Result: All-America Quail Championships

Location: Cutler, Illinois

Post Date: Apr 1, 2019

Submitted By: Jim Atchison

Championship Winners. From left: Zorra with John Outlaw and Urban Fantasy with Jerry Raynor. The respective handlers are standing behind, Shawn Kinkelaar (at far left) and Matt Basilone (far right), joined by the judges, officials and well wishers.
CUTLER, ILL. --The 93rd running of the All-America Championships, sponsored by the Hoosier Field Trial Club, was held March 8-11 at Pyramid State Park near Cutler, Ill., the Derby fixture drawing twenty entries, and eighteen in All-Age Championship.

Jamie Daniels handled the winners of both Championships, while Gary Lester of Gracey, Ky., handled the runners-up of each.

The Derby Champion was Dominator's Rebel Squire, white and orange pointer male owned by Georgians Jim Hamilton and Fields Norris, while the runner-up was Lester's Shockwave, owned by his handler.

Champion of the Quail (All-Age) Championship was Dominator's Rebel Heir, pointer male owned by Jim Hamilton from Atlanta; runner-up was Lester's Sunny Hill Jo, owned by David Thompson of Edmonton, Ky.

The three one-hour courses on the Captain Unit of Pyramid State Park were in excellent condition, even better than last year thanks to AFTCA 20th Century Funds that had been received and used to open and improve additional habitat.

Jim Lawless and his wife, Kay, of nearby Sparta, Ill., worked many hours each day taking care of every imaginable need of those participating in the championships. They arrived early each morning, Jim putting out more birds daily and Kay preparing and serving breakfast and lunch each day. Biscuits and gravy, sausage patties, scrambled eggs, omelets, chicken and dumplings, pulled pork, coconut cake, and apple crisp with ice cream were some of the items on Kay's menues during the four days. The couple then marshalled almost every brace and everything else that one might think of as they made everyone attending feel welcome.

Purina was again the official sponsor of the Championships and their generosity was acknowledged and appreciation expressed for their participation.

Pyramid State Park's management and employees, with over 19,000 acres in the park, were applauded for their interest and cooperation toward making the grounds better for field trialing each year.

Joe Hughes from Locust Fork, Ala., and Scott Little from Woodlawn, Tenn., were judges for both Championships. Both judges maintain kennels and are avid amateur field trailers. Their services were appreciated.

Max Wimmer, Doug Burgess, Jon Lam, Mike Jackson, Keith Wright, David and Nancy Fligor, Jim and Kay Lawless, and Jim Atchison were the Hoosier Club members attending, part or all, and helping to host the 2018 renewal. Jim and did most of the marshaling, Jon and Mike frequently scouted, and Max and Doug negotiated the dog wagon through the maze of roads, names such as Belt, Haul, Scale House, etc., left from the coal mining days on the property.

One day of rain, actually a thunderstorm with thunder and lightning, caused a day's, so the running was done on Friday, Sunday, and Monday, with a hard rain and thunderstorm on Saturday.

The days of running were cool and windy, with a little sprinkle on Friday, and a little unexpected sleet on Monday.

DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS AND OTHERS

Dominator's Rebel Squire was declared champion based on his superior performance in the fourth brace on Friday. His sire is Dominator's Rebel Heir, winner of the Quail (All-Age) Championship. During the hour he likely impressed the judges with his big race, which was consistently to the front, while carding two finds. He appeared to make mature and smart decisions. Squire backed his bracemate at 30 and then had finds at 35 and 58, exhibiting style and perfect manners on each as Daniels flushed and shot. The champion finished his bid impressively.

Runner-up Lester's Shockwave competed in the same brace, No. 4, with the champion. His performance was similar to his bracemate's. He ran an excellent and forward race, making bold moves on the ground and also looking really good on his game. Unfortunately, he had an unproductive at 30. Yet his two strong finds, at 51 and 58, were beautiful as he made an excellent impression on the judges and those who enjoyed watching his effort.

With the temperature in the low 30s, the morning was great for field trialing as Mike Crouse released Crouse's Rebel Ripken and Ike Todd loosed Worsham's Super Sport, owner Joe Worsham in the gallery. Unfortunately, Super Sport chased the bird Todd flushed at 6 and was eliminated from the competition. Rebel Ripken became lost and his owner asked for the retrieval device at 36.

Dogwood Bill, owned by Dogwood Kennel and handled by Jamie Daniels, and Miller's Justifiable, handled by Gary Lester, were paired in brace two. Both dogs had unproductives simultaneously at 23 while standing about 300 yards apart and on different lines. During the remainder of the hour Lester's dog produced birds at 41 with Dogwood Bill backing. The pair then finished the hour.

Mary Sue Schalk had Crouse's White Dragon in brace No. 3 while Sean Derrig had Erin's Lone Star Law. Derrig's pointer male had an unproductive at 9 and finished the hour with no other game; however, his race was impressive and enjoyable to witness. White Dragon was lost before the half hour and Schalk got her retrieval device.

Erin's Blew By You, setter male owned and handled by Sean Derrig had unproductives at 23 and 56. Touch's Grey Street, owned by Keith Wright and handled by Ike Todd, also competed in the brace. He finished the hour but only had an unproductive during the heat.

Ike Todd and Gary Lester handled the Derbies in final brace of the day. Todd had Touch's Folsom Blues, owned by Eddie Sholar and Brace and Karen Norton, while Lester loosed Lester's Storm Surge. Storm Surge produced one of the most outstanding races of the Championship, gobbling up the course for the entire hour but had no birds. Folsom Blues became lost and Todd got his retrieval unit before the hour ended.

Following the all-day delay on Saturday, the running resumed on Sunday morning. SF Saltwater, owned and handled by Larry Smith, was on the line at 8:00 a.m. with Dominator's Rebel Patch. Patch is owned by Nick Berrong and was handled by Jamie Daniels. Saltwater had an unproductive at 16, which was followed by a lengthy relocation effort. He then pointed again at 46 and Smith easily flushed. Patch hunted until pick up was called but found no game.

Larry Smith was up again in brace No. 8, this time with SF Stetson, and Will Dunn had Dunn's True Reign. Stetson found a single at 7 and then backed while True Reign stood in the superior position on a find at 23. Both dogs continued until 57 and both pointed about 100 yards apart. Each handler raised birds at almost the same time and the brace was over.

S F Fullcolor and Caladen's Yukon Cornelius followed. Fullcolor had an unproductive stand at 18 for Larry Smith and then knocked a bird during relocation at 58. Yukon Cornelius, setter male owned by Carl Owens and handled by Ike Todd found birds at 3, and 24. He also backed the effort of his bracemate that occurred at 58.

Beeler's Country Clipper, owned and handled by Scott Beeler, ran in the last brace with S F Benchmark (Larry Smith). County Clipper ran the edges of the first hour course impressively. He had finds at 29, and 41. He pointed again at 48 in a spot so impossibly dense that Beeler carried him on as attempting to flush was not an option. Clipper pointed again at 53 but Beeler was never able to locate any birds. Benchmark did not find any birds during the hour and the Derby Championship was over.

The announcement of winners was delayed until dinner as all-Age dogs were on the dog wagon and ready to start the Quail Championship.

Cutler, Ill., March 8

Judges: Joe Hughes and Scott Little

ALL-AMERICA DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] -- 18 Pointers and 2 Setters

Winner--DOMINATOR'S REBEL SQUIRE, 1678134, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir--Erin's Little Rose. Jim Hamilton & Fields Norris, owners; Jamie Daniels, handler.

Runner-Up--LESTER'S SHOCKWAVE, 1681623, pointer male, by Ransom--Beanie's Line Dancer. Gary Lester, owner and handler.

Derby Winners (Front, l to r): Jamie Daniels with Dominator's Rebel Squire and Stegan Smith with Lester's Shockwave (Back, l to r): David Fligor, Mike Jackson, Doug Burgess, Judges Joe Hughes and Scott Little; Gary Lester, Tommy Loid, Ferrel Miller, Mark Haynes, and Max Wimmer.

QUAIL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS AND OTHERS

Dominator's Rebel Heir was Champion of the Quail Championship with an hour-long performance of style and intensity. He was biddable, yet always far to the front and fast with finds that came at 2 and 34. The second find was extremely far away, resulting in Rebel Heir's superior demonstration of style and intensity as he stood pointing for a long time before a judge and small number on the gallery reached where he was standing. Upon arrival, Daniels dismounted and flushed the birds immediately. The champion's performance surely pleased both Jamie Daniels and Jim Hamilton.

Lester's Sunny Hill Jo continued his outstanding career as he was Runner-Up of this Championship. His gait was fast and continuously reaching as he made impressive casts on the second hour course during the final morning. His style was excellent, both running and on game, with his game count being at three. He had birds at 31, 43, and 49. The find at 49 was on wild birds which sparked excitement as they were appreciated more than once during the days at the Captain Unit of Pyramid State Park. Sunny Hill Jo again demonstrated that he is an awesome dog.

Running Order

Erin's Redrum, owned and handled by Sean Derrig, was braced with Stash the Cash, owned by David Thompson and Tommy Loid and handled by Gary Lester. Tommy Loid was in the gallery. Each dog had one nice find during the hour. Redman had a find at 28 and kicked off the all-ae competition nicely with his strong race and mannerly responsiveness. Then Stash experienced the excitement of Lester flushing a wild covey at 39. Both dogs finished the hour.

Miller's Speed Dial was braced with the champion, Dominator's Rebel Heir, in the second all-age brace. Speed Dial backed a find Rebel Heir achieved at 2 and then had a find at 21 on the ridge that is part of the second hour course. Both dogs did well throughout the hour.

Daylight savings time had gone into effect the previous night, and plenty of daylight was available to run a fourth brace, the third All-Age brace, on Sunday afternoon. Doing so ensured that the Championship would end on Monday.

Sean Derrig had setter Erin's Hidden Shamrock and Jamie Daniels had Miller's Bushwacker, owned by Senah Plantation. Shamrock had a find at 11 but was lost before the half hour. Bushwacker had an unproductive at 30 followed by a find at 45. However, Daniels elected to pick him up after the find at 45.

At 8:00 a.m. Monday morning Jamie Daniels had Miller's Blindsider, owned by Nick Berrong on the line while Gary Lester had Lester's Pete Rose. Pete Rose had the first find at 5. Then at 11 Blindsider pointed and Daniels flushed with Pete Rose backing nicely from the opposite side of a wooded area. Blindsider had birds again at 35 with Pete Rose backing. During the remaining time, which both dogs finished, Pete Rose had an unproductive at 43 and birds again at 52.

Dogwood Bill, owned by Dogwood Kennel and handled by Jamie Daniels, was braced with the Runner-Up Lester's Sunny Hill Jo in No. 5. Bill had birds at 16 and 23 as he hunted the second hour course. Bill's performance was commendable and definitely added pressure to the competition.

Miller's Justifiable went next. He had birds atop the ridge at 13, then pointed a single which Lester located at 35; however, the handler elected to pick him up at that time.

Gary Lester released Lester's Shockwave after lunch. Shockwave had a find at 4 and an unproductive at 34 in brace seven.

The last dog to run, also by Gary Lester, was Lester's Storm Surge. The promising Derby had an unproductive at 10, then notched nice finds at 43, 47, and 49. Storm Surge's big push was impressive as the last hour of the All-Age competition ended.

Cutler, Ill., March 10

Judges: Joe Hughes and Scott Little

ALL-AMERICA QUAIL CHAMPIONSHIP

[One-Hour Heats] -- 17 Pointers and 1 Setter

Winner--DOMINATOR'S REBEL HEIR, 1654881, pointer male, by Rivertons Funseek'n Scooter--Pearl Again. James W. Hamilton, Jr., owner; Jamie Daniels, handler.

Runner-Up--LESTER'S SUNNY HILL JO, 1655546, pointer male, by Ransom--Miller's White Wall. Gary Lester & David Thompson, owners; Gary Lester, handler.

A Postscript

The 2019 renewal marked the 93rd running of the All-America Championships, entries here campaigned by nine handlers that produced numerous strong performances over the excellent courses at Pyramid State Park. With the exception of one day, weather was good.

Capable and focused judges and conscientious hosts (strongly led by Jim and Kay Lawless) provided accommodation continuously throughout the running. So, all the components needed for great field trialing came together and were enjoyed by all who participated.

J. A.