Event: Tian Butterbean Region 11 Amateur Shooting Dog Champion
Result: West Valley Bird Dog Club

Location: Valley Springs, California

Post Date: Apr 24, 2023

Submitted By: Janice Corbitt

Region 11 AFTCA Shooting Dog Championship Winners (from left): Tian Butterbean with Gina Bosio (scout), Cliff Mesnard, and Copper Jim's Little Bud with Marc Cuneo. (Standing, from left): Brad LaVerne, Leslie Arestad, Mike Wilkin (judge), Cliff Mesnard, Corinne Cuneo, Nard Bailey, and Jarry Walton (judge).

The West Valley Bird Dog Club and Region 11 Officers co-hosted the three-day event, culminating with the Region 11 AFTCA Amateur Shooting Dog Championship and the Region 11 AFTCA Amateur Shooting Dog Derby. We were blessed with sunshine, blue skies, and temperatures from the mid-50s to the low 60s. Recent rains provided plenty of water on the courses, with creeks and streams running. The venue offers amenities such as a 10-20 bed bunkhouse, wood stove, shower, and bathroom for the comfort of attendees. The main house's garage is the headquarters for the event, where West Valley provides three meals a day and socializing. The drawing for Friday's qualifying events was held Thursday night in the garage, and a hot meal was served to early arrivals.

Friday morning began with the 72nd running of the Pete Cunningham Puppy Classic, which was first run in 1948. A field of six youngsters vied for top honors. First place went to G R B's Gestapo (GSHM) for owner and handler Cliff Mesnard. Second was G R B's The Dirtiest Deed (GSHM) for owner and handler Gina Bosio, with third place going to G R B's TNT (GSHF), also owned and handled by Gina Bosio. Interesting to note that these three pups are littermates. The judges were Tom Griffin and Terry Erickson.

The Hal Mayer Amateur Shooting Dog followed. First place went to P'n D's Spot On (PM) for owner and handler Jim Rose. Second place was awarded to D C R's Mo Money (GSHM) for owner and handler Don Pool. Third place was M D K's Shadow Knows Rush (GSHM), also owned and handled by Don Pool. In the judicial saddle for this event were Gina Bosio and Cliff Mesnard.

The qualifying events finished with the running of the Paul Rose Open Shooting Dog Derby. Gina Bosio, owner and handler, took first with G R B's One Final Dirty Deed (GSHF). Second place went to Horizon's Sage (ESF) for owner and handler Terry Erickson. Third place was G R B's The Dirtiest Deed (GSHM), also owned and handled by Gina Bosio. Mike Wilkin and Tom Griffin judged the stake.

The Region 11 AFTCA Amateur Shooting Dog Championship and Amateur Shooting Dog Derby drawings were held Friday evening. We want to give a big thank you to Greg Blair and Purina for sponsoring the Region 11 stakes. Judges for both events were Region 11 President Mike Wilkin and Region 11 Trustee Jerry Walton, both from Reno, Nev.

The Region 11 Shooting Dog Championship was won by Tian Butterbean (PM) for owner and handler Cliff Mesnard. Copper Jim's Little Bud (PM), owned and handled by Marc Cuneo, secured the runnerup spot. Both dogs exhibited a forward race with drive, desire, and hunt. According to the judges, Butterbean had five finds with plenty of style and manners, and Bud had eight finds with style and manners. The champion proved to be more consistent through the hour in all aspects. Both dogs deserved their titles.

The Region 11 Shooting Dog Derby winners showed plenty of potential. The winner was G R B's The Dirtiest Deed (GSHM) for owner and handler Gina Bosio. Second Place went to Horizon's Bea (ESF) for owner and handler Terry Erickson.

We want to thank all our judges for their time and expertise in the saddle, Greg Blair and Purina for sponsoring the Region events and providing Purina Pro Plan to the Region stakes' winners, and all our attendees for their continued support making our trials successful. Thank you to Gina Bosio and Leslie Arestad for the delicious breakfast burritos. Thank you to WVBDC President Jim Rose and his wife Patti for the hard work and culinary expertise throughout the weekend, especially those ribs Saturday night. Thank you to Brad Laverne for planting birds, filling water troughs, doing odd jobs, and setting up and cleaning up throughout the weekend. West Valley extends our deepest gratitude to Lynn Stinson for allowing us to use his beautiful ranch for the last 18+ years for our trials and to the benefit of the sport of field trialing and bird dog enthusiasts.

Pete Cunningham Puppy Classic Winners (from left): G R B's Gestapo with Cliff Mesnard, G R B's The Dirtiest Deed with Gina Bosio, and G R B's TNT with Leslie Arestad.

Valley Springs, Cal., February 17
Judges: Terry Erickson and Tom Griffin
72ND PETE CUNNINGHAM PUPPY CLASSIC - 3 Pointers and 3 German Shorthairs
1st--G R B'S GESTAPO, 1702940, German Shorthair male, by M V S's G R B's Beefy-M V's G R B's Una. Cliff Mesnard, owner and handler.
2d--G R B'S THE DIRTIEST DEED, 1702939, German Shorthair male, by M V S's G R B's Beefy-M V's G R B's Una. Gina Bosio, owner and handler.
3d--G R B'S TNT, 1702938, German Shorthair female, by M V S's G R B's Beefy-M V's G R B's Una. Gina Bosio, owner and handler.

Hal Meyer Shooting Dog Classic Winner: P'n D's Spot On with Jim Rose. (Behind, from left): Leslie Arestad, Cliff Mesnard (judge), Gina Bosio (judge), and Brad LaVerne.

Judges: Gina Bosio and Clifford L. Mesnard II
HAL MEYER AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC - 3 German Shorthairs, 5 Pointers
and 3 Setters
1st--P'N D'S SPOT ON, 1692932, pointer male, by Dunn's Tried'n True-Yale's Sunny Hill Dot. Jim Rose, owner and handler.
2d--D C R'S MO MONEY, 1678419, German Shorthair male, by Kono's Blue Mojo Rising-Blue River Kit. Don Pool, owner and handler.
3d--M D K'S SHADOW KNOWS RUSH, 1687706, German Shorthair male, by D C R's Mojo Rising-Mdk Kmk Snake River Delta v Greif. Don Pool, owner and handler.

Paul Rose Open Shooting Dog Derby Winners (from left): G R B's One Final Dirty Deed with Gina Bosio, Leslie Arestad, Horizon's Sage with Terry Erickson, and G R B's The Dirtiest Deed with Cliff Mesnard.

Judges: Tom Griffin and Mike Wilkin
PAUL ROSE OPEN DERBY - 3 German Shorthairs, 2 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st--G R B'S ONE FINAL DIRTY DEED, 1702937, German Shorthair female, by G R B's Dirty White Boy-M V's G R B 's Una. Gina Bosio, owner and handler.
2d--HORIZON'S SAGE, 1701690, setter female, by See Johnny Run-Horizon's Americus. Terry Erickson, owner and handler.
3d--G R B'S THE DIRTIEST DEED, 1702939, German Shorthair male, by M V's G R B's Beefy-M V's G R B's Una. Gina Bosio, owner and handler.
Judges: Jarry Walton and Mike Wilkin
REGION 11 AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 3 German Shorthairs, 4 Pointers and 4 Setters
Winner--TIAN BUTTERBEAN, 1681744, pointer male, by Gotta Little Project-Tian Elhew Verbena. Clifford L. Mesnard II, owner and handler.
Runner-Up--COPPER JIM'S LITTLE BUD, 1693048, pointer male, by Booneville Explorer-Wells Fargo Daisy. Marc Cuneo, owner and handler.
REGION 11 AMATEUR DERBY - 4 German Shorthairs and 1 Setter
1st--G R B'S THE DIRTIEST DEED, 1702939, German Shorthair male, by M V's G R B's Beefy-M V's G R B's Una. Gina Bosio, owner and handler.
2d--HORIZON'S SAGE, 1701690, setter female, by See Johnny Run-Horizon's Americus. Terry Erickson, owner and handler.

Region 11 AFTCA Amateur Shooting Dog Derby Winners (from left): G R B's The Dirtiest Deed with Gina Bosio, Mike Wilkin (judge), Horizon's Sage with Terry Erickson, and Jarry Walton
(judge).