Region 14 Amateur All-Age Championship
September 6-7, 2004
By John Mandell

Miller's On-Line captured the Region 14 Amateur All-Age Championship title over the famed Canadian prairies at Mortlach, SK., for owners Chip McEwen and Mike Furney, with Mike Furney handling. Runner-up laurels went to Worsham's Silver Cloud, owned and handled by Joe Worsham. Conditions for the September 6th and 7th trial reflected the coming of autumn, with a cold northwest wind dominating the first day's running.

The twin amateur all-age championships, the Region 14 and the National Amateur Chicken All-Age, have been the highlight of the early trialing season for participants from across North America for many years. Many either train their own dogs in the border area or work with pros that compete in the Saskatchewan and Dominion Open All-Age trials, held over the same courses immediately before the amateur stakes. Both of this year's winning handlers were outspoken in their praise for the unique quality of the grounds and the cordial nature of the trial. This year's renewal was blessed with even more than the usual representation of well-known trailers. Among participants from the U.S. were, from the Midwest: Starr and Don Wiggins of Illinois, Linda and Larry Smith of Iowa, John Hall and Bill Klenner of Michigan, and John Ivester of Minnesota; from the East: Mike Peretto of Pennsylvania and Brad Harter of Ohio; from the West: John Mandell of Montana, Mike Stephens of California, and Jerry Reed of Texas; and from the South: Mike Furney and Gene Brown of Florida, Susan and Vernon Vance and Bob Napier of Kentucky, Linda Hunt of Tennessee, Ruthann and Lester Littel of Alabama, and Woody Watson of Georgia. Canadians competing in the stake were Dave Williams of British Columbia and Ron Bender of Saskatchewan. Notable among the missing was Ferrel Miller; this is believed to be Ferrel's first absence since 1978. Not only has he dominated this trial personally, but to appreciate the enjoyment his line has brought to many other participants, one need only check this year's winners and their breeding.

Those of us who attend this trial regularly are indebted to the dedicated group of Saskatchewan trailers who have hosted it for decades under the banner of the Saskatchewan Field Trial Association. These are widely viewed as the best all-age grounds anywhere, originally popularized by the legendary Leon Covington. The facilities have been continually upgraded, with first class clubhouse, corrals, excellent water and camping with plentiful shade. Responsibility for the Region and the running of the Championships has rotated in recent years among Kay and Doug Vaughn, Linda and Ron Bender and Maureen and Bill Preston, all on hand to assist this year, with others like Dawn Feist and Sheldon Rogers also helping. Current responsibility for the Region lies with Jeanette Heise and Lou Qualtiere, who did an outstanding job in running this year's renewal. Linda Hunt was on hand to help, particularly with the dog wagon; an assist was also rendered by Dr. Lester Little in the road gallery with his "Doc's Horse Taxi".

Judges for this stake, Bill Klenner of Belleville, MI, and Dick Preston of Edmonton, AB, are both experienced dog men, with past experiences both judging and competing at Mortlach. They were attentive and focused throughout, and their decision was popular.

As always, this was a very social trial, fun for the many spouses to attend, whether or not they ride. Mortlach is a significant drive from the nearest large town (Moose Jaw), and the addition of the local Wagons West restaurant a few years ago raised evening meals to a high level; the delicious Tuesday night banquet at the clubhouse, hosted by the AFTCA for the National Amateur, was also catered by Wagons West. The annual "dog trainer ladies" Moose Jaw tour on Tuesday was a hit, as usual, compliments of driver, landowner Marg Ward. The tour included several stops and lunch, the last stop at the art museum before returning to the Crocus Gallery in Mortlach. Also attending were Linda Bender, Maureen Preston, Susan Vance and Jeanette Heise.

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 Eastmond (who also supply hay and oats each evening), and including the Wards, Ellingsons, Campbells, Crosbies, Goslings, Adamses and other landowners. Donna Eastmond was riding on Tuesday, showing more sense than the trailers who rode in the weather on Monday.

THE WINNERS

It takes a special dog to win all-age championships both on the wide-open Canadian prairies and the vastly more confining courses of the National Championship. Miller's On Line now joins the elite group to have accomplished this feat, along with several others who regularly compete in the Mortlach trials. On Line's performance left no doubt as to the eventual winner. This was the four-year-old's sixth championship overall, and his second amateur title.

On Line is a striking dog on the ground, carrying a twelve-o'clock tail as he lines-out toward distant objectives. He is equally striking on point: white against dark alfalfa, lofty, intense and proud, both from a distance and up close, before and after the flush. His one find was no accident, as the birds were feeding just outside a distant bluff.

The runner-up, Worsham's Silver Cloud, is a seven-year old full brother to the winner's sire, Miller's White Powder. This was Joe Worsham's first visit to Mortlach, and he expressed admiration for the trial and the grounds. Silver Cloud was the only dog in the stake with two finds; he hunted hard, but did not match the winner in range. This was his twentieth placement, including winning the 2000 Region 17 Amateur All-Age Championship.

The judges felt that two other dogs had races, which, with birds, could have changed the outcome. In the eighth brace, Mike Peretto's Four Winds had the race of the stake, but an impressive stand near time proved empty. Don Wiggins' Wiggins River Knot in the fifth brace had the most impressive performance of the first day, but Wiggins could not come up with a bird on his one stand.

THE RUNNING

First Class Spectra (Vance) and S F Cornstalk (Smith) were released at 8:00 a.m. with temperatures in the 40's and a strong northwest wind. Both dogs were wide to the front through the gates, along the bluffs to the south. At 20, scouts were sent to the north for dogs as the course turns to the south. Point was called for Cornstalk at 30, with dog stopped in alfalfa but appearing uncertain of the location of the birds; chicken flushed as Cornstalk attempted to self-relocate, dog stopping. Cornstalk was up soon afterward. His uncertainty in locating the birds was to be repeated throughout the first day's running, as the very strong winds caused havoc with scenting. Spectra finished strongly but without birds, carding only an unproductive far to the south along the road at 55.

Frontline Striker (Watson) and Double Dot Kate (Little). Point was called for Kate at 5, Spectra backing, both dogs very stylish, but no birds were produced. Shortly afterward both dogs were far to the east, with handlers and scouts out. Kate was returned at 18, but Watson took the tracker for Striker at 22. At 48 Kate appeared to be making game as handler stopped to water; Huns were ridden-up by gallery nearby. Kate finished hunting at moderate range, without birds.

Noontime (Brown) and High Powered Gasoline (Bender) hunted the bluffs along the ridges at the start of the third course, then disappeared around the bluffs to the north, before the rough pasture. Scouts and dogs were seen in the vicinity of the bluffs, and point was called for Noontime, with Suzie backing. No birds could be produced by Brown, flushing through the large bluff (not an easy task). Through the rough pasture Suzie was returned from a lateral cast to the east by Bender, and was then far to the front approaching the hedgerows affectionately known as "Chicken Alley". Suzie was gone far to the south at 56 and not returned. Noontime was charged with an unproductive to the east of the hedgerows, and finished at moderate range, without birds. Both chickens and Huns were ridden-up at the north end of chicken alley.

Street Talk (Watson) and Juke Box (Peretto) were both up early, Street Talk for chasing a bird at 5, and Juke Box for moving after a stop to flush at 10.

Strong northwest winds and cool temperatures continued after lunch, with the Californian, Mike Stephens, dressed for winter. Wiggins River Knot (Wiggins) and Waygoing Spec (Stephens) were away at 1:45 on the first afternoon course. Knot ran a wide, strong prairie all-age race, requiring some hard riding by Wiggins. He was charged with an unproductive at 40, after the turn, and finished strongly but without birds. Spec showed nicely on several casts but hunted at moderate range much of the time, having only a stop to the flight of a chicken.

Kentucky Class Spectre (Vance) and Wainwright Willie (Williams) were both a hand-full on this day. Spectre, a very classy, fast moving dog, was shown sparingly until ruled out at 42. Willie was far to the north early, eventually returning along road at 40, with scout Bender, after being ruled out.

The final brace of the first day, following the second morning course, saw Wiggins River Boss (Wiggins) and Waygoing Nick (Stephens), with the weather still cool and windy. Both dogs ran strong, forward races, together at the road crossing. Both were then far to the front along the hedgerows at 35, but Boss was not returned in time. Nick finished strongly, hunting through the bluffs along the road, but the birds were not at home. As often happens in high winds, a frustrating day, with no birds handled properly under judgment.

Playmate's Dee Dee (Vance) and Four Winds (Peretto). Tuesday dawned clear and cool, with the first ice in the water buckets this season. Monday's wind was reduced to a light breeze most of the day. Winds was far to the front in the early going, with Dee Dee moderate until reaching to the bluffs to the south after the gates. Winds continued his very big, forward race past the old homestead, swinging to the front as the turn south was made. The cover on course one was cut relatively short this year, but the birds were still far outside the bluffs, making them difficult to find in their fairly random locations. While the dogs registered few contacts, a number of chicken were flushed by the gallery. Winds continued to blast far to the front as the course headed south to the road crossing, with Dee Dee more moderate, but showing well on some casts. Peretto called point for Winds at 56, with dog standing handsomely downwind of a large bluff at the boundary. Extensive flushing efforts proved fruitless, and both dogs finished without birds.

North Dakota Discovery (Napier) and Miller's On Line (Furney) were away far to the east along the fence line, ridden for by scouts, with Huns flushed by gallery at 3. Furney had On Line back in front by 10, as course two turns sharply to the south after the breakaway. Napier finally returned with Discovery at 23, judge Preston reporting an unproductive during the absence. After the road crossing, point was called for On Line at 28, with the dog standing with great style and intensity downwind of bluffs along the sand road; however, the dog was quickly taken on, as the quarry proved to be a porcupine. At 31scout Watson was handling On Line with Furney absent, On Line's breeder, Wiggins, briefly scouting. Napier called point for Discovery at 34, but birds could not be produced, and dog was picked-up. With Furney back in charge, On Line cast far ahead as the course turns north. Scout Watson called point far to the west of the course at 54, with On Line seen standing proudly in the alfalfa outside of a bluff. Two chicken could be seen flushing well in front of the dog as the gallery and judges made the long ride, with On Line remaining in his proud stance until handler arrived from far to the front, and fired. An exciting finish to a fine prairie performance.

Dude (Brown) and Worsham's Silver Cloud (Worsham). Both dogs were away on course three along crops, making the turn east along the ridges and bluffs. Dude was absent shortly thereafter, not returned to judgment. Point was called for Cloud at 10 to the left of bluffs before the pasture, with the dog standing in the short grass, tightening into a stylish pose as handler approached. A chicken was produced in front, all in order. More chicken were flushed as dog was brought to the front, with dog stopping. Through the pasture and to the south, Cloud was hunting hard along the sparse hedgerows, with a varmint find approaching chicken alley. Just west of chicken alley at 54, scout called point, then the dog was seen moving, with chicken flushing in the general area, dog not involved. Shortly thereafter, down the hedge row on the west side of chicken alley, Worsham called point for Cloud, who stood with good style and intensity, all in order as a covey of Huns was flushed. Cloud finished hunting hard along the hedgerows of chicken alley.

Miller's Southern Pride (Furney) and Just Denver (Littel) broke very strongly to the front along the hedgerows at the start of the fourth morning course, toward the lake. Shortly thereafter, Littel was riding fast and far to the front, reaching the lakeshore close to a mile away. Confusion reigned for a time, with Littel seen falling from her horse in the rough country near the lake, but apparently not injured. One dog was seen running in the shallow edge of the lake ahead of Littel, later reported to be Pride, as Furney now also rode toward the lake. (Sometimes the huge open country in this area, with the gallery riding slightly higher than the lakeshore, allows true all-age dogs to be viewed to great advantage. At other times too much of the goings-on can be observed.) Both dogs were ruled out at 38.

Spectre Free Boy (Napier) and Back Talk (Watson), both white and black pointers, were away after lunch, with mild weather and a light breeze from the east. Point was called and waved-off for both dogs early. Both dogs were hunting at moderate range through the turn toward the northwest, heading toward the lake. Talk was up at 40 after an unproductive. Boy finished well but with no birds.

Marques Magic Crystal (Ivester), a bye dog, was released north of the usual start of morning course one. Crystal was impressive running the edges far to the front, heading south. However, she was gone at 19, not returned.