English Setters Making History!
On Sunday, January 29, 2017, English setter history was made on the steps of Dixie Mansion on the quail-rich Dixie Plantation in Greenville, Florida. One hour earlier, trainer/handler Luke Eisenhart with the aid of his scout, Tommy Davis, piloted setter male, Awsum In Motion to his win of the Continental Championship with proud owners Bill and Margie Ricci riding the gallery. Co-owners John and Elizabeth Fort were on hand for the announcement.
“Jack” becomes only the forth English setter to win the Continental Open All-Age Championship run on these historic grounds since 1940. (The year prior, the official first running of the Continental, grounds were still being readied for the 1940 running.) In 1945, the great setter female, Hillbright Susanna, owned by M.G. Dudley, was piloted by her handler George Crangle to win the Continental Championship contested in Waynesboro, GA. In 1958, Mrs. G. M. Livingston’s setter Kilsyth Storm Jerry won the championship handled by Dixie Plantation dog trainer, George Evans. It was a long span of 52 years before the next English setter would stand on the steps of Dixie. In 2011, Shadow Oak Bo foreshadowed his future accomplishments winning the Continental under the whistle of his capable trainer/handler, Robin Gates for owners Butch Houston and Dr. John Dorminy. “Bo” continued to thrill the English setter world with his historic back to back wins of the National Championship in 2013 and 2014!
Awsum In Motion, about to make Setter history, January, 2017.
Shadow Oak Bo, 2011 winner of the Continental Championship.
1958 Continental Championship winner, Kilsyth Storm Jerry.
1945 Continental Championship winner, Hillbright Susanna.
We will be adding Awsum In Motion to the Continental Championship Timeline very soon!
Strideaway and the entire field trial community thanks Tall Timbers Research Station and their wonderful staff at Dixie Plantation for recognizing the importance of and supporting the Continental Open All-Age Championship — the most important and historic all-age championship held on wild quail in the southeast.
