Storm was born in May of 2008 by a little-known breeder of English Pointers in upstate New York. His lines were rich in Elhew blood and were for the foot hunter chasing grouse and woodcock. Perfect for our upstate New York upland. When my wife and I went to pick out Storm he was the boldest, most energetic ball of black and white fur you have ever seen. We knew he was the one for us, but we didn’t know then just how special he really was. New to hunting dog training myself, Storm and I learned things together. I like to say he made it easy on me and spoiled us at the same time. He was a natural needing very little guidance, eager to learn good habits and my bad ones but receptive to change. He grew into a big powerful runner but was a gentleman on his birds. We hunted the uplands of New York and a few preserves with Storm and then one day in March of 2010 at the age of almost two his real talent came to light.
Storms tournament career started in Tom Glynn’s New York Bird dog Series. Storm picked up the game faster than we did making it clear early he was going to be competitor in this game. Strom had a game face standing at the line and he knew when it was time to work. His first year he qualified for the National Championships in amateur, top gun and doubles. We took our black and white pointer to Anita Iowa and tied Travis Ruther with a great pointer Named Fancy at 4:20 but took the reserve championship by 5 seconds on the first bird found. In addition, Tom ran Storm in Top gun putting him in the finals and placed fifth overall. Not a bad first Nationals. Storm made it clear this was his game. The following year Storm went on a terror in New York and New Jersey winning the NY/NJ amateur of the year and went back to nationals as the BDC amateur pointer of the year and won the amateur championship. Then, in September 2015 in his prime at the young age of seven Strom was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The tumor impaired his vision about 50%. In October of 2015 Strom ran his last tournament with this diagnosis where it all began. It was the players championships in New York. Storm finished 7th out of 34 in top gun finding all his birds with power and grace, as he always had. Strom passed one month later. In five years, his tournament career finished with BDC Amateur National Champion, BDC amateur dog of the year, NY/NJ Amateur and Top gun dog of the year, three super major wins, three major wins, a 14-time event winner, 528 champion points and a UFTA open championship.
Storms legacy lives on and is the foundation for what is now known as Magic Valley Pointers. His sons have accomplished equally great things with another BDC national amateur championship, BDC amateur dog of the year, a NUCS amateur field championship, 6 time UFTA open champions, 4 time UFTA amateur champions, 6 time doubles champions, UFTA open High point dog, UFTA doubles dogs of the year, 2 time UFTA doubles reserve champions and his grandsons were recently crown the 2023 UFTA doubles high point team of the year.
