shortly. As you all know, Jerrell is tough.

“Larry Esterline of Clarkston, Mich., has been a lot of help with the dogs, including his future champion, Scottish Glory. Paul Tutro of Richmond, Mich., owner of the aforementioned Derby and Silver Addition, has been here several times, and our good friend of over fifty years Dick Wilson has helped a great deal also.

“Kenny Dalton of Lapeer, Mich., though he has no dogs with us, has helped by letting us work on his property and helping us there.

“Our biggest help has come from my two grandsons, Hunter and Dylan, who are now sixteen and fast becoming experts with the dogs in their own right. My oldest granddaughter, Sabrina, who spends the summer with us, has been a huge help too. Sabrina turned twenty-three this year.

“I would like to congratulate the newly elected Hall of Fame members, all deserving. I noted that only one dog was elected which brought to mind: Has the committee ever thought of dropping the electees to one dog and one person. Food for thought . . .

“Looking forward to seeing all our friends at trials real soon.”

Lake Orion, Mich.—Trainer David Grubb has filed a mid-summer report, updating training conditions in Michigan.

“It’s been tough here the first part of the training season. Temperatures were in the 90s, with lots of rain. The rain, of course, caused the cover to be exceptionally high and lush, coupled with a record crop of mosquitoes. It was tough.

“However, the good news is it seems Michigan is enjoying a rebound of its birds, for we have been finding a good many for so early in the season.

“Looking forward to the (field trial) season ahead, as I have three really good-looking Derbies — Maswood Shady Lady, pointer female owned by Dick Wilson of Oakland, Mich.; a Rock Acre Blackhawk frozen semen pup owned by Paul Tutro of Richmond, Mich., and Scottish Heart, a pointer male. All look promising.

“We get out at daylight when temperatures aren’t too bad. As I write this we’ve had a break in the weather and temperatures are now back in the 70s.”

Something NEW! We've added this blog to our website so that we can have a place to discuss, boast, brag, inform, and notify each other of all our enjoyable activities, concerns, successes and failures (who you!?!), and pertinent info regarding our mutual interest in bird dogs, our dog horses, field trials and upland bird hunting (sorry Uncle Si, but no "Duck Commanders" allowed).