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Region Championships National Am. Chicken 2008 Report
Region Championships National Am. Chicken 2008 Report | 2008 Report |
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2008 NATIONAL AMATEUR CHICKEN CHAMPIONSHIP AND REGION 14 ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP by Louis Qualtiere and Bill Preston SYNOPSIS Ruthann Littell’s Sharp Shooter won the National Amateur Chicken Championship with a strong forward race and 2 finds over the northeast area of the Mortlach grounds on Friday, September 5th. He had earlier done a splendid job in the Region 14, but didn’t make the turn at 45 to finish in front. Michael Shears’ Boxwood Bandana laid out a stylish, smart, forward-reaching effort with one find (almost a copy of his Region 14 race) to take Runner-Up. In the companion Region 14, Burke Hendrix’s Southern Parlay came to Mortlach for the first time to take the Championship with 4 finds on Wednesday; while Don Wiggins’ Wiggin’s River Knot again conquered Mortlach with his usual “lost but not quite” race during absolutely miserable weather on Monday, garnering one find to take the Runner-Up. INTRODUCTION These Championships have been hosted at the fabled Mortlach grounds since 1982. For 2008, they followed the Saskatchewan and Dominion Open programs and began on Monday, September 1, finishing on Friday, the 5th. For those of you who have not yet experienced the challenge of Mortlach, it is 15,000 acres of flat grassland inhabited by sharptail grouse and grey partridge as well as temptations like antelope, white-tail deer, porcupines, and coyotes. They all feed on the large (some up to 1,000 acres) second-growth alfalfa fields while spending the middle of the day loafing in the hedgerows and bluffs. Region 14 Judge Nathan Phillips, who was experiencing Mortlach for the first time, expressed the essence of the challenge of these grounds as: “You need your dog to reach far forward and you seem to be able to see so far, but this country can sure swallow the dogs up real quick.” Sheldon Twer also remarked: ”This country is not monotonous; it has a fair amount of variety that demands that the handler and the dog anticipate and adjust.” In my experience (35 years) that is Mortlach at its most hospitable. This year, Mother Nature threw out a weather challenge: intense cold rain and high winds for the first two days! In spite of high fuel prices, we had a very good turnout – 36 in the 14 and 34 in the National. And, as has become traditional at Mortlach, the Judges represented different areas of North America’s bird dog kingdom – Don Arnold from Missouri, Louis Qualtiere from Saskatchewan, Nathan Phillips from Indiana, and Sheldon Twer from California. Each brought with them their vast experience and each attentively and carefully evaluated every entry. They came without fuss because they each have a genuine interest in making the stakes not only a challenge, but also an opportunity for a fair, knowledgeable assessment of each of the entrant’s efforts. The Region 14 folks, led by President, Steve Short, Secretary, Shannon Nygard, and Marshall, Ron Bender, worked very hard to make these championships another festive occasion. Again, this year, they did a super job which included a moment of remembrance for Roy Epp. Mary, Freddie, Ruthann, Caitlin, Casey and Ayla were there for everyone to remember that Roy had been a Canadian each summer since his birth. Many of us fondly remembered his smart scouting and his hospitable nature over our various field trial grounds – Nanton, Hauk Ranch, Stoughton and Mortlach. He was one of us. Finally, a big cheer for Joe Worsham’s DT Systems, Inc. (214-350-9446) for helping us with prizes, and Linda Hunt’s Purina Dog Food with the costs of the delicious, free Tuesday evening Ukrainian supper for 50 at the Club House. There were folks from all over North America: from the SE – Burke Henxdrix, Michael Shears, Mary and Freddie Epp, Ruthann, Lester, Casey and Ayla Littell, Mike Furney and Shann Nichols, Lefty Henry, and Linda Hunt; from the NE – John Ivester; from Central – Larry L. Smith, Nathan Phillips, Tom Liesfeld, Mary and Don Arnold, Joe Worsham, Greg Sand, and Starr and Don Wiggins; from the SW – Caitlin Epp, Charley Hjerpe, Sheldon Twer, and Mike Stephens; from the NW – Rick Steen and Tom and Shannon Nygard; and from the Canadian Prairies – Gordon and Marjorie Ward, Les and Donna Eastmond, Joyce, Ira and Ollie Ellingson, John Raymond, Colleen, Cody and Matthew Campbell, Linda and Ron Bender, Maureen and Bill Preston, Lou Qualtiere and Jeanette Heise, Sheldon Rogers, Dawn Feist, and Doug Vaughn. It was a warm, friendly evening of renewing old friendships and re-telling old stories (some exaggerated). Well done Maureen and Linda. 2008 RUNNING NACC First Brace of the National Amateur Chicken Championship was after lunch September the 3rd following the completion of the Region 14 Championship that morning. The skies were partly cloudy and the sun was a welcome relief after three days of overcast and rain. The temperature was around 62°F. The brace had Millers Online (Mike Furney) and Lester’s Thunderbird ( Tommie Leisfeld), both with previous Championship wins on these grounds. Both dogs cast off heading East taking the ridge to Ellingston’s pasture. Thunderbird stopped at 16 minutes on the south side of the high ridge but no birds were produced. Both dogs continued East as we turned south and at 45 minutes both handlers asked for trackers as neither dog had returned to the front. The second brace saw Wiggin’s River Knot (Don Wiggins) and Boxwood Bandana (Mike Shears) cast off Southwest towards the south boundary from the north/south trail. Boxwood struck early at 5 with a find on a single chicken in the open grass, everything in order. Both dogs continued to the hedgerows and down to Chicken Alley in all age fashion with River Knot covering the right side in the grass along the lake. Knot’s scout followed him along the lake until time with no birds contacted. Boxwood finished fine, hunting the cover on both sides east –west trail along the lake staying to the front with minimal handling but with no further bird work. A performance strong enough the judges felt for him to be carried first until the 15th brace. He was eventually awarded Runner Up Champion in this stake. The third brace, SF Pocketknife (Larry Smith) and High Powered Gasoline (Ron Bender) cast off north from the gate into the Eastman Pasture into high weeds, through the rough pasture to the north end with both dogs showing well in the open country beyond the rough pasture. Both dogs hunted to the far northern fence and ran west along the fence, unfortunately bypassing the birdie country to the south. Both returned on course as we turned South with Ron Bender unhappy with his dog, picked her up at 40 minutes. Pocketknife continued onto the first course as he crossed the road, then through the double gates, finishing strong over the Eastman grid to the rough country half a mile further West and although a strong race had no birds. In the fourth brace Human Touch (John Ivester) and Worsham’s Silver Knight (Joe Worsham) cast off from the first course Thursday morning. Silver Knight put down a solid race for 50+ minutes with a extra large cast at time. The dog was seen at 10 minutes plus but had no birds for his effort. Human Touch cast off onto the heavy grass towards camp and after an encounter with a porcupine returned to the front at 12, finishing the brace running well out into the country and it was timed out at 20 plus, not seen at time. The fifth brace, SF Cufflink (Tommy Liesfeld) and Wiggin’s River Dollar (Don Wiggins) cast off from the regular second course start. Both had unremarkable races with no birds. The sixth brace, Shadow’s Perfect Pitch (Doug Vaughn) and Clovis Point Chief (Mike Furney) cast off at the road junction at the normal start of the third course. Perfect Pitch ran a moderate race, but with no birds was picked up by handler Vaughn at 50. Clovis Point Chief made two large casts not returning from the first for 15 minutes, then after 10 minutes made another cast and after not returning for an additional 17 minutes was picked up at 50. The seventh brace, Erin’s Traveling Soldier (John Milton) and Waygoing Ripster (Mike Stephens) started at the south of Chicken Alley with Soldier having a find at 12 along the east hedgerow on huns with less than perfect manners. He then disappeared south for 15 minutes returning to the front but failing to push the heavy cover south of the rough pasture was picked up. Ripster had a nice find at 24 on the east/west road along the lake and then another find on huns at 38 but his race was not pleasing Mike and was picked up shortly afterwards. The eighth brace started after lunch, temperature was about 60°F with threatening thundershowers showing to the west. White’s Solid Reward (John Ivester) and RJ’s Countdown (Tommy Liesfeld) set off east down the ridge east of camp. At 15 Reward pointed then relocated putting the chickens into the air. RJ ran a short race, lost for 15 minutes during a rain shower but was returned to the front by Scout Larry Smith in the hedgerows and continued on for the remainder of the brace with no birds. The ninth brace cast off at the south end of Chicken Alley at the water tank and saw Southbound John L (Tommy Liesfeld) and Marque’s Pure Gold (John Ivester) heading towards the hedgerows and the lake. Pure Gold struck first at 5 minutes along the east hedgerow moving a little at flush. He had a nice clean find at 30 but John unhappy with the race at 50 picked him up at the end of the rough pasture. John L had a mishap of birds at 32 and was gone. The tenth brace Roadshow (John Raymond) and Boxwood Blizzard (Michael Shears) cast off at the north end of the rough pasture along the lake. Roadshow powering to the front turned sharply east to the cover along the lake and slammed on the point. The handler, hurrying to the point was not able to get there before the covey of chicken left in front of the dog, who vigorously pursued them. Blizzard continued on with a find at 28 and a stop to flush at 35 as a thundershower began but unable to push the dog on in the heavy rain and wind, Mike picked him up at 50. The eleventh brace began the next morning with a partly cloudy sky, a slight breeze and temperatures about 58°F as we cast off on the final day of the championship. On the line was Waygoing Slick (Mike Stephens) and SF McKenzie (Larry Smith). Slick disappeared into the pasture after the first cast returning just in time at 20 minutes in the alfalfa field east of Chokecherry Lane by scout Charlie Hjerpe. He continued on making solid all age casts but proved loose after a flush of a covey of huns at 48 and was picked up. SF McKenzie put down textbook all age race for the first 40 minutes with a stop the flush at 44 along the road. Birds were seen in the air after point was called by the Scout but the dog was not seen by the judge until 30 seconds after the birds had left. The twelfth brace saw Traveler’s Prairie Run (Greg Sand) and Worsham’s Silver Ghost (Joe Worsham) cast off from the normal second course start, through the thick weeds to the ridge. Both dogs put down prairie all age races for the remainder of the brace but unfortunately no birds were pointed in the brace. The thirteenth brace, the third brace of the morning, saw Ride the Trail (Tom Nygard) and Wiggin’s River Haumm (Don Wiggins). Both dogs started slow with Ride the Trail at 15 starting to open up and finished fine with no birds. Haumm had a stop to flush at 45 on a single chicken. The fourteenth brace starting one mile south of Chicken Alley, this brace featured this year’s Region 14 all Age champion Southern Parlay (Burke Hendrix) and the eventual National Amateur Chicken Champion, Sharp Shooter (Ruthann Littell). Southern Parlay put on an all age race for 60 minutes with only an iffy unproductive at 18 for his effort. Sharp Shooter started big, then began hunting the hedgerows and was rewarded with a finding on a covey of chickens at 9 and an unproductive at 18. He continued west in all age fashion, taking the turn into the Eastman pasture, pushing through the dense weeds, through the rough pasture and made a strong cast to the lone bluff along the lake where a single chicken was pointed successfully at 59. Though he needed scouting at times, he more than fulfilled the Mortlach all age standard. He hunted when cover and the opportunity presented itself and ran hard and purposely when he needed to reach the next objective. The last two braces cast off east of camp after lunch with a moderate breeze from the west with the sky showing scattered thundershowers around us on the broad horizon. Just Colorado (Ruthann Littell) cast off as a bye dog due to scratches and after a wide cast to the south after the breakaway was brought back to the ridge. As we turned south at the east end of the ridge, Ruthann having difficulty keeping him on course picked him up at 34. The last brace of this championship, with the rainclouds bearing down on us, saw Sounding Creek Annie (Charlie Hjerpe) have a find on several chicken at 13 with White’s Solid Ben (John Ivester) backing nicely. Five minutes later a cold wind began to blow strongly from the west followed by heavy rains and hail as he moved towards Chicken Alley. Ben had an unproductive at 38 in the rainstorm but unfortunately neither dog recovered from the 20 minutes of heavy cold rain and no productive bird work was seen. 2008 RUNNING REGION 14 Wiggin’s River Knot (Wiggins) - Human Touch (Ivester) A couple of former winners of the National Amateur Chicken Championship! But, the weather ain’t nice (rain, cold and windy). The birds are going to be lingering in the alfalfa searching for more calories. Both started forward searching smartly beyond the Pacquin Place. At that point, both turned on the jets with Knot reaching a mile southwest. At 25 the gallery flushed a large flock of chicken out of the alfalfa and into the ridge northwest of Chokecherry Lane. When Knot returned at 30, Don sent him west, but he swept north to the ridge where he produced a mannerly find on a single sharptail at 35. As a result, he was behind the south moving gallery until 43 when he returned and laid out an awesome finish to 400 yards south of the Herbert hayfield. For the last 30 going south, Touch worked comfortably forward, but no birds. High Powered Gasoline (Bender) - Sharp Shooter (Littell) Sharp Shooter started out quickly and within 8 minutes had reached beyond ¾ of a mile where Caitlin found him standing with intense high style in the rough area north of the big hill. Ruthann flushed about 8 chickens, each going out as singles, while Sharp Shooter stood his ground mannerly. Gasoline started modestly, but by 15 both were stretching far south from the Eastmond yard site. Gasoline had a very stylish find on 10 chickens along the road allowance near the mile line, while Sharp Shooter stretched to the southeast. As the gallery swung back northeast near the south end of the field trial grounds, both dogs were out of sight. Gasoline returned and headed modestly north finishing along the road allowance, while Sharp Shooter came in later. Marque’s Pure Gold (Ivester) – Worsham’s Silver Knight (Worsham) Both young, almost solid white pointer males started to the side with a great deal of gusto. Gold never returned, while Silver was chased west for a mile and brought back to the front by 12. From there, Silver was forward but his choice of objectives was questionable. No birds. Waygoing Ripster (Stephens) – Tecoa Mountain Patriot (Mauck) Through the southeast corner of the field trial grounds, Patriot ran a very smart but modest hunting race garnering an imperfect find on huns near the bin on the south side of Pelican Lake and then eventually crashing on chicken at 59 just north of the rough pasture. Ripster was in/out going forward but apparently not accustomed to hunting this hedgerow/bluff country. The weather remained challenging all morning, thus a hot lunch really hit the spot. RJ’s Countdown (Liesfeld) – White Solid Ben (Ivester) After lunch, the weather remained really miserable. Countdown was in and out without much idea of how to search this country. Ben was forward but mostly in the open with one nice all-age cast at 50. No birds. Shadow’s Perfect Pitch (Vaughn) – Lester’s Thunderbird (Leisfeld) From the north end of Chicken Alley, Pitch straight-lined west and was never returned. Thunderbird, who won the NACC in 2006 and the Runner-Up in the 14 in 2007 has conquered these grounds with big aggressive all-age races, but today he struggled. In the Gunningham high weed field, he tried bird hunting. Birds were seen flying and then later he was charged with an unproductive. From that point, he stayed forward and within 300 yards until we got through the rough pasture, then moved forward to 400 yards and was rewarded with a good limb find on a single chicken. Thereafter, he was modest with an unproductive at 59. He wasn’t his usual! Ride the Trail (Nygard) – Roadshow (Raymond) From the very far north end of the field trial grounds, this brace was into birds within 60 seconds! Trail had a nice find on 3 chicken for Shannon at 2. But when he was released at 4, another chicken flushed wild and Trail was done. Roadshow from the beginning reached far and wide, crossing the road intersection a mile and a half north of camp at 10. From there, he searched and reached all the way to the Pacquin Place, a mile and three-quarters forward. At times, he would be out of sight, but when you could see him he was searching all the places that I would expect to find birds. At 33 he searched the road allowance north for a mile where John caught him at 40 and turned him back south as the gallery waited to go southwest. At 45, Roadshow had a limb find on 3 chicken on the mile line a mile and three-quarters west of camp – 12 o’clock style, all in order. His was a true all-age race – runaway but not quite, with a limb find at least 400 yards from his handler. Just Colorado (Littell) – White’s Sir Lancelot (Liesfeld) Tuesday morning, the wind is strong out of the west but the forecaster is promising less rain and warmer temps. Colorado went straight backwards to the East with Caitlin in pursuit – he never returned. Larry Smith effectively cut Sir Lancelot off from following Colorado and had him going forward at 15. He was obviously unfamiliar with this country, working cautiously and occasionally focused on songbirds. At 24 near where RoadShow had had his limb find last evening, Tom found Sir Lancelot pointing; he stayed with heavy whoaing as 5 chicken were flushed. From there, Tom went birdhunting with Sir Lancelot but no more birds were found. Traveler’s Prairie Run (Sand) – Phillip’s North Star (Nygard) From the start of the No. 2 course, both hustled with good pace and forward reach over the big hill into the rough area 3/4 of a mile forward. Greg turned Prairie southeast toward the Eastmond farm site, while North Star continued northeast to Coldin Davis’ old campsite. For the next two miles south, North Star stretched forward while Prairie was off to the west for 15 minutes. At 45 and going north into an 18-mile-an-hour wind, both remained close and in the open. The gallery saw birds, but the dogs had no luck. SF McKenzie (Smith) – Southbound John L (Liesfeld) At the road crossing, a half mile south of camp, both dogs were reluctant to run forward into the tough north wind and remained off to the right. By 15, they were found stylishly backing one another along the ridge three quarters of a mile east of camp; John L was picked up because he moved too soon. From there, McKenzie worked modestly forward and was picked up at 35. Clovis Point Chief (Furney) – Boxwood Blizzard (Shears) At the southwest corner of the Ellingson pasture, we headed into the southeast corner on the field trial grounds. The weather is warming; the wind has quieted to about 8 mph from the north. Neither dog appeared particularly knowledgeable about hunting the bluffs and hedgerows. After an unproductive at 5, Blizzard ran recklessly through the open country, losing Michael between 30 and 45; while, Scout Don Wiggins held on to him and helped him with a mannerly find on a covey of huns hidden near the dugout at the northwest corner of Chicken Alley. Chief was close throughout but did have a nice difficult find on 6 chicken near the south shore of Pelican Lake at 42. Thereafter, Chief remained close and Mike picked up at 45. Blizzard shortened and finished at the Eastmond hayfield. White’s Solid Reward (Ivester) and Waygoing Slick (Stephens) After lunch, going east from camp, these two laid out a big forward cast, disappearing beyond the ridge. Reward never returned, while Mike had Slick back and under control at 9. Slick’s race was forward and hunting but as time progressed his range shrunk. Mike picked up at 42 along the ridge in the southeast corner of the field trial grounds. No birds. SF Pocketknife (Smith) – Boxwood Bandana (Shears) This start point calls for great care; there is a tough fence and high weeds to the south while wide open country to the east. Pocketknife couldn’t resist the invitation and was gone on a breakaway, never to return. Bandana started cautious and with an unproductive 8, but thereafter laid out a forward hunting race at a good fancy lick which earned a stop to flush on a few chicken feeding out in the open alfalfa field among the hedgerow of Chicken Alley. At 30, Michael took him hunting along the south shore of Pelican Lake, but no birds. He finished into the north hayfields as the weather turned windy, cold and wet. Sounding Creek Annie (Hjerpe) – Miller’s Online (Furney) Both of these dogs are champions, Online having won here in 2004 and 2005; can they now conquer Mortlach in lousy weather? Online wasn’t in the mood; his purpose was to enjoy and he slipped Mike by 6, enjoying the freedom until Mike found him 30 minutes later. Annie made some nice casts forward and up to one-third of a mile, but she always came back looking for Charley. Her pace was modest, while her hunt was smart and her style very nice. This time, no birds were seen. SF Cufflink (Liesfeld) – Wiggin’s River Haumm (Wiggins) Wednesday morning – finally an absolutely gorgeous day for man and animal! Cufflink reached far and returned for the first 30, but, at the north end of Chokecherry Lane, he was lost and not returned until the end of the brace. Haumm was close and cautious throughout. Don tried to go bird hunting, but no birds. Worsham’s Silver Ghost (Worsham) – Wiggins River Dollar (Wiggins) Dollar won this stake last year, and he was back to repeat. Between 10 and 15, the Judges and gallery were camped on the top of the hill a quarter mile northwest of the Eastmond farm site while Scouts and handlers raced northeast toward camp looking for their dogs. Larry Smith caught Dollar two miles away. The best he could do was return him to the gallery at 36! Mike had Silver back to the front by 16, but Joe lost him for good as we approached the mile line ridge south of Eastmonds’. Southern Parlay (Hendrix) – Davis Shout (Leisfeld) The final brace and the best the Judges appear to have are two “lost but not quite” races, each with a single find. Parlay and Burke had never been on the Mortlach grounds before; while Shout had run this very course in 2006 and then came back that year in the NACC to win Runner-Up. We were at the extreme southwest corner on the field trial grounds, two miles south of the Eastmond farm site. Today, Shout escaped east on the breakaway and was not returned. At 22 as we crossed the intersection a half mile south of camp, Burke had been pointing out Parlay far to the north but I couldn’t see him. As we crossed the intersection, Parlay came in from the southeast. Going along the ridge, Parlay laid out a quick but not far reaching race which produced four finds at 33, 40, 54 and 59. With each succeeding find, his style grew and grew. The weather had warmed to 55 degrees while the wind was out of the southeast at 15 mph. |