Result: California Pheasant Championship

Location: Oroville, California

Post Date: Dec 27, 2019

Submitted By: Leif Lendrop

The Winners. From left: Ron Shuman, Julie and Kara Kelly, Kaylynn Kelly and friend, Sean Kelly, Jarry Walton with Kelly's Rebel Louie, John Keel, judge; Brandon Blum, Jeff Singwald with B M B's Free Ride, Roy Smith, judge; Michael Kelly and Jeff Lostak.
OROVILLE, CAL. -- The 2019 edition of the revered California Pheasant Championship moved back to Thermalito Afterbay in Oroville, Cal., located a little over an hour north of Sacramento, Cal.

The grounds have been improved noticeably. Culverts have been installed to ensure solid ground at some crossings that historically can be boggy, and roads that we are used to seeing eroded under water, where visible, useable and groomed. When we can use all the land available, including the big island, these grounds are excellent and provide a terrific continuous course for the California Pheasant Championship.

A special thank you to our title sponsors; Purina and SportDog. We are very grateful for your generous support and learn of more and more competitors using these products as a result of your support. Thank you.

In the judicial saddles for the championship stake were Roy Smith of Lakeport, Cal., and John Keel of Fresno, Cal. Both judges have a rich resume of significant accolades. Roy Smith as a professional trainer has amassed English Setter National Championship titles and John Keel has a tenured resume as a handler and highly sought-after judge. Their decision was well received and the Sacramento Bird Dog Club thanks them for their positive and detailed attention to the contestants.

A smooth-running field trial has many ingredients and activities that need to be executed flawlessly to ensure that the event is successful.

To attract additional competitors and their strings, we joined forces with the Northern California Bird Dog Club. This long weekend offered two one-hour stakes; the Brock Wells Shooting Dog Classic and the California Pheasant Championship, in addition to a 30-minute Open All-Age Derby. Thank you Sean Kelly, Kaylynn Kelly, Kara Kelly, Julie Kelly, Michael Kelly, Art Harris and your entire crew for your support and for sharing your club trailer and equipment.

Given last year's rave reviews of the catering, the bar was set high. Jeff Lostak and Ron Shuman didn't disappoint. They delivered a feast. A large stock trailer was converted into a gourmet kitchen, rivaling any first-rate restaurant and serving up unbelievable barbeque. Suffice it to say, Jeff's BBQ has become a draw to attract entries for the Championship. Ron and Jeff also curated top caliber pheasants and fast flying quail for the weekend.

Thank you to our "friends of the championship": Jeff Lostak, Tom Barrett and Ron Shuman; the flawless execution and success of the 2019 California Pheasant Championship is owed to you.

CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

The championship winner, Kelly's Rebel Louie, pointer male owned by Sean Kelly of Loomis, Cal., is no stranger to the winners' circle. Louie won both the Brock Wells Classic and the California Pheasant Championship this weekend and has several other prestigious wins in his resume.

Kelly's Rebel Louie was braced with B M B's Freeloader, handled by Brandon Blum. This was the first brace on Sunday morning. Both dogs were off and hunting well to the front, through and around the Dry Pond and then onto Burnt Hill. The dogs eventually drifted out of sight as they headed to Burnt Hill and were found at 11 with Louie on point, Freeloader backing. This was a good piece of work on pheasant. Both dogs were staunch, high on both ends and well mannered. From here Louie ran the course well, staying forward out to the Plum Thicket where he was rewarded with a quail find at 25. From there they moved on to Heron Grove. At 33 Louie was seen on point in Heron Grove, Freeloader backing. A rooster was flushed and both dogs remained high and tight. From Heron Grove they made the crossing to the Big Island. As they hunted around the left edge of the Big Island, Louie was found pointing a pheasant on the far point of the island at 46. From the Big Island, Louie made the crossing back toward Heron Grove, out in front of his bracemate. As Louie was being gathered up from Heron Grove, the handler rode up a pheasant and Louie had a mannerly stop to flush. Louie started and finished strong. He was always well out front and responsive to his handler. His bird work was exemplary with impeccable manners.

Named runner-up was B M B's Free Ride, German Shorthair male owned by Brandon Blum of Acton, Cal. Free Ride was just back from Cheyenne, Wyo., where he earned the champion laurels in the coveted NGSPA Hungarian Partridge Open All-Age Championship.

The 5th brace began in Heron Grove, heading to the Plum Thicket. Free Ride began strong and moved forward through the Plum Thicket, hunting along the right edge. He was in and out of sight but frequently seen where you would expect that he would show up. Both dogs made it through the Dry Pond area and out toward Burnt Hill. They made it through Burnt Hill and headed back toward the Dry Pond. Free Ride was pointed out to the front along the right edge. He was out of sight for a moment and then again seen to the front and through the Plum Thicket. From the Plum Thicket he remained well ahead going to Heron Grove. He was found pointing a pheasant at Heron Grove at 38. He had excellent style and impeccable manners. From Heron Grove he made it across to the Big Island and continued to stay well out front and along the edge. He was found on point at 54 in an area where others had work on pheasant. Despite relocation and a thorough flushing attempt, no game was produced. Released from here, he continued forward and applied himself well. The brace ended on the Big Island. Free Ride was consistently to the front and along the edges throughout his brace. When not in sight for awhile, he always ended up showing up out front. He started strong and finished the same.

His application, running the edges, was the difference maker that earned him the runner-up title over the remaining competitive field.

The Running

Touch's Jay Class (Cuneo) and Cache Creek Red Zone (Shuman) began Friday after lunch. Both dogs started fine and headed toward the Dry Pond. "Taylor" was on point in the Dry Pond area at 3, with Jay Class backing. This work was on pheasant and all was in order. From here the dogs were off to Burnt Hill. They were forward and eventually out of sight for a bit. Both dogs were found on point at 12 at Burnt Hill. This work was recorded as a dual find. From here the two hunted forward toward the Dry Pond. At 22 Taylor had a find on quail, and Jay Class was backing. Released from here they both headed out to the Plum Thicket, and both were found pointing together at the end of the Plum Thicket. Another dual find on pheasant. Released they made it through the crossing and out to Heron Grove. Both dogs were found at 37 at the end of Heron Grove. Jay Class was picked up when he moved up during the flushing attempt. From here Taylor was taken down to the Big Island where she shortened up some toward the end of time.

Kelly's Rebel Louie (Kelly) and B M B's Freeloader (Blum) were covered earlier.

Lostak's Flynn Rider (Lostak) and Boonville Bullet (Twer) began just outside of the crossing to Heron Grove going toward the Plum Thicket. Both dogs started off fine and headed toward the Plum Thicket. Flynn had a find at 4 in the Plum Thicket and one at 9 in the Dry Pond. Both finds were on pheasant. Flynn also had a pheasant find back on the Big Island at 50. The dog was flagging slightly as the handler approached but tightened up during the flush. Flynn mannerly backed Flash at 28, 31 and 38. Flash had a pheasant find in the Dry Pond area which he handled well. The gallery found the dogs standing at the Plum Thicket at 28 where Flash scored a quail find. The handlers and judges did not see the dogs and had moved on past the objective. From here Flash had another find on pheasant at 31 at the end of the Plum Thicket and two more pheasant finds, one at 38 in Heron Grove and the other on the Big Island at 53. Both dogs made nice forward moves but didn't reach enough consistently, as was shown by the winners.

Brace No. 4 was scratched.

B M B's Free Ride's (Blum) effort was detailed earlier. Rikki's Rapid Rav was not pleasing Sheldon Twer and was picked up at 26 near the pond.

Rocking J's Amy (Walton) and Sleepless in Sacramento (Twer) were loosed on the Big Island. Amy had a stop to flush at 1. The dogs worked their way through the Big Island and off to Heron Grove. Sleepless pointed at Heron Grove at 15 but after a diligent flushing attempt, including a relocation, no game was produced. Twer and Sleepless caught the front near the crossing toward the Dry Pond area. From here both dogs hunted forward out to Burnt Hill. They were standing on Burnt Hill at 33. Amy went with the pheasant as the handlers and judges approached. Sleepless remained steady. Sleepless was sent toward the Dry Pond area where she was found on point at 44 for a mannerly find, high and tight on a pheasant. Sleepless finished with a find on quail at 50. Sleepless is an experienced and very stylish performer with exemplary manners around game. This day her race wasn't as consistently far reaching as the winners.

Kelly's I B Butler (Kelly) and Indian Head Whiski (Tappero) broke away after lunch by the gate. Tappero decided to pick up Whiski. Butler broke away strong and fast heading to the Dry Pond area. He was found pointing at 3. This was a very stylish and mannerly find on pheasant. Released from here, Butler made a big move heading to Burnt Hill and was out of sight for a few minutes. He was found at 12 on Burnt Hill, pointing with great style and handled the pheasant flush with exemplary manners. Let loose, Butler briefly ran the left edge, then headed out toward the Dry Pond area, pointed out by Kelly at very good distance. He continued a far-reaching race through the Plum Thicket and Heron Grove. He crossed over to the Big Island and was out of sight for awhile but was eventually gathered up by Kelly. He briefly went with the handler and then crossed to the right side of the Big Island where Kelly gathered and watered the dog, then sent him on. He made it through the crossing back to Heron Grove. He was pointed out at Heron Grove and then seen well out front, finishing going toward the Plum Thicket. Butler's bird work was excellent, pointing with a high head and 12 o'clock tail. He is a fast, forward, powerful and stylish performer. Butler was a little too linear in his application and a bit of a handful on the Big Island.

The last brace -- Rocking J's Liz (Walton) and B M B's Samsquanch (Blum) -- was let go at the crossing outside Heron Grove. Both dogs hunted through the Plum Thicket and on to the Dry Pond area. Samsquanch was found pointing in the Dry Pond area but ended up with an unproductive. From here, Blum worked to get Samsquanch caught up with the front near Burnt Hill. Both dogs were found on point at Burnt Hill at 17. Both were mannerly to the flush and shot for this divided find on a pheasant. From there both dogs were released and headed back toward the Dry Pond area where they had a pheasant find at 25. From there they went out to the Plum Thicket where Samsquanch had a pheasant find at 32, with Liz backing mannerly. They were released and went on to Heron Grove. Handlers chose to end their bid at 40.

Oroville, Cal., October 12 -- One Course

Judges: John Keel and Roy Smith

CALIFORNIA PHEASANT CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] --

10 Pointers, 1 Setter and 3 German Shorthairs

Winner--KELLY'S REBEL LOUIE, 1656988, pointer male, by I B Burnt--I B Pike Creek. Sean Kelly, owner and handler.

Runner-Up--B M B'S FREE RIDE, 1660979, German Shorthair male, by Kimber Tactical--Time To Pay The Piper. Brandon Blum, owner and handler.