Ontario Grouse Championship

The Ontario Grouse Championship has its roots at the Copeland Forest, west of Barrie and was 1st run in 1979 if memory serves. It was started by Jack Clark and the MNR Huronia District Manager at the time. His first name was Dan, a grouse hunter with a nice young setter. I recall spending a day with them marking trails for the first trial. During the first years the grouse population was thin but did cycle up after a few years. One year Bill McClure and I judged , I believe the winner had at least 6 finds in his hour. In those days the trial was run as a Classic and did not receive Championship status until Tim Tufts took it over. By the mid 80s, interest was waning and the event would have died had not Tim relocated it stateside. I'm sure Tim would love to have it back in Ontario but it's difficult to get those Yanks to cross the border and the trialer population in Ontario can't sustain it.

It was Dan Mansell. The Setter's name was Kay.
I bought her from Dan as a pup after I saw her run in the puppy stake at Copland.
She went on to win the woodcock Futurity and the Classic twice. She produced some outstanding competitive dogs when bred to Kendal Hills Scout.
Ah the memories.

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Originally Posted by Grandpa

The Ontario Grouse Championship has its roots at the Copeland Forest, west of Barrie and was 1st run in 1979 if memory serves. It was started by Jack Clark and the MNR Huronia District Manager at the time. His first name was Dan, a grouse hunter with a nice young setter. I recall spending a day with them marking trails for the first trial. During the first years the grouse population was thin but did cycle up after a few years. One year Bill McClure and I judged , I believe the winner had at least 6 finds in his hour. In those days the trial was run as a Classic and did not receive Championship status until Tim Tufts took it over. By the mid 80s, interest was waning and the event would have died had not Tim relocated it stateside. I'm sure Tim would love to have it back in Ontario but it's difficult to get those Yanks to cross the border and the trialer population in Ontario can't sustain it.

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That's great background Grandpa, thanks!

Copeland, being Provincial wildlife management area, is a perfect example of the kind of place where a Provincial strategy (if we had one) could be applied. Not nearly enough grouse in there these days to hold a trial, but the habitat potential is incredible. Imagine what could be done, especially with a partner like RGS or even PF.

​This is a brief piece I wrote several years ago to try and re establish interest in the sport here in Ontario.

History of the Ontario Grouse Dog Club


The English setter is the undisputed king of the grouse trial world so, it should come as no suprise that in our usual quirky Canadian manner the Ontario Grouse Dog Club was formed by 2 Brittany fanciers and one of the German Shorthair faithful.

In 1981 Jack Clark, Dan Mansell, and Bill McClure met at the Conroy Hotel in Toronto to form what has evolved into the Ontario Grouse Dog Championship.

In October of that year the first Grouse trial was held at Copeland Forest wildlife area north of Barrie Ontario.

In the early days the trial headquarters was the Horseshoe Valley Ski Resort where auctions, calcutta's and assorted other fund and fun raisers were held in support of the club.

The names of the early officers and contributors will be familiar to most readers. They include Mike and Donna Wilshire, Dave Kraisoski, Wayne Rogers, Nick Ellis, Henry Walsh, Wayne Adair, Dave Kerr, Joe and John Palladino, Tim Tufts, and representing the U.S.A., Dave Fletcher.

For 2 years the trial was run as a half hour Shooting Dog Stake plus a slate of junior events In 1983 the trial gained Classic status. After several years of hard work by the then secretary Dennis James and the championship board Dave Fletcher, Bob Willes, Jack Harang, and Henry Walsh the move from 45 minute to 1 hour classic was made and in 1992 a Championship was granted by the American Field .

In 1987 Nick Ellis was tragically killed in a boating accident and in his memory the Nick Ellis Memorial Debry Classic was organized. That fall it was run in conjunction with the senior stake. The club organizers eventually felt that the Derby Classic deserved a higher profile and moved the running to the spring season.

Over the years the reputation of the club and the grounds began to attract competitors from the United States until come mid September the best grouse dogs in North America were drawn to Copeland to compete for the title of Champion.

Over the years the stalwart founders began to pass away and the grounds began to go by as well. Finally the decision was made to either move or cancel the championship.
Thanks to the support of the community in New York and later Pennsylvania the Ontario Grouse Championship has survived and prospered.

If you would like to see some of the best dogs on the continent perform on the king of game birds join us in April for the Ontario Grouse Dog Championship.

Thanks for correcting me on the founding dates Tim. I was struggling with that last night. There's a lot of memories and nostalgia in your history. I hadn't realized you had bought that young setter from Dan or what you accomplished with her. Not surprised though. Good luck in the spring.

You guys make me want a setter

Everybody should have at least one. :joker:

Terry, I told myself no more long haired dogs lol.

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Originally Posted by Grandpa

The Ontario Grouse Championship has its roots at the Copeland Forest, west of Barrie and was 1st run in 1979 if memory serves. It was started by Jack Clark and the MNR Huronia District Manager at the time. His first name was Dan, a grouse hunter with a nice young setter. I recall spending a day with them marking trails for the first trial. During the first years the grouse population was thin but did cycle up after a few years. One year Bill McClure and I judged , I believe the winner had at least 6 finds in his hour. In those days the trial was run as a Classic and did not receive Championship status until Tim Tufts took it over. By the mid 80s, interest was waning and the event would have died had not Tim relocated it stateside. I'm sure Tim would love to have it back in Ontario but it's difficult to get those Yanks to cross the border and the trialer population in Ontario can't sustain it.

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Very interesting read.Thanks. ( Much is owed to those who have gone before.)