Result: Texas Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Conway, Arkansas

Post Date: Dec 28, 2023

Submitted By: John Van Horn Jr.

Texas Open Shooting Dog Championship Winners (l-r): Harold Woodard, Shawn Kinkelaar, Dr. Jim Mills, Jeremy Gulick with Upfront's Southern Star, Robby Robinson, Allen Vincent, Matt Cochran with Wynona's Nickleback Sugar, John Van Horn, Jim Martin (judge), and Marty Moore (judge).

The Texas Open Shooting Dog Championship has found a home in Conway, Arkansas. Dog fees are collected by the local sportsmen and used to enhance the grounds. Having quality field trials helps make that possible. This year, we released 4,600 quail in mid-September, filled and serviced 100 fee sites, installed waterers during the drought, and mowed travel lanes through heavy cover. All this effort significantly improved the area from last year. Our future plans with AG&F approval are adding back food plots.

This is the first major trial of the season for the area. We averaged moving 10 coveys per day, not single coveys. Covey size was 15-30 birds each. Birds were distributed evenly through all courses, morning and afternoon. Every course provided handlers an opportunity to show their dog on game. That's the first time we could say that in a long time.

The Texas drew 48 entries, of which there were 42 pointers and six setters. Seven professional handlers and one amateur competed. Upfront's Southern Star, a pointer female handled by Shawn Kinkelaar and owned by Lance Schulz, ran in the ninth brace on the third course in the morning. She was turned loose with her bracemate at the Oak Tree, heading west towards the Nursery Pond. Her first find came at the 30-minute mark along the lake edge, a huge covey with manners in order. She left there with a renewed purpose, digging in the country looking for quail. Her next find came at 40, between the Nursery Pond Road and Darnell's crossing--another perfectly located covey with impeccable manners for the flush and shot. Roo laid down a performance that would not be topped and would be named champion, her 10th.

Wynona's Nickleback Sugar, a setter female handled by Allen Linder and owned by Bruce Sooter, captured runner-up honors. Sugar ran in the 17th brace, starting on top of the mountain heading east. Her first piece of work was a covey find on the side of the hill just west of Dead Horse Curve. She left there at a brisk pace, hunting and showing to the front. Between Dead Horse Curve and the next gravel road, Harold Woodard had a horse wreck. Fortunately, Harold will be fine, but I had to depart the gallery to take his horse in while Harold rode the dog wagon to the clubhouse. I rejoined the field trial at the 50-minute mark to watch the finish. The setter was still hitting the ground hard, hunting every jump. At the 45-minute mark, Sugar had her second find. The judges felt Roo bested Sugar's ground effort.

The judges made certain that I mentioned Touch's Steely Dan, a pointer male handled by Virgil Moore and owned by John Van Horn, and Thunder Bolt's Storm, a pointer female handled by Shawn Kinkelaar. Both dogs had two finds each and strong ground efforts. The judges deliberated for some time on runner-up before picking out Sugar.

Conway, Ark., November 14
Judges: Jim Martin and Marty Moore
TEXAS OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 42 Pointers and 6 Setters
Winner-UPFRONT'S SOUTHERN STAR, 1662579, pointer female, by Ransom-Double Wild. Lance Schulz, owner; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.
Runner-Up-WYNONA'S NICKLEBACK SUGAR, 1690017, setter female, by T's Nickleback-Carpenter's Don't Ya. Bruce Sooter, owner; Allen Vincent, handler.

Ed Beverly Memorial Derby
The Derby drew 14 pointers and two setters handled by five professional handlers. Blackhawk Lucky Charm, handled by Allen Vincent and owned by Dr. Jim Mills, Dr. Natalie McDonald, and Steve Lightle, won first place. Jet had a strong ground effort and one clean find at the 20-minute mark. Shaws Money Mabel, handled by Matt Cochran and owned by Gary Shaw, was second. The setter female had a scorching ground effort, was fast, snappy, and hunted the right places. Rayne Dot, handled by Eddie Taylor and owned by Rick Thone, was third. Dot's stylish, snappy ground effort demonstrated she will be a force to contend with in the future.
A special thanks to our judges, Jim Martin and Marty Moore. Both men rode hard and gave fair and impartial judgment to all participants. Having two outstanding, experienced individuals took all the work out of the trial and made it a pleasure for all to participate. A special thanks to Purina for their great product and support. Sandy Van Horn had hot lunches ready when we hit the clubhouse. This was not a diet field trial. Ronnie Miller made coffee for the dog wagon every morning and was there to fill any task needed. Rick Thone was flagging traffic and helping as needed with Yell County wisdom by the campfire. Roger Martin drove the dog wagon and was always on time and in the right place.

ED BEVERLY MEMORIAL DERBY - 14 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-BLACKHAWK LUCKY CHARM, 1703965, pointer female, by Blackhawk Jet-Hard Rock Archer City. Jim Mills, Steve Lightle & Natalie McDonald, owners; Allen Vincent, handler.
2d-SHAWS MONEY MABEL, 1701750, setter female, by Shamrock's Hidden Cash-Shamrock's Hidden Bristol. Gary Shaw, owner; Matt Cochran, handler.
3d-RAYNE DOT, 1703624, pointer female, by Como Thunder-Como Sis. Rick Thone, owner; Eddie Taylor, handler.

Ed Beverly Memorial Derby Winners (l-r): John Van Horn, Marty Moore (judge), Sandy Van Horn, Dr. Jim Mills, Allen Vincent with Blackhawk Lucky Charm, Robby Robinson, Matt Cochran with Shaws Money Mabel, Eddie Taylor, Rayne Thone with Rayne Dot, and Jim Martin (judge).