Result: Sunflower Open All Age Classic and Derby

Location: Blue Mountain, Mississippi

Post Date: Dec 17, 2021

Submitted By: Rachel Russell

Open All-Age Winners. Left to right: Greg Bain (judge), Gary Lester with Lester's Boss Man, Jannie Chapman, Korry Rinehart with Bonner's Hot Rize, Joe Hughes (judge), David Russell with stand-in dog for Como Thunder.

The Sunflower Open All-Age Classic and Derby were held November 8-10 at Hell Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Blue Mountain, Miss.

David and Rachel Russell were asked to take this trial over from the Kansas Championship Association, as it did not run last year. This trial is the second of three open trials back to back at Hell Creek WMA. The Hell Creek Open runs before and the Kentucky Lake Open runs at the conclusion of this trial.

We were blessed with partly cloudy skies and temps in the mid 40s in the mornings ranging to the upper 60s in the afternoons. Due to the summer rains, farmers were late getting crops out of the fields here in the South but luckily the last corn stalks on the running grounds were picked the day before the trial began.

Hell Creek WMA is a beautiful mixture of long bottoms, open fields and pine thickets. We appreciate the state of Mississippi for the hard work they put into these grounds to keep them nicely manicured where you can see a dog, as well as for letting us use their facilities.

The All-Age drew 22 dogs but two dogs were scratched, one for a handler's medical issues and one for dog's medical issues. The Derby drew twelve.

Lunches were provided on site daily. Doug Arthur of Eads, Tenn., graciously drove the dog wagon. We appreciate everyone that contributed to make this trial a success.

OPEN ALL-AGE STAKE

The All-Age started at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 8, and concluded after the second brace in the afternoon on Wednesday, November 9.

Judges Joe Hughes of Locust Fork, Ala., and Greg Bain of Hatton, Ala., named the following winners of the Sunflower Classic Open All-Age.

First place went to Lester's Boss Man, handled by Gary Lester and owned by David Thompson of Edmonton, Ky. Boss man put on a show in the fourth brace with a find at 12 before the first road crossing going into the pines followed by finds at 24, 33 and 44.

Second was Bonner's Hot Rize, also handled by Gary Lester and owned by Jannie Chapman of Fayetteville, Tenn. Hot Rize took the third brace, showing to the front and taking the edges of the fields in a stride until he went out of sight at :53 and was found pointed to the front before you cross Hell Creek for the final time on the third course.

Third place went to Como Thunder, handled by Steve Hurdle for owners David and Rachel Russell of Como, Miss. Como Thunder had the first brace of the trial and set the bar high early with three finds at 24 in the pines after you cross the first road, 41 to the front after he took the mile long bottom that runs alongside Hell Creek and at 55minutes at the end of the corn field to the southwest of the old house. He also suffered an unproductive at 50.

Blue Mountain, Miss., November 8

Judges: Greg Bush and Joe Hughes, Sr.

SUNFLOWER OPEN ALL-AGE CLASSIC

[One-Hour Heats] -- 22 Pointers

1st--LESTER'S BOSS MAN, 1691814, male, by Lester's Sunny Hill Jo--D J's Miss Betty. David Thompson, owner; Gary Lester, handler.

2d--BONNER'S HOT RIZE, 1687893, male, by Miller's Speed Dial--Miller's Martha White. Jannie Chapman, owner; Gary Lester, handler.

3d--COMO THUNDER, 1687714, male, by Skyfall--Catch Me Dot. B. K. & Rachel Blackwell, Doug Arthur & David Russell, owners; Steve Hurdle, handler.

OPEN DERBY

The Derby started at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, November 10. Judges David and Rachel Russell of Como, Miss., named the following winners of the Open Derby.

First place went to Knight's Little John, handled by Ike Todd of Somerville, Tenn., and owned by Scott Griffin of Mint Hill, S. C. Knight's Little John took the eighth brace of the Derby with an impressive ranging ground race that led him to a find way to the front at 18 at the end of the corn field southeast of the old house.

Second was Smooth Talkin, handled by Steve Hurdle and owned by Pat Roach of Union Springs, Ala. Smooth Talkin was in the first brace of the Derby had a find at 20 in the pines after the first road crossing, followed by another find at pickup on the east side of the pines that run horizontal to Hell Creek.

Third place went to Haney's Happy Hour, handled by Ike Todd and owned by Chris Cagle Sr. and Chris Cagle Jr. of Woodlawn, Tenn. Happy Hour had the fourth brace and scored a find just before the road crossing to the northeast of the old house at 13.

Judges: David Russell and Rachel Russell

OPEN DERBY -- 11 Pointers and 1 Setter

1st--KNIGHT'S LITTLE JOHN, 1697531, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge--Bonner's Platinum Doll. Scott Griffin, owner; Ike Todd, handler.

2d--SMOOTH TALKIN, 1690522, pointer male, by Greypointe Izquierda--You Never Can Tell. Pat Roach, owner; Steve Hurdle, handler.

3d--HANEY'S HAPPY HOUR, 1692128, pointer male, by Dunn's Tried N True--K F Prairie Storm. Chris Cagle, Sr. & Chris Cagle, Jr., owners; Ike Todd, handler.