2006 Region 14 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

By

  Tom Nygard

The Region 14 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship ran August 26th and 27th at the PFRA Tecumseh pasture near Stoughton, Saskatchewan for the second consecutive year. 29 dogs vied for the crown. This year the Champion emerged in Dixy’s Northbound, eight-year-old pointer female by High Meadow Brushfire x Polly Wally Doodle and owned by Asquith, Saskatchewan trialer Sheldon Rogers and his wife, Dawn Feist. As always, Rogers handled her. Dixy has found her stride at this period of her life and consistency is written all over it. She has won two one-hour shooting dog classics this year on top of her recent championship. Her brace was highlighted by two great finds, one unproductive and a good ground race infiltrated by periodic absences that the judges found acceptable. The runner up was named in Flatland’s Tuff Anuff, pointer male by Briar Crest Hieratic x A Flatland’s Seduction and owned and handled by Dave Pearson from Wrentham, Alberta. His race had 2 finds and a stop to flush that showed quite well and could have made him Champion if not for the competition. 

Our judges were very qualified to sit for a shooting dog championship and our thanks go out to Dave Walker of Boise, Idaho and Jeff Haggis of Glencoe, Ontario. Dave Walker’s name is synonymous with high quality Brittany Spaniels but certainly not limited to them. He has trained, judged, and owned all breeds of pointing dogs and taught clinics about training them for his entire life. Jeff Haggis, when not making high quality Haggis Trooper saddles, has also judged extensively in eastern Canada and also runs his own dogs. 

Ask many attendees what the most memorable part of a trial is and, inevitably, the dogs will rise to the surface as the top choice. Frequently, however, when those same individuals attempt to put actions into words, particularly those of bird dogs in pursuit of locating game, it is often the grounds that warrant the first volley of critique versus the dogs running on them. Such is the case for the pasture at Stoughton.  All 36 sections of it! Make no mistake; the dogs are what we’re here for but the grounds are what they run on and these grounds are a very good test of dogs…and handlers!

Stoughton’s grounds are less than 200 miles south and east of the famed Mortlach grounds where the historic Dominion and Saskatchewan Championship all age trials of the early season are held. But they are a world away from the flat expanse of grassland and islands of cover that make those grounds memorable. The Stoughton grounds, where the Border International All Age Championship has been held for 36 years, while certainly memorable, are so for different reasons. Tall grass pastures with large bluffs of trees and cover dominate Stoughton’s terrain, as do additional areas of wet, soggy bogs surrounded by willow and poplar. This terrain, in turn, holds plentiful amounts of Sharptail Grouse but also a good chance of a dog getting lost or caught up in the cover.

Prairie shooting dogs, like their all age brethren, have little trouble covering the ground in this country as it’s wide open in some spots and allows a dog to stretch. Other areas, as mentioned earlier, are very tight and relentless in their call to the ranging style of running dogs. The varying terrain of Stoughton can be dangerous to both dog and handler. 

Our weather was consistent; sometimes an anomaly for the prairie but in it’s consistency it was hot, dry and windy, which is certainly not an irregularity. The savior to the wind and heat was the wonderful large tent that Kelly McLean was so gracious to set up where the entire trial participants could congregate. All the meals served at the grounds were done so under the big top and the convenience was fabulous. 

Trials like this run smoothly only with the very able management of many hard working locals. Not the least of which was Jeanette Heise, wife of Region 14 Trustee, Lou Qualtiere. Jeanette was tireless, if not relentless, to the workload that comes with this type of trail and deserves recognition for her effort. She has been the mainstay of this trial for two years now and the present executive of the Region begs her to stay on. It simply can’t be run a lot better! Many others deserve mention as well, Lou Qualtiere, who marshaled for the two days, Kelly McLean who spent long hours behind the dog wagon steering wheel on top of providing and setting up the big top, John Raymond, Ron & Linda Bender, Sheldon Rogers and his wife, Dawn Feist, Peter Piper who provided the dog wagon, Maureen Preston, pasture manager Murray Martin and his wife Betty, Don and Marj Mitchell who own a splendid B & B outside Stoughton and housed our judges, Betty and Jim Harriman, Calvin and Jim, pasture riders, and, of course, Tom and Shannon Nygard. All are deserving of our hearty thanks! 

The array of visitors and participants was extensive and was evident in our gallery every day from the dozens that rode. From Montana – Austin Turley, John Mandell, and Tom and Shannon Nygard, from California – Dr. Charlie Hjerpe and Mike Stephens,  from Washington – Joe Brinster, from Kansas – Greg Sands, from Missouri – Don and Mary Arnold, from Ontario – Jeff Haggis and son, Matt, from Idaho – Dave Walker, from Alberta – Dave Pearson and Sean Kelly, from British Columbia – Mike Jordan and Dave Williams, and finally from Saskatchewan – Ron and Linda Bender, Sheldon Rogers and Dawn Feist, John Raymond and son, Curtis, Linda Henderson, Justin Van DeWoestym, Louise Roblin and Kelly McLean, Bill and Maureen Preston, and Jeanette Heise and Lou Qualtiere. All made a difference in the magnitude of pleasure that all enjoyed. 

The Running:

Sand Creek Annie (Dr. Hjerpe) and Jennifer (Don Arnold) – The first brace set off just before 8:00 am on Saturday morning with 25 riders in the gallery. Temperature was in the mid 60’s and it was a glorious, early fall day. Both pointers took the first course to the left (south) and began casting like true shooting dogs looking for and hunting cover. At 8 minutes Annie is found standing. Arnold’s dog, Jenny, comes to the area but fails to honor and is invited to an early exit from the competition. Annie handles the find with proper manners and is cast off to the front. Up to the 30 mark this reporter can’t help but notice that Annie is really laying down the race of a seasoned veteran. At 31 minutes she is locked up again and a pair of chicken rise to expected manners. At 45 minutes Annie stops again but before Dr. Hjerpe stands down she relocates on her own and moves along. She finishes her brace with no further bird work but shows us what experience does for a race.

Roadshow (John Raymond) and McLean’s Pretty Boy (Kelly McLean) – The second brace begins in fairly heavy cover near the power line running north/south. The pointers heading in opposite directions. At 4 minutes into the brace Boy is standing. As Kelly McLean drops to the ground and begins to take his pistol out Boy moves on in disinterest. McLean grabs him to settle him a little and casts him off resulting in an unproductive. At 15 minutes Raymond is off to the right in a deep bluff locating his dog, Mike, on point. As Raymond rides to handle the dog three chicken rise to the commotion. As Raymond shots his gun to fine manners yet another chicken takes flight. Mike standing properly for the entire time. The time runs with both of these dogs working in and out of sight showing less than championship groundwork.

Windsong’s McCrae (Joe Brinster) and Rambling Away (Austin Turley) – Both pointers make time at the breakaway with Gus (Windsong’s McCrae) making wild casts to the immediate front. Jackie (Rambling Away) in her first minute ran directly to the front and established point.  With Gus investigating the grounds to the immediate front of Jackie, she still stood tall and solid until sent on by Turley only to move a covey of chicken. Who would have thought with all the activity? She was picked up we went on with one dog. This reporter believes the wrong dog was picked up. Gus completed the hour, however, with uneventful work having ensued. 

Dixy’s Northbound (Sheldon Rogers) and Bill (Don Arnold) – Dixy, a very white pointer female, takes off in an exciting first cast forward and slightly left of the gallery. Here the course turns south through heavy cover and Dixy is right in front. Bill, the first setter in the stake, is off to the right. At 14 point is called by Rogers but the resulting flush shows no results and she is sent on. Now the course enters thick cover and meanders to the left (east) towards a large stand of sagebrush and willow to finish heading toward camp. Bill is lost to the rear and Dixy is in the thick brush on the left. Scout, Ron Bender begins a search for Dixy as we haven’t seen her in a several minutes. A few minutes later Bill is brought back to the front and at 30 Don Arnold signals point for his dog on the left of us as we begin to emerge from the heavy cover.  Meanwhile, out in front several hundred yards Ron Bender has located Dixy on point. Apparently she’s been standing there since breaking out of the cover, to the front, prior to the gallery doing the same. Bill suffers an unproductive while Dixy shows beautifully with a dozen chickens. With the cover beginning to thin and 28 minutes remaining Rogers is again calling point for Dixy. The birds leave prior to anyone but the handler and judge seeing them and a shot is fired and manners are perfect. With only 7 minutes remaining Dixy makes a large cast to the east with Rogers riding hard to reel her in. Her race has been strong and consistent. The brace ends with both dogs to the front and we break for lunch.

Canadian Pete (Joe Brinster) and Cinder (Don Arnold) – It’s warm and the wind has picked up as we cross the road from camp and start out to the south. Pete and Cindy, two pointers, begin by heading to the front. After 18 minutes Pete is lost from sight and Brinster and scout, John Raymond, begin the search. Cindy continues working to the front. At 33 minutes with Cindy the only dog in sight we have been working the course hard to the front and sides but not finding any birds. At about 47 minutes Cindy disappears from sight. After about 10 minutes of  no dogs at all we move to the windmill to prepare for the next brace. 

Rosie Bee (Shannon Nygard) and Traveler’s Prairie Run (Greg Sand) – These two setters, Rosie, a tri color and Ravie, an orange and white take off like they were shot out of a cannon. At 10 minutes with Nygard having reeled Rosie in to water her, Sand’s scout, Sean Kelly, has begun the search for Ravie and will not find her for some time. At 20 minutes Rosie fails to put on the brakes for six rising chicken and the brace is over.

Opie (Sean Kelly) and Flatland’s Big Show (Dave Pearson) – Starting the last brace of Friday’s running we head east to eventually turn south toward camp. We are skirting the north side of a large bluff of trees and additional moderate cover. At 5 minutes Pearson is signaling point for Joe. Pearson can’t get the porcupine to flush and we take the dog on. Opie is taking a different course than most of us and Joe is starting to stretch out his casts. At 23 Joe is pointing again albeit slightly flagging. Pearson begins the flush. Joe wants to relocate but is whoaed up by Pearson who flushes a single chicken to a resulting good stand. Opie is back with us and hunting to the front. At 32 Pearson signals point again and multiple chicken flush in front of Joe who is finally standing nicely however Pearson picks the dog up as he needs too much help holding still.  At 32 Opie is standing and handles chicken nicely. With less than a minute to go in the brace Opie is pointing again but Kelly cannot locate game and the brace is complete.

Sand Creek Ringo (Dr. Hjerpe) and Flatland’s Tuff Anuff (Dave Pearson) – Sunday starts off with the notorious calm morning weather and overnight dew as these two pointers speed off on course one. At 5 minutes Pearson is signaling point for Nick and he is standing straight and tall in the exact same location as Dr. Hjerpe’s dog, Annie, did yesterday. A single bird rise results in pristine manners for him and he’s gathered up and cast off. On the cast off the commotion spooks three more chicken and Nick stops to the flush. After going through a gate and bypassing some meandering cattle the dogs are settled into shooting dog patterns.  Dr. Hjerpe’s dog is working well to the front and Pearson’s, Nick, is cutting to the left along a fence line. At 22 Ringo is pointing tall and stylish. A concerted attempt to flush and relocate results in an unproductive and we go on. At 35 the dogs have been showing very classy ground races. Finally at 53 Nick is locked up again. ½ dozen chicken rise in front of a perfect stand. Again at 56 Pearson is lifting his hat again. It results in an unproductive and this ends the brace. Two impressive ground heats!

Waygoing Hoot (Mike Stephens) and Traveler’s Prairie Girl (Greg Sand) – On course two under the power line heading south. The pointer, Hoot, heads to the right and Cory, Greg Sand’s setter makes a bee line to the south in much the same fashion as the power line. At 17 the gallery sees chicken rise and we look for Hoot on point having yet to find the setter. We go around a corner and find him down in some wolf willow but he is given credit for a stop to flush as the judges did not see enough. At this point Sand will ask for the Tracker to search for Cory and Stephens will pick up Hoot to end the brace.

Lone Mountain Reliant (John Mandell) and Wainwright Willy (Dave Williams) – The dogs head off to the front and make their first swings with no contact. The first stand occurs at 11 minutes with Sam, Mandell’s setter, pointing to the front in tight cover. After attempting a relocation the result is an unproductive. He waters him and sends him on. At 19 Mandell calls point again but waves it off until the dog finally locks up. A single bird flushes and his manners are stellar. At 29 minutes Sam is pointing again in the buck brush until he voluntarily moves on. Only a minute later as we come into the brush the birds alight and he’s credited with a stop to flush. At 36 Arnold’s pointer is standing on the left but there are no birds found and he is cast off again. Sam is making wonderful shooting dog casts to cover. At 52 minutes Sam is standing again and a single chicken takes flight and his manners are perfect. With 4 minutes to go Mandell has his hat in the air again. This becomes the second unproductive and he is picked up. Willy finishes the hour uneventfully. 

Mystic Fire (Joe Brinster) and High Powered Gasoline (Ron Bender) – Both pointers head south through the open grassland for the first eight or nine minutes. At 9 they both head south and a fence keeps us from getting them back. After pushing up against the 20-minute limit we get Suzie back for Bender and she progresses forward. At 30 Brinster asks for the Tracker to search for Tony and we become a one-dog brace. At 42 Suzie is pointing in the buck brush and chicken rise to fine manners. With 12 minutes to go Suzie has another find on a pair of chicken. Manners, yet again, fine. 

Lone Mountain Magique (John Mandel) and A Flatland’s Seduction (Dave Pearson) – The orange and white setter, Meg, starts out conservatively for Mandell while Honey, Pearson’s pointer bitch shows us the front and then some. At 8 minutes we are at the windmill watering the setter and searching for the pointer. At 19 Honey is standing straight as a string but even after a relocation attempt no one’s home and we take off again. Moments later Honey is acting birdy again but it confirms the unproductive. At 26 minutes Meg is looking serious in a bluff to our left and below us. She runs over two chicken and Mandell picks her up. At 31 Honey is pointing again in the silver willow. When she can’t find game he sends her on but to no avail and it becomes her second unproductive and the brace is over. 

Sand Creek Rita (Dr. Hjerpe) and Classie (Don Arnold) – The first afternoon brace has us heading south on the east side of the road from camp in very warm weather with only moderate breeze. Both female pointers get the first bit of energy out of their systems and then get down to work. The ground races are quite impressive given the heat factor but at the change over we have no bird contact to report.  At 45 minutes Don Arnold signals point but for Dr. Hjerpe’s dog, Rita. We’re surprised we have any bird contact at all as it is very hot however, 5 chicken take rise in front of stellar manners albeit a slightly relaxed tail – understandable given the heat and exertion. At the hour mark Rita is standing again but as Dr. Hjerpe gets down from his horse Classie appears on the scene apparently with no concern to backing. Dr. Hjerpe elects to pull his dog from the stand and time is called. This has been a very impressive hour. Rita has performed in terrific fashion given the extreme heat and everyone is impressed.

Phoebe (Sean Kelly) and Rambling Rebel Yell (Austin Turley) – The setter and pointer blast to the front until at 8 we find Phoebe on point. A single chicken takes off at the end of the bluff and her manners are flawless. After a huge cast to the south Billy is back to the front and after getting watered is performing well. Phoebe is working marvelously to the front and at 11 minutes she has a stop to flush. At 15 minutes Turley is calling point for Billy who is found standing with Phoebe backing. A bevy of chicken alight with both dogs performing perfectly. Only two minutes later Kelly is calling point for Phoebe who likely found two birds from the previous flush. Her manners are superb. As we move on to the front at 21 Austin Turley calls point for Billy again. With no ensuing birds he is sent on to relocate but no birds are produced. With Phoebe returning from an extended cast we have both dogs forward now. At 27 Turley has his hat raised again and as we approach chicken are lifting all around us. Billy stands tall and tight as does the backing Phoebe and both dogs manners are as expected. At 30 minutes Sean Kelly has picked Phoebe up. He’s not happy with her groundwork. A couple minutes later Turley is off his horse again with Billy pointing right at a bush. Austin goes over to the dog and pulls him from the point and straps on the harness. The brace if over.

Preston’s Miss Ellie (Bill Preston) –Ellie is the remaining dog to run and she does so by herself. At 8 minutes Bill is calling point for Miss Ellie on the edge of a bluff. She is standing nice and tall. A single chicken takes flight and we have a perfect find. Ellie has a controlled and focused ground race while not being far reaching but the job is getting done. At 21 Preston has his hat in his hand again and a gallery of about 10 riders arrives to watch but no birds are produced. However, a deer did come out of the far side of the bluff. In the relocation effort Ellie is searching all through the bluff but Bill sends her on with an unproductive. At the half way mark Ellie is standing again but Bill cannot find birds for her. He sends her on but she stops again, sure that she’s the correct one. Two chicken rise in front of her with good manners. We continue on in a meticulous manner until at 56 minutes Preston elects to pick her up. She’s had two nice finds but her race has been too conservative.