Result: Mid-South Bird Hunter Club

Location: Orchardville, Illinois

Post Date: Apr 16, 2024

Submitted By: Brad Hargis

Amateur Derby (l-r): Elm Hills To The Trigger with Steve Fuess, Harg's Diamond Jerz with Brad Hargis, and Warner's Utah Jack with Rob Warner.

The Mid-South Bird Hunters Club held its spring trial on March 9 on the Ellis Family Farm, just south of Orchardville, Illinois. As always, Ted Ellis and his nephew Bill had the grounds in great shape. Thank you once again for allowing us to host on your grounds. We had 41 entries throughout the four stakes, and the judges watched some good dog work all day. We thank our judges, Frank Christie, Declan Wheat, Brad Hire, Danny Davis, Brad Hargis, Rick Stanford, and Dan Crunk. Big thank you to Sherry Hargis for preparing an excellent hot lunch and to Brenda Ellis for her delicious no-bake cookies.

Watching the weather leading up to the day of the trial, we all knew we were going to get wet, but our luck changed, and the rain moved out before the running. The Shooting Dog stake featured six champions, and the judges were not disappointed in what they saw. Topping the 15-dog field was Glover's Pepper Shaker, a setter female owned and handled by Jack Glover of Missouri. Pepper moved smoothly over the ground, always to the front, and ended with four finds. Mike DuVall, out of Wisconsin, guided his dog, Stellar's Natural Disaster, through the course with three finds and a nice race. Taking third was Craig Hiatt's pointer female, Craig's Runin Roxie. Roxie had a front-running race with three finds and a back.

Winning the Derby for Steve Fuess was his big running pointer male, Trig. Trig had a nice forward race with three clean, broke finds. Taking second was pointer female Jerzi for her handler Brad Hargis. Jerzi had four nice derby finds, always to the front, and impressed the judges with a strong finish. Third was Jack, a setter male owned and handled by Rob Warner. Jack had three nice finds and a strong race.

The Gun Dog stake winner was won by German Shorthair female Diamond owned by John Landolina. Second was Ripp, owned and handled by newcomer Chris Gandolfo. This was Chris's first trial placement. Sadie, the 3-legged pointer of Craig Hiatt's, took third.
The Puppy judges were impressed by the eight pups turned loose, with Brian Stockrahm taking first, Travis Patterson second, and Don Heisner third.
The Mid-South Bird Hunters want to thank everyone who made the long trip and hope to see you all next fall.

Orchardville, Ill., March 9
Judges: Brad Hargis and Rick Stanford
NBHA AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 6 Pointers, 7 Setters, and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-GLOVER'S PEPPER SHAKER, 1695618, setter female, by Erin's Wild Atlantic Way-C C Erin O'Shamrock. Jack Glover, owner and handler.
2d-STELLAR'S NATURAL DISASTER, 1684712, pointer female, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt-Lacey Underall. Michael & Suanne DuVall, owners; Michael DuVall, handler.
3d-CRAIG'S RUNIN ROXIE, 1665573, pointer female, by Mac's Silver Dollar-Hilo Southern Tea. Craig Hiatt, owner and handler.

Judges: Dan Crunk and Rick Stanford
NBHA AMATEUR DERBY - 7 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-ELM HILLS TO THE TRIGGER, 1701516, pointer male, by Redhawk's Clyde-Rolling Hill's Alice. Steve Fuess, owner and handler.
2d-HARG'S DIAMOND JERZ, 1703523, pointer female, by Phillips Linebacker-Blue Mound's White Lilly. Brad Hargis, owner and handler.
3d-WARNER'S UTAH JACK, 1701466, setter male, by T's American Gunfighter-T's Whistling Dixie. Robert Warner III, owner and handler.

Judges: Danny Davis and Brad Hire
NBHA JOHN ELLIS MEMORIAL AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 8 Pointers, 1 Irish Setter, and 1 German Shorthair
1st-NO LIMITS LITTLE SLICK, 1702850, German Shorthair female, by Right Stuff's Rock N Roll-Outbak's Attitude. John Landolina, owner and handler.
2d-NITRO ELHEW RIPP, 1698831, pointer male, by Nitro Elhew Einstein-Nitro Elhew Country Rose. Christofer W. Gandolfo, owner and handler.
3d-CRAIG'S SASSIE SADIE, 1690033, pointer female, by Greypointe Izquierda-You Never Can Tell. Craig Hiatt, owner and handler.

Judges: Frank Christie and Declan Wheat
NBHA AMATEUR PUPPY - 4 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-PB COPPER STRIKE, 1705727, pointer male, by Erin's Southern Comfort-Three Stripe's Bullseye. Brian Stockrahm, owner and handler.
2d-HUBER'S ICE QUEEN, 1705274, pointer female, by Lester's Shockwave-Bonner's Carolina Belle. Travis Patterson, owner and handler.
3d-BEAUCOUP CREEK ABBY, 1704369, setter female, by Beaucoup Creek Buck-Glover's Pepper Shaker. Donald R. Heisner, owner and handler.