Result: 72nd Running of the NGSPA National Championships

Location: Grovespring, Missouri

Post Date: May 29, 2025

Submitted By: Anthony Rusciano, NGSPA National Champio

NGSPA National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship (front): Sherri Tangsrud with Uodibar's Robbi Jo and Abe Macke with Sunny Fields Warchief. (Behind): Jack Marchese, Kirk Loftin, Steve Auxier (judge), Chris Young, Luke Eisenhart (judge), David O'Brien, Art Terstage, and Mark Wasserman.

The 72nd Running of the National German Shorthaired Pointer Association (NGSPA) National Championships commenced on March 29, 2025, at the beautiful Sportsmen's Field Trial Association Grounds in Grovespring, Missouri. With over 200 entries, this year's event was the largest and most competitive in the country, showcasing the finest pointing dogs and handlers in the sport. Despite a few weather delays and last-minute judge changes due to the weather delays, the event ran smoothly under the leadership of the National Field Trial Co-Chairmen, Committee members, and the hard work of our stake managers. The grounds were in outstanding condition, and the quail flew strong and fast, offering fair and challenging conditions for all, and provided a true test of the best in our sport.

This premier event would not be possible without the incredible support from our sponsors. We extend sincere thanks to Purina Pro Plan, SportDOG, Garmin, and Dogs Unlimited for their generous backing of our National Championships. Their continued commitment to field trials is a vital part of our success. In addition, we are grateful to our many dog wagon, social hour, and dinner sponsors, whose contributions added to the spirit of camaraderie and celebration throughout the event.

Hospitality was once again a highlight of the event. We are deeply thankful to Sheila Davis for providing wonderful catering throughout the event, and to Mark Verdoorn and Rich Robertson for grilling up the delicious steak dinner. Each evening, the field trial community came together at the clubhouse for delicious dinners sponsored by some of last year's winners.

A heartfelt thank you goes to NGSPA President Keith Richardson for his steadfast leadership and vision. Under the NGSPA Board of Trustees' guidance, the Nationals continue to grow in prestige and professionalism. We are always striving to step up and improve this event every year, and that effort is only possible because of the incredible team behind the scenes. It takes a true team effort--from planning and logistics to hospitality and judging--to make the National Championships a success.

Special thanks go out to our stake managers for their tireless work before, during, and after the event. Their commitment ensures that each stake runs smoothly and fairly. We also thank our National Field Trial Committee for their dedication to excellence in our sport, and we are especially grateful to field trial secretary Lori Rezzardi, whose organization and attention to detail were critical to our success.

Andy and Becky Dynkiewicz, we are grateful for your volunteering your time throughout the entire National Championship to step in and lend a hand wherever necessary.
Most importantly, we offer a special thank you to our judges, who generously gave their time and expertise to evaluate the performances of our incredible dogs. Their careful observation and commitment to fairness are the foundation of our sport.

Finally, we encourage members of our community to step up and volunteer for next year's Nationals. Whether you can help in the field, around the clubhouse, or with behind-the-scenes coordination, every contribution matters. It's through the combined effort of our dedicated members and volunteers that we continue to raise the bar year after year.
On behalf of Co-Chairman Mark Wasserman and myself, thank you to all who participated, supported, and made the journey to Grovespring to make the 72nd NGSPA National Championships the biggest and best yet. We look forward to building on this momentum in 2026!

49th National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship
The Running
Brace 1: Roux (Jason Brooks, owner; Hank Lewis, handler) and Dakota (Kirk Loftin, owner/handler). The 2025 National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship kicked off with Roux, who notched two finds and one on a rabbit, and backed her bracemate. Her race was moderate, staying mostly forward, though she didn't fully stretch the country and show independence. Dakota showed his youth at times and backed its bracemate twice, along with one find. While neither dog showed a dominating range, both exhibited good birdwork, offering a good start to the stake.

Brace 2: Bonnie (David O'Brien, owner/handler) and Pie (Mark Wasserman, owner/handler). This brace saw an early shake-up as Bonnie, a stylish female, was lost shortly after the breakaway and did not return to judgment. Left to run alone, Pie tallied three finds during her time on the ground. While her birdwork was productive, her pattern lacked consistency and her range fluctuated, occasionally drifting out of pocket before reengaging. Despite her efforts on game, the uneven application held her back from making a stronger impression on the judges.

Brace 3: Rip (Keith Bryant, owner/handler) and Stella (Hank Lewis, owner/handler). This brace featured two contenders who were unable to complete the full hour. Rip, a male, recorded a back at the 10-minute mark, but was picked up by his handler at 20, his race not developing as hoped. Stella stayed in the hunt a bit longer but was ultimately picked up at 25. With no birdwork recorded for her and neither dog completing the hour, this brace concluded early with limited impact on the stake.

Brace 4: Skye (Scott Bodenstab, owner/handler) and Trip (Mark Verdoorn, owner/handler). Skye, a classy female, delivered one of the stronger efforts of the day. She notched five finds spread steadily across the hour and moved with a forward, purposeful race that showed both range and rapport. Her bracemate, Trip, supported the action with three stylish backs and capped his hour with a clean find of his own. Together, the pair put down a well-mannered brace that demonstrated solid ground application and good birdwork.

Brace 5: Rommel (Andy Dynkiewicz, owner/handler) and Rio (Peter Coppens, owner/handler). Rommel, a male, was lost shortly after the breakaway and did not return to judgment--his tracker was ultimately pulled. That left Rio to carry the rest of the hour. He broke away with purpose and energy, but as the heat of the day set in, it clearly took a toll on his performance. Despite fading midway, he managed to card one find, though his race lacked the consistency needed to push into contention.

Brace 6: Lucy (Mark Wasserman, owner/handler) and Kuiper (Aaron Benz, owner/handler). This brace was short-lived for both contenders. Lucy, a female, was picked up at the 10-minute mark, her effort not shaping up as hoped. Kuiper logged a "find" at 10 that turned out to be a snake encounter--not the kind of game the judges were looking for. He continued briefly but was picked up at 20. With neither dog completing the half-hour mark, this brace concluded early and without impact on the standings.

Brace 7: Ace (Kirk Loftin, owner/handler) and Lady (Bryant/Patrick, owners/handlers). Day 2 of the running began with Ace, a male, who came out with energy and promise. He tallied two finds early on but began to fade in connection and application. At the 35-minute mark, Loftin elected to request the tracker, ending Ace's bid. His bracemate, Lady, had one clean find and a stylish back. Unfortunately, her run was cut short by an infraction with game at 27, resulting in her being picked up. Despite some early productivity, the brace ultimately ended in disappointment for both contenders.

Brace 8: Punch (Mark Verdoorn, owner/handler) and Stick (David O'Brien, owner/handler). Punch, a male, had a mixed hour, showing moments of promise but struggling with consistency. He recorded one back and two finds, but was also marked with two unproductive, leaving his performance somewhat incomplete. His bracemate, Stick, had a far more composed outing. Stick carded five solid finds and showed a good race throughout the hour, although he did have one unproductive. Despite that, his overall application and energy put him in the mix as a standout for this brace.

Brace 9: Badger (Hank Lewis, owner/handler) and May (Harvey Franco, owner/handler). This brace was short-lived for both dogs. Badger, a female, was picked up at just 10 minutes due to a bird infraction, cutting her bid short. Her bracemate, May, had a find early on but struggled to maintain momentum. At the 18-minute mark, Franco elected to pick up, bringing an early end to their run. Neither dog was able to complete the hour, and this brace left little impact on the overall standings.

Brace 10: Janie (Chris Young and Robert Reynolds, owners; Chris Young, handler) and Sam (David O'Brien, owner/handler). Kicking off the first brace of the afternoon on Day 2 began with an early standout in Janie, a female. After a strong breakaway, Janie made a stylish cast to the front and was found standing at just 6. Her bracemate, Sam, failed to back and was picked up shortly after. Janie, on the other hand, maintained good style and composure throughout. She made a beautiful move through Davis Bottom and was again found standing at 26, confidently displaying her shooting dog qualities. As the hour wore on, Janie continued to impress but was last seen at 46. The handler pulled the tracker at 56, leaving the judges with a lasting image of her performance despite not finishing the full hour.

Brace 11: Lily (James Messer, owner/handler) and Lucky (Alan Sailors, owner/handler). Lily turned in a steady hour with three finds at 6, 49, and 55, along with an unproductive at 34. Her race was medium in range, staying within reach but lacking the forward drive to separate her from the field. Lucky showing consistent effort without commanding the course. He recorded a clean find at 10 and supported his bracemate with two backs during the hour. Both dogs experienced some flat spots in their races, and while birdwork was present, neither performance rose to the level of the more dynamic contenders.

Brace 12: Harper (Susan Bohlmer, owner; Aaron Benz, handler) and Cruz (James Messer, owner/handler). Harper turned in a productive effort early, carding finds at 11, 30, and 37. Despite the promising birdwork, Harper was picked up before completing the full hour. Cruz stayed in the game through the full duration, notching four finds and one unproductive. While his run was clean and steady, it lacked the range and flair needed to rise above the stronger performances in the stake.

Brace 13: Rose (James Messer, owner/handler) and JR (Jack Marchese, owner/handler). Rose delivered a consistent performance over the hour. She recorded three finds in the first 30 minutes and a back at 16, showing good manners and composure on game. Her bracemate, JR, also had a back at 6 and added a find of his own at 16. Jack requested the tracker at 44. Rose completed the hour, though neither dog made a push to challenge the front-runners in the stake.

Brace 14: Janis (David O'Brien, owner/handler) and Dee (Kirk Loftin, owner/handler). This brace was over almost as quickly as it began. Dee had a find at 5 but was picked up at 12. Janis was picked up at 7.

Brace 15: Jinx (Chris Young, owner/handler) and Thrall (Art Terstage, owner/handler). This was one of the more exciting and consequential braces of the trial. Jinx ran an energetic and forward race, consistently working the cover with style and purpose. She recorded well-spaced finds at 11, 32, and 47, along with a composed back at 28. Judges took note of her birdwork and consistent forward drive. However, at 56, while standing in cover, her bid for a placement unraveled. As the handler flushed birds, additional birds lifted and flew past her, proving too much for the young dog. It was an unfortunate turn that likely altered the final placements. Thrall also delivered a strong performance and capitalized on the opportunity. He carded his first find at 16 at the end of Sycamore Bottom near the road, handling his birds with clean manners. He was next found standing at the crossroads by Twin Barns with everything in order, and later backed Jinx at 47. Thrall's third and final find came at 56 at the start of Course 3. Thrall was forward throughout and held his ground with consistency and strong forward race, earning him the well-deserved title of Runner-Up Champion.

Brace 16: Tank (Mike Patrick, owner/handler) and Gin (Mark Wasserman, owner/handler). Tank recorded a find at 22 with all manners in order. Mike broke Tank away, and that was the last he was seen. The handler elected to pull the tracker at the 40-minute mark. Gin put down a composed effort, logging finds at 13 and 22. While her application was steady, the performance lacked the drive or scope to challenge the leaders.

Brace 17: Ollie (Caroline Yancy, owner; Aaron Benz, handler) and Sophie (Terry Bomer, owner/handler). Both dogs recorded a find at the 6-minute mark, showing early promise. However, the rest of the hour passed without additional birdwork or standout moves, and neither contender made a push to impact the placements.

Brace 18: LJ (Keith Bryant, owner/handler) and Jazz (Chris Young, owner/handler). This was a fun and memorable brace on Course 3, with both LJ and Jazz delivering polished, forward races that showcased a good shooting dog performance. LJ impressed with five well-spaced finds at 14, 17, 23, 45, and 52, along with clean backs at 7 and 40. Jazz was equally composed, carding four finds at 7, 17, 40, and 49, and backing LJ at 14 and 52. These two dogs complemented each other beautifully, maintaining a strong front-running race throughout the hour. Their style was eye-catching, and their manners on birds were impeccable. However, it didn't move any of the placements.

Brace 19: Robbi (Sherri Tangsrud, owner; Kirk Loftin, handler) and Jax (Katelyn Macke, owner; Abe Macke, handler). The first brace on the final day of the stake delivered the kind of thrilling performance that defines a national champion. Robbi and Jax were turned loose on Course 1 and immediately got to work. Jax was first found standing at 5, but despite a thorough flush, no bird was produced. Robbi had not been seen since the breakaway and was located on point by the scout at 13, everything in order. Jax followed with a clean find at 15. Once Kirk gathered Robbi, he caught the front, driving forward through the course. She was found standing at 22 in Davis Bottom, with Jax arriving promptly for the back. Both dogs showed strong style and excellent bird manners. Robbi continued to stretch the course, heading toward Horse Killer Hill. At 45, after the handlers and gallery had passed, the scout again located her on point, another clean find with exemplary composure. Jax added a final find at 51, and time was called shortly after. While Jax was promptly gathered up, Robbi was still driving forward, requiring the full allotted time for Kirk to retrieve her at the end of the hour. Robbi's hard-charging, forward-moving race, coupled with her consistent and stylish birdwork, earned her the title of National Amateur Shooting Dog Champion, a well-deserved finish to a strong field.

Brace 20: Blue (Sherri Tangsrud, owner; Kirk Loftin, handler) and Chloe (Fred Ryan, owner/handler). Blue carded three finds over the course of the hour but showed some inconsistency in application, with moments of strong work offset by lulls in productivity. Chloe had a clean find at 23 but followed with an unproductive stand at 30 and a back at 44. Despite honest efforts from both dogs, this brace didn't yield the consistency or race needed to challenge the day's top contenders.

Brace 21: Luna (Ronald Badua, owner; Mark Verdoorn, handler) and Jim (Abe Macke, owner/handler). Luna and Jim took to the field under intensifying midday heat, which appeared to weigh on both performances. Luna recorded four finds at 5, 10, 23, and 57, with a composed back at 13. Jim encountered feather piles at 13 and 35, managed a back at 23, and capped his effort with a find at 58. Though both dogs showed moments of promise, the heat seemed to sap some of their drive and finish, preventing either from mounting a serious challenge to the leaders.

Brace 22: Coco (Jack Marchese, owner/handler) and Arrow (Larry Metter, owner/handler). The final brace of the 2025 NGSPA National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship featured Coco and Arrow. Coco was picked up at 21. Arrow delivered a solid, consistent effort over the full hour. He carded an impressive seven finds at 2, 5, 12, 21, 26, 29, and 43, showcasing a composed shooting dog ground race and steady birdwork throughout. While it was a commendable performance, it ultimately did not factor into the placements. Still, Arrow's effort was a fine way to conclude a competitive stake.

Grovespring, Mo., March 29
Judges: Steve Auxier and Luke Eisenhart
NGSPA NATIONAL AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 44 German Shorthairs
Winner-UODIBAR'S ROBBI JO, F1662507, German Shorthair female, by Uodibar's Against All Odds-B D K's Sin City Casino. Sherri Tangsrud, owner; Kirk Loftin, handler.
Runner-Up-SUNNY FIELDS WARCHIEF, F1687084, German Shorthair male, by Joke's On You-Sunny Fields Vegas Rumor. Art Terstage, owner and handler.

5th National Amateur Championship
By Robin Lambourn
The fifth running of the NGSPA National Amateur Championship was a competitive stake once again, with 33 entries. Unfortunately, inclement weather rolled in on the second day. Thunderstorms and flash flooding turned this three-day event into a seven-day event. Judges Mike Patrick and Rich Robertson Jr. donated a few extra days of their time and found two deserving winners.

The judges named A O Tripps To Win, owned and handled by Alan Davison, the 2025 NGSPA National Amateur Champion. Tripp ran on Course 2, scoring three well-spaced finds. Tripp's first find came five minutes after the breakaway, divided with his bracemate along the fence line on top of the hill. Tripp was next found standing on his second find at the beginning of Sycamore Bottom. Tripp then made a very nice move up Sycamore Bottom and was seen headed up the hill towards the twin barns. After a long absence, Tripp carded the find of the stake past the twin barns buried in the trees to the right, with his bracemate backing. Tripp continued to make nice moves through the end of his hour. He was absent at time, but his handler and scout produced him to the front eight minutes later.

B M B's Freeloader, owned and handled by Brandon Blum, earned runner-up, running on the second half of Course 2 and the first half of Course 3. Freeloader had a very clean run with some extended absences that were acceptable for an all-age stake. He scored three well-spaced finds with style throughout. Although Freeloader's run made the judges' decision difficult, the primary difference between the champion and runner-up was the all-age quality of their finds and their proximity to the horse path.
Three other dogs that the judges mentioned were pushing the winners: Twin Creeks Running Rocky, Monkeyshine's Callme The Breeze, and Chicoree's Glitter and Gold.

NGSPA National Amateur Championship (front): Mark Wasserman with A O Tripps To Win and Brandon Blum with B M B's Freeloader. (Behind): Robin Lambourn, Mike Patrick (judge), Alan Davison, Josh Nieman, and Rich Robertson (judge).

Judges: Michael Patrick and Rich Robertson Jr.
NGSPA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 33 German Shorthairs
Winner-A O TRIPPS TO WIN, F1671013, German Shorthair male, by Kimber Tactical-Sixxem's A Cut Above. Alan O. Davison, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-B M B'S FREELOADER, F1678664, German Shorthair male, by B M B's Free Ride-Hightailing Saddle's Mandolin. Brandon & Jennifer Blum, owners; Brandon Blum, handler.

68th National Futurity
By Harvey Franco, NGSPA Futurity Manager
The 68th NGSPA National Futurity, judged by Brandon Blum and Ray Larrondo, proved to be a strong success, with all futurity entries making bird contact on prereleased quail throughout the courses. The field was full of promise, and the future looks exceptionally bright for our sport as these young German shorthaired pointers showcased style, drive, and early maturity in their performances. The following scribed performances are in placement order.
1st Place: LPK's To Hot To Handle (Joe Burch, owner; Keith Gulledge, handler). "Mazie" broke away on Course 1 at 8 a.m. sharp in the first brace of the day. She made an immediate impression with a flashy breakaway, running the edges with an easy and pleasing gait. At the five-minute mark, her bracemate was found standing ahead, with Mazie honoring respectfully, a commendable display of manners. Ten minutes in, Mazie was found standing with a stylish and broke find, producing her first game. She continued to run the edges beautifully, showing well across the open fields of Course 1. At the 15-minute mark, she stood staunchly once again but was unable to produce game. Upon release, she continued forward with a graceful, composed run, maintaining her edge-running style.
At the 29-minute mark, Mazie was once again found standing, stylish and broke, producing her second bird. This young female delivered a strong, mature performance reminiscent of a seasoned dog. Her style on point was particularly noteworthy. As this year's 68th NGSPA Futurity Champion, Mazie showcased a
combination of bird sense, style, and potential. A bright future certainly lies ahead for this talented young dog.
2nd Place: MSR's Worth It (James and Sarah Messer, owners/handlers). "Keeper" ran in the fourth brace of the day, breaking away with a fast, snappy cast to the front. Her first find came at the five-minute mark, where she stood with confidence and stylishly handled her bird. After being released by her scout, she continued forward through the course with smooth agility. At the 14-minute mark, Keeper was found standing again, demonstrating a broke-like find with impressive composure, producing game. She worked the course with hunting determination and was again found standing at the 29-minute mark, successfully producing a covey of quail. This young female put down a very commendable performance, showing excellent style on her birds and poise well beyond her years. Keeper is certainly one to watch as she continues to develop.
Third Place: MSR's Cool Joe (James and Sarah Messer, owners; James Messer, handler). "Joe," a stout young male, ran in the third brace of the day. He broke away with power, making a strong cast to the front and gliding smoothly through the course. His first find came at the 8-minute mark, where he displayed a stylish point and produced game.
Released by his scout, Joe pushed forward confidently and was found again on point at the 12-minute mark with another productive bird contact. He finished strong, found standing at the 29-minute mark, producing a nice covey of fast-flying quail.
Joe exhibited solid hunting instincts, athleticism, and bird sense, all excellent qualities in a young prospect. He's another example of the depth of quality in this year's futurity.

Final Thoughts
The 68th running of the NGSPA National Futurity was a testament to the strength and promise of our breed's future. With every entry making contact with birds and delivering commendable performances, it's clear we are raising a generation of strong competitors and classy performers. Thank you to all the handlers, owners, and participants for making this event a memorable success.

NGSPA National Futurity. Top row: Keith Gulledge, Judge Brandon Blum, Judge Ray Larrondo, James Messer, Harvey Franco, Sara Messer. Bottom row: Robbi Gulledge with LPK's Too Hot To Handle, Terry Bomer with MSR's Worth It, "Kid" Sailors with MSR's Cool Joe.

Judges: Brandon Blum and Ray Larrondo
NGSPA NATIONAL FUTURITY - 22 German Shorthairs
1st-LPK'S TO HOT TO HANDLE, F1718970, German Shorthair female, by Texas Hot Potato-Texas Sophisticated Tomboy. Joe Burch, owner; Keith Gulledge, handler.
2d-MSR'S WORTH IT, F1715720, German Shorthair female, by G K's Nuke It-MSR's Scarlet's Witch. James & Sarah Messer, owners; James Messer, handler.
3d-MSR'S COOL JOE, F1715718, German Shorthair male, by G K's Nuke It-MSR's Scarlet's Witch. James & Sarah Messer, owners; James Messer, handler.

72nd National Championship
By Ray Larrondo
This year's running of the National Championship drew 42 dogs, with a couple of entries scratching after the drawing. We dealt with a last-minute judge change due to weather delays earlier in the trial. The two gentlemen filling the judges' saddles were Dr. Bob Rankin from Oklahoma and Dave Capstick from Missouri. Both of these gentlemen have decades of experience in the game, and they granted each entry put before them their watchful eye. The soggy courses from the torrential rains in the days leading up to the stake created challenging bird-finding conditions early on in the running. The second day of the stake, the temperature climbed, a favorable breeze let on, and the bird finding ramped up. It was on this day that a couple of performances made the judges sit higher in their saddles to watch great, powerful ground races, capped off with flawless birdwork.

The Champion
Chicoree's Riden High Trixie (Jeff Alexander, owner; Dan DiMambro, handler). Starting the second morning with a bang was the defending national champion, Chicoree's Riden High Trixie. "Trixie" began the hour boldly, taking the higher right edge of Course 1, to be found pointed, scoring her first find at 12. She carded another find shortly after the road crossing, with all in order. Casting off from this second find, her superb ground game was clearly visible on the big, long edges. Trixie's consistent all-age range, her ground speed and power, and her incredible bird sense were unmatched in this very competitive stake. This was demonstrated throughout the hour, along with several more good finds, which provided the judges the opportunity to lay eyes on her impeccable style and intensity. Trixie consistently stayed to the front, and when not seen for a bit would be found pointed, capping off those nice forward moves. Putting together performances like this is why she is now a two-time National Champion.

The Runner-Up
B M B's Freeloader (Brandon Blum, owner/handler). The afternoon braces on the second day of the stake proved much more of the same great bird finding opportunities. In Brace 2 of the afternoon, B M B's Freeloader, handled by his owner Brandon Blum, earned this duo their second title of these championships. "Hewey" handled the climbing afternoon temperatures well, maintaining a bold, forward race. Several of his nice reaching casts were capped off with good finds, which allowed the judges to get a glimpse of his picturesque style and great manners on game. After making the loop to the west of the twin barns, where he had a couple of finds, Hewey was pointed out by his handler, making the big climb headed towards the Clubhouse Loop. Several minutes of riding and gaining elevation allowed the judges and gallery to spot him making one more big move on the far north ridge, where he was seen going up the course. This big finish near the hour mark was wrapped up with point being called on the west fence line, which totaled five finds for this great performance.
Many thanks need to go out to the chairs of this event, Mark Wasserman and Anthony Rusciano, as well as the great committee and stake managers. These include Keith Richardson for all of his early organizing, as well as Joe Orndorff for stepping up at the last minute to lend a hand. To the dog wagon drivers, bird planters, and most notably judges, of the stake, thanks again.

NGSPA National Championship (front): April DiMambro with Chicoree's Riden High Trixie and Hank Lewis with B M B's Freeloader. (Standing): Dan DiMambro, Dr. Bob Rankin (judge), Mark Wasserman, Dave Chapstick (judge), and Brandon Blum.

Judges: Dave Capstick and Bob Rankin
NGSPA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 42 German Shorthairs
Winner-CHICOREE'S RIDEN HIGH TRIXIE, F1685125, German Shorthair female, by Riden High Rudy-Chicoree's Sparkle In Her Eye. Rondal J. Alexander, owner; Dan DiMambro, handler.
Runner-Up-B M B'S FREELOADER, F1678664, German Shorthair male, by B M B's Free Ride-Hightailing Saddle's Mandolin. Brandon & Jennifer Blum, owners; Brandon Blum, handler.

55th National Open Shooting Dog Championship
By T. J. Hidalgo, judge
What an impressive national event. We started with a total of 28 braces of some very high-caliber dogs. The two dogs we chose for our champion and runner-up were well above the rest of some very impressive dogs, and they sure met the qualifications for this championship. Both dogs had very forward-moving braces with excellent runs; we were impressed with how each dog would hit a line and take it to the end, and did not move on until it had a chance to finish the line that it was on. These dogs were consistently moving forward on the right side of the wind and hunting where the birds would be. The direct result of this would be both dogs having multiple steady finds with no movement on all of these finds, this coming down to a very fine margin between them; both were of championship quality. We watched so many good dogs that could have won just about any stake out there, which made it very difficult to make sure we were getting the best of the best. We felt Sam in the fourth brace and Janie in the eighth brace well exceeded the competition in this event. The details that separated our champion and runner-up champion were a thin line. Sam had six flawless finds, and Janie had five, with the last being a limb find at time. Sam caught our attention early on in the brace, and it was that dog that made us sit up in our saddles and ride a little harder so as to not want to miss any of the action. Saying this, it made it very difficult for the other braces, due to us having two high-quality dogs so early on. We enjoyed watching all the dogs entered and thought it was an extreme pleasure to judge a national event with so many nice bird dogs to watch. It was quite impressive to see the quality of bird dogs the breed has produced and presented to us to judge. Both the winner and runner-up proved that they were bird dogs--forward running and finished their lines when we didn't see them. We found them on point in a field of dogs that could've won any trial. These two stood above.

Judges: Tim Hidalgo and T. J. Hidalgo
NGSPA NATIONAL OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 56 German Shorthairs
Winner-B D K'S SAM I AM, F1675197, German Shorthair male, by Slicks Cuttin Wild-C L K's Point Me The Way. David O'Brien, owner; Keith Gulledge, handler.
Runner-Up-IN COUNTRY'S HURRICANE JANE, F1672744, German Shorthair female, by Hi N's Bodacious-Slaterock Mattie Clark. Robert Reynolds, owner; Chris Goegan, handler.

NGSPA National Open Shooting Dog Championship (front): Charles Gonzalez with B D K's Sam I Am and David O'Brien with In Country's Hurricane Jane. (Behind): Chris Goegan, T. J. Hildalgo, Tim Hildago, and Josh Nieman.