2014 NBHA Futurity
2014 NBHA Futurity and Jerry D. Kilgore Puppy Classic
The 2014 NBHA Futurity and Jerry D. Kilgore Puppy Classic held its annual event on March 28th and 29th at the Whetstone Quail Demonstration Area at Williamsburg, Missouri. This is the second year for this renewal to be held at this location from its original grounds at the Percy Priest WMA near Nashville, TN. Entries in the Futurity were up from last year and the future of this event is looking very promising. The Leadership and Organizational team of this event is key to the success of the event. Trial Co-Chairmen, Kevin Western and Tim Penn, lay the groundwork for the event throughout the year while team members Larry Carpenter, Joe Zimmer, and Chris Gephardt do much of the legwork during the event. It is folks like this that help make a successful trial like we have.
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 Kevin Western and Co chairman Tim Penn started laying the ground work for this trial immediately after last year’s Futurity. 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 Gentlemen available as this years judges, Chuck Davis of Madrid, Iowa and Dr. John Niebrueggee, of Kirksville, Missouri. Chuck Davis is the past NBHA president ad has run dogs for years in the Midwest. Chuck was our returning Judge for this renewal. Dr. John Niebrueggee is no stranger to the field trial game when he competed fiercely in the 80’s and 90’s with his successful string of dogs. Both men rode attentively and when it was all said and done the announcements were well received.
I cannot say enough about the grounds and the Whetstone WMA at Williamsburg, MO. Nicky Walker, Wildlife Biologist, and her team had these grounds looking as good as they ever have. Their hard work and attention to detail of the grooming of the grounds was amazing. Those in attendance would agree that these grounds will allow for a dog to show but he still has to hunt and handle. We are thankful to have the cooperation of Missouri Department of Conservation and Nicky Walkers team.
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. We were fortunate to have Gailen Cooper, Purina rep, in attendance to hand out Purina gifts. Gailen is also a pretty good hand at fish frying and we put him to work. Garmin/Tri-Tronics provides one of their new shock collars to the winner of the Futurity and Puppy Classic. 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.
Jim Wirths, owner of last year’s Futurity winner, Legacy and Bobby and Mildred Taylor, owner of last year’s Puppy Classic winner, Paint Me Gold sponsored the Friday evening fish fry which was enjoyed by all. This is turning into a tradition that I think we will continue to do. Futurity team was able to present Jim Wirths a custom painted portrait of his handsome looking pointer Legacy. There were several donated items raffled off and a good time was had by all.
2014 NBHA FUTURITY
Hog Hill Katie, black and white strongly built pointer female is owned by Timothy Cavanaugh of East Hampton, CT with Garry Malzone listed as the breeder. Katie was expertly handled by the tireless Garry Malzone. Before she run Garry was praising this dog as well as her owner. It is apparent that the Mazone/Cavanaugh team has developed a fine young dog in Katie. In both the qualifying series and again in the finals she was solid on her birds with a good solid race to take first place honors.
Shockamo, white and orange setter male owned by Bobby and Mildred Taylor and handled by Bobby took second place honors. Shockamo comes from the Taylor’s very successful breeding program. This program has been producing Puppy Classic, Futurity, and Shooting Dog Champions for years. In fact, this program produced Shadow Oak Bo, winner of the last two national championships. Shockamo is no stranger to the winners circle. He placed third in last year’s Jerry D. Kilgore puppy classic. Shockamo ran in the fifth brace of the qualifying series and the third brace of the finals impressing the judges with both his bird work and his ground race.
Taking third was Indian Creek Spanish Fly. Fly is owned by Angelo Markopoulos of Flushing, NY. Garry Malzone handled this strong, white and orange, pointer female. Frank Henderson is the breeder of record. The judges were especially impressed with fly’s dedicated application and hard hunting race. This will not be the last time we hear from Indian Creek Spanish Fly.
Jim Wirths found his way back into this year’s winners circle taking fourth place with his nice young derby, Mcilhenny. Chris Zupanci bred the litter that produced Jack. Jim has done a fantastic job with this all white pointer male out of Sir Lancelot. Jack impressed with mature bird work and a good race in both the qualifying series and the finals. He will give his littermate a run for the money in the future.
The judges also called back for the finals Harwich Indian Creek (Malzone) and Taylor’s Anewone (Taylor). At the end of the day they expertly decided on the top four. The judges felt like they had the finalist and did not ask for the standby dogs Carpenter’s Tribeca (Larry Carpenter) and Paint Me Gold (Taylor).
Jerry D. Kilgore Puppy Classic
The Jerry Kilgore Puppy Classic was won by Carpenter’s Island Girl, fast and snappy setter female in the ownership of Carpenter’s Kennel’s handled by Larry Carpenter of Clarksburg, MO. Maggie ran a well directed race, staying on the edges and handling back to the calls of his handler.
Texas Free Mason, SM, in the ownership of Kevin Klein of Waterford, TX was handled by Garry Malzone. Mason is a well built, good looking setter male that ran a good forward race. He was strong to the front and pressed the winner in his second place bid. Taking third was Western’s Emma Sue, PF. Sue is owned and handled by Kevin Western. Sue ran with Mason and put together a strong forward race. The fourth place went to Ralph Niemeyer and his nice orange and white setter male Guage. Guage, ran a nice hunting race and pleased his owner as well as the judges.
There were several nice puppies this year and that fairs well for next year’s Futurity. Others running, were Foggy Bottom Diamond Jim, Hang Tough, Foggy Bottom Uncle Ted, CC Sky Fall, Western’s Liberator, Indian Creek Hunter’s Bell, JoJo’s Skyhawk Sadie, Milomix Orb, Kozican’s Call Me Dash, Hannah Fields.
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 Hog Hill Katie, PF was sired by South Bound Strech x Indian Creek Sugar, and was bred by Garry Malzone, Franklin Lakes, NJ; 2nd place was Shockamo, SM sired by Kozican’s Six Pop Gun, x Taylor’s Swift Shakota, and was bred by Bobby & Mildred Taylor of Winfield, AL; 3rd place was Indian Creek Spanish Fly, PF was sired by Great River Ice, x Calico’s Kiss This, and was bred by Frank Henderson of Jetersville, VA; and 4th place was Mcilhenny, PM, sired by Sir Lancelot, x Zupanci’s Ragin Zip, and was bred by Chris Zupanci of Malto Bend, MO.
Jerry D. Kilgore Puppy Classic 1st place winner Carpenter’s Island Girl, SF was sired by Hytest Sky Hawk, x Barker’s Blue Horizon, and was bred by Larry Carpenter and Bob Barker; 2nd place was Texas Free Mason, SM was sired by Merritts Zackery, x Indian Creek Sunrise, and was bred by Garry Malzone of Franklin Lakes, NJ; 3rd place was Western’s Emma Sue, PF was sired by Erin’s Wild Justice, x Layne’s Happy Jackie, and was bred by Tony King of Audrain, MO; and 4th place was Guage, SM and was sired by Carpenter’s Bluestar Jet, x Kimricks Honey, and was bred by Ralph Niemeyer, Bowling Green, MO.
NBHA National Open Invitational Breeders 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 runner up champion, Indian Creek Wingman was nominated in the 26th NBHA Futurity and was bred by Terry Merrit of Pinehurst, NC.
In conclusion nominate your litters!
By Kevin Western
