Spring Field Trial

The Delaware Setter & Pointer Club, Inc. is starting it's 101st year by sponsoring a USCSDA, AFTCA affiliated Bird Dog Field Trial for walking handlers at the Norman G. Wilder State Wildlife Area, Ralph Kellam C&R Center and Field Trial Grounds outside of Petersburg, Delaware Friday April 30th through Sunday May 2nd. Judges and particulars will be advertised in an upcoming issue of the American Field sporting publication. Call Jan Zarebicki at 302-545-8194.

Centennial Anniversary Field Trial

Pennsylvania Professional Dog Trainer Robert Ecker flushes birds for the Open Shooting Dog Stake winner, Grousewood's Farm Clyde, of our Centennial Anniversary Field Trial at the Ralph Kellam C&R Center and Bird Dog Field Trial Grounds at Petersburg, Delaware, Saturday October 31st. 64 entries from over 6 states from New York to Virginia competed in this hallmark event. Even though Mother Nature didn't comply with our request for good weather, rain didn't dampen the spirits of all in attendance. Hostess Susan Zarebicki put together a sumptuous buffet of pulled pork, smoked turkey breast, potato & macaroni salad and cole slaw topped by a pair of 100 Year Anniversary Cakes to add to our festivities on Halloween Eve. Field Trial Chairman & Club President Jan Zarebicki thanks this year's field trial committee; including long time club members Steve Henrikson, Mike Zarebicki and newcomers Gus Piperis, Dave Park, Chris Martin and Rich Kovacic. We were lucky to have knowledgeable, observent judges and unselfish, ever willing help to make the Centennial Celebration of Bird Dog Field Trialing in the Diamond State of Delaware & the 100th Anniversary Delaware Setter & Pointer Club, Inc. a successful event. Even though Mother Nature decided not to cooperate and with 2 very full days of running, we were able to run 64 dogs and enjoy fellowship, comraderie and some marvelous dog work. The winners are appended below. A full report will follow in the American Field. In the Open Derby, FIRST to Jade, EPF, Gus Piperis of NY. SECOND to Duke, EPM, Robert Ecker of PA. THIRD to Mia, EPF, Rich Kovacic of PA. In the Open Shooting Dog FIRST to Clyde, ESM, Robert Ecker of PA. SECOND to Penny, EPF, Butch Haywood of VA. THIRD to Reese, ESM, Robert Ecker of PA. In the Open Puppy, FIRST to Spike, ESM, Steve Henrikson of Clayton, DE. SECOND to Mae, EPF, Dave Park of PA. THIRD to Buck, EPM, Jan Zarebicki of DE. In the Amateur Shooting Dog, FIRST to Penny, EPF, Butch Haywood of VA. SECOND to D.J., BS, LuAnn Fullwood of MD. THIRD to Jesse, EPF, Brent Neely of PA. In the Amateur Derby, FIRST to Annie, ESF, Art Mourino of VA. SECOND to Pennie, EPF, Bob Baals of NJ. THIRD to Cookie, ESF, Art Mourino of VA. In the Open Gun Dog, FIRST to Precious, EPF, handled by Jacob Zoch of Seaford, Delaware. SECOND to Jake, EPM, Sean Bostic of MD. THIRD to MacDuff, GSM, Mark Fuessinger of PA.

Tommy Bullen

Tommy Bullen of Newport was one of Delaware's premier dogmen at the turn of the Twentieth Century... He had water dogs, hounds and his personal favorite BIRD DOGS...

Tommy won many a local bet when hunting his dogs against other local dogs on the marshes and farm fields bordering the Christiana River outside of his Newport home. Back in those days, you didn't have to go but out your back door to shoot ducks, geese, woodcock, rabbits, coons and QUAIL. Blackie's Marsh in back of his house was a haven for all these species of game and Tommy's dogs were tops because they had ample opportunity to hone their skills. Tommy was a noteworthy trainer and the wealthy men of the area all flocked to his backyard to watch him work dogs.

As a founding member of the Delaware Setter & Pointer Club and one of it's earliest officers, Tommy Bullen dedicated a major portion of his day to promoting bird dogs and field trialing in Delaware. He did a lot of winning at English Setter Club Trials and at the Delaware Setter & Pointer Club he helped establish. He befriended many a young man including my personal mentor; Ralph Kellam who recounted the story of Tommy Bullen to me before his death at 96.

I've included some some pictures his grandson Tommy Bullen III sent me recently in the blog above...

One Hundred Years of Bird Dog Field Trialing in Delaware

You're invited to join the re-organized ORIGINAL Delaware Setter & Pointer Club and celebrate its' Centennial Anniversary Field Trial and 100 years of Bird Dog Field Trialing in Delaware at our upcoming Fall Field Trial, October 30th through November 1st (Halloween Weekend) at the Norman G. Wilder State Bird Dog Field Trial Grounds and Ralph Kellam Conservation and Recreation Center at Petersburg, Delaware.


Join us and celebrate the 100th Birthday of the 2nd oldest Bird Dog Field Trial Club in the United States... There will be a SPECIAL CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY DINNER and Halloween Goodies for all on Saturday night. For this 100th Year annual renewal trial, the Delaware Setter & Pointer Club returns to it's WALKING HANDLER roots and will run it's trial under the auspices of the US COMPLETE SHOOTING DOG ASSOCIATION and the AMATEUR FIELD TRIAL CLUBS OF AMERICA. As always, we will comply with the minimum standards for Field Trials acceptable by the Field Dog Stud Book... The Trial will be reported in the American Field and US COMPLETE organization communication media.


We hope you enjoy the following historical sketch below:

100 YEARS OF BIRD DOG FIELD TRIALS IN DELAWARE

Delaware sportsmen have enjoyed a long standing tradition of bobwhite quail hunting and competitive bird dog events throughout the last 100 years. The Delaware Setter and Pointer Club is the second oldest field trial club in the United States. Having started running bird dog field trials in the fall of 1909 at Oak Orchard, Delaware, Delaware Setter and Pointer last ran a trial program at Norman G. Wilder State Bird Dog Grounds home of the Ralph D. Kellam Conservation and Recreation Center in Petersburg.

The 1st photograph above is from the 7th annual renewal of the Delaware Setter and Pointer Club’s trial at Oak Orchard. In attendance and pictured are W.L. Schaefer (1st Secretary of the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America first incorporated in Delaware), Vic duPont, Hallock duPont, Bill Ellison, Ray Eaton, George Simms, Ernie Lynam, Walter Rothwell, Dr. Harris, Tommy Bullen, Miller Darrell and Joe Slack.

From their early home in Oak Orchard on private grounds where competitors would either drive in from surrounding areas or take a train from Philadelphia and Wilmington Railroad Stations south, the Delaware Setter and Pointer Field Trial moved their trial program north to a new private venue at the Townsend Farm south of Glasgow currently the Veteran’s Cemetery and Brennan Estate’s Suburban Housing Development on the northwestern side of the Summit Bridge bordered by Routes 896, Chesapeake City Road and Denny Road. Another sister club, the Delaware Gun Dog Club ran their trial program in the forties on S. Hallock duPont’s Estate northeast of Newark at Milford Crossroads. The Delaware Setter and Pointer Club and Delaware Gun Dog Club members and trial participants in the early forties included; Dr. Charles Hoch of Wilmington, Ralph Kellam of Claymont, Charles Hastings of Georgetown, Jackson Marvel of Georgetown, Leon Moore, Miller Darrell of Newark, G.W. Robinson of Smyrna, Mrs. R. E. Patterson of New Castle, R.D. Roan of High Point, Eugene duPont of Montchanin, Bill Ellison, Rusty Baynard of Dover, Horace O’Neal, Tommy Bullen of Christiana, George Huber, William Denham, J. George Stewart, A. Willis Browning, Frank H. Clark, Daniel Cauffield, C. Porter Schutt, Sam Scott of Seaford and Dr. J. Paul Wintrup of Wilmington.

Bird dog field trials thrived in the teens through the years of the Great Depression. Even though the economy impoverished many folks, bird hunting provided valuable meat for the table for many families during the Depression years. A good hunting dog was a valuable commodity and friendly wild bird competitions continued throughout the “bad years” as well. Into the mid thirties, The Delaware Setter and Pointer Club was holding trials at the Bellevue Estate outside of Wilmington. The 2nd picture above shows a group gathering to celebrate the sport of field trialing at the DuPont Family Bellevue Estate north of the city of Wilmington.

The mid thirties throughout the war torn years of the forties provided plenty of opportunity for bird dog sport in Delaware. The popularity of bird hunting grew and bird dog competition grew as well with the growth of county organizations within the Delaware Setter and Pointer Club in all three counties.

And so as with many good things, the sport of field trialing flourished in Delaware. Plentiful native bird populations and the end of the Depression facilitated a renewed interest in sporting ventures including bird hunting and bird dog field trialing. Even with the outbreak of World War II, Delawareans strongly embraced an upland hunting tradition and pursued the gentlemanly avocation of bird hunting. Supported by the DuPont Company Powder Works and a strong tradition of both upland and waterfowl hunting, both the DuPont Family and Company were stalwart sponsors of competitive bird dog activities in Delaware. The 3rd picture shows the shooting dog winners of the 31st Annual Delaware Setter and Pointer Trial Results held at the Towsend Farm at Summit Point south of Glasgow in 1940.

The hey day of Field Trialing and it’s period of major growth in Delaware was in the mid forties through late fifties under the guidance of Delaware Setter and Pointer Club President Dr. Charles J. Hoch and later Club Secretary Ralph D. Kellam, both men of great character, vision and irrepressible energy. Hoch, an affable native Delawarean born in Woodside, graduated the University of Pennsylvania’s Veterinary School in 1917 and opened offices in Wilmington shortly thereafter. He moved his offices and private bird dog kennels to High Point Farm and Kennels off Naaman’s Road in 1943. He not only continued to emulate the precedent of innovative sporting ventures set by his predecessors as President of the Delaware Setter and Pointer Club in the twenties and thirties including Messrs. Daniel Cauffield and Alfred Bissel.

The Officers and Directors of the Delaware Setter and Pointer Club in 1944 were;

Dr. Charles I. Hoch, President
George W. Robinson, First Vice President
Thomas W. Purnell, Second Vice President
W. Thomas Knowles, Third Vice President
J. Paul Brown, Secretary and Treasurer
Gail B. Gehrman, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer

Directors included; Thomas W. Pierce, J. Henry Hazel, Chester Stroup, Friar M. Thompson Jr., Harry R. Jackson and Edwin Smith

Committee members included:

Finance and Audit; Thomas W. Pearce
Finance Promotional; John M. Brown
Legislative; George W. Robinson
Membership; J. Paul Brown
Publicity; J. Allan McDonald
Field Trial; Harry R. Jackson, Dr. W.L. Parrett, Paul Peterson, Edwin Smith, J. P. Armor, Albert Maag
Hospitality; Mrs. Charles I. Hoch, Mrs. Friar M. Thompson Jr., Mrs. Harry R. Jackson, Mrs. Paul Peterson, Mrs. Chester Stroup, Mrs. Edwin Smith

General Membership; Wm. E. Adams, J. P. Armor, Dr. L.W. Anderson, Gov. Walter W. Bacon, Lester H. Barber, Herbert J. Booze, L. J. Bordo, J. Paul Brown, J. Milton Brown, H. W. Browning, E. W. Buchanan, Gordon Burke, Thos. E.H. Campbell, R.R.M. Carpenter Sr., Frank H. Clark, David Stewart Cravin, Clark W. Davis, William Davis, Guido DiMazio, Bernard Daugherty, Eugene duPont, A. B. Echols, Wm. Ellison, William Foord, Harley G. Hastings, Henry J. Hazel, Dr. Charles J. Hoch, W. Tracy Holland, Charles E. Huber, Harry R. Jackson, Ralph D. Kellam, Thomas W. Knowles, John G. Leach, Arthur Lenhart, Arthur Lenhart Jr., L. Carl Lafferty, Frank Lawson, G. M. Loeling, Albert Maag, J. A. McDonald, Harold E. Meixell, Harry Meredith, James V. Padley, Dr. W.L.Parrot, M. James Parsons, T.W. Pearce, Paul Peterson, Thomas W. Purnell, Charles Reily, W. Fred Rickards, Geo.W.Robinson, Walter Rothwell, Wm. H. Savage, H.R.Sharp Jr., Frank Skirvin, Austin Smith, Edwin L. Smith, James L. Stafford, Stewart J. George, Chester Stroup, J.B. Taylor, Friar M. Thompson Jr., J.E. Townsend, E. Sherman Webb, Mrs. E.duPont Weir, Mrs. C.V. Wilkerson, R.W. Woodruff, Norman Wright.

Ironically, back in the forties, the Delaware Setter and Pointer Club was divided into three distinct County based sub-units each having their own Association and running their own Qualifying Trial namely the; New Castle County Shooting Dog Association, Kent County Shooting Dog Association and Sussex County Shooting Dog Association. Starting with the New Castle County Association the first weekend of October each sub-unit ran its’ trial the subsequent weekend culminating in the statewide Statewide Annual Winners Gun Dog Stake held the first weekend of November. This traditional “GUN DOG” stake was intended to crown Delaware’s Gun Dog Supreme and was a walking handler stake. The Delaware Setter and Pointer Club Field Trial with an open and amateur slate of FDSB/AFTCA recognized stakes for horseback handlers was traditionally held the final weekend of October in a three day field trial.

In the summer of 1940 a group of sportsmen representing each one of the three Delaware Counties met at Dover for the purpose of formulating a cooperative plan to promote the development of better “GUN DOGS” in Delaware and to arouse a keener appreciation of the responsibility of all sportsmen share in game conservation.

The New Castle County contingent and County Gun Dog Field Trial Committee of the Delaware Setter and Pointer Club included the following members; Friar M .Thompson Jr., J.B. Taylor, Thomas W. Pearce, Arthur Lenhart, J.P. Armor, Herbert Booze.

The result of their discussions was a three county statewide offering of stakes limited to local County gun dogs and to amateur handlers from the County in which the Trial was being run. That work of the Delaware Gun Dog Plan proved extremely successful and the interest in the State Winner’s Stake provided to be run in November of each year in which all dogs having placed in both SPRING and FALL Trials of the three counties were eligible for competition. The high dog in this stake was acclaimed as Champion Delaware Gun Dog or Delaware Gun Dog Supreme for the year. The winners and their owners in the early years were:

1941 Happy Red, setter male, owned by George Robinson of Smyrna
1942 Village Ichaway Boy, pointer male, owned by Dr. Charles Hoch, Wilmington
1943 Beautiful Rose, setter female, owned by George W. Robinson, Smyrna

The enthusiasm evidenced by the large attendance of local sporting gentlemen and ladies at these trials proved encouraging not only to the State Game Commission and Wardens but also for the continued growth of the sport of Field Trialing in Delaware. Each individual Game Warden and Commissioner had always been willing to support and lend a hand insuring the success of bird dog sporting ventures in Delaware. This tradition of support continues into the new millennium.

Not only has the Government of the State of Delaware but also Delaware’s wealthiest land owning families including the Carpenters of Montchanin, duPonts of northern New Castle County, Townsends of Glasgow at the time and others have always had a long history of very supportive policies towards bird dog field trailers both at Petersburg and other state operated wildlife areas and on private grounds throughout the years dating back before the Commission form of government in the 1930’s.

THE MOVE TO THE PETERSBURG GAME PRESERVE

The grounds at Petersburg were specifically earmarked by the Commissioners for the explicit purpose of BIRD DOG field trials. The existing Ralph Kellam Conservation and Recreation Center and Norman G. Wilder Field Trial Courses at Petersburg are part and parcel of a 2800 acre 99 year federal grounds lease to the Delaware State Board of Game and Fish Commissioners by the US Department of Agriculture on March 10, 1943. The Conservation and Recreation Center and Bird Dog Field Trial Courses named the Petersburg Farm-Game Experimental Area near Willow Grove were constructed by Bird Dog Field Trialers and local volunteers and community members (early members of the original DELAWARE SETTER AND POINTER CLUB) as a multi-use facility through the use of donations of money, contractual labor, equipment and building supplies.

Shortly thereafter, the Game and Fish Commission of Delaware consisting of; William M. Davis, President, J. Henry Hazel, Vice President, and Harley G. Hastings Secretary gave Chief Warden Frank Lawson, the GO AHEAD to launch a real program of feed strip plantings, cover management including planned burnings and game preservation specifically for bobwhite quail to make the field trial courses into a bird dog paradise. Their intention was that no place on the East Coast would be more attractive to sportsmen specifically bird dog field trialers than the Petersburg Game Preserve.

Fish and Game Commission Wardens in 1943 included; Frank Lawson of Towsend (Chief Warden), William Wideman of Newark, Robert Custin of Wilmington, James C. Reynolds of Smyrna, Calvin D. Marvel of Dover, Frank Cataldi of Bedford, Norman Voshell of Felton, Ebe Palmer of Milford, Marvel C. Pepper of Selbyville and Clarence B. Walls of Milton.

Later in the next decade of the fifties, then Delaware Setter and Pointer Club Secretary, Ralph Kellam developed and spearheaded the project as a result of driving through the grounds on the way to his home farm in Cape Charles, Virginia during a torrential rainstorm and observing Boy Scouts using the grounds during a weekend camp out getting drenched to the bone. The Conservation and Recreation Center construction started in 1951 was completed and dedicated May 2nd, 1953. Ralph D. Kellam of Claymont, Delaware served as General Chairman and Fundraiser.

C&R Center Building Committee Members included; Ralph D. Kellam of Claymont , Chairman and Fundraiser, Charles Smith of Frederica was Secretary/Treasurer of the project. Lyle Mowlds of Dover, Official Photographer. Directors included; Donald P. Ross, William S. Potter, Paul B. Messick of Middletown, Alexis I. DuPont Bayard, Walter A. Rothwell of Newport, Harry Maag of Dover, Harry D. Meredith of Willow Grove, Dr. Floyd P.H. Moore of Dover, W. Dean Johnson of Dover, C. Van Nice Wilkerson of Milford. Contributing and participating community Organizations including: the Carpenters Union of Wilmington, Monday Club, Optimist Club, Wilmington Manor Lions Club, Dover Kiwanas, North Brandywine Kiwanas, the Shriners Club of Delaware and the Frederica School. S. Hallock duPont of Montchanin was a huge single contributor who financed construction of the fireplace in the C&R Center building.

The Delaware Setter and Pointer Club actively ran trials at Petersburg in the fifties and sixties under the continuing leadership of Dr. Charles Hoch and later Jack Wiley of Kirkwood, Roland Kane of Wilmington and Donnie Jester of Wilmington then finally Fritz Schroeder of Clayton in the late sixties. Rusty Baynard ran the National Red Setter Association Championship trials at Petersburg in the fifties exclusively. After the death of S. Hallock duPont, the Delaware Gun Dog Club last ran trials at the Townsend Farm at Summit Point in the late 60’s under the leadership of Anthony August of Glasgow and the Taylor Brothers; J.B. and Richard (owners of Artesian Water Company), L.S. Harry all of St. Georges and Luther Rhoads of Wilmington. The Diamond State Bird Dog Club started by Bill McElroy of Odessa, Jim Feist of Red Mill, Bill Hickman of Clayton, Jeff Bartels of Wilmington, Dick Bennett of Montchanin, Val Fox of Houston, Billy Mitchell of Lewes, Frank Williams of New Castle, Harry Benson of Clayton, Steve Henrikson of Kirkwood and the Zarebicki Brothers; Jan and Mike of Wilmington ran their trial program at Petersburg in 1972. Approached by the former Field Trial Chairman, Fritz Shroeder, of the Delaware Setter and Pointer Club, whose membership had faded due to advancing age, the club partitioned and took over running trials as the Delaware Setter and Pointer Club under the Field Dog Stud Book and Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America charters. The Delaware Setter and Pointer Club was reborn in the mid-seventies under the leadership of Bill McElroy of Odessa and Billy Mitchell of Lewes Delaware ably assisted by Frank Williams of New Castle, Steve Henrikson of Kirkwood and a cast of others.

Several continental breed owning Diamond State Bird Dog Club members led by the Zarebicki Brothers including Bob Klosiewicz of Hockessin, Jay Townsend of Newport, Marvin Samson of Townsend, Al Malinowski of Middletown, Donna and Jerry Kilpatrick of New Castle, later Tony Bohn of Odessa, Pam Peet of Clayton, Mike Mullineaux of Clayton and now Betsy Archer of Sussex County and Dan and Joan Cirasella of Kent County formed, maintained and run the new Diamond State German Shorthaired Pointer Club under the auspices of the American Kennel Club and began running field trials for AKC registrable pointing breeds at Petersburg in the mid seventies through today. The Diamond State German Shorthaired Pointer Club and 100 year old Delaware Setter & Pointer Club are the only Organization located in Delaware currently running field trials under the auspices of the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Field Trial Stud Book/Amateur Field Trial Club of America (FDSB/AFTCA) in Delaware.

The grounds at Petersburg have served both American Kennel Club (AKC) and Field Dog Stud Book/Amateur Field Trial Club of America (AFTCA) oriented field trailers and hunt test competitors since the 1940’s. The AFTCA Region II Amateur Championship used to be contested over the grounds in the late forties. In fact, Ralph Kellam piloted Pennsylvania Industrialist Dorsey Coleman’s pointer bitch Lebanon Mary to the Championship title at Petersburg in (194?). In 1980, the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America (AKC affiliated) ran its’ National Amateur Gun Dog Championship at Petersburg. The once active National Bird Hunter’s Association (NBHA - FDSB/AFTCA) affiliated) organized in the late seventies by Sussex Countians; Johnny Parker, Bart Hastings of Georgetown, Larry Williams Sr. and Jr. of Milford, George Morris of Hockessin, Johnny Powell of Bridgeville, Norman Short of Georgetown, George Walls and Ralph of Seaford, Phil Corkle of Big Pine, John Zoch of Bridgeville and Bill Wolters of Owens Station Shooting Preserve in Greenwood ran several Delmarva NBHA Championships at Petersburg in the late eighties. Their local trials were contested at Owen’s Station Shooting Preserve and the Wolter’s Family Farm. The early NBHA effort morphed into a NSTRA Club in the nineties which was a key trial in the Middle Atlantic Region into the late nineties. Additionally the FDSB Region II Open Shooting Dog Championship was contested at the Daniel’s Farm tract of the current Cedar Swamp Wildlife Management Area once in the late eighties. More recently Roger and Glendora Dvorak of the Delaware Pointer and Setter Club hosted the AFTCA Region II Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship at Petersburg in November of 2008.

Currently the grounds at Petersburg serve as home to these clubs; the currently and newly re-organized original Delaware Setter and Pointer Club, Inc. (the 2nd oldest FDSB field trial club in America and legacy on these grounds), Diamond State GSP Association (established in the 70’s and headquartered in Delaware), the currently defunct Nanticoke Birdhunter’s Club (established in the 80’s), Mason Dixon GSP Association (who ran their original trials here in the 50’s and 60’s but are currently headquartered in Maryland), Mid Atlantic Gordon Setter Club (of Pennsylvania), Potomac Irish Setter Club (of Maryland), Maryland Sporting Dog Club, occasionally the Happy Valley English Setter Club (of Pennsylvania) and most recently the Delaware Pointer and Setter Club (headquartered in Maryland). The newly re-organized Delaware Setter and Pointer Club will step back to an original charge and hold its’ Centennial Anniversary as a Walking Handler Field Trial under the auspices of the AFTCA (Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America) and USCSDA (US Complete Shooting Dog Association) Fall of 2009!

One of the most interesting and encouraging things in this entire historical exercise is the recognition of several generations of active Delaware Bird Dog sportsmen and women still competing today. A true testimony to the strength of the efforts of our Bird Dogging Forefathers in the First State!

AUTHORS NOTE: The preceding information was compiled from a series of interviews with Ralph Kellam and Jack Wiley former Secretary and President respectively of the Delaware Setter and Pointer Club in the fifties, news paper articles from the Wilmington News Journal and historical documents including Field Trial Booklets/Pamphlets and American Field Articles.

Jan A. Zarebicki
Summit Point Farm
2327 Chesapeake City Road
Bear, Delaware 19701
CELL: 302-545-8194
EMAIL: summitpointfarm@aol.com