Result: National Amateur All-Age Invitational Championship

Post Date: Jan 14, 2025

Submitted By: Jim Atchison

The Winners (front, l to r): David Russell with Haney's Hurricane Seeker and Mike Lemons with Como Thunder. (Back, l to r): Brody Byrd, Ryan Braddock, Jamie McKemie, Ken Blackman, Matt Backus, Billy Blackwell, Bill Mason (judge), Chris Weatherly, Ric Peterson (judge), Rachel Russell, and Piper Huffman.

The 12 highest point-winning amateur all-age dogs in the nation were invited to Ames Plantation, where the AFTCA sponsored the 44th renewal of its National Amateur All-Age Invitational Championship. Piper Huffman organized and oversaw the three-day endurance contest, which started with the drawing on Sunday, December 8, and ran the following Monday through Wednesday.

David Russell from Como, Mississippi, dominated as he handled his Haney's Hurricane Seeker to win the championship and handled Como Thunder, co-owned by Russell, his wife Rachel, Billy Blackwell, and Doug Arthur, to win runner-up.

Judges for the championship were Ric Peterson from Germantown, Tennessee, and Bill Mason from Moundville, Alabama. Their commitment to fulfilling their judging duties was unquestioned, and their services were appreciated.

The event was kicked off with a social hour held at the Rhea Reception Center at Ames, followed by Piper Huffman's welcoming remarks and the drawing for the order of running. She expressed appreciation to the Trustees of the Ames Foundation for permitting the use of the National Championship courses for the contest, explicitly addressing thanks to Matt Backus, the new Center Director, Ryan Braddock, and Chris Weatherly, who were present representing the Trustees, and who also rode throughout the running, serving as marshals and ensuring that the needs of their guests were accommodated.

Next, Huffman thanked long-time sponsors Purina and Garmin for their continuing generosity. Purina's long tradition of sponsorship included significant financial assistance, which included the Monday night Purina Awards Dinner and Purina Pro Plan given to all dog owners, plus significantly larger amounts to the champion and runner-up. Garmin continued their generous spirit, awarding their outstanding tracking and training collars as prizes to the champion and runner-up.

She also welcomed new sponsors who provided outstanding products for those attending and/or owners of the winners. Three new Event Level sponsors were included. Ultra Cruz provided generous quantities of their equestrian fly spray, canine flea and tick sprays, and shampoos for both horses and dogs. Nutrena provided certificates for equestrian feed for the champion and runner-up. Kevin Parrish (The Saddle Guy) provided AFTCA embossed judges' book covers for the judges.

Huffman, the well-organized administrative secretary of the AFTCA, then conducted the drawing, assisted by Ken Blackman. She also announced that Blackman would manage the dog wagon and that a deputy sheriff from the Fayette County Sheriff's Department would provide security at the numerous road crossings on the morning courses. Additionally, sausage biscuits were promised at the end of the first morning brace each day.

On Monday evening the Purina Awards Dinner was held following a social hour at the National Bird Dog Museum. Callbacks were announced at the Ames Manor on Tuesday night, following a social hour and heavy hors d' oeuvres. Museum Director Tonya Brotherton welcomed everyone and Gail Haynes prepared the dinner at the Museum. After the meal, Piper presented certificates to the owners for each competing entry, reported the number of qualifying points earned by each, and listed the wins and placements that earned the points. The longstanding tradition of announcing the callbacks at the Ames Manor was enjoyed as Center Director Matt Backus poured into the Mr. Ames gunroom and was joined by his wife, Kristin, and their children, Jones and Penny. After enjoying the roast beef, shrimp, remaining buffet, and desserts, the callbacks were announced, and Piper advised that the first brace of Wednesday morning would begin at 9 a.m.

CHAMPION AND RUNNER-UP
Haney's Hurricane Seeker, the champion owned and handled by David Russell, hunted in the sixth brace on Monday, the third brace on Tuesday, and the second brace on Wednesday morning. Thus, he was on three different courses and with three different bracemates. On Monday afternoon, he ran a strong race, with some absence, and had one find just prior to entering the area of the afternoon loop that courses past several historical markers. That find came at 47 and was handled well on both the point and flush. On Tuesday morning, he again ran a commendable race but found no birds. His performance that won the championship was during the callback. During that hour, he found birds at 9 and again at 38. The first find was at the intersection of the Turner House Field and the adjoining Turner Field. From there, he continued his stylish and strong race until finding the second covey in route to finishing the hour on the Mary Scott Loop. At the end of the hour, Russell put his champion in a road harness, was seen by the judges on time, and imprinted the judges' decisions in their minds that they had their champion.

Como Thunder, now almost six years old, won runner-up for David Russell and his co-owners, continuing his history of successful performances. He stopped only once during his fifth brace performance on Monday afternoon, and that stop was unproductive at 56. His style was consistently good during the unsuccessful flushing effort. On Tuesday, Russell flushed a covey from milo along the east side of Turner Road at 22. Those were the only birds found during the hour. During the callback, Thunder had a delay crossing Buford Ellington, failing to make a 90-degree turn on the first hour course. He did return after a lengthy absence and finished the hour but found no birds, with time running out near National Championship Road.

OTHERS CALLED BACK
Haney's Storm Warning, owned by Chris Cagle and handled by Chris Cagle Jr., was called back in the first callback brace. He was strong and impressive during all three hours but was unfortunately eliminated when Cagle could not recover him within the allotted time at the end of the callback. Storm Warning had two finds in brace five on Monday; the first at 36 along the south edge of the Chute and the second after making the 90-degree turn at the Agronomy Unit. He had no birds during the second brace on Tuesday but ran an impressive ground race, as he did during all three performances. Storm Warning handled great again for Cagle during the callback, with one find at 25 along the north edge of the Turner House Field, but was then eliminated when he could not be located within the allotted time at the end of the hour.

Rebel Survivor, owned and handled by David Williams, was the fourth dog called back. He had no birds on the fifth hour course Monday afternoon but backed Como Thunder during an unproductive. On the third hour course, Tuesday morning, Williams flushed birds three times, at 3, 13, and again at 46, thus producing the largest number of coveys of any entry during a one-hour effort. During the callback, he pointed at 13 along the east side of Turner Road, but when no birds were immediately flushed and asked to relocate, he left and continued to run the course, circling the Avent House and overtaking the gallery and competing brace mate.

THE OTHER CONTENDERS
As we think about these remaining eight dogs, we are reminded that they are among the nation's 12 outstanding amateur all-age dogs that earned numerous wins and placements to merit being invited to compete in this championship. The order in which they are reported herewith is the order in which they were drawn to compete on the first day of the championship.

Haney's Silver Dollar, owned by Chris Cagle and handled by Chris Cagle Jr., ran on the first hour course on Monday. He was late crossing Buford Ellington Road, seen only briefly, at 28, along the north edge of the Turner Field and not seen again during the hour. On Tuesday, he had an unproductive at 48, and Cagle asked for his tracker after several relocation efforts.

Phillips Linebacker, owned by Nathan Phillips and Orin Ingram, was handled by Mike Small. Linebacker did not make the turn necessary to cross Buford Ellington Road and was not seen during the remainder of the hour on Monday. On Tuesday afternoon, he had birds immediately, at 2, along the edge of Ames Road. He backed an unproductive of his bracemate at 8 but located no other birds during his remaining effort.

Touch's Lone Dominator, owned and handled by Kent Cantrell, DVM, found no birds in either of his appearances but managed well during both and was great to watch as he ran an amazingly strong race on the sixth course to finish the Tuesday afternoon competition.

Coldwater Crackerjack, owned and handled by Gary McKibben, had no birds on Monday afternoon's second hour course. He then had a productive hour on Tuesday afternoon. That hour started with a stand that produced no birds at 8, followed by finds at 17 and 28. Those finds were made immediately after crossing Buster Graves' driveway and along the south side of Ames Road. The hour was a good one.

Game Heir entered the championship as the highpoint dog invited to participate. Owned and handled by Dr. Fred Corder, Game Heir was nice to watch, but he had no birds during the third brace on Monday and was gone the last quarter of the hour. On Tuesday, in the sixth brace, he had a stop to flush early in the hour, ran a great race, but found no other birds.

Rester's Cajun Justice, owned and handled by Cecil Rester, exhibited plenty of effort but produced no birds during either of his hours, on the third course or the fifth.

Imagine, owned and handled by Jim Pendergest, competed in the fourth hour on Monday and the first hour on Tuesday. He was gone a lot during the Monday appearance and did not finish the hour on Tuesday, as Jim asked for his tracker at 54, near National Championship Road.

Storm's End, owned and handled by Matt Pendergest, found no birds during the last hour of Monday afternoon. Then, he did not run Tuesday.

CONCLUSION
The generosity of the Ames Foundation Trustees, the hospitality of the Plantation personnel, generous sponsors, excellent judges, and outstanding dogs, all overseen masterfully by Piper Huffman, came together smoothly to produce an excellent 44th renewal of this very respected championship. Well done!

Grand Junction, Tenn., December 9
Judges: Bill Mason and Ric Peterson
NATIONAL AMATEUR ALL-AGE INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 12 Pointers
Winner-HANEY'S HURRICANE SEEKER, F1698759, pointer male, by Ransom-Haney's North Star. David Russell, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-COMO THUNDER, F1687714, pointer male, by Skyfall-Catch Me Dot. D. Arthur, Billy Blackwell & David Russell, owners; David Russell, handler.

National Amateur All-Age Invitational Championship (front, l to r): Dr. Fred Corder with Game Heir, Jim Pendergest with Imagine, Matt Pendergest with Storm's End, Ken Blackman with Haney's Storm Warning, Kent Cantrell with Touch's Lone Dominator, Chris Cagle Jr. with Haney's Silver Dollar, David Russell with Haney's Hurricane Seeker, David Williams with Rebel Survivor, Mike Small with Phillips Linebacker, Gary McKibben with Coldwater Crackerjack, Cecil Rester with Rester's Cajun Justice, and Mike Lemons with Como Thunder (Back, l to r): Megan Pendergest, Bill Mason (judge), and Ric Peterson (judge).