Result: NGSPA Region 8 Championships

Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming

Post Date: Nov 8, 2021

Submitted By: Keith Richardson

The Region 8 Championship program was a huge success, with a strong entry in all stakes and participants coming from all over. Most of the competitors also attended the NGSPA Hungarian Partridge Championship held previously.

The venue is not only scenic, but also provides great objectives for dogs to hunt and display their ability to find and handle difficult game birds. The course is unlike any other in the country. The cast off is over several hundred yards of prairie to Suicide Hill, named for the large number of birds inhabiting it, and the fact that most infractions may be seen a quarter of a mile away. There are two large coveys on this hill, a low covey and a high covey. Then around the hill's base there is a cove defined by a curving high-bench with steep faces, large rocks, and dense shrub cover. We pass Derby Draw and continue along the base of the high bench to Shooting Dog Draw. We climb to the top of the bench and spend 15 to 20 minutes hunting the upper brushy edge of this steep chukar habitat. The next leg offers a run through the prairie or a steep series of draws known as the Badlands. The high gate is entered and the dog finishes in the prairie where its stamina and range are visibly demonstrated.

Some top-notch judges with years of experience in many Championship venues were secured. Ray Larrondo (Idaho), Karen Niffenegger, Terry Erickson (California), Tim Carwile (Virginia), Brandon Blum (Colorado), David Quijano (Texas), and Rich Robertson (Idaho).

We are grateful for our sponsors. Purina provided financial support and the bags of Pro Plan for the winning dogs. We encouraged all contestants to feed Purina. We also welcome the sponsorship of SportDog with training collars. Cash purses, gift certificates, Purina food, and SportDog collars made up the offering of prizes.

A special thanks to the organizational abilities and hard work of Keith and Bobbi Richardson. A big thanks also to all of the other folks who helped: Joe Frauendienst (many tasks including planting birds), Josh Frauendienst, Gary and Chris Kercher (bird planter). Lynn Cooke provided wonderful meals with help from Marya Kerchner, and Diane Crabbs.

Our ranch crew helped in many ways often unseen, but always with a smile: Justin Peppers, Brittiny Habercorn, Rick Huber, and Frank Rugh. Kaitlin Guakel and Penny Robertson ran the dog wagon and booted all of the dogs.

We missed the smile, conversation and wit of David Quinn, our Field Trial Sommelier, who couldn't make it. Dean Crabbs caught all of the birds early each morning.

This was a dual sanctioned trial which offer competition for those who also pursue AKC points, and four placements are named. Four dogs are placed and these are reported in this write-up due to space limitations.

NGSPA REGION 8 Amateur Shooting Dog Championship

By Keith Richardson

Judges Terry Erickson and Tim Carwile said the dogs they placed all handled kindly with no hacking and very little or no scouting required. They went forward through the country with no back-casting or coming from behind, and they had solid shooting dog races with good finishes.

During most of the stake the wind was a challenge and the jumpy birds and large coveys presented plenty of opportunities to distract dogs and take them out. The difficult bird work separated the dogs and handlers.

Pinnacle Dee's Mighty Mouse (Dee/Kirk Loftin) was named champion. Mighty Mouse had her first find on Suicide Hill at 5, handling the chukar nicely with good style and excellent manners. She was sent on and hunted the rocky slopes nicely instead of running in the open. She was rewarded with a find at the turn up Shooting Dog Draw. Birds were produced after a nice relocation and her style was flashy. She hunted the upper rim to the front and had a strong finish through the upper gate. Her run was big and always forward; she required no hacking and no scouting in true shooting dog form.

Quijano's W D Forty Rusty (David Quijano) was named runner-up. Rusty had six finds at 8, 22, 30, 32, 39 and 40. They were spaced nicely along the hilly chukar habitat and the upper rim. All were in order with good style. Rusty got rolling after his bracemate was picked up at 33. He had a good overall performance and was always forward and covered the right spots to find game with no commands from handler. He was a very good bird dog with excellent ground application. He had a good race and finish, but not as strong as the champion's.

Hi N's Allison Miranda (Allie/ Kirk Loftin) had two Hun finds, at 5 on Suicide Hill, and at 21 at the turn up Shooting Dog Draw, which she handled nicely with good style. She had a stop to flush at the end of the Habitat on some jumpy Huns. She had a back at 45 on Derby Rim and stood solidly while her bracemate had a "train wreck" and was picked up. She had a good finish.

Canyon Creek High Tide (Dylan/Ray Larrondo) had finds at 4 on Suicide Hill, 11, 15 and a large covey of chukar at 37, with backs at 20, 25, and 27. Dylan had a slow start but her last half was strong. She demonstrated a good nose as she pointed game a long ways off. She showed maturity locating game. Dylan was a nice dog, but her overall ground race was not as smooth and consistent as the top three dogs.

Cheyenne, Wyo., September 25 -- One Course

Judges: Tim Carwile and Terry Erickson

NGSPA REGION 8 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG

CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] -- 26 German Shorthairs

Winner--STONEY HILLS PINNACLE DEE, 1694168, female, by Simons Gunner--Shadowrocks Mighty Mouse. Dr. Kirk Loftin, owner and handler.

Runner-Up--QUIJANO'S W D FORTY RUSTY, 1683347, male, by Llano's Game On Dude--Bray's Henna. David Quijano, owner and handler.

NGSPA REGION 8 Open All-Age Championship

Judges Ray Larrondo and Karen Niffenegger preferred a dog that after Suicide Hill would hunt the rocky sidehills rather than taking the fenceline to the end of the Habitat. They knew the sidehill cover provided good chukar habitat.

B M B's Samsquanch (Sam/Brandon Blum) was named champion. Sam ran in brace No. 11. He had a strong breakaway and a nice find 3 on Suicide Hill. He quickly moved on and hunted around the corner and hunted the rocky hillside fast and smart. He crossed Derby Draw and climbed Chukar Hill where he had his second find at 10. He then hunted just below the rim in the rocky cover all the way until dropping down to the corner of Shooting Dog Draw. Handler sent him on the west side of the draw where he made a showy and powerful move gaining the top of the west rim and running the edge to the front. [90% of the dogs take the trail up to the head of the draw.] He was lost to sight to the front. Once the handler gained the top of the draw, Sam was seen standing at 28 on his third find. Handler then elected to send Sam into the prairie to the north, where he made a big move and then cut up onto Derby Rim and was found standing at 38. Blum could not produce a bird and sent him on. Sam had a phenomenal finish. He wasn't the flashiest dog of the group of placing dogs, but he ran a solid all-age race and impressed the judges with his hunting prowess and application to the course. Sam required no hacking and Blum was able to ride gently along for most of the run.

Keg Creek Tripps to Win (Tripp/Josh Nieman) was named runner-up. Tripp ran in brace No. 3 and headed in a straight line to Suicide Hill, where he was seen standing at 5. After release he rounded the corner and was next seen on the rim past Derby Draw where he had a stop to flush at 18. It took handler and judge about 5 minutes to reach him while he remained frozen in place with staunch style. He was sent back to the bottom of the hill and had his next find at 25 on the lower corner of Shooting Dog Draw. He had his next find at 35 on Derby Rim. Just after his release he dropped over the edge and pointed at 41 but handler was unable to produce a bird. He was released and ran the prairie to the High Gate, grabbed some water and hit the prairie for a huge finish to the front by the Guest House. All in all he had a strong All-Age run but his run was not as smooth and required more hacking when compared with the champion.

Pinnacle Dee's Mighty Mouse (Kirk Loftin) ran in brace No. 9. Instead of hunting up Suicide Hill Dee ran the fenceline to the end of the habitat, and then was called back where she ran up Chukar Hill and had her first find at 16. She was sent back down the hill and had her second find at 22 at the corner of Shooting Dog Draw. She took the left-west side of the draw and met the handler as he crested the draw. She ran the rim without finding any birds and this took her to the High Gate with 17 minutes to spend in the prairie. She had a really big finish. Dee was snappy and quick. She had a bit less power than the top two dogs overall, but had a very strong finish.

P W Bert's Joke on Us (Bart/ Rich Robertson) ran in brace No. 4. He made a beeline up Suicide Hill where he pointed and had an extended and difficult relocation. Birds were produced at 10, and he handled them nicely. After release he immediately disappeared and apparently ran the habitat cover until being seen at the far end of the habitat. He spotted his handler and without command came straight to him up Chukar hill. He was returned to the bottom and hunted the hillside until climbing to the top and going on point. He was returned to the bottom and had his third find at 32 at the corner of Shooting Dog Draw. Handler had a bit of trouble collecting him off the top of Chukar Hill and hacked him to get back on course. His fourth find was on Derby Rim at 49. He was heeled to catch the front at the High Gate and had a great finish. Bart had a strong and powerful all-age run but required more hacking than the top three dogs.

Judges: Ray Larrondo and Karen Niffenegger

NGSPA REGION 8 OPEN ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP

[One-Hour Heats] -- 25 German Shorthairs

Winner--B M B'S SAMSQUANCH, 1669573, male, by Trueblue's B D K Ace in Thehole--Time To Pay the Piper. Brandon Blum, owner and handler.

Runner-Up--A O TRIPPS TO WIN, 1671013 male, by Kimber Tactical--Sixxem's A Cut Above. Alan Davidson, owner; Josh Nieman, handler.

NGSPA REGION 8 OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

By Ray Larrondo

Judges Brandon Blum and David Quijano named Chicoree's Glitter and Gold (Glitz/Dan DiMambro) champion. Glitz ran in brace No. 3. After a good breakaway, she was found pointed at 10 above the water trough. Style and manners all good. Then she flowed through the rocks well and climbed Chukar Hill where she was found pointed at 20. She then hunted the rocky hillside well flowing to the front and pointed a covey at 28 at the corner of Shooting Dog Draw. Glitz was next seen hunting the brushy edge along the rim with good power until disappearing along Derby Rim where she was found standing at 40. She had an unproductive on the east side of the ridge at 45, and then showed a phenomenal finish with both dogs cresting the ridge at Cathy's Bench. Glitz was stylish on point and had a consistently strong shooting dog run with excellent application to the course.

Osage Cuttin Em Down (Bo/Josh Nieman) earned runner-up. Bo was in brace No. 3 with the champion. Bo had a strong cast-off and was found pointed at the very end of the habitat at 12. Several chukar were produced and he handled them with nice style. He broke away and headed toward Chukar Hill where he was found on point at 18. Upon release he powered along the rocky hills and was found pointed with his third find at the base of Shooting Dog Draw at 22. From there Bo powered to the front and had his fourth find at 42 on Derby Rim. The two dogs joined forces and showed a strong finish over Cathy's Bench. Bo had an excellent performance but showed some immaturity compared with the champion.

Autry's Natural Chromoly Steel (Molly/Josh Nieman) ran in brace No. 12, and got off to a slower start than the first two dogs. Her first find at 12 was above the water trough and was very stylish. The bird work got her going and she went on to hunt the hills with power. She had a stop to flush on the top of Chukar Hill at 18. No. 2 was at the corner of Shooting Dog Draw at 23. Just after she crested the top of the draw she had a divided find on the brushy rim at 27. She went on to hunt the rim edge well but without the power of the two top dogs. Her fourth find was on Derby Rim at 40. She had a good finish.

Foxglove Money Maker (G/Brian Hill) ran in brace No. 4, got off to a good start with a find at 5 on Suicide Hill. He then hunted the edge around the hill and had a stylish find at 12 above the water trough. G exhibited great bird dog sense in his application to the course and was found pointed on top of Chukar Hill at 18. After being released he hunted the hillside like a chukar dog should and had his third find at 24 at the corner of Shooting Dog Draw. He hunted the upper rim very nicely and had four more finds. G handled very kindly and did a really nice job, but overall his run exhibited less power and range than the top three dogs.

Judges: Brandon Blum and David Quijano

NGSPA REGION 8 OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

[One-Hour Heats] -- 28 German Shorthairs

Winner--CHICOREE'S GLITTER AND GOLD, 1686474, female, by Chicoree's Immaculate--Chicoree's Country Fan. Fred Ryan, owner; Dan DiMambro, handler.

Runner-Up--OSAGE CUTTIN EM DOWN, 1687403, male, by Kimber Tactical--Cuttin Wilds Space Cowgirl. Jak Phipps, owner; Josh Nieman, handler.

NGSPA REGION 8 OPEN DERBY CLASSIC

[Note: Due to several issues we were unable to get a write-up for this stake.]

We used the Hun course in the Habitat. It is a three-mile section of creek-lined with willows and dense cover, with open cut grass and plenty of objectives between the willow line and the fenceline. This course does not have cactus so dogs are not booted. It is an out and back course with opportunities to find chukar or huns. There is good visibility of the dogs, so that a dog with all-age potential can be seen making huge moves.

The winners were:

Judges: Ray Larrondo and David Quijano

NGSPA REGION 8 OPEN DERBY -- 8 German Shorthairs

1st--N K UNCONTROLLED FREE FOR ALL, 1697285, male, by B M B's Free Ride--Covey Up's Controlled Burn. Scott Nordstedt, owner; Josh Nieman, handler.

2d--REAM'S SPINNER, 1696637, male, by B M B's Free Ride--Covey UP's Controled Burn. Derrick Ream, owner; Josh Nieman, handler.

3d--P W QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN, 1689425, female, by P W Bert's Joke On Us--P W Extraordinaire. Keith & Bobbi Richardson, owners; Rich Robertson, handler.