Result: National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Covington, Indiana

Post Date: Feb 3, 2025

Submitted By: Bob Bakas

The prestigious National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship was held on November 15, 2024, at the magnificent Redwood Farm in Covington, Indiana. Owned and operated by Keith and Jessica Wright, these grounds stand as some of the finest maintained field trial facilities in the Midwest.

The judges for the event, Mike Jackson and John Vanada, presided over the competition with great diligence and fairness, upholding the high standards of the championship.
We'd like to thank our sponsors, Purina Pro Plan, Garmin, Ultra Cruz Equestrian, and The Saddle Guy, for their support.

Placements:
Champion--Hirollins Gone and Done It (PM), skillfully handled by Warren Parrot.
Runner-Up--Southern Shadow's Bootlegger (PM), ably handled by Klaus Schmidt.
Honorable Mentions:
Bandit Hill Bess (PF, Klaus Schmidt)
Alliwood's Never Say Never (PF, Adam DeLude)
Blair's Holy Thunder (PM, Greg Blair)
Faith's Maximum Justice (PM, Ken Delong)
Crow Creek Redbud (PF, Aaron McAfee)

The Field Trial Experience
This walking trial was hosted on immaculately maintained grounds that reflect the care and pride of ownership by Keith and Jessica Wright. From the moment participants set foot on the property, they were met with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Wright family's attention to detail was evident in every aspect of the event, creating an environment where handlers, judges, and spectators alike felt like part of a close-knit community.
Keith Wright was a constant presence, ensuring handlers and judges had everything they needed to succeed, while Jessica Wright and her team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the event running smoothly. The hospitality extended well beyond the competition itself, starting before sunrise and carrying on into the night, creating a truly memorable experience for all in attendance.

This championship was not just a test of dog and handler excellence but also a testament to the camaraderie and shared passion for the sport. Congratulations to the winners, and a heartfelt thank you to Keith, Jessica, and everyone who made this event possible.

The Champion
Hirollins Gone and Done It (PM) - Brace 7
Handled by Warren Parrot, Hirollins Gone and Done It delivered a standout performance that solidified his claim to the championship title. From the start, the dog showcased his hallmark speed and forward drive, demonstrating determination and style throughout the hour.
At the six-minute mark, Gone and Done It was found standing, but no birds were produced, and the run moved forward. At 13, both dogs in the brace were pointed on separate birds, about 40 yards apart. Both handlers flushed successfully, and all was in order.
The Pointer's performance gained momentum at the 17-minute mark, where he was found standing along a feed strip. Stylish and confident, he held beautifully as his handler produced birds. At 26, he was again standing, this time in the northeast corner of the grounds, where a nice covey was produced.
Building on this strong start, Gone and Done It maintained his forward pace and impressive focus. At 34, he was standing again, followed by another stylish find at 44. With the abundance of birds on these well-maintained grounds, Hirollins Gone and Done It displayed unwavering intensity and composure. His consistent excellence throughout the brace demonstrated that he truly brought his A-game, earning him the title of Champion.

The Runner-up
Southern Shadow's Bootlegger (PM) - Brace 15
Handled by Klaus Schmidt, Southern Shadow's Bootlegger delivered a commanding performance, earning the runner-up title with his impressive bird work and tenacity.
The brace began with a fast pace set by both dogs. At 13, Bootlegger was found pointed up on a hill near the railroad tracks, with his brace mate honoring the staunch point. At 23, Klaus's scout called point along the highway edge of the grounds, where both dogs were standing, and all was in order.
At 32, Bootlegger encountered a bird on the path and executed a stylish stop to flush. Just a few minutes later, at the top of a hill, both dogs were again standing, with birds produced. Bootlegger continued to shine at the 43-minute mark when scouts called point on separate finds in the same area.
Bootlegger's performance peaked in the closing moments of the brace. At 48, Klaus's scout called point once more, and the dog delivered a stylish find. With additional birdwork at 55 and 57, Bootlegger showcased exceptional endurance, bird sense, and precision, proving his worth as runner-up in this highly competitive event.

The Running
Brace 1 - The Treasure Chest (PM, Monroe/Parrott) with My Way Coal Train (PM, Aaron McAfee).
Start Time: 8:30 a.m.
The trial opened with high hopes for both competitors. At 20, Aaron's My Way Coal Train struggled with a 20-bird covey and was unable to handle the situation, ending his day. Cliff Monroe's The Treasure Chest showed early promise but was out of contention at 29 after his scout called point.

Brace 2 - Flint Ridge Annie (PF, Paul Ott) with Forbidden Eve (SF, Tim Penn). In this short-lived brace, Flint Ridge Annie knocked a bird at 9, and Forbidden Eve faltered during the flush. Both dogs were picked up early.

Brace 3 - Hirollins All American (ESM, Parrott/Monroe) with Beaucoup Creek Buck (ESM, Donald Heisner). Donald's dog was found standing at 9, worked on finding some birds, and finally decided to take the dog on after finding a pile of feathers. Warren asked for his tracker after 18 minutes of not seeing the dog. Don requested his tracker after his dog was gone too long as well ending their day.

Brace 4 - Bandit Hill Bess (PF, Klaus Schmidt) with Miller Creek's On The Horizon (GSPF, Matt Miller). Starting at 10:48 a.m., things got started quickly for Klaus one minute after the breakaway; moving on to get the hour started, he was also found at the 13-minute mark producing a nice covey of birds and keeping things in order at 17. Klaus had to stop to flush and found his dog at 26 pointed in some thin, tall grass. At 33, the GSP was pointed with Klaus's dog honoring about 30 yards behind looking very stylish. At the 40-minute mark, Klaus had his dog standing, had to relocate, and decided to move on. Hitting the 45-minute mark, Matt Miller found his dog pointed by the creek; unfortunately, he had to relocate and decided to move on. In the last 10 minutes of the brace, Klaus's dog was pointed by the creek. After a minute, Klaus found a pile of feathers and decided to move on. Matt pushed it all the way to the end, finding his dog standing at 59. Klaus's dog came in for a nice back, and time was called.

Brace 5 - Emert's Sho Me Motu (PM, Monroe/Parrott) with The Need For Speed (ESM, Chris Kobs). At 8, Cliff's dog was found standing by the creek, and the bird decided to run; the dog held nicely through the flush. Sixteen minutes into the brace, Chris's dog was found pointed; after a quick reload, birds were flushed, and all was in order. Just a couple of minutes later, Chris's dog pointed and moved on. Twenty-five minutes in Cliff's dog pointed next to a feed strip parallel with the highway. At the 28-minute mark, Chris's dog made the return from the front after being gone for a bit 38 minutes into it. Cliff's dog was pointed on the other dog had to be encouraged into the back. Unfortunately, no birds were produced, and Cliff took the nonproductive. Forty-nine minutes into it, Chris's dog was found standing with everything in order moving forward. Unfortunately, at the 51-minute mark, Cliff's dog's inner derby came out in some tall grass and ended his day. Chris and his dog finished the hour.

Brace 6 - Blair's Calvary Mountain (PM, Greg Blair) with Redbud's Southern Boy (PM, Aaron McAfee). Start Time: 2:30 p.m.
Aaron's dog was fast to find a bird at the 3-minute mark pointed by the creek. All was in order, and moved forward, finding another one at 9. Greg's dog was fast and forward-bound, standing at 25. Unfortunately, Greg's dog had his wheels on and Greg needed the tracker. Aaron Humbly picked up his dog that wasn't making any money.

Brace 7 - Hirollins Gone and Done It (PM, Parrott/Monroe) with Alliwood's Never Say Never (PF, Adam DeLude). At the 6-minute mark, Adam and "Junebug" were found pointed; she needed a relocate. Unfortunately, no birds were produced. At 13, both dogs were pointed on different birds about 40 yards apart, all in order for both handlers and moving on. Junebug pointed a nice covey at 19 and looked very stylish. Twenty-six minutes into the brace, both were found standing in the northeast corner of the grounds by the highway. Birds were produced, and all was good. Thirty-five minutes in, Junebug was fast and forward and had to stop to flush on a roaming bird. Forty-one minutes in, Junebug pointed, and everything was in order. Keeping everything forward at the 49-minute mark, Adam found his dog pointed under the pines. Unfortunately, at 56, Adam and June's day was over.

Brace 8 - Grin N Bear It (SM, Eryn Pearson) scratched with Baker's Shining Star Duke (GSPM, Mike Baker). Start Time: 8:10 a.m. (Day 2).
This was a bye brace, and seven minutes in, Mike's dog was pointed facing a feed strip by the creek, needed a little relocation, and decided to take the nonproductive and move on. Thirty minutes into the brace, Mike's dog was standing staunchly in a nice grass field parallel to the highway with about 20 birds in the covey produced 39 minutes in. After crossing the creek by the redwood sign, the dog was found standing on an edge at 49; he had his last point, which needed a relocation.

Brace 9 - Mohawk Mill Shake Up (PM, Monroe/Parrott) with Foxy Lady Sadie (ISF, Mike Fox). This brace ended at the 18-minute mark, with both handlers asking for their trackers after not seeing the dogs since the breakaway.

Brace 10 - Touch's Mac Daddy (PM, Klaus Schmidt) with Flint Ridge Oakley (PF, Paul Ott). Both dogs were very forward to start this brace. Ten minutes in, both dogs were stopped in the handler's treated like a stopped to flush. Unfortunately, no birds were seen. At 13, Klaus's dog was pointed along the railroad tracks. He didn't like the way things looked and moved on taking the non-productive. At the same time, down the hill, Paul's dog in the feed strip needed a relocation, pointed again, and decided to move on after being unsuccessful with birds. At 15, Klaus's dog pointed, Paul's dog backed along the railroad tracks in the beans, and all was good. At 38, both dogs had a divided find on the top of the hill, fouled at 43 with a rabbit being produced after Klaus's dog pointed and Paul's honoring. At the 45-minute mark, Paul's dog was found standing south of the pines in the bicolor. Unfortunately, a dead bird was found, and he moved on. Right before the end of the hour at the 59-minute mark, Klaus's dog pointed a bird with Paul's dog honoring and all kept in order to finish the brace.

Brace 11 - No Limits Little Flick (GSPM, John Landolina) with Wildfire's Snowy Mountain (GSPF, Mike Vicari). A fast start for Mike and his dog, being forward at 13. John's dog was pointed on a feed strip, followed by just a couple minutes later down in the bottom, needing a reload, and decided to move on with no birds produced. At the 15-minute mark, Maddie decided to knock and relive her juvenile years, ending her day. Unfortunately, the cousin's day ended when John's dog ran through a bird at the 35-minute mark.

Brace 12 - Mohawk Mill For Real (PM, Monroe/Parrott) with Alliwood's Eleventh Hour (PF, Adam DeLude). A bit of a quiet start after two dogs started very fast and forward. Twenty-three minutes after a nice scenic ride, Adam's girl, "Ellie," was found standing with the other dog, respectfully honoring all in order moving forward. Twenty-seven minutes in, scout called point, and both dogs were found standing, keeping everything in order moving forward. Unfortunately, at 39, Cliff asked for his tracker to find his dog shortly after Adam asked for his tracker at the 43-minute mark, ending both of their days.

Brace 13 - Blair's Holy Thunder (PM, Greg Blair) with Chief Deception (PM, Tim Penn)
A pretty fast and forward start, Greg found his dog pointed at the 12-minute mark at the top of the hill just south of the tracks. At 16, Greg's dog pointed in the tall grass. After a reload, feathers were found, and things were moved on. Point was called at the 26-minute mark for Greg, who kept everything in order with his dog moving forward, pointing at 34 and having a hard time finding birds after two reloads. He decided to move on 42 minutes in. Greg's dog pointed and all was good. Just six minutes later, he had another find, and all was in order to finish the hour at 56; both dogs were found pointed and moved on. Tim's dog turned into Houdini and disappeared and he needed his tracker.

Brace 14 - Full Red Afterburn (ISM, Mike Fox) with Faith's Maximum Justice (PM, Ken Delong). For our last brace of the afternoon, starting at 3:20 p.m., Ken found his dog pointed by a feeder before going up the hill. Twenty-two minutes in, Ken's scout called point. At the 46-minute mark, Mike picked up his dog for being gone quite a bit of the brace. At the 48-minute mark, Ken found his dog south of the cabin pointed and again at 59.

Brace 15 - Southern Shadow's Bootlegger (PM, Klaus Schmidt) with Crow Creek Redbud (PF, Aaron McAfee). A couple of very nice big runners getting started in this brace. At 17, Aaron's dog was down in the bottom pointed as he was heading to the east just a couple minutes later; at 19, he pointed again in the corner by the tracks and the highway, and Klaus's dog came in for the back. At 23, a scout called point and both dogs were found standing along the highway's edge. Thirty-eight minutes into the brace, both dogs were pointed at the top of the hill and all was kept in order moving forward. At 43, scouts called point again. Both dogs on different fines were kept in order. At 52, Aaron had the pleasure of finding his dog pointed in the briars. At 59, Aaron and his dog were very unsure just north of the cabin and decided to move on to finish the hour.

Brace 16 - Flint Ridge Ranger (PF, Paul Ott) with K Del's Eagle Magnum Hotshot (BM, Ken Delong). Paul and Ken were off to a fast start with a very nice forward race. At the 15-minute mark, both dogs were found standing. Ken decided to relocate rather quickly. Paul did as well, neither finding birds and deciding to move on. At 37, both were found pointed. Both handlers fired and moved forward. Forty-three minutes in, Paul's dog pointed next to the pond, had to reload, and decided to take the nonproductive. Right at the end of the hour Paul's dog was pointed with very nice style on a nice big covey of birds.

Brace 17 - Wildfire's Royal Flush (GSPM, Mike Vicari) with Braintree Simply Singular (RSM, Cathy Lewis). It was a pretty uneventful brace with Mike asking for his tracker at the 32 and Cathy and her dog, unfortunately, not finding any birds.

Brace 18 - RR's Bluegrass Unbridled (PF, Holly Hatfield) with Emert's Sho Me Mo (ESM, Aaron McAfee). For the final brace of the event starting at 11:57 a.m., Aaron's dog pointed at 9 by a feeder before going up the hill. He decided to move on and take the unproductive. At the 13-minute mark, Holly found her dog pointed. Working the situation for a couple of minutes found a pile of feathers and decided to move on 20 minutes in. Aaron's dog pointed some feathers and moved on, and at 28, Aaron decided to pick his dog up. Holly found her dog at the 35-minute mark pointed on top of the hill out in the center of the section. Holly finished her brace, having a nice find in the bi-color at 55 and keeping her dog forward for the last five minutes.

Closing Notes
Both Hirollins Gone and Done It and Southern Shadow's Bootlegger exemplified the qualities of elite shooting dogs, earning their respective placements through exceptional performances. The trial itself was a resounding success, thanks to the hospitality and dedication of Keith and Jessica Wright and their team.
Congratulations to the winners, participants, and organizers for making this year's National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship a memorable event.

Covington, Ind., November 15 - One Course
Judges: Mike Jackson and John Vanada
NATIONAL AMATEUR WALKING SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 36 Entries
Winner-HIROLLINS GONE AND DONEIT, F1679825, pointer male, by Fastforward's B K Gunner-Littlewing B K Tia. Warren Parrott, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-SOUTHERN SHADOWS BOOTLEGGER, F1700852, pointer male, by Lester's Prime Poison Lane-Southern Ritz Lane. Klaus Schmidt, owner and handler.