Result: NBHA National Amateur Championship

Location: Grovespring, Missouri

Post Date: Mar 27, 2025

Submitted By: Christian Ogle

The Bob Catlett drew nine dogs this year. This Missouri trial was run on the Sportsman's Association grounds near Grovespring, Missouri. The Missouri Bird Hunters hosted this trial. The grounds were manicured to perfection, and the coveys were plentiful.
Our second-place dog, Wynona's Nickleback Mickey, ran in the first brace. Mickey is owned and handled by Kenny Snow. His first find was in Breakaway bottoms. After no birds were produced and a relocation, they moved on. At 33, Mickey had a find in a small field near the Little Vine loop. Kenny kicked up two quail. Four minutes later, Mickey would be found standing again. Kenny stepped in front and flushed a huge covey.

First place is Snow's Home Again Katy. She is owned by Jerry Snow and run by Kenny Snow. Katy ran in the last brace of the day and put on a show for judges and the gallery. Katie broke away at 1:59 without a bracemate. Katie was fast and on a mission. Eighteen minutes in, she was standing near a down limb. Kenny kicked and kicked, finally producing a single. Katy hit the edges of every field for the next 20 minutes. Her next find was a single near the cemetery. Still going strong, her next find was across the road from the new corrals and kennels. Katy finished strong and was ready to go for another hour with class and style.

Missouri Bird Hunters Association

Grovespring, Mo., December 4
Judges: Jim Lawless and Tim Penn
NBHA BOB CATLETT OPEN SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 9 Entries
1st-SNOW'S HOME AGAIN KATY, F1694578, pointer female, by Jimfork's Black River-My Lil Whiskey Girl. Jerry Snow, owner; Kenny Snow, handler.
2d-WYNONA'S NICKLEBACK MICKEY, F1694728, setter male, by T's Nickleback-Carpenter's Don't Ya. Kenny Snow, owner and handler.

NBHA National Amateur Championship
This year's NBHA National Amateur Championship started December 5 at Grovespring, Missouri, at the Sportsman's Association grounds, hosted by the Missouri Bird Hunters Association.

The main thought this year was to enjoy our fellow competitors and get to know each other more. We all leave family at home to do this, so it's nice to hear about everyone's families.
Mr. Jack Glover took care of breakfast every morning, cooking biscuits and gravy, mostly with coffee ready to go. Steve Fuess and Rob Warner supplied bacon and eggs one morning. The bunkhouse was full every night, so we had plenty of people. The friendships would build in the evenings with a few drinks and bird dog stories, reminiscing about old field trialers and the dogs from the past. Besides the throw-together dinners, Steve Fuess and Rob Warner supplied the best honey-glazed ham and lasagna. Billy Creason brought homemade cookies from his wife, and they were awesome. Mike Fox would throw some doughnuts on the truck for the morning braces.

My biggest thought is that, with some venues slowing down, we need to focus on friendships and build strong bonds with the competitors because these will be friends forever at the end of the day. I think we definitely accomplished this. Thank you, Lord, for putting these people in my life. I believe this is why we had 36 entries in this Amateur Championship--friends supporting each other.

With 17 champions out of the 36 entries, this would not be an easy win. Birds were not our usual single or double but nearly a covey every brace. This National Amateur Championship would have to be picked apart, and details would decide our Championship.
Joe Zimmer and Kevin Western did a great job hustling around dogs and handlers in the dog wagon. Not a better guy in the state for getting dogs on the line than Randy Zimmer. Trials with this many entries need to go smoothly, and it's pretty darn easy when this team is hosting. Thank you, Missouri Bird Hunters Association.

This year's judges were Jim Lawless from Sparta, Illinois, and Kenny Snow from Muldrow, Oklahoma. These two gentlemen took on the task of picking the best two dogs. This year, we had multiple dogs that could have been named champion, but not all could have this title. Thank you, two gentlemen, for enduring the freezing temperatures to name our two champion dogs. Another thing we don't talk about is trust. Please trust your judges because these two see it all. We pick our guys because they are honest, upstanding men and women.

The 2024 National Amateur Champion is Bandit Hill Bess. Bess beat a field of 36 entries, which included 17 previous champions. Bess was whelped on June 15, 2023. Her sire is Touch's Smooth Rider and dam West's Lucy. She is owned and handled by Klaus Schmidt. Bess ran in the 10th brace against Penrosa Forbidden Eve, owned and handled by Tim Penn. Breakaway, brace No. 10, 2:16 p.m. with birds plentiful on the course and Bess would only take three minutes for her to be standing in Breakaway bottoms. Multiple birds were put in the air by handler Klaus Schmidt. At 12:23, she would be standing by the cemetery. Bess was standing tall as Klaus flushed a pair of these wild flying birds. Four minutes later, Bess was standing in the bottoms along the feeder strip. Birds were produced with all in order. Nearing the 20-minute mark, Bess would have her fourth find by the pond east of the road crossing. After crossing the road, she would take the north side. She would slam point by the feeder strip by the big chute. By this time, the gallery is setting up to see this girl run. At 12:42, she is standing near the ditch crossing in Sycamore bottoms. Two birds produced there with Bess standing tall. At 12:49, Bess was standing again in Sycamore bottoms. A single flushed, and they moved on. At 1:01, Bess would have her seventh find in the feeder strip before going into the Little Vine loop. The small covey was flushed, and she finished her hour.

The runner-up champion is Glover's Flintstone. Flint is a classy English Setter owned and handled by Jack Glover. Flint was whelped on February 22, 2020. His sire is Islander, and his dam is Kodiak Island Bird Dog. Flint ran on day two in brace 13.
After breaking away, it took Flint only four minutes to find a bird in Breakaway bottoms. Birds had been scattered all day, and they were everywhere. Seven minutes in Oakley, a Pointer female owned and handled by Paul Ott would be standing tall by the cemetery. A pair of birds was produced. Five minutes later, she was standing in the bottoms with Flint backing, and she would be picked up at this time. At the 17-minute mark, still in the bottoms, Flint was standing near one of the many feeder strips. A small covey would be flushed. After the road crossing at 28, he was standing by the big chute in one of the feeder strips. Jack flushed a single. At the 32-minute mark and still in Sycamore bottoms, another single would be put in the air for Flint by handler Jack Glover. Watered and released, it wouldn't take long for him to be pointed on the west side of the bottoms. With Jack unable to produce a bird, he relocated Flint. With a quick search, he locked them down. Jack would put a pair in the air. Flint's last find would be at the 44-minute mark. Another small covey in the big field before entering a Little Vine loop. Flint finished the hour hunting hard.

Judges: Jim Lawless and Kenny Snow
NBHA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 36 Entries
Winner-BANDIT HILL BESS, F1706165, pointer female, by Touch's Smooth Rider-West's Lucy. Klaus Schmidt, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-GLOVER'S FLINTSTONE, F1691597, setter male, by Islander-Kodiak Island Bird Dog. Jack Glover, owner and handler.

Larry Carpenter Classic
The Larry Carpenter Amateur Derby and Puppy stakes were up next. Larry Carpenter was president of the Missouri Bird Hunters for many years until his passing. He was a friend to all and never knew a stranger. He was a bird hunter who loved to field trial. He had English Setters and bred to the greats of the past. Larry was many things to many people. This is how we can pay tribute to Larry Carpenter--the Larry Carpenter Amateur Derby and Larry Carpenter Amateur Puppy. Larry, you are always missed, my friend.

Mr. Tim Penn and Kenny Snow were our judges for both the Derby and Puppy classes. Starting with the derbies, we drew 12 dogs. We definitely had some standouts. Our top dog was Pancho, a male Pointer owned and handled by Clark Leonard, who did an outstanding job. Always in front, he was fun to watch and perfect on his birds. Second was Jim Smith and his English Setter, Bennie. Bennie moved great with style and class, looking for and finding birds. He will be one to watch as he matures. Third place goes to Gracie. This little Pointer, owned and handled by Dan Crunk, is a go-getter; she did a nice job covering the course and finding birds.

The Puppy class was super exciting again this year, with nervous energy running the course. The standouts always pull everything together. We drew eight competitors this year. Mike Fox's little Irish Setter, Abby, tore up the grounds. She is this year's top winner. This little girl knows how to find birds. Second was newcomer Austin Farley with his little English Setter, Gracie. Gracie moved nicely and came up with her own birds. Third place is Zinnia, a Pointer owned and handled by Brian Kennedy. Zinnia did a nice job. She adjusts to the ground she's on and finds birds. She looks great running and pointing.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone involved. Judges Jim Lawless, Kenny Snow, and Tim Penn; Missouri Bird Hunters Association Kevin Western, Jack Glover, Joe Zimmer, and Randy Zimmer; and the National Bird Hunter's Association for this awesome organization.

The National Bird Hunters Association is growing in numbers every year. It's because of our people. Welcoming new people with open arms, helping them with questions, and guiding them. Our sponsorship is growing. Thank you, Purina, for the coupons, dog food, and all that you do for us; Garmin for the collars for our champion and runner-up champion; Gun Dog Supply for the gift certificates; Gundog Central; and OnX Hunt for the yearly membership for our champions. Please support our sponsors when possible. If you're not on this list and would like to be, contact me, and I will put you in contact with our team. Thank you all for our awesome trial.

Judges: Tim Penn and Kenny Snow
NBHA AMATEUR DERBY - 8 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-ERIN'S PANCHO VILLA, F1705859, pointer male, by Erin's Grey Justice-Erin's Miss Daisy. Charles Leonard, owner and handler.
2d-HARD HAT'S BEEN THERE, F1711503, setter male, by Doc's Second Wind-Hard Hats Bad Dotty. Jim Smith, owner and handler.
3d-MISS GRACE, F1704743, pointer female, by Small's White Charger-Blue Mound's Mainstreet. Dan Crunk, owner and handler.

NBHA AMATEUR PUPPY - 8 Entries
1st-FOXY ABRAGAELIC, F1709164, Irish setter female, by Silver Creek Wild Again-Foxy Lady Sadie. Mike Fox, owner and handler.
2d-FARLEY'S GREAT GRACIE, unreg., setter female, by Grandslams Gunslingin Colt-Wynona's Atlantic Way Cookie. Austin Farley, owner and handler.
3d-HACKBERRY'S ZINNIA WARRIOR, 1709758, pointer female, by Elhew Sinbad-Hackberry's Addie Blackhawk. Brian Kennedy, owner and handler.