Result: NGSPA Region 5 Championships

Location: Pinckneyville, Illinois

Post Date: May 29, 2024

Submitted By: Peter Coppens

NGSPA Region 5 Open Shooting Dog Championship (front, l-r): Ab Macke with Stoney Hill's Pinnacle Dee and Kirk Loftin with P J Wildfire's Little Lexi. (Behind): Mike Kindler (judge), Katelyn Macke, and Jack Marchese (judge).

The Championship began on March 16 at Pyramid State Park near Pinckneyville, Illinois. We had wonderful weather this year. No rain. We want to thank Purina for their continued support of this trial. Shout out to Greg Blair, Terry Trzcinski, Karl Gunzer, Alan Davidson, and Jim Morehouse. Jim is also a generous supplier of SportDOG collars for our champions. Thank you, Terry Trzcinski, for making time to stop by.

A trial doesn't happen without volunteers to drive the dog wagon, plant birds, make trips into town, provide food, etc. It was refreshing how well everyone worked together this week. Thank you, Dan and April DiMambro, for donating an Italian dinner; Katelyn and Ab Mache for the pork burger lunch and pies for the steak dinner night; and Kirk Loftin and Shery Tangsrud for the steaks for steak night. Thank you to Ab and Katelyn for the final cleaning of the clubhouse. Thank you, Ab, for cleaning the bird pen. Thank you to our bird planters, Dan DiMambro, Mike Patrick, and Peter Coppens. Thank you to our judges.

We want to thank Diane Coppens for being secretary and treasurer, handling the drawing, lunches, suppers, and dog wagon duties, and staying on us to get our write-ups turned in. Without her dedication to these championships, we would not have the organization and ease of running them. Thank you to the President of Region 5, Peter Coppens. If it weren't for his love and dedication to this sport, there would not be a Region 5 Championship. Finally, thank you to Brad, the site superintendent, Henry, Mike, and Jason for all you do to make sure our trial runs successfully. We look forward to seeing everyone in February at Showtime Plantation for the 2025 Region 16 and March 2025 Region 5 at Pyramid State Park. The scribe was Peter Coppens, with the help of the judges.

NGSPA Region 5 Open Shooting Dog Championship
The Championship began with the Shooting Dog, capably judged by Mike Kindler and Jack Marchese--a big shout out for your time in the saddle and dedication to this sport. We appreciate the years of dedication to this trial. The judges were presented with 12 braces of quality dogs to watch. Thank you to the handlers, Mr. & Mrs. Dan DiMambro, Kirk Loftin, Ab Macke, Mike Patrick, and Hank Lewis.

The judges announced Stoney Hill's Pinnacle Dee, owned/handled by Kirk Loftin, as the champion. Dee was from Brace 3 and had seven finds. She started at the end of the cornfield, powered forward, and was found standing at 6 at the other end. All manners were good. She was kept under thumb through the trail and let loose at the top of the hill in the orchard. Another find at 11 with all in order. Dee was let go to the road where she was gathered up to cross, let go at the gate, and found standing at 27 at the end of the big field. Again, all manners in order. She was then let loose at the gate and found standing at 35 on the path. All in order. Let loose up between the pounds and found standing at 39. All good. She ran up between the ponds and was found standing in the rock bowl with manners in order. She was kept close to the road crossing, cut loose, and found again standing at 47, three-quarters of the way down the fence line. Dee was sent across the field, then found standing at 59, three-quarters of the way across the cornfield on the edge. Dee was strong, and the judges commented that she was a pleasure to watch.

Runner-up went to P J Wildfire's Little, owned by Kirk Loftin and Larry Loftin, and handled by Kirk. Lexi was from the first brace and had finds at 8, 12, 30, 40, and 53. She also handled kindly and had a powerful run. Lexi was straightforward, had no wasted movement, and was very methodical in hunting. Good style on point.

Pinckneyville, Ill., March 20
Judges: Mike Kindler and Jack Marchese
NGSPA REGION 5 OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 22 German Shorthairs
Winner-STONEY HILL'S PINNACLE DEE, 1694168, female, by Simons Gunner-Shadowrocks Mighty Mouse. Dr. Kirk A. Loftin, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-P J WILDFIRE'S LITTLE LEXI, 1663717, female, by P J Wildfire's Little Bud-Lone Creek Sweet Anna. Dr. Kirk A. & Larry Loftin, owners; Kirk Loftin, handler.

NGSPA Region 5 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship
The Amateur was judged by Sherwin Van Kooten and Peter Coppens. We thank both of you for your time and expertise. We had 19 dogs and would like to thank all the amateurs who supported us: Ab Mache, Art Terstage, Kirk Loftin, Jack Marchese, Mike Kindler, Mike Patrick, Larry Bradley, and Hank Lewis. Bob Salamone also sent his dogs.

The champion was In Sunny Fields Warchief ("Thrall"), owned and handled by Art Terstage. Kirk Loftin scouted for Thrall. He was in the first brace. Thrall had four multiple finds throughout the hour. He handled kindly and needed little scouting. Every time we rode forward, we would find Thrall to the front and standing. This garnished Thrall and Art the Amateur Championship.

The runner-up was Hi N's Curtain Call ("Charlie"), owned and handled by Hank Lewis. Larry Bradley was the scout. Charlie came from Brace 6. He had multiple bird finds and had great style on all his birdwork.

NGSPA Region 5 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship (front, l-r): Robyn Van Kotten with Sunny Fields Warchief and Larry Bradley with Hi N's Curtain Call. (Behind): Sherwin VanKotten (judge), Hank Lewis, and Peter Coppens (judge).

Judges: Peter Coppens and Sherwin VanKooten
NGSPA REGION 5 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 19 German Shorthairs
Winner-SUNNY FIELDS WARCHIEF, 1687084, male, by Joke's On You-Sunny Fields Vegas Rumor. Art Terstage, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-HI N'S CURTAIN CALL, 1687995, male, by Hi N's Bodacious-Hi N's Hasty Matilda. Hank Lewis, owner and handler.

NGSPA Region 5 Open All-Age Championship
The All-Age followed the Amateur and was capably judged by Sherwin Van Kooten and Peter Coppens. Big thank you to you both for filling these judging spots. Nine braces were drawn.

Evergreen's Jed was named champion. Jed is owned by Lance Olsen and handled by Dan DiMambro. He ran in Brace 4. He impressed the judges with his consistency and forward run. Jed had impeccable style and all manners in order. He worked in conjunction with his handler and had a strong finish. With all these elements, Jed was named our All-Age Champion.

Runner-up went to Stoney Hill's Pinnacle Dee, owned/ handled by Kirk Loftin. Dee was also a great contender in this stake. She came from the first brace. She was strong and forward with multiple finds. Dee listened well to her handler and was stylish on her birdwork. This performance is what earned her Runner-up Champion.

NGSPA Region 5 Open All-Age Championship (front, l-r): April DiMambro with Evergreen's Jed and Abraham Macke with Stoney Hill's Pinnacle Dee. (Behind): Dan DiMambro, Peter Coppens (judge), Sherwin VanKotten (judge), and Kirk Loftin.

NGSPA REGION 5 OPEN ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 18 German Shorthairs
Winner-EVERGREEN'S JED, 1676169, male, by Trueblu's B D K Ace Inthe Hole-Chicoree's What A Hoodlum. Lance Olsen, owner; Dan DiMambro, handler.
Runner-Up- STONEY HILL'S PINNACLE DEE, 1694168, female, by Simons Gunner-Shadowrocks Mighty Mouse. Dr. Kirk A. Loftin, owner and handler.

NGSPA Region 5 Open Derby
The 2024 NGSPA Region 5 Derby was run on Tuesday afternoon, March 19. The 16-dog competition was high in this stake, and many dogs that did not receive nods could have won in other derby stakes. All the young dogs ran well through the wind. Bird finding was tough for the first four braces. The temperature changed, and the derby dogs started picking up coveys. We had three dogs that stood out just a bit above the rest. Thank you to Mike Patrick and Hank Lewis for their capable judging time. It was much appreciated.

In Brace 3, Jay Wade's dog Lainie had a big race with a broke find at 19. She went on to have a power finish, which locked her up as the champion. Beaver's Rude Wildfire Lainie, owned and handled by Jay Wade, was named champion.

From Brace 6, Richie Rodgers ran six derby dogs, all showing well. Richie's best dog this day was Rhea, who ran a nice run with manners in order. We came around the corner to find her standing. She had a nice flush, which afforded her second place. JRS Lady Rhea, owned and handled by Richie Rodgers, was named the second-place derby dog.

Also from Brace 6 was Larry Bradley with his wife's young dog, Revy. Revy ran big and had a find at 17, nice and stylish. Patriots Revved Up Vom Orama is owned by Heidi Bradley, was run by Larry Bradley, and was named third place.
Congratulations to our winners.

Judges: Hank Lewis and Mike Patrick
NGSPA REGION 5 OPEN DERBY - 16 German Shorthairs
1st-BEAVER'S RUDE WILDFIRE LAINIE, 1710115, female, by Wildfire's Royal Flush-Wildfire's Snowy Mountain. Jay D. Wade, owner and handler.
2d-JRS LADY RHEA, unreg., female, by Keg Creek Royalty-Slicks Wild Child. Richie Rodgers, owner and handler.
3d-PATRIOTS REVVED UP VOM ORAWA, 1709433, female, by Friedelsheim's Freight Train Mason-Ami Vom Orawa. Heidi Bradley, owner; Larry Bradley, handler.

NGSPA Region 5 Open Derby (front, l-r): Jay Wade with Beaver's Rude Wildfire Lainie, Richie Rodgers with JRS Lady Rhea, and Mike Kindler with Patriots Revved Up Vom Orama. (Behind): Hank Lewis (judge), Mike Patrick (judge), and Larry Bradley.