Event: South Dakota Classic
Result: Shadow Oak Field Trial Club

Location: Mclaughlin, South Dakota

Post Date: Nov 3, 2026

Submitted By: Amy Loper

Open Derby front (l-r). Squire Lee with Erin's Top Shelf, Jessie Graffam with Merrily Goodbye Kerrie, Virgil Moore with CK Blacks Forever Wild. Standing (l-r). Judd Carlton, Dillon Reneau, T. J. Chastain, Matt Cochran, Judge Luke Topp, Judge Jason Loper.

The South Dakota Open Shooting Dog Classic commenced September 13, on the heels of the All-America Open Shooting Dog Championship. This year's stake drew 11 Derbies and 50 shooting dogs. The grounds consist of prairie and pasture as well as cut wheat fields. Native sharptail grouse, Huns and the ever-elusive pheasant made for a good trial with birds pointed or seen every brace of the Open Shooting Dog stake.

Luke Topp of Sterling, Nebraska and Jason Loper of Quitman, Georgia judged this year's event. The club appreciated their time in the saddle and their decisions were well received. No trial is possible without the support of the landowner and sponsors; we are grateful for both. Many thanks to the Pfeifer Ranch, Don Marsh; Whoa Buck Enterprises and Greg Blair of Purina, whose support is much appreciated by this club and many other clubs in the sport of field trialing.

Winning the Open Derby was Erin's Top Shelf. Handled by Judd Carlton, this young charge had a strong forward prairie race with a great find on sharptails. Placing second was Merrily's Goodbye Kerrie handled by T. J. Chastain. Kerrie had a smooth strong race. Matt Cochran handled the third-place dog. CK Blacks Forever Wild who had a strong race.

Winning the trial was Upfront's County Seat handled by Shawn Kinkelaar. Seat had a strong smooth race coupled with a divided find on pheasants and a find at time on a rooster pheasant. Tommy Rice III piloted Pineywoods Wildfire to second place. This pointer female also had a strong race with a stop to flush on a pheasant and a find on pheasants. The winner rand second place dog were braced together. Placing third was Laura Pergolizzi handled by Shawn Kinkelaar. LP had a moderate race with two finds on sharptail grouse.

The club thanks the judges, our sponsors and all handlers who participated in this year's running, and we look forward to next year.

McLaughlin, S. D., September 13
Judges: Jason Loper and Luke Topp
SOUTH DAKOTA OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 11 Pointers
1st-ERIN'S TOP SHELF, F1722469, pointer male, by Erin's Mighty Quinn-Erin's Speed Demon. Kent Cantrell, owner; Judd Carlton, handler.
2d-MERRILY GOODBYE KERRIE, F1723582, pointer female, by Merrily Rolex Radar-Melrose Goodbye Kiss. Daphne Wood, owner; T. J. Chastain, handler.
3d-CR BLACKS FOREVER WILD, F1719186, pointer male, by Whippoorwill Forever Wild-Wynona's BH Chill. Brent Davis, owner; Matt Cochran, handler.

SOUTH DAKOTA OPEN SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 44 Pointers and 6 Setters
1st-UPFRONT'S COUNTY SEAT, F1705554, pointer female, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt-Upfront's Southern Star. Lance & Marcie Schulz, owners; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.
2d-PINEYWOODS WILDFIRE, F1706846, pointer female, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Hill's Georgia Brown. Darron Hendley, Tommy Rice III, handler.
3d-LAURA PERGOLIZZI, F1705950, pointer female, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt-Buche's Elhew Rebel. Nicole Lombardi & Doug Swingley, owners; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.

Open Shooting Dog front (l-r). Lance Schultz with Upfront's County Seat, Judd Carlton with Pineywoods Wildfire, Virgil Moore with Laura Pergolizzi. Standing (l-t) Shawn Kinkelaar, Judge Luke Topp, Judge Jason Loper, Tommy Rice III, Caitlyn Lee, Matt Cochran.