2013 NBHA Futurity and Invitational
The NBHA Futurity program made two major changes for the 2013 renewal with the appointment of Kevin Western of Queen City, MO as new Futurity Chairman and the relocation of the trial to the Whetstone Quail Demonstration area east of Columbia at Williamsburg, MO. These were major changes and the Futurity Board of Directors thought long and hard about the effects of moving the Futurity from its home at the Percy Priest WMA near Nashville, TN. In the end, the moves were made and a new tradition started at the very nice grounds set up by the Missouri Conservation Board right along Interstate 70 some 80 miles west of St. Louis. Entries at this renewal were reasonable considering the change in venue and distance from its long standing location in Middle Tennessee. New participants from the Midwest attended and stalwarts from previous renewals continued to nominate litters and attended to run their Derbies and puppies. The Futurity paperwork and litter nomination process for the breeders was well managed by Kevin Western and the trial was very well organized under Kevin’s leadership with major assistance from NBHA Vice President Tim Penn. Larry Carpenter, Joe Zimmer and others all pitched in to make sure the trial was run smoothly and everyone had a fair chance and a good time.
The NBHA Futurity similar to other futurities is a breeder’s stake where the selection of dams and sires seeks to validate the choices of the responsible individuals in improving the breed by proving out their selections in these trials. The NBHA Futurity has long and storied history of proving many of the nominating breeders have indeed selected well. Just this year, Shadow Oak Bo, the first English Setter in some 43 years to win the National Championship at Grand Junction came from an NBHA Futurity nominated litter. While Bo did not compete in the Futurity during his Derby year (2008), littermates did and Kozican for Bobby and Mildred Taylor of Winfield, AL took second place. Their sire Shak Ti also was a Futurity winner and later was the only setter at the time to win the Alabama Open Shooting Dog Championship.
Bobby Phillips of TN breeder, owner and handler of last year’s winner, Bob’s Elhew Jill sponsored a fish fry Friday evening which was enjoyed by all. The occasion also provided an opportunity to unveil the painted portrait of Bobby’s beautiful pointer female which he received for winning the Futurity. Kevin Western who owns Western’s Meat Market and Catering in Greentop, MO really put on a spread for lunch each day in the clubhouse and also catered the fish fry. Kevin provided smoked hams and a variety of meat sticks and brought food gift baskets for the raffle and auction which helps support the Futurity program. Tim Penn marshaled the majority of the stake and also with assistance from Larry Carpenter and Joe Zimmer, planted birds and generally kept things running smoothly. Danny Martin and Dan Crunk brought their side by side off road vehicles for use as dog wagons and gallery observation vehicles for those without horses.
Judges Chuck Davis who is a past NBHA President and is the Iowa State Director for NBHA was in the saddle with Charlie Beeler, long time field trialer and respected judge of many national and regional championships. They rode attentively and their decisions were generally expected by those who rode and watched.
NBHA Futurity program is generously sponsored by Purina Pro Plan and their representative Dean Reinke. A very substantial supply of Pro Plan Performance was available for all the winners as well as samples of Pro Plan, Purina hats, and Dog Biscuits. Tri-Tronics provided a Pro 500 e-collar to the winner of the Futurity and the Puppy Classic. Christie Enterprises provided certificates to all the winners in both stakes, and Gun Dog Supply donated a number of gift certificates for the raffle and drawings. The NBHA and the Futurity Board of Directors thank our sponsors as they make the trial more rewarding and prestigious with their support.
Futurity Winners (pictured above: LEFT TO RIGHT: LARRY CARPENTER, JIM WIRTH WITH LEGACY, CHARLIE BEELER JUDGE, DAN MARTIN WITH EL THUNDER, KEVIN WESTERN, ALAN WORTH WITH HARD RAPPIN SHADOW, CHUCK DAVIS JUDGE, DR. BILL WRIGHT WITH MILOMIX SUNNY, JOE ZIMMER)
Legacy, mostly white pointer male owned by Jimmy Wirth of Boonville, MO with D. Hoyle Eaton of Booneville, MS listed as the breeder. Legacy was originally sold to Danny Martin as a six month old pup and later bought by Jim before he was a year old. Legacy was strong on the ground in the first series with excellent broke bird work. In the hour, he was again solid on his finds and had a good finish to take first place.
El Thunder, white and orange pointer male owned and handled by Danny Martin of Boonville, MO, was bred by Chris Zupanci of Malta Bend, MO who took his female Zupanci’s Ragin Zip to El Lancelot down in Mississippi. Danny picked up El Thunder as a four month old pup and developed the dog from there. El Thunder was very fast on the ground and scouted on two of his finds early in the call back. He had two additional finds and finished solidly to get the nod for second place. In the first series, El Thunder scored two broke finds and was solidly marked for the finals.
Hard Rappin Shadow owned and handled by Alan Worth of Prescott, IA scored two broke finds in the 30 minute first series with a moderate race. In the hour finals, her race was again moderate but her bird work was solid on her two finds. Shadow was bred by Barry Stumbo of Versailles KY.
The fourth place finisher, Milomix Sunny for Dr. Bill Wright could have easily moved up except for an incident at 58 where a bird was delivered to hand. Sunny had a nice, forward race in the finals with a back and four broke finds – the last coming as time expired. Her work in the first series had also been solid with two good finds and a moderate race.
Eaton’s Choice, pointer male for Brad Hargis had a super nice effort in the first series with three broke finds and a nice race. Unfortunately, he looked like a different dog on his birds in the finals and had to be picked up. This was very disappointing for Brad and for the judges who liked him enough to consider him the top qualifying dog.
Also called back was Milomix Ridley, setter male for Bill Wright who was the bird finder of the stake with six finds in the finals. His race was not up to standard overall but this is a dog you would want to take bird hunting.
The judges placed two dogs on standby for the finals but did not request an hour from them. The two dogs were Carpenter’s Blackhawk bred by Larry Carpenter who also handled for owner Wes Carillo and Milomix Zinny, Gordon Setter female for Bill Wright.
Jerry D. Kilgore Puppy Classic
The Jerry Kilgore Puppy Classic was won by Paint Me Gold, fast and snappy setter male in the ownership of Bobby and Mildred Taylor of Winfield, AL. Gold ran a well directed race, staying on the edges and handling back to the calls of his handler. Bobby and Mildred bred the litter with Bobby handling him to this win.
Round Table Last Knight for Joe Shearer is a solid built pointer male owned and handled by Joe Shearer. He was strong to the front and pressed the winner in his second place bid. Taking third was Shockamo, setter male for handler Bobby Taylor with a fine effort on the ground and a good finish. The fourth place went to Tim Penn’s Penrosa Jane Doe after a good effort from this big strong setter female.
The judges wanted to commend Taylor’s Anewone, setter male for Bobby and Mildred Taylor who was really getting it done when he crossed onto the road back to camp and was not returned to the front. If he would have finished, he likely would have changed the order from top to bottom. Others running, were Carpenter’s Blue Hawk and Carpenter’s Triple Threat for breeder and owner Larry Carpenter, Madison’s Wild Rascal for Bob Wilson, Autumn Thriller Willow for Ralph Niemeyer, Western’s Cowboy Up for Kevin Western, Penrosa Da’Chic for Tim Penn, Sunburst Nick for Wayne Neirman, Foggy Bottom Peach for Joe Zimmer and Hargis Diamond Girl for Brad Hargis.
NBHA Futurity Breeder Winners
NBHA Futurity awarded the Breeders of the NBHA Futurity Nominated litters a cash award for any dog that had placed in this year’s NBHA Futurity and Jerry D. Kilgore Puppy Classic.
Futurity 1st place winner Legacy, PM was sired by Sir Lancelot, x Diamond Lady Dia, and was bred by Hoyle Eaton, Booneville, MS; 2nd place was El Thunder, PM sired by El Lancelot, x Zupanci’s Ragin Zip, and was bred by Chris Zupanci of Malta Bend, MO; 3rd place was Hard Rappin Shadow, SF was sired by Shadow Oak Bo, x Hamilton’s Madison, and was bred by Barry Stumbo of Versailles, KY; and 4th place was Milomix Sunny, SF was sired by Hytest Sky Hawk, x Carpenter’s Last Jett, and was bred by Carpenter’s Kennels, Clarksburg, MO.
Jerry D. Kilgore Puppy Classic 1st place winner Paint Me Gold, SM was sired by Kozican’s Six Pop Gun, x Taylor’s Swift Shakota, and was bred by Bobby and Mildred Taylor, Winfield, AL; 2nd place was Round Table Last Knight, PM was sired by Sir Lancelot, x Zupanci’s Ragin Zip, and was bred by Chris Zupanci of Malta Bend, MO; 3rd place was Shockamo, SM was sired by Kozican’s Six Pop Gun, x Taylor’s Swift Shakota, and was bred by Bobby and Mildred Taylor, of Winfield, AL; and 4th place was Penrosa Jane Doe, SF and was sired by Penrosa Stoneyox, x Carpenter’s Miss Insider, and was bred by Tim Penn of Edina, MO
NBHA National Open Invitational Championship is now being held along with the NBHA Futurity. This now opens up the opportunity for breeders of NBHA nominated litters to receive another award for their litter nominations. This opportunity can now continue throughout a dogs competing Shooting Dog career. Breeders will receive a cash award for dogs that are winners of the NBHA Open Invitational Championship provided they are from a NBHA Nominated litter.
Lastly the Missouri Bird Hunters Association sponsored $400.00 toward the NBHA Open Invitational 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, provided that the winners are from an NBHA Futurity Nominated Litter. This year’s champion Greypointe Gladiador was nominated in the 22nd NBHA Futurity and was bred by Doug Meyer of Tonganoxie, KS
In conclusion nominate your litters!
By Douglas Meyer
