Result: NGSPA Savannah River Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Bronwood, Georgia

Post Date: Mar 10, 2025

Submitted By: Diane Coppens/Peter Here

NGSPA Savannah River Open Shooting Dog Championship (front): April DiMambro with Macke's Jax Black Label. (Back): Bill Haynes (judge), Laron Copeland, Dan DiMambro, Lisa "Hollywood" Pollock (judge), Steven Word, Wyatt Word, and Colt Copeland.

The 2024 Championship was held at "THE" Showtime Plantation in Bronwood, Georgia. These grounds are well-groomed for multiple courses run on wild birds. Showtime Plantation is owned and maintained by Larron and Laura Copeland. Our gallery marshal was Colt Copeland. Peter Coppens was the dog wagon driver this year. There is a nice clubhouse where we serve lunches and suppers.

We want to thank Purina, Karl Gunzer, Greg Blair, and Terry Trzcinski for their support, as well as SportDOG and Jim Moorehouse for the dog collars. Please support the companies that support our trials.
Thank you to Mrs. Peter Here for the lunches, suppers, and all the paperwork for this championship.

NGSPA Savannah River Open Shooting Dog Championship
Submitted by Hollywood Pollock

The NGSPA Savannah River Open Championship started on Sunday, February 2, at 8 a.m. and ended on Monday, February 3. The weather was beautiful, but a little warm in the afternoon for the dogs. Nineteen dogs were brought to the line in this year's Open stake. Thank you to our pros who supported this stake: Joe Orndorff, Dan and April DiMambro, and Jason King. Judges were Ms. Lisa Pollock from Lucas, Iowa, and Mr. Bill Haynes of South Vienna, Ohio. We appreciate your expertise and time in the saddle.

The 2025 NGSPA Savannah River Open champion is Macke's Jax Black Label ("Jax"), owned by Katelyn and Abe Macke, handled by Dan DiMambro, and scouted by April DiMambro. Jax ran in the 10th brace.
This year's Open runner-up champion is Two Ponds Blanco Roux ("Roux"), owned by Jason Brooks, handled by Dan DiMambro, and scouted by April DiMambro. Roux ran in the 6th brace.

The Running
1--"Raider" (DiMambro) and "Mike" (Orndorff) broke away at 8:05 a.m., heading into the cornfield. Both dogs made big casts on the far west edge. As we crossed the road, Mike was out of pocket but showed by the pond by camp. Raider shortened somewhat in the heavy cover. Mike went missing again before we crossed the road, and the tracker was called for by the Biscuit Barn.

2--"Sonny" (King) and "Layla" (Orndorff) broke away in the piney woods heading east. Layla often disappeared to the front but always showed far to the front after absences. Sonny had a shorter race with an unproductive at 45. The tracker was called for at time for Layla; she was found standing 100 yds ahead.

3--"Tuskie" (Orndorff) and "Rommel" (DiMambro) broke away by the pond on the north side. Both dogs had a strong breakaway. Rommel was spotted on an edge two fields away, heading on course. Tuskie shortened in the woods and went on point at 13. She was sent on after a relocation; no birds produced. Rommel had a nice covey find at 19 and went missing after he was turned loose.

4--"Rio" (DiMambro) and "Ruger" (King) broke away from camp at 1:30 p.m. Rio showed well on the west edge of the cornfield. Both dogs searched the likely bird locations around the cornfield, but neither was rewarded. Rio was wide to the left around the pond but gathered and sent out again at the road crossing. Both dogs finished to the front, but no birdwork to report.

5--"Huck" (DiMambro) and "Libby" (Orndorff) broke away on Course 2 and were quickly to the front. Point was called for Libby at 20, but it was on deer and armadillo. Both went missing, and trackers were called for at 30.

6--"Roux" (DiMambro) broke away at 2:45 p.m. Roux was snappy to watch and always up front. She pointed at 6, but no birds were located. At 16, while the handler was riding wide right, the gallery spotted Roux standing tall off to the right. A nice covey lifted as we approached, all in order. At 25, Roux was found standing again, but no birds were located after several relocation attempts. Roux finished the hour and was found standing to the front at time.

7--"Boone" (King) and "Johnny" (Orndorff) began at 8 a.m., but after 20 minutes, the brace was suspended due to fog. After almost an hour and a half delay, we resumed. Boone had a non-productive at 37, and Johnny had one at 48. Boone was picked up before the hour.
8--"Uno" (Orndorff) and "Brutus" (King) spent much of the brace hunting together. Uno went wide and took some time to be gathered. Upon return, she shortened but finished the hour with no birdwork. They shortened at the end of the hour with no birds.

9--"Rumor" (Orndorff) and "Gus" (DiMambro) started with a great race. At 10, they had a divided stop-to-flush at the end of the pond. Rumor's race shortened and did not have any other bird contact. Gus had a very busy hour. He had a good find at 15, an absence due to deer, and trouble with a few armadillos. He finished the hour with a stop to flush at 59.

10--"Gunner" (King) and "Jax" (DiMambro) used the big cornfield edges in an efficient manner. At 20, point was called for Jax before the road crossing, all in order, and he was sent forward. Both dogs were always strong to the front--very impressive patterns for these two young dogs.

Due to a lack of entries this year, we only ran a Shooting Dog stake. We invite everyone to attend this Wild Bird Championship at Showtime Plantation in February 2026.

Bronwood, Ga., February 2
Judges: Bill Haynes and Lisa Pollock
NGSPA SAVANNAH RIVER SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 20 German Shorthairs
Winner-MACKE'S JAX BLACK LABEL, F1708218, German Shorthair male, by Post Rock's Steady Trigger-Post Rock's Whiskey After Midnight. Katelyn Macke, owner; Dan DiMambro, handler.
Runner-Up-TWO PONDS BLANCO ROUX, F1698966, German Shorthair female, by Riden High Rudy-Hi N's Family Ties. Jason Brooks, owner; Dan DiMambro, handler.