2015 Midwest Regional CH
The 2015 NBHA Midwest Regional Championship concluded on Jan 4 at the Whetstone Wildlife Management Area at Williamsburg, Mo. The trial, hosted by the Missouri Bird Hunters Association, drew a good entry of 21 Shooting dogs, 14 Derbies and 6 Puppies.
Named Champion was Legacy, Pointer male owned and handled by Jim Wirths of Boonville, Mo. Runner up went to Kozican Setter male owned by Bobby and Mildred Taylor of Winfield, Alabama and handles by Bobby Taylor. Photo - Champion the people and dogs: Front L to R Joe Zimmer, Legacy, Jim Wirths, Bobby Taylor, Kozacan Tim Penn, Mildred Taylor, Back Row L to R: Doug Meyer (Judge) Charles Beeler (Judge) Larry Carpenter, Bill Wright.
This is the second Championship hosted by the Missouri Bird Hunters in the last month and a half. My main concern when agreeing to Co Chair this trial with Joe Zimmer was it being on a holiday weekend along with the weather that we can have in Missouri in January. The weather agreed with us and the holiday did not seem to affect the entries. Anytime you put on a trial you need to have good grounds, good birds and good judges. You also have to have a lot of good help and I had some outstanding help. I would like to thank my Co Chair Joe Zimmer and all the other Missouri Birds Hunters members Jim Ogle, Kevin Western, Chris Gebhardt, Tim Penn, Danny Martin, and Danny Draffen for all their help.
We were fortunate to have two very well known and excellent judges for the Championship. Charles Beeler of Lancaster, Mo and Doug Meyer of Tongonoxie, Ks. Charlie has run both horseback trials and NBHA trials during his career and has judged numerous Championships in both walking and horseback trials. Charlie always gives his full attention to the dogs and is a pleasure to be around. Doug Meyer was asked to fill in at the last minute for the advertised Judge Jim Rogers who has some health issues and right before the trial had a heart attack and had bypass surgery, I am happy to report that Jim is doing well. When I called Doug he did not hesitate to accept my offer to judge and I greatly appreciate that. Doug has been around trials for many years and reported the NBHA futurity in it beginning years. He also is past President of the NBHA and now runs his dogs mainly on the horseback circuit. He has judged numerous weekend trials and Championships.
The Whetstone Wildlife Management Area are the same grounds we use for the NBHA Futurity and Championship. Because the ground cover was heavier on part of the course we normally use the course was changed some. Everybody seemed to like the new course and I would like to thank Nicky Walker the Area Manager for all of her help. Kevin Western provided a delicious lunch for us each day. 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 our sponsors. Their participation and sponsorship of the NBHA is much appreciated.
The Winners
The winners was announced and Legacy Pointer Male the defending Champion was again named the winner. He is owned and handled by Jim Wirths of Boonville, Mo. This is Legacy third Championship and back to back in the Midwest Regionals. He ran in the 3rd brace on Friday morning in ideal conditions. He had his first find at 12 and followed that up with finds at 32,45 and his last find at 47. He had a strong finish and everybody that watched him knew he was the dog to beat. The RU Ch was Kozican English Setter male owned by Bobby and Mildred Tayor of Winfield Alabama and handled by Bobby Taylor. Kozican ran the first brace on Sat morning with rain and cold conditions. He had his first find at about 6 min off the breakaway He had 3 more good fines and a back and had a strong finish.
The Running
Shockamo (B. Taylor) with Rocky Hollow Firecracker (B. Casey). Temperatures were cool and the ground frozen for breakaway. Wind was calm but would later pick up from the south. At 18, Firecracker stood pointed with Shockamo failing to back when approaching the pointed dog from the front. Firecracker had taken a wooly edge and all was in order after Brian Casey thrashed the cover. Firecracker scored again at 39 along a soy bean field edge and again at 46. At 57, he advanced deep into and below a brush pile where Casey elected to collar him and take him on. His finish was to the front Pike Creek�s Queen (D. Martin) with Jojo�s Skyjett Iron Belle (J. Ogle). These two were away quickly and made quick work of the first fields. At 11, both stood independently on different objectives with Danny Martin electing to collar his dog and take it on. Jim Ogle flushed birds for Belle but she took steps at flush. Queen had nice finds at 16 and 26 and was hunting available cover in a pleasing manner. At 34, she was spied far to the front on cedar covered hillside standing attractively. This long walk found her still stylish and mannerly for flush and shot � a good field trial find in any stake. Queen continued a good race and finished far to the front still hunting hard. Skyview Little Drifter (J. Patty) with Legacy (J. Wirths). Both were away quickly and seen on deep casts. At 12, Drifter was seen standing at the front along wooly cover strip with Legacy discovered pointed in front. A nice back and Legacy�s find was all in order for the exit of the bobwhites. Legacy scored again at 32 and 45 with excellent style and manners. He was making deep casts to likely objectives throughout the hour and stood again at 47 along cover strip. This fourth find was as stylish as the previous three and he finished hunting far to the front at time. Drifter was leashed by handler at 50. Kozicon Six Pop Gun (Taylor) with Jaycee�s Black Hawk (A. McAfee). At 23, both dogs had independent finds along the same fencerow. Black Hawk roared in on his before pointing solidly but was steady for flush and shot. Pop Gun marked flight at flush but was otherwise left down. Black Hawk scored again at 29 and again moved up to locate the birds prior to handler�s arrival. At 53, he suffered an unproductive in a tough spot to flush. Black Hawk�s race had been moderate throughout and he finished ahead at the hour. Pawbroker�s Royal Flush (J. Gulick) with Penrosa Stoneyox (T. Penn). Both dogs were hunting widely early thru the first half. At 26, Stoneyox established point along a grassy field border after working it thoroughly in an attempt to locate his quarry. Despite the effort and extended relocation, this proved unproductive. Royal Flush pointed at 40 but was after the birds at flush. Stoneyox continued a nice race but the tracker was required at 56. Starfire Supersport (R. Brown) with Ninnescah Liberator (C. Gebhardt). Two well made pointer males were seen far to the front early. Liberator got off track and required the tracker before the half. Super Sport was found on point dead ahead at 12 with the birds located a distance from his stand � a good solid find. At 16, he stood again facing an edge with tough brush and overgrown trees in front. Ray Brown could not get these birds flushed and an unproductive was charged. At 29, Super Sport again stood solidly along another woody edge. This required relocation again but birds were finally flush from deep in the cover. At 36, Super Sport encountered walking birds as he coursed to the front and initially stopped but continued with steps ending his day. Rebellious Rotten Ralph (M. Leubke) with Eaton�s Choice (B. Hargis). Choice established and re-established point at 15 but seemed bent on flushing these birds and finally did. Ralph suffered an unproductive at 18 even though looking positive. He scored a find at 27 facing cedar trees with handler flushing the birds from beside the dog. At 33, Ralph stood majestically after crossing a fallow weedy field not near any objectives. He had the birds and all was solid for flush and shot. He scored another nice find at 38 and pointed again at 40 with all in order. Ralph was really canvassing this Central Missouri wildlife area and responding to his handler throughout. At 55, he pointed again and despite a lengthy flushing attempt and relocation, no birds were seen. Tough way to end a pleasing hour. Kozican (Taylor) with El Camelot (Martin). Overnight brought rain and it was intermittent throughout the running of the last four braces. Temperatures were mid thirties so dogs, horses and man was tested by the conditions. Kozican was up to the task and was found off breakaway left of the course pointed. El Camelot was also pointed at the same time and both finds were in order. Kozican continued to point birds as he worked the country at speed. Three good finds rewarded searching moves and he was strong at the finish being ridden for at the hour. El Camelot missed connections with his handler and spent too much time back with the rear party and Kozican. He was counted out at 45. Sir Robin Hood (M. Pethan) with Doc�s Touch of Gold (J. Rueschi). Both dogs were energetic early and scouts were searching. Robin Hood was found standing at the front where handler assessed the brush pile and elected to collar the dog. Touch of Gold was nearly out of time when she was shown coming back from the front. She was later picked up with a bird issue. Robin Hood required the tracker later as he reportedly was lost on point. Rockbridge Lil Rascal (Brown) with Ketchikan (Taylor). Lil Rascal was making some nice moves but ended up with an infraction when birds flushed along a weedy edge. Ketchikan was gone and the tracker required. Sir Eaton (Martin) with Bye. Sir Eaton had an unproductive early where he hadn�t tightened until the approach of handler. He had a good find next and then a second sterile stand ended his day and the stake.
The Derby
We had a great entry of 14 derbies. The judges for this was Ray Brown of Paducah, Ky and Tim Penn of Edina, Mo. The first place dog was Ace, Pointer male owned and handled by Aaron Mcafee of Edinburg, Il. Ace had 3 finds, handled kindly with a forward race. Second went to Bubba, Pointer male owned handled by Chris Gebhardt of Columbia, Mo who had 2 finds, mostly forward race with a strong finish. Thrid went to Dolly, Pointer female owned and handled by Larry Burgard of Astoria, Il. Dolly had 1 find a unproductive with a moderate race with a nice finish. Two other dogs Doug (Tony King) and Bee (Bill Wright) put down eye catching races but unfortunately were lacking birdwork.
The Puppy
We had 6 puppies entered and they ran Sunday morning in 20 degree temperatures and blowing snow. The judges who braved these conditions was Danny Martin Boonville, Mo and Danny Draffen Bunceton, Mo. First place went to Bee, English Setter female owned and handled by Bill Wright, Bellflower, Mo. Bee had a big race and was very stylish running. Second was Ranger, English Setter male owned and handled by Jim Ogle Jasper, Mo. Ranger had one find and a good race. Third went to Chief Pointer male owned and handled by J D Waters of Mechanicsburg, Il. Chief had one find and his race was a little short.
By Larry Carpenter
