2017 Western Regional CH
This year�s Western Regional Championship made a return to the great state of Oklahoma and the McFarlin-Ingersol Ranch in Inola, Oklahoma. The Tulsa Bird Dog Association was thrilled to hold the event and even more thrilled with the turnout. The weekend saw the entry of 50 dogs including 21 in the championship itself.
Tulsa Bird Dog Association has been working hard to bring the walking game back to life here in the state and with three great years of wild bird hunting and a lot of work on the part of the board, we are well on our way. Our numbers continue to rise and we see more and more newcomers every day. We would like to thank the Oil Capital Field trial club for the support and use of their facilities during the last couple of years.
We�d also like to thank our judges David Paine, Jim Ogle, Belinda DeLaby and Mindi Dardenne. Their work in the saddle was hard with a number of great dogs to watch in all three stakes. We�d especially like to welcome Mindi Dardenne back to the field trial world for the first time in a number of years and hope that we continue to see her around the Tulsa Bird Dog Association. We know there were a lot of folks pleasantly surprised to see her at the clubhouse.
As always the TBDA would like to thank it�s sponsors. Purina has been fantastic to us in the last few years and this trial was no exception. Garmin and Gun Dog Supply provided prizes to the winners and are, along with Purina, stalwarts of the walking game with their contributions to the National Bird Hunter�s Association. Locally, we�d like to thank JP Hewitt, owner of The Gadget Company for providing prizes from Filson. JP�s shop, near downtown Tulsa, is outstanding and if you find yourself in Tulsa, we highly suggest you drop by any see them and their dizzying selection of outdoor gear.
The grounds at the McFarlin-Ingersol Ranch are always wonderful and this spring was no exception. With a great variance in terrain and cover, judges and handlers all commented on the ability of nearly any dog to find a place to shine. The one-hour walking course leaves the clubhouse and heads south, crossing motts, creeks, hard-edged tree lines and wide open fields; an objective always within reach of a motivated dog. The views of the storied ranch from the backside of the course, at the highest point, are outstanding with clear-day views measured in miles. To have such a treasure just 30 mins from downtown Tulsa is a blessing that not many share. We greatly appreciate the support of Win and Kay Ingersoll and the rest of the Ingersoll family. Their support of the field trial community has been documented thousands of times in these pages, but their recent support of the walking game is especially dear to the Tulsa Bird Dog Association.
A good number of TBDA members helped out and did a great job putting on the trial including Shane Bevel, Nick Carson, Bill Osborne, Taylor Woods, Dr. Kurt Ochsner, Drake Ochsner and Daniel Bridewater. And of course without the continuous help of pro trainer and TBDA member Tom Woods, none of this would be possible. Tom�s dedication to the sport is outstanding and we simply could not have these trials without his help.
The weekend started out with much better weather than we had for the Region 8 Walking Championship the week before. Windy and somewhat warm was better than cold and raining for the folks putting on the trial, if not for the handlers and dogs. The birds were up and away quicker and overall, dogs that had faltered the week before had ample opportunity to redeem themselves. With 21 dogs in the championship, the running took a day and a half and concluded on Saturday with enough time to run the derby afterwards.
The competition looked good, but two dogs rose to the top. Champion Big Trouble Duke, pointer male with had two nice finds and �ran all over the country,� according to judge David Paine. He ran the limits while covering the ground intelligently. Handler and owner Steve Heenan had no problem handling the dog around the course well without excessive scouting. An excellent showing of a big running, walking game dog.
Runner up Champion was Doc�s Touch of Gold, pointer female, handled by Jeremy Gulick and owned by Dr. John Ruetschi. Goldie did an excellent job with two well broke finds and a big race. Judge Jim Ogle called her snappy and fast with a strong finish.
In the derby, pro handler Jeremy Gulick took first place with Halo, pointer male and second place with Right Wing, pointer male, both owned by Dr. John Ruetschi. Kenny�s Aces Wild, setter male, took third place, handled by Chuck Kenny under the watchful eye of his young son, Colton who rode in the gallery wagon with his mother Audrey.
In the puppy class, Sky Hawk�s Diamond Duke, setter male, handled and owned by TBDA club member Daniel Bridgewater, took first. Second place went to Border�s Belle Bayou, Llewellin Setter female, handled and owned by Mark Wagner. Third place went to Nitro Elhew Gentleman Jack, pointer male, handled by Tom Woods and owned by Bill Osborne, both TBDA members.
All in all, the board of the TBDA thought the running of the Western Regional Championship was a huge success and we�d like to thank the voting membership of the NBHA for allowing us to host it this year in Oklahoma. We are pleased to have had two, well attended, championships back to back here in Tulsa this year and can�t wait to kick it off again in the fall.
