Result: Pelican Open All-Age

Location: Holly Springs, Mississippi

Post Date: Apr 3, 2023

Submitted By: William Smith

The dual event of the Prairie Open All-Age and the Pelican Open All-Age was scheduled to take place beginning January 1 at Camp Robinson Field Trial Grounds in Mayflower, Ark. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission scheduled a youth deer hunt after the Prairie, thus eliminating the running of the Pelican. With no other options available, the club president, Dr. Fred Corder, sought to relocate the trial. When Dr. Fred Corder approached Guy Hendrix, he readily agreed to host the event at his farm near Holly Springs, Miss.

The Hendrix Farm is the site of several all-age amateur and open events, including the Mississippi Open Shooting Dog Championship. The Pelican began on Saturday, January 28, after the Southern Championship. The event was slated to start at 8 a.m. but was delayed until 10 a.m. because of steady rain. Resident Daniel Bolden and your scribe were the judiciaries. Daniel has the eyesight of an eagle, and it was a pleasure to work with him. There were 33 all-age dogs drawn to complete and 21 derbies.

Guy and son Burke make every effort to ensure each trial held on their farm is a quality event. The Pelican was no exception. Hot lunches were served each day at no charge to anyone who took advantage of their hospitality and generosity. Guy drove the dog wagon and brought snacks that hit the spot between the braces. The recent rains had made the field roads excessively muddy, but Guy shifted the Jeep into 4-wheel drive, and he was always on time at the end of the braces. He was not concerned about the ruts he was making on the field roads; he wanted everyone to enjoy their time there. The three one-hour courses are equal as far as being equally challenging, and Guy makes sure that enough birds are available on each course.

Purina also sponsored the trial with their contribution of paying for the ad in the UKC Field. They also sponsored a winners' dinner. Their sponsorship is very much appreciated.

The Running
Brace No. 1--Coldwater Odyssey (Bennett) was independent and was lost. Whippoorwill Vette (Huffman) found a covey at 36 and finished with no other bird work.

Brace No. 2--Como Thunder (Hurdle) scored a nice relocation at 28 and a barren stand at 40 and finished the brace. Bonner's Bulletproof (Anderson) failed to back at 28 and was picked up.

Brace No. 3--Painted Owyhee Toad (Ledington) scored early at 1, backed his bracemate at 15, and finished the brace. Coldwater War Cry (Bennett) also had a find at 1. He was credited with two barren stands at 15 and 23 and was picked up.

Brace No. 4--Coldwater Thunder (Hurdle) was scratched for medical reasons. The bye-dog could not be moved up because his handler was in this brace. Raw Sugar Trouble (Hester) found coveys at 53 and 60.

Brace No. 5--Bozeann's Rex (Hester) had a find at 17 and backed his bracemate at 31. He had a stop to flush on a relocation and was picked up. Game Wardon (Corder) scored finds at 28, 48, 52, and 59. Also, a barren stand at 31.

Brace No. 6--Touch's Cocaine Blues (Anderson) failed to back at 18 and was put in a harness. Haney's Storm Warning (Cagle) pointed a covey at the pond's edge ager a long cast to the front at 18. He also had finds at 25 and 38 after long searching casts. Extra territory had to be covered to allow the full 60 minutes.

Brace No. 7--Papa Joe (Hester) had finds at 10 and 57 but was picked up at 57 when he moved at the flush. Superstition's Final Touch (Byrd) was lost early in the heat.

Brace No. 8--Touch's Fire Away (Anderson) committed a fatal error when the covey flew. Como Rain (Hurdle) was out of pocket for too long, and the tracker was taken.

Brace No. 9--Bonner's Hot Rize (Rinehart) was lost at the halfway mark. I'm Gallant (Anderson) laid down a good race but was birdless.

Brace No. 10--Haney's Hurricane Seeker (Russell) scored on a single bird at 9 and finished with no other bird work. Heisman (Hester) scored two finds at 18 and 36 and finished with no other bird work.

Brace No. 11--Slick Water Frac (Anderson) pushed out a covey and was harnessed. Five60 Breakout (Hendrix) was not suiting the handler and was picked up.

Brace No. 12--Miller's Speed Dial (Anderson) notched a find at 15 after a long forward cast. He finished staying to the front, making searching casts, and was scouted sparingly. Lester's Storm Chaser (Henry) had a covey find at 9 and a back at 15. This was an exciting brace, with both dogs covering a lot of ground and doing it quickly.

Brace No. 13--Nosam's Sweet Water (Huffman) located a covey at 13 and had a stop to flush at 18. Barren stands at 25, and 43 ended his bid. Superstition's Jake (Byrd) was credited with two backs at 13 and 43. He had a find at 24 and a barren stand at 30 and finished the heat.

Brace No. 14--Game Heir (Corder) was picked up at 56. Quickmarksman's Dan (Hester) was picked up at 56.

Brace No. 15--Matt Dillon (Byrd) was picked up at 45. Beeler's Texas Jig (Beeler) was picked up at 45.

Brace No. 16--Late Hit (Shenker) was scratched. Quickmarksman's Excalibur (Hester), the bye-dog, moved up and had a barren stand at 45. Lester's Stem Winder (Anderson) was picked up at 45.

Regrettably, the Derby stake had to be canceled because of forecasted freezing rain and sleet that would last for the next several days.

Holly Springs, Miss., January 28
Judges: Daniel Bolden and William Smith
PELICAN OPEN ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 32 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st--HANEY'S STORM WARNING, 1691416, pointer male, by Valiant-Haney's North Star. Chris Cagle, owner and handler.
2d--GAME WARDON, 1676189, pointer male, by Caladen's Rail Hawk-Game Creek. Dr. Fred Corder, owner and handler.
3d--MILLER'S SPEED DIAL, 1666636, pointer male, by Miller's Dialing In-Old Road Lou. Mick Marietta, owner; Randy Anderson, handler.

Pelican Open All-Age Winners (front, from left): Andy Cline with Game Wardon, Bridgett Lexington with Miller's Speed Dial, and Randy Anderson. (Back, from left): Guy Hendrix, Fred Corder, Judge Daniel Bolden, Sheriff Kenney Dickerson, and Judge William Smith.