Local dog ‘Outwit, Outplays, Outlasts’ the competition to become a National Champion

(Above) Marianne Gasaway and her National Champion Gordon Setter, Wit.

by Michelle Watson

A local dog has most definitely lived up to his name.

“Prairie Star Outwit Outplay Outlast,” better known as Wit, is a National Champion.  The six-year-old Gordon Setter, owned by Marianne Gasaway, of Clear Lake,  recently won the inaugural Gordon Setter Club of America National Walking Gun Dog Championship held in Delaware.

This is the second national champion Prairie Star Kennels, located south of Clear Lake, has produced.

For those unfamiliar with Gordon Setters, they are an upland game bird dog.  Sometimes known as “black and tans” as far back as the 1600s, they became more prominent in the 1800s.  The Fourth Duke of Gordon in Banffshire, Scotland is credited with creating a smaller, more powerful version of the typical Irish and English setter, known today as a Gordon Setter.  The American Kennel Club describes the breed as “alert, interested and confident… fearless and willing, intelligent and capable.  He is loyal and affectionate, and strong-minded enough to stand the rigors of training.”

In Wit’s case, the rigors of training were provided by Jesse Chapman, owner of Smoke Rise Kennel in Nova, Ohio.  He has been Wit’s trainer since his introduction to field trialing as a one-year-old.  Prior to winning the national title, Wit earned enough points to be awarded a field championship (based on wins).  He was also named Gun Dog of the Year in 2017 and 2018 by the Gordon Setter Club of America.

During a field trial competition a pair of handlers each ride a horse or walk behind the dog each is competing with.  The dog’s job is to locate game birds by their

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scent and indicate the location of the bird by “pointing,” or stopping in place.  The dog must stay on point until the handler finds the bird, makes it fly, and fires a blank pistol to simulate shooting at the departing bird.  The dog is required to stay until he is released by the handler and sent on to find the next bird.

A judge follows behind each handler and evaluates each dog against the standard requirements for the class in which it is competing. The judges also evaluate each dog against other dogs entered in the class and determine which is the best.  Course application and style are given consideration, as well as the dog’s ability to find game.  Dogs are on the ground 30-minutes in typical field trials; walking championships like Wit won, are 45-minutes in length; championships conducted on horseback are one-hour long.

In the GSCA Walking Gun Dog Championship, Wit bested a field of 21 dogs, hailing from both coasts and everywhere in between.  According to Chapman, the championship provided a strong representation of the Gordon Setter breed.

“Wit had an outstanding run.  He was always to the front and his bird work was flawless,” he said.  During the course of the 45-minute run, Wit had five finds— all with high style.

Although he has been extremely successful in recent years, Wit wasn’t always a top performer.  At least twice Chapman sent him back home, proclaiming he simply wasn’t ready to be steady to wing and shot yet.

“Jesse is a firm believer in letting each dog mature at his or her own pace and, in Wit’s case, his patience paid off,” said Gasaway.

Wit continues the strong lineage of his Prairie Star predecessors.  He is a third generation field champion and his sire, owned by Jim D’Amico from New Jersey, was a two-time National (horseback) Champion.

Prairie Star High Noon, bred and owned by Gasaway, won both the Amateur and Open National Championships for Gordon Setters.  He is represented in Wit’s pedigree.

“Wit has grown to become exactly what I hoped he would be— a representation of his sire and dam, as well as those who preceded him.  All were exceptional bird dogs and field competitors in their days.  They also had wonderful personalities and were a joy in the home.  So when I look at Wit, I see some of the best parts of that lineage and the culmination of generations of breeding, as well as a sweet and funny boy who always makes me smile,” said Gasaway.

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