KANE — The bird doggers of Elk County announced the winners of their Bird Dog Challenge run at the Rolfe Beagle Club in Johnsonburg.

The Bird Dog Challenge was run in bluebird weather on Saturday, May 30. Twenty dogs were allowed to enter the event; the number of dogs is limited to keep the quality of the event at a high level. Dogs were entered into either a flushing or pointing category, and scored based on a standard.

Mix’s Game Birds of Kane furnished the chukars and pheasants for the challenge.

The fantastic Bird Boys and Gals were MacKenzie Mooney, Garrett Balon, Logan Mooney, Ryan Sarvey, and Nathan Hout. A special thanks goes out to these young men and women for their efforts.

Two special raffles took place. The bird doggers purchased a Ruff-Land intermediate size dog kennel from Lion Country Supply and raffled it off at the end of the challenge. Rich Frantz of Uniontown won the dog kennel. An RGS supporter from the Upland Bird Hunt Chapter purchased a gun for a raffle to be completed at the fall Bird Dog Challenge. Tickets will be available through the summer.

The judges were Tommy Launer of St. Marys, and Jimbo Elinski of Wilcox. The “stager” judges’ assistant was JoAnn Schiafone of Ridgway.

Jeff Yeager and JoAnn Schiafone donated the use of UTVs for the bird boys and girls.

The “high” dog overall was a springer spaniel (a flushing breed) named Nikki, handled by Daniel Harmon of Homer City.

The Bird Dog Challenges are meant to be fun and do not require AKC or NAVHDA registrations or certifications. The next Bird Dog Challenge will be held Sept. 19 at the running grounds at the Rolfe Beagle Club, 1016 Long Level Rd, Johnsonburg. Registration is already being accepted for the September challenge.

Full results were as follows:

Flushers

1. Nikki, Springer Spaniel, handled by Daniel Harmon of Homer City

2. Bo, Labrador Retriever, handled by Rich Frantz of Uniontown

3. Cooper, Labrador Retriever, handled by Logan Mooney of Brockway

T4. Cooper, Cocker Spaniel, handled by Todd Fannin of Johnsonburg; and Betty, English Cocker, handled by Gary Rothrock of Sheffield.

Pointers

1. Maxwell, Llewellyn Setter, handled by Bill Kokla of Alverda

T2. Amos, German Wire-haired Pointer, handled by Phil Fitch of Wilcox; and Luna, German Short-haired Pointer, handled by Vincent Palmiere of Tarentum

3. Lucy, Llewellyn Setter, handled by JT Morris of Kittanning

4. Lincoln, Vizla, owned by Dick McDowell of Bradford and handled by Mike Mulvihill of Crosby