Result: National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Covington, Indiana

Post Date: Jan 19, 2024

Submitted By: Written by: Adam DeLude

National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship Winners (l-r): Mike Jackson, Terry Trzcinski (Purina Consultant), Cathy Lewis, Mr. Penland, Adam DeLude, Dr. Tom Jackson (judge), Jack Glover, Greg Blair with Alliwood's Eleventh Hour, Keith Wright (host), Keri Elfvin, Zach Hilton (judge), J. C. Monroe with Emert's Sho Me Mo, Mike Fox, Kevin Fingerle, David Emert, Kenny Norrinton, Mr. Emert, Geoff Johnson, Bud Walters, and David Cates.

The 2023 AFTCA National Amateur Walking Championship was run November 8-9 at Keith Wright's Redwood Farm, near Covington, Indiana, and drew an entry of 29 dogs.

The Redwood Farm is the perfect place to show a walking shooting dog with rolling hills, edges, feed strips, and plenty of cover that gives the opportunity for dogs to make moves while staying completely in tune with the handler. Most importantly, there was no shortage of birds again as every brace had bird contact, with many having multiple covey finds. The field was filled with tough competition, full of numerous champions and many that will have their day soon enough. The Wrights did it again, knocking their hospitality out of the park and being the best hosts you can find! Thank you to every handler who traveled from all over to make this a great championship.

Champion Alliwood's Eleventh Hour broke away in the 10th brace, crossing the creek, hunting fast and hard. She made her way forward and was found pointed, buried deep in the briars along the railroad tracks, before heading into the prairie with birds seen by the marshal. She continued on hunting the prairie, where she reconnected with her handler at the highway. From there, she made a move up the right side, swapped ends, and pointed again at 25, where all was in order. She continued to make all the right moves. She was next found standing by her scout at 51 minutes under the oak tree before heading up the hill by the pond. She was released from this find, and while running to the top of the hill by the pond, she had a stop to flush on a single where a shot was fired, all in order. She was sent on from here to the front, back into the prairie, where time was called. After a couple of minutes, she was found to the front, along the railroad tracks in the bicolor.

Runner-up Champion Emert's Sho Me Mo was turned loose in the sixth brace in the heat of the first afternoon by his handler. Mo broke away to the front, crossing the creek, and was found pointed at 8, which resulted in a non-productive. His handler sent him on, where he hunted the cover well up along the railroad tracks and crossed into the prairie. Mo was found pointed by his scout at 26 in the prairie. Mo continued on, navigating the turns up on top of the hill, and headed down, where he crossed the creek again and had his final find at 42, heading towards the cabin. Mo was turned loose from this find, still hunting hard before heading back into the prairie in the heat of the day.

We want to thank the judges who took time out of their busy schedules to come and watch this great field of dogs while giving their utmost attention to each dog over the weekend: Dr. Tom Jackson from Indiana and Mr. Zach Hilton from Illinois.

We'd also like to thank our sponsors for their continued support; Purina and Garmin provided dog food and collars for our champion and runner-up champion.

No field trial is complete without a great team of workers. This year's championship, again, was no exception. I would like to personally thank Keith and Jessica Wright, John and Jill Wright, Mike Jackson, and John Vanada for all their help. Keith rode every single brace and helped each handler navigate the course; John handled dog wagon duties and was always there when we needed him; Jessica, John, and Jill provided top-notch hospitality and made sure meals were ready. If you ever get the chance to run a trial at Redwood, there is one guarantee: you will NOT leave hungry! The Redwood team made sure we were well-fed all weekend with breakfast, lunches, and dinners each day! Our Purina dinner Thursday night was a steak dinner from the Beef House Restaurant in Covington, Indiana.

Covington, Ind., November 8 - One Course
Judges: Zach Hilton and Dr. Tom Jackson
NATIONAL AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 29 Entries
Winner-ALLIWOOD'S ELEVENTH HOUR, 1695563, pointer male, by Touch's Grey Street-Alliwood's Shady Shay. Adam DeLude, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-EMERT'S SHO ME MO, 1668349, setter male, by Brannigan's Last Straw-Hytest Horizon. David Emert, owner and handler.