Event: Kansas Championship Association Sunflower Open All-Age
Result: Kansas Championship Association

Location: Blue Mountain, Mississippi

Post Date: Jan 29, 2026

Submitted By: Rachel Russell

Open All-Age (l-r): Kent Walker, David and Olivia Russell with Como Thunder, Scott Beeler with Game Surge, Dr. Fred Corder, Korry Rinehart with Miller's King Poast, Gary Lester, and Dr. John Hindman.

The Sunflower Open Classic followed the Memphis Amateur Field Trial at Hell Creek WMA in Blue Mountain, Mississippi, on November 3-5, 2025. We were blessed with great weather, exceptional judges, and some outstanding performances. Dr. John Hindman of New Albany, Mississippi, and Kent Walker of Collierville, Tennessee, judged the All-Age, while David Russell of Como, Mississippi, joined Kent Walker in the judges' seat for the Derby. We would like to thank Purina for its generous sponsorship and MDWFP for allowing us to use the beautiful grounds at Hell Creek WMA. Congratulations to all of the winners!

The trial started with the All-Age under clear skies with Beeler's White Knight, handled by Scott Beeler, and Mayfield Storm Front, handled by Pat Siebels. Beeler scored a find at :12 and went on to finish the brace, while Siebels had a breach of manners at :30 and picked up. In the second brace, Haney's Hurricane Seeker, handled by David Russell, and World Class High Def, handled by Pat Siebels, were both picked up at :10. Next, "Sam," handled by Pat Siebels, was picked up at :43 after a second UP and his bracemate, Miss Arkansas, handled by Mike Lemons, was picked up as well. The fourth brace consisted of Valor's Lace and Grace, handled by Korry Rinehart, and Pleasant Run Ruby, handled by Larry Huffman. Rinehart had a find at :08 before the first road crossing and a back at :45, while Huffman scored finds at :35 in the bamboo after the first ditch crossing and :45 in the big field down from the old house before finishing the hour. Mayfield Storm Charger, handled by Pat Siebels, was picked up at :08, and Game Heir, handled by Fred Corder, pointed at :17 in the big field down from the old house and Corder showed feathers, then he went on to have a find and two UPs just before the second road crossing where he was picked up at :48 during the fifth brace of the trial. The last brace of the day included performances from Game Surge, handled by Dr. Fred Corder, and Lester's War Bird, handled by Gary Lester. Corder had three finds, and both dogs finished the hour. We began with the seventh brace on Tuesday morning, under clear skies and temperatures in the low 40s, with Como Thunder, handled by David Russell, and Mayfield Storm Messenger, handled by Pat Siebels. The judges rode up on Thunder standing on three separate occasions, including at :24 at the end of the pines after the road crossing, :42 at the end of the big field down from the old house, and :50 before the second road crossing. Thunder finished the hour, although his bracemate was picked up at :45 with no bird work. The bird work continued with the next brace, which included Beeler's Final Solution, handled by Scott Beeler, and his bracemate Miller's King Poast, handled by Gary Lester, having finds at :30 and :48 before finishing the hour. The ninth brace consisted of Lester's Front Porch, handled by Pat Siebels, who was picked up, and Bandit's Hill Avenger, handled by Korry Rinehart, who was out of contention when his handler requested the tracker. In the next brace, Pat Siebels handled World Class Migraine, who went without bird work but scored a back, and Korry Rinehart handled Miller's Triple Crown, who ended up with a UP but finished the brace. The last brace of the All-Age included performances from Sunset Sam Houston, handled by Gary Lester, and Bonner's Hot Rize, handled by Pat Siebels, who was out of contention at :15 when his handler requested the tracker. Lester called a stop to flush at :20, but the judges did not see the birds. However, when he got off his horse, he flushed additional birds. He went on to have a find at :52 at the second big field in front of the clubhouse and completed the hour.

The Derby immediately followed the All-Age on the morning of November 5. The first brace included performances from Sunset Jack, handled by Ike Todd, and "Bob," handled by Korry Rinehart. This brace had great bird work with two divided finds at :25 and :29. Haneys Cloud Nine, handled by Ike Todd, took the next brace as a bye-dog (Bryant's Silver Lining was scratched due to family health issues with his handler). Next, Millers Inspiration, handled by Gary Lester, and "Tex," handled by Ike Todd, were in the third brace. Larry Huffman handled Whippoorwill Out Rider for the fourth brace alongside his bracemate "Zip," handled by Ike Todd. The fifth brace included Lesters Thunder Road, handled by Gary Lester, and Haney's High Dollar, handled by Ike Todd. Ike Todd handled "Al" in the final brace of the stake as a bye-dog.

Blue Mountain, Miss., November 5
Judges: John Hindman and Kent Walker
SUNFLOWER OPEN ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 23 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-COMO THUNDER, F1687714, pointer male, by Skyfall-Catch Me Dot. B K & Rachel Blackwell, owners; David Russell, handler.
2d-GAME SURGE, F1700091, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-Game Maggie. Dr. Fred Corder, owner and handler.
3d-MILLER'S KING POAST, F1702090, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-R W Susie Q. Al Bryson, owner; Gary Lester, handler.

Judges: David Russell and Kent Walker
OPEN DERBY - 11 Pointers
1st-SUNSET JACK, F1719590, pointer male, by Miller's Blindsider-Haney's Sweet Tea. Matthew Brown, owner; Ike Todd, handler.
2d-APACHE STORM, F1723471, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-T'n L Speed Machine. Korry Rinehart, owner and handler.
3d-HANEY'S HIGH DOLLAR, F1714646, pointer male, by Haney's Silver Dollar-Pete's Greystone Jill. Chris Cagle, owner; Ike Todd, handler.

Open Derby (l-r): Gary Lester, David Russell, Isaiah Todd with Sunset Jack, Kyle Graves with Apache Storm, Korry Rinehart, Ike Todd with Haney's High Dollar, and Kent Walker.