Watsons Blue Chip won the 15 male class at Sturgeon Creek this afternoon and came within one-half of one point from finishing for his title. In fact before the trial started he needed 19.558 points. After the dust had cleared he still needed .442 per cent of a point to claim his championship.
However, that was fine with his owner James L. Watson of Memphis, Tennessee. He wants to finish Blue Chip in the small male class because he believes he is a true 13 hound. James and his sidekick, Larry Van Neste traveled over 13 hours last Saturday to attend both the Sturgeon Creek and the Border licensed trials. Blue Chip is a borderline dog and handler, Jim Burton usually runs him in the small male class but ran him big today in order to allow Jim and Larry time to run dogs, including Blue Chip, with the crew down at Border Beagle Club before their trial begins. Blue Chip responded greatly to the challenge and put on two outstanding runs in both first and second series to claim his third victory.
Larry Van Neste said, Jims hound put on some super runs today to win the class. He ran in the heavy cover in first series and then ran in the open woods in second series and both times looked outstanding.
Owner, Jim Watson was also very happy. We are very proud of Blue Chip. He is a chip off the old block. (Blue Chips sire is Bur Way JD) His dam is Field Champion Bur Way Lou making Blue Chip a double-mated hound out of Bur Way JDs first litter.
Concerning his and Larrys long trip into Michigan Jim said, We are happy to drive up and be with our good Michigan friends. We are going on down to Border Beagle Club and run hounds with some of them for the rest of the week. We are really having a good time.
Watsons Blue Chip only needs a place to finish at Border this coming Thursday. Jim Watson and Larry Van Neste could very well be hauling home a new field champion when they leave Michigan this coming weekend.
