2013 NBHA Invitational
NBHA National Open Invitational Championship
Greypointe Gladiador and Du’More Back in Black named winners
By Douglas Meyer
The National Bird Hunters Association National Open Invitational Breeders Championship was conducted March 20-21 at the Whetstone Wildlife Management Area near Williamsburg, MO. This championship is open to eligible dogs with an NBHA placement during the previous trial season or to dogs that have earned an American Field recognized placement that are from an NBHA Futurity nominated litter. With a moderate number of entrees competing this year, eight of the eighteen entrees had placed in championships and several had national titles. Trial chairman Kevin Western along with NBHA Vice President Tim Penn ran a well organized event. Larry Carpenter and Joe Zimmer were in attendance throughout and assisted with bird planting and dog wagon chores along with Ryan Wood from Centralia, MO. Lots of others pitched in including Dan Martin, Dan Crunk and Jim Wirths. Chris Gebhardt and former Futurity Chair Tony King came by to donate an Amish made Garmin holster for the auction and to see how things were going in general. Our weather was fortunately pretty good with cool temperatures throughout and relatively decent footing considering the amount of moisture that this spring had produced. The Whetstone grounds were in great shape and provided excellent lines and objectives for a hunting shooting dog to utilize. There was plenty of cover for the released bobwhites and flushes were generally in order as the birds flew well. Judges for the Invitational were former NBHA National President Chuck Davis of Madrid, IA and Charlie Beeler, veteran trialer from Lancaster, MO. Chuck has judged widely and was the owner of multiple champion Sun Storms Brave along with other field trial winners. Charlie Beeler needs no introduction as he is a veteran of Midwest trialing and judges all kinds of events from walking to all age including national championship stakes far and wide. These two gentlemen rode and watched attentively and we appreciate their time and judgment. Their decision was logical to those who rode and watched the braces. Sponsors for the Open Invitational included the staunch support of Purina and Representative Dean Reinke. Purina not only donated Purina Pro Plan Performance Sport to the winners but also provided sample bags of Pro Plan Performance, biscuits, and hats to those attending and participating. Tri-Tronics provided a Pro 500 e-collar to the new champion and Christie’s Saddlery provided a merchandise certificate to both winners. Gun Dog Supply also supports the NBHA and included several gift certificates for drawings during lunches and the evening festivities. Thanks to all these sponsors for the continuing support to the NBHA and walking trials in general. This means a lot to growing these stakes and providing the best venues, judges and opportunities to showcase these shooting dogs. Lastly the Missouri Bird Hunters Association sponsored $400.00 toward this Championship by supporting the NBHA Futurity program. In return the NBHA Futurity is to award $200.00 to the breeder of the champion and another $200.00 to the breeder of the runner-up champion, if either of the winners is from an NBHA nominated Futurity litter. This year’s champion Greypointe Gladiador was nominated in the 22nd NBHA Futurity and was bred by Doug Meyer of Tonganoxie, KS.
The Winners and Others
Greypointe Gladiador drew the third brace of the trial and ran a solid hour punctuated with four well mannered finds to claim the title. On his first two finds, he was blown up with elevated style for the long walk to his points. His last two finds were more pedestrian but manners again above reproach. Gladiador’s race was at shooting dog range throughout and he was not scouted until near the end of the hour. After an unproductive at 47 where handler debated on whether to flush, Gladiador made some wide forward swings to finish the hour strongly. This was his second placement in this National Open Invitational having won the runner-up title in 2010. This trial is associated with the NBHA Futurity program and Gladiador placed third in the Futurity himself back in 2008 when the trial was held in Tennessee. Gladiador is a homebred dog and has just turned seven years old. “Max” has placed in many hour stakes throughout his career including Region 17 Walking Shooting Dog Champion, Missouri State Classic wins and in one hour horseback shooting dog stakes. Du’more Back in Black is a flashy white and black female pointer who runs with good drive yet bends to her handler’s call. She is a strong bird finder and scored five nice pieces of bird work spread out through her hour to get the nod for runner up. This is Back in Black’s fourth championship title including a past NBHA National Amateur Championship. This was her first as a runner up to go with her three championships and other one hour wins. L.G. Barnard who bred her litter and trained “Jet” from a pup handled her with confidence and knowledge that her bird work would be near perfect. The separating factors were probably on race as Gladiador was just a little stronger on the ground and his finish deeper on the course. Ninnescah Blue handled by Dan Martin for owner Larry Holman scored three finds and a back in a forward hour. His race was maybe not as eye catching as the two winners but was still commendable. Kozican’s Six Pop Gun ran a really wide and fast race usually popping up at the front. He had two finds found by scout and likely was under consideration despite a question as the hour expired where the dog was standing while deer flushed causing some steps. Ninnescah Light Year with Matt Pethan handling also made a bid in the first brace with three finds and a back but an undefined incident where birds were seen in the air likely detracted.
The Running
Ninnescah Light Year (M. Pethan) with Seiter’s Bo Diddly (B. Seiter). Crisp morning temperatures greeted us but only a light breeze was blowing under sunny skies. Light Year was running attractively and scored finds at 22 in a cover strip, 27 facing a motte and at 47 which required a relocation. He backed Bo Diddly at 17. Bo Diddly scored at 15 in a briar patch where scout spied him pointing. He added finds at 17 along a ditch, backed at 22 and had another nice find at 30 after a good cast down an edge. His last find came at 35 with all in order before he had a problem backing at 47 ending his day. Mississippi Dan (D. Martin) with Du’More Back in Black (LG Barnard). Back in Black was moving nicely and looking for birds. She scored a find at 15 in a weedy pocket followed closely with a good find along a draw. Finds at 32, 40 and 50 where scout Frank Schoenborn found her buried up in woods were all clean. Her finish was forward at time. Dan had an incident at 26 on birds which ended his day early. Hard Rappin Warhawk (A. Worth) with Greypointe Gladiador (D. Meyer). It had gotten cloudy and the ground was starting to thaw as temperatures reached the low thirties. Gladiador made a big forward cast off breakaway and was spied at some distance standing facing a cover strip. Warhawk came in and backed this stand with all in order as several quail were sent airborne. Gladiador stood again at 14 with Warhawk initially backing and then seeming to slide in front ending his day. Gladiador continued to make good forward swings with finds at 21 and 28 demonstrating nice style and excellent manners. At 47, he suffered an unproductive where handler debated whether to flush or not in briars and brush. Gladiador finished the hour on some good swings and was called in from the front at the hour. Ninnescah Blue (D. Martin) with Kozican (B. Taylor). Kozican scored a find at 11 along a cover strip with all steady at the flush and shot. At 27, he was spied pointing in a weedy area which required a relocation. Unfortunately he bumped these birds ending his effort. Blue was making some nice moves early when he stacked up in a thicket at 19. This required a relocation and Danny Martin got the running birds up with all in order. Blue backed at 27 and scored two more finds at 33 and 38. His finish was forward at range. Bittercreek Top Grade (F. Schoenborn) with Penrosa Stoneyox (T. Penn). Top Grade was a handful today – gone off breakaway for a spell and then the tracker requested before the half. Stone was making some good moves early and was found pointed at 20 along a field edge. A long flushing attempt went for naught and Stone was asked to relocate resulting in a bird exiting the area. Ketchikan (Taylor) with Sir Eaton (D. Martin). Ketchikan was making some nice swings with finds at 13, 17 and 25. At 32, one more find resulted in too many steps at flush and he was up. Sir Eaton was found deep to the left of course at 14 but this stand proved sterile. An incident with birds at 32 ended his day. Penrosa Knox (Penn) with Hard Rappin Warrior (Worth). Knox was picked up at 19 for moving past the pointing Warrior. Warrior scored a clean find in this same vicinity but was later lifted when not suiting handler. Sir Robin Hood (Pethan) with Kozican’s Six Pop Gun (Taylor). We had a cool morning with a light breeze making for good dog running weather. Both dogs made a big breakaway and were not spotted for some time. Robin Hood was found by scout Jimmy Wirths standing in cutover brush at 19. Matt Pethan waded in and over the laid down trees and the very difficult flush eventually caused Robin Hood to loosen ending his day. Pop Gun was running like he was on fire and the scout was out more than once. At 31, he was found on point in a tree row with all in order at flush and shot. At 40, scout again found him pointed facing cedars where he lost some intensity at flush. He continued making aggressive swings and scout found him left of course standing inside a small woodlot. Bobby Taylor was going in to flush when a group of deer exited near the dog causing him to take steps. This ended the hour as time had expired. Blackhawk Domain (Martin) with Skydancer Skyview Ace (Barnard). Domain was scratched and Ace was released alone. He was in sync with handler early but then went off the reservation. Handler elected to pick up at 30.
