Result: Rolling Fork Bird Dog Club Trial

Location: Berea, Kentucky

Post Date: Mar 21, 2024

Submitted By: Magda Lear and Kenny DeLong

The January Rolling Fork Bird Dog Club trial was run again on the grounds of the Central Kentucky Wildlife Management Area in Berea, Kentucky. This year brought quite a large entry, mostly thanks to two professional handlers. Therefore, horseback stakes were run on Friday, walking stakes on Saturday, and finishing on Sunday.

The weather forecast was changing day to day for ten days prior to the trial, with rain being the major player. Still nicer than the deep freeze plaguing Kentucky for a couple of weeks in mid-January. Horseback stakes ended up with the nicest weather: cloudy with some afternoon sun, temperature rising to mid-50s. Saturday got cooler, with upper 40s to low 50s in the afternoon with a kaleidoscope of clouds, light rain, and some afternoon breaking of clouds. Sunday was the hardest, especially on judges in a saddle: the temperature was in the upper 30s and reached just a little above 40 in the early afternoon, the wind reaching 20 miles per hour, easing up a little as the day went on, cold light rain most the day.

The judges' panel had to be changed due to a bad fall of one of the judges prior to the trial. Therefore, the judges looking at the competitors were Daryl Thomas, who gave his time to the whole trial; Kenny DeLong, who judged horseback stakes; Justin Crook, overseeing amateur stakes; Adam Thomas, who contributed to picking Open Derby winners; and Magda Lear, Open Shooting Dog winners.

We began a crisp Friday morning with the Horseback Open All-Age stake. As is often the case first thing in the morning, birdwork was at a premium. This group of dogs lived up to the all-age standard, all running forward and large but either going birdless or being just a bit too full of oats on their finds. Well-known pro Justin Crook handled his pointer male Two Seamer to an impressive forward race and a staunch, quality find at 12 to take the blue ribbon. Another pointer male on Justin Crook's string, Griff's Express, impressed the judges with a big forward race and was called back to show on birds, pointing stylishly and garnering second place. Ronnie Rogers' fine setter male, Shepherd's Choice, had a big race and bird contact on course, but judges elected to call the dog back, where he pointed nicely and watched the bird fly--good for third place.

Fourteen longtails went to the line to compete in the Open Shooting Dog event. Judges observed several fine performances, but in the end, setter handler Joe Hopkins was the man of the afternoon. His male, No Leaf Clover, ran in the last brace and put down a strong forward race with crisp pieces of birdwork at 11 and 16, having started with a very impressive honor five minutes in. Judges were in agreement, moving him to the top of the heap and awarding the blue ribbon. Joe book-ended his win, guiding his other setter male, Seven of Diamonds, to the yellow ribbon, with a very strong race and a divided find at 4. Seven was a handful and needed every bit of his five minutes after time was called back to be reeled in. Sandwiched between the two was Justin Crook's exciting pointer female, Fast Money. She was forward and slightly more moderate, with impressive finds at 7 and 25. She suffered a nonproductive at 12 and a difficult relocation at 19 that finally resulted in a pointed bird at 22--a well-deserved second place.

The Open Shooting Dog Horseback stake was concluded late afternoon Friday.

The Amateur Shooting Dog Walking stake was first Saturday morning. The solid entry of 14 dogs of nine handlers brought a promise of an exciting day of competition. Certainly, most of the dogs showed their outstanding work; unfortunately, some mishaps kept a few out of the winning circle.
First place was awarded to seasoned Brittany male K Del's Eagle Magnum Hotshot ("Shooter") under the guidance of his owner, Kenny DeLong.
Shooter ran strong and forward, hitting the lines on either side for his entire half hour. At 17, he was found standing at the top of the hill on the edge of the pines with what turned out to be a divided find and the bird walking out in front of him while he stood firm. Three minutes later, he swapped in on the edge of a food strip. And after a couple of relocations, Kenny was able to put a bird to wing with all in order. Turned loose, Shooter charged forward and was out of sight for three or four minutes when scout Boatright called point--the dog was found standing intensely at the edge of another food strip.
The handler flushed, and the bird left, flying one foot over Shooter's head, who watched it fly across the field. At time, Shooter was far forward, going away in the field on the other side of the parking lot.
Second place was earned by pointer male Faith's Maximum Justice, another of Kenny DeLong's fine competitors. Justice was turned loose and charged forward and was found standing on the far-right tree line at the bottom of the hill in the first field. After a couple of relocations, the judge was able to spot the running bird, and the shot was fired. At 20, Justice was found standing where birds had been in earlier braces, and after several relocations, the handler reluctantly elected to take a non-productive. Turned loose, Justice charged forward and disappeared. Justice was not in sight when time was called. The handler walked forward, and the scout went to the right. After four minutes, point was called by the handler, and the judges rode up to see him flush Bob in front of the staunch pointer.
The third-place setter, Czeshka Sharp Shark (Magda Lear), started his run, taking turns with his bracemate setter, Jim, going busy through tree lines. His bracemate had a breach of manners early on, and Shark had the grounds to himself. Shark had a nice find, standing with a high head and tail, in a food strip at 17. Due to a bird reluctant to fly, the handler moved the dog closer to pinpoint the bird, and then the bird was flushed with the dog showing good manners. Shark kept hunting well with no other bird contact and, compared to seasoned winners, had a closer range.

The Amateur Puppy, Amateur Derby, and Open Derby were run on Saturday afternoon. Since the scribes did not witness all the winners in these stakes, there is no description of the winners' work.

The Open Shooting Dog stake drew 17 competitors and ran on Sunday. Due to harsh weather, only 14 dogs started. The winning colors went to setter male Sycamore Creek Cody, who ran under Zach Erne's guidance. This beautifully looking setter had four well-spaced finds on which he showed really nice manners, and to add to that, he also hunted over the grounds with a big range but well under the handler's hand. Second place went to Zach Erne's Gordon setter male M V R Earl's Black Diamond ("Lucky"). This older setter, coming from AKC horseback circles, showed his big run with one stylish find on which he had to stand for a while for the judge to see the running bird. Third place was earned by Terry Boatright's setter female Boatright's Texas Tornado, handled by James Kleve. This busy girl had six finds, with nice style and great manners, but due to being busy with birds compared to the first two placements lacked in range.

In conclusion, we must thank the judges again for their time and keen and just eyes, giving their attention to each competitor. No less thanks to Justin Crook and Ronnie Rogers for bringing their horses to be used by the judges, Joe Hopkins, Terry Boatright, and Adam Thomas for most of the scouting, Brian Stockrahm for bringing his ATV to be used as a dog wagon, Tammi Savage, Samantha Holloway, and Dylan Lear for delivering the lunches, and of course thanks to all handlers for showing their furry contenders.

Berea, Ky., January 26 - One Course
Judges: Kenric J. DeLong and Daryl Thomas
ABHA OPEN ALL-AGE - 2 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-TWO SEAMMER, 1688946, pointer male, by Rock Acre Shortstop-Frozen Desert Blizzard. Colby Tackett, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
2d-GRIFF'S EXPRESS, 1690730, pointer male, by L V's Western Express-L V's Silver Lining. Mike Griffin, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
3d-SHEPHERD'S CHOICE, 1681675, setter male, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Katyln's Jan. William Rogers, owner and handler.

Judges: Magda Lear and Daryl Thomas
ABHA OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 8 Pointers, 8 Setters and 1 Gordon Setter
1st-SYCAMORE CREEK CODY, 1691483, setter male, by Cactus Jet J R-Wynona's Cody Sue. Bob Kelly, owner; Zach Erne, handler.
2d-M V R EARL'S BLACK DIAMOND, 1662827, Gordon Setter male, by Milomix Earl-Clearcut Crack That Whip. Sandy Wollschlager, owner; Zach Erne, handler.
3d-BOATRIGHT'S TEXAS TORNADO, 1690003, setter female, by T's Nickleback-Wynona's Islander Marigold. Terry W. Boatright, owner; James C. Kleve, handler.

Judges: Adam Thomas and Daryl Thomas
ABHA OPEN DERBY - 3 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-BOATRIGHTS IRON EAGLE, 1700325, setter male, by Woodville's Yukon Cornelius-Outcast Starbreeze. Terry W. Boatright, owner; James C. Kleve, handler.
2d-OUTCAST SIREN SONG, 1703063, setter female, by Outcast Jericho Hilltopper-Outcast Clear Vision. John Clough, owner; James C. Kleve, handler.

Judges: Justin Crook and Daryl Thomas
ABHA AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 4 Pointers, 9 Setters and 1 Brittany
1st-K DEL'S EAGLE MAGNUM HOTSHOT, 1685770, Brittany male, by Magnum High Velocity-K Del's Eagle's Chance To Soar. Kenric J. DeLong, owner and handler.
2d-FAITH'S MAXIMUM JUSTICE, 1660276, pointer male, by Nelson's Van Max-Wild Apple Faith. Kenric J. DeLong, owner and handler.
3d-CZESHKA SHARP SHARK, 1694587, setter male, by Jaguar Za Czeshka-Skyview Jet Stream. Magda Lear, owner and handler.

ABHA AMATEUR DERBY - 6 Setters
1st-BOATRIGHTS IRON EAGLE, 1700325, male, by Woodville's Yukon Cornelius-Outcast Starbreeze. Terry W. Boatright, owner; James C. Kleve, handler.
2d-BOATRIGHT'S AUDUBON OUTCAST, 1705038, female, by Audubon Americus-Circle B Burning Stardust. Terry W. Boatright, owner and handler.
3d-BOATRIGHTS MORNING STAR, 1700324, female, by Woodville's Yukon Cornelius-Outcast Starbreeze. Terry W. Boatright, owner and handler.

ABHA AMATEUR PUPPY - 7 Entries
1st-BOATRIGHT'S AUDUBON OUTCAST, 1705038, setter female, by Audubon Americus-Circle B Burning Stardust. Terry W. Boatright, owner and handler.
2d-BOATRIGHT'S TOMAHAWK, 1706415, setter male, by Outcast Houston's Vision-Outcast Starburst. Terry W. Boatright, owner and handler.
3d-KATE'S ELHEW HALO, 1706678, pointer female, by Iowa Elhew Rusty-Miss Elhew Gypsy. James M. Edwards, Sr., owner and handler.

Judges: Kenric J. DeLong and Daryl Thomas
ABHA OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 14 Entries
1st-NO LEAF CLOVER, 1682457, setter male, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Diamond's Blue Girl. Joseph & Brittany Hopkins, owners; Joseph Hopkins, handler.
2d-FAST MONEY, 1681232, pointer female, by Stash The Cash-Lester's Speed Queen. C. W. & Patty Moore, owners; Justin Crook, handler.
3d-SEVEN OF DIAMONDS, 1682461, setter male, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Diamond's Blue Girl. Joseph & Brittany Hopkins, owners; Joseph Hopkins, handler.