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Result: Ozark and Arkansas Open Shooting Dog Championships

Location: Conway, Arkansas

Post Date: Feb 4, 2025

Submitted By: Steve Messick

Ozark OSD ChF24

Ozark Open Shooting Dog Championship (l-r): Lydia Hale's friend, Evertt Brandon (judge), Lydia Hale (owner), Virgil Moore, Shawn Kinkelaar, Matt Cochran, Allen Vincent, and Jon Davis (judge).

It's hard to believe that another has passed us. Father Time keeps rolling, and two of the country's top shooting dog championships do the same. The Ozark kicks off the trio of events, and one of the most dominating handlers keeps his winning ways. Shawn Kinkelaar tops the field of 42 with another with champion Hale's Smooth Touch, a brilliant young female owned by a true bird dog family, the Hales. Dad works, but popular daughter Lydia and her beau were in attendance. Her personality and ever-glowing smile tell her story! They are a pleasure to be around. The bright female turned in a stellar performance with a crisp find and forward race. Clipping at her heels was popular Okie Allen Vincent; pushing the winner was Wynona's Nickleback Sugar, owned by Bruce Sooter and Brad Tolson. Sugar is fast and a demon in finding birds. Her performance mirrored the winners with a perfect find and strong race. Sportsmen Jon Davis of Greenbrier, Arkansas, and Evertt Brandon of Powderly, Texas, rode in the saddles to name the winners, their attention was greatly appreciated.

Next was the Arkansas Derby Classic, a 45-minute test for the future shooting dog stars. Handler Allen stayed in the winners' circle again with Wynona's Rebel, a handsome Pointer he blew up on birds way past his derby year. Bruce Sooter and Dennis Beaufort own Rebel. Shawn Kinkelaar brought a new derby to the winners' circle, Haneys Juggernaut, carding two finds and a forward race. He's owned by Chris Cagle of Indiana.

Calling the winners were Jon Davis of Greenbrier, Arkansas, and Robert Barker of Inola, Oklahoma.

The Arkansas Championship wraps about 10 days of running. Well, you just can't keep the cream from finding the top! Especially when Shawn Kinkelaar has two of the top cream of females. Upfront's Southern Star, owned by Lance Schulz and family, to its best, she was damn near perfect! She was credited with four finds and a great ground race. It's in the blood, they say, and I agree. Younger littermate Silver W Jill Z claimed the runner-up spot. She's owned by Debbie Ozner of Georgia. Jill turned in a two-find performance, and race nearly duplicated that of the winners. These two will find the Hall of Fame in the future.

Many thanks to my good friend Roger Martin for all his help putting on the three events. Roger is, plain and simple, one of the best men God created! Camp Robinson is not the ole girl of the past when field trials were important to the game and fish; with that said, a new bird supplier was used this year and has helped.

Two personal notes of great importance have affected our fraternity. My good friend, Mr. John D. Seawright, has left this world to see all his old and new friends above. John, by far, has done more for Camp Robinson than anyone I know. He never tooted his own horn, didn't have to, that wasn't John. He's the one who started, so importantly, the Shooting Dog Invitational. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame because of his widespread knowledge of the game. He served on committees, helping with steady vision and love of the sporting dog. John, I miss you, and all your friends do so as well! Great thanks from all of us.

My final thought is a wrong that needs to be righted! It's been a great injustice that Gordon Hazlewood has not been elected to the Hall of Fame! There's none better as a man or friend than Gordon. He absolutely loved what he did. Old school, you bet; I wish there were more like him today. His training practices were so ahead of his time I witnessed them firsthand; he helped anyone who needed it. He respected his owners, was truthful with them, and never led them down the road of a dead end. The character of his dogs around their game was far ahead of any of the trainers ... his secret was patience, knowledge, timing, and, most importantly, killing birds for them. It's his time; please do your research. Gordon must be there! Til next year, best to all!

Conway, Ark., December 4
Judges: Jon Davis and Everett Brannon
OZARK OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 42 Entries

Winner-HALE'S SMOOTH TOUCH, F1693424, pointer female, by Touch's Smooth Rider-Touch's White Radiance. Dr. Jeff Hale, owner; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.
Runner-Up-WYNONA'S NICKLEBACK SUGAR, F1690017, setter female, by T's Nickleback-Carpenter's Don't Ya. Bruce Sooter & Brad Tolson, owners; Allen Vincent, handler.

Arkansas OSD ChF24

Arkansas Open Shooting Dog Championship (l-r): John Van Horn, Robert Barker (judge), Roger Martin, Henry Brewster (judge), Virgil Moore, Shawn Kinkelaar, Ronnie Miller, and Harold Gearhart.

Judges: Bob Barker and Henry Brewster
ARKANSAS OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 41 Pointers

Winner-UPFRONT'S SOUTHERN STAR, F1662579, pointer female, by Ransom-Double Wild. Lance Schulz, owner; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.
Runner-Up-SILVER W JILL Z, F1682062, pointer female, by Ransom-Double Wild. Debbie Ozner, owner; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.

Judges: Bob Barker and Jon Davis
ARKANSAS DERBY CLASSIC - 13 Entries

1st-WYNONA'S REBEL, F1717783, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-White Smoke's Angel. Bruce Sooter & Dennis Beauford, owners; Allen Vincent, handler.
2d-HANEYS JUGGERNAUT, F1716275, pointer male, by Pleasant Run Samuel-Pleasant Run Sally. Chris Cagle, owner; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.

Arkansas ODF24

Arkansas Derby (l-r): Robert Barker (judge), Matt Cochran, Allen Vincent, Ronnie Miller, Virgil Moore, Shawn Kinkelaar, and Jon Davis (judge).