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Result: National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Bloomingdale, Ohio

Post Date: Nov 4, 2026

Submitted By: Joe Cammisa

National Ama Pheasant SD ChF26

National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship. Judge Lee Long, Alex Smith, Tiffany Smith with the Calico's Over The Top, Greg Strasbaugh, Chris Catanzarite with Miller's Flowers And Lace, Mark and Karen Janiec and Judge Mary Sue Schalk.

This Years' National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship is.....(Drum Roll) "Alex Smith and Calico's Over the Top" Runner-Up, Miller's Flowers and Lace.

A continued short history of the National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship shows the most recent winners since 2017.

2017 Touch's Katrina, F1654628, PF, w, o & tk, by Touch's White Out-House's Proud Mary. Austin Turley, owner and handler.
2018 Touch's Hail Stone, F1653857, PM, w, o & tk, by Touch's White Out-Touch's Maswood Anne. Alexander Rickert, owner and handler.
2019 Upfront's Southern Star, F1662579, PF, w & lv tk, by Ransom-Double Wild. Lance Schulz, owner and handler.
2020 Touch's Diamante, F1651518, PM, w, o & tk, by Touch's White Out-Henson's Go Girl. Austin Turley, owner and handler.
2021 Hightailing Maggie, F1674283, PF, w & b, by Bail Me Out-Walden's Ridge Liz. Kevin & Maureen Joyce, owners; Kevin Joyce, handler.
2022 Navajo Cody, F1668520, PM, w, lv & tk, by Great River Ice-Blaze's Isis. Camille Masiello & Saverio Morelli, owners; Joseph E. Lordi, handler.
2023 Millers Cover Girl, F1675005, PF, w, o & tk, by Just Irresistible-Miller's Bring the Heat, Jack and Fran Miller, owners: Fran Miller, handler.
2024 Calico's Country Strong, F1679850, PF, w, b & tk, by Waybetter Rocky and Calico's Touch of Class, Calico's Kennels, owner; Alex Smith, handler.
2025 Calico's Over The Top, F1692315, PM, w & o, by Dominator's Rebel Heir and Calico's Country Strong, Calico's Kennels, owner; Alex Smith, handler.
2026 Calico's Over The Top, F1692315, PM, w & o, by Dominator's Rebel Heir and Calico's Country Strong, Calico's Kennels, owner; Alex Smith, handler.
Calico's Over the Top comes from Frank Henderson, Alex and Tiffany Smith's Calico Kennels, home of notables such as Calico's Dancing Bear and Calico's Thrillogy. "Blaze" was the winner last year and won the Amateur Purina Dog of the Year in 2024/25, and he is a 6X and a 3X National Champion. He is out of Calico's Country Strong who won The National Pheasant Championship last year.

Presiding over the trial were judges Lee Long of Berkey, Ohio, and Mary Sue Schaltz of Crouse Kennels, representing the great state of Kentucky. Both are seasoned owners, handlers, and trainers whose many placements reflect years of dedication and accomplishment. I can detail Lee from his first hunting experience to being a long standing outdoorsman and field trial sportsman, with an wide experience of field trials and a winning record.

Mary Sue attended her first field trial at the 1982 Quail Championship Invitational. She was three weeks old. She is now in her 10th year serving as their chairman, one of the greatest events in horseback field trialing. Her father, Mike Crouse, and uncle, Jim Crouse, started field trialing in the 70s after bird hunting their entire lives. She grew up on their family farm with my two younger sisters where we were expected to help with farm "stuff" - tobacco, mowing, hay, strawberries - whatever that entailed. The dogs and horses were part of the farm and part of how she grew up.

Both judges indicated that they are humbled to be asked to officiate and grateful for the opportunity to serve our sport.

Following close behind, I witnessed firsthand the unwavering attention they gave to every competitor from the moment each one hit the ground. Respected sportsmen and steadfast ambassadors of the field-trial tradition, they embody the experience, integrity, and enduring spirit that form the lifeblood of this sport.

The winner and runner-up are detailed in the brace descriptions.
As always, at the breakaway gathering, Chris Catanzarite the trial chairman introduced the judges and reporter, and outlined the trials program and events.

The Running
Brace 1 Calico's Country Strong (PF/Smith) and The Secret (PM/Lordi). They broke away at 10:39 and both took to the course running hard out and up thew first hill. At 5, Country Strong was gathered in a bit and at 13, The secret found its mark and pointed at the first parallel road, Joe flushed extensively and The Secret was relocated. With no one home, he was watered and sent on. At 33 The Secret was found standing on the left before the well at road crossing. A pheasant was flushed and all was well, until another pheasant sitting in the tree above the dog was seen and things went sideways. Back at the front, at 34 Country Strong pointed after the well pad at the crossroads and suffered an unproductive, only to move forward with an outstanding piece of bird work at 42. With all in order, he was moved on. Always forward, high and lofty, he did not end his bid until one more pheasant was pointed on the hill side with the compound off in the distance. He ran his brace like his name; he ran the country strong.

Brace 2 Backcountry Bruiser (PM/Catanzarite) and Glenmere's Cruiser (PM/Haggis). !:47 Breakaway. Both Started out hard and strong, challenging each other in a sprint to the top of breakaway hill. At 3, Bruiser stopped to the right of autumn olive and Chris went on an extensive flush as birds had been running for the past few days in the thick covers. Bruiser was relocated and moved on forward. At 12 Cruiser pointed to the left at top of second hill roadway. All in order after the flush, was moved on. All the while at the simultaneously, Bruiser was doing the identical thing opposite Cruiser on the right side of the course. At 15, Cruiser pointed on the left, going forward to the road crossing with all ok, he tallied his second find. At 25 Cruiser was deep right and covering a lot of territory with Jeff in hot pursuit. Cruiser was picked up by handler soon afterwards. Bruiser went on to another find at 35 near the parallel road. and was also picked up by handler at 46.

Brace 3 Bittersweet War Dance (PM/DelCollo) and Southpoint Hog Wild (PM/Janiec). Both left the scene of the breakaway at the end of parallel road at 2:40. Running to the limits, both navigated the well pad turn at 2:52. At 35, Hog Wild came to an abrupt stop and pinned a pheasant with all in order. At 35, Hog Wild was picked up by handler and at 45, War Dance suffered the same fate.

Brace 4 Backcountry Fearless (PF/Catanzarite) and Miller's Sweet Talking Candy (PF/McKay). 3:52 sounded the breakaway at the crossroads before the powerline hill. Both dogs rolled forward and stayed that way until the chukar road where Candy at 19 pointed and Fearless backed. Both moved on after the find with an all good signal from the judges. Fearless picked up the pace and continued until 24 where she tallied a pheasant find on the left with Candy backing, just starting into the well pad turn. She was relocated and came up with the prize in just seconds. All in order, she moved on towards the well pad. She ran hard until 52 where she pointed her last bird to the left of breakaway hill approach. Meanwhile back at 39, candy came up with her own bird and finished the hour forward and strong.

Brace 5 Calico's Nacho Dog (PM/Smith) and Waybetter Bobby (PM/Verderosa). The 8:10 breakaway had promising weather conditions, and both were off like a shot. Nacho Dog pointed early in the brace with a find to the left near the end of breakaway hill. A minor infraction occurred and it was just not his day. Way Better Bobby also pointed at 6 and eld things together well. Moving on, Bobby was seen intermittingly throughout the brace.

Brace 6 Mac's Slim Jim (PM/McClurg) and Sugarknoll White Lightning (PM/Delcollo). The brace was off and running from the well pad at 9:24. Both good athletic looking specimens bolted and took to the course like they owned it. Lightning hunted the right side while Jim hunted the left before the first hilltop. Over the hilltop on the right in autumn olive grove, both high and lofty were found on a divided find. A pheasant was flushed and all was in order. Lightning went on to the breakaway away hill before the first road crossing and was pointed at 26. He was relocated, but there was no one home and lightning suffered unproductive. At 38, an unruly pheasant on the path led lightning to his demise.

Brace 7 Miller's Miss Congeniality (PF/McKay) and Backcountry Pure Gold (PF/Catanzarite). At 10:19 the breakaway scene was the rock pile road crossing, and both were determined to head the front of the pack. Pure Gold went on a bird finding spree with a start at 6 for her first find, another at 31 on the left side of parallel road, another at 44, tight under her nose, at chukar road and a fourth at the well pad right. She got a wave off at 50, ran well throughout and showed her bird finding ability as A number one. Miss Congeniality powered her way to powerline hill just before the road crossing and scored her first find at 12 on the deep right of parallel road, an impressive find. She, moving very quickly during the brace, crossed the top of the hill near the parallel road by 220. At 31 she backed Pure Gold amidst several horses blocking the path and her view. Both dogs finished at first road crossing after breakaway hill.

Brae 8 Calico's Over the Top (PM/Smith) and Bittersweet War Cry (PM/Lordi). After the lunch break at 1:05 they punched the clock, grabbed their lunch bucket and went to work, they broke away and headed to the top of the first hill, both going strong. Both on a mission, running to the front, the first to connect was War Cry at 38, with Over the Top found at 44 pointing his own quarry, but no bird was produced. Both were released respectively and were heading back to the front. At 49 on the hillside before the well pad, War Cry Tallied another and was seen going long at time. At 50 Blaze was found across the road and over the hill from his last stop, high and tight with a look of vengeance. Alex flushed and a pheasant was put to flight. All in order, moving on he took to the front and then some. Hunting past the rockpile crossing and the fields ahead, he stayed forward and determined. At time, Over the Top was found standing to the left of breakaway hill approach. Alex dismounted once more, a pheasant was flushed and Blaze connected on his bet. Both finished the hour.

Brace 9 Miller's Flower and Lace (PF/Janiec) and Calico's Leather and Lace (PF/Smith). Breakaway was at the OK Corral (Breakaway Hill) at 2:30. Within six minutes, they were already crossing the powerline road. At 7 Flower and lace stopped with Leather and Lace Backing. No bird was put to flight, and both were moved on. Shortly thereafter at 9, Leather and Lace met her downfall when a rooster on the path led her astray. At 22 on the first hill after the powerline Flower and lace stopped again and with a very memorable find, all was in order and she took far the front. At 29 on the left hill past the first pond, she connected again and then put another in the books at 45 just before the parallel road. With determination of not having pointed enough, she rang the bell a fourth time at 55, further out the parallel road. She stood high and tight on her game, exuding confidence. She finished her hour, running strong along the sorghum fields.

Brace 10 Backcountry Champagnesupernova (PF/Catanzarite) and Bye. Champagnesupernova, Flex, put on a pointing clinic starting at 3, shortly after breaking away at 3:45. She made a nice stop to flush at 5 and at 12 she found her second mark, holding tight for a 44-5-minuteflush. She was released by Chris and quickly went back to work with another stop to flush at 20 and then another pheasant find at 34. All in order she took to the front and finished with a nonproductive after an extended flush showing she had the patience to stand for whatever time is required. She finished with a very nice overall performance.

The National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Group would like to thank our sponsor, Purina, and Greg Blair for their untiring support this year. We would also like to thank The Mingo Sportsman's Club for their support with bird planting duties. We would also like to thank the local 4H club for providing a dinner during their fund-raising week. Additionally, we are most grateful to The Amateur Field Trial Club of America for their oversight and to Piper Huffman for taking entries and conducting the draw. Thank you to Garmin for their continued support with Garmin Products and to Bruce Fox for making the winners plaques. Thank you to Dave Hughes for driving the dog truck. Once more to Jeff Haggis for supplying the judge's gifts of hand made and custom-tailored saddle bags. To Dave Hughes and Jeff Haggis at Haggis Saddles for putting out and keeping the water tubs full. And a huge thank you to the many other unsung heroes that we do not want to forget, thank you to all that helped make this the hugely successful trial that it was.

Bloomingdale, Ohio, September 24
Judges: Leroy Long and Mary Sue Schalk
NATIONAL AMATEUR PHEASANT SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heat] - 19 Pointers
Winner-CALICO'S OVER THE TOP, F1692315, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Calico's Country Strong. Calico Kennels & Alex & Tiffani Smith, owners; Alex Smith, handler.
Runner-Up-MILLER'S FLOWERS AND LACE, F1696283, pointer female, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Miller's Special Edition. Allen Linder, owner; Mark Janiec, handler.