Result: ABHA Central Region Championship

Location: Berea, Kentucky

Post Date: Nov 6, 2023

Submitted By: Ronnie Rogers

ABHA Central Regional Championship Winners (l-r): Barry Stumbo (judge), Ronnie Rogers (judge), Gary Vitali, Tony Bingham with Hirollins Gone and Doneit, J. D. Waters, Daphne Rogers, Mike Fox, Cliff Monroe with The Treasure Chest, Scott Luther, Justin Crook, and Brian Stockrahm.

The ABHA Central Region Championship and companion stakes kicked off at the Central Kentucky WMA near Berea, Kentucky, on October 5. First to the line were the horseback all-age dogs. Besting the field was Joe and Brittany Hopkins' male setter, Seven of Diamonds, handled by Joe. Capturing second and third place was Ed Stevens with his female pointers, Rattle Snake's China Doll and R S Shiney Penney, respectively.

Next up were the horseback derbies. Emerging to the top of the pack was C. W. and Patty Moore's female pointer, Pretty In Pink, under the whistle of Justin Crook. Justin also garnered second place honors with female pointer Prince's Rebel Queen for owner John Prince. Rounding out the placements was female setter Shepherd's Blackfoot Jane, owned and handled by Ronnie Rogers.

By the time the horseback shooting dogs came to the line, temps had crept up near 80, and combined with already dry course conditions, bird work was put at a premium. Nevertheless, Justin Crook's pointers fresh off summer camp in Nebraska showed grit, capturing all three placements in this 12-dog stake.

Fortunately for the championship contenders, Thursday night brought much-needed rain to the area. In addition to the rain, temps were much more manageable Friday through Sunday. Forty-three champion title hopefuls came to the line over the next three days with handlers from as far away as Florida. We were fortunate to have professional trainers Justin Crook, Tony Bingham, and Sam Ridings enter their strings; we appreciate their support.

Long-time field trialer and Kentucky Field Trial Association fixture Barry Stumbo of Versailles, Kentucky, came out and judged for us. ABHA president and trial chair Ronnie Rogers stepped up to judge after losing a judge the morning of the championship due to a family emergency. Ronnie was fresh off five days of judging the National Open Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship in Ohio. We appreciate both our judges' dedication to this trial and the sport as a whole.

The clear winner was a liver and white male pointer, The Treasure Chest, owned and handled by Cliff Monroe of Mooresboro, North Carolina. "Chess" laid down a strong performance boasting six finds during his hour bid, handling well for Cliff running a deliberate forward race adapting well to the changing course. Chess placed second on these grounds two weeks prior in the Plain Fields Bird Dog Club's 20-entry open shooting dog stake. As a second-year shooting dog, we hope to see great things from this dog in years to come.

Runner-up honors were not so easily decided. Ronnie Rogers said in 40 years of judging, it was one the most difficult decisions he's made. The two dogs in consideration were Irish setter female Foxy Lady Sadie (Fox) and pointer male Hirollins Gone and Doneit (Bingham). Sadie ran the final day of the championship, finishing her hour with five finds and a stop to flush. Likewise, "Gunner" had five finds running at the end of the day Saturday. In the end, it came down to a slightly more concise ground effort that gave the nod to the pointer. Gunner is owned by Warren Parrot of Scranton, South Carolina, and was handled by Tony Bingham. Gunner has had an illustrious career, this making for his 10th title.

Other performances of note to the judges were Lincoln County Jack (Bingham), Hirollins B K Bulletproof (Bingham), Good Reason Farkleberry (Elvin), and Tenacee Franklin (Isenberg).

Due to limited time, the walking derbies were run on a separate course simultaneously with the championship. Daphne Rogers and Scott Luther were assigned to the task of judging. Emerging to the top of the pack was Justin Crooks's female pointer, Sugar. James Kleve of Outcast Kennels earned second and third place with well-built setters owned by Terry Boatright. Setter male Boatrights Iron Eagle earned second, and setter female Boatrights Morning Star captured third. You can always count on Terry and James to turn loose some high-class young dogs.

Walking puppies saw Daphne Rogers and Scott Luther returning to the saddle. First place was Prince's Rebel Queen, handled by Justin Crook. In second was Boatright's Audubon Outcast, owned and handled by Terry Boatright. In third was Pretty In Pink, handled by Justin Crook.

With any event like this, there are always more people to thank than I will ever remember. First and foremost, I would like to thank Ronnie and Daphne Rogers, and the rest of the Tennessee Valley field trial crew. Daphne, with help from Donna Boatright and Dee Stevens, provided meals for all participants on all four days of the trials. SportDOG and Valu-Pak have been constant supporters of the ABHA, and we are privileged to have their support.

Berea, Ky., October 5 - One Course
Judges: William R. (Ronnie) Rogers and Barry Stumbo
ABHA CENTRAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 28 Pointers, 13 Setters, and 2 Irish Setters
Winner-THE TREASURE CHEST, 1692516, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Legacy's Pride-Mohawk Mill Dolly. Cliff Monroe, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-HIROLLINS GONE AND DONEIT, 1679825, pointer male, by Fastforward's B K Gunner-Littlewing B K Tia. Warren Parrott, owner; Tony Bingham, handler.

Judges: Scott Luther and Daphne Rogers
ABHA OPEN DERBY - 3 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-SWEETNESS, pointer female, by John Gaines, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
2d-BOATRIGHTS IRON EAGLE, 1700325, setter male, by Woodville's Yukon Cornelius-Outcast Starbreeze. Terry W. Boatright, owner; James Klencoe, handler.
3d-BOATRIGHTS MORNING STAR, 1700324, setter female, by Woodville's Yukon Cornelius-Outcast Starbreeze. Terry W. Boatright, owner; James Klencoe, handler.

ABHA OPEN PUPPY - 6 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-PRINCE'S REBEL QUEEN, unreg., pointer female, breeding not given. John Prince, owner and handler.
2d-BOATRIGHT'S AUDUBON OUTCAST, 1705038, setter female, by Audubon Americus-Circle B Burning Stardust. Terry W. Boatright, owner and handler.
3d-PRETTY IN PINK, 1706296, pointer female, by Arapahoe Player-Rockin H Rose. C. W. Moore, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
Judges: Terry Boatright and Adam Thomas
ABHA OPEN ALL-AGE - 4 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-SEVEN OF DIAMONDS, 1682461, setter male, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Diamond's Blue Girl. Joseph & Brittany Hopkins, owners; Joseph Hopkins, handler.
2d-RATTLE SNAKE'S CHINA DOLL, 1691706, pointer female, by Hackberry's Ice Patch-Hackberry's Oakley Ice. Rattle Snake Creek Kennel, owner; Ed Stevens, handler.
3d-R S SHINEY PENNEY, 1694807, pointer female, by Valiant-Reed's Winter Spirit. Ed & Dee Stevens & Rattle Snake Creek Kennel; Ed Stevens, handler.

Judges: Daphne Rogers and Adam Thomas
ABHA OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 10 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-CHELSEA'S THUNDERSTRUCK, 1697295, pointer male, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt-Double Wild. Brad Sadler, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
2d-TWO SEAMER, 1688946, pointer male, by Rock Acre Shortstop-Frozen Desert Blizzard. Colby Tackett, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
3d-UNFINISHED BUSINESS, 1665852, pointer male, by Unabridged-Momo's Rock Solid. John D. Gaines, owner; Justin Crook, handler.

Judges: Terry Boatright and Adam Thomas
ABHA OPEN DERBY - 5 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-PRETTY IN PINK, 1706296, pointer female, by Arapahoe Player-Rockin H Rose. C. W. Moore, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
2d-PRINCE'S REBEL QUEEN, unreg., pointer female, breeding not given. John Prince, owner and handler.
3d-SHEPHERD'S BLACKFOOT JANE, 1701280, setter female, by Daphne's Gage-Katyln's Jan. Willliam R. Rogers, owner and handler.