American Field Championships around the country

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American Field Championships around the country

Post by gunner » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:21 pm

Updated February 23, 2007
NATIONAL AMATEUR QUAIL CHAMPIONSHIP

Greenville, FL—The 46-dog National Amateur Quail Championship concluded on February 21 at Dixie Plantation, Greenville, FL. Advertised judge Charles Young was unavailable. Blake “Butch” Winter, Pattison, TX, was joined by Alan Powell, Warner Robins, GA, to replace Mr. Young.

The judges named Ice A Matic, six-year-old pointer male owned and handled by Eddie Sholar of Leesburg, GA, as champion. Just Colorado, pointer male owned by Dr. Lester and Ruthann Littell of Marion Junction, AL, and handled by Ruthann, earned the runner-up spot. Both dogs had strong forward all-age races during the one and one-half hour heats.

This trial was sponsored by the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America.

— Eugenia Powell

NATIONAL OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Hoffman, NC—Weber’s Little Bullett, pointer male owned by Bruce Weber of Lisbon, OH, and handled by John Ray Kimbrell, was named winner of the 2007 National Open Shooting Dog Championship. The trial was held February 5-13 at the Robert Gordon Field Trial Grounds in Hoffman, NC. A strong field of 65 dogs vied for the title.

The seven-year-old nearly all white Weber’s Little Bullett had an exceptional ground race and four finds.

Only one other entry challenged Bullett’s performance, that being pointer male Stone Free which had a good ground effort and three finds. He was handled by Mike Tracy and is owned by Joe McHugh of Binghamton, NY, and Tom Tracy of Lebanon, CT.

Quail were plentiful but hard to point. Some braces had more game ridden up by the gallery, handlers and scouts than pointed by the dogs. Scenting conditions were terrible it seemed. The area needed moisture, and got rain a day after the Championship was over.

Advertised judges Dr. Joe Maddox of Troy, AL, Jerrell Bryan of Philadelphia, MS, and Johnny Atkinson of Marion, SC, presided for the running.

— Dwight Smith

ALABAMA OPEN ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP

Blue Mountain, MS—Mississippi Hot Rod, pointer male handled by Mike Johnson, owned by Ed and Dee Stevens of Decatur, OH, captured the Alabama Open All-Age Championship. Rod had a strong race, was shot over three times with quail officially seen twice. Runner-up Heyu Two Pete, pointer male handled by Allen Vincent, owned by Preston and Patty Trimble of Norman, OK, had a super race to the front with a covey at 58. There were 47 entries in the Championship judged by Mike Crouse of Dixon, KY, and Bill Stubblefield of Paragould, AR.

First in the Derby was Boumeester’s Hot Rod, pointer male handled by Weldon Bennett and owned by Rich Boumeester. Rod scored a find at 18 with a strong race. Second was Crowding Billy, handled by Ike Todd. Billy ran a good race with a covey at time. Third was Searchlight Bill, owned by Ken Sunday and handled by Randy Sanderson. Twenty-three dogs were entered in the Derby judged by Jim Downs, Bill Stubblefield and Greg Bain after Bill became ill.

— J. R. Page

DEEP SOUTH BRITTANY FREE-FOR-ALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Safford, AL—Alva Caine’s Tara Hill Plantation hosted the 8th running of the Deep South Brittany Free-for-All Championship beginning February 6. John Kline of Amissville, VA, and Chris Rider of Smithfield, PA, looked over the field of 25 in this two series endurance event.

One N Only, five-year-old white and orange male, was named champion for the second year in a row for handler Ben Lorenson and owner Kent D. Patterson of Franklin, TN. Runner-up was found in Clyde’s Micro Breeze, a nicely marked white and liver male handled by Tom Tracy, Jr. for owners Paul Pollock and Lisa Podraza of Medford, NJ.

— Kent Patterson

NATIONAL OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Hoffman, NC—The 48th National Open Shooting Dog Championship drew an entry of 65 of the nation’s top shooting dogs.

Advertised judges Joe Maddox of Troy, AL, Jerrell Bryan of Philadelphia, MS, and Johnny Atkinson of Marion, SC, are in the judicial saddles.

So far the weather has been cooperative, but the quail have not been so cooperative. One outstanding performance has been turned in so far.

— Dwight Smith

ARIZONA OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Kingman, AZ—The Arizona Open Shooting Dog Championship drew to a successful conclusion with the crowning of the champion, Check Raise, pointer male handled by owner Jim Schultz of Flagstaff, AZ. Runner-up laurels were awarded to Hale’s Super Hero, pointer male handled by owner Bruce Hale of Riverside, CA. A field of 12 contested for the title.

The companion Bill West Open Derby Classic drew 15 entrants. Emerging victorious was Shiner, pointer female again with Bruce Hale at the helm. Second place was earned by Tekoa Mountain Phoenix, setter female handled by Bill “Magic Man” Gibbons for owner Robert Sexton of Chandler, AZ. Third was Hunter’s Pride Hanna, pointer female with owner Ed Dixon of Norco, CA, piloting to the win.

The Region 12 (AFTCA) Amateur Shooting Dog Championship drew fourteen. Championship laurels were bestowed upon Almosta’s Tasmanian D, pointer male for owner/handler John Beauchamp of Phoenix, AZ. Runner-up honors were awarded to Redrock Yonder, pointer male for owner Doug Steinshouer of Reno, NV.

Five days of bright blue western skies were interrupted but briefly by a hailstorm upon completion of the Derby, otherwise simply a wonderful time!

— Curtis Granthen

FORTY-THIRD UNITED STATES QUAIL SHOOTING DOG FUTURITY

Hoffman, NC—The Forty-Third United States Quail Shooting Dog Futurity drew an entry of 59 dogs and was concluded February 3 at the Robert Gordon Sandhills Field Trial Area near Hoffman, NC. Winning first in convincing fashion was a pointer female named Southern Livin, when entered owned and bred by Tommy Davis but was reportedly sold during the trial to Tom Downs. Luke Eisenhart handled her to a near perfect three-find effort. Second was awarded to Steve’s Xena, pointer female owned by Steve Varelas, bred by Don Frigo and handled by Mike Hester to a forward effort with four well-handled finds.

Third was Raincrow Beau, pointer male owned and bred by G. B. Hatcher and handled by Sammy Giddens to a four-find forward hunting effort. Fourth was Enhancement Ham, pointer male owned by Tom Hance, bred by George C. Tracy and handled by Mike Tracy to a well directed far-flung ground effort and one find.

Presiding were Judges Larry Cox and Gary Miller, both of North Carolina.

The trial commenced on January 30; a full day of running was lost due to snow and ice storms.

— Mike Husenits


CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Greenville, FL—The winning tradition of the paternal line emerged as the parallel theme when Robin Gates partnered seven-year-old pointer male Flatwood Silver to the 2007 Continental Open All-Age Championship title at the Dixie Plantation near Greenville, FL. It was the eighth victory here for Gates, second-generation Continental winner whose father, John S. Gates, and brother, John Rex Gates, preceded him with five Continental titles apiece. Gates now ranks as the all-time top winning handler at this preeminent endurance stake.

Flatwood Silver, owned by Dr. and Mrs. Everett Crouch of Jacksonville, FL, also follows the familial lead, the second son of 2001 Continental Champ Joe Shadow to claim the silver since Super Shadow annexed the 2005 title. Two finds under judgment, and one unproductive, punctuated his reaching, swinging presentation on a Thursday morning in the hour and fifty-minute callback series.

Funseeker’s Rebel put down a strong ground effort and scored three finds, a back and had an unproductive to take runner-up honors. Fred Dileo handled the six-year-old pointer male for owners Frank and Mercy Fonseca of Miami, FL.

Fred Rayl handled top qualifying dog Sandhill Dix, four-year-old pointer female owned by Dr. Randy Peel of Chipley, FL.

Ninety-two pointers and eight setters were drawn for the one-hour preliminary rounds; Judges Garland Priddy and Jerry Black called back 13 pointers and one setter. Terry Chastain assumed judicial duties near the end of the stake, relieving Judge Black, who had served valiantly despite worsening health conditions through most of the program.

— Barbara Teare

NATIONAL FREE-FOR-ALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Catherine, AL—The 2007 running of the National Free-for-All Championship began Wednesday afternoon, January 24, at Shell Creek Plantation near Catherine, AL. Twenty-one of the 22 pointers entered competed for the title. The one-hour qualifying series ended Friday afternoon with six contenders being called back for the three-hour championship series that began Saturday morning.

Lester’s Absolute, handled by Colvin Davis for owner Rick Stallings of Montgomery, AL, and Solid Reward, handled by Fred Robinson for owners F. C. and T. J. Robinson of Dayton, TN, competed in the first brace; Phillips White Twist for handler-owner Gary Lester of Gracey, KY, and Poison for handler-owner Tommy Davis of Albany, GA, competed in the second; the third and final brace featured House’s Cold Mountain, handled by Colvin Davis for owner Rick Stallings and Erin’s Tin Soldier for handler-owner Sean Derrig of Bannockburn, IL.

Tommy Davis’ Poison, on the basis of a seven-find performance and a strong three-hour race, was declared the new champion.

The judges were Charles K. Young of Camden, SC, and William Smith of Moscow, TN.

— William Smith

OKLAHOMA OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

Inola, OK—The ice and snow that caused the cancellation of the Texas Open Shooting Dog Championship threatened the 2007 renewal of the Oklahoma counterpart. But hearty souls persisted and after a day or so delay, the Championship and Derby were started at the McFarlin-Ingersoll ranch near Inola, OK.

Broadway Bumblebee turned in somewhat of a “hat trick”, winning both the championship title and the companion Open Derby. The Derby-age pointer female is owned by Jim Blackwood of Edinboro, PA, and was handled by C. W. “Chuck” Taylor. Bumblebee had bird work in both of her appearances.

Runner-up was Mt. Nebo’s Zorro, pointer male owned and handled by Bill Westfall of Liberty, MO. Twenty entries braved the elements in the titular stake.

The Open Derby had seven starters. Taking the second spot after Bumblebee was South Fork Brooke, pointer female owed by Chris Leeson of Barnsdale, OK, and handled by Terry Smith. Third was L S K Cash, pointer male owned by Charles Barbaree of Pryor, OK, and handled by Tony Falley.

Judges for the trial were two Sooner State stalwarts, Pat Morgan of Arcadia, OK., and Preston Trimble of Norman, OK.

— Dr. Dorwin E. Hawthorne

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