Result: NBHA Sharptail Championship

Location: Danbury, Wisconsin

Post Date: Feb 4, 2025

Submitted By: James C. Kleve

NBHA Sharptail Open Championship: Mary Sue Schalk (judge), Paul Cook with Little Hawk, John McKellop with Grouse Trails Warrior Cat, and Mike Crouse (judge).

The third renewal of the NBHA Sharptail Championship drew a strong field of 43 shooting dogs. The Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association proudly hosts this flourishing event at the Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Management Area near Danbury, Wisconsin. The "Barrens," as called by locals, are part of the Northwest Sands, a rare ecosystem that once was a sprawling sight across Wisconsin. The pine and scrub oak savannah, spread across the sandy soil, is a great test and an equalizer for our canine competitors.

The National Bird Hunters Association team has been phenomenal to work with. The system in place that they offer is invaluable. A great thanks goes to all the sponsors. We are very thankful to Purina, who proudly sponsors this event, and we are just as grateful to have Purina representative Greg Blair present and support this event. Other sponsors include Garmin, OnX, Mule Brand Clothing, Gun Dog Supply, and Gun Dog Central. They generously donate to the cause by various means to help this trial continue moving forward.

The workload of a trial this size is not for the weak-hearted. The individuals who step up and show up are irreplaceable and are what help this sport continue. The "Road Crew" of Rod Lein, Jim Kleve, Brad Peterson, and Alan Benson kept the trial on task by getting the dogs and horse wagons where needed and keeping the next brace of handlers ready. Eric and Lindsey Saetre also chipped in this year on various miscellaneous tasks. Saturday's lunch was provided by the owner/handler of last year's winner, Rod Lein, whose Over The Hill Merry took the crown convincingly last year. Thank you to Paul Gregg, Bob Chamberland, and Greg Johnson for handling the rest of the lunch duties.

Returning this year, we were privileged to have Mary Sue Schalk of Princeton, Kentucky, and Mike Crouse of Dixon, Kentucky. This father-daughter judging pair is a prime example of two judges who work well together in unison. They are attentive and courteous. In the Derby stake, Mary Sue Schalk was joined by Alan Benson of Cutler, Illinois. The Puppy stake was judged by Ben McKean of Minnetrista, Minnesota, and Brad Peterson of Cedar Grove, Wisconsin.

One of the many caveats of field trials is that once your name goes in the draw, you are at the mercy of the weather and how the weather affects the grounds on which you are competing. There are other contributing factors to a dog's performance, but the weather can sometimes be your biggest opponent. Although drawn a week later on the calendar than the two years prior, the heat was, to say the least, intense. The morning braces were cooler, yet the sandy soil immediately heats up when the sun comes out. Every dog turned loose over the course of the five-day event was asked to perform at the utmost highest level. The canine athletes who laid it down thrilled all those tough enough to stay out on the course with them.

The Winners and Others
Emerging as champion was Little Hawk, a Setter female owned and handled by Paul Cook. Little Hawk previously won the accompanying Open Derby stake here at the Sharptail Championship in 2022. Her return to the winners' circle here shows she is made for these grounds. She came out of the 14th brace on the second course. She carded two well-spaced pieces of birdwork. Her effort on the ground was strong, showing her unrelenting ability to work through tough conditions. Her final minutes helped secure this young dog's first championship as she demonstrated an unwavering desire to continue on while others had faltered.

The runner-up champion was Grouse Trails Warrior Cat, owned by Laurel and Patricia McKellop and handled to the title by John McKellop. This Pointer female was the winner of the inaugural running of this event. Her classy way of covering the ground captivates your attention for the hour. She was consistently into birds, with a find at 17, a mannerly stop to flush at 30, and her final piece of birdwork coming right at time.

Other shooting dogs that laid down efforts that deserve mention were Blue Ridge Kobe, Northwoods Cedar, Sycamore Creek Cody, Cates Rocket Girl, and Jewett's Creek Beauty.
The young dogs drawn for the Derby were also subject to the heat as the stake began Saturday afternoon at the conclusion of the Championship. Alan Benson and Mary Sue Schalk judged the stake of 25 dogs.

The winner of the stake came from the fifth brace in Griffs Hackberry's Zack, a black and white Pointer male. Handled by Justin Crook, Zach did not let up during his half hour in the heat. His cast was forward to the front, digging in the scrub oak in his efforts to find game. His efforts were rewarded at 20 when he found a covey. Zach capped off his performance with a strong finish to the front.

Second and third place were braced together and ran Sunday morning. The temperature rose quickly in the 30 minutes that Buckshot Reloaded and Clover Valley's Mulak took to the course. The pair was enthusiastic and made both handlers stay on their toes to manage the young dogs. Buckshot was more biddable at times and had a game contact. He stood prior to game lifting and enjoyed watching the birds take flight. Mulak never slowed down but stayed in contact with her handler as she powered over the prairies. Buckshot earned second place for his handler, John McKellop, while Mulak took third place for her handler, Greg Johnson.

The Derby stake provided a competitive field for the judges to sort through and enjoy. Another field trial with quality performances to remember for years to come. Other derbies the judges wanted to mention on the merit of their performances were Boatright's Audubon Outcast, Hackberry's Bright Rose, Setter Ridge Power Play, and Grouse Trails Chippewa Warrior.

The Open Puppy stake was the final stake of the trial. This 12-dog stake was no afterthought; it proved to have very talented youngsters. Greg Johnson took home the blue with Northwoods Rip Roy; he showed maturity on the ground beyond his age and was consistent. He stayed hunting during his entire brace, which kept the judges' attention. Zach Erne's talented Run to Wynn took second. He had a big race; a little bit of inconsistency separated him from the winner. Crouse's Buffalo Junction showed ambition and independence while still working for his handler, Mary Sue Schalk, garnering him third place.

Danbury, Wis., September 25
Judges: Mike Crouse and Mary Schalk
NBHA SHARPTAIL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 20 Pointers, 19 Setters, 1 Irish Setter and 3 German Shorthairs
Winner-LITTLE HAWK, F1698254, setter female, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-War Paint. Paul Cook, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-GROUSE TRAILS WARRIOR CAT, F1690752, pointer female, by Panola Bacon-Chasehill Little Izzy. Laurel A. & Patricia L. McKellop, owners; John McKellop, handler.

NBHA Sharptail Derby: Mary Sue Schalk (judge), Bud Moore, Terry Boatright with Griffs Hackberry's Zack, Justin Crook, John McKellop with Buckshot Reloaded, Alan Benson (judge), and Greg Johnson with Clover Valley's Mulak.

Judges: Alan Benson and Mary Sue Schalk
NBHA OPEN DERBY - 12 Pointers and 13 Setters
1st-GRIFFS HACKBERRY'S ZACK, F1714352, pointer male, by Hackberry's Elhew Chief-Hackberry's Mia Blackhawk. Mike Griffin, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
2d-BUCKSHOT RELOADED, F1710624, pointer male, by Toth's Tornado Reloaded-Grouse Trails Warrior Cat. Tim Johnson, owner; John McKellop, handler.
3d-CLOVER VALLEY'S MULAK, F1705658, setter male, by Northwoods Atlas-Clover Valley's Millie. Jerry Furnish, owner; Greg Johnson, handler.

Judges: Ben McKean and Brad Peterson
NBHA OPEN PUPPY - 7 Pointers, 3 Setters, 1 Brittany, and 1 German Shorthair
1st-NORTHWOODS RIP ROY, F1711135, setter male, by Woodville's Yukon Cornelius-Northwoods Redbreast. Greg Johnson, owner and handler.
2d-RUN TO WYNN, F1712002, pointer male, by Imagine-Cocklebur Dragon Tattoo. Brett Eikenbary, owner; Zach Erne, handler.
3d-CROUSE'S BUFFALO JUNCTION, F1706610, pointer male, by Crouse's Pond River Gus-Buffalo Junction Holler Point. M. D. Crouse & Mary Sue Schalk, owners; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.

NBHA Sharptail Puppy: Greg Johnson with Northwoods Rip Roy, Zach Erne with Run to Wynn, Mike Crouse with Crouse's Buffalo Junction, and Mary Sue Schalk.