Result: Region 11 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Valley Springs, California

Post Date: May 29, 2026

Submitted By: Tom Griffin

Region 11 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship (front row): Tom Griffin with Pride N Joy and Gina Bosio with G R B's Dirty White Boy. (Back row): Steve Cosgrave (judge) and Aaron Faucet (judge).

The West Valley Bird Dog Club hosted Region 11 AFTCA's Amateur Shooting Dog Championship over the March 7-8 weekend at the Moonlight Ranch near Valley Springs, California. The championship followed West Valley's series of open and amateur 30-minute stakes. These beautiful trial grounds, the main house, and the bunk house are made available by the exceptional generosity of the owner, Lynn Stinson. Thank you, Lynn, for your steadfast support of the West Valley Bird Dog Club and Region 11.

Tom Griffin's 4-year-old pointer male, Pride N Joy, was named champion. "Lite" ran a fast-forward race with three stylish finds. Gina Bossio's German Shorthair G R B's Dirty White Boy's four finds took runner-up honors. "LB" and Lite were braced together. After casting off from camp, both dogs made big moves through the cattle gate. After LB's initial find, his application and range were more conservative than the winner's.

Aaron Faucet from Reno, Nevada, and Steve Cosgrave from Modesto, California, judged the championship. Their decision was well received. The Club and Region officers greatly appreciate their expertise and time in the saddle.

Region 11's Amateur Shooting Dog Derby followed the conclusion of the championship. This was a very competitive stake with multiple performances worthy of recognition and a placement. Jarry Walton's Rocking J's Chip was named the winner, and Ed Mayhew garnered second and third place with The Tucalota Gypsy and Tucalotas Dux.

Patti and Jim Rose took care of the hospitality at the drawing, dinners, and lunches, and put on a great barbecue rib dinner on Saturday night. For many years, Lynn Stinson had generously provided a truck to be used as the dog wagon for the Moonlight trials. That was not an option this year, and Jim Rose met that challenge by building a dog wagon that could be hitched to an ATV. This rig will be available for all to use as long as trials continue to be run at Moonlight Ranch. Jamie Marks handled the dog truck driver duties all weekend.

This year marked the passing of another stalwart of the Moonlight Ranch field trial scene. Jan Corbitt succumbed to pancreatic cancer on April 23, 2025. For 15+ years, she was an integral part of the field trials held on the Ranch. As Jim Rose commented at the Saturday night diner when offering a toast to Jan Corbitt and Ron Bader, "You never knew how many roles she played and tasks she took on until you had to pick them up." Her passing was preceded several years earlier by that of her partner, Ron Bader. Ron spent countless hours operating bulldozers and tractors to create the courses that are the hallmark of this venue. For nearly two decades, these two were the force that created these trial grounds, and the heart and soul that kept this venue thriving as public and private trial grounds in the Region were disappearing.

No trial report is complete without recognizing and thanking Purina for its ongoing support. Support for judges' gifts and dog food for the winners is just the tip of the iceberg of all Purina does for the sport.

Valley Springs, Cal., March 7
Judges: Aaron Faucet and Steve Cosgrave
REGION 11 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 7 Pointers, 3 Setters, and 2 German Shorthairs
Winner-PRIDE N JOY, F1703602, pointer male, by Quickmarksman's Ace-Sweet Child O Mine. Tom Griffin, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-G R B'S DIRTY WHITE BOY, F1696446, German Shorthair male, by M V's Pretty Boy Floyd-D C R's Mojo Justice. Gina Bosio, owner and handler.

Judges: Gina Bosio and Tom Griffin
REGION 11 AMATEUR DERBY - 4 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-ROCKING J'S CHIP, F1720767, pointer male, by Brock Force-Sleepless Money Maiden. Jarry Walton, owner and handler.
2d-THE TUCALOTA GYPSY. [Placement Voided].
3d-TUCALOTAS DAX, F1711952, pointer male, by Tucalota's Rebel Rush-Paladela's Shadow Rose. Ed Mayhew, owner and handler.

Amateur Derby (front row, l-r): Jarry Walton with Rocking J's Chip, Ed Mayhew with The Tucalota Gypsy, and Terry Erickson with Tucalotas Dax. (Back row): Tom Griffin (judge), Jim Rose, and Gina Bosio (judge).