Result: United States Shooting Dog Invitational Championship

Location: Conway, Arkansas

Post Date: Apr 4, 2024

Submitted By: Joyce Taylor

United States Shooting Dog Invitational Champion: Dr. Jim Mills (judge), Matt Cochran (judge), Absolute Dominator, with Doug Ray (handler), Kayleigh Ann Lee (scout), and Joyce and Johnny Taylor (owners).

The 36th "proud annual running" of the United States Shooting Dog Invitational Championship was held February 19-21 at the Camp Robinson Wildlife Management Area near Conway, Arkansas. This premier event was established to honor the top 12 shooting dogs in the nation, perhaps in the world, and pit them against each other in a three-day competitive format. Each dog runs for 60 minutes on the first two days of the Invitational, and then finalists, chosen at the discretion of the judges, come back for a rigorous third-day 90-minute stand-off. This is a true endurance trial, the absolute proven best-against-the-best, determined by the Purina Top Shooting Dog Awards points system from the previous season. All luck is removed when contestants compete three days in a row, are drawn out in the afternoon if in the morning the day before, on a different course, and with a different bracemate each time at the line. It's the trial to qualify for and certainly to win!

After years of running the trial, founder John Seawright, then of Little Rock, Arkansas, handed the leadership reins over to Robby Robinson of Dardanelle, Arkansas. Robinson later moved trial management to Joyce and Johnny Taylor of Little Rock. The Taylors, along with important help from local Arkansas field trialers' and friends' essential support and assistance, have run the Invitational Championship for 28 years. This ultimate championship test and generous sponsor and benefactor support make the Invitational Championship a true inspirational win!

The 2024 Invitational Championship Winner
Earning the coveted 2024 Invitational Championship title this year went to Absolute Dominator, handled by Doug Ray of Waynesboro, Georgia, scouted by Kayleigh Ann Lee of Greensboro, Alabama, and owned by Johnny and Joyce Taylor. Though the Taylors have hosted the Invitational Championship for the last 28 years, this is their first time having a dog qualified to compete. Joyce and Johnny have run in amateur stakes for years, qualifying for the Amateur Shooting Dog Invitational Championship twice. But they have wisely handed training and handling duties over to Doug Ray in recent years.

Doug found "Rex" for Johnny as a started youngster and cut a deal for Rex and littermate Hard Truth, "Sy," for Dr. Bob Canada with owner and breeder Jamie Daniels. Doug recognized the potential of the young, started dogs, and made the magic work with many payoffs for his owners. He has been responsible for Rex's training since that early age, taking his dogs north each summer for essential training, plus the invaluable education of his and his father's Smith Plantation in Waynesboro, Georgia. Rex has additionally benefited greatly from advanced instruction from Doug's legendary Hall-of-Famer father, Harold Ray. He had all the makings of a winner, and Johnny and Doug could see the progress Rex was exhibiting as he moved through his derby season and set a goal of winning the celebrated Shooting Dog Derby Futurity. Low-and-behold, that goal was achieved, and with that accomplishment came the Purina Top Shooting Dog Derby Award, earning the bucket-list realization of Green Jacket ownership for Johnny, Joyce, and Doug.

Rex's Invitational performance was exactly what the judges were looking for--a big, powerful three-day, consistent forward race acknowledging the handler's direction, impeccable covey location, and faultless style and manners. Rex and Doug delivered it all, with one covey each of his three days.

The VIPS - Judges, Owners, Sponsors
The judges for the Invitational Championship were well-known field trial individuals Jim Mills, DVM, accompanied by wife Marion of Searcy, Arkansas, and professional all-age trainer Matt Cochran of Rayden, Oklahoma. Both were making return visits to the Invitational, Mills from the 2017 judicial saddle and Cochran from 2023, when he competed with his own qualified contestant. We were most grateful for their kind and able willingness to arbitrate the 2024 Championship.

The Invitational begins the Friday night before the running with a welcoming reception and dinner, followed by a program of introductions of handlers and owners, and each of the dogs' wins warranting their invitation to compete, a Calcutta and the trial drawing for order of running.

We are always honored and delighted to have owners present for the trial. And what better trial to attend than when you have a top performing dog invited, only two-and-a-half days in length, and you get to see your dog compete two and maybe three consecutive days. We likely wouldn't have field trials, or not as we know them, if we did not have owners who campaign and support the sport of field trialing. To all the wonderful and generous owners who have the passion and appreciation of the well-trained, thrilling, hard-driving bird dog and are willing to help support the handlers and their string of dogs to keep this exciting sport possible, we salute you! Owners traveling to be with us this year were Lance Schultz, with wife Marcie of Bismarck, North Dakota; Dr. Tom Jackson of Columbus, with friend Tiffany and son Gavin; Jerry Moisson and wife Kristen of Milton, Wisconsin; Joyce and Johnny Taylor; Todd Mann and fianc Fran, of Minnesota; and Doug Swingley and friend Nicole of Montana. Also attending were Dr. Jeffery and Melanie Hale and his beautiful daughters, Lydia and Diana of Russellville, Arkansas; Dr. Debbie Ozner and George Hickox of Ochlocknee, Georgia; and Bart Hicklin of Grimes, Illinois, with Luke Topp and son Zeke.

As with owners, sponsors are crucial for field trialing to endure and certainly at a standard the top shooting dogs, owners, and handlers in the nation deserve. Kind and generous sponsors make the Invitational Championship what it is. Purina is a generous event sponsor and event hat sponsor. They sponsor the beautiful and treasured Ross Young painting that goes to the winning owner and provide dog food to the winning handler. Additionally, Purina provides each handler with one bag per entry of Purina Dog Food and one bag per entry of Purina Healthy Edge Horse Feed. Garmin provides an Advanced Training System with Tracking to the handler; Tri-Tronics also provides a Pro Combo Electronic Training Collar. A beautiful commemorative Montana Silversmiths belt buckle is sponsored by Dr. Debbie Ozner and George Hickox and goes to the winning owner. Leather Brothers provide trophy leather collars with nametags for each entry to the handlers and multiple prizes that are distributed throughout the evening programs. Circle Y also generously provides prizes for handlers and owners, as does Collar Clinic and Jack Haggis Saddlery. World Class Bird Dogs generously sponsors the bar all three evenings. Melanie and Dr. Jeff Hale sponsored the Friday evening dinner. Carol and Witt Stephens sponsored the Saturday evening meal, and Sunday night's steak dinner was kindly sponsored by Marcie and Lance Schulz, owners of the 2023 Invitational champion, Upfront's Southern Star.

The $8,000 purse is made possible by Invitational benefactors Lee Cruise, Charlie and Linda Jackson, Randy and Lynn Potter, Ron Prewitt, Jack, Audrey and Brian Sanchez, and Johnny and Joyce Taylor. Our most sincere gratitude goes out to each of the Invitational sponsors.

Participating dogs with wins, owners, and handlers for the 2024 Invitational Championship

1.) Upfront's Southern Star ("Roo" / W & lv / PF)
Returning champion
Lance Schulz, Owner
Shawn Kinkelaar, Handler
Wr, Fleetwood Open Shooting Dog Championship
Wr, International Endurance Open Shooting Dog Championship
R-U, Arkansas Open Shooting Dog Championship
Wr, Mississippi Open Shooting Dog Championship
Wr, U. S. Shooting Dog Invitational Open Shooting Dog Championship
R-U, Midwest Open Shooting Dog Championship

2.) Chelsea's Mae West ("Mae" / W & o / PF)
Ron Prewitt, Owner
Shawn Kinkelaar, Handler
Wr, Ozark Open Shooting Dog Championship
R-U, Mississippi Open Shooting Dog Championship
R-U, Sunflower Open Shooting Dog Championship

3.) Wind Ridge Sugar Plum ("Sugar" / W & o / PF)
Eugene J. Spiotta, Owner
Eddy Taylor, Handler (accompanied by grandson Eli Taylor)
Wr, Arkansas Open Shooting Dog Championship
Wr, Ozark Open Shooting Dog Championship
R-U, Tennessee Open Shooting Dog Championship
R-U, Egyptian Open Shooting Dog Championship

4.) Absolute Dominator ("Rex" / W & o / PM)
Johnny & Joyce Taylor, Owner
Doug Ray, Handler
Wr, Southeastern Open Shooting Dog Championship
Wr, New England Open Shooting Dog Championship

5.) Lester's Another Shockwave ("Luke" / W & o / PM)
Dr. Tom Jackson, Jerry Moisson, Lance Schulz, Bjorn Peterson, and Todd Mann, Owners
Shawn Kinkelaar, Handler
2nd, Lone Star Open Shooting Dog Classic
Wr, Tennessee Open Shooting Dog Championship

6.) Thunder's Wild Agin ("Boots" / W & l / PF)
Owner: Doug Swingley, Owner
Shawn Kinkelaar, Handler
1st, Lone Star Open Shooting Dog Classic

7.) Hale's High Flyer ("Betty" / W & l / PF)
Dr. Jeffery Hale, Owner
Eddy Taylor, Handler
Wr, Jayhawk Open Shooting Dog Championship
R-U, Indiana Open Shooting Dog Championship

8.) Silver W Jill Z ("Jill" / W & o / PF)
Dr. Debbie Ozner, Owner
Shawn Kinkelaar, Handler
R-U, International Endurance Open Shooting Dog Championship
Wr, Sunflower Open Shooting Dog Championship

9.) Game Sport ("Dan" / W & o / PM)
Bart Hicklin, Owner
Harold Gearhart, Handler
Wr, Oklahoma Open Shooting Dog Championship
Oklahoma OSD CL -
R-U, Egyptian Open Shooting Dog Championship

10.) Erin's Three Leaf Shamrock ("Jake" / W, b & t / SM)
Tucker Johnson, Owner
Tracy Swearingen, Handler
R-U, Masters Open Shooting Dog Championship

11.) Touch's Big Whiskey ("Big" / W & o / PM)
Chuck Stretz, Handler
Dr. Richard Steckley & Chuck Stretz, Owners
Wr, Missouri Open Shooting Dog Championship

12.) Thunder Bolt's Storm ("Storm" / W & o / PM)
Shawn Kinkelaar, Handler
Dr. Tom Jackson, Owner
Wr, Midwest Open Shooting Dog Championship

The Championship Running
Day 1, Saturday Morning
After the customary group photo of dogs, handlers, owners, and judges, we rode for the Saturday morning breakaway on a beautiful, cool field trial day! The sun was glorious, and the temperature was a nice 31 degrees. A cold front had blown in the night before with high concerning winds and upgraded temperatures from warm to perfect bird dog weather. So, a bundled-up, jovial, 27-rider gallery gathered at the line for the first day with all handlers and several owners present. Hoodies were pulled tight over heads and ears, and caps were pulled low to shield the sunshine. The brisk cold burned away to the mid-30s as we rode into the morning.

The first brace was turned loose. Erin's Three Leaf Shamrock (T. Swearingen), the only setter of the 12 dogs, and Upfront's Southern Star (S. Kinkelaar) put on a thrilling race with three covey finds. Southern Star had a UP at 6, then her first find at 12 minutes before the steel covert crossing in the big field on the right. She had her second good find at 15, just past the covert crossing in the field to the left. She put down a good race and was gone the last 10 minutes. Shamrock pointed at 23 in the big horseshoe before the mountain crossing with birds being ridden up by scout 75 yards out. He checked back with his handler some throughout his race and exhibited great manners on his find.

Absolute Dominator (D. Ray) had one find at 36 past Dead Horse Curve in the swampy woods on the left with perfect manners. The dog had no problem on the soft ground, but Judge Mills's horse went to his knees, struggling to return to the gallery path. No casualty there, but our field marshal's horse bogged down so that he threw Jim Martin into the mud as the horse fought to free himself. No one was hurt, just good and muddy and perhaps a small bit humbled. Dominator finished strong to the front hunting. Thunder Bolt's Storm (S. Kinkelaar) gave a good effort but could show the judges no birds. He had a short absence just before Dead Horse Curve but caught the front as Dominator was released from his find. He, too, finished to the front.

Lester's Another Shockwave (S. Kinkelaar) put on a strong ground race, but he, too, could not show birds. Hale's High Flyer (E. Taylor) went to work, also with a nice race and nice finds at 3 and 58.

Saturday Afternoon
Thunder's Wild Agin (S. Kinkelaar) had a decent race with no bird work, slowing a tad toward the end of his hour. Wind Ridge Sugar Plum (E. Taylor) was a little too much dog today and was out and away for about 30 minutes. She did reward with a find at 58, perhaps a stop to flush on relocation.

Chelsea's Mae West (S. Kinkelaar) had a good race, but without a bird under every bush on the Camp Robinson grounds, and far less, no birds were located. Touch's Big Whiskey (C. Stretz) had a UP at 50, diverted toward the clubhouse, and then finished driving forward hunting.

Silver W Jill Z (S. Kinkelaar) had a good, strong race. No birds. Game Sport (H. Gearhart) had a nice find at 10. Judge Mills kidded Gearheart after that it was the world's longest two-acre flush. But as the handler was coming back to Sport, almost bending to his dog, birds boiled out. Sport stood with regal manners throughout. Later, at 25, Sport carded himself a UP.

Day 2, Sunday Morning
The second day of the running was again cold, this time with no wind. We delayed the start for 15 minutes to allow a frost to burn off. Maybe the lack of any breeze was to blame, as Chelsea's Mae West (S. Kinkelaar) had a wreck on a bird at 28, and she was picked up. Touch's Big Whiskey (C. Stretz) had a nice find at 30 and put down a nice race.

Thunder's Wild Agin (S. Kinkelaar) didn't have it right this morning and suffered two UPs. Game Sport (H. Gearhart) locked into a pointing stance at 26. An extended flush resulted in no birds. Sport was released for a relocation attempt, but a bird was put in the air. He stopped abruptly and mannerly, but the handler picked up.

Wind Ridge Sugar Plum (E. Taylor) spent time lost some, was sighted twice, but not again. Silver W Jill Z (S. Kinkelaar) was also gone a bit and a little erratic. No birds.

Sunday Afternoon
Thunder Bolt's Storm (S. Kinkelaar) took up a proper pointing stance at 17, just before the covert ditch. Birds left Storm before the handler and gallery could arrive, but the dog stood firm for a good find. Hale's High Flyer (E. Taylor) had a nice race to the front the whole time. She had no birds under judgment, but moments after her hour ended, she had a nice find for all to see. But as judging ceased at the end of 60 minutes, the judges could not count the find.

Erin's Three Leaf Shamrock (T. Swearingen) ran shorter today. He had a UP, looking like a million dollars on his stance. Lester's Another Shockwave (S. Kinkelaar) backed mannerly on Shamrock's UP. He was a bit erratic in his race, hunting the edge and lake and not regaining the front in time as his hour ended.

Upfront's Southern Star (S. Kinkelaar) and Absolute Dominator (D. Ray) had a divided find at 50 and excellent races.

The 90-Minuted Finals
Monday
Sunday evening, after the always highly anticipated steak dinner, sponsored by last year's champion, Upfront Southern Star, and owners Lance and Marcie Schulz, the judges announced who they wanted to see back in the 90-minute finals at the 9 a.m. start time: Absolute Dominator, Thunder Bolt's Storm, Hale's High Flyer, and Upfront's Southern Star.

Absolute Dominator (D. Ray) and Thunder Bolt's Storm (S. Kinkelaar) had strong races for their endurance finals run. Dominator had a good find at 87 minutes, again with impeccable manners. Bolt suffered a UP.

Hale's High Flyer (E. Taylor) and Upfront's Southern Star (S. Kinkelaar) had strong races throughout their 90-minute run, but no birds could be produced.
Absolute Dominator was named the 2024 Invitational Championship winner to the delight of owners Johnny and Joyce Taylor, handler Doug Ray, and scout Kayleigh Ann Lee!

Special Notes
A record was broken this year as to the most dogs qualified and handled in the Invitational by one of the professional handlers. Shawn Kinkelaar, a many-time winner of the Invitational, had six dogs entered in the trial. He ran in every brace of the trial, including the finals. Congratulations, Shawn; that speaks highly of you and your ability.

Erin's Thunder Backus was entered and promoted as a contestant but had to be scratched.

Again, thank you to the owners of all the Invitational dogs and to all owners who promote and support dogs on the open circuit. You keep our sport going and all our beloved pros on the road honing the most advanced bird dog skills possible. To you, we thank you!

And, thanks to all who helped with the trial. Melanie Hale was invaluable in helping provide the best possible dining experience for all attendees, lunch and dinner. We could not have done it without her. Tina Taylor and Noah Grady were master helpers, setting up the bar each night and assisting in every possible hospitable manner. This goes for Suzanne Hicks, too, for pitching in on Sunday evening. Jim Martin, Steve Messick, Robby Robinson, and John Van Horn served as field marshals. Roger Martin is our expert dog wagon driver. The Invitational is fortunate to have the help of so many during the trial, and it is certainly the important benefit of all the tireless local field trialers who work so hard to fund and put in the hours to maintain the bird program. Thank you to all who care enough to make a difference.

Conway, Ark., February 19
Judges: Matt Cochran and Dr. Jim Mills
UNITED STATES SHOOTING DOG INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats on Consecutive days; Ninety-Minute Finals] - 12 Pointers
Winner-ABSOLUTE DOMINATOR, 1686566, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Pearl Again. Johnny & Joyce Taylor, owners; Doug Ray, handler.

United States Shooting Dog Invitational Championship (front row): Upfront's Southern Star with Shawn Kinkelaar (handler), Chelsea's Mae West with Lance Schulz, Wind Ridge Sugar Plum with Eddy Taylor (handler), Absolute Dominator with Doug Ray (handler), Lester's Another Shockwave and Thunder's Wild Agin with Doug Swingley (owner). (Back row): Hale's High Flyer with Lydia Hale, Silver W Jill Z with Dr. Debbie Ozner (owner), Erin's Three Leaf Shamrock with Tracy Swearingen (handler), Game Sport with Harold Gearhart (handler), Touch's Big Whiskey with Chuck Stretz (handler and co-owner), and Thunder Bolt's Storm with Tom Jackson (owner).