Event: Miller's High Heat Index Wins
Result: Atlantic Coast Open Shooting Dog Championship
Location: Hoffman, North Carolina
Post Date: Mar 30, 2023
Submitted By: David Huffine
Atlantic Coast Open Shooting Dog Championship Winners (from left): Miller's High Heat Index, Faithful, Mike Tracy, Tony Bingham, Judges Gene Hogge and Jeff Haggis, Carolyn Quinn, Greg Roberson, Ginny Emerson, Gretchen Adsit, Bill Faust, Jim Emerson, and Ray Joye.
Miller's High Heat Index, a 4-year-old white and orange pointer male owned by Stanton Harrell and Casey Hollander, bested a field of 40 dogs to win the 2023 Atlantic Coast Open Shooting Dog Championship held at the Robert Gordon Field Trial Grounds in Hoffman, N. C. The Championship began on January 24. "Scooter" is out of Just Irresistible and Miller's Bring The Heat. The champion was handled by Mike Tracy and scouted by Bob Youngs.
The runner-up champion was Faithful, a 4-year-old white and orange pointer female out of Waybetter Rocky and Steel City Karen. She is owned by Susan and Roger Duerksen and was also handled by Mike Tracy. Tony Bingham scouted "Faith."
Judges for the Championship were Jeff Haggis of Glencoe, Ontario, and Gene Hogge of Virginia Beach, Va. Both judges have significant experience judging championship trials and training and campaigning their own dogs. Their expertise and attention to detail were evident throughout the trial.
Bird numbers were irregular throughout the trial. The first day produced nine finds, but numbers lagged thereafter, likely due to changing weather conditions.
CHAMPIONS' SUMMARY
The champion was released in the second brace on Course 2 at approximately 9:17. The frost was melting, and conditions were excellent following an early morning temperature of 26 degrees. His bracemate was Mohawk Mill Bad Boy, a handsome pointer male handled by Tony Bingham. Both dogs had perfect Hoffman shooting dog races, showing to the front consistently and stylishly. Bingham's dog had a find at 13 with Tracy's dog backing. Tony called for the tracker at 35 after an extended absence, leaving Scooter on his own. The exceptional ground race appeared in vain until a find at 55 on a large covey put him in the pole position, which he held for the remainder of the trial.
The runner-up ran in brace No. 16, which began Friday on Course 1. Faith and her bracemate A Carolina's Sport, a setter handled by Calvin Curnutte, broke away at 8:02 in 29-degree weather. She immediately broke to the front and ran a wonderful, consistent, continuous forward race. She had a flawless find at 53, which gave her the bird work necessary for the runner-up placement. Calvin's dog looked good on the ground. He had an unproductive at 45 and finished his hour.
THE RUNNING
The Championship began Tuesday morning with dogs breaking away on Course 1 at 8:03 in a chilly 26 degrees. An unusually heavy frost on the ground, the morning sun on the frost, and the steam from the horses created a shimmering vision for the gallery.
The first brace matched Hauser's Rollin Thunder (PM/M. Tracy) with Hirollins Gone And Doneit (PM) handled by Tony Bingham. Both dogs showed nice forward races and looked classy on the ground. Bingham's dog, "Gunner," had an unproductive at 45. At 55, both dogs were found standing with Bingham's dog to the front. Both handlers flushed and fired as a nice covey of birds arose from the feed strip. Both dogs completed their allotted hour.
The second brace is discussed above in the Champions' Summary.
Smoke Rise Jake (PM/Bingham) and J C L's Hap (PM/Tracy) broke away for the third brace. Jake had finds at 16 and 42, looking good on both opportunities. Jake finished his hour. Hap backed on the first find but went with the birds as they flew his way on the flush.
Tuesday afternoon brought Steel City Alabama, a pointer male handled by Matt Basilone, and Greypointe Ponderosa (PM/Curnutte) to the line at the Course 4 breakaway. Unfortunately, neither dog was able to produce birds. Matt's dog was long for most of the brace, and he called for the tracker at 50. Calvin's dog handled well and had a more modest race. He finished his hour.
The fifth brace was Wayward Flyin Tomato, a setter male handled by Mark Hughes (devilishly named by his sister) and Miller's Extreme Heat (PF/Tracy). Mark's dog had a nice, forward race, showing good range. Tracy's dog had perhaps the best race of the day, with a classy gait and showing exceptionally well to the front. Both dogs were found standing at 50 with Mark's setter slightly to the front. The handlers fired as the birds lifted from a hillside feed patch, leaving the judges to sort out what had occurred. Both dogs finished their hour.
Miller's Hopped Up Version (PF-Hughes) was the "A" dog for the last brace of the day. She began "hopped up" with finds at 1 and 8 but followed the promising start with two unproductives, ending her day, and was finished. Cheyenne Jack (PM/Tracy) was her bracemate. Jack was spending too much time near Mike and was picked up at 14.
The weather report was a bit ominous for Wednesday morning, with moderate rain predicted at 11 a.m. and strong winds and thunderstorms to follow.
Brace No. 7 began at the Clubhouse with Bittersweet War Cry (PM/Tracy) and Santee River Big George (PM/Bingham) breaking away ahead of the storm. Mike's dog had an extremely impressive race that verged on all-age. It was possibly the best race of the Championship, but he could not locate birds. Bingham's dog had a more erratic race and was not seen after the midway point of the brace. Tony called for the tracker at 45.
Brace No. 8 featured Triple Nickel Carbon Copy (PM/Basilone) and Southpoint's Hog Wild (PM/ Tracy). Neither dog had bird contact. Matt's dog had a moderate race, handled well, and finished his hour. Mike's dog had a medium to long race, but his ground pattern did not please his handler, and he was up at 34.
The last brace of the morning matched Hauser's Hard Line (PM/Tracy) with T's American Jake (ESM/Bingham). Tony's setter handled well early but disappeared before the creek bottom on Course 3. Tony and his scout searched for the dog but ultimately called for the tracker at 20. Mike's young dog had an unproductive at 3 but did not range to the front enough to suit him and was up at 25.
The unstable weather arrived as predicted, with periodic heavy rain and winds. Afternoon braces were canceled.
On Thursday morning, forty-one degrees and clearing greeted the Brace No. 10 handlers and dogs. Smoke Rise Hanna (PF/Bingham) was paired with Jolene Jolene (PF/Tracy). Mike's dog had an unproductive at 5, and her race was a bit modest thereafter. She was up at 15. Hanna backed on the bracemate's unproductive and had an unproductive of her own. She showed a medium race until Tony put her in a "bird finding" mode late. Unfortunately, the birds did not cooperate.
Brace No. 11 matched Bully Rock (PM/Tracy) with Harbor City Sure Shot (PF/Basilone). Tracy's dog showed a medium race early but shortened a bit later. He had an unproductive at 39. Mike picked him up at 46. Sure Shot had an unproductive at 37, and Matt picked up at 48 after a medium race.
Brace No. 12 was headlined by last year's runner-up champion, Reedy Creek Dial Tone (PM/Tracy) and Miller's Special Upgrade (PF/Hughes). Dial Tone showed the race and style that caught the judges' attention the previous year. A find at 45 gave him the bird work to put him in contention. Mark's dog competed well with a medium to long race. He had an unproductive at 21 but couldn't produce a find.
The afternoon braces began on Course 4 with Miller's Record Heat (PF/Tracy) and Knight's Last Chipster (PM/Bingham) on the line. Record Heat had a long, stylish race with a find at 7 that also made her a dog to be considered. Tony's dog shared the find at 7. He finished his hour with a nice forward race.
Sweet Grass Slim (ESM/Huffine) and Miller's War Bonnet (PF/Tracy) broke away on Course 5 to begin brace No. 14. Both dogs showed well on the long field running near the highway, but Slim came back to record an unproductive. Mike's dog also had an unproductive at 25 with Slim backing. Both dogs shared in their final unproductive at 35, ending the trial for both of them.
The final brace of the day featured Suemac's Sashay (PF/Hughes) and Waybetter Rocky (PM/Tracy). Mark's dog had a find at 15, followed by unproductives at 33 and 43. Rocky had a medium race with an unproductive at 39. Rocky was not moving the dogs that had previously run, and Mike picked him up.
Brace No. 16 is described in the Champions' Summary.
Smoke N Mirrors (PF/Basilone) and Waybetter Rebel (PM/Tracy) were in the second brace of the morning on Friday. Matt's dog had a satisfactory race but suffered unproductives at 20 and 45. Rebel had an unproductive early (20), followed by a find at 50. He finished his hour.
Brace No. 18 consisted of Gambler's Next Addition (PM/Tracy) and Doc's Haven's Jake Law (PM/Bingham). Addition was up at 22 when it was evident he was not beating the dogs on the board. Tony's dog had an unproductive at 24 and was picked up shortly thereafter.
Brace No. 19 pitted Dunn's True Rein (PM/Tracy) and Clayhill Bones (PM/Bingham). Mike's dog had difficulty finding the front and was up at 26. Tony's dog wasn't beating the leaders and was up at 26 also.
The final brace of the Championship matched Fort River's Lucky Charm (ESM/Basilone) and Greypointe Nubarron (PM/Curnutte). Matt's dog was stylish but had a modest ground race. He finished his hour. Calvin's dog looked good and showed solid casts but had unproductives at 20 and 56. He was allowed to finish his hour.
Hoffman, N. C., January 24
Judges: Jeff Haggis and Gene Hogge
ATLANTIC COAST OPEN OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 35 Pointers and 5 Setters
Winner-MILLER'S HIGH HEAT INDEX, 1685674, pointer male, by Just Irresistible-Miller's Bring The Heat. Stanton Harrell & Casey Hollander, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.
Runner-Up-FAITHFUL, 1684597, pointer female, by Waybetter Rocky-Steel City Karen. Susan & Roger Duerksen, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.
OPEN DERBY
The Atlantic Coast Open Derby followed the Championship. Entries were sparse, with only six dogs being entered. Seasoned Hoffman pro, Mac Hilliard, showed everyone how it is done with a blazing race by Buffalo Junction Klaus (PM), owned by Al and Jenna Dahl, to easily take first. Tony Bingham guided My Way Coal Train (PM) owned by J. D. Waters to second place. Sweet Grass Skipper (ESM) took third for David Huffine, owner/handler.
OPEN DERBY - 4 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-BUFFALO JUNCTION KLAUS, 1698145, pointer male, by Sugarknoll Bushwacker-Buffalo Junction Mae. Al & Jenna Dahl, owners; Mac Hilliard, handler.
2d-MY WAY COAL TRAIN, 1700554, pointer male, by Bonner's Excalibur-Hirollins Canadian Mist. J. D. Waters, owner; Tony Bingham, handler.
3d-SWEET GRASS SKIPPER, 1698209, setter male, by Sweet Grass Slim-Tower Hill Zoey Zee. David Huffine, owner and handler.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Duplin County Field Trial Club has sponsored this trial for several decades. Bill Faust is the heart and soul of the club and this Championship. Bill is 89 years old and plans, worries and frets over the Championship for each full year. Bill's incredible dog memory recalls almost every good performance he has seen at the Championship since inception, and it is a treat to ride in the dog wagon truck with him to hear his stories.
Carolyn Quinn makes everything work for the Duplin County Club. She helps with the drawing, keeps notes on all braces, cooks, serves meals, and fills in as club secretary/treasurer when the elected official is absent.
We appreciate Greg Robinson, who drives the gallery/dog wagon and provides coffee, soft drinks, water, and snacks during the morning and afternoon breaks. He also tells unpublishable jokes. Greg seems to enjoy his duties thoroughly.
The Duplin County Club commends the North Carolina Field Trial Association for diligently implementing and continually improving the bird program at Hoffman. Weather prevented some of the scheduled releases, and birds were spotty this year, but it is not for lack of effort.
Finally, this Championship would not survive without the support of Purina, and the club expresses its full gratitude for the sponsorship.
Open Derby Winners. Buffalo Junction Klaus, My Way Coal Train, Sweet Grass Skipper, Mac Hilliard, Tony Bingham, David Huffine, Judges Gene Hogge and Jeff Haggis, Carolyn Quinn, Nan Hilliard, Ginny Emerson, Gretchen Adsit, Bill Faust, Jim Emerson, and John Adsit.