2013 NBHA National Amateur Championship
The 2013 NBHA National Amateur Championship concluded on November 24th at the Sportsman Association Grounds at Grove Spring Missouri. The trial, Hosted by the Missouri Bird Hunters Association, drew a good entry of 28 top flight shooting dogs. Crowned Champion was Hard Rappin War Hawk, handsome white and orange setter male owned and handled by Alan Worth of Prescott, Iowa. Hard Rappin War Hawk, call name Hank, is on a roll. He won Runner Up honors just the week before at the AFTCA National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship in Eskridge, Kansas.
Anyone who has put on a trial knows that to make the event successful a lot of things have to come together just right. We were fortunate to have the winning combination of good grounds, good birds, and good judges. Trial Chairman Chris Gebhardt and Co chairman Larry Carpenter started laying the ground work for this trial immediately after the NBHA summer meeting that was held in Memphis this year in late July. They began the daunting task of securing grounds, birds, judges, and finalizing all the little details that make for a successful trial.
We were fortunate to have two of the finest judges that are available, Dr. Gary Cowell of Lancaster, Missouri and Gailen Cooper of Oak Grove, Missouri. Dr. Gary Cowell has been field trialing and running bird dogs since 1967. He has successfully trained and campaigned his dogs all over the country. He is highly sought after as a judge, as far as Canada and California with numerous assignments in the Midwest. Gailen Cooper is a master at keeping things light. He keeps people laughing with his sense of humor. Gailen has successfully trained numerous Champions and his bloodlines are still winning big. Gailen has judged numerous Championships and his services are highly sought after. Both gentlemen are attentive and thorough in their evaluation of the dogs they look at. At this Championship both men were tested to the max as mother nature decided to drench the first day and a half running followed up by fridged temperatures for the next two days. When it was all said and done the announcements were well received.
I cannot say enough about the grounds and the Sportsman Association at Grove Spring. Clifford Weaver had the grounds looking as good as they have ever looked. His attention to detail of the grooming of the grounds was amazing. His hard work and dedication will make the spring trials at Grove Spring extremely successful. Michelle Weaver, Clifford’s wife, kept everyone fed with her home cooked breakfast and lunch meals. Michelle’s homemade pies are especially a big hit with the entire crowd. We could not make it without these two. The Missouri Bird Hunters, led by Chris Gebhardt, made the evening meals an event at this trial. We had Bar-B-Que Brisket on Thursday night and a Shrimp Boil and fish fry on Friday night. These social events were a great place for participants to gather and visit with old friends and new and were very well attended. We were fortunate to have participants from Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.
The National Bird Hunters are blessed to have amazing sponsors. Purina provides dog food to the winners as well as samples and hats to the trial participants. Garmin/Tri-Tronics provides one of their new shock collars to the winner. Christie Saddles and Gun Dog Supply provide gift certificates to the winners and trial participants. We could not have a successful trial without the support of these sponsors. Their participation and sponsorship of the NBHA is much appreciated.
THE WINNER
The newly named champion Hard Rappin War Hawk ran on the first day in the qualifying series. Hank ran in the fourth brace in a cold downpour and put down a very good four find performance. He was braced with Rocky Hollow Firecracker (Casey) who, up until a bobble on a backing situation at about midway, was putting down a good race too. Hank went on to be named in the callback series braced with Penrosa Stoneyox (Penn). Hank and Stone were loosed in the first brace of the callback series on Sunday Morning. At about the midway point dogs got separated and Stone had a miscue on a relocation when he got a little close to the birds. Hank had the whole course to himself and took full advantage of it. He had six, well-spaced finds, and an almost picture perfect up front race to be named Champion.
THE RUNNING
We woke to cold November rain on Thursday morning. The first brace began on time with Jim Fork Jackson Redo (Snow) and Hard Rappin Shadow (Worth) coming to the line. Redo was making some nice cast but was up early as the temptation of birds was too great. Shadow finished the hour with one find and a moderate race. The elements took a toll on this young female but you can better believe you have not seen the last of her. The second brace paired Barado’s North Hawk (Markham) with Doug Meyers Champion Greypointe Gladiador. Both dogs finished clean with four finds. Hawk had one back with a nice up front race to make the callback while Max had four finds but the elements took a toll on his normally impeccable style and shortened his race a bit. Skydancer Swift Current (Greg Slone) and Skyview Little Drifter (Patty) was turned loose for the third brace. Both dogs had a divided find/back right after breakaway that probably messed them up for the balance of their brace as both dogs were picked up before halfway mark. Hard Rappin War Hawk (Worth) and Rocky Hollow Firecracker (Casey) was reported earlier. Barker’s Leer Jet (Carpenter) and Treeline’s Sandra (McClellan) were turned loose after dinner. Jet finished the hour with three nice finds and a good race to be a standby in the callback. Sandra had her running shoes on and was impressing the judges but a covey in Sycamore bottom was too much to stand and her day was over at about 30. Bob’s Elhew Josie (Phillips) was not pleasing handler and was picked up early. Barado’s Soldier (Markham) was really impressing judges but a dug up covey find deep in the timber in Sycamore Bottom was too much for him to handle on this day. I am sure you have not heard the last of this dog.
Friday started with overcast sky and a north wind drizzle that made going tough. Erin’s California Girl (Black) and Blue Collar Double Trigger (Palmer) was loosed at 8 am. Trigger was coming of a big win at the AFTCA National Amateur Championship the week before. Girl and Trigger got hooked up early and ended their bid together before crossing the road into Sycamore Bottom. We are not exactly sure what happened but a wreck ensued. Barado’s River Queen (Markham) and Bob’s Elhew Jill (Phillips) were turned loose around 10 am. Jill was up early with a bobble on birds in the first bottom. Queen was looking good but went with a bird at about the midway point to end her day. Bob’s Miller Sue (Phillips) and Penrosa Stoneyox (Penn) were tuned loose before noon coming back toward the clubhouse. Both dogs finished the hour with good up front races. Stone went through and had 3 solid finds and a nice race with Sue having 3 finds as well but a second unproductive at pick up cost her a bid as a call back dog. Jim Fork Jackson (Snow) and Hard Rappin Fly (Worth) were to the line right after dinner. Jack had the race of the trial with 6 nice finds and the race of the trial making him the top dog in the qualifying series. Fly went through the country and scorched the course. She had three nice finds. Both dogs made the call back, Jack as a call back dog and Fly on standby. Bob’s Miller Daisy and Slone’s Southern Belle were turned loose for the last brace of the day. Daisy and Belle both went with a bird under the big Sycamore tree in Sycamore bottom.
Saturday saw clear sky’s but a very cool crisp morning. Penrosa Knox, Tim Penn’s old warrior and Hortin’s Sir Arther Eaton (Palmer) were turned loose to start the last day of the qualifying series. Knox had a find early but was soon picked up with a fail to back situation. Art was looking good until about midway when he was seen under bird in Sycamore bottom. Elhew Money Maker (Eisenberger) and Skydancer Skyview Ace (Patty) were turned loose for the last brace of the qualifying series. Money Maker was making a good bid but could not handle a back in the corn field bottom. Ace was putting down a really good race with three finds. On the third find Ace had a stop to flush quite some distance from handler. Handler fired and started the long walk to the dog and it was too much for Ace to handle and he moved up on the birds to end his day. Judges called back Penrosa Stoneyox (Penn) and Hard Rappin War Hawk (Worth) for the first brace and Barado’s North Hawk (Markham) and Jim Fork Jackson (Snow) in the second brace with Hard Rappin Fly (Worth) and Barker’s Leer Jet (Carpenter) as the stand by dogs.
Sunday morning brought clear skies with cool temperatures but the wind had died down for a pretty nice morning. As reported earlier Hard Rappin War Hawk (Worth) had six nice finds with an upfront race. Stones day was ended on a bobble on relocation. Jim Fork Jackson (Snow) and Barado’s North Hawk (Markham) were turned loose for brace number two. You could tell that both dogs were a little loose right from the beginning. Jack took a bird out in Sycamore bottom to end his day. Hawk made it past the road crossing with a couple of finds but you could tell it just wasn’t his day. Just after his third find he went with a bird that was straggling after a covey find. Judges called for the standby dogs.
Barker’s Leer Jet (Carpenter) and Hard Rappin Fly (Worth) were the stand by dogs. Handler Alan Worth elected to not run fly as he discovered from his scout that his dog had a minor bobble in the qualifying series. In a great display of honesty and good sportsmanship Worth commented that “It did not matter to him that the judges did not see it, he knew it happened”. That left one dog to run. Rusty started out like a house of fire. He had two nice finds in opening bottom and then a stop to flush that he took a misstep on to end his day.
The ride back to the clubhouse we all knew who the new Champion was. When the announcements were made that Hard Rapping War Hawk was the new Champion all were pleased. This was a proud moment for owner Alan Worth and Hank that can add this Championship to his already three R/U Championships.
NBHA NATIONAL AMATEUR DERBY
The derby was run Saturday afternoon under clear skies. There were 7 young hopefuls drawn for this event with 6 coming to the line. The field that ran had several bird contacts and a few were close to being finished. This group is a promising young group with will be contenders in the future. Judging this event was Gailen Cooper and Doug Meyer. Both men gave these youngsters their full attention.
Emerging as the winner was Jason Patty’s nice young setter female High Regard. Continuing on from his winning ways as a puppy, Joe Shearer’s nice you pointer male, Scout, took second. Larry Carpenter rounded out the winners taking third with his nice young setter male, Duke.
NBHA NATIONAL AMATEUR PUPPY
The puppies ran right after the Derbies on Saturday afternoon. Judging the puppy stake was Jeff Markham on his nice young palomino colt and Clifford Weaver. Both men gave full attention to all of these young dogs. There were 7 dogs drawn and 7 dogs run. Earning first was Ozzie, Kenny & Jerry Snow’s nice young pointer male. Larry Carpenter took second and third with Joe Zimmer’s two nice young setters Jim and Ted earning second and third respectfully.
Author’s Note: I was very proud to be a part of this group of people running this trial. Chris Gebhardt, Larry Carpenter, Tim Penn, Joe Zimmer, Joe Shearer, Gary Cowell, and Gailen Cooper are the kind of folks we need in this game. They have an interest to see things through for the good of the game. It was a pleasure working with them.
Submitted By Kevin Western
