Brankos Blue Beard - Brankos Blue Iceman

[kymtninc]

Branko's Bleu Iceman was an approximately 14 1/2 inch hound who was excellent gundog type. His foot speed was probably around and 8 but, he could at times appear faster becasue of his checkwork. He had several places in the AKC Midwest Trials and in my opinion would have championed if he had been promoted as agressively as many others of his time were. Iceman was owned for the bulk of his life by Jim Ritter who sold him to me when he was approximately 11 years old. I had watched and run against Iceman several times when he was in his prime and can honestly say that I never saw the old dog have a bad day. He was a rabbit dog every time Jim set him down and there were several occasions (when Jim owned and ran him in trials), where I felt in my humble opinion that the old dog should have won the trial. Let me stop and point out that Jim Ritter is in the Midwest Gundog Beagle Hall of Fame, an honor that he is very deserving of because he is a GREAT HOUNDSMAN.

As I said I had always liked Iceman but, I will relate a story of an event that elevated him to a new level in my sights and set the circumstances in motion that would later result in him spending his final days at my kennel. It was at the October SPO Trial at Wurtland, I do not remember the year but, there was a fair turnout of big males and I had the good fortune to roll out with Iceman in the Second Series (don't you always want to run with good dogs?) We were running on the Addington Strip mines just off US 23. The area we were hunting was one of the knobs that had been stripped and then contoured back and reclaimed; a two lane blacktop road run across the running grounds and by the knob that we were to run on. It was probably around 2:00 in the afternoon and it was hot and dry, with heat waves coming off the blacktop road. Upon casting the hounds we jumped a rabbit in a fairly handy manner and proceeded to run around the top of the reclaimed knob. The Handlers were standing on the knob and the Gallery was standing by the blacktop road watching the hound work and slowing traffic. The running was going fairly well on top, perhaps too well for the rabbit, who decided he was going to change tactics. The rabbit ran down the side of the knob and when he reached the flat part of the strip, we could see him running towards the highway. Upon reaching the highway, the rabbit ran down the shoulder of the road for a fair distance and then darted back into the scerica. That pack of big males went charging off the side of the knob and upon reaching the blacktop road blew up in a manner much akin to the flushing of a covey of quail. None of those big males, mine included, except Old Iceman had any inclination to buckle down and follow the track. Iceman, in a manner that I often saw him do, bowed up in the back like a brace dog and walked the track down the road until it re-entered the scerica at which point the other hounds backed him and continued the race. The reason I relate this story is let people know what kind of a hound Iceman was. I deserve no credit for the hound and am only thankful to have owned and been associated with him in his later years. Through the select breedings that I made with him he produced positive attributes and for that I will always be greatful to this great old hound.

Now to answer questions about his offspring, they were very much like him. They had good noses, were very conservative with their mouths, had good hunt and ran a good line. They ran about his speed or sometimes better depending upon the female that he was crossed to. Many had a very unique squalling mouth similar to Iceman's. If crossed on an extremely conservative mouthed female the offspring could have often "used" a bark. If his pups were not handled fairly consistent from an early age on they could have a tendency to be shy. Overall his contributions far outweighted any weaknesses and he produced positive qualities that I continue to see in successive generations.

If anyone has any other questions regarding Iceman or his offspring that I can possibly help with, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,
Dexter

[jddingess]

A 14 month old blue beard pup took 4th at mcbc today. If you want jeffs number I will pm it to you.

[jlupem]

I already have the number. Thanks jd.

[bluetickbeagle]

x

[bluetickbeagle]

x

[Bev]

Stony, Pike Ridge and I just got done with an hour-long web meeting where we discussed the administration of this board. There are going to be some changes that some of you won't like, most of you I believe will.

1. There will be no slamming the board, its rules, or the moddys (including me). You are a guest here, and you will have to show respect and manners -- even if you disagree with how we do things. We have a PM feature if you want to object to something. If you think you are at liberty to embarrass us or hold our feet to the fire over something, you are wrong.We will start deleting any and all posts we find to be of an insulting nature that are aimed at those providing you this forum. If we find we have to delete your posts often, (and you aren't learning from your mistakes) then you will be gone. When dogs bite the hand that feeds them, they don't stay in the kennel long.

2. We have created an Administrator's forum that is accessible by only us. We will utilize this forum to keep each other updated on who had to have corrective action and when. The info will stay there forever. If we find you have a history of coming here mostly just to stir a turrd, it may be a deciding factor if we are considering termination of your membership.

3. Do NOT make slanderous remarks or pick fights with other board members. This is not kindergarten. It's an adult discussion board where ideas are shared and sometimes debated. It can be done in an adult manner. Read this part carefully. I don't care if you have a quick temper. I don't care if you are just a teenager. I don't care if somebody said something about you first. You do not get a pass from me. I don't care what your particular problem or excuse is. If you attack others personally, you will pay the price. Disagree with them all you want, but do it respectfully.

If you are pi$$ed right now reading this, then it probably applies to you especially. If You are glad to see this, then you are the type of members we want to attract and keep. We will not let you be abused, and we will not be abused by message board thugs.

Thank you.

Not being a smart A, but i personally don't see the hateful or threatening part in this rules that are on top of the page for everyone to look at and read if they have a problem. Now I may have over looked it somewhere, but I can't find it in these rules thanks. And it wasn't slander it was just the truth, nothing more nothing less, just the truth, and i guess my post gets modified by you all for the truth, i thought that is what was what you all wanted us to post, and what about all these post about the cody guy? SLANDEROUS!? or just the truth?

bluetickbeagle, this is the last time this is addressed and I hope that you will decide to leave it alone and go on to something else.

[carn]

I think mr.wilson sire is blue beard

[Rneil]

---------------IFC Branko's Lumberjack
----------Branko's Blue Beard
---------------Branko's Baba Janet
-----Mr. Wilson (HP16797603)
---------------FC Brent's Prime Time
----------Jim's Primetime Dixie
---------------Hills Hardrockin Wendy

[rabbitsmoker]

I owned a female last year with blue beard in her ped top and bottom she was tri with ticking this hound was blue wasnt he

[jfields]

Here is a pic of Blue Beard taken back in July. The old man still looks good.

[sparkydog]

I have a female out of Blue Beard and I really like her, Kinda tight mouthed at times but a great jump dog and good speed.

[MasonsBeagles]

did Beardy ever FC? I know he was hitting the trials hard several years ago but never heard if he finally finished?

[jlupem]

I know Dexter has a male out of Ice Man. Does anyone else have a male directly out of him

[jfields]

did Beardy ever FC? I know he was hitting the trials hard several years ago but never heard if he finally finished?

He has a first in AKC but didnt finish. He also just needs a first in ARHA to Champion.

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

I seen him go once at an AKC trial in Ky. and if I remember correctly, the dog had good hunt and good nose. Very dry day with no rain in weeks and he was the only dog that could scent the rabbit. He was all business. I think he and another dog were the only two that made it to the next round. It was tuff running that day.