Result: Region 16 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Brownwood, Georgia

Post Date: Apr 18, 2023

Submitted By: Joe Rentz

The Region 16 held its annual Amateur Shooting Dog Championship January 13-16, 2023, at Showtime Plantation in Bronwood, Ga. A fine field of 47 amateur shooting dogs was drawn for this year's renewal. The region would like to thank Laura and Larron Copeland for the use of their grounds and their exceptional hospitality. Showtime Plantation was in excellent condition, and birds were plentiful. The grounds feature piney woods and some field edges on each course, making for an exceptional test of a field trial shooting dog. Larron has done an outstanding job of improving this venue from year to year and has turned it into one of the premier field trial venues in the area. Judges for this year's renewal were Ray Joy of Marion, S. C., and Jeff Gibbons of Deatsville, Ala. The region thanks them for their time in the saddle. Saturday night featured a low country boil provided by the region and was well attended.
Thanks to Purina and Greg Blair for their long-time sponsorship of the region and for all they do for field trials. The club would also like to thank Steve Wiley and The Insurance Market in Dawson, Ga., who provided biscuits after the first brace each morning; Steve marshaled every brace.

Named champion was Miller's Heat Wave, a 6-year-old pointer female. Heat Wave is from the successful cross of Just Irresistible and Miller's Bring The Heat. She is owned by Jack and Fran Miller of Barwick, Ga., and was handled to this title by Fran. The classy pointer female appeared in brace No. 9 and was braced with the runner-up, Rebel Survivor, owned and handled by David Williams of Beech Bluff, Tenn. The brace started at the road crossing by the lake.

Both dogs made good cast and stayed in contact with their handler through the first two fields. Both dogs entered the piney woods, and point was soon called for Heat Wave at 16 on the right-hand side. Birds were put in the air by Fran with all in order. Both dogs hunted to the front, and Heat Wave was a little out of pocket with Fran looking off to the right; Heat Wave came back to the gallery from the left and was headed back to Fran. After she passed the gallery and, on her way back to her handler, she had her second find at 30. All was in order. Both dogs hunted the field edge down to the dirt road and, after the turn, were seen crossing the middle of the hay field. Coming out of the hay field, David Williams was calling on Rebel Survivor, and as he was coming to him, pointed at 45 in the large plum thicket at the point where the No. 2 and No. 3 courses cross. Birds were soon put in the air with all in order. Both dogs were turned loose through the piney woods, Heat Wave being the wider of the two. Heat Wave was last seen at 55, hunting to the front. Jack and Fran looked far and wide for their charge as pick-up was called. At 1:14, Heat Wave returned to the gallery and was picked up by the reporter.

The region again thanks all participants who made this year's renewal a success. We look forward to having everyone back for next year's Region 16 Championships. The 2023-2024 Shooting Dog Championship will be held in Alabama, and the All-Age will be held in Georgia. Dates and venues are currently being secured and will be announced as they become available. Once again, we could not have these championships without the generosity of the landowners and the plantation staff that make this all possible.
Thank you to Larron and Laura Copeland for the use of your magnificent venue for this year's renewal.

Bronwood, Ga., January 13
Judges: Jeff Gibbons and Ray Joye
REGION 16 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 45 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner--MILLER'S HEAT WAVE, 1675842, pointer female, by Just Irresistible-Miller's Bring The Heat. Jack & Fran Miller, owners; Fran Miller, handler
Runner-Up--REBEL SURVIVOR, 1680246, pointer male, by Rebel Pride-In Swami's Shadow. David E. Williams, owner and handler.

Region 16 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship Winners (from left): Alan Atkins, Roger Key, Ray Joye, Jack and Fran Miller with Miller's Heat Wave, Jesse Brown, Larron and Laura Copeland, David Williams with Rebel Survivor, Jeff Gibbons, and Steve Wiley.