2015 NBHA Midwest Regional Championship
The 2015 NBHA Midwest Regional Championship sponsored by the Missouri Bird Hunters Association concluded on Dec. 6,2015 at the Greenwood Pointe Hunt Club in New Franklin, MO. The trial, hosted by the Missouri Bird Hunters Association, drew a good entry of 27 Shooting Dogs, 6 Derbies and 6 Puppies. Named Champion was Blackhawk's Flight Risk, Pointer male owned by Marty Meyers Blue Springs, MO and handled by Harold Gearhart, Kingsville, MO. Runner up went to Rebellious Rotten Ralph, English Setter male owned and handled by Mike Luebke, from Reeseville, WI. Whenever you schedule a trial in central Missouri in Dec., you always worry about the weather. On all 3 days the weather was great; mid 30's in the morning and low 50's in the afternoon; with plenty of sunshine. 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 Joe Zimmer, Chris Gebhardt, Danny Martin, Danny Draffen, Dan Crunk, Kevin Western, Tim Penn and Jim Wirths for all their help.
We were fortunate to have two very well-known and excellent judges for the Championship. Gary Cowell of Lancaster, MO and Brad Hargis of Salem, IL. Gary has run horseback trials during his career and has judged numerous Championships in both walking and horseback trials. Gary always gives his full attention to the dogs and is a pleasure to be around. Brad Hargis of Salem, IL is well known on the walking circuit in the Midwest. He not only runs his dogs in both NBHA and US Complete trials but has also chaired and helped with both weekend and Championship trials. Brad gives his full attention while judging. I thank both of these gentleman for accepting the responsibility of judging this trial.
We would like to thank Mitch Leonard for allowing us to have the trial at Greenwood Pointe Hunt Club. The grounds has plenty of edges to show a dog on and has rolling hills with crops. It also has a nice club house that was great for the daily lunches provided by Trent (the goose slayer) Fischer. If you have not experienced Trent's cooking you are missing out on some great food. I would also like to thank Danny Martin for all his work on the grounds to make them a great place to run a trial. I would also like to thank everybody that supported this trial as we had people traveling from 7 states. They came from as far away as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois and Missouri.
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 were announced and Black Hawk's Flight Risk, Pointer Male owned by Marty Meyers and handled by Harold Gearhart was named Champion. Jr ran in the 9th brace and started his day with a find at 5 and his 2nd find at 14 then again at 19-24-26-32-38-42-47- and had his last find at 51. He finished going hard to the front. The Runner up was Rebellious Rotten Ralph, English Setter Male owned and handled by Mike Luebke from Reeseville, Wi. Ralph ran in the 5th brace and had finds at 7-22-27 and at 32 had a nice relocation with perfect manners. He then continue to have finds at 42-45-52 and finished with his 8th find at 60. The judges said Ninnescah Trumpter was close and gave him an Honorable mention.
The Running
First Brace had Spring Garden Gold (Buster) handler Harold Gearhart and Doc's Ice Man with John Ruetchi Both dogs off at 8:15 Ice Man has find at 10 but goes at flush. Buster has a nice find at 12 and again at 18. He then had his 3rd find at 30. After a long flushing attempt handler elects to relocate as Buster attempts to pen birds they flush and his day is over.
Western Paint Me Gold (Tiny) handler Kevin Western and The Seminole Wind with Keith Foreman. Wind had her running shoes on today and after break away was not seen again and tracker was asked for at 20. Tiny had finds at 16 and 21 and then was seen under bird at 30.
Ninnescah Liberator (Bo) handler Larry Holman and Penrosa Stoneyox with Tim Penn this brace got off to a good start with Bo having a nice find at 6 and then Ox having one at 8 then again at 26 then it was Bo turn with nice find at 29 and Ox backing then Ox with a find at 45 and then Bo at 51. Both dogs was gone at pickup and after a short ride to the front Bo was on point with Ox backing.
It was decided to run one more brace before lunch so Greypointe Kilgramo with Doug Meyer and Hobbs Silver Belle with Foreman were turned loose. Kilgramo had a nice find at 6 and again at 14 but moved after flush. Belle had it going with a stop to flush at 10 she then had finds at 13-16-22- 25 and again at 28. She was found pointed at 34 and after a long flushing attempt Keith decided to take her on for her 1st unproductive she was then found on point at 44 and birds could not be found for her 2nd UP and ended a nice job.
After lunch Doc's Touch of Gold with Ruetchi and Rebelliou Rotten Ralph with Luebke were turned loose. Ralph has already been reported Goldie had finds at 12 and 18 and again at 20 where she went with bird.
Dancing Kate with Gearhart and Diamond Gate Sky with Foreman. This was a short brace with Kate pointing at 5 and Sky backing. Both dogs moving as bird flushed.
With plenty of daylight left it was decided to run the 7th brace with Greypointe Invierna with Meyer and Pawnbroker Royal Flush with Jeremy Gulick. Both dogs were seen pointing at 6 side by side then both moving with birds in the air. This concluded the first day.
Sat started with another beautiful day and the 8th brace had Labur's Undisputed with Larry Burgard and Crow Creek Sugarbaby with Ken Black. Sugarbaby had a find at 5 and Undisputed on point at 6 a couple hundred yards ahead. Undisputed had find at 11 with Sugarbaby backing. He marked the bird on flush. Sugarbaby had find at 17 and moved on flush. Undisputed continued with finds at 31-37 and 41 where he had to relocate. He then had a find 48 where he again marked flight of bird. He had his last find at 51.
This brace had the CH Black Hawk Flight Risk already reported and Oklahoma Gambler handler John Ruetchi Gambler had a find at 13 and then went with birds.
Love Biscuit (Cassie) handler Brent Hoehns and El Camelot handler Danny Draffen This brace started with a lot of promise with Cassie found on point at 7. Cam was seen going over lake dam and scout was sent and soon a call of point at 12. After a long flushing attempt Cam was asked to relocate and could not locate bird and was sent on. Cassie had finds at 16 and 18 and a stop to flush at 19. Cam had a nice find at 22 and again at 24 when he went with the birds. Cassie then had 2 UP's and was picked up.
Let's Do It handler Tom Derosa and Big Trouble Duke handler Justin Crook. Let's Do It was found on point at 10 Duke came in and did not back and Let's Do It then went with bird.
Queen Frostline (Sue) handler Hoehns and Honky Tonk Head Rush handler Matt Pethan. Sue had a find at 10 with Rush backing and then he went at shot. Sue went on to have finds at 13-15-18 and a stop to flush at 20. She then disappeared and did not show up in time.
Westerns Emma Sue handler Western and Ninnescah Trumpter (Gabe) handler Gearhart. Sue had a find at 12 with Gabe backing. Sue moved with bird and was picked up, Gabe went on and had finds at 16-19and 28 were he marked flight of bird then he had finds at 33 and 42 were he marked flight again. He finished with a nice find at 52.
The last brace of the Championship was ready to turn loose with Penrosa Jane Doe handler Penn running by herself. Jane had nice finds at 4-14 and 17 then at 22 she was seen under bird.
The Derby
We had 6 derbies entered. Danny Martin and Danny Draffen steped up to judge this stake. The first place dog was Penrosa Benoxen English Setter male owned and handled by Tim Penn 2nd was Cedar Hill Lucy English Setter female owned by Charles Aspenson and handled by Harold Gearhart and 3rd was Rebellious Meat Man English Setter Male owned and handled by Mike Luebke.
The Puppy
We had 6 puppies entered and Danny Martin and Danny Draffen was the judges. They named R Z Zuzu English Setter female Owned by Randall and Joe Zimmer and handled by Randall as the first place pup. Her littermate Deputy Wyatt Engish Setter Male owned and handled by Joh Diefenbach was 2nd and 3rd was Armourdale Floodwaters Ace Pointer male owned and Handled by Ethan Kelley.
By Larry Carpenter
