COVERDOG POINTS PROGRAM SPONSORED BY PURINA

The Coverdog field trial year begins on July 1st of each year and concludes on June 30 of the following year.  Example: July 1, 2026, starts the year and June 30, 2027, ends the year.

All Essential Data Sheets are to be turned into the Secretary in 40 days after the completion of the trial OR by June 30th of that trial year.  If a trial concludes on June 15th, the club has 40 days (July 25th) to submit an Essential Data Sheet.  Failure to do so will result in points for that trial being forfeited.


COMBINED RULES FOR SHOOTING DOG and DERBY:

The overall rules for the Coverdog Awards are that the trials must be open, pay a significant purse, and must not limit entries.

1.  All Open approved Championships that run on Ruffed Grouse and North American Woodcock count for points. 

2.  The trial must not limit entries or refuse any eligible runnable dogs as defined by "The Minimum Requirements for Dogs".  Entrants must also be in "good standing" with the UKC and/or The American Field.

3.  A purse deemed significant must be awarded to the winning handler.

4.  Probationary period:  A new club or a new stake must be run for two consecutive years to be eligible for points.  The club must apply and be approved by the points committee in order to receive points.  The club should run in accordance with the other listed criteria during this period to best assure points eligibility during this probationary period.  If a points stake is not held for two years, its status will revert back to the above-mentioned probationary period.

5.  Significant format changes of a stake which may result in a significant points swing may also take 2 years until the higher points kick in.

6.  Each club will receive Coverdog award points for one stake in the fall and one stake in the spring.

7.  To receive Purina support (Coverdog award points), all trial ads placed with the UKC, must include the Purina Logo.  No other dog food can be advertised nor have a presence at the event.


RULES SPECIFIC TO SHOOTING DOG:

The formula by which the Coverdog of the Year and Coverdog Handler of the Year, sponsored by Purina are calculated as follows:

Champion: 12 X the number of dogs entered
Runner Up: 8 X the number of dogs entered

Should a Championship stake be reverted to a shooting dog stake no points will be awarded.


RULES SPECIFIC TO DERBY:

1.  A derby stake must be scheduled and run in conjunction with a scheduled and officially recognized open, all-breed, broke dog stake in order to be eligible for points.

2.  In order to win the award a derby must have at least one placement where a grouse and/or a woodcock was pointed.


Derby points are calculated as follows:
     30-minute stake:
          first place: 4 X # of dogs entered
          second place:  2 X # of dogs entered
          third place:  1 X # of dogs entered


     Grouse Futurity Points:
          first place: 4 X # of dogs entered
          second place: 3 X # of dogs entered
          third place: 2 X # of dogs entered
	  fourth place: 1 X # of dogs entered


     One hour stake to receive double points:
          first place: 8 X # of dogs entered
          second place: 4 X # of dogs entered
          third place:  2 X # of dogs entered


Any new rules or points trial shall require a majority vote by the committee to enact.  In case of a tie, the Secretary casts a vote to break the tie.


 Coverdog Awards Sponsored by Purina committee members:
     Great Lakes Region:  Scott Chaffee and Brian Wood
     Mid-Atlantic Region:  Joe Cammissa and Dave Hughes
     New England Region:  John Stolgitis and Eric Rizza
     Secretary:  Bruce Mueller

75th Grand National Puppy Classic Winners

1st Seldom Rest Louie with Brian Ralph

2nd Chasehill Big Bingo with John Stolgitis

3rd Sunrise Double Barrel Star with Robert Ecker

4th Chasehill Little Lucy with Owen Comeau

2026 Winners

Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational Winners

Resin, handled by Marc Forman, owned by Kevin Lahoda was named named champion

Mohawk Mill Good Advice, handled by John Stolgitis, owned by Bill McFadden was named runner up

2026 Video (Below)

2026 Contestants

Congratulations to all of the owners, handlers and dogs of the of the Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational Championship…

L-R front row, Joe Cammisa Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Secretary, Director Brian Ralph w/ Ralphy’s Chasehill RIP, Eric Saetre w/ North Woods Cedar, Jordan Pharris w/ Birddogn True Confidence, John Stolgitis w/ Chasehill Snoop Dog, Director Greg Johnson w/ Chasehill Poison Ivy, Director Mark Hughes w/ Millers Dusty Version, Steve Graham w/ Back Creek Lucy, Tammy Chaffee W/ Snyder’s Fireside Ed, Judge Craig Merlington, Bill McFadden w/Mohawk Mill Good Advice the “Runner-up Champion”, Rich Hollister, Owen Comeau w/ Mohawk Mill Miss You,

Top row, Marc Forman w/ Resin “The Champion”, Director Brian Ralph w/ Ralphy’s Chasehill Rip, Eric Saetre /w Northwoods Cedar, Jordan Pharris w/ Birdogn True Confidence, Grand National Grouse Club President Tom Fruchey w/ Stan The Man, Leeann Parnell w/ Springpond Rockin Sydney, Tim Kaufman w/Lake Effect Ali and judge Direct Eric Munden

Congratulations and welcome to this year’s Grand National Grouse and Woodcock InvitationaI Championship judges….

Sitting in the judicial saddle this coming April will be:

Craig Merlington of Howard City Michigan and Eric Munden of Phillipsburg Pennsylvania.

Both arbiters and well known, raising, training and competing with championship dogs. Both are of the highest caliber and will exercise their duties with the utmost attention to fairness and detail.

Once more, please welcome them to the judges panel.

The following is a list of the top 20 Grand National Grouse and Woodcock Invitational points earned as reported for the dogs and their owners.

The 2026 Invitational Championship will be held at Black Moshannon State Forest in Phillipsburg Pa, the drawing will be Tuesday April 7th and running Wednesday/Thursday April 8th & 9th with callbacks on Friday April 10th.

The top 14 dogs left after any declined invitations will be the running field. Judges and a reporter are still to be chosen and will be announced after selection.

Congratulations to all the dogs, owners, trainers and handlers, for all their hard work and dedication has paid off.

1. Snyders Fireside Ed-Automatic Steve Snyder

2. Northwoods Cedar-Automatic Eric and Lindsay Saetre

3. Bird Doggin True Confidence-Automatic Ben Fleischacker

4. Ralphys Chasehill Rip 1512 Brian Ralph

5. Mohawk Mill Good Advice 1152 Bill and Karen McFadden

6. Millers Dusty Version 1120 Mike Husenits

7. Stan The Man 992 Tom Fruchey

8. Springpond Rockin Sidney 954 Leeann Parnell/Roger Johnson

9. Over The Hill Try 832 Rod Lein

10. Resin 720 Kevin Lahoda

11. Lake Effect Allie 680 Tim Kaufman

12. Chasehill Snoop Dog 648 Bill and Karen McFadden

13. Pauchecks Little Tommy Tucker 592 Kelly Short

14. Chasehill Poison Ivy 576 Bill and Karen McFadden

15. Back Creek Lucy 536 Steve Graham

16. Mohawk Mill Miss You 528 Bill and Karen McFadden

17. Grouse Trails Warrior Cat 512 John McKellop

18. Big Big Energy 510 Jordan Ferris

19. Planet Queen 504 Scott Anderson

20. Grouse Trails Bathilda 504 John McKellop

1st Place– Legend, pm, bred by John Mckellop, owned and handled by Brian Ralph.

2nd Place– Watch Me Whip, sm, bred by Steve McKalko, Owned by Dr Pershke, handled by Mark Hughes

3rd Place– Seldom Rest Pork Chop, pm, bred by John McKellop, owned and handled by Brian Ralph

4th Place– Tuscarora Timber Ghost, sm, bred by Ronnie Eldridge, owned by Andy Wert/Matt Null, handled by Matt Null

On behalf of the Grand National Grouse Board of directors we would like to thank the Flanagan family for use of their grounds and all their help.

Thank you is also in order for judges Kelly Hays and Bill Bonnetti for their time in the saddle. Both judged with a positive attitude and were attentive to all entries.

Thank you to all the breeders. This is a breeders stake and without you we couldn’t run this prestigious stake

Last but not least thank you to Greg Blair and Nestle Purina for their unwavering support to Coverdog field trials

The 2025 Grand National Grouse Championship will be at the historic Grouse Ridge Kennels in Oxford NY on Sunday November 2nd.

Lodging

The Purina Awards Dinner will be at Freds Inn Norwich NY on Monday November 3rd. Freds is also the recommended place to stay for the Grand this year. They only have 25 rooms so make your reservations soon 607-334-9282.

Other hotels in the area are Super 8 607-296-0524 and Red Roof Inn 607-334-2200.

The 2025 Grand National Grouse Championship will be at the historic Grouse Ridge Kennels in Oxford NY on Tuesday November 4th.

Reminder Grand Entries Close 10/30

Judges

Bruce Minard from Michigan and Ben Mergens from Minnesota were our top two in votes to judge this years Grand National Grouse Championship. I am happy to report that both have agreed to accept the roles.

Lodging

The Purina Awards Dinner will be at Freds Inn Norwich NY on Monday November 3rd. Freds is also the recommended place to stay for the Grand this year. They only have 25 rooms so make your reservations soon 607-334-9282.

Other hotels in the area are Super 8 607-296-0524 and Red Roof Inn 607-334-2200.

2025 Grand National Grouse & Woodcock Invitational Championship Winners

Champion Snyder’s Fireside Ed
Runner up Northwoods Cedar