Result: NBHA Midwest Regional Championship

Location: Williamsburg, Missouri

Post Date: Apr 25, 2024

Submitted By: Kevin Western

NBHA Midwest Regional Championship (l-r): Joe Zimmer, Andy Erne with Cates Rocket Girl, Tim Penn (judge), Nora Patterson, Rob Alongi, Zach Erne with M V R Earl's Black Diamond, Travis Patterson, and Dr. Bill Wright (judge).

The NBHA Midwest Regional Championship and companion stakes were held at the Whetstone Creek Conservation Area near Williamsburg, Missouri, on March 22-23. This year, we had a smaller-than-normal entry due to some scheduling conflicts, but the field was made up of many champions, and the competition was fierce. Following the conclusion of this Championship, companion Open Derby and Open Puppy stakes were held.

This year's trial was hosted by the Missouri Bird Hunters Association. Joe Zimmer, Jack Glover, and Kevin Western carried the bulk of the duties this year. President Jim Ogle was not able to make it due to nursing a bad knee back to health, and Randy Zimmer was celebrating his wedding anniversary. Jim and Randy were sorely missed, but this strong group of dedicated field trialers pulled it off.

The management at the Whetstone Wildlife area was doing some major work on the grounds, in particular on our course. With that being said, Tim Penn, Jack Glover, and Kevin Western mapped out a course that tested a dog's ability to handle and desire to hunt for their handler. We had a balanced mix of cover and open edges for the dogs to show off their skills at handling any terrain. We are very thankful to the Missouri Department of Conservation and Whetstone Creek CA, for the opportunity to hold trials on these grounds.

The National Bird Hunters Association is blessed to have such generous sponsors. Purina Pro Plan provides dog food to the winners, as well as samples and hats to all the trial participants. Garmin provided a new tracking collar to the winner of the championship. Gun Dog Supply, OnX Hunts, and Mule Brand provided gift certificates to the champion and runner-up. We could not have a successful trial without the support of these great sponsors. Their participation and sponsorship of the NBHA are much appreciated.

Dr. Bill Wright of Bellflower, Missouri, and Tim Penn of Edina, Missouri, were judges for this year's event. These experienced field trial veterans have successfully campaigned dogs in the Midwest for years. I can't emphasize enough how diligent and dedicated these men were to their task. Their knowledge and credentials served them well, and their decisions were well received.

This year's champion was Cates Rocket Girl, a setter female. Rocket Girl is owned by David Cates and was handled by Zach Erne, with Andy Erne scouting. Rocket Girl ran a forward but very controlled race. She had five mannerly finds and a great race responding superbly to her handler. Runner-up champion went to MVR Earl's Black Diamond, a Gorden setter male. Earl was handled by Zach Erne and scouted by Andy Erne. Earl is owned by Sandy Wollschlager of Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Earl ran in the first brace of the trial at a time when the sent conditions were not favorable for the dogs. In his hour, he had one find with excellent manners, and he had a consistent forward race and was still strong in the end. Both dogs put on a good show, and a big congratulations to the Erne brothers for winning both ends of this championship. Even though the scenting conditions were tough on Friday there were several dogs that had good performances but did not meet the standard that these two dogs set for the trial.

The Running
In brace 1 was Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior (Malzone) running against M V R's Earl Black Diamond (Erne). Conditions were cool, but there was no breeze, the air was still, and scent conditions were not good. Both dogs were out to the front as Warrior made the turn first at the hedge row with Diamond also making the turn headed to the front. Warrior was reaching far and wide, making him hard to stay in contact with. Diamond was to the front and was moving forward and staying on course. Diamond struck first at 30 in a stand of native grass, flushing was hard, but Erne produced a bird, and Diamond had excellent manners throughout. At 40, both dogs were standing along the shoreline of a pond; Warrior was credited with the find and Diamond a back. Warrior went on and suffered a nonproductive at 53. Warrior was wide and more than a handful on this day. Diamond finished the hour as he started forward with a purpose, and his efforts were clean and crisp.

Brace 2 had Pure Confidence (Malzone) and Emert's Sho Me Motu (Emert). Motu started early with a find at 5, all in order. Motu then became the victim of two nonproductive, with the first at 11 and the second at 17, ending his day. Confidence made a forward charge throughout the hour, hunting hard, and was pleasing to watch. His efforts came up short as he was not able to find a bird on this day as scenting conditions were very unfavorable.

Brace 3 had Indian Creek Pineapple (Malzone) with Sycamore Creek Cody (Erne). Pineapple started first at 5 with Cody backing. Both dogs cast to the front, hunting forward. As we were making our way to the halfway point of the course, Cody was found pointed at 31. This stand produced a rabbit. Malzone ended Pineapple's day at 31. Cody was sent on to hunt but suffered a nonproductive at 39; he went on to have his only find at 53. Cody finished the hour.

Brace 4 had Indian Creek Sprout (Malzone) running by herself. Sprout had a find at 7, all in order. Sprout then decided to go her own way, and the tracker was called at 15.

Brace 5 was River City Hit Man (Erne) running with Cedar Creek Duke (Nutting). The first brace after a lunch break, and the sun was starting to shine with a light breeze. Duke was easy to handle but not extreme in his efforts. Duke carded three finds at 18, 25, and 41; his birdwork was excellent, with great manners throughout. Duke made some nice casts and finished the hour, but he didn't have the range the winners had. Hit Man had his only find at 37; manners were good. Hit Man and Duke had a divided nonproductive at 59, and this flushing attempt ended their hour.

Brace 6 had Double D's Red Lancelot (Draffen) with Glover's Pepper Shaker (Glover). Conditions started to cloud up, with temperatures dropping. Red started off with the first bird contact of the brace at 7. Red was sent down the hedge row; at this point, Red became hard to communicate with, and the handler picked up at 37. Pepper was not on track in the beginning; she was wide and hard to navigate to the course. Pepper settled in and, at 43, found her first bird, manners were good. She had two more finds at 47 and 56, manners good on both. She finished the hour, but her performance did not measure up to the winners.

Brace 7 saw Chippewa's Dog of War (Erne) with Indian Creek Courageous Cat (Malzone). Dog of War was found south of the hedge row, pointed; his manners were good. He then ranged out of pocket with his handler, and the tracker was called for at 37. Cat had a stand on a bird kill at 5. Cat hunted hard but recorded two nonproductive at 19 and 59, which ended her bid.

Brace 8 had Western's Whistlin Dixie (Western) with Indian Creek Bocephus (Malzone). Conditions were deteriorating rapidly as a cold rain would start at the halfway point of the brace. Bocephus was never on track and was out of pocket with his handler early on; he ended his day at 38. Dixie hunted hard and was to the front. Her application was eye-catching. She finished the hour but no birdwork for her efforts.

Brace 9 had Cates Rocket Girl (Erne) with Glover's Flintstone (Glover). The first brace of the second day was cool, with a breeze that would favor the dogs. Rocket Girl started quickly with a find at 4. Rocket Girl was sent on towards the hedge row; there, she swung to the left and was out of view. As the judges and the trial gallery were proceeding forward, Rocket Girl was seen on point at 11. As the party approached, Flintstone was standing on point at 11 near a plum thicket. Flintstone's bird was flushed first, and manners were good. Rocket Girl bird was put into the air by handler Erne; all was good. Both dogs were now sailing forward on the course with Rocket Girl seen far to the front moving forward. At 17, Flintstone had recorded his second find, all in order. At 26, Rocket Girl was downstream along the timber edge, standing on her third find. This stand is one that no other dog had ventured to; her manners were excellent once again. As both dogs were entering the midway part of the hour, Rocket Girl was straight ahead on point at 32. This stand did not produce any game. Flintstone was 300 yards to our left when point was called for him at 33; his stand also did not produce any game. At 45, both dogs were together, pointing in a thicket. A rabbit was observed, and both dogs were taken on. Flintstone scored next at 52 along a heavy cover strip, birds were put into flight, and manners were once again good. Flintstone was reaching back to the front when he stopped again inside the timber at 57. This stand did not produce any game. His relocation attempt came up empty, ending his effort. Meanwhile, Rocket Girl Finished her hour with finds at 50 and 55; manners were again a carbon copy of her previous ones. Her style was always lifting, and she was attractive moving, and always to the front. This was her day, and she set herself apart from the others to win the trial.

Brace 10 had Emert's Sho Me Mo (Emert) and Indian Creek Spur (Malzone). Both dogs were to the front, and Mo struck first with Spur backing. This stand did not produce any game for Mo, and both dogs were sent on. At 13, Spur was pointed, but no game was produced at this stand. At 23, point was called for Spur, and a bird was produced with manners good. At 25, Mo was standing on point where only feathers and a carcass of a bird kill were recognized. Spur had his final find at 26, all good. Spur would be picked up later at 30, ending his day. To navigate the course, Mo was a little challenging, but he did settle down and had finds at 31, 49, and 52. At 60, Mo was found standing. His style was not what his handler desired, and he elected not to flush.

Brace 11 had Erin's Deja Vu (Malzone) with Western's Second Chance (Western). This was the last brace of the championship, and Second Chance scored first with a nice find at 12 in a briar patch; his manners were good. Deja Vu was not responding, and the handler elected to call for the retrieving device at 20. Second Chance was making some nice forward casts and was hunting the cover throughout. This young dog displays style and intelligence. Today was not to be Second Chance's day as he had stands at 20 and 40 that did not produce a bird, as this ended his bid.

Williamsburg, Mo., March 22 - One Course
Judges: Tim Penn and William Wright
NBHA MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 10 Pointers, 9 Setters, 1 Irish Setter, and 1 Gordon Setter
Winner-CATES ROCKET GIRL, 1690282, pointer female, by Swift Rock Iced Cash-Swift Rock Splash. David Cates, owner; Zach Erne, handler.
Runner-Up-M V R EARL'S BLACK DIAMOND, 1662827, Gordon setter male, by Milomix Earl-Clearcut Crack That Whip. Sandy Wollschlager, owner; Zach Erne, handler.

COMPANION STAKES
In the Derby stake, Dr. Bill Wright's Gordon Setter female, Milomix Liz, took home the first-place honors with a strong two-find performance, showing good manners for a young derby. Congratulations to Dr. Wright on a well-deserved win.
Travis Patterson brought his normal strong string of dogs and took home first place with his pointer, Huber's Brazen Noir ("Macho"). Macho had a nice forward race, responded well to his handler, and was attractive to watch. This young prospect captured the judge's eye to secure the top-place puppy honors.

Gary Malzone took home second place with his snappy little female pointer, Indian Creek Tom Boy. Her performance was very close to the winner. Tom Boy is owned by Timothy and Amy Cauley and is a very stylish, hard-going puppy that I am sure we have not heard the last of.
Rounding out the puppy class was Huber's Ice Queen, owned and handled by Travis Patterson. Queenie had a nice forward race. All of the puppies looked good and should be able to advance to the next level. Congratulations to all.

Again, we would like to thank all our sponsors, the judges, the helpers, and all our participants. Special thanks to Joe Zimmer and Ralph Niemeyer for bringing their side-by-sides, which allowed the convenience of keeping the trial running smoothly. The work and participation of all help make up a great event. The participation and dedication of the good folks who come to these trials make the future look great for the National Bird Hunters.

Judges: Jack Glover and Tim Penn
NBHA OPEN DERBY - 1 Pointer, 1 Setter, and 1 Gordon Setter
1st-MILOMIX LIZ, 1701180, Gordon setter female, by Melrose Prairie Storm-Milomix Rocky. William Wright, owner and handler.

NBHA OPEN PUPPY - 4 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-HUBER'S BRAZEN NOIR, 1705297, pointer male, by Rob's Sugar Boo-Aye Aye Matey. Aaron T. Patterson Jr., owner and handler.
2d-INDIAN CREEK TOM BOY, 1706075, pointer female, by Erin's Hollywood-Indian Creek Blackeyed Pea. Timothy & Amy Cauley, owners; Gary Malzone, handler.
3d-HUBER'S ICE QUEEN, 1705274, pointer female, by Lester's Shockwave-Bonner's Carolina Belle. Aaron T. Patterson Jr., owner and handler.