Event: Associated Field Trial Clubs of Florida Super Bowl
Result: Associated Field Trial Clubs of Florida

Location: Punta Gorda, Florida

Post Date: Jan 29, 2026

Submitted By: Petie Brown

Open Shooting Dog (front): Justin Muzynski with Holopaw's Mack, Petie Brown with Myakka Rebel, and Darrell Wells with Wells Cold Hard Cash. (Back row): John Castelli, Kayleigh Muzynski, Carol Muzynski, and Beth Brown.

The Super Bowl trial has been a very full two-day event. In the past, we would roll in on Sunday at dark, too tired to load up and haul home, much preferring to stay over and train dogs, readying them for the three-day Everglades trial. This year's trial, with fewer entries, was conveniently wrapped up at noon on Sunday.

The weather was pleasant enough, with fog bringing most of the moisture. This area, like much of Florida, is currently under a burn ban. Birds were plentiful, but interestingly, many of the finds were on singles. Once the dew dried up, scent conditions seemed to dry up as well. Most of the water was what we carried, and it was much-needed late mornings and afternoons for cooling dogs and horses.

Saturday evening's cookout had all the trimmings, with the usual family-reunion vibe. Justin Muzynski has become more comfortable with his role as president, announcing the winners of the All-Age. The evening's festivities continued with a fire at the Muzynski's camp.

Scott and Matt Ford judged the whole trial, and we are grateful for their time in the saddle and eyes on the performers. Being local, they know what to expect on the grounds, and their decisions were well-received. Purina has delivered Purina Pro Plan to the winners, and once again, we thank them for their valued sponsorship. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FFWC) manages to keep the grounds presentable, and, thankfully, without hurricanes this year, the burns continued uninterrupted. We have been seeing more coyotes, and there was a lot of hog sign, especially in the feed plots that the FFWC tries to keep planted. Fortunately, there were no interactions with the dogs; however, we also saw many deer, and on one occasion, a heated chase ensued.

THE WINNERS
The whistle blew on Saturday morning's All-Age at 8:07 with fog that didn't lift until 8:45, so kudos to both handlers and scouts for not losing a dog for long. Both Checkmates Catch Me If You Can ("Jackie") and Funseeker's Texas Preacher laid down some beautiful casts and hunted with determination, only breaking for water. The second brace wasn't quite as exciting until the scout called point for Justin's Holopaw's Cracker ("Buddy") on what turned out to be a spiderweb. To Guppy's credit, it was a really big spiderweb! The third brace had Katie McEwen and her scout doing all they could to keep track of Mc Ewens Southern Pride ("Miller"). Justin picked up Holopaw's Mack as the morning was heating up, saying, "It just wasn't Mack's day." The last brace of the All-Age commenced at 2:00, well into the heat of the day, with Tawna doing her best for handler Paul Daniel, and Holopaw's Rear Axel trying to please Justin. Coming in third place, with handler Beth Brown, was the late Don Wood's Funseeker's Texas Preacher. Second place was Mc Ewens Southern Pride, showing every bit of his Guard Rail line, only to have first place taken by his littermate "Jackie," who nimbly showed herself and checked in a bit more. Hold on to your hats as this could be interesting going forward! Is betting allowed in this sport? Congratulations to Vince Feltner and Paul Daniel, who will be the polishers of the Jimmy Albright Memorial trophy.

Taking home the Russell silver punch bowl, platter, and cups to use and polish for a year was another interesting, well-deserved Shooting Dog stake commencing shortly after 3 p.m. with Petie Brown's Myakka Rebel listening well, casting mostly 9 to 3, and going on point not far from the west fence, where a single was produced in good order. She was braced with Darrell Well's big running shooting dog, Cold Hard Cash, and the two crisscrossed well together with determination. Finishing out Saturday afternoon's running was Mc Ewens Southern Pride, who, after running the All-Age in the morning, had plenty of bottom left for handler Katie McEwen, and giving the scout, Beth Brown, flashbacks to Miller's sire Myakka Time Shifter out of Guard Rail.

Sunday morning's fog was nearly as dense as the day before, but it didn't slow us up any. The first brace got off to a rocky start with Justin running Holopaw's Mack, who had a UP early on, only to come back with a beautiful find after the 30-minute turn. Paul Daniel's Gold had an unproductive after looking very birdy, only to have the birds take off when Vince Feltner drove his buggy forward. Darrell Well's Fine and Fancy was looking great until he had to pull the tracker to locate her on point three-quarters of a mile back. Fancy was braced with Vince Feltner's Checkmates Prime Time One ("Cash"), handled by Paul Daniel. Cash was sidetracked away from a point by a deer and pulled a few other stunts on his handler and scout. Those are smart quail that hang close to deer. Wrapping up the Shooting Dog stake was Benno with Daniel Linehan and Myakka Abby Road, with Petie Brown. Benno was picked up in the heat while Abby finished after being watered repeatedly in the shade; with the heat, neither dog was running with great purpose, and scent conditions were toast. Darrell Well's Cold Hard Cash placed third, Myakka Rebel for Petie Brown placed second, and Holopaw's Mack placed first for the Muzynskis. Congratulations, and get out the silver polish!

Punta Gorda, Fla., December 6 & 7
Judges: Scott Ford and Matt Ford
OPEN ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 8 Pointers
1st-CHECKMATES CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, F1706156, pointer female, by Myakka Time Shifter-Nacho's Drama Ma Ma. Vince Feltner, owner; Paul Daniel, handler.
2d-MC EWENS SOUTHERN PRIDE, F1708288, pointer male, by Myakka Time Shifter-Nacho's Drama Ma Ma. Debbie & Katie McEwen, owners; Katie McEwen, handler.
3d-FUNSEEKER'S TEXAS PREACHER, 1667330, pointer male, by Funseeker's Rebel Tex-Nacho Myakka Miley. Don Wood, owner; Beth Brown, handler.

OPEN SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] -- 6 Pointers and 1 German Shorthair
1st- HOLOPAW'S MACK, F1690237, pointer male, by Holopaw's Axel-Hot Digity Dot. Kenneth & Justin Muzynski, owners; Justin Muzynski, handler.
2d- MYAKKA REBEL, F1669365, pointer female, by Elhew G Force-Myakka Hey Jude. Petie Brown, owner and handler.
3d-WELLS COLD HARD CASH, F1711551, pointer male, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Wells Ray of Gold. Darrell Wells, owner and handler.

Open All-Age (front): Paul Daniel with Checkmates Catch Me If You Can, Katie McEwen with Mc Ewens Southern Pride, and Beth Brown with Funseeker's Texas Preacher. (Back): Carol Muzynski.