Result: Masters Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Albany, Georgia

Post Date: May 1, 2024

Submitted By: Steve Standley

Masters Open Shooting Dog Championship (front, l-r): Waybetter Rebel with Mike and Casey Tracy and Muriel and Bill Primm and Panther Creek Rosie with Jessie Graffam and Tommy Rice III, joined by Kevin Beane, Tommy Davis, Marty Adams, Tim Moore, Shon Powell, Steve Wiley, Buster Cobb, Steve Hutto, Jason Williams (judge), Ray Pearce, Tommy Rice Jr., Steve Standley (reporter), Justin Hunt, Greg Shepherd (judge), Ronnie Beane, and a curious spectator.

The 41st renewal of the Masters Open Shooting Dog Championship began on March 1. It is hosted by the Southern Field Trial Club across some of South Georgia's finest private wild quail hunting estates. Joe Davenport of Wildfair Plantation, The Mellon Family of Pineland Plantation, and Ted Turner of Nonami Plantation graciously allow this prestigious Championship to be contested on their property. Competing on these grounds offers a true test of a field trial bird dog. The wild bird population here is almost unimaginable for those who have not seen it firsthand.

First and foremost, the plantation owners are thanked. The managers, Kevin Beane of Wildfair, Aubrey Iler of Pineland, and Ray Pearce of Nonami, are like the grounds; they exemplify class. Our marshals were invaluable: on Wildfair, Kevin Beane, Ronnie Beane, and Robbie McCue; on Pineland, Marcus Cornwell, and Ed Chance; and on Nonami, Ray Pearce, and Cody McLean.
Jason Williams of Blakely, Georgia, and Greg Shepherd of Leesburg, Georgia, judged the championship. Both men have competed on the circuit, are excellent dog and horse trainers, and are journeyman land managers. The Club and participants appreciate their time and expertise.

Southern Field Trial Club members Shon Powell, Tim Moore, Steve Wiley, Kevin Beane, and Ray Pearce rode every day. These men represent the quality of this Championship, and their integrity reflects the best of the sport. The field trial community extends its thanks for the years of dedication to this special event.

The Club also enjoys the support of Flint Ag and Turf, Albany, Georgia, for the John Deere tractor to pull the dog wagon, as well as other contributions. Nestl Purina and their representative, Greg Blair, have a large footprint in our sport, and their support is always valued.
Grace's Place and Catering of Leesburg, Georgia, provided hot, homemade lunches each day. Hannah Sholar Marchbanks and her husband Winn prepared and served these delicious meals each day. They also handled the club fish fry (mullet and catfish) on Friday evening. This was well attended and enjoyed.
Fifty-three dogs entered, and 53 came to the line for their opportunity to add this valued crown to their resume.

The Winners
The Championship performance occurred in the 13th brace, which began on Sunday morning.

It was foggy, 60 degrees, and overcast. We started at 8:17 a.m., and Chelsae's Mae West (Kinkelaar) was under her birds at 2 and put on the rope. This left the stage for Waybetter Rebel (Mike Tracy) to perform alone--Bill and Muriel Primm own Rebel with their friend Allen Linder. The Primms were mounted in the field. Muriel later advised that she and Bill had Rebel in their home as a small puppy. Rebel scored at 7 with classic style. At 20, Rebel was off a farm road with a beautiful find in the cover. A large, strung-out covey was put to wing by Tracy. At 40, we rode around the south end of Wolf Pond. Mike rode deep to maintain contact with his dog. From this work, Rebel produced an excellent connection again. Shortly after this, Rebel showed well, offered extended casts through the Adams Block, and again had an attractive contact at range. The black and white pointer male remained staunch for the work. We rode up another bevy on our way to him. We saw Rebel on a forward cast at 45, and his efforts were rewarded with another excellent stand. Next, at 54, on a pine line next to a weedy strip along a fallow field, the black pointer was discovered once Mike topped the hill. The birds were well located and well handled by the Primm/Linder pointer. Rebel appeared fresh and classy and finished his six-find hour ahead in good form.

This was the Masters Championship performance the Tracy team has pursued for several years and was well-earned.

The runner-up championship laurels went to Panther Creek Rosie (Tommy Rice III) for owner Frank Rutland. Miller's Extreme Heat (Tracy) and Panther Creek Rosie began the third hour brace on Wildfair. Owner Joe McCarl was in the saddle to see Heat swing along the firebreak at the Colquitt Ford edge. She established a picturesque stand there facing into the cover. She was well-composed and stylish for the work.
Rosie pointed at 19. She seemed to glow in the setting. Her find was to the front and good. At 33, as the course turns left, Rice called point. She was posed some 125 yards up an incline with complete composure as Tommy went to her and put the birds to wing. She is long-framed, and her build reminds you of a male dog. She travels in a merry fashion, her tail cracking with each stride. When you see her afield, the word that comes to mind is classy.
At 36, Tracy called point for Heat, and this was a good connection. Shortly after, Rosie stood near a farm road, and Rice flushed a single bird for her. We continued, and Heat stood in some hardwood bramble as Mike completed the work. Mike was unable to finish his dog in this brace.
By this point, Rosie's effort had been great, but she worried us as she was absent in the waning minutes. Thankfully, within time, she came in to complete her exciting brace.

The Running
The Championship began on Sunday, March 1, with a foggy, 60-degree morning. The first brace featured Great River Yellowstone (Tracy Swearingen) and Erin's Big Casino (Mike Tracy.) It was overcast and threatening rain, and the action came quickly. Yellowstone had a find at 30 seconds, followed by a find with Big Casino at the end of the breakaway field. Then, at 5, Casino stood as Yellowstone backed; this appeared to be a stop to flush. At 25, the Swearingen pointer was shown on a deep cast as Big Casino came in to check with Mike to be watered. We had seen many birds at this point on Wildfair near Wolf Pond. At the half-hour, Yellowstone stood on point on the right fore near the pond. Swearingen rode to him and successfully handled an attractive find. Casino stood in the general area but elected to move on. Yellowstone again produced game for the gun at 38 with all in order. Mike Tracy called point off to the left of the course, to no avail. The brace ended at Colquitt Ford Road without any further action.

At 9:20, we were on Pineland as Calico's Sky's the Limit (Tracy) and Thunder Bolt's Storm (Kinkelaar) broke away. Ed Chance marshaled the handlers and gallery through the country. Mike Tracy came in at 15 for his retrieval device. Storm had some contact with birds shortly after this. Displeased with the behavior, Kinkelaar withdrew his entry.

Real Thing Ann Dorst (Tommy Rice Jr.) and C S Snapdragon (Steve Hurdle) made up the third brace. The pair of pointers had a divided find at 11 as we hunted parallel to Colquitt Ford Road. At 25, both dogs were found deep ahead for what appeared to be a divided find. Ann Dorst suffered an unproductive at 30. Snapdragon suffered the same shortly after. Conditions appeared to be most favorable, but the morning dogs could not seem to capitalize on it. At 34, Hurdle did have a good find, and birds continued to flush from the area as we rode by. Point was called for Snapdragon at 37, the birds lifting as we approached the stand. Ann Dorst was in the area, and Rice Jr. picked her up after the action. Hurdle's entry has game contact moments after her last stand with good manners on display. At 44, we topped a hill, and Snapdragon stood with attractive style some 150 yards ahead. Hurdle rode to his dog at a flat walk to complete the work. In the last quarter, this dog started to show her heels and went on to lose contact with Hurdle. She was not found within the grace period.

On Nonami, after lunch, we had Hale's Smooth Touch (Kinkelaar) and Miller's Lock and Loaded (Tracy). Kinkelaar had a find at 2 and repeated quickly, both at short range. The Nonami birds continued to move, and the Hale entry scored again at 8.
The Primms were riding for their Lock and Loaded entry and enjoyed seeing the pointer deep to the front. Point was called some 150 yards ahead. Kinkelaar took the find as Tracy accepted the back. The action came quickly on this wild bird haven as Touch produced game at 17, with Loaded answering back with his birds at 18. All work was clean.
Tracy called point ahead and had to be relocated. During this, Kinkelaar called point some 200 yards ahead. This later work was productive.
By 21, both dogs had separate successful connections. There was no shortage of quail on Nonami as both dogs stood at the half. Both handlers relocated, and as Tracy reached for his collar, a bird flushed in front of Touch.
Tracy withdrew his entry at 36. Shawn called point past the Blue Springs headquarters, the dog some 200 yards distant. This was a good find. Hale's Smooth Touch hunted deep ahead and had to be ridden for at pickup.

It was 3:05 when last year's champion, Nonami's Johnny Come Lately (Pearce), was released for brace No. 5 paired with Lester's Another Shockwave (Kinkelaar). It all started quickly as John had a good find out front with all in order. Kinkelaar then called point about 200 yards to the right fore. This work was solid as well. John "showed out" at 5 with another piece of nice birdwork about 250 yards out front.
We passed the lime sink heading parallel to Blue Springs Road and toward the road crossing. At 10, Ray had a real field trial find with John all picturesque.
Across the dirt road, we continued toward Cody McLean's house as the dogs hunted the fallow fields onward. The handlers were looking off to the left, and John appeared, plying his trade in attractive form. He stopped and stood high as Ray rode toward him. John changed his mind and moved on. The dog moved up and had the birds well-located as Ray calmly stepped from his horse and completed the find. John was released, and he went between two fallow fields and pointed again at 17 with yet another piece of work on a strong covey. At 21, Kinkelaar came in for his retrieval device in front of Cody's house. We went to the north end of Ag Fields, and John offered a brilliant drive hundreds of yards ahead. This strong ground application did not require any extensive handling. In fact, it did not appear to require any handling as Ray stayed in a calm flat walk and let John show freely. This was impressive to see. At 45, as we bent in a leftward sweeping arc, Ray rode back to confer with the judges. He rode some 450 yards to the edge of the ag field and called point. This was a showy find, but the judge said the work was not as crisp as one would desire. We continued. John stood again at 56 amid some young long-leaf pines and was good for the gun. The Nonami color bearer finished on a strong forward cast.

Pinewood's Blue By U (Shon Powell) and Miller's Heat Seeker (Tracy) made up the sixth brace. At 8, Tracy called point on the left fore in a good spot, and Powell called point on the right fore. This writer could see both dogs being worked. Shon got his birds up and took his dog on. Tracy shot for his dog and joined us as we approached the breeding grounds at 12. Shon's dog had a good find at this point.
At 15, both scouts called point deep to the right. We took the long canter over to witness clean work for a divided find. By 27, we crossed the service road, and Shon called point. Once on the ground, we saw a covey fly ahead in the distance. Undeterred, Powell moved in front of his dog, put a single bird up, and fired. The long-framed liver pointer had a clean find at 29 for Powell. Tracy was on the ground for some ill-defined work after this. Blue By U had a good connection at 45. Seeker did offer a good find toward the front at 52 near an oak bottom. Both dogs finished their hour.

It was 53 degrees as the seventh brace began on Wildfair. Wyndcreek Business Party (Tony Reynolds) began our morning. Party suffered a barren stand at 9, and Reynold withdrew her at 12. Kinkelaar had Upfront's Southern Star on the rope by the quarter hour.

It was 9:25 as Miller's Heat Wave (Tracy) and Erin's Primetime (Swearingen) were released in the eighth brace. It appeared to be a perfect morning to find birds as we passed the below Wolf Pond, but it was not to be. Both dogs were withdrawn by 15.
The runner-up champion appeared in brace nine and was covered under the "Winners" section.

The 10th brace began at 2 p.m. as we broke away on Nonami with Thunder's Wild Agin (Kinkelaar) and Pine Straw Hot Chocolate (Tracy.) There was a gallery of 40 horseback and about 15 people on the dog wagon. Wild had a find right at breakaway with all in order. This was repeated at 14 with the same composure and style. During this, Tracy's entry scored as the action continued. Mike then called point at 20 on the right in the direction of the Blue Springs headquarters. At the same time, scout Tommy Rice called point for Kinkelaar's dog on the edge of the dirt road. Judge Shepherd reported this resulted in a good find. Shawn took his dog on and had another find with all in order. Wild Agin had a stop to flush on a single bird from that covey. It took the dog about 10 minutes to get back to the front, but no fault to the dog. At this point in the brace, we had seen a lot of birds, but we had not seen much ground application. At 27, Wild Agin had stopped down the line, still near the dirt road, but nothing of consequence transpired. Tracy's setter went on to have an unproductive. At 37, point was called for both competitors as they stood some 75 yards apart. Mike flushed birds for his dog, and Shawn did as well for what looked like a spread-out covey. At 43, Shawn's dog made a nice long cast on the way to Sam's church, following the line between the dirt road and the cover. Both dogs got a little sticky in their efforts to show to the front. At 48, Tracy's entry suffered a second empty stand and was up. Agin was gone some 10 minutes, and Shawn rode to the right to collect his charge. Once out front at 58, Shawn called point, and the work was good. Agin was picked up at the big lime sink when time was called.

Miller's Packing Heat (Marty Adams) and setter Due Respect (Kinkelaar) made up the 11th brace. Carol Stephens, of Blue Springs, owns Packing Heat and was mounted to see her entry. Due Respect's co-owner, Jim Tande, was sidelined with an injury. Jim and his wife Kathleen were in the road gallery. Wendell Hines, manager of nearby Pinebloom Plantation, is also an owner of Due Respect. At 15 seconds, Due Respect pointed and handled birds just inside the tree line of the old irrigation field. Packing Heat honored this work. Upon release, Respect went ahead and stopped; Shawn rode up, dismounted, and took his dog on. Evidently, a covey had flown from this spot during the initial find at breakaway. Miller's Packing Heat suffered an infraction and was up. Without a bracemate, Due Respect seemed to lose his focus. He was fluid in his gait and attractive moving, but not applying himself. The setter became extremely hot and was harnessed at 23.

The last brace of the day featured CS Sugar Knoll Paydirt (Hurdle) and Silver W Jil Z (Kinkelaar.) Jill Z's owner, Dr. Debbie Ozner, was mounted to see her charge. George Hickox joined her. At 2, scout Tommy Rice III called point for Jill Z. She stood some 250 yards ahead, and the Ozner color bearer had a good find with all in order. Jill next pointed at 5 in an area the other handler had ridden through, but no game was produced even after being relocated. Jill Z later experienced a second barren stand and was out.
This writer apologizes to Steve Hurdle and the owners of CS Sugar Knoll Paydirt. Due to technical issues, my notes on this performance were lost, and there is no information about it.
The 13th brace featured the championship performance and was described earlier.

It was 9:30 as Big Man On Campus (Kinkelaar) and Reynolds Party Starter (Reynolds) began on Pineland. Joe and Shirley Varner from Union Springs, Alabama, were with us in support of Reynolds and Steve Hurdle. The action began quickly as Judge Williams called point for Big Man. Kinkelaar saw the birds flush ahead of his dog and dismounted to fire his gun. Immediately after this, Reynolds was on the ground for Party Starter. This fell apart quickly, and the brace ended at 9.

Back on Wildfair at 9:50, we had Upfront McQuade (Kinkelaar) and Bully Rock (Tracy.) At the quarter hour, Mike called point ahead in some young pines. A single flew and was called out by Judge Shepherd. Mike shot his gun, and we continued. We were behind about 150 yards, and birds flushed on our way. At the Adams hand pump, birds, again, were up. This stand was at 19. It was near the half before Rock regained the front. At this point, Shawn was on the ground for a good find for McQuade. There were several bird contacts as we continued, but little was accomplished. Kinkelaar picked up at 37. Rock became short, and Tracy reached for the rope.

Brace 16 featured Sioux Bull Run (L. J. Lundstrom) and Miller's Automatic Upgrade (Tracy.) Upgrade was gone, and Tracy came in for his tracker at 15. Lundstrom made a wise choice for his dog's safety amid elevated temperatures and pulled the plug.

We continued on Nonami with Miller's High Heat Index (Tracy) and Tee's Crazy Train (Swearingen.) The latter enjoyed a large entourage in support of Crazy Train. Point was called for Train at 17 as he stood in rough gridded cover. Train was soon on the ground by himself, and several strong casts in the heat ensued. Swearingen withdrew his entry early to protect the dog.

Grand Prairie Thrill (Rice III) was released with setters Erin's Three Leaf Shamrock (Swearingen) in the last brace of the day. We were on Nonami, and Ray Pearce's daughter, Kelly, was riding with her young son Pearce in the saddle. Rice harnessed Thrill at 25, and Shamrock was soon to follow to make an abbreviated afternoon.

It was 75 degrees and overcast as we released Mo's Curtain Call (Tracy) and Dominator's Queen Bee (Jamie Daniels) onto Wildfair. Both dogs started brightly with Curtain Call the more rangy. Queen Bee was classy and moved well. Curtain Call ("Jill") handled a good find off the side of the Big Jolly at 11 with all in order. Jill's pattern became erratic, and Tracy rode back to see if he could reestablish contact. Jamie was on the ground at 15 to flush for Bee, and it was good. At 30, we continued alongside Wolf Pond. Jill was running hard but not always forward. At 39, Bee was on the left side of the course and produced a beautiful stand about 200 yards off the course, past Wolf Pond, with all good.

Judge Shepherd held up to see if Mike could get his dog to the fore. At 40, Jamie had an excellent field trial find with Queen. She stood staunchly in a mowed swath as Jamie put an enormous covey to wing. Some five minutes later, Jill handled a bevy with style. Birds were plentiful as Bee produced again at 50. She repeated this work just before the Colquitt Ford Road crossing. She finished across the road. Jamie reported that he shot six times for Queen Bee.

On Pineland, we had Faithful (Tracy), who stood for birds at 3, and C S Code Blue (Hurdle.) At 8, Tracy shot his gun, not observed by this writer, as we passed the rain gauge. Next, Mike experienced a barren stand. At 18, Blue was stacked up high and tight ahead in a great spot. This was a clean, stylish find. He made a strong cast near the dove field at the half and went on to show us some heels. At 33, past Squirrel Corner, Hurdle requested his retrieval device. Tracy also called it early.

Back on Wildfair, it was Late Hit (Tom Shenker) and Nighthawk's Rebel (Swearingen) for brace 21. Little was accomplished in this brace, and we broke for lunch.

Jolene Jolene (Tracy) and Cold Creek Thrill Tuff (Rice III) were off at 2 p.m. onto Nonami with temperatures in the mid-70s. Jolene stood for the gun at 10. By 22, it was 75 degrees, and both handlers elected to end early.
Jennifer Broome of Canterbury, Connecticut, joined us for the afternoon braces. She is a retriever trainer who trains in Georgia during the winter.

Real Thing Dolly (Rice Jr.) and Miller's Strolling For Gold (Tracy) made up the 23rd brace. At 11, Dolly stood with a poker-straight tail and remained staunch as a single was put to wing. About 10 minutes later, Dolly pinned another Nonami covey--the Rice entry produced in an extremely attractive form near the lime sink along Blue Springs Road. Dolly went on to make numerous strong and showy casts amid high heat and completed her hour with heart and commitment.

Tallokas New Business (Jason Loper) suffered an unproductive early, and we continued with Real Thing Cuz (Rice Jr.). Ray Brown of Blakely, Georgia, co-owns Real Thing Cuz with Tommy Rice Jr., and he was mounted in the field to enjoy his dog's performance on Nonami. Cuz had a good find at 25 past the golf course. New Business had his second empty stand across the service road near the horse barn and was on the rope. Cuz produced in good form just past the half and repeated with another bevy in the shady woods. Cuz fought valiantly in the heat and finished his brace without further contact.

The last day of the championship was a damp, dreary morning with significant rain on the way. Cheap Thrill (Rice III) and Triple Nickel Carbon Copy (Tracy) were off on Wildfair. Thrill had an unproductive at 7.
After returning to the front, Judge Shepherd advised that Tracy had harnessed his dog, and Thrill had a second barren stand to end the brace early.

There was a strong drizzling rain as Pine Straw Half N Half (Lee Phillips) and Hauser's Rollin Thunder (Tracy) were released for the next to last brace. Both dogs were showing their heels to the fore. The Pine Straw setter offered several attractive casts and stood high at the quarter hour. When nothing was raised, Tracy called back to say that his dog had knocked a bird when he went through the area. Mike withdrew Thunder, and Phillips took his dog on. But the setter soon shortened his pattern, and Lee withdrew him.

It was 9 a.m. as Bittersweet War Cry (Tracy) and Dogwood Bill (Ben Stringer) were released near Wolf Pond. Stringer called point deep ahead, at range, for his white pointer. This would have been a great field trial find if only birds could have been shown. In our attempt to regain the front after this stand, Bill stopped amid some pines. He looked like he had hit the birds hard, a bit low in the front end, but this was empty.
The brace finished without any other action, concluding the trial.

Albany, Ga., March 1
Judges: Greg Shepherd and Jason Williams
MASTERS OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 49 Pointers and 5 Setters
Winner-WAYBETTER REBEL, 1689139, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Calico's Country Strong. Bill & Muriel Primm & Allen Linder, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.
Runner-Up-PANTHER CREEK ROSIE, 1691574, pointer female, by Panther Creek Merlin-Pineywood's Belle Aire. Frank Rutland, owner; Tommy Rice III, handler.

Judges Jason Williams and Greg Shepherd.