The 2007 Region 14 All Age and National Amateur Chicken Championships

By John Mandell and Louis Qualtiere

The Region 14 All Age and National Amateur Chicken Championships were held on September the 3th through the 9th at Mortlach Saskatchewan. These two championships have been conjointly held at Mortlach at the end of the August beginning of September for over 20 years. These grounds are the jewel of the Northern prairies and offer one of the strongest tests of a true all-age dog. Only those dogs which can reach out to the limit and still handle and find birds will be counted in the end. Brad Harter, the reporter for the NACC in 2004 gave a remarkably accurate description of these ground and for those who missed his commentary that year here it is.

"Put together more than 16,000 acres of gently rolling prairie terrain, more than ample numbers of Sharp-tail grouse and Hungarian partridge, perfect weather, great dogs and the best people you could ever meet and you have every single ingredient for a successful field trial. The National Amateur Chicken Championship, held in early September at Mortlach, Sask., was exactly that type of field trial. A portion of the grounds are owned by a half dozen local ranchers. The largest section is called "Crown Land". It is owned by the Canadian government and is leased to the local ranchers. The trial headquarters is a modern clubhouse that sits on the site of Leon Covington's old training camp. This clubhouse was built in recent years by the Sask. Field Trial Club, a group of hard working, field trial infected Canadians with help from the AFTCA 20th Century fund. It is a great facility that is appreciated by all that attend these prairie trials.

With nearly 16,000 acres available for five one hour courses, there is more than ample room for a bird dog to show heels and perform the true prairie, all-age race. Each course is about five miles in length. Each course offers plenty of objectives and a perfect cover mix with massive hay fields intermixed with rotational crop land. There are bluffs (tree-covered islands) and long sandy ridges covered with chokecherry and other indigenous shrubs. Mix in a few rough pastures, home to large herds of beef cattle, and you have Mortlach, a field trial paradise. Somewhere on about every 160 acres you will find the remains of abandoned home sites. These old farm sites are often home to the Sharptail grouse and Huns, just like they are favorite haunts to the Bobwhite quail of the south. Put this all together and it completes a mosaic pattern that is just about perfect as far as bird dogs and field trials are concerned. With this mix of cover conditions, birds can be anywhere and everywhere on any given day. The locals say these birds are where you find them; they don't attempt to predict their location. They like to say: "that's the reason for the dog." There is absolutely no question that it takes a good dog to figure this all out. Throw into this mix the prairie wind. It almost always plays a big factor in a dog's performance and it seems to blow most all the time. The days can also be sunny and hot and these conditions may push the birds into the brush covered bluffs. On the cloudy days, there is no real predicting were the birds will be. Your best bet may just be to turn your dog loose and trust his judgment. The good ones just seem to go to birds. That's why the old timer's like John Gardner always said the prairie does the separating, making all the great ones stand out over the rest. The truly great prairie dogs experiment. They try every form of cover that exist until something starts to work. In short, this is what really makes these grounds are a bird dog trainer's paradise. For a dog to have success up here, the nose and brains must be connected all the time. The massive size of the country can't intimidate the dog; instead it must be the lure that pulls him forward to each distant horizon. If someone assigned you to draw plans for the perfect venue for an all-age dog; you would want to use Mortlach as your prototype. It's just that simple!"

These two amateur championships mark one of the earliest tests of the 2007-2008 trial season. Many handlers leave their training grounds in Montana or the Dakota's to test the summers' training on these challenging grounds. The R14 had 30 entries and NACC 35 this year while this was down a little from the last two years it was still a strong test with multiple champions and previous winners on these grounds in both stakes.

Judges for this Region 14 renewal both were Canadians with many decades of field trialing, Sean Kelly of Cardston, Alberta and Roger Shelswell of Woodstock, Ontario. Sean Kelly has the distinction of participating in and judging this event when it was held on the historical grounds at Gleichen, Alberta in the 1960's and 70's, and has since judged numerous championships in Canada and the U.S. He has developed and handled several champions, winning the 2007 Region 14 Shooting Dog title with Lone Mountain Magique in the week preceding the Mortlach stakes. Roger Shelswell has been participating in trials over a similar time period. He has judged many championships ranging from walking stakes to all-age. "I love it" is how he expressed his feelings about the Mortlach grounds on this, his second visit.

The judges for this NACC year were William Smith, Moscow Tennessee and Rick Stallings Region 16 AFTCA Trustee from Alabama. While both are Southerns' both have been to Mortlach and the prairies before, it fact William had just finished judging the Dominion Open Championship for Doug Vaughn the week before. They both were looking for a prairie All-Age performance, with a forward race and good manners around the native sharp-tail grouse and Hungarian partridge.

Among participants from the U. S. were, from the Midwest: Starr and Don Wiggins, Illinois,Roger Watson, Indiana, Jim Michaletz, Missouri Kentucky ;and from the East , Eileen and Tom Leisfeld from Virginia, and from the West: Lyle Hansen,John Mandell and Tom and Shannon Nygard of Montana, Mike Stephens and Charlie Hjerpe of California, Joe Brinster of Washington ;and from the South:, Mike Furney and John Milton,Florida;Bill Bruce, and Ben Adams Kentucky. Canadians competing in the stake were Doug Vaughn, Sheldon Rogers, Bill Preston and Ron Bender of Saskatchewan.

Responsibility of the running of the two trials has rested with the Region 14 executive and Saskatchewan Field Trial members who supplied the labor to make sure the trials ran smoothly. Ron Bender as usual marshaled the majority of the braces spelled at times by Bill Preston, Doug Vaughn and Sheldon Rogers. Jeanette Heise,Region 14 secretary/treasurer, organized the lunches for the judges, reporter and guests for the five days of the trials. Maureen Preston handled the details for the banquet Wednesday night, catered by a Church group from Tugaski.SK, generously sponsored by Purina for the landowners and the trialers. Linda Hunt handled the draw and the financials for the NACC and drove the dog wagon as she has many times in the past. The majority of the trialers reported no or little trouble crossing the border having the proper papers for dogs and the horses.

Mortlach is a special place for field trialers and should not be missed. Above all, we thank the great cast of landowners led by Donna and Les Eastland (who also supply hay and oats each evening), and including the Wards, Ellingsons, Campbells, Crosbies, Goslings, Adamses and other landowners.

Mortlach is a special place for field trialers and should not be missed. Above all, we thank the great cast of landowners led by Donna and Les Eastland (who also supply hay and oats each evening), and including the Wards, Ellingsons, Campbells, Crosbies, Goslings, Adamses and other landowners.

The Winners Region 14 Championship

On the strength of a forward, hard driving race and one outstanding find on chicken, the 2007 Region 14 All-Age Champion is Wiggins River Dollar, bred, owned, and handled by Don Wiggins. This is the first title for Dollar, just two years old, achieved in his first championship try and third field trial overall. He is the product of Wiggins' program, by Wiggins River Knot, winner of the 2004 companion National Amateur Chicken All-Age Championship; the dam was a gift from Dr. Pat McInteer. "Buck," as he is known, was wife Starr's first puppy project and was ably scouted by Roger Watson. This is Don's seventh year competing at Mortlach, having won the National Amateur Chicken Championship with "Knot" in 2004 and handled Miller's Online to the same title in 2005.

Lester's Thunderbird, the runner-up for Tommy Liesfeld, was obtained from Lefty Henry two years ago. His past titles include the companion Nat. Am. Chicken in 2006. Wife Ellen's riding and textbook scouting were a pleasure to observe throughout the stake. The judges also cited strong ground efforts by Miller's Southern Pride and Sand Creek Ringo which went unrewarded.

The Running Region 14 Championship The breakaway for the first brace is north of camp, heading west through cut hayfields with some second growth alfalfa and occasional areas of trees and bushes (bluffs) and hedgerows. The weather was pleasantly cool, warming for the afternoon braces. Lester's Thunderbird (Liesfeld) and Waygoing Nick (Stephens), both white and liver pointers, were away strongly, in front through the double gates at 8. Thunderbird, the eventual runner-up, was standing stylishly at 10 in alfalfa, but no birds were produced. After the turn south at 30, with both dogs in front along hedgerows, judge Kelly called-out Thunderbird standing east of the hedgerow, with Huns flushing as riders approached; all in order. Nick was standing just beyond Thunderbird, not observed until Thunderbird was brought on. Through the first gate, several chicken flushed from taller grass outside of small trees at 37, Nick stopping. Thunderbird then came in to back (not having seen the birds), and Nick moved on before handlers arrived. Nick was picked-up. Through the gate and into the field before the road crossing, Thunderbird took the left side; numerous cows on the right would cause confusion in later braces. Down the sparse hedgerows and turning east after the road crossing, Liesfeld had his dog ahead at moderate range, into the rough area at the end of the course. Scout Ellen Liesfeld called-out the dog standing in high grass at 57 to the front of the handler, Huns flushing shortly afterward, all in order.

Lester's Powder Keg (Liesfeld) and Barnhill's Tight Genes (Michaletz) were off from the usual morning course two start, through wheat stubble with a heavy growth of volunteer oats. Both dogs far to the east along the lane, Genes making the swing to the west along hedgerows and across the road at the water tank. Powder Keg was not brought on until 25, judge Shelswell reporting an unproductive to the east after the start. Both dogs were gone to the south after the turn east at 34, Leisfeld taking the tracker at 42. Genes shortened along Miller's Hole and was up at 56 as temperatures warmed. High Powered Gasoline (Bender) and Canadian Pete (Brinster) broke at the normal start of morning course three at the crossroads, Tom Nygard spelling Ron Bender with dog wagon duties. This course starts north then turns east along ridges with chokecherry already showing orange colors, while yellow summer flowers were still abundant. This year the course turned back to the south before the pasture to avoid a standing flax crop. Both dogs were to the south early, back in front by 20, gasoline the wider; Pete was not himself, up at 34. Bender with his hat raised at 35, Gasoline standing far to the east, but no birds were produced. He finished along the big hedgerows after the turn north, without birds.

Morning course four starts at the south end of Chicken Alley, and runs along large hedge rows toward the lake to the north. Davis Shout (Liesfeld) and Miller's Southern Pride (Furney), winner of this stake in 2006, both took advantage of the long hedge rows, Pride continuing as far as we could see to the front, Shout also showing well, moving to the east at 5. Pride was shown heading west, to the front, at the end of the hedge rows at 16, as birds were ridden-up. Both dogs were in front at the end of the road, point called for Pride then quickly waved-off. Pride, north toward the lake, was first returned by Furney to negotiate the gate, then shown on another huge cast to the front as the course turns back to the north, paralleling the lakeshore. Meanwhile, Shout had been absent in high cover toward the lake. Chicken were flushed as handler Liesfeld passed a dense bluff along the edge of the field; soon handler, scout and judge Kelly were searching for Shout around the dense thicket, chicken flushing out at regular intervals. After about fifteen chicken had left, Shout showed up in front, not involved in the melee. Both dogs made the turn at the far north end of the grounds, Pride having been brought along the higher ground to the west. Both dogs finished bird-less despite opportunities, with Huns flushing as dogs were gathered at the end.

The three afternoon courses started across the road east of camp, heading east along the low ridges. The 2:00 start found warm temperatures as Chief Honcho Bill (Adams) and Barnhill Jake (Michaletz) were released. Jake was up at 12, his focus somewhere else this day. As Bill was being brought forward along fence toward the south at 20, birds were seen in the air, the dog shown standing. At 30 point was called by scout Ellen Liesfeld about a half mile to the northeast and slightly behind. Bill was standing at a large chokecherry bluff along the road, stylish but not completely tight; about fifteen chicken were produced to good manners. With Bill at moderate range in front at 44, Adams called point, dog standing in the alfalfa. Although this stand was unproductive, Bill scored a clean find shortly thereafter, just in front of the gallery. Sent into the large field to the south at the turn, Bill was almost immediately out of sight, with scout and handler searching far to the south. The dog was returned by the scout after time with a bad case of porcupine quills which was immediately attended by several participants.

Ride the Trail (Nygard) and Sand Creek Ringo (Hjerpe) were away at the turn north, along the large hedgerows. Ringo impressed throughout, with ambitious casts the full length of the first hedgerows and then the hedgerows of Chicken Alley. Trail was also covering a lot of ground, with big casts toward the lake at the end of Chicken Alley, and again at 40 before the gate. Through the gate and turning north, Ringo was far to the front toward the lake. Trail, in front at 47 as birds flushed, was slow to stop and was up. Ringo finished with big forward casts to the lake, then to the bluffs at the north end, but, unfortunately, without birds. The third afternoon course starts east of the road at the far north end, heading south, crossing to the west side of the road, and merging with the first morning course. Lone Mountain Impact (Mandell), the lone setter in the stake, and Clovis Point (Furney) were forward in the early going. Furney pointed-out Impact standing outside of a bluff to the front after the road crossing at 20. A large covey of Huns were flushed far ahead of the setter in the short grass, all in order. Clovis Point was not pleasing Furney, taken up at 21. Impact was inconsistent in application after this, finishing with some stronger casts at the end of the hour.

The Tuesday morning start was cool and pleasant, Dixie Northbound (Rogers) and R J's Scarface (Watson), both very animated, fast moving pointers far to the front early. Scarface was back at 12, then off on a huge cast to the north. Dixie was in front at bluffs at 17, scout Bender signaling point at 22 but quickly waving it off. Turning south at 30, Dixie was through the gate with Watson and Scout Wiggin searching for Scarface. Scarface was seen briefly at the road crossing, to the front, then was gone until brought on at time, a slightly 'over the edge' race. Dixie showed well through most of the hour, but was also without birds. The second brace of the morning had R J's Trademark (Liesfeld) and Mystic Fire (Brinster). Fire was big and fast off the breakaway, then shown on a huge move to the east, and gone. Trademark was far to the north off the break, then brought across the road at 15 by Liesfeld. Point was called by scout Ellen Liesfeld to the west of Cherry Lane, with Trademark standing outside of a bluff; the relocation effort ended with the surprising retreat of a badger. Trademark was ahead along hedgerows at 38, then in front at the turn at 52 as Huns were ridden-up. He finished near Miller's Hole, bird-less.

At the start of the third brace the wind had freshened from the south, with the temperature rising and the threat of showers for Shadow's Perfect Punch (Vaughn) and Sounding Creek Annie (Hjerpe). Punch was big to the west, Annie moving well in front as we paralled the road to the north, then crossed at the corners. Punch was standing briefly at 29 along ridges to the east, then moved on, picked-up by Vaughn at 34. Annie was collected by Dr. Hjerpe after a cast far to the northeast, then was moving well to the front along bluffs. This proved an unlucky day for Annie: her strong race resulted in a lone bird contact, a stylish stand at 54, which unraveled in the wind when she self-relocated toward the west, with Huns flushing wild to the east, Annie unaware. The last morning brace started toward the south before the turn, Flatlands Big Show (Pearson) and Waygoing Ripster (Stephens). Show moved quickly east down the sparse hedgerows and out across the next field, not making the turn back to the north; truly a 'big' but brief 'show'. Rip was charged with an unproductive at 23, looking good along hedgerows to the north after the turn. His bid ended in a mistake on Huns at 44. As we rode to camp for the always rewarding lunch break, lightening could be seen in the distance.

The first brace after lunch was to be the last of the day, B B Pike (Bruce) and Wiggins River Knot (Wiggins), delayed briefly by a blast of rain, as the storm then appeared to move off to the west. Knot, the 2004 Nat. Am. Chicken Champion, made a quick move to the south and was gone. Pike was to the front, moving well in the early going. Into the hedgerows toward the north Pike was ahead, but the active storm was now overtaking us. At 50, in heavy rain, chicken were seen leaving in front, with Pike then moving in to point; he was taken-up as lightening flashed. Three rigs were quickly and mercifully dispatched to rescue fifteen of the riders from the storm; the sixteenth, Jim Michaletz, insisted on riding to camp alone. As we departed in the dim light of the swirling storm, a hawk could be seen cart-wheeling low over the alfalfa, putting three chicken to flight in an ageless prairie contest.

Wednesday morning was cool and damp after the rain, Bill Preston again marshalling. Starting at the usual morning breakaway, Twice the Man (Vaughn) and Chief Honcho Sam (Adams) were far to the front, both pointed out past the double gate. However, at 12, scout Bender called Man standing and brought handler Vaughn and Judge Shelswell far back to the north. Two chicken were seen to flush ahead of Man as they approached, and he yielded to the temptation. Meanwhile, Sam was gone, ruled out at 30. Shadow Cruiser Bud (Vaughn) and Miller's Online (Furney) started at the lane, heading west. Online has been a fixture in these trials, winning the National Amateur in 2005 and the Region in 2004, but was gone early in this one, Furney taking the tracker at 30. Vaughn had Bud ahead along hedgerows going south at 20, moving well through gates and across the road, corralling him again in the rough field at the end of course one. Sent on through the stubble and oat field at the start of course two, he pointed stylishly in front of the gallery, then took out two chicken.

The final brace, which would produce the winner, started just east of the usual breakaway for morning course two, with Human Touch (Liesfeld) and Wiggins River Dollar (Wiggins). Dollar was far to the north off the breakaway, brought around to the road crossing by Wiggin. Touch was mostly forward and strong down the hedgerows to the crossing. Past the road crossing Dollar was driving well ahead to the south. As we neared the large tree row which heads south, Dollar was found standing majestically on the east side at 30, by Wiggin. First several chicken were flushed from the trees, flying low in the wind, and then scattered Huns flushed as Dollar was taken-on. All-in-all, a striking find with polished manners under trying conditions for the young, soon to be named champion. Dollar was then strong to the front along hedge rows. After the turn north along the road, both dogs were hunting at reduced range until the corner, when Dollar again reached far along the road to the north. Touch finished to the east with an apparent stop to flush.

The Winners National Amateur Chicken Championship

High Noon Drifter won the NACC based on strong ground race, a nice fine and by showing up to the front on his own at 58 after being gone for awhile. See brace 4 of the write up for the details. Drifter was raised on the Dixie plantation and has spent his trial career with Ricky Furney. John Milton described him as hard luck dog having survived both a serious pulled tendon last year and a snake bite the year before just after winning the Continental. The win here follows a runner up performance in the Dominion handled by Rick Furney the week before on the same grounds.

Human Touch was named runner up champion on the basis of strong race and outstanding find but didn't finish as well as the judges would of liked. See brace brace 8 for details. He is four years old, out of the last litter from Marques Gold Rush 2000 National Champion and this was his first runner up Championship. Several other dogs were in contention including High Powered Gasoline ( Ron Bender) who suffered by coming up from rear several times and Lester's Thunderbird ( Tommy Leisfeld) who was lost at time.

Running National Amateur Chicken Championship 2007

The first brace of the NACC began on the Mortlach first course at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 5, 2007 with the Region 14 Championships finishing earlier that morning. Temperature is about 60 deg, wind out of the northwest about 15mph. Shadow's Perfect Pitch (Vaughn) and Lone Mountain Reliant (Mandell). Jake handled by Doug Vaughn took the first hedge at the breakaway, and returned to camp a half mile south. Scout, Ron Bender returned with the dog at 17' to the double gate and pointed him towards the Eastman grid. Mandell's Setter Sam started erratically with John having difficulty keeping him to the front for the first ten minutes. John tiring of this behavior, at 15 elected to pick him up. Jake continued across the alfalfa field, passed the Eastman grid and headed north instead of west. At 40 having difficulty getting him forward, Doug called it quits. No birds were seen or located in this first brace.

The second brace saw Chief Honcho's Jake (Adams) and Barn Hill's Jake (Michaletz). Both Jakes were turned loose at the north end of Chokecherry Lane and charged south through the cover and the first pasture gate. Both dogs made the first gate in good order and hunted the open pasture grassland between the first gate and the road easily with Ben's dog making slightly larger casts. Ben's Jake continued through the start of the second course and finished with a strong all-age race far to the east of the ridge at the beginning of the second course. A strong all age performance but unfortunately, no birds. Michaletz's Jake shortened in the heat and without birds was harnessed at 45. That was the last brace of the day as no further running could be done to prevent the same dogs running twice in one day because of the overlap from the Region Championship.

The third brace began Thursday morning on the Mortlach's first course with clouds and intermittent showers greeting the trialers. Temperature were around 50 deg with a little breeze from the south. Doug Vaughn brought Twice the Man to the line and Ben Adam's disappeared to the north. Tommy Leisfeld scouting for Ben, brought his dog back to the front at the Eastman grid. Sam continues across the alfalfa fields before he decided to hunt to the north at the end of Chokecherry Lane as the course turned south and was never retrieved. Twice the Man, last seen standing in the rough pasture in the beginning Chief Honcho Sam. Both dogs handled well for the first ten minutes then both of the first course, also headed north and was not returned to the front in time.

The second brace of the day, fourth brace of the NACC saw High Powered Gasoline (Bender) and High Noon Drifter (Milton) casting off on the regular starting point of the Mortlach second course. Both dogs cast to the front and over the east-west ridge and disappeared to the north. Scouts were able to bring both dogs back forwards the ridge as we headed southeast with Drifter slightly farther north than Susie in the exercise.Returning to the east, Drifter had a nice find north of the ridge and Milton was able to flush five chickens with everything in order. Both dogs continued to the Eastman grid road and at the water tank were watered and cast off up the road south. Drifter hunted with the bushes along the road and eventually moved to the east and over the ridge heading south. Susie ran to the top of the ridge along the road and cut to the hedge rows taking the first hedge row to the south end. As the course started turning to the east towards Miller's Hole both scouts could be seen far to the south trying to return their dogs to the front, Bender's dog returned first and decided to hunted north up one of the far eastern hedge rows. As we continued east towards Miller's Hole, at 45 Ron called point for his dog far to the west standing on the North end of the eastern hedge row. Ron was able to flush a nice covey of huns in front of her, all in order. Drifter gone from this reporter sight for a long time was found to the front working the cover south and west of Miller's Hole at 58. It wasn't clear how he got there but we had done it on his own. Both dogs hunted north across the alfalfa fields with no further bird contact.

The fifth brace showed Shadow Cruiser Bud (Vaughn) and Waygoin' Nick (Stephens) casting off just north of Miller's Hole. Both dogs decided to get in a foot race going west with scouts in pursuit. Both dogs were eventually returned to the front at 16. Both dogs continued over the road to the start of the third course and pushed to the ridge west of camp. Doug having problems keeping his dog to the front, called it quits at 48. Mike collared his dog at the 50 after an unproductive.

The sixth brace Ride the Trail (Nygard) and Briercrest (Milton) were cast south at the western edge of the ridge west of camp. Thirty seconds after the breakaway, Gus, handled by Shannon Nygard had a find on chickens in the short alfalfa right in front of everyone. The chickens were flushed and everything was in order. Cast off the dog continued up the alfalfa strip south and again was able to find chickens in short order but unfortunately this time decide to follow the birds when they flushed before Shannon arrived. Briercrest continued south for 20 minutes with John keeping him close. As he reached the south boundary at the end of the sparse hedge rows and headed towards the large hedge rows he released the dog and he made a strong cast to the north towards Chicken Alley passing the water tank and took the centre hedge row to the lake. When we reached the bottom of Chicken Alley time was called and the dog was not to be seen. After a ten minute search Don Porter found him standing in high grass along the lake. Milton was able to produce a single chicken in front of him with everything in order.

The seventh brace of the NACC began after lunch casting off on the standard Mortlach first course. Winds increased to 20 mph and continued to increase throughout the remainder of the afternoon. The sky was thankfully overcast and a cool 58 deg, good conditions for the dogs. Top dog was Lester's Thunderbird (Liesfeld), last year's NACC champion, bottom dog, Clovis Point Ty (Furney). Both dogs took hold of the course and for the first fifteen minutes carried it in all-age fashion. Thunderbird had a stop to flush at 15 and Clovis Point a find on a single chicken in the alfalfa field east of Chokecherry Lane. Five minutes later Liesfeld called point and Thunderbird could be seen standing pointing into the bush along Chokecherry Lane.Clovis approached the same bush from the other side and a bird flushed. He acted uncertain and was picked up. Liesfeld flushed for his dog igniting the four chicken remaining in front of the dog. Thunderbird ran a strong finishing race, disappearing to the north after we crossed the through the second gate. He never reappeared and unfortunately was lost at time and counted out.

The second brace of the afternoon, the eighth brace, saw Human Touch (Liesfeld) and B.B. Pike (Bruce) cast off from the regular second Mortlach course. Both dogs carried through the first fifty minutes with strong all-age races. At 46, Human Touch could be seen pointing in a alfalfa field south of Miller's Hole stylishly silhouetted against the green alfalfa field. Tommy was able to flush two huns in front of him while other huns could be seen getting up directly east of the dog at the same time. Both dogs cast out now north through the alfalfa field struggling hard to hold the front as they ran into the now very formidable northwest wind. Nevertheless, both dogs finished close to the crossroads at the beginning of the third course.

The ninth brace saw Preston's Katie (Preston) and Miller's On Line (Furney). On Line was a 2004 and 2005 winner on these grounds, one in the Regional Championship and another in the National Amateur Championship. Both dogs cast off to the ridge east of camp. Both dogs hit the ridge and turned correctly down the ridge east, On Line could be seen for a few more minutes heading down the ridge but was never returned to the front. Kate likewise disappeared going east on the ridge but Bill kept riding the course and was rewarded when his dog was shown to the front as we started to turn east towards the hedge rows. Kate kept her all-age shoes on, hunting strong to the south and then turned north towards the lake and at time, could be seen standing along the east road boundary. Bill was able to flush a covey of huns in front of her.

Last brace of the day, the tenth brace, saw Lone Mountain Impact (Mandell) and R.W. Scarface (Watson) casting towards chicken alley and the lake from the water tank. Scarface pitched down the hedgerows in all-age fashion but had a miscue on a flock of huns at 25. Impact hunted at moderate range throughout the brace with no birds and was picked up by Mandell at 50.

The eleventh brace, started on the first course Friday morning, wind about 5mph from the northwest, showers during the night left the ground wet, temperature around 50deg. Top dog was Miller's Southern Pride (Furney), bottom dog, Wiggin's River Dollar (Wiggins), fresh from his win in the Region 14 Championship run earlier in the week. Both dogs put down a strong all-age race for the first half of the brace. As we turned south at the end of Chokecherry Lane, Pride was found standing in the cover before the first gate. Mike produced two coveys of chicken, one at the side and one in front of the dog, all in order. Pride continued strong through the centre pasture gates but disappeared to the front as we reached the road and was lost. Dollar continued his strong ground performance through the center pastures to the grid road. As we approached the bluff ,just north of the latest gate south part of the course,Don called point for Dollar standing on the far western edge of the bluff. Several in the gallery had seen birds leave earlier, but the judge his view blocked by the elevation of the bluff indicated he had not . Don elected to try to flush but was unsuccessful in producing a bird. Dollar continued across the road but Don elected to end the brace just before we turned to the north.

The twelfth brace, began at the regular Mortlach second course start, with Davis Shout (Liesfeld)( runner champion last year) and Sand Creek Annie (Hjerpe). Both dogs charged over the ridge heading north and were brought to the Eastman grid by scouts. After watering at the water trough south of Eastman's both dogs were cast up the sand road. At 29 Annie was found pointing into a chokecherry bush just before the dried slough. She was unsuccessful in producing birds and Charlie suggested a porcupine. Unfortunately this was confirmed that afternoon by Ben Adam's dog Chief Honcho Bill in the sixteenth brace. Davis Shout and Annie both put down strong all-age races finishing just north of Miller's Hole but neither was able to produce any birds.

The thirteenth brace was cast off just north of Miller's Hole. Wind increasing now from 30mph giving the dogs the task of pushing directly into a strong northwest wind. Barn Hill's Tight Jeans (Michaletz) and Dixie's Northbound (Rogers) cast immediately south and at 10 were finally brought up to the front by the scouts. Dixie ran a moderate race for the remainder of the brace but had no birds and was picked up at the end of the ridge east of camp at 35. Jeans ran a strong all-age race through the middle portion of the brace and was found at time along the south sand road west of the flax field. Jim flushed a large covey of huns in front of the dog as time was called.

The fourteenth brace was cast off just south of the flax field into the tall uncut alfalfa field. In this brace we saw Phantom's Evolution (Milton) and Waygoing Ripster (Stephens). Within minutes of breakaway, Evolution could be seen standing stylishly pointing with his back to the wind in the heavy grass. John was unable to produce a bird in front of the dog and in trying a relocation,with the dog moving, a single chicken flushed behind the dog. Ripster never seemed to get his all-age shoes on and was picked up at 40 at the water trough at the top of Chicken Alley ending the morning braces.

The fifteenth brace began after lunch on the Mortlach first course. Top dog was Canadian Pete (Brinster) and the bottom dog Sand Creek Ringo (Hjerpe). Special note for Joe Brinster, who is no stranger to this championship, at 81 years of age was competing in his 40th National Amateur Chicken Championship on the prairies. A remarkable feat and tremendous accomplishment. Canadian Pete a Pacific Coast Dog Shooting Champion showed his shooting dog character with finds on chicken at 7, 36 and 42 running at moderate range and hunting the cover. Joe had injured his leg earlier and John Mandell scouted and flushed for Joe on all three occasion. He finished to the road in the last pasture with a good all-age cast. Ringo made several nice all-age casts in the first thirty minutes and was rewarded with a classy find at 30 in bluffs just short of Chokecherry Lane. Charlie ended Ringo's bid when he picked him up at 48 after an unproductive.

The second brace of the afternoon started at the Mortlach second course with R.J. Trademark (Liesfeld) and Chief Honcho's Bill (Adams). The sky is now overcast with the temperature in the 60's. Both dogs took the ridge in fine fashion. Ben calling point for Bill at 8 minutes just north of the ridge and completed a nice find on chickens. Both dogs continued well to the water tank and then cast south up the sand road. Ben called point at 30. Unable to flush a bird, he relocated the dog and rewarded with his second porcupine of the week. After several minutes of quill extraction the dog was sent on and ran well until the last 10 minutes where he appeared to tire. Trademark was lost down the hedge rows heading south and was never returned to the front.

The seventeenth brace, starting at the standard start of the third course at the cross roads south of camp, saw Lester's Powder Keg (Leisfeld) and Mystic Fire (Brinster). Temperature now 70deg with overcast skies. Both dogs crossed the ridge east of camp with Mystic Fire turning prematurely to the south, finally returning to the front at the 35 as we crossed the road at Ellingson's pasture. Fire hunted east along Ellington's pasture but disappeared into the high grass as we headed towards the far hedgerows. Tommy hunted his dog through the ridge up along Ellington's pasture and then lost him as we turned east towards the hedge rows. Mystic fire showed up as we turned to the north down the Carraganna hedges. He hunted the hedge rows and finished at the ridge south of the water tank. Either dog had bird contact.

The eighteenth and final brace of the championship saw Wiggin's River Knot, previous NACC Champion in 2004. He took a monstrous cast and went down the centre hedge row towards the lake, eventually recovered at the bottom by the scout when we reached the lake. Knot cast off down the sand road disappearing to the front in all-age fashion. As we turned north we caught up with him, finding him standing along the fence pointing into a small bluff. The flush was unsuccessful and we continued through the rough pasture to the alfalfa field before time was called.