Result: Region 14 Amateur All-Age Championship

Location: Winnett, Montana

Post Date: Aug 12, 2025

Submitted By: Austin Turley

Winners of the Region 14 Amateur All-Age Championship Costas, runner-up Affinity, joined by participants.

The Region 14 Amateur All-Age Championship ran at the conclusion of the Big Sky Open Shooting Dog Championship. Fourteen dogs were entered in the stake, but in this scribe's opinion, it was the most consistent competitive stake I have ever been a part of. On several occasions, a dog gave a performance that you thought would not be beat, only to have a dog come along in the next brace and beat it. When all was said and done, two dogs stood out above the rest. There were another three dogs that would have likely won this championship in any of the previous years run over these grounds.

Named champion was Costas, a four-year-old male bred and campaigned by Gordon Jones of Draper, Utah. "Bob," as Costas is known, ran in the third brace. Bob had a limb find found pointed by his able scout after disappearing well to the front across a ravine. Upon catching the front, Bob had a second find. Bob then went on covering grounds by himself for a few minutes, but returned to the front without his entourage. Upon this return, marshal called point for his third find. Bob finished well to the front.

Named runner-up champion was Affinity for handler Austin Turley. "Sadie," as she is affectionately known, competed in the fifth brace. Sadie ran an extreme race, well-directed and in connection with her handler. Her first find came at 30, straight ahead. She then continued her large race, being found by scout near the lake for her second find. Point was called by the judges for Sadie's third and final point shortly before time.
Birds were exceptional for this championship--abundant and available for all participants.

Winnett, Montana, April 4
Judges: Ryan Jones and Ryan Mulcahy
REGION 14 AMATEUR ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 12 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner-COSTAS, F1698042, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Searchin For A Rainbow. Gordon Jones, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-AFFINITY, F1693066, pointer female, by Touch's Grey Street-Intentional. Austin Turley, owner and handler.

The start of the Broomhill Open All-Age Classic was delayed due to dog wagon difficulties. When this trial started, there was an obvious change in bird conditions. Birds had become scarce and difficult to locate at best. The two dogs that separated themselves in the Region 14 Amateur All-Age Championship were not finished battling it out. Costas once again put down a strong race and was the obvious dog to beat after his run. His run on this day was not as well directed, and his birdwork was not as defined due to the previously noted change in bird conditions. Bob still managed to connect with two single sharptails and finished well once again. This solid performance was rewarded with second place. Affinity came back with a chip on her shoulder. She ran an extremely large race, with her opening move extending close to two miles off the breakaway to the ridge before climbing the ridge and taking all the way back across our front. Her race was consistently extreme while still handling, but birds were still proving difficult. Late in her run, she came through producing huns for her handler. She finished with a five-minute cast, disappearing out the front at time to collect first place. Third place was awarded to Touch's Too Much. "Chief" was handled by Austin Turley for owner Keith Wright. Chief ran a good race along the hillsides. Point was called early for Chief, high up a hillside, buried in a crevice. Birds had left by the time the handler and judge arrived. Chief finished his hour with sharptails at time.

Broomhill Open All-Age Classic. First Affinity, second Costas, third Touch's Too Much. Joined by participants.

Judges: Keith Anderson and John Todd
BROOMHILL OPEN ALL-AGE CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 15 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-AFFINITY, F1693066, pointer female, by Touch's Grey Street-Intentional. Austin Turley, owner and handler.
2d-COSTAS, F1698042, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Searchin For A Rainbow. Gordon Jones, owner and handler.
3d-TOUCH'S TOO MUCH, F1697545, pointer male, by Touch's Grey Street-Touch's American Baby. Keith Wright, owner; Austin Turley, handler.

The accompanying All-Age and Shooting Dog Derby stakes were once again blessed with the presence of multiple bird contacts per dog. In the Open All-Age Derby, Point Blank separated himself for his handler, Ryan Mulcahy. Second was Haney's Western Swing for handler Anthony Grimaldi. Third was Carbonado's Lannosea for handler Austin Turley. Several other dogs exhibited satisfactory all-age races, some with bird contact, but these three won the day.
In the Shooting Dog Derby, the birdwork just kept getting better. Late in the day, bracemates F40 Honey Pot for Darrel Curtis and Carbonado's Heanua for Austin Turley both put on a bird finding exhibition. In their 30 minutes, each dog contacted in excess of five groups of birds. Honey prevailed with more polished birdwork and a stronger ground race. Third was High Prairie Miss Tioga for handler Chad Hanson. Temperatures were heating up for Miss. Miss ran a pleasant shooting dog race to secure her placement.

Winners of the Open Derby joined by participants.

Judges: Jeanette Heise and Lou Qualtiere
OPEN DERBY - 14 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-POINT BLANK, F1709781, pointer male, by Light of Day-Perkins Beautiful Disaster. Ryan Mulcahy, owner and handler.
2d-HANEY'S WESTERN SWING, F1716927, pointer male, by Haney's Silver Dollar-Whitesmoke's Rum Red. Steve Miller & Anthony Grimaldi, owners; Anthony Grimaldi, handler.
3d-CARBONADO'S LANNOSEA, F1713508, pointer female, by Nevada's Copper Jim-Boudica. Austin Turley, owner and handler.

Winners of the Open Derby joined by participants.

OPEN DERBY - 10 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-F40 HONEY POT, unreg., pointer female, by The Alberta Clipper-Manteo's Plan B. Darrell Curtis, owner and handler.
2d-CARBONADO'S HEANUA, F1713507, pointer female, by Nevada's Copper Jim-Boudica. Austin Turley, owner and handler.
3d-HIGH PRAIRIE MISS TIOGA, F1708844, setter female, by Tioga-High Prairie Gypsy. Chad Hanson, owner and handler.

BIG SKY OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP
Keith Anderson
The Big Sky Field Trial Club hosted the Open Shooting Dog Championship this year at the Joe King and Sons Ranch in Winnett, Montana. This is a six-course wild bird trial with opportunities of Sharptail grouse, Hungarian partridge, Sage grouse, and pheasant. All four species of birds were located by the entries across the courses of rolling hills that empty into beautiful valleys of sage brush and prairie grass holding a covey of Huns or maybe a Sharptail or two that explode at a handler's flush. Then, beyond a ravine that points you towards a creek bottom holding pheasant cover. On a hilltop, you can see stock ponds and a small lake nearby, attracting Antelope and deer that roam this country. Breaking ice on water tanks for the horses in the morning to needing sunscreen in the afternoon is the norm this time of year.
Every day offered its own challenges with the weather, from cold breakaways in the 30-degree range to mud, sleet, wind, and snow. Runner-up champion Camas Prairie Daze, pointer female owned and handled by Gordy Jones and scout Mike Robbins, did a fine job of showing this dog throughout the entire brace. With finds in the sagebrush flats and style on point, she exhibited her experience in these western grounds. She ran a consistent, strong forward race and was working for her handler the entire 60 minutes.
The champion, Touch's Too Much pointer male owned by Keith Wright, handled by Austin Turley, and scouted by Darrell Curtis, had multiple finds throughout the brace. This is the first time on these western grounds for this champion, and he accepted the challenge with ease. With excellent range, speed, and stamina, and style on point, he earned the judges' placement of champion.
Thank you to our sponsors, Purina and SportDOG, for their continued support.
Thank you to our judges, Marcos Puiggari and John Todd, who worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to award these placements.
Thank you to our landowner, Joe King and Sons Ranch. Without your generosity, this field trial would not be possible.
Thanks to the Big Sky Field Trial Club, the King Ranch, Tuffy's NutriSource, and SportDOG.

Judges: Marcos Puiggari and John Todd
BIG SKY OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 14 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner-TOUCH'S TOO MUCH, F1697545, pointer male, by Touch's Grey Street-Touch's American Baby. Keith Wright, owner; Austin Turley, handler.
Runner-Up-CAMAS PRAIRIE DAZE, F1694558, pointer female, by Rebel Stoke-Canadian Elhew Abbey. Gordon Jones, owner and handler.

Winners of the Big Sky Open Shooting Dog Championship Touch's Too Much, runner-up Camas Prairie Daze. Joined by participants.