Summer Update

Joe will be heading to North Dakota in mid August with a full string of dogs (see PA Training slideshow) including young hopefuls out of Bev's litter born last August (CH Centerpiece x CH Hard Driving Bev), Hard Driving Rita and Hard Driving Boy. Reports of bird counts from central North Dakota are excellent. Stay tuned for the first prairie reports coming soon! Joe will be heading to MN and WI in mid September to ready his dogs for the upcoming fall circuit. He would like to thank all his owners for the opportunity with their dogs.

NEWS FLASH...coming soon...details about next spring’s exciting first Armstrong Endurance Classic to be run on the Marienville grounds in PA!

Field Trial News

Joe arrived back in Pennsylvannia this spring after judging the prestigious GA-Lina Open Shooting Dog Classic and the accompanying derby. HOF trainer, Harold Ray, who awarded Hard Driving Bev her second Grand National Grouse Championship win in 2006, asked Joe, at the time, if he would judge the GA-Lina. Harold was very impressed with Bev in general but particularly in her forward application and Joe's handling skills. The report for the GA-Lina appears in the April 26th issue of the American Field.

Joe’s spring trial season began with the Ontario Championship where he ran Hard Driving Bev, Pal 'O Mine and Hard Driving Louie. All three dogs were strong on the ground and finished the hour, unfortunately without a birds. Louie, owned by Minnesotan, Ben Mergens, placed second in the Amateur Derby stake accompanying the Armstrong Classic. He was handled by Shawn Thomas, owner of Louie's littermate, Lucy. Congratulations to both owner and handler! Lucy, Louie, Casey and Pork all ran intelligent races and finshed their hours strong in the PA National Derby Classic. Bev, at the age of nine and having whelped a litter last August, was too much dog on a couple of occasions this spring proving what tremendous endurance she still has. Fin, at three years old, ran strong, forward races in all four (hour) grouse events placing third in the Venango Classic with a beautiful piece of work on a brood of grouse. Her maturity over last season was evident. Joe was very pleased with all the good work his dogs showed him on grouse and woodcock in training sessions this spring.

Joe judged the US Complete Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship and derby held at Warriors Mark near Tyrone, PA on April 21 -24.

News from Montana!

Congratulations to Shannon Nygard for her impressive spring trial wins with Tin Soldier’s Nuvi (CH. Erin’s Tin Soldier x CH Hard Driving Bev):

• Ardath, SK ~ 1st, Amateur Shooting Dog Derby
• Circle, Montana ~ 2nd, Open Shooting Dog Derby
• Mortlach, SK ~ 2nd, Amateur Shooting Dog Derby

West Texas January, February 2008

The bird counts were excellent this winter due to the good amount of rainfall last spring. The rain also created conditions for the vegetation to grow exceedingly well making it more difficult to get coveys located, particularly for young dogs. Not only was the bluestem and broomweed higher and thicker, the sand burs were the worst they have been in years, especially in the sandy shinnery country where the greatest population of birds are. The dogs were booted when Joe ran them where there were sand burs. All were having excellent opportunities on wild birds. Please visit the new West Texas 2008 Slideshow for photos of the dogs and some of the vegetation, including a close-up of sand burs.

Please check back soon for News Updates from Hard Driving Kennels.