National Amateur Championship results
The 2020 National Bird Hunters Association National Amateur Championship, was hosted by the Bluegrass Walking Shooting Dog Club. After two days running of some of the finest shooting dogs the country has to offer on display.
Named the 2020 National Amateur Champion was pointer male Three Kansans Takin� A Chance owned and handled by John W Markham IV of Manhattan, KS.
Named the 2020 National Amateur Runner-Up Champion was pointer male Tenacee Cooper owned by Greg Isenberg of Kingsport, TN.
The 2020-2021 National Bird Hunters Association National Amateur Championship concluded on
November 15th at the Miller Welch � Central Kentucky Wildlife Management Area in Berea, Kentucky.
This season�s renewal of one of the most highly coveted amateur events saw an of 21 shooting dogs and
13 handlers from Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina,
Louisiana, and Alabama. Complications as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic almost certainly
depressed the number of entries from reaching a much higher figure but the competitors in attendance
were comprised of approximately four champions (some multiple champions), runner-up champions,
and several multiple winners making this a stake of extreme quality and class.
Presiding over the competition was Mr. Tim Hammons of Berea, Kentucky and Mr. Michael Kennedy of
Opelika, Alabama. Both gentlemen�s judging record speaks volumes about their acumen for class field
trial dogs proven by the fact that Mr. Hammons is slated to be a part of the judging panel of the Quail
Championship Invitational, one of the most prominent all-age events in the country November 28th
though the 30th and Mr. Kennedy to oversee the Kentucky Quail Classic at the conclusion of the
Invitational. Aside from their judging resume however, are accomplishments as trainers and trialers
themselves and the sought-after tag of being considered the proverbial �dog men�. Just their
acceptance alone of this judging role for the National Amateur Championship speaks to their high
opinion of this class event and the Bluegrass Walking Shooting Dog Club and the participants are
extremely grateful for their time and attention in the saddle. For their efforts, both judges received a
pair of custom embroidered Mule Brand Gear & Apparel brush chaps and a commemorative National
Amateur Championship cap.
Upon approval from the Board of Directors of the NBHA to be the host of this championship, the
Bluegrass Walking Shooting Dog Club (BWSDC) immediately went to work on what they would hope
would be one of the finest field trials its participants would attend. This is a hard working field trial club
and its board members (Joe Hopkins, Brian French, Gary Vitali, Mike Fox, and James Kleve) showed their
dedication to this event through their labor. More particularly however, the services of Ms. Susan Dahl
and Ms. Kelsey Kleve took center stage in the operation of this event where beef brisket sandwiches,
various sides, and Mike Fox�s famous bean soup were individually wrapped and plated for the
participants as to abide by state requirements making this not an easy task. Their preparation and
dispersion of the meals in a safe manner cannot receive ample thanks and the club is blessed to have
them on the team.
The BWSDC is very pleased to be affiliated with the NBHA, the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America,
Kentucky Field Trial Association, and the Kentucky Walking Shooting Dog Association. It also goes
without saying, a quality event of this magnitude is almost certainly impossible without the best
sponsors within the sport of field trials. Those sponsors being firstly Purina Pro Plan for their continued
and long standing support of field trials while providing the winners with bulk amounts the best food for
sporting dogs in the world; Garmin and their innovative technologies to the sport and the wider world of
hunting and fishing also providing a Garmin 550 Plus unit to the champion; Gundog Central being the
web�s centralized location for finding your next bird dog or field trial dog; Gun Dog Supply having the
widest selection of the best products and top brands of performance dog related equipment and gear
on the market; and Mule Brand Gear & Apparel making outdoor gear and apparel for the most
discerning of hunters and field trialers for over 38 years who also provided a gift certificate to the
champion.
First Day�s Running
Brace 1: First year shooting dog setter male Seven of Diamonds handled by Joe Hopkins along with
Doug Heisner�s setter male Beaucoup Creek Buck led off the eleven brace slate breaking away at 8 AM
under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 38 degrees. After briefly seeing Seven of Diamonds
rimming the far left edge of the famed Dewey Bottoms field, he was found on point at 14� where
Hopkins was able to raise a very cantankerous small covey dug into a thicket under a blowdown.
Handling that bevy correctly, the tri-color liver and chestnut setter was sent on. Catching the front,
Beaucoup Creek Buck was seen inspecting the middle of several cover strips then quickly going on point
at 22�. Seven of Diamonds approached the stand, initially backed, but shortly decided he had seen
enough and left the scene to move on leaving Buck on the stand to his own causing Hopkins to leash his
young and green rookie. After a long flushing attempt, Heisner attempted to show the judges potential
feathers from a possible hawk kill and the dog was moved on with the course to himself. Buck�s next
stand would come one or two minutes later on a single before the second creek crossing leading the
gallery to believe this could have been the bird the setter originally attempted to pin. The single was
flushed and Buck moved along before the tracker was asked for with Buck lost at 35�.
Brace 2: The second duo to hit the starting line was Gary Vitali�s prized setter male Vitali�s Grouseringer
Tony and Greg Isenberg�s homebred pointer female Tenacee Shelby. Away, both dogs were seen racing
down the right hand field edge of Dewey Bottoms after making their way around the trap field. Both
dogs worked in tandem and seemingly in conjunction with one another swapping sides of cover and
field edges to the front. Both dogs exhibited good application and handling with no bird work through
the first hour. The growing number of hawks gathering in the area led to a stand from Shelby at 35� on a
dead bird having Tony backing towards the rear. Sent away from the scene, Shelby went on point at 40�
in a small cedar stand barely visible to the handler and judge�s eye. 50 yards ahead, Tony was seen
standing in a rigid, upright posture in plain line of site, originally thought to be backing. While Isenberg
vacated the single from Shelby�s stand with all in order, Judge Kennedy and Vitali discovered Tony�s
backing to actually be a stance on his own bird. Vitali meticulously raised the deceiving single from the
milo and the dogs moved on in unison once again only for both dogs to engage in a divided find within
another wood island in open field. After this find, the handlers intentionally handled their dogs to
separate sections of the course resulting in both dogs tallying singles for Shelby at 53� and Tony at 55�.
Both dogs finished the hour.
Brace 3: The third brace would see the champion and runner-up go head to head under beautiful blue
skies and 46 degrees. Suffering an unproductive early in his efforts at 11� in a food plot, Three Kansans
Takin� A Chance handled by John Markham was soon showing out a beautiful display of ground coverage
rimming fields and taking lines effortlessly in and out sight staying always forward. Greg Isenberg was
again was handling, but this time for other homebred Tenacee Cooper. Cooper was doing his fair share
of the exploration for birds requiring little handling from Isenberg hitting all the likeliest of birdy cover.
Cooper was scouted on point at 16� by the reporter in a feed strip along the second creek crossing out of
sight of the participants. Isenberg accurately put the single to flight and hastily sent his pointer back to
the front across the second creek crossing. It would only be ten minutes later when Cooper would set
up shop again this time approaching black barn deep on the edge of several weed strips. Scouted again
on this stand, Three Kansans Takin� A Chance quickly caught the front and caught eye of Cooper�s stand
and in polished and stylish fashion proceeded to back on sight. Markham being back of this event quite
a ways, Judge Hammons asked your reporter/scout to dismount to stand with the backing dog until his
handler could arrive. Upon arrival, a lengthy flushing attempt was executed but with no birds being
raised. Isenberg requested a relocation in which Markham elected to move his pointer on. Cooper�s
relocation also failed to pin birds and he too was taken on shortly after. At 43� the two pointers were
seen pointing in the same direction in a wooded island at the �round woods� area where birds were
seen scurrying by the judges upon approach. Both handlers flushed and fired with both dogs standing
mannerly then sent on. The same scenario would play out again in a similar location further down the
course at 47� however this flush would test the manners of both dogs. At the flush, a bird was seen to
only hop about 3 feet however; this hop would find the one the birds directly under both noses of the
dogs before quickly electing to fly further away. Tempting as the scene played out, both dogs displayed
their talent and training avoiding chase and standing firm. As noted in the reporters notes, both dogs
finished the hour reaching out for more as strong as they had begun. This was truly an exciting brace.
Brace 4: The last brace before lunch broke away at 11:29 AM and featured pointer male Penrosa
Behrdevil owned and handled by Tim Penn and setter male French�s Wizard of Oz owned and handled
by Brian French. It didn�t take long for the action to start when at 6� French�s Ozzy was seen pointing on
the edge of a pine stand with Behrdevil. French audibly made it known that he thought the two dogs
were backing each other but elected to flush anyway proving his assumption more likely than not. After
admirably feathering the Dewey Bottom edges, Behrdevil was rode up on and found on point at 12� with
Ozzy yielding a back to the pointer. This known location of birds proved a difficult flushing location with
a large tree blow down in a thicket where birds were commonly taking refuge amongst the bramble and
the creek�s edge at the backside of Dewey Bottoms. After a bird was flown nearly from the water of the
creek, the dogs went on their way covering separate areas of the course when Ozzy was seen to be
standing on the left side of an edge of native grasses and winter wheat towards a lone cedar. Not many
of the dogs to this point had made this move and it was rewarded when French�s efforts rooted a cozy
sitting single out of the cedar bottom showing Ozzy�s unflinching stand and 12 o�clock tail as the bird left
out. At 36�, Ozzy would stand another single with necessary manners, this time within a heavy briar
patch across the course path from a popular feed strip of milo in a section where the course tightens
before the turn at the black barn. French would then find his handsome setter on point again at 42�, this
time in the location at the first creek crossing in the large fallen tree along the creek bank in a thicket.
French was left a decision to either flush or take his dog on. Knowing birds had been pointed here
before by his brace mate and others; the handler knew a laborious flushing attempt would be required
for any chance at raising birds with probability those birds had vacated the area at this juncture. French
entered the bramble electing to trust his dog and flush in the seemingly impenetrable cover but was not
able to make game even after a diligent relocation. Both dogs finished the hour.
Brace 5: After the much anticipated lunch break, one of Mike Fox�s red dog contingents in Foxy
Abralena would come to the line braced with Don Heisner�s second setter male to run, Beaucoup Creek
Gus. Quickly away, both dogs followed suite to the back of Dewey Bottoms after the trap field in quick
fashion where at 23�, Abralena was scouted on a stand behind the gallery in a known location of birds in
at the bottom of a cedar against a woodlot adjacent to a milo strip. After showing the bird to flight for
the judge and sending his dog on, Abralena would go on point again at 25�. An attempt to propel a bird
from the cover failed and Abralena would be moved on. At this point Heisner�s setter Gus was absent
for quite some time unable to be scouted and the handler elected to retrieve the tracking device at 45�.
Abralena continued in her bid ending her bird work with a find at 48� in the exact location where birds
were failed to be raised at 25�. Foxy Abralena would finish the hour.
Brace 6: With the sun stating to fade on a beautiful day�s running, the sixth pair of dogs in setter male
Emert�s Show Me Mo handled by David Emert and Tim Penn�s setter male Penrosa�s Hidncash came
due. A strong running start for both dogs into Dewey Bottoms commenced when at 10�, Mo was found
on point at the first creek crossing in the (at this point) infamous blow down that had been a safe haven
and stumbling block for the competitors. Flushing as diligently as possible, Emert took his dog on after
failing to show game. At 17�, Hidncash had went to work in the woods before the second creek crossing
nailing a single taking refuge in a timber stand where birds had not been seen up to this point. A bird
was raised for the well-groomed orange and white setter and through the creek on down the course he
went. Again about 150 yards separated, this time would be Mo�s turn to show his handler and judge a
bird at the top corner of a small rise in a feed strip at 14�. Both dogs would continue on the course
making the turn at the barn to go past the large pond into a tight chute with several feed strips. It is
here at 39� that Hidncash, backed by Mo, would score his second find in another popular cedar thicket
with all manners in order. The next location of game would culminate a good run for Penrosa�s
Hidncash in the form of a covey find while heading back toward the breakaway once again with Mo
backing. The covey easily lifted for Penn flying directly over the head of Emert�s Mo proving to tempting
for the setter to manage. Penrosa�s Hidncash would finish the hour with the remaining 15� to his own.
Brace 7: Dwindling sunlight of a gorgeous day made for picturesque scenery on the grounds as the last
brace of the day casted away. Jeremiah Sieber�s fancy pointer female Bullfrog�s Happy Patch would go
out with Mike Fox�s second red setter female entry in Foxy�s Lil Red Missy. Sent away, streaking through
the cover, Sieber�s pointer was noted by several of the gallery members to be a smart moving animal
requiring little handling. After the second creek crossing, both dogs were scouted and found with Missy
in front of Patch pointing directly towards the bottom of a cedar at the end of a rising feed strip. Fox
was charged with the flushing duties while Sieber patiently and confidently stood by his backing pointer.
Fox entered into the branches of the tree and shortly a single was seen exiting low out of the back into
the deeper cover. Both dogs handled their way through the majority of the course without striking
scent when a prolonged absence of Happy Patch prompted Sieber to take the retrieval unit ending
Happy Patch�s bid. Five minutes later, at the end of several alleys of milo strips, Missy established point
around the ever popular tree clumps or islands. Upon Fox putting the bird to wing, this particular bird
enacted an unfortunate breach of manners for the red setter female also ending her bid and the first
day�s running.
Second Day�s Running
Brace 8: Streaming rain and 40 mph winds through the night prolonged into the morning greeting the
eighth brace and the judges at starting line. Nevertheless, handlers, judges, and gallery members suited
up in their rain gear to watch the first brace of the second day�s running. The continuation resumed
with another one of Joe Hopkins�s first year shooting dog setter males No Leaf Clover with Gerry
Addision�s setter female Whisper Ridge Rosie. Away from the start, Rosie worked diligently with a
distinct and efficient pattern to the front of her handler while No Leaf Clover was seen hammering down
the right edge of Dewey Bottoms pressing towards the next field while Rosie worked the left side. At 10�
Rosie was scouted on point while the other dog and handler went forward to the next field. Addison
approached his dog raising a healthy cove from a dense feed patch however, the mixture of rain, high
winds, adrenaline, and feathers would cause Rosie to bobble her stand and have her run cut short. No
Leaf Clover left to his own, pressed on through the creek crossings running spirited until a brief
disappearance to the front resulted in finding the dog on point at the edge of a feed strip before the
large winter wheat field. Hopkins entered the strip flushing in a large area moving into the adjacent
wood�s edge in case the quarry had escaped on foot. When this effort proved unrewarding, the white
setter was sent on in an attempt to redeem himself. With two extended absences and no bird work, the
handler elected to cut the brace short at 40� knowing it would take more than what was shown to win.
Brace 9: Without prospect of the poor weather breaking before the ninth brace, a gallery still formed
braving the elements to watch two multiple champions and last year�s NBHA Amateur Shooting Dog of
the Year Craig�s Runnin� Roxie, pointer female handled by Craig Hiatt and All Out, setter male handled by
Joe Hopkins. Out of the gate, both dogs appeared oblivious to the conditions with All Out seen taking
the left edge of Dewey Bottoms after making a move through the wood edge. Upon making the first
creek crossing, All Out came back into focus when seen by the judges standing off the right of the course
at the edge of cover at 10�. Hopkins�s single step into the cover rose a pair of quail with his setter
standing politely awaiting release to the next cast. Across the second creek crossing ascending up a
small rise against a feed strip, Judge Kennedy indicated that All Out could be on game again at 16�.
Although the handler could not make eye contact with the standing dog, it was seen by the scout and
judge that another small bevy of birds blasted right up in the dog�s face (maybe even hitting him)
causing the dog to take a step too many ending the setter�s run prematurely. It was now the Roxie show
and at 18�, Hiatt arrived at his female on point at the edge of a native grass stand near the course path.
Hiatt initial flush and relocation efforts with Roxie could not provide proof of game but soon after being
released, Roxie would cross the course onto the left side and go on point at the edge of a gnarly briar
patch. Hiatt�s extended flushing attempt in this case was painstaking seeing the handler�s hat peeled off
while sustaining several cuts and scrapes from the bramble. However, Hiatt was eventually able to put a
single to wing doing all he could for his prized pointer. Roxie�s effortless movement carried her through
the rest of the course requiring little to no handling when coming to point at 40� at the end of a feed
strip. With her second find at hand, the duo moved along. Coming to the end of the course, Roxie
locked up again presenting Hiatt with a rather interesting decision to make. In the vicinity of his dogs
stand, no birds had been produced in all the braces up to this point, but upon interviewing Hiatt, he said
he felt he needed a homerun at the end in order to give his pointer a chance at a piece of the title. So
Hiatt elected to �swing for the fences� yet the homerun in the bottom of the ninth he had hoped for did
not produce resulting in an elective pick up at 58�.
Brace 10: The tenth release saw much improved weather conditions with clearing skies, sunshine, and
the ceasing of the oppressive precipitation and wind that plagued the two previous braces. Wiggins
Wicked Pleasure owned and handled by Danny Bardwell and first year shooting dog Vitali�s Grouseringer
Justify would head out together in the tenth. Wicked Pleasure wasted no time making game at the first
creek crossing in the brushy tangle with everything in order at 6�. Sent on by her handler, Wicked
Pleasure would soon catch the front for Bardwell when soon thereafter, Justify and Wicked Pleasure
would go onto point in unison displaying what the gallery believed to be a divided find just past the large
winter wheat field. Bardwell assessed the situation and omitted a flush allowing Vitali to flush for his
setter male. When the bird was to flight, it was clear that this close encounter coupled with the setter�s
competitive nature and greenness were too strong for the dog to stand and Justify�s run was ended
after giving chase. Wicked Pleasure and Bardwell continued on through the third creek crossing
entering a portion of the course where French�s Wizard of Oz had made game earlier in the trial.
Wicked Pleasure too would find game but her exertions would find her buried in a dense briar thicket on
the other side of the course making for another tough flushing attempt for her handler. Bardwell
entered the thicket trying to flush while staying afoot and after the first attempt did not produce, a
relocation was requested in which Bardwell�s pointer swiftly maneuvered deeper into the thicket where
a pod of protected quail were inadvertently pushed out also ending Wicked Pleasure�s bid at 26�.
Brace 11: The last brace of the Championship called for the last of three entries for Greg Isenberg, this
time with Greg�s Wild Ivy running as a bye dog who interestingly, is also the dam of this year�s runner-up
Champion, Tenacee Cooper. Ivy right away showed the field where her son Cooper gets her handling
abilities from, herself handling to the front with ease for Isenberg checking the likeliest of cover with the
course to herself. After making the second creek crossing, Ivy was scouted on point at 15� on the inside
edge of the feed strip next to the wood line where a single was flushed and the pointer exhibited all
necessary manners. After taking the wood edge after the third creek crossing, Ivy was found again to be
standing at 23� amongst several rows of cover strips. Isenberg as he had done many times over the
course of two days, worked to put any birds to flight. Taking his time in the initial flushing attempt, Ivy
was relocated with the giveaway of quail whistling in the distance confirming birds were somewhere.
This relocation effort however would cause Ivy to unnerve this elusive bunch of birds when she
accidentally put them in the air ending the trial.
The Winners
Gathered back at the barn at lunchtime, club president Joe Hopkins acknowledged and thanked all the
participants while presenting the judges with their gifts to big applause of the competitors� appreciation
of their attentive service. Then announcement was made that Three Kansans Takin� A Chance was
named champion and Tenacee Cooper named runner-up champion. Placements for the undercard of
the event featuring amateur derby and amateur puppy stakes followed.
Three Kansans Takin� A Chance is by Hall of Famer and 2008 National All-Age Champion Whippoorwill
Wild Agin. Three Kansans Takin� A Chance is owned and handled by John Markham of Manhattan,
Kansas and it is also important to note that this dog also within the span of two week previous was
named AFTCA Region 17 Walking Shooting Dog Champion and NBHA Western Regional Runner-Up
Champion.
The runner-up champion was sired by 2015 National All-Age Champion Miller�s Dialing In out of the
handler�s own (who also ran as the bye dog in the final brace of this championship) Greg�s Wild Ivy.
Tenacee Cooper is owned and handled by Greg Isenberg of Kingsport, Tennessee.
WINNERS in the AMATEUR DERBY
first place Whisper Ridge Gunner with Gerry Addison. Second place Vitali�s Grouseringer Pappy with Gary Vitali. Third place Foxy Lady Sadie with Mike Fox and grandsons.
WINNERS in the AMATEUR PUPPY First place Foxy Lady Sadie with Handler Grayson Fox. Second place Full Red Afterburn with handler Mike Fox and scout Weston Fox. And third place Pond River�s Southern Belle with Joshua Griggs.
