Result: Texas Open Shooting Dog Championship and Ed Beverly Memorial Derby

Location: Conway, Arkansas

Post Date: Jan 3, 2025

Submitted By: John Van Horn

Texas Open Shooting Dog Championship (l-r): Mike Lemon, Ronnie Miller, Shawn Kinkelaar, Johnny Taylor, Brian Gingrich, Virgil Moore with Lester's Another Shockwave, Robby Robinson, Allen Vincent, Matt Cochran with Wynona's Nickleback Sugar, Bruce Sooter, Adrian Jackson (judge), Jeremy Gulick (judge), Sandy Van Horn, and John Van Horn.

The Camp Robinson Field Trial Group convened at the conclusion of last season to focus on improving both the grounds and the bird population. We have come to understand that there is no single solution to perfect quail habitat management. It requires continuous oversight, adjustments, and timely modifications.

This year, several key changes were implemented. We switched bird suppliers to Seth Vick, ensuring higher-quality birds, and adjusted the release schedule to early morning at daylight rather than the midday heat--both critical improvements. Each release site included quartered watermelons to provide moisture and hold the birds, a necessary adaptation after the AG&F required the removal of barrel feeders. While we would have preferred retaining some feeders, we complied and adopted McCrary Habitat Feeders to distribute 2,500 pounds of feed every 14 days in strategically planted feed strips. Though this approach demands significantly more effort, the results were outstanding. These combined efforts resulted in the best bird crop in 20 years, with every brace experiencing bird work--even in the derby stakes. During the trials, 10 to 20 coveys were moved daily.

The event benefited from the expertise of judges Adrian Jackson from Boys Town, Texas, and Jeremy Gulick, both seasoned professionals well-versed in evaluating field trial competitors. Their vast experience ensured deserving winners were distinguished, even amidst occasional challenges such as heavy cover and frequent bird encounters.

Championship Highlights
Lester's Another Shockwave, a Pointer male owned by Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton and handled by veteran Shawn Kinkelaar, was named champion. Shockwave impressed with two finds--at the four-minute and 25-minute marks--paired with a strong, forward-moving ground effort.

Wynona's Nickleback Sugar, a Setter female handled by Allen Vincent, was named runner-up. Sugar showcased a classy ground effort and one find discovered by scout Matt Cochran after traversing the dove field south of the mountain. Owner Bruce Sooter was present to witness Sugar's remarkable performance, marking her second consecutive year as runner-up.

Conway, Ark., November 13
Judges: Jeremy Gulick and Andrew Jackson
TEXAS OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 25 Pointers, 6 Setters and 6 Vizslas
Winner-LESTER'S ANOTHER SHOCKWAVE, F1691812, pointer male, by Lester's Shockwave-Miller's Stitch In Time. Tommy & Bonnie Hamilton, owners; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.
Runner-Up-WYNONA'S NICKLEBACK SUGAR, 1690017, setter female, by T's Nickleback-Carpenter's Don't Ya. Bruce Sooter & Brad Tilson, owners; Allen Vincent, handler.

Ed Beverly Memorial Derby
The derby commenced on Saturday morning, with standout performances.

The winner, Wynona's Rebel, handled by Allen Vincent and owned by Bruce Sooter, secured victory with a find at 7:34.

In second place, Wild Rum Jack, handled by Matt Cochran, earned the spot through a strong ground performance.

Jeremy Gulick's entrant was also recognized for its ground effort for third place.

Judges: Adrian Jackson and Rick Thone
ED BEVERLY MEMORIAL DERBY - 11 Pointers
1st-WYNONA'S REBEL, F1717783, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-White Smoke's Angel. Bruce Sooter, owner; Allen Vincent, handler.
2d-WILD RUM JACK, F1715157, pointer male, by Big N Wild-Rum's Irresistible Rose. Matt Cochran, owner and handler.
3d-BRIAN, unreg., pointer male, breeding not given. Jeremy Gulick, owner and handler.

The smooth execution of the trial was made possible by Roger Martin, who expertly managed dog wagon logistics, even handling unexpected challenges like a broken wagon bearing with minimal delays. Exceptional lunches, prepared by Sandy Van Horn, ensured no one went hungry; diets were certainly on hold this week! Additionally, the event was generously sponsored by Purina and Sporting Dog Specialties, with prizes including dog food, training collars, and bark collars for winners and runners-up.

Looking Ahead
Field trial grounds across the country have faced challenges in recent years, and Camp Robinson is no exception. However, the dedication and hard work of local field trailers have set us on a positive trajectory. Collectively, our group invests over $30,000 annually in birds, habitat improvements, and feeding programs, funded in part by the $35-per-dog entry fee. We encourage everyone to join us in Conway to experience the exceptional bird work and facilities. Every entry makes a difference.

Ed Beverly Memorial Derby (l-r): Robby Robinson, Ronnie Miller, Allen Vincent with Wynona's Rebel, Rick Thone (judge), Bruce Sooter, Matt Cochran with Wildlife Rum Jack, Adrian Jackson (judge), Jeremy Gulick with "Brian," John Van Horn, and Sandy Van Horn.