Result: NGSPA Great Lakes Championships

Location: Ionia, Michigan

Post Date: Jan 17, 2023

Submitted By: Dan DiMambro

NGSPA Great Lakes Open Shooting Dog Championship Winners (front): Andy Dynkiwiecz with Slaterock's Mountain Heart and Sherri Tangsrud with Uodibar's Robbi Jo. (From left): Dan DiMambro, Lee Wagoner, Kirk Loftin, Leroy Long, and Tom Davis.

This year the Great Lakes Championship ran October 10th-14th at Ionia State Recreational Area. The grounds were in the best of shape thanks to the IFTGA who is comprised of volunteers to groom the grounds during the summer months. Our hats are tipped to those who have donated their time to make these grounds some of the best in the country to watch our bird dogs perform. As always, the fall colors are brilliant and full during this event and there are many magnificent views throughout the courses. As with many field trials this trial isn't any different in that it has gone from many helping hands to only a few.

Thanks to those who stepped up to help with various duties throughout the week, Including Marc McKinley, Tom Davis, Kirk Loftin, Sherri Tansgrud, Hank Lewis, Joe Orndorff, Blake Rizzo. The Great Lakes Championship would also like to thank the long-time support from our sponsors Purina and Sport Dog. These two companies diligently support horse back field trials.

The Open Shooting Dog drew 23 entries, and the stake was filled with exceptional dogs. At the end the judges could only name two winners. This year's winner was Slate Rock's Mountain Heart, owned by Andy and James Dynkwiecz, and Handled by Dan DiMambro. Rommel had a bold and forward race with 6 finds. The judges commented on his speed, style, and stamina. The runner-up champion was Uodibar's Robbi Jo, owned by Sherri Tandsgrud and handled by Kirk Loftin. Robbi Jo is no stranger to the winner's circle on these grounds. She had 4 finds and a great forward application. This pair of dogs flopped the placements last spring and Robbi Jo has placed almost every time she has run on these grounds.

Our Open All-Age stake drew 12 entries this year and there were several great performances from the stake which with all age dogs sometimes is hard. Evergreens Jed owned by Lance Olsen and handled by Dan DiMambro was named winner. Jed ran a big forward race and had three finds and took the outer rim of these Ionia grounds. Hi N's Allison Miranda owned and handled by Kirk Loftin was the runner up champion. Allie had a great race with several limb finds.

The Amateur Shooting Dog stake was won by Hi N's Curtain Call "Charlie" owned and handled by Jim Hank Lewis Charlie Had four finds during the hour and was stuck to the tree lines of Ionia like glue. Stoney Hills Pinnacle Dee owned and handled by Kirk Loftin had five well-spaced finds throughout the hour. She exemplified great style and was very classy about her way around the course.

Our open Derby Winners was Winston's Hammer Time Show owned and handled by Bob Toney. Winston had a powerful race and got better by the minute. Second was Caprock's Bella's Country Gamin "Bella" owned by Joe Vandiver and handled by Dan DiMambro. Third was Highwater's Lex Luther Owned and handled by Blake Rizzo.
Ionia, Mich., October 10
Judges: Leroy Long and Lee Wagoner
NGSPA GREAT LAKES OPEN SHOOTNIG DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 23 German Shorthairs
Winner-SLATEROCK'S MOUNTAIN HEART, 1675343, male, by Hi N's Bodacious-Slaterock Matte Clark. Andy & James Dynhiewicz, owner; Dan DiMambro, handler.
Runner-Up-UODIBAR'S ROBBI JO, 1662507, female, by Uodibar's Against all Odds-B D K's Sin City Casino. Sherri Tangsrud, owner; Kirk Loftin, handler.
NGSPA GREAT LAKES OPEN ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 12 German Shorthairs
Winner-EVERGREEN'S JED, 1676169, male, by Trublue B D K Ace In The Hole-Chicoree's What A Hoodlum. Lance Olsen, owner; Dan DiMambro, handler.
Runner-Up-HI N'S ALLISON MIRANDA, 1676665, female, by Hi N's Feed Jake-Chicoree's Sparkle In Her Eye. Dr. Kirk Loftin, owner and handler.

NGSPA Great Open All-Age Championship Winners (front): April Raber with Evergreen's Jed
and Sherri Tangsrud with Hi N's Allison Miranda. (From left): Dan DiMambro,
Lee Wagoner, and Kirk Loftin.

Judges: Peter Coppens and Joe Orndorff
NGSPA GREAT LAKES AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 12 German Shorthairs
Winner-HI N'S CURTAIN CALL, 1687995, male, by Hi N's Bodacious-Hi N's Hasty Matilda. Hank Lewis, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-STONEY HILL'S PINNACLE DEE, 1694168, female, by Simon's Gunner-Shadowrock Mighty Mouse. Dr. Kirk Loftin, owner and handler.

NGSPA Great Lakes Amateur Shooting Dog Championship Winners (front): Lee Wagoner with Hi N's Curtain Call and Sherri Tangsrud with Stoney Hill's Pinnacle Dee, and Kirk Loftin.

Judges: Peter Coppens and Tom Davis
NGSPA GREAT LAKE OPEN DERBY - 6 German Shorthairs
1st-WINSTON'S HAMMER TIME SHOW, 1706699, male, by LSVS Hammer Down-Allen's Jade. Melissa Toney, owner; Bob Toney, handler.
2d-CAPROCKS BELLA'S COUNTY GARNIN, unreg., female, by Llano's Game Or Dude-Chicoree's Coming Fan. Joe Vandiver, owner; Dan DiMambro, handler.
3d-HIGHWATERS LEX LUTHER, 1703633, male, by Riden High Rudy-Cuttin Wilds Space Cowgirl. Louis Albert & Blake Rizzo, owners; Blake Rizzo, handler.

NGSPA Great Lakes Open Derby Winner: Bob Toney with Winston's Hammer Time Show.
(From left): Peter Coppens, James J. Juergens, and Tom Davis.