Event: Pure Confidence Named Champion; Brook's White Hot Blaze, Runner-Up
Result: NBHA Northern Regional Championship

Location: Argyle, Wisconsin

Post Date: May 30, 2023

Submitted By: Greg Blair

Championship Winners (from left): Chris Fields, Garry Malzone, Jillian Stuhr with Pure Confidence, Deb Dlobik, John Dlobik, Mike Vicari (judge), Greg Blair with Brook's White Hot Blaze, James Woods, Frank Vicari (judge), Brian Lick, Tom Waite, and Ken Millikin.

The 2023 NBHA Northern Regional Championship was held again this year at the Yellowstone Wildlife Management Area near Argyle, Wis. The grounds are very rolling with plenty of acreage, allowing a dog to stretch their legs yet be in touch with their handler. Mowing was done this past summer and provided objectives and cover. The 12 O'Clock Field Trial Club hosts a very welcoming, warm event, and this year was no different. The field consisted of American
Field/UKC and AKC champions and major Futurity winners. Thank you to each owner and handler who joined this Championship.

Our judges this year were Frank and Mike Vicari of Hampshire, Ill. The Vicaris operate Wildfire Kennels, a nationally known kennel that raises and produces national champion German Shorthairs. Frank's father, Joe Vicari, started the winning Wildfire lines. Frank, Mike, and other family members have dogs in the top 10 standings on the AKC GSPCA national rankings. They did a great job and were welcomed kindly by all participants. Thank you, Frank and Mike!

This year drew a reputable entry from across the country. We began the running at 11:30 a.m. on Friday because heavy thunderstorms were predicted. We were able to get three braces in before the thunderstorm and tornado warnings came into effect. Heavy rain, wind, and hail dropped overnight on the grounds. That front rolling through brought a dusting of snow, cooler temperatures, and a strong wind out of the northwest. Numerous dogs finished the hour, and the champion, Pure Confidence ("Tango"), came out of brace No. 5 (the second one on Saturday morning), and runner-up champion, Brook's White Hot Blaze ("Blaze"), arose from the sixth overall brace.

Champion Pure Confidence is owned by Black Meadow Kennel, handled by Garry Malzone, and scouted by Jillian Stuhr, both from Indian Creek Kennels out of Franklin, N. J. Tango started his brace with a bold cast and was found pointed to the front on the east side of the course. After catching the front, the powerful male pointer carded three more finds, all well-spaced throughout the hour and one unproductive. Pure Confidence is a consistent bird finder and finished well to the front as time was called.

Runner-up Champion Brook's White Hot Blaze is an exciting, bold, young (3-yearold) Red setter. Blaze is owned by Luke Tewes of Palmyra, Neb., handled by Tom Waite of Dale Creek Gundogs in Burlington, Wis., and scouted by Greg Blair. Blaze is a son of National Champion and recent Hall of Fame inductee, Zansett Simply Red. He has his dad's bird-finding capabilities and style to burn. Tom and Blaze were in brace No. 6 and laid down a strong and forward ground application. On Blaze's first find, he was able to withstand pressure from his bracemate,
which did not deter his composure. He went on to have two more well-spaced finds and finished strong.

Sunday morning brought the best weather for the weekend; although windy, it was more comfortable than the previous two days, and many dogs showed great promise. The Derby stake drew 17 highly competitive youngsters! Three very nice up-and-comers secured derby placements. Hackberry's Amos Moses ("Amos"), a white and liver male pointer, owned and handled by Ben Brettingen of Waconia, Minn., took first and showed great range and handling with a forward application. Amos had a beautiful woodcock find, and finished strongly. Indian Creek Pineapple ("Pineapple"), a white and orange female pointer owned by Stuhr and handled by Malzone of Franklin, N. J., gave Amos a run for his money. Her smooth gait and ability to hit the right spots earned her a second-place finish. Rounding out the placements was The Need For Speed ("Maverick"), a white and black ticked setter male, owned by Chris Kobs of Cudahy, Wis., and handled by Waite of Burlington, Wis. Maverick ran a race that was always in tune with the handler and stayed to the front and applied himself well. He had a nice broke find to start the brace and went on to have two more finds. All three placements showed application and desire for the entire 30 minutes.

The 12 O'clock Field Trial Club would like to thank our national sponsors--Purina, Garmin, Mule Clothing, OnX Hunt, Gun Dog Supply, and Gun Dog Central. We also would like to thank our dedicated dog wagon drivers Ken Millikin and Chris Fields, bird planter John Dlobik and scouts, who helped everyone who needed assistance, for their time and hard work. It is appreciated!

Argyle, Wis., March 31 - One Course
Judges: Frank Vicari and Mike Vicari
NBHA NORTHERN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 8 Pointers, 4 Setters, 4 Irish Setters and 4 German Shorthairs
Winner--PURE CONFIDENCE, 1660531, pointer male, by True Confidence-Richfield Rose. Black Meadow Kennels, owner; Garry Malzone, handler.
Runner-Up--BROOK'S WHITE HOT BLAZE, 1686462, Irish setter male, by Zansett Simply Red-Lincoln's Steady Brook. Luke Tewes, owner; Tom Waite, handler.
NBHA NORTH REGIONAL DERBY - 5 Pointers,
7 Setters, 4 Irish Setters and 1 German Shorthair
1st--HACKBERRY'S AMOS MOSES, 1695788, pointer male, by Elhew Sinbad-Numark Surefire Peg. Ben Brettingen, owner and handler.
2d--INDIAN CREEK PINEAPPLE, 1697900, pointer female, by Indian Creek Perfect Storm-Indian Creek Ramona. Jillian Stuhr, owner; Garry Malzone, handler.
3d--THE NEED FOR SPEED, 1695127, setter male, by Blair's Witch Project-Big Run Bluebird. Chris Kobs, owner; Tom Waite, handler.

Derby Winners (from left): Chris Fields, Amber Dequaine, Mike Vicari (judge), AJ Jungbluth, Ben Brettingen with Hackberry's Amos Moses, Garry Malzone, Frank Vicari (judge), Jillian Stuhr with Indian Creek Pineapple, James Woods, Chris Kobs, Tom Waite with The Need For Speed, Aaron Marker, and Greg Blair.