2014 NBHA Western Regional Championship LBJ Grasslands, TX
Entries were small this year but all of us had one thing in common. We wanted to spend time in the field with our dogs and have a good time. The Grasslands can be a wonderful venue but this year the National Forestry Service really messed this up. They double booked the property with a marathon run that had some 300 runners. We saw runners all day long it seemed like. This created an issue when we were five minutes in to each brace there seemed to be joggers hauling our dogs off. Some dogs fell victim to this but we seemed to make the best of it. The scouts had their hands full. It�s a walking trial and the dogs know to go with folks on foot.
Trial Chairman Steve Schiber felt that at the end of the day we accomplished a success. Based on the comments from participants the goal was achieved. We did have a good time.
Some thanks need to go out to our National Sponsors Purina, Garmin, Christie Enterprises, and Gun Dog Supply. Purina donated dog food to the winners, Garmin furnished the Champion an e-collar, Christie furnished certificates, and Gun Dog Supply also furnished winners certificates. We also need to thank EJ & Kim Hall for their judicial services in the shooting dog stake and Mike Sandifer and Ken Sauer for judging the puppy stakes.
The weather was cloudy with a 10-15 mile an hour breeze and the temperature hovered around the mid fifties all day. With only having fifteen open shooting dogs and five derbies the event was completed in one day.
The first brace had Mike Sandifer with Erin�s Sweet Alabama �Polly� and Jeff Markham with Barado�s River Queen �Roxie�. This brace seemed to have dodged the jogger bullet. Polly & Roxie had a divided find at 3 with all in order. Roxie scored at 6. Polly was located at 11 with a find and Roxie coming into back. Polly chalked up many more finds and showed her range and ground speed. Additional finds came at 16, 27, 35, 37, 45, 50, 52, and topped it off with a stop to flush at 57. Roxie had an additional find at 21 with a relocation the ended her bid. She also backed Polly on four occasions.
Mike Gordon with Joe Chase �Chance� and Steve Schiber with Hawk�s Black Diamond �Hawk� were next up to bat. Chance had a tough time locating birds but had a stand at 50 but it looked like a red tailed hawk had beaten Chance to the game bird. Hawk was one of the dogs that fell victim to the joggers and couldn�t be turned around by the handler. He was found some two miles from camp.
Mike Sandifer with Sandifer�s Nicki �Nicki� and Tim Wright with Gracie (can�t locate her registered name) had their turn next. Nickie also fell victim to joggers and was found at the end of the brace. Tim was able to handle Gracie through the distractions. Gracie had a find at 14 and moved while handler was trying to flush. Handler elected to leash her.
Jeff Markham with Barado Soldier �Chili� and Ken Sauer with KC�s Leer Jett �Jett� cut loose just as another herd of joggers were passing through. The breakaway was pretty vocal for handlers but by some miracle they were able to get their dogs through it. Melissa somehow allowed Ken to run her dog Jett. Chili had finds at 5, 11, 19, 32, 50 & 55. Jett almost fell victim but was gathered up after about fifteen minutes. He seemed to be fired up and hunted with speed and range. Jett carded finds at 30, 32, 45, 55, 57, and also had two well handled stop to flushes.
James Cardwell with Skyview Joe�Joe� and Ken Sauer with Pinnacle�s Elhew Dream �Dream� made it through a break in joggers. Joe had a really big race. He suffered an unproductive at 8 and turned on the after burners. He carded finds at 49 and 52 and finished strong to the front. Ken recently acquired Dream from Bill Gardner and Oscar Whitt a few weeks prior to this event. She carded two finds at 12 and 59. Her ground race was good through the first thirty minutes but shortened up in the last half of the brace. She just seemed to be not use to the new owner.
Jeff Markham with Barado�s North Hawk �Hawk� and Mike Gordon with Haskell�s Powder Keg �Haskell� had the first part of the course without bird work. Haskell was missing pretty much from the breakaway and found to the front on point but scout at around 40. He was to the front but just without the handler. Hawk went through the course without bird contact.
Mike Sandifer with (can�t locate the dogs registered name �Tex� and David Heard with (can�t locate the dogs registered name) �Molly� both went through the course without bird contact.
This year�s Champion went to a fine dog that has not been a stranger to the winners circle for the past three years. Erin�s Sweet Alabama �Polly� owned and handled by Mike Sandifer. Polly ran in the first brace and did a remarkable job. The Runner-Up Champion is fresh of his Nat�l Free for All win. Barado Soldier �Chili� owned and handled by Jeff Markham ran in the fourth brace and was also a treat to watch with his bracemate. Congratulations to both the winners and a special thanks to our National Sponsors.
Open Puppy
Steve Schiber with Molly and James Cardwell with CC Skyfall �Sky� had the first brace of the open puppy. These two young prospects were place 1st and 2nd in the order above. Both dogs possessed speed and nice gates. Molly�s range was more to the front.
