Result: All-America Quail and Derby Championships

Location: Cutler, Illinois

Post Date: May 2, 2023

Submitted By: Jim Atchison

Derby Champions (left to right): Rita Corder, Dr. Fred Corder, Justin Hunt (judge), Korry Rinehart with Game Surge, Jason Williams (judge), Mike Small, Justin Swearingen with Nighthawk's Rebel, Nathan Phillips, Jim Lawless, Tracy Swearingen, Doug Burgess, and Mike Jackson.

The 97th renewals of the All-America Derby Championship and the All-America Quail Championship, hosted by the Hoosier Field Trial Club, were run at Pyramid State Park near Cutler, Ill., March 10-12. Each championship drew 18 entries, with the Derbies competing first, followed by the All-Age. Jason Williams and Justin Hunt, neighbors from Blakely, Ga., traveled to Illinois and judged both stakes. Their attention to their judicial responsibilities and their services were greatly appreciated.

Purina was again the generous sponsor of the Championships. The company and its representative, Greg Blair, were remembered with appreciation as their gifts of financial assistance, dog food for the winners, and vests for the judges and reporter were acknowledged.

The champion of the Derby challenge was Game Surge, owned by Dr. Fred Corder of Corinth, Miss., and handled by Ike Todd. The runner-up was Nighthawk's Rebel, owned by Rich Leverich and Sheree Lucero of Thomasville, Ga., and handled by Tracy Swearingen, also of Georgia.

The champion of the Quail Championship was Phillips Linebacker, owned by Orrin Ingram and Nathan Phillips and handled by Nathan Phillips. The runner-up was Miller's King Poast, owned by Jannie Chapman of Memphis and handled by Gary Lester from Gracey, Ky.

The members of the Hoosier Club, which Nathan Phillips chairs, and all who attended these championships, were blessed by the efforts of two extraordinary club members--Jim Lawless and Kay Morrison. The husband and wife must put their lives on hold each year for these championships as they were onsite 12-15 hours a day doing everything an amazing host and hostess could ever think of to do.
In addition to all Jim and Kay did during the running, they maintain a close and friendly relationship with Pyramid's management and staff. They can suggest and influence changes and improvements made to the grounds. As a result, the field trial courses have shown evidence of significant and continuous improvement in each of the years the Hoosier Club has been able to run on these grounds of the Captain Unit of Pyramid State Park.

Jim and Kay also marshaled throughout the running. They were assisted by Mike Lam and other club members as needed.

Doug Burgess brought an ATV from Indiana and operated the dog wagon. Doug and his brother-in-law, Max Wimmer, served many years as the treasurer and chairman, respectively, of the Hoosier Club. Thus, it was noted that Doug and his wife, Sally Wimmer Burgess, have a direct and continuous connection to the entire history of the 97 years of running of these Championships through the long association of her immediate family, plus that of her father, Bert Wimmer (1930-2012), and her grandfather, Walt Wimmer (1900-1984).

While Kay prepared most of the three meals served in the clubhouse daily, several owners and participants sponsored some of the food. Those generous sponsors were Orrin Ingram and Escape Ranch, Dr. Corder, Chris Cagle, Sr., and Jon Lam.

The weather was cold and windy throughout the Championships. Limited amounts of rain, sleet, and snow were seen during the running, but the timing of each was such, and the amounts were so limited that the weather inconvenienced no one.

THE DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Champion and Runner-Up

Game Surge won with his powerful performance during the first hour of the Championship. He found birds for Todd at 8, 19, 34, and 44, where he stood with beautiful style and absolute focus during each flush and shot. His manners and attention to Todd's minimal handling were excellent as he clung perfectly to every edge as he gobbled the course with all-age speed and intelligence. Game Surge's first hour impressed those who watched him and was not forgotten by the judges when placements were awarded.

Nighthawk's Rebel was runner-up, as he performed in brace No. 8 for Tracy Swearingen. The derby had birds at 15, 39, and 59, plus an unproductive stand at 30. A single was moved during relocation at 15, with some flagging during the relocation effort. He looked strong and stylish running throughout the hour and showed himself perfectly as birds were flushed at 39 and 59. Nighthawk's Rebel will be an All-Age contender to watch in the coming years.

The Derby Running

Shagtime Sunny, owned by Chris Cagle, Sr., and handled by Randy Anderson, was braced with the champion in brace No. 1. He backed his bracemate at 19 and 34 as he hunted throughout the hour.

Beeler's White Knight, owned by Scott Beeler and Charlie Beeler, was handled by Scott and braced with Haney's All In, owned by Chris Cagle, Sr., and handled by Randy Anderson, went next. White Knight had an unproductive at 21. Then both dogs stood nicely with a divided find at 28, White Knight stood again, and birds flushed as time was called at 60.

Miller's King Poast and Tee's Crazy Train went next. King Poast, owned by Jannie Chapman and handled by Gary Lester, and Crazy Train, owned by Brian Sanchez and Neal Walker, and handled by Tracy Swearingen, finished the hour with King Poast having birds at 10 and 42, and with Crazy Train backing the stand at 42.

In brace No. 4, Valiant Fight was handled by Randy Anderson for Jay McKenzie, while Gary Lester handled Mayfield Storm Charger for owners Scott Mason and Jake Davis. Valiant Fight pointed at 21 with Storm Charger backing, but he moved during the flushing effort and was picked up by Anderson. Storm Charger continued and had nice finds at 42 and 49.

No Strings Attached, owned by Dennis Beauford, and handled by Randy Anderson, was paired with Small's Five Star, owned and handled by Mike Small. Neither dog finished the hour. Anderson picked up in the first half hour, and Small picked up after Star moved while pointed at 49.

In the last brace of the first day, Scott Beeler had Carbonado's Wilberg, owned by Ben DeJonge, while Ike Todd handled Haney's Silver Dollar, owned by Chris Cagle, Sr. Carbonado's Wilberg was picked up early by Beeler. Haney's Silver Dollar had one find, which occurred at 37, where he pointed, and Todd flushed birds when about to go up onto a high ridge that overlooks a great deal of Perry County, Ill.

World Class Instigator, owned by Mick Marietta, and handled by Randy Anderson, and Nosam Silver Dollar, owned and handled by Mason Ashburn, were loosed at 8 a.m. on Saturday for brace No. 7. Anderson asked for and received his tracker at 25. Silver Dollar scored the most finds of the Championship, with birds located and easily flushed at 9, 19, 29, 33, and 36. He was beautiful each time he stood and finished the hour, but not with the gait of some of the other contenders.

World Class Equalizer, owned by Mick Marietta, and handled by Randy Anderson, was paired with the runner-up in brace No. 8. Anderson picked him up in the first quarter-hour.

Weldon Bennett had Coldwater War Cry in brace No. 9. Bennett and Paul Melton own the derby. He had an unproductive at 10, and then Bennett elected to pick him up at 39.

Lunch was soon served, and the champion and runner-up were announced, with the All-Age competition scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.

Cutler, Ill., March 10
Judges: Justin Hunt and Jason Williams
ALL-AMERICA DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 17 Pointers and 1 Setter
Winner--GAME SURGE, 1700091, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-Game Maggie. Dr. Fred Corder, owner; Ike Todd, handler.
Runner-Up--NIGHTHAWK'S REBEL, 1701213, pointer male, by Touch's Red Rider-Tee's Funseekin Belle. Rick Leverich & Sheree Lucero, owners; Tracy Swearingen, handler.

THE QUAIL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Champion and Runner-Up

Phillips Linebacker stood on the winners' bench this second year in a row as he was the 2023 Champion and the runner-up in 2022. The 3-year-old pointer male, owned by Orrin Ingram of Franklin, Tenn., and his handler, Nathan Phillips of Oakland City, Ind., ran a strong and forward race in brace No. 4, the first one on Sunday morning. He was tight and stylish each time he stood on game, scoring finds at 5, 10, and 23 before backing a find of his bracemate, which came at 58.

Miller's King Poast, the outstanding Derby owned by Jannie Chapman from Memphis and handled by Gary Lester, earned the runner-up title. The second-course aggressive ground race resulted in his first find, at 6, being to the far right and above a lake which is not usually a part of the course. Yet, after that first find, he and the accompanying judge reconnected with the gallery and continued forward. He had another excellent find at 33 and then impressively finished the hour, leaving no doubt that the young derby ranked among the best all-age contenders.

The All-Age Running

Touch's Fire Away, owned by Dr. Greg and Carmen Adams, and handled by Randy Anderson, was braced with Coldwater Odyssey, owned by Andrew and Debra Agnew, and handled by Weldon Bennet, in the first brace, which started after lunch on Saturday. Coldwater Odyssey had birds at 11, 20, and 30 before the judge reported that he knocked a pheasant at 50 and was ordered to be picked up. Fire Away hunted throughout the hour and backed the find of his bracemate at 20.

Game Heir and Miller's Speed Dial went next. Game Heir was handled by his owner, Dr. Fred Corder, and Randy Anderson handled Speed Dial for his owner, Mick Marietta. Both dogs finished the hour but found no birds.

Lester's Storm Surge, owned by Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton, and handled by Gary Lester, was braced with Haney's Storm Warning, handled by Randy Anderson for owner Chris Cagle, Sr. Storm Warning was gone in the first half hour, and Anderson asked for his tracker at 29. Storm Surge, the former National Champion, ran an excellent full-hour race and had birds at 15, 23, 48, 53, and 59.

Knight's Little John was braced with the champion in brace No. 4. Gary Lester handled him for his owner, Scott Griffin, as he backed his bracemate at 5, 10, and 23 before continuing to find birds which Lester flushed at 53 and 58.

Touch's Cocaine Blues, owned by Matt Griffith, and handled by Randy Anderson, went next, paired with Lester's Shockwave, owned by Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton and handled by Gary Lester. Early in the hour, Cocaine Blues caused alarm to those in the gallery when he swam a large lake and, most amazingly, came out, not seeming at all exhausted. He then pointed at 31, but the effort proved unproductive. Later, Anderson did ask for his tracker at 49. Shockwave ran for about half an hour, but then Lester asked for his tracker.
Dr. Corder loosed Game Wardon in the brace No. 6, while Randy Anderson loosed Slick Water Frac, owned by Raymond Morrow. Game Wardon had one find at the end of the hour with Slick Water Frac backing. In addition to the back, Frac had an unproductive at 9, and pointed twice more, with birds flushed at 36 and 50.

I'm Gallant, owned by Jay McKenzie and handled by Randy Anderson, and Small's White Charger, owned and handled by Mike Small, went next. I'm Gallant knocked a single at 7 and was picked up; White Charger finished the hour and had birds at 22 and 54.

Randy Anderson had Bonner's Bulletproof, owned by Dr. Chris Cornman, in brace No. 8 with the runner-up. Bulletproof finished the hour but found no birds.

Lester's Stem Winder and Mayfield Storm Charger were the last to compete in this all-age competition. Randy Anderson had Stemwinder for owner Dan Hensley, and Gary Lester had Storm Charger for owners Scott Mason and Jake Davis, with Scott Mason in the gallery. Stem Winder had birds at 19 but moved while backing his brace mate at 22 and was picked up. Storm Charger had a good hour and produced birds for Lester at 11, 17, 22, and 37. This ended the 97th renewal of the All-America Championships on March 12, 2023.

All-America Quail Championship. (left to right): Jason Williams (judge), Jim Lawless, Mike Small, Nathan Phillips with Phillips Linebacker, Doug Burgess, Justin Hunt (judge), Korry Rinehart with Miller's King Poast, Mike Jackson (not visible), Gary Lester, Scott Mason, and Jim Atchison.

ALL-AMERICA QUAIL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 18 Pointers
Winner--PHILLIPS LINEBACKER, 1695679, pointer male, by Phillips Off Line-Phillips Silver Lady. Nathan Phillips & Orrin Ingram, owners; Nathan Phillips, handler.
Runner-Up--MILLER'S KING POAST, 1702090, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-R W Susie Q. Jannie Chapman, owner; Gary Lester, handler.

Judges Justin Hunt and Jason Williams.