Result: Region 19 Amateur All-Age Championship

Location: Danberry, Wisconsin

Post Date: Dec 4, 2024

Submitted By: Katherine Gove

Region 19 Amateur All-Age Championship (front): Ramblin Rivers Natural with Todd Manns and Pearl Jam Nation with Scott Jordan. (Rear): Bruce Mueller, Lance Schulz (judge), Dean Renneke, Don Dak, Nik Zewers, and Doug Swingley (judge).

The 2024 running of the Region 19 Amateur All-Age Championship was successfully completed with a good field of competitive dogs and a healthy population of sharptail grouse observed on each of the three courses. Overall, the Namekagon Barrens cover was the best it's been because of the diligent management efforts of the WI Department of Natural Resources. We are grateful for the continued burning that has occurred to maintain the ideal habitat for the sharptail grouse. One of those burns occurred a few weeks before the trial, and it made pointing out the dogs running through the open valley a thing of beauty. Unfortunately, a few dogs felt so unrestricted that they just kept running right off the course and out of judgment.
The winner and runner-up champions competed on Course Two, which had a mixture of open vistas and heavy cover, showing the dogs' ability to run and handle. This course also provided several consistent spots for locating birds, including a lek. Champion Ramblin River's Natural had, as one would expect, a natural forward race, making owner and handler Bill Stapleton's job look easy. The champion's efforts were rewarded with a find on sharptail grouse at 40. His strong finish extending into the next course was more impressive since most of his brace was run with a 25-mph headwind. Runner-up Champion Pearl Jam Nation ran a consistently forward race, adjusting to the cover as needed. Like all of handler Scott Jordan's dogs, Pearl had a strong desire to please and continually popped out to the front with minimal handling efforts by Scott. Pearl had two finds to garner the runner-up position.

The Open Derby stake had multiple dogs that could have placed. Running in the brushy sharptail cover adds an extra challenge for young dogs, but the winners did a nice job running hard to the front. First place, Shady Street, pleased the judges and handler Adam DeLude. Cal, named second, ran a strong race for Austin Turley, and Confidence had a forward race to obtain third-place honors for Jim Tande.

Running field trials become more and more difficult as competitor numbers dwindle. Running quality championships takes a village. Judges Lance Schulz and Doug Swingley went well beyond the call of duty by volunteering to help judge the All-Age Championship after our original judges had health issues. Jarrett and Allison Bell stepped up and volunteered to judge the Open Derby. Trial Chairman Todd Manns did a great job running the trial. His able assistant, Fran Kelly, helped with the food and treats, hosting happy hours and delicious cookouts. Our long-time dog wagon driver, Don Dak, should have gotten an award after bouncing along the rough terrain for all of the stakes with several broken ribs. We are very grateful to sponsors Purina and SportDOG for their generous donations.

Danberry, Wis., October 6
Judges: Lance Schulz and Doug Swingley
REGION 19 AMATEUR ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 7 Pointers and 4 Setters
Winner-RAMBLIN RIVERS NATURAL, F1688693, pointer male, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt-Upfront's Southern Star. William Stapleton, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-PEARL JAM NATION, F1701309, pointer male, by Confident Nation-Notorious Rebel Woman. Scott & Julie Jordan, owners; Scott Jordan, handler.

Judges: Allison Bell and Jarrett Bell
OPEN DERBY - 11 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-ALLIWOOD'S SHADY STREET, F1706020, pointer male, by Touch's Grey Street-Alliwood's Shady Shay. Adam DeLude, owner and handler.
2d-CARBONADO'S CALDERA, F1713506, pointer male, by Nevada's Copper Jim-Boudica. Austin Turley, owner and handler.
3d-TOTAL CONFIDENCE, F1717099, pointer male, by Confident Nation-Oday Nation. James Tande, owner and handler.

Open Derby (front): Bill Stapleton with Alliwood's Shady Street, Keith Anderson with Carbonado's Caldero, and Jim Tande with Total Confidence. (Rear): Adam DeLude, Allison Bell (judge), Jarrett Bell (judge), Austin Turley, Todd Manns, Michelle Turley, Fran Kelly, Nik Zewers, and Katherine Gove.