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Result: National German Pointing Dog Championships

Location: Pinkneyville, Illinois

Post Date: Mar 12, 2021

Submitted By: Diane Rakers

The National German Pointing Dog Association (NGPDA) Championships were held at Pyramid State Park, Demark Unit, in Southern Illinois. It was the 66th National Championship, 53rd National Shooting Dog Championship, 53rd National Derby and the 42nd National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship held by the NGPDA.

Amateur Championship Winners: Front row, from left: Chase Verdoorn with Snowy River's Bankin on Boz and Peter Coppens with PJ Wildfire's Little Lexi. Behind: Mark Verdoorn, Judge Mark Johnson, Kirk Loftin and Judge Art Terstage

The park has three courses on the Demark unit. One course was not used due to an unsafe crossing.

We had some rainy, windy, chilly weather for this trial.

Thank you to Jack Marchese for donating the Saturday lunch and Bob Salamone and Mike Kindler for helping to preparing it.Thanks to Diane for taking care all the lunches and organization. Once again the Amateur steak dinner was sponsor by Purina and we thank you for your support. It was fun night and everyone enjoyed themselves.

This trial would not be possible without our sponsors. We extend our great gratitude to Purina and SportDog. Also a shout-out to SportDog representative Jim Morehouse who attended and has shown a great commitment to our sport. Jim also represents Purina and we appreciate all you do for us. Thank you to Greg Blair for making it so easy to work with Purina and shout-out to Terry Trzcinski for always supporting this trial and to Karl Gunzer who are also with Purina. Without their help our dog trial would not be the same. Please support these companies.

A big thank you to the bird planters, Dan DiMambro, Peter Coppens, and Tom Oswald. Also thanks to Tom Davis, Peter Coppens, Tom Oswald and everyone for taking turns with the dog wagon and horse wagon. Everything runs smoothly when the dogs/horses are at the line and ready to go on time. A national event doesn't work unless you have a lot of volunteer help from everyone.

We appreciate the pros, amateurs, and all who attended the trial this year. Lastly, thank you to Diane Rakers and Art Terstage on a combined effort to get this write-up completed.

This year we did not hold the All-Age or a Derby.

Open Shooting Dog Championship Winners

NGPDA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

By Art Terstage

The NGPDA Amateur Shooting Dog stake was held March 14-15. Judges for this year's running were Art Terstage and Mark Johnson. Both men have years of loving, running and training bird dogs. We thank both of them for their time and capable judging abilities.

Rick Heller and Peter Coppens served as stake managers. Thank you all for your time and dedication.

The weather was generally good being overcast in the 50s with a few brief moments of light rain. Twenty-three dogs were entered for consideration of this prestigious National Amateur title in which German Shorthair Pointers and German Wirehaired Pointers, Vizslas and Weimaraners can compete.

In this year's competition, German Shorthaired Pointers and German Wirehaired Pointers were represented. As is tradition, the best of each breed is announced for any breed that does not take winner or runner-up. For this year's running, Snowy River's Boy Named Sioux handled by JJJ and owned by Brian Silcott was named best of breed for German Wirehaired Pointers.

Best in Breed. Snowy River's Boy Named Sioux with Handler JJJ and Owner Brian Silcott

The champion came from brace No. 4 -- Snowy Rivers' Bankin on Boz, German shorthaired pointer male owned and handled by Chase Verdoorn of Platte City, Mo., and scouted by Mark Verdoorn. Runner-Up champion was P J Wildfire's Little Lexi, German Shorthair female handled by Kirk Loftin and owned by Larry and Kirk Loftin.

Snowy Rivers' Bankin On. Boz rendered a strong and consistent shooting dog race complemented by seven finds throughout the hour. He demonstrated his impeccable style and bird manners on each of the six finds he had including a nice covey find in the orchard at 59 to close the door on the rest of the competition. Boz carded finds at 5, 11, 13, 36, 45 and 59 (covey). He also carded an unproductive at 51.

Runner-up P J Wildfire's Little Lexi came from brace No. 9. Lexi showed and nice shooting dog course with nice style and bird manners in her run. Lexi included a covey find in the orchard in her run. Lexi carded finds at 31 and 35 (covey) along with two divided finds at 22 and 48. She also had a back at 5.

Pickneyville, Ill., March 12

Judges: Mark Johnson and Art Terstage

NGPDA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] --

22 German Shorthairs and 1 German Drahthaar

Winner--SNOWY RIVER'S BANKIN ON BOZ, 1664277, German Shorthair male, by H's Hedge Rize Ignited--Snowy River's S S Super Sport. Chase & Mark Verdoorn, owners.

Runner-Up--P J WILDFIRE'S LITTLE LEXI, 1663717, German Shorthair female, by P J Wildfire's Little Bud--Lone Creek Sweet Anna. Dr. Kirk & Larry Loftin, owners; Kirk Loftin, handler.

NGPDA OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

By Art Terstage

The NGPDA National Open Shooting Dog Championship was run March 16-17. Judges were Art Terstage and Alan Benson. We thank you both for your dedication.

Weather was less than desirable with an overcast day on the 16th. The 17th showed severe weather with lightning. The Championship had to be delayed until the lightning stopped. Any dog running on the 17th ran in the rain, and the mud was heavy on both days due to rain in the days preceding the running.

The 2021 NGPDA Open Shooting Dog Champion was P J Wildfire's Little Lexi, German Shorthair female handled by Kirk Loftin and owned by Larry and Kirk Loftin. Lexi was scouted by Peter Coppens. Runner-up was Lone Creek Bell handled by Kirk Loftin and owned by Brad Haseman and scouted by Peter Coppens

The champion -- P J Wildfire's Little Lexi -- ran in brace No. 8 in heavy ran after a delay due to lightning. She ran superb shooting dog course with finds at 5, 10 (covey), 18 and 36 (covey). On each of her finds she showed excellent style and manners and showcased a strong finish at the end of the hour.

Runner-up Champion Lone Creek Bell came from brace No. 3. Bell showed and excellent shooting dog application on the first day of running the Shooting Dog. She carded a divided find at 30 and a covey find at 55. She also had an unproductive at 20.

Judges: Alan Benson and Art Terstage

NGPDA NATIONAL OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

[One-Hour Heats] -- 18 German Shorthairs and 1 Vizsla

Winner--P J WILDFIRE'S LITTLE LEXI, 1663717, German Shorthair female, by P J Wildfire's Little Bud--Lone Creek Sweet Anna. Dr. Kirk & Larry Loftin, owners; Kirk Loftin, handler.

Runner-Up--LONE CREEK BELL, 1676854, German Shorthair female, by P J Wildfire's Little Bud--Lone Creek Sweet Anna. Brad Haseman, owner; Kirk Loftin, handler.