REGION 14 AMATEUR ALL AGE CHAMPIONSHIP

reporter Tom Nygard

The lure of Mortlach, Saskatchewan, its expansive tree rows, hogbacks dotted with Saskatoonberry bushes and long, tree lined alleys of cover, is a strong one amongst fans of all age dogs. It is as much because the grounds of the Les & Donna Eastman ranch are the ones of legends as well and rightly so. They are laden with a plethora of acres and an abundance of wild birds that make this one of the veritable “Mecca’s” of all age field trial venues. We in the far West, and around the country, are eternally grateful for the Eastman’s generosity in allowing these trials to run on their ranch for so many years and we bow to them in thanks! However, 2009 was a tough and unforgiving year on the birds of south central Saskatchewan! The climate was wet in early spring causing a shortage of chicks and also causing the crops to be taken down late, which created course topography more like bowling alleys then their normal raceways of three week old alfalfa. This drove the birds to the cover which was the tree rows. However, these courses were laid out decades ago by Leon Covington and associates, and modified more recently by his heirs to the grounds, and they are fair, honest and evenly dotted with cover and birds. They are, more importantly, generally flat and allow for the unobstructed view of dogs far off in the distance. Read: all age ecstasy.

The folks that hold court now are all members of the Saskatchewan Amateur Field Trial Association. Namely, Doug and Kay Vaughn (now retired), Ron & Linda Bender, Dr. Lou Qualtiere and his wife, Jeanette Heise, and more recently, Sheldon Rogers and his wife, Dawn Feist. These are the people that make this trial, and the others held here, hum. They are the ones that go the extra mile, put in the extra hours and they are the ones to be thanked, most graciously, for all that they do to make this a successful event year after year.

The Region 14 Amateur All Age Championship shares these grounds, and the accolades, with two Open stakes prior to this trial, namely the Dominion and the Saskatchewan Championships, and the famed National Amateur Chicken Championship, which follows it. None of the four championships that are run here do so without a combination of the above mentioned folks and, sometimes, others. The Chicken Championship also lays claim to Linda Hunt for an added extreme effort. This year the effort was extra large as the two amateur championships set records for numbers of dogs entered. The Region 14 Amateur All Age boasted 48 dogs and the Chicken Championship tagged in excess of 50. These are amazing numbers and can only be attributed to the rare event of a lot of dedicated all age folks that, normally, only show up occasionally to run dogs but all coming in the same year in 2009.

In the saddle, judging was the venerable Jimmy White of Bowling Green, Kentucky and Tom Nygard of Bozeman, Montana. Jimmy is very well known to those of the all age tendency, having a schedule that has ranged from as far up the ladder as the National Championship to venues as un-noteworthy as various local trails. He is appreciated by all and well known for his unwavering honesty and integrity. Tom Nygard has judged various championship events in the west while running all age dogs as well, both as an amateur and with professionals. Both judges were warmly received by the participants and the decision laid down by them was widely regarded to have been a proper one. In other words, they got it right!

This year the dogs that entered included a characteristically large number of existing champions and runner up champions. This is not at all uncommon as this is a particularly popular and hotly contested title, albeit amateur, and it took two very good dogs to win it. Being crowned the 2009 Region 14 Amateur All Age Champion was White’s Solid Reward owned and handled by John Ivester. John’s dogs are trained by himself and Lefty Henry making for quality animals in a variety of venues. Reward had a big run that showed good handling and control and two crisp finds. All of this took place on course one, which starts right down the road from camp on the north/south spur road and heads west down a fence line where it turns south towards the far corner of the section. There it goes kitty corner through a series of gates and through a field with far reaching bluffs. It then crosses another farm road and enters an alfalfa field with more bluffs flanking the south edge eventually crossing Chokecherry Lane and heading south to finish three fields of cover later. His run hit all of these targets and was strong, to the front and wide ranging.

Taking runner up honors was newcomer, Prairie Crude, owned by Shawn Conover and handled by her husband, Glenn. This was a comfortable placement for Hank as he ran the country like the wind, stayed dominantly to the front and also had a nice, single find. His find was on course 3 along the lake and accompanying fence line coming back west towards camp at the bottom of Chicken Alley. He stuck a couple chicken in a large, thick clump of brush right along the road near a dugout of water. Conover had to bushwhack his way into the brush to convince one of them to gather wing and fly. Hank did a more then adequate job of holding point and standing for shot. This young pointer is a product of Butch and Karen Nelson’s breeding program. Sired by a son of Hall of Fame pointer, Erin’s Southern Justice, in the form of Roll’s Runnin’ Justice and whelped by prodigious producer, Early County Connie. She is a double cross, Black Crude derivative and the guts and rumble of both sides of his lineage show quite well in Hank. Weather, incidentally, wasn’t a particular impediment to either dog save a little wind. In other braces, the dogs wouldn’t be so lucky and it would definitely figure in!

The Running:

DuBose’s Bobby (DuBose) and Wiggins River Dollar (Wiggins) – The dogs break away under a clouded sky with cool temperatures. Both make the first corner of the fence and avoid the pitfalls of taking a right instead of the left that leads to the opposing corner. At that spot Bobby continues to the south and has to be reeled in. Dollar takes the fence line to the west and makes the opposing corner and heads to the bluffs on the south end of the pasture. After covering the bluffs and a portion of the homestead to the north, Dollar comes around and at 18 minutes Wiggins has his hat off. We’re standing in a large raft of volunteer weeds with Dollar pointing and Bobby backing. The first flush produced nothing and Bobby is led away prior to a relocation. An excellent quartering job produces nothing still and we’re off to the west with Wiggins taking an unproductive. As we head across the alfalfa field heading toward Chokecherry Lane, Bobby Dubose is signaling point for his pointer. He shoots, claiming a departed bird, but Judge White saw nothing. Dollar is far to the front. At 37 minutes, just over Chokecherry Lane, Dubose is again signaling point. A serious flushing attempt produces nothing nor does the following relocation effort. Meanwhile Dollar is brought back and both dogs are now heading south across the three pastures towards the road. At 57 minutes Dubose, all the way across the section, tips his cap once again. As we reach the dog he is locked up in heavy cover. Yet another flushing effort fails to produce birds and time is called.

S F McKenzie (Smith) and Marques Pure Gold (Ivester) – These two dogs look longingly north at the start of course two, the far top of which is the back side of course one. Both dogs would test the limits of the north end for the first 12 minutes. Gold would be back with us by the second turn (18 minutes) while McKenzie was seen but not reeled in. By 32 we are past the Eastman’s farm and water trough and heading south. Smith’s scout, Burke Hendrix would call point for the dog as he brings him to the front. As we ride to the find, Smith is cautious about the point. He’s not sure if the dog has birds or not so he sends him on. McKenzie moves only a few feet before he stops again. As Smith reaches for him to draw him off of point a covey of chicken alight. Manners fine. We rejoin the group far towards the tree rows on the far south of the course. Both dogs are in sight and make large casts south towards the road on the south end. At 47 minutes McKenzie is standing next to the tree row and two chicken are produced to good manners. Both dogs will finish with no further bird work.

Worsham’s Silver Spur (Worsham) and Lester’s Thunderbird (Liesfield) – We cast off these two dogs next to the road just prior to Miller’s Hole. They will reach far to the front and come in just in time to cross the road at the four corners area of course two. Thunderbird will be gone from sight at about 30 minutes, failing to make the turn at the bottom of the bluff covered hogbacks. Spur will not get it done and be harnessed at 45 minutes. Liesfield will ask for the tracker at 50.

Southern Parlay (Hendrix) and Clovis Point Chief (Furney) – Both of these dogs will set out across the hay field heading southeast and cast long and large. By 18 minutes, as we near the water trough at the south east corner of the grounds, they’ve danced in and out of sight but Parlay will be absent too long and at 25 minutes, Hendrix will call for the Tracker. Chief will head down Chicken Alley and be watered and sent on. He will have a hard time resisting the call of the lake and be lost at time.

Manteo Mattie Blaylock (Falkowski) and Sounding Creek Billie (Hjerpe) – This will be the first brace of the afternoon on opening day. We set off to the east, across the road from camp, and the dogs head for the bluffs on the right. Both dogs are birdless at the turn at the bottom of the hogbacks and Falkowski will harness the red setter – his run a bit short. Billie will finish the hour conservatively without bird contact.

Ride the Trail (Conover) and Sounding Creek Annie (Hjerpe) – These two dogs will set off from atop Chicken Alley and make huge casts down the tree rows towards the lake. It’s about 15 minutes when they are watered and set off again heading west along the fence up the “two track”. Gus, running off to the left, will make a couple circles in the grass and finally knock a bird out of the cover. Stopping to flush will, unfortunately, signal the end of his day. Annie is off to the left towards the front and is reeled in. At 40 minutes Dr. Hjerpe will put the harness on her.

Lone Mountain Reliant (Mandell) and Wiggins River Knot (Wiggins) – Two multiple champions make up the last brace of the day. Knot makes for the grass cover along the lake and Sam covers the bluffs a bit closer. At 17 minutes Mandell will have his hat tipped for the setter near a large stand of trees and, even with the extra effort of relocation, fail to produce game. By 30 minutes Don Wiggins asks for the Tracker and calls it a day. He will not reunite with Knot until later that evening. At 34 minutes John Mandell will signal point for Sam and the setter will get credit for ½ dozen birds and stellar manners. With 10 minutes left he will again call point but this stop will result in the second unproductive and he will pick him up shortening the day for the judges.

DuBose’s Flash Jr. (DuBose) and White’s Solid Reward (Ivester) – These dogs will start the second day with fabulous weather – good humidity and calm wind, both, ideal for scenting conditions. They head out across the tree rows towards the far corner of the hay field that marks the terrain of the first course. They will both make the corner and will be sent on through the second field. Reward heads directly for the bluff and flanks the field until the road crossing. Flash is quartering in front of us. At 23 minutes, after crossing the farm road, Ivester will have his hat tipped for Reward. Flash will be backing. Concerted attempts at flushing will not render game and, without a relocation attempt, both dogs will be sent on. Only 6 minutes later, Ivester will again signal point for Reward. Two chicken will be flushed to perfect manners. At the same time only a couple hundred yards further down the field, in another bluff, Flash will have a solid stand and Dubose will also show a couple chicken their flight. Manners again in order. The dogs then cross Chokecherry Lane and Reward renders a fine run through the bluffs and then down the tree rows of the first two of the three pastures. Flash will have a scattered run but find the fence row on the east as we head towards the finish in the big, third, field. Right at time Reward will stand tall at the edge of the bluff just before the gate to cross the road going north. Flash apparently backing. Ivester will have to work hard for his flush and produces a bevy of grouse more in front of Flash. Reward will get credit for the find and Flash a back. A good representation of a prairie run for Reward.

S F Timezone (Smith) and Wiggins Road Dog (Wiggins) – Starting from the corner heading south to a fairly hard turn is a challenge for any running dog but these make it. Road Dog isn’t himself and is brought in at 20 minutes. Smith will realize the same for Timezone at 35.

Chief Honcho’s Bill (Adams) and Millers Southern Pride (Furney) – We start this brace right at the top of the tree rows at the south end of the properties. Bill and Rod make the cast down the trees that goes over ½ a mile. Bill is brought back to head off to the east at the point of turning but Rod continues on across the road in a huge swing that is thrilling to watch. Furney brings him back across the road and towards the front. 20 minutes have gone by in this first cast and Rod is not getting it done and is harnessed. Bill has been out of touch for way too long and Adams will ask for the Tracker thus ending the brace.

DuBose’s Flash (DuBose) and White’s Solid Ben (Ivester) – This brace is on the extreme north end of the properties as we start. Only a minute into the running Ivester has his hat off for Ben who barely got up to speed before he reeled into a stand. He will fail in all his efforts to find game for the dog. He makes a huge first cast and covers mighty ground. However, by 30 minutes we remain birdless. At 40 minutes Ivester has his hat tipped for Ben at a tree row at the far southeast corner of the course. This stand turns out to be unproductive. By 42 Bob Dubose is also signaling point right in front of us. The wind is picking up and certainly plays into the ensuing unproductive. At 48 coming down the road to the water trough in the southeast corner and both dogs are locked up in front of a large clump of brush. Both handlers with hats raised. The scene unfolds as a point for Flash and a back for Ben. The following flush attempt by DeBose produces 6 or 8 chicken to fine manners. This will end the brace.

Jurnee’s Open Range (Bender) and Miller’s On Line (Furney) – First brace of the afternoon has two white dogs ranging far and wide. Jurnee is handled by Ron Bender but owned and scouted by Sheldon Rogers. This brace will go 27 minutes with spirited runs but no birds. At 40 minutes and at the same spot as the last brace of the morning Bender will raise his hat for Jurnee. The transpiring flush renders two chicken but Jurnee is a bit restless. She will later suffer an unproductive and be picked up. Online will show his characteristic run and be lost prior to 50 minutes.

Fantastic Red (Hendrix) and Southbound John L (Liesfield) – Both dogs head out down the tree line of this course and cast strong to the front. At 20 minutes John L will be seen standing but the flush delivers no birds. Red disappears from sight but when he returns we find that he’s been into a porcupine. One would assume that that would end Red’s day but quick repair keeps him running. However, both dogs will run the entire hour with no bird contact. Red disappearing to the front just before time and not found for hours.

DuBose’s Spot (DeBose) and S F Cufflink (Liesfield) – This will be the last brace of the day and at 10 minutes Bob DuBose will signal point for Spot. He will walk over to the dog and shoot claiming birds had left earlier but Judge White did not see them. By 18 minutes both handlers are calling point. Spot will be backing Cufflink. The flush by Liesfield renders nothing and Cufflink earns an unproductive. At 30 minutes we cross the road and on the other side of a large bluff we see a covey of huns alight. We pursue the event and find Cufflink on point with Spot backing. Both dogs finish to the front with no further bird contact.

Worsham’s Silver Ghost (Worsham) and Rester’s Making Memories (Rester) – First brace of the morning sees these two off and going in different directions. Ghost makes the turn and heads to the corner while Memories goes straight and heads through the fence to the farmstead. Cecil Rester will have to fetch him and hand him off to scout, Ben Adams, while he heads for a distant gate. They both finally make the corner and cover the ensuing bluffs on the south end. At 25 Joe Worsham signals a point and Judge White rides to the action. Worsham claims birds had left before arrival but Judge White sees nothing rendering the stand an unproductive. When we cross Chokecherry Lane Ghost makes for Ellingson’s pasture to the west side while Memories covers the east side. Both dogs cover the three pastures well but will end birdless with Memories coming in to the dog wagon and Ghost going away to the south at time.

Roll Tide (Hendrix) and Just Colorado (Littell) – The dogs make the hairpin at the top of course two with little problem considering the big casts. We make the road and cross to the water tank and set off in the field to the south. Both dogs make huge casts to the east and south and finally get reeled in. Colorado on his own and Tide with a little help. They will cover the bluffs near the road and homestead but finish without bird contact.

Traveler’s Prairie Run (Sand) and RJ’s Countdown (Liesfield) – This brace will start, conservatively, just below Miller’s Hole near the North/South spur road and cross at the four corners area heading north and then south. At this point the dogs turn on the gas and head out. At 25 minutes as we head east down the hogbacks, Tom Liesfield stops to water and put boots on RJ. He will not last the hour. At 50 minutes Greg Sand puts the harness on the little setter ending her quest.

Lone Mountain Tourist (Mandell) and Rester’s Pro Line (Rester) – These dogs will start their brace at the top of Chicken Alley and cast, large, down front. Both covering the tree rows, nicely, for the first 25 minutes when Mandell raises his hat for Tourist. A fervent flush yields nothing and John sends him on. Jake takes only a few steps and locks up yet again, convinced of something’s presence. Mandell fails to produce game and takes his licks and sends the setter on again. All the while Rester’s Pro Line is making his way to the front. At 30 minutes near the fence line on the south side of the lake he is a statue. Rester also fails to produce a flush for the pointer and he suffers an unproductive as well. Minutes later Mandell has the setter in the harness and is roading him in. At 40 minutes Rester will recognize the same fate with his pointer ending the brace.

Strut’s Rambling Man (Steen) and Strutten (Liesfield) – These half brothers begin the afternoon with 7 – 8 minutes worth of extended casts. Scout, Ruthann Littell, has brought Man back from the north and Strutten shows to the front as well. By 18 minutes Steen is signaling point. This stand will be unproductive. We make the turn at the base of the hogbacks and head south on the fence line. At 41 minutes, after crossing the road, Steen is again got his hat in the air. Another unproductive and he will harness the dog. At 47 minutes Liesfield calls it a day for Strutten. Both dogs succumb to wind, warming temperatures and lack of birds.

Prairie Crude (Conover) and Clovis Point Chism (Furney) – These two dogs, Hank and Chism set off at the top of Chicken Alley heading north towards the lake. It is close to a mile before the lake comes into immediate play but the lure is heavy and right away Chism makes towards the east and is sucked in by the lake. Crude (Hank) heads to the front not to be seen for several minutes. At 19 minutes as we spot Hank on course to the front, we are awaiting Furney’s return with Chism. By 28 minutes Chism is lost to the brace. At 30 minutes Conover has this hat off for Hank near the dugout along the two track road by the south side of the lake. Hank is solid on the far side of the brush and only a concerted effort by Glenn will dislodge even one of the apparently, two chicken in the brush. The wind and sun have sent them deep into the cover and the locating of them at all is impressive as the brush is very heavy and thick. Hank is solid on his stand and all his manners are as expected. He will finish with big casts to the front and one to the side, charging into the wind like it wasn’t there.

Hilltopper Duke Boss (Russell) and Powerball Lotto (Littell) – starting the brace at the corner gate of the section where we head directly north along the lake, both dogs strike out across the field. Both covering the available cover and bluffs until we make our way through the “rough pasture”. When we leave this area Lotto heads east towards the lake and isn’t seen again. Duke goes north to a corner where a lone bush stands and checks it out by circling it. He leaves and heads west up the hills to the multitude of bluffs traversing the hillside. At 20 minutes John Russell is signaling point in a westerly bluff up a small draw. When Russell goes to flush two huge White Tail bucks get out of the cover and make their way further west. One turns to look at us as though he’s moving but not by choice. Russell asks him to relocate and he locks up again but the stand will result in an unproductive. Duke runs the remainder of the course rather conservatively and will finish birdless.

Worsham’s Silver Knight (Worsham) and Rester’s Avalanche (Rester) – Avalanche is scratched and Knight will run as a bye dog. A pleasant morning implies good conditions for bird work and Knight makes it past the fence line and through the first field before Joe deems he’s not getting the job done and puts him in the harness at about 20 minutes.

B B Pike (Bruce) and Sharpshooter (Little) – A short first brace will have these two beginning at the road at the head of the second alfalfa field near the homestead west of camp. Both dogs cast heavy to the north. Sharpshooter will keep going and be hauled back several minutes later. Pike will carry over Chokecherry Lane and head south on the tree rows. At 15 minutes, while we’re waiting for Sharpshooter’s return, Pike is standing near the trees. A mishap during the flush has Bill Bruce putting the dog in the wagon. Sharpshooter will return and cover the east side of the three pastures well. We leave the 3^rd field and cross the road for the swing through the trees. When we turn north to finish, and as time is called, Littell signals point for Sharpshooter. Judge White and Nygard ride up the road to the stand only to see the dog moving. This ends the hour.

Marques Gold Touch (Ivester) and Waygoing Slick (Stevens) – The normal beginning of course two is usually a difficult start. The course heads up a hill that is effectively the back side of course one. Scouts cannot assist until the judges take a sliding right turn at the top of the hill so dogs can easily get out of touch quickly. These two make the turn in good fashion and come back south along tree rows until we cross the road by Eastman’s house and get to the water trough. Following this 15 minute stint the dogs, still birdless, make huge casts to the east until they are brought in at the tree rows on the southern most edge of the grounds. They swing ½ mile to the front before making the turn back to the east. At 50 minutes Slick is standing on point. Mike Steven’s flushes hard but suffers an unproductive, even with a well executed relocation effort. At time Stevens’ scout, Dr. Hjerpe, signals point and Nygard rides up to see what appears to be a divided find. Stevens makes the first flushing attempt but gets nothing. Ivester then executes and a single chicken is flushed for both dogs and manners are stellar. This will end the brace and the stake.