Result: Region 17 Amateur All-Age Championship
Location: Dexter, Kansas
Post Date: Jan 24, 2024
Submitted By: Andy Neria
Region 17 Amateur All-Age Championship Winners (l-r): Lawless Georgia Girl with Jim Lawless and H P Cottonmouth with Rodney Shoemaker, joined by participants.
The 2022-23 renewal of the Region 17 All-Age Championship was scheduled to run in Onaga, Kansas, on March 2, 2023, and a lack of entries caused the cancellation of the trial. As we moved into the summer meetings, the prevailing concern was whether there would be enough entries to hold the 2023/2024 renewal of the Championship. It was decided this year's trial would be held at the Radcliff Ranch in Dexter, Kansas. The Wichita Bird Dog Club, in coordination with the Red Setter Club, would band together to bring the Championship back and get it up and going this year.
The date was set for November 4, and as it drew near, there was anticipation as to how many dogs would be drawn. Ultimately, 27 dogs were entered and drawn. The stage was set for a new champion to be crowned.
As many of you already know, there is a ton that goes into putting on a trial, let alone a championship trial. Many thanks are owed, and I will try to mention them here. First and foremost are the landowners. In our case, it's the Radcliff Family of Dexter, Kansas, that so graciously allows us to use this fine ranch to chase these dogs around. The Radcliff Ranch is a large, sprawling piece of Flint Hill country that can really showcase a dog that wants to win. The Radcliff Family has long been a supporter of field trialing in Kansas, and we are indebted for their continued kindness and hospitality. As everyone knows, with no grounds, we have no trials.
Second, we had great judges. That's paramount to getting folks to come to your event. Dr. Stan Wint needs no introduction, as anyone that has turned a dog loose knows Stan and his ability to crown a champion. Having been a judge at the National Championship, Stan knows his way around a bird dog. Justin Crook of Powerhouse Kennels is a very accomplished shooting dog pro. These two fine individuals were well received.
Last but not least, in any way, are all the volunteers it takes to make a trial run. There were many at the Region 17 this year that helped, and your help is always greatly appreciated.
Before we get to the running, there is a sad note regarding Griff's Big Ransom, a pointer male owned by long-time field trialer Mike Griffin in Oklahoma. Buddy passed away unexpectedly during this trial. Our condolences go out to Mike. All of us know the feeling of losing a good one.
Twenty-seven dogs from all over the region were drawn. For various reasons, five dogs didn't make it to the line, leaving the judges with 22 dogs to decide from.
The Running
Brace No. 1 started at 8:06 in the morning and broke away from camp to the east, directly into the rising sun and up the steep hill under the powerlines. H P Shots Fired (PM/Rodney Shoemaker) and Bromance (PM/Jon Humphrey) were loosed, and both dogs got away clean to the front. Shots Fired never really got on track, and Rodney elected to pick him up early at about the 10-minute mark. Bromance was on the hunt early, and at 10, he was found pointed in the bottom. Birds were produced, and all was in order. After a short absence, he was found pointed again at the 17-minute mark. Birds were produced, and he was carried on. At the 25-minute mark, he was pointed again north of the road crossing on course 1. Birds were produced, and we continued south of the road into the creek bottom, crossing into the big pasture. We crossed the road, normally at the end of the hour, with 8 minutes left. We continued on course 2, up the long draw, and finished the hour at the end of the draw on the road.
Brace No. 2 brought Bocomo Dutchman (PM/Jay Lewis) and Stylish Bell (PF/Tom Curtsinger) to the line. Both dogs broke away well to the front. Birds would prove to be at a premium in this brace. Dutchman would search the country far and wide for his hour. At 59, in the drawdown from the third hour breakaway, Dutchman was found pointed. It appeared that maybe his long hour would be rewarded. After a long relocation attempt, no birds could be produced, and that's how his hour ended. Bell also hunted the wide-open country in search of birds and would eventually be rewarded with a find at 41. All was in order, and she continued on towards the corrals. Bell finished the hour strong with the single find.
Brace No. 3 featured Worsham's Spitfire (PM/Joe Worsham) and Double Rebel Cowboy (PM/Lynn Oxendine). Both dogs were sent away from the corrals in good order, headed to the front. Cowboy was pointed at the 13-minute mark, but after a good flushing attempt, birds were not produced, and handler elected to move on. At 25, handler was noted off his horse, correcting the Cowboy dog for an apparent infraction. The dog was picked up shortly thereafter, ending his bid. The Spitfire dog would point birds at the 30-minute mark, but it proved to be too much, and the dog was taken up, also ending his bid.
Brace No. 4 was B G K's Luke (PM/Jarrett Bell) and Rodney Shomaker with H P Cottonmouth (PM/Rodney Shoemaker). This brace covered a lot of ground. Both dogs were well-forward as we made the end of the first hour with several minutes remaining. Cottonmouth searched the country well, looking for birds. Out of pocket at times, he showed up to the front when needed. Finally, at 55, he was rewarded with a find at the end of the draw on course 2 by the road. Birds were produced, and with 5 minutes left, he was loosed and continued well forward to the road crossing that takes us into the bottom on the way to the silo field. Time was called there, and the dog was collected. Luke also ran a nice brace, but birds eluded him in his bid.
Brace No. 5 was Rebelator Sam (PM/Lynn Oxendine) and H P Social Distancing (PM/Rodney Shoemaker). We broke away from the road crossing about halfway through the second hour. Social Distancing was wide for much of his brace, and managed to distance himself from his handler. The tracker was asked for at 40. Sam went through the country in a pleasing manner for his handler. At 50, Sam was found by his scout pointed in the draw below the third hour breakaway. As handler rode to his dog, a nice, wild covey lifted from all around the dog. Sam stood with nice style and manners for his handler to dismount and shoot. It was quite a find on a nice covey. Sam was taken on after that and finished his hour to the front.
Brace No. 6 was Open Range Adeline (PF/Bob Barker). Bob was alone in this brace as a bye-dog. We broke from the corrals at the start of the third hour, and Adeline was away strong to the front. Too strong and wide at times. This trend continued for the handler, and at 35, he requested the tracker to get his dog back under control, ending his bid. This was the conclusion of Day One of the Championship.
Brace No. 7 brought Sawney (VIZM) for handler Laura Miller and Griff's Express (PM) for handler Mike Griffin. On a side note, it was nice to see Mike back on a horse after an extended layup. We broke away first thing in the morning from camp. Once again, heading east in the first hour, up the steep hill and under the powerlines. Both dogs were away big to the front, with Express being seen intermittently and Sawney not at all. Coming off the big hill, at about 12 minutes in, the Vizsla was returning to his handler with a bird in his mouth. Unfortunately, this wasn't a retrieving stake, so his bid was ended. John was still on the ground and moving strongly to the front. He suffered an NP about 300 yards north of the first road crossing on course 1 at 25. He was gathered at the crossing and pointed in the direction of the creek crossing south of the road. As the judges and gallery arrived at the creek crossing, the dog was spotted standing, and handler informed judges that birds had left already. No shots were fired, and the dog was taken on down the creek. John finished good to the front at the end of the first hour at the road crossing.
Brace No. 8 included H P Dirty Dancing (PF/Rodney Shomaker) and Lawless Georgie Girl (PF/Jim Lawless). Both dogs broke away to the front from the beginning of the second hour down the long draw to the north. Georgie Girl scored a nice find on a well-located wild covey in the draw at 17. The covey was scattered out and the dog had perfect manners for the flush and shot. Handler gathered his dog, and as he was mounting his horse, Georgie headed on, only making it approximately 30 yards before running into the second half of the covey she had just pointed. She snapped to a tight stop-to-flush with perfect manners. Handler dismounted, shot, and this time took his dog further down the draw to turn her loose. She was away to the front with all in order. At the 27-minute mark, we had both dogs at the road crossing that leads us to the big bottom going north towards the silo field. Upon entering the silo field, Georgie was spotted on point in the tree line that goes north from the gate. A very spry Jim Lawless dismounted and chased his birds up with Georgie standing perfectly with great style and manners. Dirty Dancing was still on the ground, trying her best at this point, but birds eluded her, and she finished the hour with a good race but no bird work. Georgie was turned loose from her second find and continued to search the country far and wide in pursuit of that third find. She finished strong to the front at time--a very good performance from Georgie.
Brace No. 9 was a pair of pointers for handlers Colby Tackett and Tom Curtsinger. Two Seamer (Tackett) and Stylish Hot Chic (Curtsinger) were turned loose at the corrals to start the third hour. Both dogs were away well to the front. This trend would repeat itself for the entire hour as both dogs traded casts in search of birds. Birds seemed to be scarce on course 3 on this day, and neither dog was able to produce any. Both dogs finished strong and were in contact at time.
Brace No. 10 consisted of Warjam's Big Mac Daddy (PM/Jim Corpening) and H P Shockwave (PM/Rodney Shoemaker). We turned loose after lunch from camp, back on course 1, heading up the big hill. Both dogs were away far to the front. Our next contact with both dogs came at the 10-minute mark when Mac was found pointed in the bottom where birds had been found previously. This time, however, there were only feathers to be found, and Mac was taken on without a relocation. While this was taking place, Shockwave had slipped into the creek east of this action and found his own birds. Handler and judge went to check on Shockwave, and the birds lifted upon arrival of handler and judge. Shockwave went with them, ending his bid. When we caught the front, Mac was far to the front, just prior to the road crossing on the first hour. He was gathered up and taken through the crossing and sent south to the creek crossing. He continued making large casts to the front, but eventually, his casts became too large, and after being gone for a spell, handler requested the tracker, ending Mac's bid.
Brace No. 11 brought Bitter Ark (PM/Frank Schoenborn) to the line. Due to scratches, Frank was a bye. We turned loose at the road at the beginning of the second and headed north down the long draw. Bitter Ark was pointed at 10 in the draw, very close to where Georgie Girl had previously pointed a nice covey. A single bird was produced, and the dog was taken on. Bitter Ark never really opened and ran like he needed to in this all-age event, but nonetheless, he was pleasing to watch, had a nice find for his handler, and finished the hour with a huge cast.
The last brace of the Championship featured Lawless Speck (PF/Jim Lawless) and Bocomo Cherry (PF/Jay Lewis). Both dogs were loosed from the corrals at the start of the third hour and we were off, headed back towards camp. Speck was far-reaching at times in her search, and after a considerable absence where the scout returned empty-handed, the tracker was asked for, ending Speck's bid for the day. Cherry was steadfast in her search. Birds had proved to be a commodity on course 3, and this brace was no exception. Cherry hunted the country hard but just could not produce a bird. She finished the hour strong to the front but was birdless. That was the end of the Championship, and now the decision was all that was left.
When the dust settled, our judges, Dr. Stan Wint and Justin Crook, named Lawless Georgie Girl, the fine pointer female owned and handled by Jim Lawless as this year's Region 17 All-Age Champion. Runner-up was awarded to H P Cottonmouth for handler Rodney Shoemaker. Both dogs exhibited strong ground races with birdwork that exemplified championship-caliber birdwork needed to win.
This year's event saw 22 dogs from several states compete for the title of Champion. The weather was good. The company was good. And as always, the food was great. Hopefully, this renewal will jumpstart this Championship after recent cancellations and bring this event back to the level that has enjoyed in previous years. Many thanks go out to all involved who helped to make this trial happen. We're looking forward to the 2024-25 renewal, wherever that may be.
Dexter, Kan., November 3
Judges: Justin Crook and Stan Wint
REGION 17 AMATEUR ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 26 Pointers and 1 Vizsla
Winner-LAWLESS GEORGIE GIRL, 1676697, pointer female, by Oak Grove Pacemaker-Homestead Georgia. Jim Lawless, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-H P COTTONMOUTH, 1681616, pointer male, by Wiggins Mister Ronnie-Wiggins Miss Swami. Rodney Shoemaker, owner and handler.