The Championship Trail

[gunner]

Updated November 29, 2005
MISSISSIPPI OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP
Holly Springs, MS—The eighth renewal of the Mississippi Open Shooting Dog Championship concluded November 28 at Cedaroak Plantation in Holly Springs, MS. Two gentlemen from Alabama officiated the 40-dog stake — Dr. Joe Maddox of Troy and Dr. Jerry Champion of McCalla. Their judgment was clear cut and well received.

Named champion was Mountain Mann Jake, pointer male owned by Jim Mann of Knoxville, TN. Taking runner-up was Elhew Swami, pointer female owned by the successful triad of Bryce Flaming, Rob Butler and Stan Howton. Shawn Kinkelaar handled both winners.

— Peg Herriage

AMERICAN BRITTANY CLUB NATIONAL AMATEUR ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP
Booneville, AR—The American Brittany Club National Amateur All-Age Championship held at the J. Perry Mikles Blue Mountain Wildlife Demonstration Area near Booneville, AR, was concluded November 25. Fifty of the top Brittanys in the country competed in this stellar event. Tequila Jack II, owned by Dr. Robert Rankin and Ed Tillson, and handled by Ed set the standard to capture the coveted title of champion. Wichita, owned by "bleep" and Cindy Mantler, and handled by Ed Peace pressed the winner to be named runner-up.

Occupying the judicial saddles were Harold Davis of Texas, Ed Dixon of California, and Stan Truska of Nebraska.

— Conrad Plevnic

BLACKWATER FIELD TRIAL CLUB
Munson, FL—The Blackwater Field Trial Club, a member of Region 16, regretfully announces that the normally scheduled trials will once again not take place in Munson, Florida for the 2005-2006 season.

No improvement has been made to the Field Trial Area of Blackwater State Forest by the Florida Fish & Wildlife nor the Florida Division of Forestry. The members met to work dogs during Thanksgiving weekend, and all agreed that the damage remains too extensive to allow handlers to risk travelling over the devastated forest on horseback.

The Gulf Coast Open Shooting Dog Championship and the Amateur winter stake will be hosted by Tony Gibson's Conecuh Station. The Amateur stake will be held Feb 18-20, 2006 prior to the National Amateur Free-for-All in Union Springs.

Interested parties may contact Dr. Susan Wells at 251-961-1295.

NBHA NATIONAL AMATEUR INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ardmore, OK—The NBHA National Amateur Invitational Championship was held at the Lake murray Field trial grounds south of Ardmore, OK, on November 17-19.

The trial drew 32 dogs with 30 of them toeing the line during the two and a half days of running.

Winning the highly contested championship was Honky Tonk Gigolo, white, black and ticked pointer male co-owned by George Gage of Decatur, TX, and Stan Wint of Gardner, KS. “Woody” was handled to his victory by co-owner Stan Wint. Runner-up honors went to Smokin Stan, white, orange and ticked setter male owned and handled by Texan E. J. Hall.

The judges for the Championship were as advertised, Marty Robinson of Waco, GA, and Ed Wild of Wilson, OK.

— Butch Roberts

U. S. COMPLETE NORTHEAST REGION OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP
East Windsor, CT—Taz, a setter male owned by Phil Gould of Bloomsbury, NJ, and handled by Robert J. Ecker, Jr., of Quakake, PA, was named the winner of the U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association Northeast Region Open Shooting Dog Championship held in East Windsor, CT, where forty dogs competed for the title on November 25-27. Second to None, a pointer male, owned and handled by Nabil K. Elrassamni of Providence, RI, was named runner-up.

The Champion’s effort came in the 14th brace of the second day of competition under cold and overcast weather conditions and snow covered grounds. Taz demonstrated a forward hunting race and he handled willingly for Ecker. Taz scored four finds, all with beautiful style and excellent manners.

Second to None ran in the 7th brace on the first day of running. Polished manners on 5 stylish finds along with a even paced race sealed his runner-up placement in the championship.

The judges were John Fino of Mendon, MA, and Richard Bembeneck of Webster, MA.

— Donna O’Brien

ARKANSAS OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP
Mayflower, AR—The 27th running of the Arkansas Open Shooting Championship commenced November 11 and was concluded November 16 at the traditional venue, Camp Robinson near Mayflower, AR.

Fifty-two were entered in the Championship with an additional twelve in the companion Derby.

Master Hawk, 4-year-old white and black pointer male owned by Devoe Treadwell of Wichita, KS, was named champion with a forward race and two finds. He was handled by Dean Lord. In a 97-minute callback punctuated by a combined total of six finds, Elhew Swami prevailed over His Medicine Man. Swami was guided by Shawn Kinkelaar, with Chuck Stretz for Man. Swami is owned by Bryce Flaming, Rob Butler and Stan Howton.

Judges were Clyde Ashcraft of Mt. Ida, AR, and Dan Smith of Royal, AR.

— John D. Seawright

DIXIELAND BRITTANY CHAMPIONSHIP
LaVergne,TN—Three perfect fall days framed the 7th running of the Dixieland Brittany Championship. The Poole Knob grounds in LaVergne, TN, hosted 32 of the nation’s finest all-age Brittanys for judges Alan Powell and Bill Suiter who found the champion in Shambo's Dark Shadow, owned by Bernie Crain of Raymore, MO, Jim John handling.

Amateur David Medford of Cleveland, TN, took runner-up with Harlan County Cowboy.

— Kent D. Patterson

KENTUCKY LAKE FIELD TRIAL CLUB
Paducah, KY—The Kentucky Lake Field Trial Club concluded its trial on November 17. The Open All-Age drew 30 entries. The winner was Lester’s Snowatch, white and orange ticked pointer male, owned and handled by Gary P. Lester of Gracey, KY. Second went to Tennessee Titan, white, liver and ticked pointer male, also owned and handled by Lester. Third was Phillips White Twist, pointer male owned and handled by Nathan Phillips of Crandall, IN.

The one-hour Open Derby had 22 entries. First place was B B’s Pike, white and orange pointer male owned by Bill Bruce of Hopkinsville, KY, and handled by Ray Warren. Secon was House’s Magic Rain, pointer male owned and handled by Joe Don House of Clinton, KY. Rounding out the placements was a pointer named “Pete”, owned by Jimmy N. White of Bowling Green, KY.

The judges were Gary P. Baird of Murphysboro, IL, and Jon Lam of Makanda, IL.

— Gary Lester