Result: Midwest Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Elk City, Kansas

Post Date: Mar 9, 2021

Submitted By: David Taylor

As we return to the Flint Hills of Southern Kansas and to the Westfall Ranch for the running of the Midwest Open Shooting Dog Championship we do so with a renewed spirit of hope and optimism.

After a year of living with the pandemic we look forward to a bright future. As the start of the 35th running of this Championship nears it brings to mind the founders and those that have given so much to maintain it. I can best describe that group of individuals as givers to the sport of field trialing.

Eddie Berendzen, a builder from Higbee, Mo., judged both stakes. Eddie is very successful in all-age and Derby stakes at a high level. Tim Thornton from Oberlin, Kan., was accompanied by his wife and two small children and joined Eddie to judge the Championship. Tim has a promising string of young dogs and is a much sought after judge.

Jason Evans is a master brick layer from Council Bluffs, Ia. He has been an avid hunter most of his life and is preparing three young dogs for the up-coming season. The decisions of these three young gentlemen were well received.

OPEN DERBY

Twelve young pointers, seven females and five males, were drawn for the Midwest juvenile stake that began March 9. High winds negatively affected the stake. Thunder Bolt's Storm, white and lemon female sired by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt, ran a strong forward race that was well applied to top the field. Storm scored on game at 26 with excellent style and manners. Her find came after she completed an extended cast along a long tree line.

Storm is owned by Dr. Thomas Jackson of Columbus, Ind., and was handled by Shawn Kinkelaar.

Touch's Shameless, pointer male in the ownership of Chuck Stretz and Dr. Richard Steckley of Wichita, Kan., place second. Chuck Stretz handled Shameless which ran a forward race and was credited with a divided find with Storm. Shameless displayed good style and manners at flush.

Big Bull was placed third on the basis of a solid race and was handled by Eddy Taylor. Four Roses handled by Harold Gearhart had a find at 23 and was close to the winners.

Elk City, Kan., March 9

Judges: Eddie Berendzen and Jason Evans

OPEN DERBY -- 12 Pointers

1st--THUNDER BOLT'S STORM, 1684304, female, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt--Lacey Underall. Dr. Thomas Jackson, owner; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.

2d--TOUCH'S SHAMELESS, 1692246, male, by Touch's Smooth Rider--Touch's Conference Call. Chuck Stretz & Dr. Richard Steckley, owners; Chuck Stretz, handler.

3d--HALE'S HIGH DEMAND, 1689124, male, by Miller Unfinished business--Tennessee Coldwater Gal. Jeffrey A. Hale, owner; Eddy Taylor, handler.

CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

At the announcement, Pure Gossip was named the 2021 Midwest Open Shooting Dog Champion. After being the 2020 runner-up, Gossip turned back all challengers in this renewal.

The new champion ran in the fourth brace of the trial. The white and black pointer female ran an excellent race always on the front. Veteran handler Chuck Stretz called point for Gossip as the hour was coming to an end. Stretz flushed birds for her at 59. Her style and manners were perfect. Gossip's effort withstood the test of other challengers and she became the 2021 champion.

Gossip was sired by Ch. Westfall's Black Ice out of the Reynolds' champion Lock N Load. She was raised by Bob and it seems fitting that she has won this championship for Bob and Catherine who have given so much to this stake and to area field trials. Bob's smile when the announcement was made will remain one of my favorite field trial memories.

True Choice, white and liver female, mounted her challenge in the 16th brace on the final day of running. Of the 34 hopefuls drawn for the Championship, only one could top her effort. Choice ran an eye-catching, forward race making purposeful casts. She reached down a long treeline and stood proudly for Kinkelaar to flush her birds. Her style, location, and manners were beyond reproach. She finished with strength and snap.

Choice is owned by Greg Fried of Millerstown, Pa. Choice was sired by Ch. True Confidence, Frank and Jean LaNasa's multiple champion.

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNING

In the opening brace, Catus Jet, handled by Justin Crook, put down a good race but pointed twice where Justin could not produce birds and was taken up. G R Gunsmoke missed the second creek crossing and Kinkelaar ask for his retrieval device.

Topp's Hackberry Cesar Ice and Hale's High Flyer both good running dogs gave strong efforts for handlers Gearhart and Taylor but did not have bird work.

Running into a strong wind, Shadow Mountain Gus had mannerly finds with good style and manners at 19 and 59. Gus was handled by veteran amateur Bud Moore. Shagtime Scout was out of pocket early and Kinkelaar took his retrieval unit.

No. 4 matched Pure Gossip and In Swami's Shadow. Gossip was reported as champion. Swami missed an early crossing and Kinkelaar took his device.

Sun's Out Arms Out ran a good dog race for Eddy Taylor but didn't point birds. Ninescah Ranger ran a strong race and had a mannerly find at 49.

In brace No. 6, both Chelsea's Thunder Bolt and Objective were lost.

Owner Bud Moore's Fast Money made some commendable casts and handled birds with good manners at 19. S F Lightning ran a solid forward race but couldn't did up birds for Kinkelaar.

Windy Ridge Sugar hunted hard for handler Eddy Taylor and was rewarded with an excellent find at 32. Joho's Grand River Bess stood about 50 yards from where Sugar was pointing and Stretz flushed birds for her with everything in order. Bess scored again at 53 with good manners.

Game Sport delivered a good race and pointed at 44 where Gearhart flushed birds for him. Hale's Southern Touch, ten-year-old multiple champion, ran a big race but did not locate birds for Kinkelaar.

In No. 10, Tug O'War ran an outstanding ground race for Kinkelaar but did not point birds. Purpline Casper pointed birds along a fenceline with good manners but his race was not always well applied.

Miller's Miss Kitty was handled by Kinkelaar due to an injury to Eddy Taylor. Kitty suffered an error on game. Touch's Big Whiskey had a good find with style and manners but was not reaching into the country and was taken up at 43.

In. No. 12, Topp's First Junior and Upfront Southern Star were taken up short of the hour.

Anchor Down Sunny Mike didn't contact game. His bracemate, To Hard To Suit, had two finds.

Glenmortin ran a wide race but did not produce game for Stretz. Silver W Jill Z ran a wide well applied race. Kinkelaar flushed birds for her in the pond island on the plateau.

Hale's Kickstarter delivered a strong race and had one find for handler Eddy Taylor. Boumeester's Bar None suffered an error on game.

True Choice was reported as runner-up. Bracemate Spring Garden Rock backed Choice on her find.

In No.17, Doc's Southern Wind was scratched and Oakridge Thor didn't point game.

Judges: Eddie Berendzen and Tim Thornto

MIDWEST OPEN SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] --

30 Pointers and 4 Setters

Winner--PURE GOSSIP, 1644013, poinater female, by Westfall's Black Ice--Lock N Load. Bob Reynolds, owner; Chuck Stretz, handler.

Runner-Up--TRUE CHOICE, 1661286, pointer female, by True Confidence--Bar P Fizz. Greg Fried, owner; Shawn Kinkelaar, handler.

KUDOS AND APPRECIATON

The Association appreciates Bill Westfall and his family for providing the venue for the Championship as well as ranch facilities and equipment needed to run the trial. The three one-hour courses use a small portion of the vast ranch that make up this working cattle operation. The ranch manager is a welcoming host and makes every effort to assist in making the trial a success.

The Purina Company and Greg Blair continue to support the sport in a most sifnificant manner. The association thanks them for the support that is so important in maintaining this championship.

Enough cannot be said about the devotion of Bob Reynolds, Catherine Reynolds, and Garvin Collins and their devotion to this Championship. It is through their efforts that the Championship has remained viable. The Jayhawk Championship crew, Harold Gearhart, Ivan Breckenridge, and Randy Wilson have been instrumental in maintaining this Championship. Jason Evans joined the group this year and adds some youth. Catherine Reynolds, after years of service, was unable to attend this year and was missed. Ivan Breckenridge filled in this year, providing excellent meals.

The Championship dinner has become a tradition. Dr. Jeff Hale and Shawn Kinkelaar, owner and handler, respectively, of the 2020 champion, provided a steak dinner in honor of Ch. Hale's Kickstarter. The evening was enjoyed by all those in attendance. Thanks to Dr. Hale and Shawn.

Prior to the running of the first Championship, member clubs of the Midwest Field Trial Association purchased a perpetual trophy to be presented to the winner of each championship renewal. The trophy became known as the Adams Cup. The Association chose this manner of recognizing Pat and Harold Adams for their service to the clubs of the Midwest. Pat served as secretary of the Association and along with Marvin McDowell was instrumental in founding the Championship. Harold was a pro trainer who supported the trials of the area and mentored many handlers as they became active in the sport.