Result: National Open Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Bloomingdale, Ohio

Post Date: Dec 4, 2025

Submitted By: Joe Lordi

National Open Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship (kneeling): Doug Ray and Eli Taylor (scout) with Miller's Promotional Upgrade, Ellie Copeland, and Hailey Moreland with Miller's Lock and Loaded. (Row 2): Bobby Verderosa, Greg Strausbaugh, Mary Tracy, George Tracy, Stacey Goodie, Muriel Primm, Bill Primm, Casey Tracy with Mary Tracy, and Brooke Lanning. (Row 3): Aaron McAfee (judge), Tony Bingham (judge), Mark Hughes, Bo Brewer, Joe Lordi, Mike Tracy, and Eric Clink.

The 2025 Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship commenced on Tuesday, September 23, on the beautiful grounds of the Mingo Sportsman Club in Bloomingdale, Ohio. Though the setting was picturesque as always, the conditions were daunting. A month of dry weather left the terrain tough on dogs and handlers alike. Despite a few nights of light rain just before the trial, the moisture arrived too late to materially improve the grounds. Even so, the Mingo Sportsman Club staff delivered meticulously groomed courses, making the best of the conditions. We extend our sincere gratitude to the club and to Bill Monk for their dedication and hospitality.
Our appreciation also goes to Casey Tracy, Mary Tracy, and Morgan Brewer, whose meal preparation throughout the trial kept everyone well fed and energized. Lunches and dinners were delicious and timely. Dave Hughes and Mark Hughes once again provided invaluable support, supplying water tubs along the course and with Dave driving the dog wagon. Their efforts were especially important given the dry heat. Mary Tracy and Muriel Primm handled numerous behind-the-scenes details essential to the trial's success.

We offer a special commendation to those who consistently step forward--no matter the task--to help the trial run smoothly: Greg Strausbaugh, Stacey Goodie, Bobby Verderosa, Casey Tracy, and Kevin Joyce. Whether picking up bird feed, catching or planting birds, assisting with the drawing, handling judges' books, or marshaling, these individuals always bring reliability and a positive attitude.

The club extends heartfelt thanks to the many handlers and owners who supported this year's event. Multiple dogs were capably shown by Doug Ray, George Tracy, Mike Tracy, Matt Basilone, Mark Hughes, and Brooke Lanning.

Our appreciation goes as well to the Southern Bird Hunters Association (SBHA) for their support and dedication to our sport. Their website provides detailed, up-to-date standings and information about their seasonal awards. Please check it out.

Eukanuba generously provided a handlers' dinner, dog food for the winners, and beautifully embroidered jackets for the judges. We are deeply grateful for their ongoing support. Jeff Haggis and Lion Country Supply again contributed $100 gift certificates to each of the four honorable mentions.

Judging this year's championship were Tony Bingham of Shelby, North Carolina, and Aaron McAfee of Clinton, Illinois. Both men rode hard throughout, giving every dog its full hour and evaluating performances with fairness and consistency. They sought a forward-running dog with independence, stamina, and demonstrated bird-handling ability--and they found their champions.

The Winners
Champion: Miller's Promotional Upgrade
Owned by: David Steele
Handled by: Doug Ray
Four-year-old Miller's Promotional Upgrade, an orange and white pointer male, delivered the defining performance of the championship. Running in the 16th brace, he broke away from the far end of the outer loop and immediately established a strong, forward pattern. His aggressive swing toward the tower--one of the most difficult moves on the course--was executed flawlessly before he met Doug in the valley. After being heeled to the rock pile and sent on, Promotional Upgrade resumed his forward drive with confidence.
His bird work was exceptional throughout the hour. He stopped to flush in high grass, then pinned birds on relocation along the autumn olives almost immediately. At 24, he was found standing again with perfect manners at the end of the main breakaway hedgerow. Minutes later, he recorded a high-style find in the sorghum feed patch, followed by another just uphill. After a substantial sequence of finds, he demonstrated maturity by shifting back into a powerful, forward ground race--a challenge for many dogs after heavy bird contact.
He navigated the risky right side of the course with skill, an area where many dogs become lost or overextend themselves. Promotional Upgrade handled it with maturity, rejoining the front smoothly. He crested the tower hill with ease before charging up the ridge, where he recorded his final find. He finished the hour out of sight, delivering a complete and polished championship performance.
Runner-Up Champion: Miller's Lock and Loaded
Owned by: Bill and Muriel Primm
Handled by: George Tracy
Miller's Lock and Loaded set an early benchmark for the championship from the very first brace. His movement across the grounds was fluid and confident. He scored a stylish find as we hit the autumn olives. He was found standing at the end of the breakaway hedgerow with all in order for the flush. He scored his third find on the left side of Locust Grove. He made strong forward casts but handled nicely throughout Locust Grove. He was charged with an unproductive at the end of Locust Grove. He continued a strong ground effort, making the tough conditions look easy. As we started on the outer loop, he locked up for his fourth well-mannered find. He completed the outer loop with precision, and George called point for a fifth find up on the hill. All was again in order, and he was released with a minute to go and flew up the hill, going out of sight at time. This was another fine performance under tough conditions, earning a well-deserved runner-up title.

Honorable Mentions (Top Contenders)
The four dogs judged closest behind the winners were:
Miller's Special Cinderella, handled by George Tracy
Miller's Upgraded Patent, handled by Doug Ray
Mohawk Mill Lady Justice, handled by Matt Basilone
The Gray Ghost, handled by Matt Basilone
Each delivered strong, high-quality performances under challenging conditions.

The Running
The opening day of competition began warm and dry, conditions that would test the endurance and discipline of each entry. The morning started with A Buccaneer under Doug Ray, whose bid ended early when the tracker was required around the 15-minute mark. Miller's Lock and Loaded, also in the first brace, immediately established himself as a top contender with fluid movement and multiple well-mannered finds.

Smoke'N'Mirrors (M. Basilone) and Deena Jet Boyer (M. Tracy) followed in Brace 2. Despite both being accomplished winners, neither was able to overcome the conditions. Deena Jet, stepping up from an exceptional derby season, carded a stylish find and an unproductive before an infraction ended her run. Smoke'N'Mirrors had difficulty in Locust Grove and was picked up.

The morning concluded with a standout effort from Miller's Special Cinderella, who delivered five well-spaced finds and a strong ground race, placing her among the closest competitors to the winners. Hatteras Rip Tide, her bracemate, showed a bold race before requiring the tracker at thirty.

The afternoon brought heat, but The Gray Ghost (M. Basilone) handled it well, notching two solid finds and finishing strongly enough to earn an honorable mention. His bracemate, Parkway (M. Tracy), recorded a stylish find before the handler elected to pick up.

Next up was Two Spot Tommy (D. Ray) and Miller's Little Duce Coupe (G. Tracy), each displayed heart but were undone on their second bird contacts.

The final brace of day one featured High Drive Drinkaby (M. Tracy) and Miller's Special Upgrade (M. Tracy). Both dogs made some nice moves on the ground, but with each only having an unproductive both handlers elected to pick up prior to the hour.

The second day opened with Pal's Prestigious Pete (M. Tracy) standing early but self-relocating after a prolonged flush. Miller's Promotional Upgrade (D. Ray) delivered his winning performance (see write-up under the winners).

Wild Covey Derecho (M. Basilone) ran a wide, attractive race but never connected on birds before his handler called for the tracker. Sellers Pashca Skylos (D. Ray), after an early bird contact, was up shortly thereafter.

Backcountry Jacob (M. Tracy) logged a covey find but was undone by an infraction on his second contact. Mohawk Mill King Pen (M. Basilone) had a good find and was running well before disappearing at 35.

Faithful (M. Tracy) stood early but suffered an unproductive and was later missing, while Hatteras High Tide (D. Ray) notched a classy find before the handler picked up.

Miller's High Heat Index (M. Tracy) required the tracker at 35, while Mohawk Mill Lady Justice (M. Basilone) used the conditions to her advantage with multiple stylish finds and a strong finish, securing an honorable mention.

Miller's Automatic Upgrade (G. Tracy) suffered an early unproductive before being lost at 35, while Miller's Upgraded Patent (D. Ray) recorded a polished find and completed the hour.

Heavy overnight storms continued most of the morning and postponed the start until early afternoon. When the running began, Steel Valley Raven (M. Tracy) delivered two stylish finds and a bold race before trouble in the Black Hole forced the handler to use the tracker.
Backwoods Dine & Dash (M. Hughes) carded a find and an unproductive before an infraction ended his attempt.

Fort River's Lucky Charm (M. Basilone) produced three impeccable finds--including a particularly impressive one at the end of the breakaway hedgerow with pheasant going everywhere--before a slight lapse of manners on his fourth contact stopped his bid. Miller's Strolling For Gold (G. Tracy) was withdrawn after his first bird contact.

Mohawk Mill Bad Boy (M. Basilone) backed Cool Hand Luke (M. Tracy) on an early find before Luke was lost at 20. Bad Boy continued with a promising race and a find on the ridge but faltered shortly into the outer loop.

Since we had some early pickups, we elected to continue. Calico's Sky's The Limit (M. Tracy) and Miller's Promotional Upgrade (D. Ray) were off from the far outer Loop, and both made big casts to the front. Sky's The Limit swung to the far right, and point was called towards the pond. Out of my sight, there was some cautioning by the handler, and her bid ended. Upgrade was detailed under the winners.

Mo's Curtain Call (M. Tracy) produced two excellent finds before a bird rose unexpectedly in front of her, ending her chance. Mohawk Mill Jacked Up (M. Basilone) delivered two finds before an unproductive prompted his handler to pick up.

Fog delayed the morning start. Erin's Envy (M. Tracy) displayed admirable manners on the breakaway hedgerow while B K Lapaloma Blanca (B. Lanning) failed to back and was up early. Envy added a stop-to-flush and a find on the ridge before a minor infraction on the outer loop ended his run.

Erin's Big Casino (M. Tracy) ran ambitiously before being lost at the end of Locust Grove. Mohawk Mill Patriot (M. Basilone) produced two fine finds before an infraction ended his challenge.

Smooth Talking (D. Ray) suffered a break on the flush at one minute. Miller's Southern Gossip (G. Tracy) displayed a strong race and a pretty find but was withdrawn after an unproductive.

Mohawk Mill Gangster (M. Basilone) built momentum with multiple stylish finds, though an abrupt turn back ended his effort. Millers Customized Upgrade (G, Tracy) was undone by an unproductive and failure to back.

Waybetter Rebel (M. Tracy) was up early after an infraction, and Hatteras Sand Storm (D. Ray) was withdrawn following a find and an unproductive.

The final brace on Thursday featured Hard Truth (D. Ray) and Miller's Heat Seeker (G. Tracy). This brace started from the main breakaway. It was an exciting brace from start to finish. Heat Seeker scored the first two finds with Hard Truth backing. Hard Truth answered with two finds of his own with Heat Seeker backing. They traded casts for much of the hour. At the end of the outer loop, both were standing with neither handler able to locate a bird. They were relocated, but neither could pin the tricky bird. As they were gathered up to go on, a hen took flight. Both dogs were sent on for the final minute of the hour.

The final morning began with Miller's Hopped Up Version (M. Hughes) recording a stop-to-flush and a find before being lost at 39. Pine Straw Hot Chocolate (M. Tracy) showed steadiness under pressure as a flushing bird flew directly at her. She ran well but was stopped by consecutive unproductives.

Two-time defending champion Jolene Jolene (M. Tracy) ran a bold race but was lost without bird contact. Hatteras Storm Watch (D. Ray) carded a stylish find before his handler opted to pick up.

I'm Spartacus (D. Ray) showed range but was withdrawn, while BK Real McCoy (B. Lanning) had multiple well-mannered finds, which included a difficult extended flush and a stop-to-flush. He finished the hour.

Trumped (M. Tracy) and Saddled Up Sadie (M. Hughes) began the afternoon with a divided find amid considerable bird movement. Trumped added a second find with Sadie backing. Both handlers elected to end the brace shortly after the half-hour mark.

Bittersweet War Cry (M. Tracy) and CS Four Season's Gunner (D. Ray) each ran strong, forward races, but both handlers elected to pick up due to the heat prior to the hour.

The final dogs of the championship were Miller's Extreme Heat (M. Tracy), who required the tracker at 25, and Absolute Dominator (D. Ray), who handled smoothly before an unproductive at 30 ended his attempt.

Judges Tony Bingham and Aaron McAfee.

Bloomingdale, Ohio, September 23
Judges: Tony Bingham and Aaron McAfee
NATIONAL OPEN PHEASANT SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 50 Pointers and 8 Setters
Winner-MILLER'S PROMOTIONAL UPGRADE, F1699547, pointer male, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Quail Roost Too. Harold Ray & Jack & Fran Miller, owners; Doug Ray, handler.
Runner-Up-MILLER'S LOCK AND LOADED, F1674986, pointer male, by Just Irresistible-Miller's Bring The Heat. William & Muriel Primm, owners; George Tracy, handler.

Painting Presentation of the 2024 winner, Jolene Jolene (l-r): Mike Tracy (handler), Casey Tracy (scout), Joe Lordi, and Joe McHugh (owner).

Baby Mary's first field trial: Casey, Mary, and Mike Tracy.