Event: The Sharptail Classic
Result: Big Sky Field Trial Club
Location: Winnett, Montana
Post Date: May 15, 2024
Submitted By: Taylor Todd
Sharptail Open Shooting Dog Classic: Taylor Todd (owner/handler) and Tower Hill's Deep Wonder with judges Ed Mayhew and Sean Melvin.
In early April, the Big Sky Field Trial Club (BSFTC) held its annual running of the Sharptail Classic at the Joe King & Sons Ranch in Winnett, Montana. We want to thank the King family for the use of the grounds; their kind hospitality is greatly appreciated. Their progressive land stewardship practices have also created great habitat harboring native Sharptail and Sage grouse and Hungarian partridge and pheasant. The event was judged by Ed Mayhew of Winchester, California, and Sean Melvin of Garland, North Carolina. Both judges have extensive experience looking at dogs, and we thank them for their time in the saddle.
Twelve dogs entered the stake, and one placement was awarded to Tower Hill's Deep Wonder, callname Pearl. The white and lemon pointer is owned and handled by Taylor Todd. Pearl is a first-year shooting dog that ran a classy forward race where she disappeared into the sage-filled hills multiple times during the hour but always remained in contact with her handler. Pearl had three finds during her time on the ground, two on Sage grouse and one on a single Sharptail. She finished the hour running strong while crossing in front of her handler.
The accompanying derby stakes drew 20 dogs, with eight entries in the All-Age Derby and 12 in the Shooting Dog Derby. John McIltrot of Roundup, Montana, and Sean Melvin of Garland, North Carolina, judged both derbies. The judges both rode hard, looking at these young dogs, and BSFTC is grateful for their time.
The All-Age Derby was thrilling to watch, and the wide-open country in Winnett is always an amusing place for young, big running dogs to move through the country. First place went to LBF Bohemian Rhapsody, a male setter owned and handled by Brad McCardle. Bo ran a strong 30 minutes and was seen deep to the front multiple times throughout the brace. Bo disappeared for a while on a turn in the course, but his handler and scout were able to get him back to the front in time to be seen running strong for the last few minutes of the brace.
Second place went to Camas Prairie Win, a young female pointer owned and handled by Marcos Puiggari. Win ran a stylish race and looked classy on a single Sharptail find about two-thirds of the way through the brace. She finished strong at time as the field trial party stopped atop a hill, watching her cross and fade into the basin to the front.
Third place went to Madison Valley's Easy Ryder, a black-headed pointer male owned and handled by Trevor Walz. Ryder had no birdwork during his time on the ground but ran a huge all-age race for 30 minutes. He had a short absence during the brace and, near time, was finally spotted by judge and handler moving across a sage-filled basin to the front.
The Shooting Dog Derby wrapped up the final afternoon of running with a touch of sun shining through the clouds of an otherwise cold Montana spring day. First place was awarded to Camas Prairie Win, who earned her second placement of the day. Owner/handler Marcos Puiggari showed Win could handle to the front, and she ran an animated and classy 30 minutes on course 3 of the Derby.
Second place went to Bud, a male Gordon setter who was handled by Taylor Todd and owned by Johnny Banks. Bud ran strong for 30 minutes, crossing in front of his handler and occasionally making longer casts to the front, which secured his placement in the derby.
Third place went to Knight of Shame, a male setter owned and handled by John Mahoney. Steven, as his handler calls him, had two pieces of birdwork during his brace; the second was a stylish point on some tight-holding Hungarian partridge on course 2. Steven's agreeable birdwork helped him earn third place.
BSFTC would also like to thank everyone who traveled from afar to participate in the trial and support the club and all of those involved in putting on the trial. These grounds are remote, requiring extra work and travel by all to make this wonderful trial happen. Hillary Walz did a fantastic job managing the dog truck. John McIltrot and Michelle Sutton helped tremendously with logistics behind the scenes. We would also like to thank Purina and Greg Blair for sponsoring the event and providing us with dog food and prizes for placements. Without these hard-working individuals, we couldn't have made this trial happen. BSFTC is already looking forward to next year when we can turn dogs loose at the King Ranch in Winnett, Montana.
Winnett, Mont., April 4
Judges: Ed Mayhew and Sean Melvin
SHARPTAIL SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 7 Pointers and 5 Setters
1st-TOWER HILL'S DEEP WONDER, 1696399, pointer female, by Touch's Diamante-Seranoa's Union Station. Taylor Todd, owner and handler.
Open All-Age Derby (l-r): Brad McCardle with LBF Bohemian Rhapsody, John McIltrot (judge), Marcos Puiggari with Camas Prairie Win, Sean Melvin (judge), and Trevor Walz with Madison Valley's Easy Ryder.
Judges: John McIltrot and Sean Melvin
OPEN DERBY - 6 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-LBF BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, 1702241, setter male, by T's Gunslinger-Erin's Red Rose. Brad McCardle, owner and handler.
2d-CAMAS PRAIRIE WIN, 1709945, pointer female, by Haney's Silver Dollar-Camas Prairie Daze. Marcos Puiggari, owner and handler.
3d-MADISON VALLEY'S EASY RYDER, 1703747, pointer male, by Bull Ryder-Tabasco. Trevor Walz, owner and handler.
OPEN DERBY - 12 Entries
1st-CAMAS PRAIRIE WIN, 1709945, pointer female, by Haney's Silver Dollar-Camas Prairie Daze. Marcos Puiggari, owner and handler.
2d-HIGHTAIL BUDREAUX, unreg., Gordon setter male, breeding not given. Johnny Barks, owner; Taylor Todd, handler.
3d-KNIGHT OF SHAME, 1703958, setter male, by T's Ridge Reaper-Roysetter's West Wind. John Mahoney, owner and handler.
Open Shooting Dog Derby (l-r): Marcos Puiggari with Camas Prairie Win, John McIltrot (judge), Taylor Todd with Hightail Budreaux, Sean Melvin (judge), and John Mahoney with Knight of Shame.