Result: All-America Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Carson, North Dakota

Post Date: Oct 10, 2025

Submitted By: Dave Taylor

All-America Open Shooting Dog Championship (l-r): Nik Zewers, Shawn Kinkelaar, Dr. Bob Rankin (judge), George Hickox, Dr. Debbie Ozner with Silver W Thunderbolt's Boom, Gary Futch with Panter Creek Rosie, and Tommy Rice III. (Second row): Lynn Oxendine (judge), Bob Davidson, Curtis Teare, Tommy Rice Jr., and Bruce Mueller.

The trial began on September 1 and concluded after six days of running. The entry of 83 contestants--32 juveniles and 51 shooting dogs--made it one of the largest renewals of this championship.

The venue for the trial was the Don Miller ranch near Carson, North Dakota. Mr. Miller and his sons, Dan and Don, generously provided use of their land for the running. Six one-hour courses wound across the vast prairie for the contestants to search for the wild birds that inhabit this area.

Judges for the championship were Dr. Bob Rankin from Edmond, Oklahoma, and Lynn Oxendine from Joplin, Missouri. They are both veterans of the field trial fraternity. These gentlemen were attentive and rode to view the work of each competitor. Their decisions were well received.

Silver W Thunderbolt's Boom, pointer female, owned by Debbie Ozner and George Hickox, was named champion. This was Boom's first championship. Boom was handled by Shawn Kinkelaar and scouted by Virgil Moore. The new champion had three well-spaced finds with excellent style and manners. Boom's first find came at 20, where she stood proudly for Kinkelaar to flush her birds. Boom's second find came at 30. She showed outstanding composure when her brace mate failed to back and flushed her birds while she stood mannerly. Boom's third find at 40 was along the edge of a cut grain field not hunted by any other dog. The champion's race was forward and strong. Tommy Rice was an important part of Boom's development.

Panther Creek Rosie was named runner-up champion. Rosie is owned by Frank Rutland and was handled by Tommy Rice and scouted by Jason Loper. Like the champion, Rosie had three stylish finds with flawless manners. The multiple champion's first find was on a rooster pheasant that required a relocation. She quickly pinned the bird for Rice to flush. Loper found Rosie pointed just over a ridge and called point. Rosie stood mannerly for her second find. Rosie had run a smooth race, always forward, and added a third find near the end of her hour.

The winners did not go without challengers. Upfront's County Seat ran in the sixth brace and set an early standard. County Seat had two finds and a back during her hour and ran a big forward race. She appears to be poised to follow in the footsteps of her parents, Chelsea's Thunder Bolt and Upfront's Southern Star.

Melrose Big John, last year's champion, made a strong bid with a forward race and two good finds. Cole Fusion, White Privilege, Touch's Stealy Dan, and I Dream of Jeannie finished the hour with good bird work. Two Spot Tommy, Four Seasons Gunner, and Ramblin Rivers Unplugged had fine races but did not point birds.

Doug Swingley and Rob Englert judged the Derby. Both of these sportsmen are well known, and their placements reflected their experience and knowledge. First place in the Derby was awarded to "Babe," handled by Jesse Graffam. Babe had a strong race and stopped to flush at 10 and 20. "Dotty" earned second place in the stake on the basis of the strength of her race. Dotty was handled by Brian Gingrich. "Pat," a pointer male, ran a forward race with finds at 3, 16, and 26 and a stop to flush at 28, to place third. Pat was handled by Jason Loper.

Lunch was provided on the grounds each day, and refreshments were available for morning and afternoon breaks. Shawn hosted a dinner and open bar for landowners, trial participants, and trial officials--a very festive evening. Shawn had this trial organized down to the smallest detail. Doug Swingley, Lance Schulz, Curtis Teare, and Debbie Ozner helped to make this a very successful trial.

Nancy Whitehead, a wildlife photographer, rode for two days taking photos of the running. Nancy took pictures of wildlife, dogs running and on point, horses and riders, and the beautiful country. Hopefully, some of the pictures of this event will be included in her new book, due out next year.

Toddy Smith, Mike Blanton, and Bob Davidson witnessed their first horseback field trial and found it very exciting. Mr. Smith owns Pineland Farm, a private hunting preserve in South Carolina, and Mike serves as farm manager. Bob spent a month at Lynn Oxendine's training camp. Bob and Mike, when not riding, helped with the dog wagon.

Carson, N. D., September 1
Judges: Lynn Oxendine and Dr. Bob Rankin
ALL-AMERICA OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 43 Pointers and 8 Setters
Winner-SILVER W THUNDERBOLT'S BOOM, F1700430, pointer female, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt-South Forty Princess Di. Debbie Ozner & George Hickox, owners; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.
Runner-Up-PANTHER CREEK ROSIE, F1691574, pointer female, by Panther Creek Merlin-Pineywood's Belle Aire. Frank Rutland, owner; Tommy Rice III, handler.

Judges: Rob Englert and Doug Swingley
OPEN DERBY - 31 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-HH SMOKESHOW, F1724254, pointer female, by Miller's King Poast-Bryson's Dialing On Line. James Graffam, owner and handler.
2d-WALDEN'S RIDGE DOT COM, F1714516, pointer female, by Miller's Triple Digit Heat-Windy Hill Shadow Dancer. David Steele, owner; Doug Ray, handler.
3d-OSCEOLA'S RICOCHET BULLETT, F1714250, pointer male, by Weber's Little Bullett-Osceola's Last Dial. Jason Loper, owner and handler.

Open Derby (l-r): Shawn Kinkelaar, Terry Chastain Jr. with HH Smokeshow, and Jason Loper with Osceola's Ricochet Bullett. (Second row): Curtis Teare, Erick Parsons, Jesse Graffam, Johnny Van Horn, Doug Swingley, Fran Manns, Todd Manns, Kim Anthony, Rob Englert (judge), Gavin Le, Dr. Tom Jackson, Virgil Moore, and Tommy Rice Jr. [Not pictured): Walden's Ridge Dot Com and Doug Ray (handler)].