| Quick Links |
|---|
     
|
| Member Clubs |
|---|
|
Prairie All Age Championship
Club
|
Home 
Region Championships National Am. Chicken 2005 report
Region Championships National Am. Chicken 2005 report | 2005 report |
|
|
|
|
National Amateur Chicken Championship 2005 By Louis Qualtiere The Region 14 All Age and National Amateur Chicken Championships were held on September the 5th through the 9th at Morlach 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 reach out to the limit and still handle and find birds in be counted in the end. Brad Harter,the reporter for the NACC last year gave a remarkably accurate description of these ground and for those who missed his commentary last year here it is. "Put together more than 16,000 acres of gently rolling prairie terrain, more than ample numbers of Sharptail 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. 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 2005-2006 trial season. Many handlers leave their training grounds in Montana or the Dakota's to test the summers' training on these challenging grounds. In addition it is certain Mike Shears current president of AFTCA and trustees Mike Peretto and Doug Vaughn have convinced a large cadre of Southern trialers particularly Region 6 to support the NACC. The results were seen in the large quality entry with 40 dogs pulled for both the Region14 and the NACC. This was the largest entry in recent memory with multiple champions in each event. A certain strong test with unqualified laurels earned by the champions. The quality of the judges Jim and Jake Waddell chosen by Mike Shears and their familiarity with many of the Southern certainly convinced many to attend. Jim is a long time Secretary of Region 6 and he and son Jake have had multiple championship wins in the tough West Tennessee Region 6 competition. Among participants from the U. S. were, from the Midwest: Starr and Don Wiggins of Illinois, Linda and Larry Smith of Iowa, Marion Brown Ohio;from the East: Mike Peretto of Pennsylvania; from the West: John Mandell and Tom and Shannon Nygard of Montana, Mike Stephens of California, Joe Brinster of Washington ; Torben Hansen and Lori Steinhouer,Nevenda;and from the South: Mike Furney and Laura Epp of Georgia;Dave Williams, Mike Shears and Dave Taylor Tennessee;Ben Adams,Don Mullins, Kentucky;Ruthann and Lester Littell of Alabama. Canadians competing in the stake were Doug Vaughn and Ron Bender of Saskatchewan and Sean Kelly from Alberta. 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 and Doug Vaughn. The dog wagon was manned by Dawn Feist and Linda Hunt. Jeanette Heise,Region 14 Secretary handled all the financials and provided lunches for the judges,reporters and guests for the five days of the trial. Maureen Preston handled the details for the banquet Wednesday nite generously sponsored by Purina for the landowners and the trialers. It was catered by Wagons West the restaurant opened a few years ago in Mortlach and serves as the place to eat breakfast and dinner by 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 for the days the NACC was running. A special thanks to Roy and Laura Epp and Ruthann Littell who supplied horses for the two judges in the NACC and for those unable to bring horses from Montana because of the VSV quarantine. 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. The Winners(NACC) Miller's On Line the 2004 National Champion captured the NACC title following the winning of the Region 14 Championship last year. Mike Furney and Chip McEwen are the owners with Mike Furney present and unfortunately because of a lost voice had to turn handling to his scout Don Wiggins. The judges were impressed with his strong race and the in the absence of his normal handler and had a good fine to the front, all on his own, with clean bird work. Online has had a strong start to the 2006 season winning the Border International the week following the Mortlach trials handled by Rich Furney. Online brace was in the 7th brace started in the middle of the second course just South of the Eastman farm. After deadheading up the trail to avoid several fences Online was set loose heading South across the Alfalfa fields toward the alkali slough. Mike still having problems with his voice turned handling duties over to Don Wiggins with Larry Smith scouting. Online headed Southeast and catching the ridge past the alkali slough headed due East. At 11" Online was found on course half way down the center hedgerow tight to the cover. Don flushed two grouse right in front of the dog with him standing high and tight. Online finished hunting the hedgerows and turned North by Scout Smith. He made a monster cast hitting the road South of Miller's Hole and working his way through that cover and began hunting the bluffs North in the alfalfa field. He made another cast to the a quarter mile east of the Eastman farm and pointed for a minute but moved on as Larry approached.Larry brought him to the crossroads the normal start of the third course . Watered there, Online next cast headed North, hitting the far ridge East of camp. He could be seen heading North as we crested the ridge and the Scout and handler brought him back where he hunted West in the Alfalfa fields 500 yards North of the ridge and was not seen at time. Scout Smith found him in a depression standing on a porcupine 10' minutes after time. While to the side at times Online had a truly powerful prairie all-age race. Drama Queen the Ru Champion in just completed Region 14 trial also garnered RU honors in the NACC. The judges liked the way she handled herself in the country with a consistent all-age race with good application to the cover moving quickly from objective to objective. The RU ran in the 14th brace ( see 14th brace write up for a description of her race.) t 1st Brace: The first brace of the National began after lunch on the first course having finished the Region 14 Championship just before lunch. The wind was strong out of the south west which meant the dogs would have to push against the wind the majority of the time. Chief Honcho Mac( Ben Adams) and Red Rock High Country(Lori Steinshour) pushed to the front with Mac going on point in a low hollow at 8' with High Country coming up and backing with style. No birds were produced and both dogs continued to front across the sand road and proceeding to Choke Cherry lane at 30'.At 40'Ben put a rope on his dog unhappy with his performance on the ground. High Country continued South and crossing the grid road took a hedge row to the South. As the course turned to the North High Country continued South and wasn't seen at time. Fifteen minutes later the dog was seen by the judges returning to the front accompanied by the Lori. 2nd Brace: Waygoing Nick ( Mike Stevens) and Honcho Buck ( Ben Adams) both took off to the ridge to the North with the wind at their back and were seen going over and were lost from sight until we reached the ridge. Both dogs could be seen hunting the green oats fields and cover 400 yards to the Northeast. Both dogs were collected watered and headed towards the Eastman farm along the hedge rows. At 15' Ben crossing the grid West of the normal crossing put his dog into the Willows on the edge of Gunningham's farm stead where Huns flushed wild a few minutes before away from the dogs were seen to light. The dog found the birds and was steady to wing and shot. Both dogs continued down the road hunting the cover crossing the alkali slough and pushed down the hedge rows to the South uneventfully. The dogs were collected and directed Northeast towards Miller's Hole pushed by the strong southeast wind. The brace finished with both dogs hunting strong to the North. Time was called in the alfalfa fields about 3/4 mile South in the of the normal start of Third course. 3rd Brace: Mystic Fire (Joe Brinster) and Lone Mountain Reliant (John Mandell) both headed to the ridge North of the breakaway. The dogs hunted east along the ridge East of camp and at 30' Reliant was seen standing with Mystic Fire backing. The stand was unproductive and both handlers elected to end the brace for lack of race. 4rd Brace: Light Rail ( Tom Nygaard) and Clower's Thunder Strike ( Torben Hansen) Broke away heading east along the ridge with Light Rail getting lost for awhile in the heavy cover North of the pasture. Torben called point at 36' for his dog in the Northeast corner of the pasture but the dog moved on as the handler and judge approached. Both dogs hunted the hedgerows heading South with Light Rail showing difficulty keeping to the front. Both dogs hunted the remainder of the brace with good all-age races. At time both dogs could be seen hunting in the heavy grass along the lake shore North of Chicken Alley. 5th Brace: The next morning found Wiggins River Knot ( Don Wiggins) and Bitterroot's Return ( Mike Peretto) at the first course with a light wind from the Southwest with a clear sky and a temperature of about 15C. At 15" t both dogs crossed the sand road and headed across the alfalfa fields towards Choke Cherry Lane showing strong all-age races. Don pushed his dog towards the fence at Ward's pasture and continued the remainder of the course with a strong race losing him in the Gunningham rough cover at time, returning him 10' later. Bitterroot never made the turn at Choke Cherry lane and was timed out. 6th Brace: Milller's Southern Pride ( Mike Furney) and Just Denver ( Ruthann Littell) broke off at the beginning of the second course with both dogs hugging the West part of the course. Southern Pride hit the far ridge and went over while Just Denver hit the ridge and took it all the way to the Eastman farm returning to the ridge several minutes later. At 11' Southern Pride returned from the West and Mike Furney losing his voice turned over handling to scout Larry Smith. At the corner of the Eastman farm at the water tank both handlers elected to call it quits. 7th Brace: see write up in winners section,top dog scratched 8th Brace: Temperature now 80degrees Highpower Gasoline ( Ron Bender) and Jukebox ( Mike Peretto) cast East along the ridge and entered Ellington's Pasture with Bender's dog leaving the pasture and headed North towards the lake. Ron had to ride far and hard to turn her and returned her to the front as the course turned towards the West at the end of the hedgerows. Both dogs hunted and ran well for the remainder of the brace ending in the heavy cover along the lake. No finds were registered by either dog. 9th Brace: Begin in the Morning of the nest day with the wind from Southwest 15 m/hr temperature about 60oF.Lone Mountain Opus( Sean Kelly) and After Mona(Marion Brown) both cast straight and crossed into the Eastman pasture. Opie cast all the way to the far sand road and hunted the cover along the road before returning to the galley still half way to the sand road. After Mona hunted the heavy cover in the pasture and likewise returned to the galley just before we reached the sand road at 12'.Shortly before both dogs reached Choke Cherry Lane Marion called it quits while Sean and Opie made the turn at Choke Cherry Lane but soon after also called it quits as the dog showed evidence of tiring. 10th Brace Canadian Pete ( Joe Brinster) and Wiggins River Boss ( Don Wiggins) cast off South from the bottom of Choke Cherry Lane. Pete headed to the Northwest and joined the galley as we crossed through the first gate and immediately called point as the dog stopped in a depression along the East fence where Huns have been seen times in the past. The stand was unproductive and we took Pete to the Grid road. Don was unhappy with his dog's race and picked him up at 11'.Pete continued through the remainder of the first course short and into the second course finishing strong just short of the water tank on the Eastman site. 11th Brace Rebel Magic ( Dave Williams) and Chief Honcho's Bill ( Ben Adams) Cast off just pass the Bull pasture in the alfalfa field and hugged the West cover up the dirt trail with both turning East as they cleared the alkali slough and pushed made it almost the the far grid road before they were turned by the Scouts and returned to the front at 14'. Rebel Magic took the center hedge row and headed South. Williams called point ( a bird had been seen leaving before the point was called by the judge). The handler shot and took his dog on towards Miller's Hole. Ben dog took the hedge to the far grid road was finally found and returned to the front as we reached Miller's Hole. Rebel Magic race broke down and Williams had a time getting him the the front as we crossed the traditional start of the Third course with both dogs hitting the far ridge and went over. Both were returned to the front at time. 12th Brace: Windsone B (Marion Brown) and SF Cornstalk (Larry Smith) were cast off East on the Ridge East of camp and at 13' just as both dogs entered the Ellingsten pasture Windsone B had a unsatisfactory contact with a pair of Huns and was picked up. Larry hunted his dog through the pasture and the North -South hedgerows south of the pasture with no success. As the course turned to the east on the ridge road Cornstalk also had an unsatisfactory encounter with some Huns and was likewise picked up ending the second day of the championship. 13th Brace: Chief Honcho's Jake( Ben Adams) and Bear Wallow Tico( Don Mullins) The next morning saw a light breeze,overcast skies and temperture about 15 deg C with the dogs on the first course mile North of Camp. Ben's dog took the right side of the course eventually hunting to the pasture just North of Camp. Both dogs reached the sand road together with Tico showing a good handle and race. Both keep to the heavy cover to the left as they crossed the big alfalfa field heading towards choke Cherry lane. Both dogs hunted well the remainder of the first course with moderate all-age races but went birdless. 14th Brace: Drama Queen ( Torben Hansen) and Network B ( Marion Brown) Casted off at the beginning of the second course both taking the cover on the left to the high ridge 1/2 mile to the front. Both dogs took the ridge to the East,hunting the hedgerows West of Eastman's farm site. Marion called point at 11' along the center hedgerow but the find and relocation were unsuccessful. The dogs were gathered up and watered as we crossed the road and quickly disappeared south into the high alfalfa in the bull pasture at 20'. Both dogs were found pointing and large flock of Huns exploded as the handers approached. A divided find was awarded by the judges as either dog was capable of seeing each other and both were pointing into the wind and the flock of Huns. Both handlers fired and both dogs were steady. The dogs continued across the alfalfa field and hit the hedgerows going South with both dogs taking the cover to the far grid road and were out of sight. The dogs were returned to the front at 42'. At 57' Network B was found standing in the opening North of Miller's Hole but no birds could be located. Drama Queen finished strong to the front hunting the bluffs on the far left of the alfalfa field heading towards the crossroads and the start of the third course. 15th Brace:Rebel Bess (Dave Williams) and Just Buckle Up( Laura Epp) The dogs casted to far ridge East of camp and went over with Rebel Bess not returning. At 8' Just Buckle Up had a nice fine on eight grouse with everything in order. At 24' Laura unhappy about her dog's race picked him up. 16th Brace: Touchstar B ( Marion Brown) and Ringafire's Rhythm ( Dave Taylor)casted off half way down the ridge towards Ellingsdten's pasture. Both dogs hunting the cover and hedgerows and finally finishing at the bottom of Chicken Alley at time. While several flocks of Huns were ridden up by the galley both dogs went birdless. 17th Brace: Chief Honcho's Samuel( Ben Adams) and Buckeye Gem ( Marion Brown) After lunch with trial continued on the first course with a light breeze from the West temperature 80 degrees. Both dogs started strong with big casts reaching the sand road in quick time and hunting the cover appropriately. The dogs reached Choke Cherry lane again ahead of time maintaining strong forward races and both made the turn and headed toward's Campbell's pasture. Passed the first gate Samuel pointed along the East fence but went with the birds as they flushed. At 46', the setter definitely tiring, Marion called it quits. 18th Brace: Bling Bling ( Micheal Shears) and Just Denver ( Ruthann Little) Started at the South end of Campbell's pasture with Bling Bling holding the front and crossing the grid road in good order. At the road Just Denver back cast North into Ward's pasture and handler and Scout were not able to bring him back in time. Bling Bling finished the first course and crossed the road onto the second course and made a classic all-age cast to the far east-west ridge. Mike pointed out his dog standing in the oat field north of the ridge with birds in the air. Upon relocation, another bird was put up, the dog this time in close pursuit. 19th Brace: Wiggins River King (Don Wiggins) and Whippoorwill Shug( Doug Vaughn) Started in the alfalfa field south of the Bull pasture. Both hit the ridge passed the alkali slough in a single cast with River King hunting East towards the large bluffs one mile to the East. The dog not returning Don went for him returning at 20' with him in harness. Shug hunted the hedgerows and was turned northeast back towards Miller's Hole all in good order. Shug cast far to the East and while hunting North went on point at 28' in the middle of a cut alfalfa field 400 yards to the East. As Doug rode to point and was about 50 yards from the dog a single grouse lifted and the dog followed. 20th Brace: Tip the Cap ( Laura Epp)( 2005 Region 14 Shooting dog Champion) and Clower's Silver Rain( Torben Hansen) The cast off just north of Miller's Hole with Silver Rain hitting the center bluffs with a pretty all-age cast and continued to hunt towards the Eastman farm to never return. Tip the Cap at first wanted to run south but was brought to front by Ruthann finally pushing north coming to a sudden stop at a small bluff in the west/center of the alfalfa field. Birds were produced with all in order. Laura took her dog to the crossroads and cast him towards the far ridge which he and reached and went over. He was found standing on the edge of one of the center bluffs but no birds could be produced even after a thorough relocation. The dog continued to hunt the ridge east but eventually cast off the ridge far to the South and after a difficult time bring him back to the front Laura called it quits. |