Result: United States Shooting Dog Invitational Championship

Location: Conway, Arkansas

Post Date: Mar 26, 2025

Submitted By: Joyce Taylor

United States Shooting Dog Invitational Championship (l-r): Joyce and Johnny Taylor, Larry Chamberlain, Shawn Kinkelaar (handler), Matt Basilone (scout) with Thunder's Wild Again, Doug Swingley (owner), Everett Brannan (judge), Zack Hilton, and Robby Robinson (judge).

The renowned United States Shooting Dog Invitational Championship was held February 16-17, 2025, after a one-day delay due to a full day of torrential rains on Saturday. Because of this day-long suspension and the severe winter forecasted conditions for Arkansas and beyond, the judges and trial hosts decided to run the trial only over two days, forgoing the final 90-minute third-day performance. This was done only one other time in Invitational history, in 2015, when Arkansas received a heavy covering of snow and solid ice. Those in attendance remember this year well, as it was the year after the devastating tornado took our beloved stone clubhouse, requiring us to gather in makeshift quarters in the lower barn. Though we had heaters to keep a bit of the severe chilling bite at bay, it was an extremely cold and memorial Invitational trial year. It was also the first and only year a Setter won the Invitational Championship, fittingly by famed setter prodigy son of Hall of Famer and Smith Setter legend Harold Ray, Doug Ray. It was a memorial year in 2015 and again in 2025.

The Invitational Championship is the ultimate test for the open shooting dog trial competitor. It is normally judged over a three-day accumulative performance. Each of the 12 dogs runs one hour each of the first two days, drawn out the second day in the afternoon if they run on a previous day's morning course, etc., different course, different time, and with a different bracemate. Performances cease at 60 minutes for the first two days. Handlers may not call for a tracking device before 60 minutes. At one hour, handlers may take their tracker and go in search of the dog if they are out of sight or out of pocket. Judges do not ride to find if the dog is located on a stand after 60 minutes. On the third day, performance finalists are chosen at the judges' discretion. Dogs compete on the third day for 90 minutes, making this a true test of the dogs, ability and endurance.

The 12 dogs accepting invitations and the Invitational challenge and their wins from the previous season, qualifying them to compete, included:

Panther Creek Rosie ("Rose")
Handler: Tommy Rice
Owner: Frank Rutland
Wr, All America OSD Chmp.
1st, Fleetwood OSD Classic
1st, Conecuh Station OSD Classic
R-U, Masters OSD CH
R-U, Southeastern OSD Chmp.

Lester's Another Shockwave ("Luke")
Handler: Shawn Kinkelaar
Owners: Dr. Tom Jackson, Jerry Moisson, Lance Schulz, Bjorn Peterson, and Todd Mann
R-U, All America OSD Chmp.
1st, Fleetwood OSD Classic
2nd, Lonestar OSD Classic
R-U, Sunflower OSD Chmp.
Wr, Arkansas OSD Chmp.

Upfront's Southern Star ("Roo")
Handler: Shawn Kinkelaar
Owner: Lance Schulz
Wr, Texas OSD Chmp.
Wr, Midwest OSD Chmp.
R-U, Jayhawk OSD Chmp.

Smoke'N'Mirrors ("Frankie")
Handler: Matt Basilone
Owners: Richard Gillis and Stacey Goodie
Wr, Missouri OSD Chmp.

CS Four Season's Gunner ("Gunner")
Handler: Doug Ray
Owners: Tony Gibson and Harold Ray
Wr, Atlantic Coast OSD Chmp.

Hale's Smooth Tough ("Faye")
Handler: Shawn Kinkelaar
Owner: Dr. Jeffrey Hale
2nd, Fleetwood OSD Classic
3rd, Lone Star OSD Classic
R-U, Southwestern OSD Chmp.

Stylish Mill Bell ("Bell")
Owner & Handler: Tom Curtsinger
Wr, Ozark OSD Chmp.

Wynona's Nickleback Sugar ("Sugar")
Handler: Allen Vincent
Owners: Bruce Sooter and Brad Tolson
R-U, Texas OSD Chmp.
R-U, Ozark OSD Chmp.

Thunder's Wild Agin ("Boots")
Handler: Shawn Kinkelaar
Owner: Doug Swingley
1st, Razorback OSD Classic

Chelsea's Mae West ("Mae")
Handler: Shawn Kinkelaar
Owner: Ron Prewitt and Brad Sadler
2nd, Razorback OSD Classic
R-U, North Carolina OSD Chmp.

Topp's First J R ("Junior")
Handler: Harold Gearhart
Owners: Luke & Ria Topp
Wr, Illinois OSD Chmp.

Hard Truth ("Sy")
Handler: Doug Ray
Owner: Dr. Bob Canada
Wr, North Carolina OSD Chmp.

Unfortunately, defending champion Absolute Dominator ("Rex"), owned by Johnny and Joyce Taylor and handled by Doug Ray, was unable to compete in the 2025 running due to an injury earlier this season. Silver W Jill, owned by Dr. Debbie Ozner and handled by Shawn Kinkelaar, and Hales's High Flyer, owned by Dr. Jeff Hale and handled by Eddy Taylor, were both unwell and unable to compete. Topp's Ice Chip, owned by Luke and Ria Topp and handled by Harold Gearhart, tragically died only days before the trial. Grouse Feather Witcher, owned and handled by Allen Dunbar, was unable to attend due to late notice. And sadly, Mike Tracy's dogs were not with us for the trial.

The Winner
Thunder's Wild Agin ("Boots")
Owner Doug Swingley, from Lincoln, Montana, is relatively new to field trialing, but he is an extremely accomplished trainer and handler--as an American dog musher and dog sled racer. He is a four-time winner of the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska! His first Iditarod was in 1992. His first victory came in 1995, and he followed it by winning in 1999, 2000, and 2001. He competed in every Iditarod from 1992 to 2007, except 2003, due to frostbite to his eyes during the 2002 competition. During Doug's rookie Iditarod outing, he won the Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award for being the first musher to reach the race's halfway point and setting a new speed record. He is the only winner from the lower 48 states and second in number of wins, by only one. For years he was the most feared racer of the trial across Alaska's rugged interior. Prior to his Iditarod wins, he also won the Montana Race to the Sky in 1991. Doug's achievements have given him growing fame in Alaska, Montana, and throughout the U. S., in circles where endurance athletes are admired. In 2001, Outside magazine ranked him No. 14 among the "25 Most Extraordinary Adventurers, Outdoor Athletes and Explorers." He was selected to the Daily News Iditarod Hall of Fame in 2001.
After retiring from Iditarod racing in 2007, Doug took up another extreme sport, Arabian Horse International Endurance Racing, not just locally or nationally but competing internationally in places such as Dubai, France, England, Argentina, and more. He quickly made the 100 Mile U. S. Equestrian Team, a team of only four--the top riders in the U. S.--and went on to win the 2010 Pan American Games gold medal in Argentina on his horse, Pal of Mine.
Doug was born and raised on a large cattle ranch in Montana and began riding early at the age of two or three. He started on quarter horses and, even later, some Tennessee Walking horses his father acquired. There were over 30 cowboys employed on the ranch with lots of horses and lots of riding. Doug was right among them, growing up competitive and working hard. It made sense that Doug would thrive on intense and dangerous challenges.
Another of those extreme pursuits was bird dog field trialing. He started this career early, at 14 years of age, until college age, traveling and scouting for his oldest brother, Gary Parker, a professional bird dog trainer on the western U. S. circuit. So, it made sense, after retiring from competitive sled racing and endurance riding, that he would get back involved with field trialing. With friend Stan Howton, who owned Royal Canine Dog Food Company and who had sponsored Doug's Iditarod team, visited Shawn Kinkelaar in Effingham, Illinois, and worked dogs. Then, four years later, Doug and a friend decided to join the field trial open sport and purchased Thunder's Wild Agin from Norris Simms of Arkansas as a coming first-year shooting dog. "Boots" had been raised by Dr. Debbie Ozner and George Hickox, out of famed Chelsea's Thunder Bolt, many-time champion winner and three-time winner of the United States Shooting Dog Invitational Championship. Boots made Invitational history this year as the first offspring of a past Invitational winner to also earn the championship win. Boots came to Shawn's string as a derby. Doug describes Boots as becoming more and more consistent, more brave and bold and pure fun to watch perform. This was her second year qualifying for the Invitational Championship.
Doug is fully retired and has more time to enjoy the dogs and assist Shawn. He enjoys getting to travel and attend trials and helps with working dogs. He has started going to North Dakota each summer, arriving before Shawn to help get things set up and ready.
Doug's wife, Nicole, is also a successful dog sledder, competing and winning in what he calls 'short races' of 100 miles. With a limit of eight to ten Alaskan Husky teams, she currently, over the last three years, is the Triple Crown Winner of three distinctive races, winning every one for all of the last three years. Doug helps Nicole with training and attends and supports her at races. His brother Greg Swingley is also a famous musher, getting Doug starting before he retired in 1997. Quite the accomplished family!

And quite the accomplished championship performance for Doug's Thunder's Wild Agin to win the 2025 Invitational Championship. She had two exceptional finds on her first day, but on her second day, she was brilliant, with four perfect finds and a gorgeous upfront race. She handled like a pro, never out of the pocket, never requiring gathering or scouting, lots of style, snap and ground speed and finishing strong. Thrilling!

The Running
Day 1, February 16
After the previous day's rain, we began the first brace of the trial with cold temperatures of 28 degrees and a nice chilly breeze.

Brace 1: "Sy," handled by Doug Ray and scouted by Eli Taylor, and "Bell," owned and handled by the only amateur qualifying a dog this year, Tom Curtsinger, with Gary Hill traveling from Oklahoma to scout. Bell scored her first find at 7, right of course after our first hard left turn and just past the pond. All in order. Quickly following at 10, Sy took up an impressive steady stance left of course at the top of the rise before the covert crossing. At 25, deep in the horseshoe behind the little house and left of course Sy had a breathtaking, but sadly, a non-productive stand with Bell coming in and backing kindly. At 45, just beyond Bird Alley, Bell crowded, lifting birds with Sy backing this time. Bell carded a covey again at 48, again with Sy backing. Bell made a nice big cast to the right before crossing and coming back to the front as time was called. She is a nice dog, beautiful on her game, but not as strong as needed today. Sy finished in the shoot going to the lake; he was stronger than bracemate but sometimes more lateral in his hunt in heavy cover.

Brace 2: "Luke," handled by Shawn Kinkelaar, with co-owners present and riding--Jerry Moisson, accompanied by wife Kristin, daughter Conner, son-in-law James, and grandson Elliott, along with Lance Schulz, riding. Also attending in support of Shawn were friends Zack and Nikki Hilton and Uncle Larry Chamberlin. Bracemate "Rose," the 2024 Top Purina Top Shooting Dog Award winner, is handled by Tommy Rice. Friend Brad Passione accompanied Tommy. Attending owner Frank Rutland is the only amateur to win the Invitational Championship, doing so in 2002 with his well-accomplished open and amateur champion Panther Creek Dot. Rose put on a thrilling performance today. She began early with an outstanding find at 2 on the left side of the Dove Field. As we turned to regain the front, we could hear Kinkelaar firing over Luke on a covey find in the horseshoe.
Both dogs took the far-left ridge to the front and beyond sight as the course opened in fields until Rice pointed out Rose far to the front, taking a tree edge from left to right. Here, Shawn rode in search of Luke, but by mountain crossing, Luke caught the gallery, and Dr. Jeff Hale took over handling duties. Shawn was back in charge as we turned off the road toward Dead Horse Curve. Rose had a nice find at 40 on the open field edge before Dead Horse Curve. As Rice brought his dog on from her find, Kinkelaar was again firing over Luke at 43, far to the right of the Curve. As Kinkelaar and Luke caught the front, Rose was again on a mannerly find at 46 to the right of the road crossing, with Luke coming in to back. At 52, Luke had another find with Rose executing a well-mannered distance back and continued on to finish well. Luke spent time behind and caused the handler to seem to work to keep him in place. Rose ruled this hour and likely Day 1.

Brace 3: "Junior," handled by Harold Gearhart. His owners, Luke and Ria Topp, traveled to see him compete and for Luke to scout.
"Roo," the 2023 Invitational winner, is handled by Shawn Kinkelaar. Her owner, Lance Schulz, was riding to witness his fine champion. Temperatures had warmed a bit, and the breeze let up by the third brace, but riders' toes, fingers, and ears remained thoroughly chilled. Roo had a find at 5 to the left of course before the nursery pond, the big covey nailed a good distance out in front of the her. Junior suffered a non-productive at 7 but redeemed himself with a nice find at 20 at Rocky Ridge. Roo notched her second find at 55, her style lacking. She was gone some during her hour and caught the gallery from the back. Junior was also gone a little too much and required heavy scouting.
It had warmed a few degrees by afternoon, only making for chill riding and frisky horses. Judge Robby Robinson's horse decided to practice his bucking skills and didn't stop until he had his rider on the ground. After a quick horse recovery and judge brush off, an announcement of, "Yes, I am remounting as I'm not going to walk the next three hours!"

Brace 4 was again on its way with "Faye," handled by Shawn Kinkelaar, owner Dr. Jeff Hale riding and serving as scout, and "Frankie," handled by Matt Basilone. Riding in support of Dr. Hale and Faye and attending included daughters Dr. Dianna Odom and husband Dr. Mark Odom, Lydia Hale, friend Kaiden Reese, and wife Melanie. Frankie's co-owner, Richard Gillis, was in attendance and riding in support. The birds turned off for the first brace after lunch today. Faye established point right of course just over the first hill at 7. Kinkelaar flushed aggressively, relocating a convinced Faye three times, took a tumble, and rolled but could produce no birds. After a long, brisk ride, we caught the front at the steel covert. Faye had a second non-productive at 34. Into the big country, south side of the mountain, both dogs showed way over on the right on the ridge, looking lovely in their reach. We ended at the first road just back over the ridge; no birds for either dog. Frankie had a good race but no bird contact. Faye was out of pocket a little much.

Brace 5: "Mae" is handled by Shawn Kinkelaar. Her owner and Invitational Benefactor, Ron Pruitt, had planned to be with us but was unable to make it down. "Gunner" is handled by Doug Ray. Dogs were released from the dirt road past the afternoon ridge crossing. At 14, past Dead Horse Curve and to the right, Mae pointed with Gunner backing for a good find; a repeat at 20 with Mae pointing and Gunner backing again. At 45, both dogs pointed in the Big Field before the pine trees on the left. No birds could be raised for either dog on a flush attempt nor for Gunner on a relocation effort. At 53, at the Rocky Ridge, both dogs were on point to the left for good finds for both dogs. Mae was off the front some. Mowed strips brought Gunner back to his handler more than perhaps were preferred.

Brace 6: "Boots" was handler Shawn Kinkelaar's fifth dog competing. Owner Doug Swingley was in attendance and riding to witness his dog's running. "Sugar," the only Setter in the trial, is handled by Allen Vincent. Her owner, Bruce Sooter, accompanied by friend Jessie Hardy, was riding in attendance. Boots had finds at 11 and 42. He ran enough, but not always on course, not consistently up front, yet stronger than the bracemate. Sugar had nice finds at 21 and 34. She had an adequate race, snappy and happy, but not with impressive drive.

Day 2, February 17

The second day of the trial, Monday morning, was a very cold 24 , but this morning, without the wind, the sun was soon out, making for a beautiful day.

Brace 1: "Mae" and "Gunner" were big running dogs, eating up the big and open country, handlers pointing them out in the distance. At 52, both dogs had a nice find, right of course, before the open country closed back in. At 54, Mae scored her second find with Gunner backing. Then, ending the hour, at 59, Gunner showcased a beautiful stand in the finger to the lake.

Brace 2: "Sugar" and "Boots." Boots took in a field edge and established point at 10 for a beauty of a find. Not to be left out, Sugar performed her own fine stand at 31 on a single going toward the Horseshoe Curve. At 35, Boots had an outstanding limb find right of Dead Horse Curve and beyond the dirt road, scout Basilone calling point for her in heavy grass. Sugar responded with her second find at 37 on the right as the horse path enters the road. Nicely done. Boots had her third find at 40 with a brilliant relocation, moving forward to nail birds exactly. It couldn't be better! Her fourth find was at 45, running forward and hard while the excitement built. Today was Boots's day!

Brace 3: "Frankie" and "Faye" were released at the Nursery Pond Road intersection. Dogs could be seen from the hill to the front, taking in the big field on the left. Faye pointed right of course, and songbirds departed for a non-productive. The handler thanked the judges, and she was up at 7. Frankie hunted forward and enjoyed a nice find at 15. He was strong in his race, staying to the front, but the handler collared his dog at 38 without additional birdwork.

Brace 4: "Luke" and "Junior." Just over the first hill, to the right of course, point was called for Junior on a dug-up scout find with all in order at 6. Luke was away to the right, and we left Kinkelaar calling for his return at the first road crossing. Catching us, Kinkelaar requested the tracker, and Luke's hour ended prematurely at 10. Junior had a non-productive stand and negative relocation attempts in the big grassy field left of course. He was pointed again at 24, but the handler and scout chose to take him on rather than flush. Hereafter, he seemed to be off track but did score a second find at 45 and ended his running in the big field before the big horseshoe.

In Brace 5: "Sy" and "Roo." Business had picked up. Dogs were released into the big field toward horseshoe end. Just over the ridge at 20, Sy displayed impressive posture on point in the food plot along trees to the left. Roo backed mannerly. Sy had a nice second find on a single at 25 in the field before the road crossing to Dead Horse Curve. Roo had her first find at 30 on the left tree line edge as we moved toward Dead Horse Curve with Sy backing. Sy had his third find at 38 deep to the right of the end of Dead Horse Curve. At 51, point was called for Roo on the left in the field before the Nursery Pond. All in order. Sy was impressive, pointing and backing, yet was a little lateral in his race sometimes, a strong dog. Roo's style was off. She was out hunting hard in heavy cover and this brought in through the gallery some as our pace was so forward.

Brace 6: "Bell" and "Rose." Beyond Seawright Cut, Bell had a good find right of the creek, but after, she wouldn't cross the high water creek, and Curtsinger had to call with earnest to get her to cross. From this point, she wasn't the same in her race. She scored a second find at 29. Rice had to ride for Rosie at the creek crossing, and they took her to the concrete bridge to cross. She was again out of pocket toward the barn, and the dog and handler had to catch the front before as course turns away. She had a find at 29 before Darnelle Creek Crossing. She had trouble staying to the front during her hour requiring scouting and gathering. She joined soon after pickup was called.

Judges, Owners, Sponsors, Helpers, and Birds!
Judges for the Invitational Championship were well-known field trial individuals with many years of trial experience. Robby Robinson from Dardanelle, Arkansas, has many years of important history as a founder and managing host of the Invitational Championship. To say he is familiar with the trial and what it takes to reign champion is a certainty. Robby was accompanied to the trial by his wife, Treissa. Everett Brannan knows the Invitational format quite well, also. He's judged this trial three times now. Thank you to everyone who agrees to judge field trials! You are precious commodities in short supply!

The Invitational begins the Friday night before the running with a welcoming reception and dinner, followed by a program of introductions of handlers and owners, and each of the dogs' wins warranting their invitation to compete, a Calcutta, and the trial drawing for order of running.

We are always honored and delighted to have owners present for the trial. What better trial to attend than when you have a top-performing dog invited, and you get to see your dog compete for two consecutive days. We likely wouldn't have field trials, or not as we know them, if we did not have owners who campaign and support the sport of field trialing. To all the wonderful and generous owners who have the passion and appreciation of the well-trained, thrilling, hard-driving bird dog and are willing to help support the handlers and their string of dogs to keep this exciting sport possible, we salute you!

As with owners, sponsors are crucial for field trialing to endure and certainly at a standard the nation's top shooting dogs, owners, and handlers deserve. Kind and generous sponsors make the Invitational Championship what it is. Purina is a generous event sponsor and event hat sponsor. They sponsor the beautiful and treasured Ross Young painting that goes to the winning owner and provides dog food to the winning handler. Also, Purina provides each handler with one bag per entry of Purina Dog Food. Dr. Debbie Ozner and George Hickox sponsor a beautiful commemorative Montana Silversmiths belt buckle that goes to the winning owner. Leather Brothers provides trophy leather collars with nametags for each handler entry and multiple prizes distributed throughout the evening programs. Circle Y also generously provides prizes for handlers and owners, as does Jack Haggis Saddlery. World Class Bird Dogs generously sponsors the bar all three evenings. Melanie and Dr. Jeff Hale sponsored the Friday evening dinner, Carol and Witt Stephens sponsored the Saturday evening meal and Sunday night's dinner was kindly sponsored by Johnny and Joyce Taylor, owners of the 2024 Invitational Champion, Absolute Dominator.

Invitational benefactors who make the $8,000 purse possible are Lee Cruise, Charlie and Linda Jackson, Randy and Lynn Potter, Ron Prewitt, Jack, Audrey and Brian Sanchez, and Johnny and Joyce Taylor. Our most sincere gratitude goes out to each of the Invitational sponsors.
Additionally, much gratitude is due to all those who help make the Invitational run smoothly. We couldn't do it without Melanie, Dr. Jeff Hale, and their daughter Lydia. Their assistance with meals and programs and field marshaling is immeasurable. Julie Dillon helped throughout, from the very beginning with table piece designs and to the very end. J. D. and Jill Smith picked up and delivered the Friday evening BBQ meal. Suzanne Hicks was on hand to assist Saturday evening. Roger Martin is another Invitational treasure. He serves as the dog wagon driver, grounds snack and coffee host, and all things of importance. We are so thankful for his participation.

Birds at Camp Robinson! And a very special shoutout goes out to all Arkansas field trialers who have successfully managed, toiled, and bore many personal expenses to gift us a successful bird program this year. This was undoubtedly the most birds we have seen at Camp Robinson in years. Thank you to all who have participated. What a blessing!

Conway, Ark., February 15
Judges: Everett Brannan and Robby Robinson
UNITED STATES SHOOTING DOG INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats on Two Consecutive Days; Ninety-Minute Heats Third Day Final] - 11 Pointers and 1 Setter
Winner-THUNDER'S WILD AGIN, F1691314, pointer female, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt-Double Wild. Doug Swingley, owner; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.

The Competitors (front): Panther Creek Rosie with handler Tommy Rice (handler), Lester's Another Shockwave with Shawn Kinkelaar (handler), Upfront's Southern Star with Lance Schulz (owner), Smoke 'N' Mirrors with handler Matt Basilone (handler), CS Four Season's Gunner with Eli Taylor (scout), Hale's Smooth Touch with Dr. Jeff Hale (owner). (Back): Stylish Miss Bell with Tom Curtsinger (owner/handler), Wynona's Nickleback Sugar with Allen Vincent (handler), Thunder's Wild Agin with Doug Swingley (owner), Chelsea's Mae West with Jerry Moisson, Topp's First JR with Harold Gearhart (handler), Hard Truth with Doug Ray (handler).