Result: Region 4 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Kevil, Kentucky

Post Date: Mar 27, 2024

Submitted By: Mary Sue Schalk

Region 4 Amateur Shooting Dog Winners (l-r): Joe Hopkins (owner/handler), Seven of Diamonds with Mike Crouse (scout), Terry Boatright (judge), Jim Pendergest (judge), Crouse's Heart of Dixon with scout Mary Sue Schalk, and Alan Benson (dog wagon driver).

The Region 4 AFTCA Amateur Shooting Dog Championship drew a fair field of 20 dogs after a postponement due to weather in January. Terry Boatright of Richmond, Kentucky, judged with Region 4 President Jim Pendergest of Lexington, Kentucky. Both are active field trialers and contributors to the sport. Boatright competes primarily in walking trials and owns several canine athletes who have earned Dog of the Year and championship titles. Pendergest, traveling all over the country with his strong all-age string, can boast similar accolades, including being the owner/handler of two-time Purina Amateur All-Age Dog of the Year, Pointer female, Dialed In. We appreciate them taking time over the weekend to critique and evaluate the field.

The Champion and Runner-up
The champion, Seven of Diamonds, and runner-up champion, Crouse's Heart of Dixon, ran the 4th and 1st hour, respectively. Both dogs carded two finds and strong forward ground races. Joe and Brittany Hopkins of London, Kentucky, own "Pete" and celebrated his first horseback championship with this win. Joe handled the almost white tri-color-headed English Setter male, and Mike Crouse scouted him. Crouse's Heart of Dixon, a strong black and white Pointer male, also celebrated his first championship title with the runner-up placement. "Hearty" is owned and handled by Mike Crouse of Dixon, Kentucky. He was scouted by Mary Sue Schalk and Joe Hopkins--a true sportsman and much-appreciated gentleman--when Schalk's horse went lame.

The Running
Hotrod Ricky Joe, an Irish Setter male, was paired with black and white Pointer male, Crouse's Heart of Dixon, in the first brace. Ricky Joe is owned and handled by Tim Hammons of Berea, Kentucky. The runner-up champion, owned and handled by Mike Crouse of Dixon, Kentucky, set the bar high for the field. The two started the hour with a divided find at 7 minutes along the big bottom's edge, with Crouse's scout, daughter Mary Sue Schalk, calling point. Both handlers shot and moved forward. Crouse's Heart of Dixon had his second find prior to the handicapped lake at 32 minutes. Hotrod Ricky Joe had his second find at 37 minutes. Both dogs continued strong on the ground. At 59, Crouse's Heart of Dixon stood, and Hotrod Ricky Joe failed to back. Crouse elected not to flush, and the hour concluded.

The second hour, Amy Spencer turned loose Pointer male, Cocklebur Breaking Bad, with Adam Delude and Pointer female, R R's Bluegrass Unbridled. Both dogs exhibited style and class on the ground; however, their bids ended early. R R's Bluegrass Unbridled failed to back at Breaking Bad's first find at 8 minutes and was up. Spencer was unable to flush any birds and chose to move on. Breaking Bad styled up again at 25 minutes; again, no birds were raised, and he was harnessed.
Spencer returned in the third brace with Cocklebur Ranger Danger, a Pointer male, this time paired with Joe Hopkins and English Setter male No Leaf Clover. Again, this hour proved to be short, as Ranger Danger was not suiting his handler and was up at 32. No Leaf Clover made some strong forward casts and was last seen to the front at 30 minutes. His handler called for the tracker at 47 minutes.

After a break for lunch, Hopkins was again at the helm with Seven of Diamonds, an English Setter male and littermate to No Leaf Clover. His bracemate was a Pointer male, High Drive Bandit, handled by Amber Ashburn. Seven of Diamonds found his wheels early and pushed to the front. Bandit was flashy and hunted close throughout the hour. High Drive Bandit struck first for a find at 20 minutes; although earnest flushing efforts were made, no birds were raised. He finished his hour. Seven of Diamonds had a find at 23, then again at 49, both in order and with class. His solid pieces of birdwork and strong ground race put him on top of the field and earned him the title of champion at the end of the trial.

In the 5th hour, Bryant's Give It A Rip, a young English Setter male, was turned loose with Silver Creek Wild Again, an Irish Setter male. Owner/handler Kenton Bryant was the helm for Rip, with Tim Hammons running Wild Again. Both young males gave good effort, and Rip had a pair of turkey finds. No shots were fired, and both dogs finished their hour.

The final hour on Saturday, Pointer female Crouse's Total Eclipse and owner/handler Mike Crouse hit the field with Buddy Morrison and Pointer female Miller's Upgrading The Ante. Both athletes were short to start; however, Total Eclipse found her wheels later in the hour. She reached for the front at the hairpin turn at the 45-minute mark and was found pointed at the end of the hour. All in order for Crouse's Total Eclipse when Crouse flushed a known wild covey behind the manager's house. Upgrading The Ante hunted diligently and was biddable for her handler, and she finished her hour.

Sunday morning, Crouse returned to the handler's saddle with Pointer male, Crouse's Pond River Gus. Alliwood's Eleventh Hour, a flashy Pointer female, was his bracemate owned and handled by Adam DeLude. Gus was gone off the breakaway for Crouse. Eleventh Hour finished her hour birdless.

In the 8th brace, DeLude ran littermate to Eleventh Hour, Alliwood's Never Say Never, another flashy Pointer female. Tim Hammons returned to run the veteran Little More Shine, a decorated Irish Setter female. Never Say Never had somewhat of an erratic race but connected with her handler later in the hour. She had a beautiful find at 35 and finished her hour to the front. Little More Shine was strong on the ground and seen little by the judicial team. She had a stop to flush at 40 minutes; however, was gone at pick up.
Dr. Marion Brown ran English Setter male Cochise B with Buddy Morrison and pointer male Miller's Three Digit Heat. Cochise B hunted diligently and was well connected with his handler but went birdless for the hour. Three Digit Heat was hot off the breakaway, and the tracker was called for at 15.

To conclude the Championship, Amber Ashburn handled Pointer female Miller's Flowers and Lace with Mike Crouse and Pointer female Crouse's Tennessee Game Kate. Ashburn is a rookie to the game and proved to be a strong contender, exhibiting a strong relationship with her dog. Flowers and Lace was biddable, and had a nice find at 54 before finishing her hour. Tennessee Game Kate ran a strong, forward ground race. She was a little too strong, and the tracker was called for at pickup.

Many thanks to Alan Benson, who drove the dog wagon, and Purina, especially Terry Trzcinski, who made the trip to our Championship with gifts for all. We appreciate Mike Crouse and Mary Sue Schalk for marshaling during the weekend. Again, thanks to all participants, and best of luck as the season continues!

Kevil, Ky., February 10
Judges: Terry Boatright and Jim Pendergest
REGION 4 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 13 Pointers, 4 Setters and 3 Irish Setters
Winner-SEVEN OF DIAMONDS, 1682461, setter male, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Diamond's Blue Girl. Joseph & Brittany Hopkins, owners; Joseph Hopkins, handler.
Runner-Up-CROUSE'S HEART OF DIXON, 1685395, pointer male, by Crouse's Kentucky Wind-Crouse's Dark Angel. M. D. Crouse, owner and handler.