Result: West Kentucky Field Trial Club

Location: Kevil, Kentucky

Post Date: May 1, 2024

Submitted By: Mary Sue Schalk

Amateur All-Age (l-r): Dennis Sneed (judge), Delenise Sneed, Eryn Pearson (owner/handler) with Grin'n Bear It, Mike Crouse (scout), and Patrick Siebels (judge).

On the weekend of March 9-10, the West Kentucky Field Trial Club hosted its annual spring horseback field trial at the West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area in Kevil, Kentucky. Dennis Sneed from Benton, Illinois, filled the judicial saddle for the Amateur All-Age, Open Derby, and Open Shooting Dog stakes over two days. Due to a scheduling conflict, advertised judge Shane Duckworth was replaced by Patrick Siebles of Donalsonville, Georgia, Eryn Pearson of Princeville, Illinois, and Vincent Major of Providence, Kentucky. We appreciate all the judges' time in the saddle and the willingness of those available to fill in on short notice. All judges were attentive and gave competitors their full attention during each stake. Special thanks to Alan Benson, who drove the dog wagon for the weekend.

The Amateur All-Age stake, judged by Dennis Sneed and Patrick Siebels, kicked off the trial on Saturday morning, drawing six competitors. Grin'n Bear It, an English Setter male, bested the field by finishing his hour and showing his best manners for owner/handler Eryn Pearson. He ran the third hour, hunting earnestly and handling well.

The first brace of the stake paired Crouse's Pond River Gus, a Pointer male, with Crouse's Total Eclipse, a Pointer female. Gus was handled by Mary Sue Schalk, and Total Eclipse was handled by Mike Crouse. Total Eclipse was gone off the breakaway, while Gus made an earnest effort the first 40 minutes and even carded an unproductive at 25. Both trackers were called for before time was called the first hour.

The second brace again had the father/daughter team paired against one another, with Schalk handling Crouse's Woodrow F Call, a Pointer male, and Crouse handling Crouse's Tennessee Game Kate, a Pointer female. Both found their wheels early, with Call visible and forward the first 25 minutes. Kate had a huge cast off the breakaway and was seen forward again at the Iron Gate, but unfortunately, that was the last time. Both dogs were out of pocket, and the trackers were called for again.

The winner of the Amateur All-Age stake was paired with Crouse's Illinois Maverick, handled by Mike Crouse. As mentioned earlier, Grin'n Bear It stayed the course for Eryn Pearson, while Maverick had other ideas and was gone off the breakaway.

Dennis Sneed and Eryn Pearson judged the six pointers drawn for the Open Derby stake, which ran immediately after lunch. The first brace, PHP Rebel Intimidator, was handled by Patrick Siebels and is owned by PHP Kennels, with Crouse's Comeback Kid and owner/handler Mary Sue Schalk. The liver and white Pointer males were placed first and second, respectively. An enjoyable brace to watch, the two young dogs charged forward and hunted earnestly throughout their half hour. Rebel Intimidator handled well and finished strong to the front. Comeback Kid was strong and forward throughout, although not always as biddable as his bracemate, thus separating the two.
The second brace paired the Crouse/Schalk team against one another with two puppies. Schalk handled a black and white Pointer female, Crouse's Irish Trooper, with Crouse handling the orange and white Pointer male, Crouse's Buffalo Junction. Neither pup is quite a year old yet; however, the two were not shy in the horseback field trial event. Buffalo Junction had the bigger race, while Irish Trooper hunted diligently during her brace. These two pups have some potential for sure!
The third brace produced the third-place dog in World Class Migraine, owned by Michael Marietta and handled by Patrick Siebels. The lemon and white Pointer male was braced with liver and white Pointer male, Crouse's Illinois Maverick handled by owner Mike Crouse. Illinois Maverick had a strong ground race, disappearing to the front off the breakaway and, unfortunately, did not show again until 20 minutes into the brace, thus eliminating him from contention. World Class Migraine hunted earnestly during his half-hour, making some honest casts to the front for Siebels. The effort was a respectable third-place performance.

The Open Shooting stake drew 16 dogs and was able to begin the stake on Saturday. Dennis Sneed and Vincent Major took the judicial saddles for the event. (Unfortunately, this reporter had to return home due to a family illness during the event and can only report the results). Emerging as the winner of the field was again Grin'n Bear It for owner/handler Eryn Pearson; second place was earned by Panther Creek Moonshine, owned by Frank Rutland and handled by Patrick Siebels, and rounding out the field was Crouse's Pond River Gus, owned and handled by Mike Crouse.

This event wrapped up the season for the Ohio Valley Field Trial Circuit. The Circuit wishes to thank the West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area and Tim Krehr, area manager, for all their hard work in developing the area and allowing us to utilize it for horseback field trials. We also would like to extend our gratitude to all the participants and volunteers throughout the season. We certainly could not have any events without everyone's help.
The Ohio Valley Field Trial Circuit will host its annual meeting and awards presentation on June 1 at Crouse Kennel in Dixon, Kentucky, at 10 a.m. (CST). The West Kentucky Field Trial Club will follow the OVFTC meeting. If you plan to attend either event, please RSVP to Mary Sue Schalk at (270) 625-0196.

Kevil, Ky., March 9
Judges: Patrick Siebels and Dennis Sneed
AMATEUR ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 5 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-GRIN'N BEAR IT, 1673739, setter male, by Skydancer Flash Drive-Skydancer Penzey Spur. Eryn & Colleen Pearson, owners; Eryn Pearson, handler.

Open Derby (l-r): Dennis Sneed (judge), Delenise Sneed, PHP Rebel Intimidator with Patrick Siebels (handler), Crouse's Comeback Kid with Mike Crouse (scout), and World Class Migraine with Jordan Phillips (scout).

Judges: Eryn Pearson and Dennis Sneed
OPEN DERBY - 6 Pointers
1st-PHP REBEL INTIMIDATOR, 1705135, male, by Raymond's Double Rebel Tex-Raymond's Annie. PHP Kennels, owner; Patrick Siebels, handler.
2d-CROUSE'S COMEBACK KID, 1701214, male, by Crouse's Heart of Dixon-Crouse's Skiptomylu. M. D. Crouse & Mary Sue Schalk, owners; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.
3d-WORLD CLASS MIGRAINE, 1705992, male, by Dunn's Tried'n True-Yale's Sunny Hill Dot. Michael Marietta, owner; Patrick Siebels, handler.

Judges: Vincent Major and Dennis Sneed
OPEN SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 14 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-GRIN'N BEAR IT, 1673739, setter male, by Skydancer Flash Drive-Skydancer Penzey Spur. Eryn & Colleen Pearson, owners; Eryn Pearson, handler.
2d-PANTHER CREEK MOONSHINE, 1697108, pointer male, by Miller's Speed Dial-World Class Makin Bank. Frank Rutland, owner; Patrick Siebels, handler.
3d-CROUSE'S POND RIVER GUS, 1680453, pointer male, by Lester's Sunny Hill Jo-Crouse's Pine Landy. M. D. Course & Mary Sue Schalk, owners; M. D. Crouse, handler.

Open Shooting Dog (l-r): Dennis Sneed (judge), Grin'n Bear It with Eryn Pearson (owner/handler) and Mike Crouse (scout), Panther Creek Moonshine with Jordan Phillips (scout) and Patrick Siebels (handler), Crouse's Pond River Gus with Cora Clary (scout), and Vincent Major (judge).