2015 NBHA National Amateur CH
The Alabama and Georgia Regions joined forces to promote and conduct the National Bird Hunters National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship and The Amateur Derby classic. The Field Trial Committee had the opportunity to secure a date at the J.L.Lester WMA, located at Cedartown, Georgia and the credit goes to Bruce Mercer for securing our dates. Marty Robinson was the man with the plan, to clean up the courses, aided by Terry Amberson and Bruce Mercer. Marty furnished the equipment and he, Terry and Bruce spent a three day weekend, which involved twelve hour days.
The J.L Lester WMA has been used by the Cedartown or Cedar Valley Field Trial Clubs for years when it was a privately owned farm. The property was put up for sale and several people got together and persuaded the State of Georgia Wildlife Department to purchase the property for public use. The group who were responsible that I know was Ray Jeffers, Bob Colie and Leroy Robinson, who the club house was named in his honor.
We, as field trialers owe a debt of gratitude to these fellows and to Bobby Fox who has helped for many years too. The grounds were in good shape and we had good weather for running birddogs, and we were blessed with no rain.
Dr. Stanley McCain (Sate Director of the Georgia NBHA ) was there early and stayed late, Stan ordered the quail and transported them to the grounds and made sure they were feed and watered plus anything else that needed his attention, furnished his Kawasaki Mule and son John to handle dog wagon duties. Terry Amberson and Bruce Mercer handled the kitchen duties all four days with breakfast and lunch and donated all the food and scouted, run dogs for owners that couldn't make it, they were multi-taskers thanks guys and I almost forgot Coby Mercer, Bruce's son, what a great kid, I tried to adopt him as a Grandson.
Ray Jeffers did us a big favor, when we were afraid we were going to run short on birds, Marty called Ray and he drove two and half hours round trip to get our birds and would not take any pay for his fuel. Our Judges were two very experienced birddog people, Fred Smith came all the way from Mt. View MO. and Jimmy Gentry from Hixson TN. They were very attentive and helpful to the handlers and trial committee. Fred Smith has judged more birddog field trials than any other judge in the history of our sport, wow!
We were so blessed to draw 30 Amateur Shooting dogs for this event and from all parts of the country, and might I say some mighty fine dogs and super nice folks.
Richie and Teresa Frisella were folks I had read about, but never met, and I can say we really enjoyed their company and watching their dog (Foghat). Andrea Cerolini and his dog (Modoc) I guess you folks know a Redneck from Alabama had a hard time getting his name right, but he is a super nice young man with a very nice young dog. Many other folks I knew but, had not seen in a while.
The Winners
Starfire Supersport is no newcomer to the winner's circle this being his seventh Championship placement, owned and handled by a real gentleman, Ray Brown of Paducah KY. Sport ran a good solid front running race with several finds and two backs, but if I am right the kicker between him and the runner-up Tattle was his final cast before pick up along the far right edge for a good' quarter of a mile that produced a good small covey find, very smart move, Sport used his experience the right way.
Tattle is owned and handled by Joe Barton of Decatur GA. Tattle is a really nice shooting dog; she is classy and light footed on the ground, a picture of class on her game. Tattle had several nice finds always looking good, she handled nicely and went to the birdy cover as a shooting dog should. I would also like to brag on Ray and Joe, I have been around them a lot over the years and they are both first rate Gentlemen and Sportsmen.
30 Amateur Shooting Dogs were drawn and 30 started, when the dust settled the Judges called back six of the thirty for the final series. The Judges announced that they had at least twelve dogs they could have used and committed what a very nice bunch of dogs they had to look at. This is how they callbacks stood.
Starfire Supersport - Ray Brown
Sand Mountain Andy - Stanley McCain
Tattle - Joe Barton
Attitude's River Kate - Marty Robinson
Modoc - Andrea Cerolin
Rocky Hollow Bigtime � Brian Casey
Standby dogs
Kozican - Bobby Taylor
Sand Mountain Icy - Bruce Mercer
AMATEUR DERBY CLASSIC
The Derby stake was a really good one with nine really nice prospective shooting dogs in the future. Sand Mountain Will topped the group with several nice finds and a very strong ground race. Will was handled by Marty Robinson for his owner Mike Otinger. Second place was Sand Mountain Icy with good bird work and a snappy race, handled by Bruce Mercer for Mike Otinger. Third place was Jesses's Cold Shoulder a real nice puppy age dog owned and handled by Jesse Brown.
I would like to say that Dr. Jim Crook ran a very, very nice puppy age dog (Boss) I have seen him twice and tried to buy him both time he is going to give us a fit next year.
We would like to think our sponsors, Purina who helps us so much and their products are the best. Gundog Supply for your support and gift certificates. Garmin for your ongoing support and equipment which we could not get along without, and Christie Enterprises for your continued sponsorship!
From all the NBHA of Georgia and Alabama we say thanks to everyone who helped, entered dogs, judged and/or scouted. Hope y�all had as good of a time as we did!
Submitted by Oscar Whitt
