Herald & Lantern 21 September '83

Cape Setter Earns Top Grouse Honor MARIENVTLLE, Pa —An English setter from. Cape May County was named Pennsylvania Grouse Dog of the Year this summer by participating field trial clubs. Cape Island Intrepid, a 4-year old male setter, is owned by Scott and Eleanor McGonigle of the Fishing Creek section of Lower Township. 11)6 award is based on the number of wins and grouse finds each dog accumulates during the fall and spring grouse .trials held by the Venango, Pennsylvania Amateur, and Pennsylvania Grouse Trial Clubs.'This is the second time Trep has been the recipient of the dog of the year awards. Two years earlier he was named Joy Dogfood s Grouse Derby of the Year, a classification limited to bird dogs 2 years of age or younger. The derby of the year was garnered by Trep’s winning all fall and spring grouse trials, and culminating the season with a first place win in the Grand National Grouse Futurity. THE SETTER was started by his co-owners on native quail and migrating woodcock during his puppy and derby year. He .was finished on grouse by professional dog trainer Dave Hughes of Clearfield. Pa., who also handles the dog in open (professional) stakes. While not having won in any field trial puppy stakes, Trep has accumulated over 20 placements in Pennsylvania. New Jersey and Michigan. He is still two years away from the prime age for working setters. The dog’s name did not come about by accident. While attending one of the grouse trials in 1976, the owners met one of the “older statesmen" of grouse trials who expressed surprise at meeting someone from Cape May again at a grouse trial. He commented that the last dogs to compete in the grouse trials from Cape May were owned by a Dr. Moon during the 1930’s. He remembered that the dogs were all prefixed with Cape Island. Although he couldn’t remember the doctor’s first name, he was certain it was Moon and from Cape May. With a little local probing, McGonigle was able to find out the dog’s names were Cape Island Moon and Cape Island Chief. He was not, however, able to determine which of the Moons (there were three) owned the dogs. But one thing was determined: After a 50-year absence, it was time to bring the Cape Island name back to the Pennsylvania grouse woods. McGonigle would also be partially repaying a debt to the late Dr. Alex Moon, who had taken him deer hunting in New Gretna in the 50’s. When Trep was whelped in 1979, he was named after the American Cup winning Intrepid, and prefixed with Cape Island. What was needed to bring the name back was wins — any wins. What actually turned out was more than

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TOP DOG—Cape Island Intrepid, a 4-vear-old English Setter owned by Lower Township residents Eleanor and Scott McGonigle. was named Pennsylvania Grouse Dog of Year for his field trial wins. anyone had anticipated. THE MCGONIGLE’S have a training philosphy that in order to develop a class trial dog (they own three), the dog must first prove itself under actual hunting conditions. Before Trep turned a year old he had been hunted on quail, pheasant, grouse, and woodcock. And while he provided a good supply of all four game birds for the table, it was the wood cock in local covers that contributed the most to his eventual success. A good bird dog can not be developed without a lot of exposure to wild birds. And few places offer as much bird' work on woodcock as the Jersey Cape. By the time the two-month season ended. Trep had more contact with woodcock than most dogs get in^everal years. It proved to be an omen. A year later, when he competed among 35 dtiier dogs in the Grand National Grouse Futurity, he was Ine only dog to have wild bird work. Not surprisingly, it was a woodcock. Most field trialers are familiar with the dogs they compete against. Before each trial they check the entry board to see what dogs are running to determine which dogs they have to beat. There are always two to three dogs entered that will cause a silent expletive from the rest of the field. These are the dogs that will have to be beaten to win a placement. After a 50-year absence, the Cape -Island name is again known throughout Pennsylvania’s Allegheny grouse woods. When the entries are listed at the fall trials this year, there will be one dog to beat: Cape Island Intrepid

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GROUSE ^TROPHY—Scott McGonigle of Lower Township, right, accepts Grouse Dog of Year tophv from Dick Brennemen. president of Pennsylvania Field Trial Club, for trophy won by McGonigle’s dog.

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‘Open’ Rec Activities

CAPE MAY - As of Monday, Sept, 12, the city began its “open" recreation programs at the Elementary School on Lafayette St. These programs include Family Night which is conducted 7-9 p.m. Saturday. Families can use the pool or the gymnasium at a small fee. Prior to Family Night is Youth Hour, which runs 5:45 - 6:45 p.m. Youths under 17 years of age can enjoy the pool or play basketball without a parent or guardian. On Monday from 7-9 p.m. Coed Adult Night is open to all men and women 18 years or older. The gym and pool are open for exercise and enjoyment. Coed Teen night Tuesday 7-9 p.m. is a chance for youths 19 years aand under to experience fun and fellowship while using the gym or swimming pool.

Bright Sent to Sheppard AFB

N. CAPE MAY - Airman James F. Bright, son of Mary C. and John B. Bright of 116 Haverford Ave., has been assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, after completing Air Force basic training. The airman will now receive specialized instruction in the civil engineering field.

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