Event: Jolene Jolene wins the 68th running of the
Result: National Open Shooting Dog Pheasant Championship

Location: Bloomingdale, Ohio

Post Date: Dec 3, 2024

Submitted By: Joe Lordi

National Open Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship (first row): Brooke Lanning, Hailey Hayes Moreland with winner Jolene Jolene and Payton Gunby with Miller's Lock and Loaded. (Second row): Greg Strausbaugh, Mike Tracy, Joe McHugh, Stacey Goodie, Bill Primm, Muriel Primm, George Tracy, Dennis Hood, Mark Hughes, and Dave Hughes. (Third row): Eric Clink, Bobby Verderosa, Meredith Mays (judge), and Kevin Stuart (judge).

The 68th running of the National Open Shooting Dog Championship commenced just after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24. The weather was dry but not as hot as we have seen in past years for the National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship or the National Pheasant Shooting Dog Futurity. We would like to start by thanking Eukanuba for their continued support; they provided dog food to the winners, hosted the handlers' dinner, and provided beautiful jackets for the judges. Lynn Carradine and James Niemann were extremely supportive and are great representatives of Royal Canin. The Southern Bird Hunters Association is a major sponsor and supporter of the National Open Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship, and we cannot thank them enough for all their support. They are truly one of the few organizations working to improve our sport. This year Lion Country Supply and Haggis Saddles provided gift cards to the honorable mentions. Hillybilly Mudd also provided their amazing product, which we were able to distribute to handlers, marshals, and contributors. It was very nice to be able to show appreciation to the selfless contributors for their time and effort.

The Club would like to thank several people who contributed to making this trial a success. Dave Hughes was the dog truck driver. He was Johnny-on-the-spot, driving his own truck. We cannot thank this Hall of Famer enough for all of his help. Dave was not feeling well shortly after returning home and spent some time in the hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery. Mark Hughes ran dogs, marshaled, ordered plaques for the winners, and provided water tubs for the dogs and horses. His contributions are very much appreciated.

Kevin Joyce donated the plaques for the winners, helped order the birds for the trial and marshaled. Kevin is a great supporter of this trial and the sport. Greg Strausbaugh and Stacey Goodie stepped up again this year. We were in a panic due to a last-minute judging issue, and they were quick to make calls and come up with a judge. They helped marshal, assisted with the drawing, caught birds, and provided horses for the judges. We cannot thank them enough for all their support. Stacey marshaled every brace. We would have been in trouble without them.
Bobby Verderosa was my right-hand man again. He did everything that was asked of him, including catching birds, helping club members plant birds, and so much more. Thank you, Bobby, for all your hard work.
This year, Mike Tracy, George Tracy, Mark Hughes, and Joe Lordi handled dogs. The Club would like to thank them for their support. The professionals were amazing and continue to support this trial and do anything that is asked of them. One year without George Tracy was one too many, and we look forward to many more years of George running dogs.
Kevin Stuart of Schenectady, New York, and Meredith Mays of Willow Springs, Missouri, graciously agreed to judge this year. Kevin is a fine judge who does not miss a thing and is always quick to help when needed. Meredith stepped up at the last minute and drove out from Nebraska to help us out of a jam. They rode hard, giving every dog a fair look, and their decisions were well received.
Muriel Primm, Karen Saniga, and Mary Tracy were instrumental in supplying the snacks for the morning breaks and coordinating the dinners. The Club thanks them for their continued help.

The Winners
This year's winner was the same as last year's winner. Jolene Jolene notched her second championship under the guidance of handler Mike Tracy. She ran in the 11th brace, starting at the end of the outer loop against Wayward Flyin Tomato, who was picked up early. Jolene Jolene hunted the bottom side of the outer loop and crossed to the left. She was found standing across from the rock pile where Mike flushed a pair of pheasants. She was sent to the front and was quickly out of sight. She was found standing as we crossed the next road. During the relocation, a pheasant lifted, and Jolene stopped. Jolene was sent on, handling the only turn on the course with ease. Along the breakaway hedgerow, she stood with perfect manners and style for the flush. The judges were looking for a strong race, and Jolene finished the rest of the hour showing her strengths as a bitch that can put on a strong forward race. She ran out front through the locust grove and over to the left, where she had success in the past. She was gathered up and watered before being sent on toward the pond on the right and swinging up the ridge. She continued to make strong casts to the front, finishing the hour going into the outer loop. She continued to get stronger as the hour got longer. Jolene was smooth, making it look easy. It is quite impressive to win this championship back-to-back. This is the first time this feat has been done since I started reporting this trial. Congratulations to the syndicate owner team of Joe McHugh and Dave McKay.

The runner-up honor was awarded to Miller's Lock and Loaded, handled by George Tracy and owned by Muriel and Bill Primm. Lock and Loaded was in the 15th brace with Miller's Automatic Upgrade. Lock and Loaded was found standing at the end of the breakaway autumn olives with fine style. He hunted to the front over to the locust grove and through. The bracemates traded casts out to the ridge and through the outer loop. Lock and Loaded pointed with fine manners just off the milo strip on the return of the outer loop. George flushed a pheasant and sent him to the front. As we exited the outer loop, George called point for Lock and Loaded in the field across the road. It took an extended flushing effort to flush the running pair of pheasants in the planted milo field. He finished the hour strong, showing fine manners and backing an unproductive at time.

The judges named three honorable mentions this year: Waybetter Rebel and Miller's War Bonnet, handled by Mike Tracy, and Double Deuce Zeke, handled by Mark Hughes.

The Running
The first brace featured Erin's Big Casino (M. Tracy) and Hillhavyn's Wild Child (G. Tracy). They were off just after 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Wild Child struck first with fine manners on the left side of the breakaway hedgerow. She was released at 4. Erin's Big Casino was charged with an unproductive at 4. Both dogs hunted the front end, with Big Casino standing on the right side on the bottom of the ridge. All was in order for the flush. Both dogs showed well up the hill to the outer ridge; Big Casino was found standing high and tight with Wild Child backing along the sorghum feed strips. As the handlers rode to the dogs, a pheasant lifted, but there was also one right in front of Big Casino. Both dogs rounded the outer loop, were watered, and hunted the bottom side. They both finished strong.

Starting at the main breakaway, Miller's Hopped Up Version (M. Hughes) and Waybetter Rebel (M. Tracy) were off in the final brace of the day. Both dogs made strong moves along the autumn olives, swinging down and to the left. Waybetter Rebel had a find on the left edge going up the hill. He hunted the locust grove to the front and was rewarded with a find at the end, with the scout calling point and a hen bird taking flight as Mike rode over. Miller's Hopped Up Version had an unproductive across from the pond and pointed a pile of feathers on the left side of the ridge. Going up the hill, she pointed in a sorghum strip; during the relocation, a bird took flight, and Mark picked up.

Wednesday morning brought much-needed rain. Faithful (M. Tracy) and R Q's Saddle were off at 8 a.m.; both dogs were to the front for a divided find along the main breakaway hedgerow. They showed nicely, with Faithful scoring finds across from the rock pile and on the right side of the locust grove before a lapse of manners ended a serious bid. Saddle was picked up at 35.

From the top of the ridge, Ramey's Elhew Independence (M. Tracy) and BK Real McCoy (B. Lanning) were down and away, showing at the top of the next hill. McCoy is a fancy moving dog on the ground. He was fresh off placing second in the Futurity; he had one stylish find and a wide race before a lapse of manners. Independence had two finds and showed fine manners in a tough situation before the handler elected to pick up at 45.

Bragabull (M. Hughes) and Miller's High Heat Index (M. Tracy) were off from the main breakaway, with the rain having just stopped. Miller's High Heat Index scored two finds with fine style and two unproductives. Bragabull had two finds and a back before having a slight infraction.

Miller's War Bonnet (M. Tracy) and Miller's Strolling For Gold (G. Tracy) were off from the main breakaway at 2 p.m.; Strolling For Gold was rolling, and the tracker was called for at the end of the locust grove. War Bonnet ran a big race but showed well to the front. Point was called just beyond the ridge with a big snapping turtle; Mike took her on. She had a stylish find to the right of the tree at the start of the outer loop. She continued to make strong forward casts while always in tune with the handler. She finished the hour strong.

The Secret (J. Lordi) and Triple Nickel Carbon Copy (M. Tracy) started from the main breakaway. The Secret was seen going up the hill after the breakaway. Both handlers called for the tracker in the locust grove.

Mo's Curtain Call (M. Tracy) and Double Deuce Zeke (M. Hughes) were released at the start of the locust grove. Curtain Call was jacked up for a find at 2. She had a divided find just before the pond and was running a good race before a slight lapse of manners on the bottom of the ridge. Zeke was a bird-finding machine; he was dialed in for a quick find at 2 and then a divided find on the milo strip at the end of the locust grove. He made a nice swing around the right side of the pond and swung to the front. He stood tight for a find at the bottom of the ridge. He made a nice move up the hill. Zeke was standing on the outer loop, but no bird was found. Zeke was taken on and locked up about 50 yards away for a stylish find. He was released and, about 100 yards away, had to stop to flush. He was not seen at the end of the outer loop; deep in the milo, he was barely visible as we turned to come back from the outer loop. All was in order for the flush. Zeke made some nice moves, finishing the outer loop and was then headed to the rock pile. He continued to run to the front with a find as we crossed the road. He finished under the whistle on the breakaway hedgerow.

Calico's Sky's The Limit (M. Tracy) and Miller's Special Cinderella (G. Tracy) were off on Thursday morning in the ninth brace. Sky's The Limit scored finds at 5 on the breakaway and backed with ease at the start of the locust grove. Cinderella was running big and had a find right at the start of the locust grove and then in the milo just past the locust grove. Sky's The Limit pointed twice on the ridge with fine manners and looked to be making a serious bid before taking a hard left toward the hills. She was gathered up, but the handler elected to pick up. George called for the tracker at the top of the ridge.

In the next brace, Pal's Prestigious Pete (M. Tracy) and Parkway (M. Hughes) were off on the outer loop. Pete had a slight lapse of manners just off the breakaway. Parkway had an unproductive and stylish find before he pinned a pheasant at 10; the flush was too tempting, and he was picked up.

Jolene Jolene (M. Tracy) and Wayward Flyin Tomato (M. Hughes) ran in the 11th brace. Jolene Jolene is written up under "The Winners." Flyin Tomato pointed quickly on the bottom side of the outer loop before going on but chased a pheasant shortly after on the top side of the outer loop.

Miller's Heat Seeker (G. Tracy) and Steel Valley Raven (M. Tracy) laid down one of the more exciting braces. Raven was locked up for a find on the left side of the breakaway hedgerow. She displayed fine style and manners for the flush and was sent on. Heat Seeker had a find just ahead but out of my sight. Raven answered again with a stylish find and was sent on. Both were running strong forward races. Raven was locked up for a find across from the rock pile, again displaying fine manners. Raven took the left edge of the locust grove, and Heat Seeker took the right. Both finished the hour to the front.

Miller's Special Upgrade (M. Hughes) and Raag's Rich and Rare (M. Tracy) started at the rock pile going toward the parking lot. Raag's Rich and Rare handled two finds perfectly with fine style and made a beautiful cast going up the hill before having a slight breach of manners. Miller's Special Upgrade ran a good race with two stylish finds but suffered two unproductives.

Cheyenne Jack (J. Lordi) and Reedy Creek Dial Tone (M. Tracy) were released starting on the outer loop. Dial Tone had an unproductive, and Mike called for the tracker at 25. Jack ran a medium race, scoring a find on a rooster along the breakaway hedgerow. He had a chukar find on the hill to the right of the pond. He pointed a fresh kill on the ridge and finished the hour.

Miller's Automatic Upgrade (M. Tracy) and Miller's Lock and Loaded (G. Tracy) ran the final brace of the day. Lock and Loaded was written up under "The Winners." Upgrade hunted the front but was only charged with an unproductive at the end of the main breakaway field, with Lock and Loaded backing to finish the hour.

B K Lapaloma Blanca (B. Lanning) and Backcountry Snake Eyes (M. Tracy) are two young dogs with a bright future. They showed great style on the ground but were both up early.

Trump (M. Tracy) and Miller's Little Duce Coupe (G. Tracy) were sent out from the flat area after the locust grove. Both dogs were making nice casts on the right around the pond and up the hill. Trump pointed just past the hill; all was in order as Mike flushed a hen bird. Close to the top of the ridge, point was called for Little Duce Coupe. She stood with excellent style for the flush. Trump was on point as Little Duce Coupe gained the front. She failed to back, and Trump was tempted too much.

Bittersweet War Cry (M. Tracy) started off Friday afternoon, with the weather changing as the winds picked up. He was the first of three bye braces. War Cry had a stylish find pointing away from the hedgerow. War Cry was hunting and hitting some ground that few, if any, dogs hit. He stood at the seven, where the handler tried to move him on, but War Cry stood, and eventually, a hen was flushed. He added a nice find in the locust grove. He continued running a forward race. He was working a bird when a bird behind him got up, and then the bird he was working got up; among the commotion, War Cry took one step too many.

Erin's Envy (M. Tracy) is a beautiful, well-built Pointer male. He was released from the bottom of the ridge. He handled well, hunting the right side of the hill. As he entered the outer loop, he stood on the left. Mike called flight, but it was not seen, and Envy was taken on. We flew down the center, and point was called. During the flush, Envy relocated and was picked up.

Pine Straw Hot Chocolate (M. Tracy), in the swan song of the trial, was away from the far end of the outer loop. Hot Chocolate hunted the middle, with point being called at 2. While Mike attempted to flush, Hot Chocolate moved slightly to end the trial.

Judges Kevin Stuart and Meredith Mays.

Bloomingdale, Ohio, September 24
Judges: Meredith Mays and Kevin Stuart
68TH NATIONAL OPEN PHEASANT SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 34 Pointers and 3 Setters
Winner-JOLENE JOLENE, F1692447, pointer female, by Miller's Heat Seeker-Dominator's Heir Kate. Joe McHugh & Dave McKay, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.
Runner-Up-MILLER'S LOCK AND LOADED, F1674986, pointer male, by Just Irresistible-Miller's Bring The Heat. Bill & Muriel Primm, owners; George Tracy, handler.