Event: McLean Open Shooting Dog Classic
Result: Mortlach Field Trial Club
Location: Mortlach, Saskatchewan
Post Date: Nov 3, 2026
Submitted By: Ryan Jones
The 2026 McLean Open Shooting Dog Classic was run September 10 and 11 over the renowned Mortlach prairie grounds, long regarded as one of the finest bird dog venues in North America, following the draw on September 9. It was a great weekend of dogs, horses and friends, thanks to the people who made it happen. Sheldon Rogers, Dawn Feist and Ron Bender organized the event and handled the marshaling, the dog wagon and the lunches that kept everyone going. The members of the Saskatchewan AFTCA club pitched in wherever they were needed from start to finish, and it showed. Events like this don't run smoothly by accident.
Judges for the Classic were Sig Guggenmoos of Edmonton, Alta., and Ryan Jones of Priddis, Alta. Both extend their thanks to the club for the invitation to judge this year's running, and to the handlers and scouts for a well-contested stake.
The weather cooperated throughout, with cool mornings giving way to a building wind and sunshine in the afternoons. Most braces had good opportunities on birds over the two days, with Huns and sharptail grouse both in evidence.
The Winners
1st -- LBF Bohemian Rhapsody (Bo), setter male, owned and handled by Brad McCardle. Stiff competition awaited as Bo and BK Westcoast Remmington, handled by Rod Lecher, broke away at 11:04 a.m. on September 11 in the 10th and final brace, heading northeast toward the lake. Bo wasted little time. At 7 he was found standing with a large covey of Huns pinned in front of him. The birds lifted in waves as Brad flushed, and Bo stood tall through flight and shot, his manners flawless. Sent on, he took in the hedgerows with a forward, well-applied shooting dog race, handling kindly for Brad. At 28 he struck again between the hedgerows, this time on a covey of sharptail grouse, and again he was a picture of style and manners as the birds took to the air. As the course swung south, Bo kept driving and finished strong out front, closing out the Classic the way a winner should.
2nd -- BK Real McCoy, pointer male, owned by Brooke Lanning and Sergio Velez, handled by Sergio Velez. McCoy and Micky, handled by Brad McCardle, went away at 2:06 p.m. on September 10 in the 5th brace, the first after lunch, and it was a busy hour. Micky found first, pointing a covey of Huns along the fence line at 15, and McCoy answered moments later along the fence line, standing a covey of Huns of his own, all in order at flush and shot. He hunted on with purpose, and when he was found standing at 30, birds could not be produced, but McCoy shook it off and kept to the front. At 53 he was found standing again along the edge of the row-crop field, and a Hun was put to air in front of a mannerly dog. It was a strong, bird-finding hour that set the mark for the dogs to follow.
3rd -- Bells Yellowstone Pride, pointer female, owned and handled by Keith Anderson. Pride led off the Classic with BK Bulletproof, handled by Sergio Velez, at 7:56 a.m. on September 10 and made her presence felt early, pointing a large covey of Huns at 17 min with style and manners. At 28 she stopped to the flush on a pair of Huns, and at 40 she honored Bulletproof's find on a covey of Huns with a handsome back. Pride was still hunting hard after time was called and was found pointing a single sharptail at 56 as the brace was being gathered.
The Running
Brace 1. Reported with the winners.
Brace 2. Kinwashkly Super Nova (Sheldon Rogers) and Real Time (Keith Anderson) went away at 9:06 a.m. Super Nova was found standing along a caragana row as the course headed toward the lake, and Sheldon put up a covey of Huns at 29. The brace concluded at time.
Brace 3. Circle BK Wanted (Sergio Velez) and Ali (Doug McKenzie) were loosed at 10:13 a.m. Circle BK Wanted stopped to the flush on a sharptail along a caragana row near 45 min. The brace concluded at time.
Brace 4. BK Locked N' Loaded (Sergio Velez) and Kate (Sheldon Rogers) closed out the morning at 11:48 a.m. Kate's bid ended early when a Hun got up at 7 and her manners did not hold, and Sheldon picked up. Locked N' Loaded stopped to the flush on Huns along the edge of the trees and ran on until Sergio called for the tracker at 50.
Brace 5. Reported with the winners.
Brace 6. Grand Finale (Curtis Raymond) and Sturgill (Brad McCardle) went away at 3:17 p.m. to end the first day. Sturgill had an unproductive at 16 and, not pleasing Brad, was up at 45. The brace concluded at time.
Day 2 opened cool with the same fine conditions.
Brace 7. BK Cornerstone (Sergio Velez) and Pearl (Sheldon Rogers) broke away at 8:01 a.m. At the end of Horseback Ridge, Pearl was found standing at 20 with Cornerstone backing, but birds could not be produced and she was sent on. Late in the hour the two came together again at the end of the hayfield, sharing a divided find on a pair of Huns at 48.
Brace 8. BK Pokerface (Sergio Velez) and Ready or Not (Keith Anderson) broke away at 9:09 a.m. from the road at the far corner of the alfalfa field. At 12 Ready or Not was found standing in the hayfield with Pokerface backing. After a relocation, a single sharptail was produced and the dogs were sent on. At 36 Ready or Not was again found standing along the caraganas toward the lake, but birds could not be produced and the dog was sent on. The brace concluded at time.
Brace 9. Gundrifter (Curtis Raymond) and LBF Look Out Stagger Lee (Brad McCardle) broke away at 10:25 a.m. from the corner of Rough Passage, heading northwest. Stagger Lee stopped to the flush as a single bird left in front of him at 25, but did not hold for release, ending his bid. The brace concluded at time.
Brace 10. Reported with the winners, ending the 2026 running of the McLean Open Shooting Dog Classic.
Mortlach, Sask., September 10
Judges: Sig Guggenmoos and Ryan Jones
MCLEAN OPEN SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 20 Entries
1st-LBF BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, F1702241, setter male, by T's Gunslinger-Erin's Red Rose. Brad McCardle, owner and handler.
2d-BK REAL MCCOY, F1705532, pointer male, by Bittersweet War Cry-Bittersweet Recovery. Brooke Lanning & Sergio Velez, owners; Sergio Velez, handler.
3d-BELLS YELLOWSTONE PRIDE, F1687338, pointer female, by Touch's Diamante-Bellita. Keith Anderson, owner and handler.
Judges: Brad McCardle and Curtis Raymond
OPEN DERBY - 8 Entries
1st-BK MOONLIGHT, unreg., pointer female, by BK Scar Lit-BK Dream Catcher. Sergio Velez, owner and handler.
2d-BK I'M ROYALTY, unreg., pointer male, by BK Scar Lit-BK Dream Catcher. Sergio Velez, owner and handler.
3d-REBEL RYE, unreg., pointer male, by The Alberta Clipper-Em One Hit Wonder. Ryan Jones, owner and handler.
Judges: Ron Bender and Dean Orosz
OPEN ALL-AGE - 2 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-BK UNFORGIVEN, F1699366, pointer male, by Fastforward's B K Gunner-B K Northwest Express. Sam Haundus, owner; Sergio Velez, handler.
2d-LBF BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, F1702241, setter male, by T's Gunslinger-Erin's Red Rose. Brad McCardle, owner and handler.
3d-REAL TIME, F1714280, pointer female, by Perkins Sawyer's Warrior-Empire On Line. Keith Anderson, owner and handler.
Judges: Jeanette Heise and Curtis Raymond
VIC EASTMOND OPEN DERBY - 7 Pointers
1st-LBF SHAKY JAKE, F1720885, pointer male, by Go Boy's Dan-Fight's War Babe. Brad McCardle, owner and handler.
2d-FISHER'S UNO JUNO, F1725096, pointer female, by Brenner Sagerunner-Finley's Stella. Cedar & Morgan Fisher, owners; Sergio Velez, handler.
3d-EM ONE CHANCE FANCY, F1730244, pointer female, by The Alberta Clipper-Em One Hit Wonder. Ryan Jones, owner and handler.
Judges: Sergio Velez and Ashley Tracy
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 18 Entries
1st-READY OR NOT, F1708651, pointer female, by Seranoa's Valley Below-Affinity. Keith Anderson, owner and handler.
2d-BK WESTCOAST REMINGTON, F1734953, pointer male, by Fastfoward's B K Gunner-B K Westcoast Sunrise. Rod Lecher, owner and handler.
3d-BELLS YELLOWSTONE PRIDE, F1687338, pointer female, by Touch's Diamante-Bellita. Keith Anderson, owner and handler.