Result: Region 4 Amateur All-Age Championship
Location: Pinckneyville, Illinois
Post Date: Apr 16, 2025
Submitted By: Jim Pendergest
Region 4 Amateur All-Age Championship: Jim Lawless, Jon Lam with Phillips Linebacker, Eddie Berendzen (judge), Nathan Berendzen (judge), Jim Pendergest with Storm's End, and Matt Pendergest.
The Region 4 Amateur All-Age Championship concluded on March 16, with judges Nathan and Eddie Berendzen awarding Phillips Linebacker championship honors and Storm's End the runner-up title over a field of 22 competitors.
The Region 4 Championships are rotated between Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio and in Kentucky between the Miller Welch Wildlife Management Area and the West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area. This year was Indiana's turn in the rotation, and the chosen venue was Pyramid State Park in Pinckneyville, Illinois. Judges Nathan and Eddie Berendzen hail from Higbee, Missouri, and have a wide range of experience in the bird dog world. The father/son team has been involved in the bird dog/field trial world since childhood and has trained and run their own dogs. Both have judged numerous trials and have earned a stellar reputation as knowledgeable and fair arbiters. The Region 4 Officers and members are thankful to both for agreeing to judge this trial.
Many thanks go out to those who helped make this trial happen. The Rend Lake Field Trial Club graciously hosted the event. Jon Lam and Jim Lawless assumed the duties of putting out birds morning and noon and assisted with marshaling. Mary Sue Schalk is the secretary of Region 4 and carries the bulk of the workload, seeing that the three championships come off successfully each year, and this one was no different. Matt Pendergest assisted with marshalling and supplying the dog wagon snacks, among other duties.
Purina and Greg Blair sponsored the Championship, like many others, and the champion and runner-up were awarded bags of Purina Sport Pro Plan as an additional reward for their accomplishments. Purina's support is instrumental in being able to continue to put on first-class trials for the competitors, and we can't thank them enough.
The Winners and Others
Phillips Linebacker is owned by Orrin Ingram and Nathan Phillips and was expertly handled by Mike Small. Linebacker competed in the second brace Saturday afternoon and put on a spectacular all-age performance. His race was extreme from start to finish, and he moved effortlessly on the ground. Linebacker struck out quickly to the right side of the course and was found by scout on point at the base of the "Mountain" on the edge of the cornfield at 8. It was a long ride to the dog, and the result was worth the ride. An unproductive occurred at 14 near the edge of the lake just after the course turned right. Linebacker's second find came at 32 as the second course crossed the first, headed toward headquarters. This find was equally stylish and well-handled as the first. Small sent the dog to the right, and he circled the next big cornfield quickly and was on to the next crop field adjacent to the clubhouse. Linebacker was found pointed on the treeline leading to the plant, and again, all was in order. Sent forward from here, the dog was seen topping the rise toward the gravel road crossing. Small had the dog rounded up at the road crossing and released him into the final corn field for an 8-minute cast to the front to finish his brace.
Storm's End, owned by Matt and Megan Pendergest, competed in the third brace Saturday morning. "Kate" broke away at the road crossing near the plant and was shown on a long cast to the right front. She crossed over the left and was making a swing around the left edge where the first course finishes when she wheeled onto to point a half mile to the front left. Kate performed an admirable relocation on running birds in thick briars. Handler and dog both emerged from their adventure with thorns to be plucked. Handler and dog caught the front at the base of the "Mountain," and shortly thereafter, Kate was standing again for her second stylish find. Released from here, she quickly shot to the front and wasn't seen again until found standing near the end of the "Mountain". Again, all was in order. After crossing the road and entering the crop fields leading to headquarters, Kate was consuming every edge and rolling to the front. She was gathered and sent down the lane toward the clubhouse and shown again at a distance. When pick-up was called, a long ride was made through the oaks past the clubhouse before she was rounded up well to the front.
At the conclusion of the trial, the judges commented that they had at least six dogs that rendered performances worthy of a championship title. In order of their appearance, these four dogs generated additional consideration for honors.
Erin's Rebel Attraction, handled by Brian Sheehan, competed in the first brace of the championship and had well-mannered finds at 14, 18, and 57, coupled with a forward race of all age proportions.
Erin's Southern Comfort, handled by Sean Patrick Derrig, competed in the second brace and recorded one find at 31 and an unproductive at 38. His race was to the extreme during his hour.
Imagine, handled by Jim Pendergest, competed in brace No. 4 and had finds at 18, 20, 32, and 46, with backs of his bracemate at 44 and 57. Imagine showed all-age range on the first course.
Lam's Prime Choice, handled by Jon Lam, competed in brace No. 7 and had finds at 12, 20, 36, and 48, accompanied by a back at 18. As with the others listed, Choice's range fit the all-age standard.
Others had sufficient birdwork, but range or biddability kept them from consideration.
Pinckneyville, Ill., March 14
Judges: Eddie Berendzen and Nathan Berendzen
REGION 4 AMATEUR ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 18 Pointers, 1 Setter, and 3 Irish Setters
Winner-PHILLIPS LINEBACKER, F1695679, pointer male, by Phillips Off Line-Phillips Silver Lady. Orrin Ingram & Nathan Phillips, owners; Mike Small, handler.
Runner-Up-STORM'S END, F1687221, pointer female, by Dunn's Tried'n True-K F Prairie Storm. Matt Pendergest & Megan Henry, owners; Matt Pendergest, handler.