Winners Announced for Fourth Annual Phil Fitch Memorial Chukar Challenge in NorthCentral Pa. Johnsonburg, Pa.:

Tommy Launer, Bird Dog Leader at the Rolfe Beagle Club, announces the winners of the Fourth Annual Phil Fitch Memorial Chukar Challenge on Saturday, 9/20, at the Rolfe Beagle Club in Johnsonburg, Pa.

The weather was perfect, the challenge was full, and dog handlers enjoyed the day – Phil would have planned it that way!

Phil Fitch was a dedicated member of the Rolfe Beagle Club and never missed a bird dog event at the club. Twenty-four dog handlers came from across the Commonwealth. The winners in the pointing dog category were:

1) Pickles, a Brittany, cared for by Tim Auman of Harrisburg;

2) Trey, a German Short-haired Pointer, cared for by Brian Wade of Beaver Falls; and

3) Finley, a Brittany, cared for by Trey Murphy of Smethport.

The winners in the flushing dog category were:

1) Maizie, a Golden Retriever, cared for by Rich Frantz from Uniontown;

2) Zeek, a Golden Retriever, cared for by Rich Frantz; and

3) Vinny, a Golden Retriever, cared for by Rich Frantz.

First through third places in the flusher and pointer categories were ribbons from Hodges Badge Company donated by the Birddoggers of the Rolfe Beagle Club.

The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) Upland Bird Hunt Chapter offered a special raffle for a unique 16-gauge Fox Sterlingworth shotgun, and the newly organized RGS Appalachian Plateau Chapter in southern NY also offered a special raffle.

Members of the Rolfe Beagle Club and the Upland Bird Hunt Chapter of the RGS managed the challenge. Many members of the chapter or the beagle club stepped up to make the day run smoothly.Judges and Stagers were Jack Hackley, Tom McPherson, Dan McPherson, Bethany Ford, and Jed Hamberger.

Lead bird man was Garrett Balon; other bird men were Zaiden Straneva, and Tommy Launer.Mix’s Game Birds supplied the chukars.An excellent lunch was donated by the following folks: Birddoggers of the Rolfe Beagle Club – hoagies; Mary Hosmer – coleslaw and potato chips.

ATV and an UTV were donated by Tommy Launer and Garrett Balon.

Liz Erich took registrations and Ron Guidas answered handler questions.Ray Erich, JoAnn Schiafone, and Mike Dietz provided grounds care.

We thank all the people that came to honor Phil Fitch’s memory and for participating in the Phil Fitch Memorial Chukar Challenge.