Result: Region 5 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Cutler, Illinois

Post Date: Apr 4, 2024

Submitted By: Brad Hargis

Region 5 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship (l-r). Brad Hargis, Rob Warner, Jeremiah Seiber, Mike Duvall, Susie Duvall with Ch. Thumper's Anything But, Jim Lawless, Judge Jon Lam, Judge Keith Lowry, Don Heisner with R/U Ch. Beaucoup Creek Buck, Holly Hatfield, Steve Fuess, Kerri Elfin, Mike Fox, Craig Hiatt.

The Mid-South Bird Hunters once again hosted the Region 5 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship February 24th on the Captain's Unit at Pyramid State Park. We had a nice cool sunny day for the drawn 16 dogs to make their bid at winning this championship. Thumper's Anything But, pointer female owned by Mike and Suanne DuVall and handled by Mike was named the 2024 Region 5 Amateur Walking Shooting Dog champion. Earning runner-up champion was Beaucoup Creek Buck, setter male owned and handled by Mr. Don Heisner. Both of these fine dogs are no strangers to the winners' circle.

Thumper's Anything But, Rylee, was turn loose in the 4th brace of the day with running mate Skyhawk's Little Rascal, Hawk, setter male owned and handle my Rob "Rock n Roll" Warner. Hawk and the champion had a divided find at 20 minutes with everything in order. Rylee would go on to have two more finds with Hawk backing both times. Rylee's nice forward race, always showing to the front would be the difference that separated her from the rest of the field.

The runner-up Beaucoup Creek Buck ran in the 3rd brace along with Craig Hiatt's past champion Craig's Runin Roxie, Roxie had a find early but the tracker was requested at 50 minutes. Buck ran forward at all times and hunted the country liked he owned it. He had an unproductive at 28 minutes and a find at 50 along the edge of a bean field with everything in order. Mike DuVall's female Stellar's Natural Disaster and Jerimiah Seiber's female Bullfrog's Happy Patch each ran a nice race and finished strong with 3 and 2 finds but just not enough to knock off the two top dogs.

This was a busy weekend for regional walking championships with Region 4 and Region 17 also competing at the same time. Region 5 would like to thank all the participants coming not only from IL but also IN, KY, MO, WI and as far away as FL. Thank you Holly Hatfield for supporting not only the Region 5 but also the Region 4 earlier that same day. Thank you, Kerri Elfvin, for driving all night from Florida.

Big thank you to our judges Keith Lowry and Jon Lamb, they gave every dog their undivided attention and answered any and all questions from the handlers. I want to personally thank.
Mr. Dan Crunk for not only providing the dog wagon and bird planting 4-wheeler but for also running his young female pointer and driving the dog wagon throughout the day. Thanks to Kay Morrison, Region 5 Secretary, for handling the paperwork and making sure we had nice hot meals.

Purina was once again a generous sponsor providing dog food to the winners and gifts for the judges along with a few prizes for our other handlers. Thank you for all you do to keep our sport going.

Cutler, Ill., February 23
Judges: Jon Lam and Keith Lowry
REGION 5 AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 10 Pointers, 4 Setters and 2 Irish Setters
Winner-THUMPER'S ANYTHING BUT, 1658927, pointer female, by Royal Rocks Mr. Thumper-Brown's Starhawk. Mike & Suanne Duvall, owners; Mike Duvall, handler.
Runner-Up-BEAUCOUP CREEK BUCK, 1666952, setter male, by Shadow Oak Bo-Beaucoup Creek Ellie. Donald R. Heister, owner and handler.