FIRST ONES: Our very first peeper report for 2008 comes from
Chip Swanson of Wilcox at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Just a few hours later,
at 7:55 p.m., Debbie Defibaugh of Smethport heard the peepers on
Marvin Creek.
Wow, we still have snow covering our daffodils (assuming they
are under there) and any frogs would be frozen stiff. Must be nice
to live in these warmer climes, eh?
TANK’S TURN: “With all due respect to Mr. Slike, Dr. Wilson, his
dog, and, of course, Uno, Bradford had its own champion beagle. His
name was Field Champion Brinsky’s Run-Em-Over Tank. Tank was born
June 16, 1993, to sire Field Champion Flat Creek Joshua and dam
Brinsky’s Honeynip.”
That’s the word today from Rocco Camas of Bradford, who
continues:
“Tank holds his place in field-trialing history as the first dog
ever to achieve champion status in three registries: the American
Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club and the American Rabbit Hunting
Association.
“Tank also was the first and only dog to win three ARHA national
championships, one each in the open class, champion class and grand
champion class divisions. In addition, he was presented with the
‘Purina Consistency High Hound of the Year Award’ in the 15-inch
male class. In total, Tank’s career boasts first-place wins at more
than 40 licensed field trial competitions held in the United
States.
“Tank was arguably the most consistent field trial beagle in
history and also earned his claim to fame as one of the greatest
gun-dog reproducing hounds. Before his death in March 2006, Tank
had produced more than 45 registered field champions. Thirteen of
those champions came from a cross between Tank and Field Champion
Brinsky’s Shot of Baileys, a record in itself for a single dam
projected to stand for many years to come.
“I am fortunate to own one of the Tank-and-Bailey champions,
Field Champion AJ’s Little Mattie.”
GROSBEAKS: A Smethport readers tells us she and friends have
been looking high and low for migratory grosbeaks – and haven’t
seen a single one.
Grosbeaks are some of the prettiest visitors we have each year
and let’s hope they aren’t going the way of the rusty blackbird
which, as we reported yesterday, has seen a population collapse
over the last few decades.
Maybe there’s just late this year?
