Result: All-America Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Carson, North Dakota

Post Date: Sep 30, 2026

Submitted By: Lance Schulz

All-America Open Shooting Dog Championship. Front row: Jason Loper with Minnesota Red Confidence, not pictured Judd Carlton with RUCH Erin's Legacy. Back row (l-r): Shawn Kinkelaar, Rachel Graffam, Jessie Graffam, Avery-Jane Graffam, Tommy Rice III, Trisha Rentz (Judge), Solon Rice, Joe Rentz (Judge), Lance Schulz.

The North Dakota Pointing Dog Club hosted the All-America Open Shooting Dog Championship and Open Derby Trial starting on Labor Day, 2026 near Raleigh, North Dakota. The Open Derby drew 18 entries, while the Championship attracted an impressive field of 54 dogs. The event started at sunup Monday morning with the running of the derby stake. It was a competitive derby stake with every brace having bird work. The placing dogs were first place Erin's Top Shelf pointer male, second place Hale's Thorny Creek pointer female, and third place HH Lightning Khaki pointer female.

Tuesday morning brought the broke dogs competing in the Open Shooting Dog Championship and concluded on Saturday, the 12th of September. The placing dogs were Champion - Minnesota Red Confidence pointer male handled by Tommy Rice III and owned by Rylee Ann Wood of Blaine, Minnesota and the Runner-Up Champion was Erin's Legacy setter male handled by Judd Carlton and owned by Dennis Beauford of Troy, South Carolina.

The North Dakota prairie again provided a demanding stage for the 2026 All-America Open Shooting Dog Championship. Across changing conditions from calm, cool mornings to strong winds and afternoon temperatures approaching 85 degrees, the field was tested on sharp-tail grouse, Hungarian partridge, and pheasants.

The event is possible only through the extraordinary generosity of the Miller, Stewart, Hartman, and Bachmeier families, who graciously open their land to showcase these dogs. Their hospitality and continued support are essential to the success of this long-standing Championship, and we extend our sincere appreciation to each family for helping preserve and promote the tradition of field trials on the North Dakota prairie. To thank them personally, a Landowners Appreciation Dinner was held Wednesday evening, attracting nearly 60 people to the Branded Bar & Grill at nearby Flasher, North Dakota. The presence of all the landowners made it a special occasion for handlers, scouts, dog owners, and attendees alike, providing a chance to express personal thanks for their generous support. With the dry conditions they faced this summer, each landowner still encouraged Shawn to proceed with the trial. Support like is typical of the North Dakota nice mentality.

We would also like to express our appreciation to Purina for its generous sponsorship and for providing Pro Plan Sport 30/20 High Protein Dog Food to all placing dogs. Purina's continued support helps "fuel" not only the canine athletes whose performances define the trial, but also the quality, tradition, and prestige of our sport.

The trial ran as efficient as it ever has with the help of a few individuals. A heartfelt thanks goes out to them; our club members, judges, dog wagon drivers, and marshals, including Jason Hayes, Shawn Kinkelaar, Joe Runyan, Lance Schulz, Doug Swingley, and David Taylor.
One of the trial's most memorable moments occurred in Brace 7 of the Championship. Within the first minute after the breakaway, both dogs were found standing. The handlers moved in and flushed a covey of more than 30 Hungarian partridge, the largest this reporter has witnessed during his 15+ years covering this trial. Just one minute later, the dogs pointed again, this time producing a covey of more than 40 sharp-tailed grouse. It was a remarkable sight. With the sun shining over our shoulders, its light caught the brilliant colors of the birds' wings as they rose from the prairie and took flight.

The reporter recorded 27 finds and seven stop-to-flush situations during the championship. Of those 27 finds, more than 75 percent involved coveys of Sharp-Tailed Grouse or Hungarian Partridge.

The championship's most complete bird-finding performance came from Minnesota Red Confidence in Brace 2. After an early unproductive, Red produced four finds at 28, 40, 52 and 56 minutes. The sequence, distribution of finds and strong finish made the brace one of the clearest benchmarks of the stake. Erin's Legacy in Brace 13 was notably stronger on the ground and with one productive find combined with the one nonproductive situation, Legacy was awarded Runner-Up Champion.

Other notable efforts included Airstrip's Game Over in Brace 3. Game Over had a good prairie performance with bird work but required more assistance from the scout than the named RUCH. Ramblin' Rivers Unplugged's strong and expansive forward prairie race in Brace 19 had many high in their saddle hoping the liver and white female could score a find while under judgment; Touch's Steely Dan's covey find under heavy wind in Brace 22 was testament to his powerful nose; and Dezasterous Silver Bandit's bird work on a scattered covey in the final reported brace were impressive pieces of bird work.

The following is the reporter's brace report of the Open Shooting Dog Championship, capturing Finds, Stop-to-Flush, Unproductive, Back, and Picked Up perspectives. While the finds and STFs were confirmed with the judges, please note that these reports are not reflective of the overall performance of each dog but rather represent their activity around game.

Brace-by-Brace Report
Brace 1 Chelsea's Mae West (PF/Kinkelaar) and LMD's Can't Touch This (ESM/Moore). Conditions: 6:30 a.m.; 57 F; scattered clouds; calm winds. LMD backed at 10. Mae West was credited with an unproductive at 12 after no bird could be produced. Mae West then recorded her first find at 15 on a six-bird covey and added a second find at 17. Both handlers elected to pick their dogs up at the 20-minute mark.

Brace 2 Dominator's Rebel Mark (PM/Carlton) and Minnesota Red Confidence (PM/Rice III). Conditions: 6:58 a.m.; 57 F; a few scattered clouds; calm winds. Red had an unproductive at 18, with Rebel Mark backing. Red followed with finds at 28 with Rebel Mark backing. Red scored another find at 40. At 52, Red recorded a third find and Rebel Mark supplied his third back of the brace. Red added a fourth find at 56, completing a productive hour marked by evenly spaced bird work. Both dogs finished the hour.

Brace 3 Silver W Hot Pink (PF/Kinkelaar) and Airstrip's Game Over (PF/Moore). Conditions: 8:05 a.m.; 57 F; clear skies; calm winds. Pink opened the bird work at 6 on a single pheasant. Game Over answered at 7 on a six-bird covey and added a second find at 11. Pink went on point at 10 but couldn't produce the birds. For reporting, not judging purposes, it is noted that one could consider Game Over's birds at the 11-minute mark to be Pink's birds which were pointed and flushed approximately 100 yards in front of where Pink originally pointed. Again, this is not a contradiction of judgment but an observation as all who hunt or trial on wild birds know they become wise to a dog pointing them. Pink was found near time in a known pheasant spot close to camp and unfortunately was charged with her second nonproductive. Not to be out done, Game Over had a very good forward race and the judges kept her in the conversation until late in the stake. The Judges commented that Game Over was right there but lacked the forwardness that the RUCH displayed. Very encouraging for the handler and its owner.

Brace 4 Erin's Copper Colt (PM/Carlton) and Big Man on Campus (PM/Kinkelaar). Conditions: 10:30 a.m.; 70 F; winds 20 mph, gusting to 36 mph. The difficult wind and rapidly warming conditions shortened the brace. Both dogs were picked up at 15.

Brace 5 Thunder Bolt's Storm (PF/Kinkelaar) and Ramblin' Rivers Natural (PM/Gingrich). Conditions: 11:05 a.m.; 74 F; winds 20 mph, gusting to 36 mph. Storm was picked up shortly after breakaway. Natural was picked up around the 40-minute mark due to a blown pad. Heat Advisory finished the hour with a strong forward prairie ground race but did not have any bird work.

Brace 6 Miller's Heat Advisory (PM/Carlton) and Upfront's Hammer Down (PM/Kinkelaar). Conditions: 11:55 a.m.; 74 F; winds 20 mph, gusting to 36 mph. Hammer Down was picked up shortly after breakaway. Heat Advisory finished the hour with a strong forward prairie ground race but did not have any bird work.

Brace 7 Red Mesa's Urban Legend (PM/Gingrich) and Standing Rock Chief (PM/Rice III). Conditions: 6:28 a.m.; 52 F; clear. Both dogs shared a divided find at 1 on a tidy covey of Hungarian partridge. At 5, Urban Legend was found standing a large covey of Huns and remained staunch throughout the flush. The bracemate was picked up following a breach of manners. Urban Legend recorded an unproductive at 14 and was picked up at 30.

Brace 8 Piney Woods Wild Fire (PF/Rice III) and Shagtime Sunny (ESM/Kinkelaar). Conditions: 7:15 a.m.; 53 F; clear. Sunny recorded an unproductive at 27. Both handlers elected to pick up at 33.

Brace 9 Como Skyline (PM/Hurdle) and Hale's Southern Flyer (PF/Kinkelaar). Conditions: 7:55 a.m.; 54 F; clear; winds building to 15-20 mph. Both dogs were credited with bird work at 3. Skyline was picked up at 5 for breach of manners on birds. Southern Flyer added a second find at 7 before being picked up at 20.

Brace 10 Georgian (PM/Kinkelaar) and Oklahoma Legacy (PM/Cochran). Conditions: 9:35 a.m.; 59 F; clear and breezy. Legacy bumped birds at 8 thus ending his bid for the championship, followed by Georgian with a stop to flush at 9. Georgian was picked up at 20.

Brace 11 Melrose Big John (PM/Chastain) and Cheap Thrills (PF/Rice III). Conditions: 10:15 a.m.; 66 F; clear. Big John recorded an unproductive at 14. At 35, Cheap Thrills produced a covey of sharp-tailed grouse. Big John had a stop to flush at 37 and was credited with bird work at 43 when pheasants were flushed. At 57, Cheap Thrills' scout called point; the birds had already left by the time the handler and judge arrived, so no find was credited. Both dogs finished the hour.

Brace 12 Winston Churchill Rentz (PM/Burson) and Just Sayin' (PM/Rice III). Conditions: 11:35 p.m.; 72 F; a few clouds. Rentz recorded a find at 10. Just Sayin' was picked up at 18, and Rentz was picked up at 35.

Brace 13 Erin's Legacy (ESM/Carlton) and Silver W Ring of Fire (PF/Kinkelaar). Conditions: 6:30 a.m.; 49 F; high clouds. Ring of Fire began quickly with a find at 3 and an unproductive at 4, then was picked up at 30. Erin's Legacy produced bird work at 44 and had an unproductive at 53. Erin's Legacy finished the hour and was named Runner-Up Champion. The report on Legacy is short but like the saying of dates go, "the numbers are not the important part, it's the dash"! Legacy's "dash" defined a strong forward prairie ground performance. Per the judges, Legacy had a stronger ground performance than the named champion. However, the named Champion was smooth all 60 minutes with evenly spaced bird work throughout the hour. Nonetheless, Legacy was impressive on the ground and displayed satisfactory manners on game.

Brace 14 Bluegrass Punchline Lilly (PF/Rice III) and Juggernaut (PM/Kinkelaar). Conditions: 7:00 am 50 F; a few scattered clouds; calm winds. At 7, Lilly established point in a thicket. Her handler gathered her and elected to move on because the situation may have involved a porcupine. Juggernaut recorded two unproductives. The first at 15 and the second at the 30-minute mark with Lilly backing at 30. Both dogs were picked up at that point.

Brace 15 Sunset Jack (PM/Carlton) and CS Hay Maker (PF/Hurdle). Conditions: 7:37 a.m.; 58 F; mostly clear. Hay Maker recorded an unproductive at 20. Sunset Jack was picked up at 56. Hay Maker finished the hour.

Brace 16 White Privilege (PM/Kinkelaar) and Red Mesa's Second Line (PM/Gingrich). Conditions: 10:23 a.m.; 70 F; clear. With the heat becoming a factor, both dogs were picked up at 25.

Brace 17 Panther Creek Driving Force (PM/Carlton) and Upfront's Pastime (PM/Kinkelaar). Conditions: 10:55 a.m.; 75 F; clear. Driving Force suffered a breach of manners on a pheasant at 25. Pastime was picked up at 30 with a strong forward race up to that time. Being a first-year dog and running in this heat and wind, his handler commented, "we do not want to do anything to make him go backwards in his development".

Brace 18 Erin's Ikon (ESM/Gingrich) and Erin's Three Amigos (PM/Carlton). Conditions: 12:35 p.m.; 79 F; high clouds. Three Amigos found a covey in alfalfa at 13. Ikon followed with a find at 15 in a ditch crossing. Three Amigos scored a stop to flush at 18, after which the handler elected to pick up. Ikon encountered another limb situation at 28, but no bird could be produced and was charged with an unproductive at 34 before being picked up.

Brace 19 Ramblin' Rivers Unplugged (PF/Gingrich) and Outer Edge Jack (PM/Moore). Conditions: 6:30 a.m.; 57 F; high overcast; light winds. Unplugged delivered a notably strong prairie ground race but went without bird contact. It is noted that 20 seconds after time was called, Unplugged was seen standing and upon the handler going to her, two sharp-tail grouse did flush. Sometimes you need a little luck to go your way, but I know the handler was pleased to hold on to this bigger running dog for 60 minutes. Jack also showed a pleasing shooting dog race, likewise without birds.

Brace 20 Erin's Super Cruiser (PM/Rice III) and Laura Pergolizzi (PF/Kinkelaar). Conditions: 7:43 a.m.; 58 F; winds 15-20 mph. Laura Pergolizzi made an impressive move at the Hartman road crossing, took the edge and went on point at 3. Several relocation attempts failed to produce a bird. Cruiser neglected a back at 17 and was picked up. Laura Pergolizzi neglected a stop to flush at 23 and was also picked up.

Brace 21 Hale's Southern Rock - PF (Kinkelaar); Red Mesa's Family Tradition - PM (Gingrich). Conditions: 8:15; 60 F; winds 15-20 mph. Southern Rock was picked up at 15 after neglecting a stop to flush. Family Tradition finished with a strong final 25 minutes without bird work.
Brace 22 CS Snap Dragon (PF/Hurdle) and Touch's Steely Dan (PM/Moore). Conditions: 10:10 a.m.; 64 F; high scattered clouds; winds 20-30 mph with stronger gusts Snap Dragon recorded a nonproductive at 37. Steely Dan produced a covey of approximately 10 sharpies at 43. Snap Dragon had a second nonproductive at 58, with Dan backing. Dan finished the hour.

Brace 23 Ramblin' Rivers Double Dot (PF/Gingrich) and CS Code Blue (PM/Hurdle). Conditions: 11:15 p.m.; 63 F; high scattered clouds; winds 25-35 mph. Code Blue found two sharpies in the Miller's alfalfa field at 12. A foot injury ended Blue's bid at 23. Double Dot was picked up at 58 also because of pad trouble. Can one correlate hot, windy, dry conditions to pad issues.

Brace 24 Cactus Jet Modelo (ESF/Cochran) and Upfront's County Seat (PF/Kinkelaar).
Conditions: 12:20 p.m.; 77 F; very few clouds; winds 25-35 mph. Modelo was picked up at 25 for getting off course. County Seat recorded a find at 24, followed by unproductives at 26 and 32 as the wind was making scenting very challenging.

Brace 25 Prairie Woods Lone Survivor (PM/Gingrich) and Rester's Cajun Justice (PM/Hurdle). Conditions: 6:30 a.m.; 46 F; slight overcast; calm. At 6, Lone Survivor had a stop to flush and remained in place. Cajun Justice went with the birds, ending his championship bid. Lone Survivor was picked up at 32.

Brace 26 Valero (PF/Kinkelaar) and HH Smokeshow (PF/Graffam). Conditions: 7:34 a.m.; 46 F; high overcast; light winds. Smokeshow opened with a find at 4 on a covey of sharp-tailed grouse. Valero recorded unproductives at 12 and 22. Smokeshow had a nonproductive at 15 near the double gate; a limb find location that would have made for an impressive find had birds been produced. Later, Smokeshow knocked a pheasant on the Hartman sidehill, bringing the effort to an end.

Brace 27 Dezasterous Silver Bandit (PM/Gingrich) and Piney Woods Legacy (PM/Rice III). Conditions: 7:58 a.m.; approximately 54 F; scattered clouds; slight breeze. Legacy was picked up at 10. Silver Bandit found a scattered covey of seven sharpies at 14. Silver Bandit finished the hour.

Carson, N. D., September 7
Judges: Joe Rentz and Trisha Rentz
ALL-AMERICA OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 50 Pointers and 4 Setters
Winner-MINNESOTA RED CONFIDENCE, F1702232, pointer male, by True Confidence-Red Sunshine. Rylee Ann Wood, owner; Tommy Rice III, handler.
Runner-Up-ERIN'S LEGACY, F1715866, setter male, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Erin's Princess Rene. Dennis Beauford, owner; Judd Carlton, handler.

Judges: Rob Englert and Todd Manns
OPEN DERBY - 23 Pointers
1st-ERIN'S TOP SHELF, F1722469, pointer male, by Erin's Mighty Quinn-Erin's Speed Demon. Kent Cantrell, owner; Judd Carlton, handler.
2d-HALE'S THORNY CREEK, F1727724, setter female, by Haney's Silver Dollar-Hale's High Flyer. Jeffrey Hale, owner; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.
3d-HH LIGHTNING KHAKI, F1724371, pointer female, by Miller's Blindsider-T S Dixie Heir. Gordon Mooney, owner; Jessie Graffam, handler.

Open Derby. Front row: Lance Schulz, Judd Carlton, Squire Lee with Erin's Top Shelf, Jason Hayes with Hale's Thorny Creek, Justin Burson holding HH Lightning Khaki. Back row (l-r): Rob Englert (Judge), Dylan Reneau, Todd Manns (Judge), Shawn Kinkelaar, Jessie Graffam, Avery-Jane Graffam, Rachel Graffam, Terry Chastain Jr.