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Result: Region 3 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Hoffman, North Carolina

Post Date: Mar 19, 2026

Submitted By: Roger Duerksen, M.D.

Region 3 ASD ChS26

Region 3 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship (first row): Pete Del Collo with Bittersweet War Dance, Chris Del Collo, and Lane Hodges with One Day Queen Bee. (Second row): Dan Knox (judge), Grayson Francis (judge), D. Lane, and George Kimbrell.

The Region 3 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship was held at Hoffman, North Carolina, February 20-22--a larger draw of 40 entries taxed the allotted time of three days. However, with the cooperation of the field trialers and judges Grayson Francis and Dan Knox, we were able to get it done. We had wonderful support from Gretchen and John Adsit and Maggie Maier, who provided lunches, handled receiving the Purina dog food, as well as multiple other tasks. Greg Robinson was efficient as the dog wagon driver, as always. Matt White catered Saturday's lunch and dinner, and the food was exceptional. We thank Purina for their long-term support and again for supporting this trial.

We had a good trial, with 24 coveys moved during the three-day trial. The weather was unusually variable, with hot, muggy weather the first day, followed by rain at noon with hot (80F) temperatures. The following day was cooler with overcast skies, followed by rain, colder temperatures, and wind. Despite the weather, there were excellent dog performances on all three days.

The Winners
Champion: Bittersweet War Dance, pointer male, owned by Ralph Gillota and Pete Del Collo, and handled by Pete Del Collo.
Runner-up Champion: One Day Queen Bee, pointer female, owned by Lane and Darcy Hodges, and handled by Lane Hodges.
Both winners ran on the second day, with cool, overcast skies. War Dance ran a forward race, handled well for Pete Del Collo. He had covey finds at 24 and 42 with good manners.
Queen Bee also ran a forward race and handled well for Lane Hodges. A divided find with bracemate, I'm The Lone Ranger, and a second find finished a good performance.

The Running
Brace 1: Bonner's Lynn Grove (PF/Derek Bonner) had an unproductive and finished with no bird work. Calico's Over The Top (PM/Alex Smith) had two unproductives and was up at 30.

Brace 2: Excalibur River Queen (PF/Rodney Poston) was lost. "Ray" (D. Bonner) had one unproductive and one covey find and was picked up at 30.

Brace 3: One Day La Bandita (PF/L. Hodges) and Alibi Girl (PF/L. King) shared a divided find.

Brace 4: Calico's Country Strong (PF/Alex Smith) had two unproductives. I'm A Southern Natural (ESF/S. Giddens) was lost.

Brace 5: Both Panola Sugar (PF/M. Stidham) and Harbor City Express (PM/T. Brigman) were picked up.

Brace 6: "Flo" (PF/K. Courtney) finished with no finds. Hot Dog Homer (PM/A. Smith) was picked up.

Brace 7: Dry Creek Ares (PM/J. Smith) and Silver W Thunderbolt's Boom (PF/D. Ozner) were scratched.

Brace 8: One Day Queen Bee is described above. I'm The Lone Ranger (PM/S. Giddens) had a divided find and a stop-to-flush.

Brace 9: Backcountry Bruiser (PM/Chris Catanzarite) was unproductive. Treetop Smokin Smudge (PM/J. Smith) finished with no bird work.

Brace 10: Bittersweet War Dance (PM/P. Del Collo) was named champion; see above. Palmetto Knight Light (PM/R. Poston) had a back, no finds.

Brace 11: Mac's Slim Jim (PM/T. McClurg) had two finds and two unproductives. "Sam" (PM/W. Lewis) was up with a manners violation.

Brace 12: Both Bad News Bob (PM/B. Conover) and I'm Crossroads (ESM/S. Giddens) were up early.
Brace 13: One Day Lucky Strike (PM/L. Hodges) had one find and an unproductive. L F Dialing Samantha (PF/L. King) had no bird work.

Brace 14: Buffalo Junction Klaus (PM/T. McClurg) was lost. "Chip" (PM/P. Kelly) was scratched.

Brace 15: "Spike" (PM/Chloe Lewis). Fourteen-year-old Chloe did an excellent job handling, but was picked up after an unproductive. Miss Lucille (PF/G. Miller) was up after a manners violation.

Brace 16: Loveridge Ann (PF/Prevatte) suffered a manners violation. Backcountry Champagnesupernova (PF/Catanzarite) had a covey find.

Brace 17: I Dream of Jeannie (ESF/K. Whitfield) had one find. Bud Adams (PM/C. Adams) had two finds.

Brace 18: I'm Alley Cat (ESF/S. Giddens), and Seldom Best Legend (PM/Ralph) had no bird work.

Brace 19: "Karma" (PM/W. Lewis) and Ralphy's Chasehill Rip (PM/Ralph) had no birds.

Brace 20: Klee's Pearl (PF) suffered an unproductive and a manners violation on a large covey. Backcountry Pure Gold (PF/Catanzarite) was up with a manners violation.

The continued improvement in bird finding at Hoffman has increased the entries, and all field trialers owe a vote of gratitude to John Ivester and his team. When the Region 3 Shooting Dog Championship runs again at Hoffman, the dates will increase by one day to accommodate the expected increase in entries.

Hoffman, N. C., February 20
Judges: Grayson Francis and Dan Knox
REGION 3 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 36 Pointers and 3 Setters
Winner-BITTERSWEET WAR DANCE, F1705828, pointer male, by Bittersweet War Cry-Bittersweet Recovery. Ralph Gillota & Pete Del Collo, owners; Pete Del Collo, handler.
Runner-Up-ONE DAY QUEEN BEE, F1684579, pointer female, by Heard Hill's Memory Lane-Dubose's Snow White. Lane & Darcy Hodges, owners; Lane Hodges, handler.