Result: Oklahoma Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Inola, Oklahoma

Post Date: Jan 26, 2026

Submitted By: Bob Barker

Oklahoma Open Shooting Dog Championship (l-r): Peggy Eichelburger, Steven Auxier (judge), Ryan Eichelberger with substitute dog Touch's Steely Dan for I'm Gallant, Jay McKenzie, Bob Barker, Johnny Van Horn with Outer Edge Jack, Harold Gearhart, Virgil Moore, and Barry Moore.

The 2026 Oklahoma Shooting Dog Championship was held January 5-8 at the Ingersoll Ranch in Inola, Oklahoma. A trial of this caliber does not happen without dedicated help, and many people contributed to making the event run smoothly. A big thank-you goes to Lynn Oxendine for picking up birds and opening gates; Barry Moore for driving the dog wagon; and the workhorse of the trial, Chris Leeson, for preparing lunch, driving the dog wagon, and planting birds. Also, thank you to Purina and Greg Blair for the dog food sponsorship. All my champion dogs were fueled by Pro Plan Performance.

I stepped in to judge both the Championship and the Derby when one of the advertised judges had a work commitment arise. I would like to extend a sincere thank-you to Steven Auxier of Lincoln, Nebraska, for judging alongside me. Steven has enjoyed considerable success with his derby dogs, most notably Intensive Aint She Purdy, who qualified for and competed in the Open Derby Invitational, and Intensive Turnin N Burnin, the No. 1 Central Region Dog and No. 2 Amateur Derby Dog nationally, who ran in the United States Amateur Derby Invitational. It was a pleasure judging with Steven.

The Oil Capital Field Trial Association is extremely fortunate to call the famed Ingersoll Ranch our home grounds. Our thanks go to Kay Ingersoll and her daughters, Joleta and Windy, for allowing us to use these outstanding grounds.
Bird work was good throughout the event, and it is always especially rewarding to see wild birds. I counted four coveys of wild birds, either moved or pointed, during the trial.

The third-hour course had to be adjusted, as the regular third-hour cover was too high to allow dogs to be handled successfully.

Emerging as the champion was I'm Gallant, a pointer male owned by Jay McKenzie and handled by Allen Vincent. "Bandit," as he is known, ran in the third hour on the first day. Due to an early pickup in Brace #2, Bandit covered portions of both Course #2 and Course #3. He ran the course as if he owned it, consistently at 10-to-2 in extremely tough cover. At the 50, while finishing up the waterline hill before swinging back north, Allen called point just southwest of the pond. A covey of birds was flushed in the open, and Bandit went on to finish strong to the front.

Runner-up honors went to Outer Edge Jack, a Pointer male owned by James and Jill Smith of Jacksonville, Arkansas, and handled by Virgil Moore. Jack ran a moderate but consistent race with three finds. His first came at 15 on a liberated covey, with manners in order. The second occurred around 25 when Jack went on point and a bird flushed; as Virgil stepped forward, the remainder of the covey rose, leaving like wild birds. Jack's third find came at 55 near the pond dam, where he pointed and flushed three birds, all handled correctly, and finished to the front.
Other noteworthy performances included Wynona's Rebel, handled by Allen Vincent, and LMD's Can't Touch This, handled by Virgil Moore.

The Derby drew 11 dogs. Taking first place with a fast, eye-appealing race was Ms. Elhew Big Cabin, a pointer female handled by Ryan Eichelberger. Second place went to Skydancers Only Orion, a setter male owned by Jennifer Lindsey and handled by Randy Anderson. Orion attacked the cover and made several strong moves; he is a large dog that appears light on his feet, with a cracking tail on the run. Third place went to Eclipse Edge, owned and handled by Randy Anderson. This dog had the only bird contact of the Derby, pointing with good style at 8 as a wild covey flushed. While he finished the course, his race was not as strong as those of the first- and second-place dogs.

Inola, Okla., January 5
Judges: Stevie Auxier and Bob Barker
OKLAHOMA OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 22 Pointers and 3 Setters
Winner-I'M GALLANT, F1696254, pointer male, by Valiant-Double Swami Dexie. Larry McKenzie, owner; Allen Vincent, handler.
Runner-Up-OUTER EDGE JACK, F1692930, pointer male, by Valiant-Double Swami Dexie. James D. & Jill Smith, owners; Virgil Moore, handler.

OPEN DERBY - 8 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-MS. ELHEW BIG CABIN, unreg., pointer female, by Amarugia-Four Rivers Pantry. Scott Shrum, owner; Ryan Eichelberger, handler.
2d-SKYDANCERS ONLY ORION, F1713977, setter male, by Skydancer Skyview Ace-Money Moves. Jennifer W. Lindsey, owner; Randy Anderson, handler.
3d-ECLIPSE EDGE, F1708750, pointer male, by Miller's Total Eclipse-Painted Owyhee Breeze. Randy Anderson, owner and handler.

Open Derby (l-r): Peggy Eichelburger, Ryan Eichelburger, Harold Gerhart with Ms. Elhew Big Cabin, Larry Maas, Skydancers Only Orion with Jennifer Lindsey, Steven Auxier (judge), Bridget Ledington with Eclipse Edge, and Randy Anderson.