Result: NBHA National Free-for-All Championship

Location: Booneville, Arkansas

Post Date: May 4, 2023

Submitted By: Ken Sauer

NBHA Champions (left to right) Ken Sauer (NBHA President), Joyce Taylor (judge), Steve Messick (judge), Glenn Cumbie, Jillian Stuhr with Pure Confidence, Garry Malzone, Glenn Click, Steve James, Matthew Puckett with Piper, Emory Gardner, Weldon Gardner, Lucinda Gardner, Clay Erwin, and Jerry Oswalt.

Our journey began on March 8, 2023, at the Blue Mountain SEU Field Trial Grounds. This was coming off multiple NBHA events in Kansas, then to the NBHA Futurity at Grovespring, Mo., then home to host the Region 7 Walking Shooting Dog Championship. We had a week off, missing the NBHA National Open Championship in Tennessee. Sad to miss this one, but my road warrior days seem to be getting shorter. With all these events, Melissa's birthday was February 14 (once again, she stuck with me), and our 40th Anniversary was March 12. It seems like we've been doing this for decades. At Blue Mountain, our trailer neighbors, the famous Rich Robertson and his lovely wife Penny, brought flowers to Melissa to celebrate our anniversary. Next year is her year with no trials on those dates!

The weather was projected to be stormy and raining all day Thursday, so the trial was moved to start on Friday. This was a great call and would have been miserable for the judges, handlers, and dogs. The course was wet but drained and dried out somewhat. It was a little sloppy in a few areas but, for the most part, in good shape. We had to change up the finishing 5-10 minutes because Lick Creek was not passable. It all worked out well. The course was laid out nicely for a walking shooting dog event, with a nice open breakaway with edges and objectives throughout the entire hour.

Booneville is a wonderful venue with all the amenities--a clubhouse, kennels, horse stalls, turn-outs, and a great crew with the AF&G (thank you, Brad Wells and crew). The Westark Field Trial Club and Cypress Creek Field Trial Club co-hosted this event. The team from Arkansas is a huge help. Thank you, Glenn Cumbie and Jerry Oswalt, for managing the handlers, dogs, dog wagon, and bird planting. A special thanks to Joyce Taylor and Steve Messick for the three days of sitting in the saddle judging. Also, thanks to Zack & Andy Erne for judging the Open Puppy stakes. We must thank our many sponsors and supporters--Purina, Garmin, Gun Dog Supply, Mule Brand Clothing, Park Cities Quail Coalition, Gun Dog Central, and OnXHunt. Cosey Tee's provided the engraving trophies for the winners. Thanks to C&G Game Bird Farm from Oklahoma, the birds were good flying. Also, we can't forget Kim Seaton for all the lunches and dinners made and prepared and a young man, Trace Nicholas, who came and cleaned all the horse stalls. We also want to thank Larry Cox with Christie Enterprises for the halter bridle judges' gifts and Alyssa Rowan for the NBHA Yeti tumblers. We also had a special guest, Harold Woodward, a long-time NBHA supporter, and dear friend. Harold is recovering from shoulder issues but seems to be healing nicely.

NBHA National Free-For-All

First Series

Brace No. 1--Hey Mr. Tin Man ("Tin Man"/Kenney Snow, owner/handler) and Indian Creek Sprout ("Sprout"/Jillian Stuhr, owner, and Garry Malzone, handler). Both dogs had a forward breakaway. At 25, Sprout was found standing with all in order. Tin Man was found standing on another location (bird) at 26. Tin Man had another stand at 29, but his manners cost him, and Kenny picked him up. Sprout was awarded additional finds at 32, 40, 50, and again at 54. This young dog moves nicely, has excellent manners on her game, and is still a first-year shooting dog.

Brace No. 2--Erin's Lone Star Attitude ("Major"/Matthew Puckett, owner/handler) and Cates Rocket Girl ("Girl"/David Cates, owner, and Zack Erne, handler). At the breakaway, Major had a stand at 7, but the handler could not produce a bird. On through the course, Girl was found at 22 with Major backing. All was in order. Again at 25, Girl had another find, all in order.

Further ahead, Major had a nice find at 31 and 34, all in order. At 46, Girl was located on a stand, all in order, and at 53, suffered an unproductive. Major was missing at around 55 but was found at 58 standing and only could produce a pile of feathers.

Brace No. 3--Jimfork's Staple ("Bo"/Steve James, owner/handler) and Pure Confidence ("Tango"/ Black Meadows Kennels, owner, and Garry Malzone, handler). At 5, Tango was found to the front on the right edge, standing over the breakaway hill with Bo backing. This had a long-extended flush, and both dogs handled this situation with all the manners. Bo was found standing at 15 and 26 with all in order. Tango was located ahead at 26 with a stand. At 40, Bo suffered an unproductive. Tango was ahead and found at 42, standing high and tight. Tango scored again at 48, with Bo coming in to back. At 52, Tango had yet another find; at 54, Bo stood but could only produce a dead bird with no harm done.

Brace No. 4--Jimfork's Hawkeye Buck ("Mac"/Kenny Snow, owner/handler) and Sycamore Creek Cody ("Cody"/Bob Kelly, owner, and Zack Erne, handler). At 15, off the breakaway, Mac stood nicely for his handler, all in order. Mac again produced a find at 20, with Cody coming in for a back. At 22, both dogs were found pointed on a divided find. Cody, at 34, was found standing and had to let Cody relocate. All was in order, with Cody handling the relocation like a seasoned shooting dog. At 38, Cody again had a find and took a few steps during the flush, and at 48, he failed to back and was picked up. At 48, Mac suffered an unproductive stand. Mac had his final find at 52 before the backfield.

Brace No. 5--Erin's D j vu ("Bess"/Joseph Link, owner, and Garry Malzone, handler) and Chippewa's Grindstone ("Grady"/Geoff Johnson, owner, and Zack Erne, handler). Bess started at 14 with a find, and Grady came in for a back. All was in order. Grady had finds at 20 and again at 30. Grady's find at 30 had a little too much movement during the flush. Bess scored a find at 37, all in order. At 45, Bess ran too big for a walking shooting dog, and the handler asked for the Garmin.

Brace No. 6--Sulphur Bend Firestorm ("Freckles"/Jim Langley, owner/handler) and Snow's Home Again Katy ("Katy"/Jerry Snow, owner, and Kenny Snow, handler). At 21, past the first creek crossing, Katy was standing but unable to produce a bird. At 36, Katy brought Kenny a bird back. Freckles didn't have any bird work in this reporter's notes.

Brace No. 7--Jade (Weldon Gardner, owner/handler) and Dave's Sho Me Motu ("Tu"/David Cates, owner, and Zack Erne, handler). Tu had a find at 14 requiring a relocation, all in order. Jade was found standing at 15, and all was in order. At 20, both dogs were found pointing on a divided find. At 23, Tu had another find with Jade coming in for a back. At 35, the dogs swapped, with Jade pointing and Tu backing. Jade took a few steps before the flush and was left down. Again at 38, Jade and Tu had a divided find. Tu was awarded a stop to flush at 46. Jade stood with a bit of ticking in the tail. Another divided find pursued at 53. Jade's final stand was at 58 with a bit of ticking in the tail.

Brace No. 8--Indian Creek Bocephus ("Bo"/Ed Maron, owner, and Garry Malzone, handler) and K C's Guitar Man ("Zeke"/Ken Sauer, owner/handler). Zeke had a find to the front at 5 in a mowed strip edge. He moved up a step or two before the handler arrived. Zeke stood steady to wing and shot. Zeke was found again at 15 standing but moved up too much for the handler, and he elected to pick up. Bo scored his first and only find at 25, and all was in order. At 40, Bo had not been seen, and the handler asked for the Garmin.

Brace No. 9--Chippewa's Dog of War ("Finn"/Geoff Johnson, owner, and Zack Erne, handler) and Erin's Gypsy Lady ("Maria"/Matthew Puckett, owner/handler). Maria started this brace with a find at 13 and at 20 had an unproductive. At 34, Finn scored a find, but Maria failed to back and was collared to the dog wagon. No other bird work was produced in this brace.

Brace No. 10--Indian Creek Courageous Cat ("Cat"/Ed Maron, owner, and Garry Malzone, handler) and K C's Tye Oneon ("Tye"/Ken Sauer, owner/handler). At 3, Cat pointed a rabbit, and the handler couldn't get it to fly very well. No harm, and Cat made a big move to the front. Cat was missing for some time, and the handler asked for the Garmin. Tye scored birds at 10, 19, and 40 with nice style and intensity. His ground game wasn't his typical powerful race. He didn't seem to hit the edges like he usually does. He was able to make it the whole hour and handled well for the handler.

Brace No. 11--Piper (Weldon Gardner, owner/handler) and Jimfork's Black River ("Hawk"/Glenn Cumbie, owner, and Kenny Snow, handler). At 10, Hawk stood nicely, and the bird popped up. Unfortunately for the owner, handler, and dog, Hawk went with the bird, and his bid was over. Piper handled nicely for Weldon throughout the hour brace. She made excellent casts hitting objectives and edges of cover. Piper was rewarded with excellent bird work at 9, 18, 23, 26, 34, 45, and 49. This reporter felt she had laid down all the qualities to get into the finals.

Brace No. 12--Indian Creek Spur ("Spur"/Black Meadows Kennels owner, and Garry Malzone, handler) and Emert's Sho Me Mo ("Mo"/Dave Emert, owner, and Zack Erne, handler). Spur was found standing off the breakaway over the hill in a thick brushy objective. The handler could not produce a bird after an extended flush and relocation. At 20, around the bend past the first creek crossing in another objective with heavy and thick underbrush, Mo was found standing with Spur backing. After a while of flushing, Spur's handler moved on, and Mo carded an unproductive. Both dogs stood on a divided find up on an edge before Lick Creek. After many attempts to flush by both handlers and two relocations, both dogs got too close to the bird and moved when it flushed.

NBHA Free-For-All Callbacks
Pure Confidence
Dave's Sho Me Motu
Piper
Indian Creek Sprout

Standby
Cates Rocket Girl
Jade

NBHA Free-For-All Open Derby

Brace No. 1--K C's Dominator's Pat ("Pat/Ken Sauer, owner/handler) and Maumee Jules D L ("Jules"/Jerry Snow, owner, and Kenny Snow, handler). Jules took off like a rocket at the breakaway. It wasn't long before the handler asked for the Garmin. Pat scored a nice broke find at 8, where no other dog had pointed a bird. At 17, Pat had a bird pop up while moving through some cover and had to be whoa'ed to stop. At 20, Pat suffered an unproductive. Pat made a cast to the creek edge cover and had bird contact. At this point, the wheels acted like they were coming off. She had a final stand at 28 when she had a pair of birds flushed for her. She had a nice ground race but needed more correction than the judges were looking for with springtime derbies.

Brace No. 2--Indian Creek Pineapple ("Pineapple"/Jillian Stuhr, owner, and Garry Malzone, handler) and Chippewa's Dream Chaser ("Arco"/Zack & Andy Erne, owners, and Zack Erne, handler). Both dogs had nice breakaways. At 10, past the first creek crossing, Pineapple was found standing, and Arco failed to back. Arco was collared by the handler and loaded on the dog wagon. Pineapple was awarded another find at 25, and all was in order.

Brace No. 3--Wynona's Nickleback Mickey ("Mickey"/Kenny Snow, owner/handler) and Silent Assassin ("Tucker"/Bill Osborne, owner, and Ryan Eichelberger, handler). Very soon after the breakaway, Micky needs lots of scouting. The Garmin was asked for soon thereafter. Tucker scored a find at 18 with style and shooting dog skills. Tucker ran a pretty tight race needing no scouting and handling for Ryan. At 27, Tucker was pointed on an edge with heavy cover. Ryan had an extended flush in heavy cover, and no bird was produced. This was carded as an unproductive.

Brace No. 4--K C's Next Gen ("Ben"/Ken Sauer, owner/handler) and Jimfork's River Girl ("Girl"/Glenn Cumbie, owner, and Kenny Snow, handler). At 17, Girl had bird contact but failed on some of her manners going with the bird. Girl was gathered up and loaded on the dog wagon. Ben's race was big and to the front. He showed back up front at the breakaway after not being seen for seven minutes. Running big, however, he kept popping up in the front. At 26, Ben scored his only find some 400 yards to the front in the open field. It took a while for the handler to get to him, but he was able to before time. He showed a nice broke find.

Brace No. 5--Texas Rebel Heiress ("Joy"/Joe Davis, owner, and Kenny Snow, handler). This brace had a bye. Joy made some nice moves in her ground game. She scored a find at 14. At 23, she was found pointing again, but only to a pile of feathers that a hawk may have beat her to the bird. With a final find at 28, Joy suffered a delayed chase and was picked up.

Booneville, Ark., March 10
Judges: Steve Messick and Joyce Taylor
NBHA OPEN DERBY - 7 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st--SILENT ASSASSIN, 1698775, pointer male, by Undertaker-W K Maybe. Bill Osborne, owner; Ryan Eichelberger, handler.
2d--INDIAN CREEK PINEAPPLE, 1697900, pointer female, by Indian Creek Perfect Storm-Indian Creek Ramona. Jillian Stuhr, owner; Garry Malzone, handler.
3d--K C'S NEXT GEN, 1699316, pointer male, by K C's Shrimpboot-K C's Beth Hart. Ken Sauer, owner and handler.

NBHA Free-For-All Open Puppy
This reporter didn't ride the puppy stakes and relied on the notes from the judges.

Brace No. 1--Honey Hush ("Pistol"/Clay Erwin, owner/handler) and "Katy" (Glenn Cumbie, owner/handler). Both dogs possessed speed and front running; we will see this nice set of young dogs in derby stakes next year.

Brace No. 2--"Jackie" (Glenn Click, owner/handler) and Saline River Judge ("Judge"/Steve James, owner/handler). Both dogs were off with excellent forward casts, staying to the front even through the coarse turns.

Brace No. 3--Saline River Man ("Patch"/Steve James, owner/handler) and "Jack" (Glenn Cumbie, owner/handler). These two dogs are nice. Patch separates himself from the others. The race was forward and to the front.

NBHA Open Puppy Winners (left to right): Emory and Weldon Gardner, Jerry Oswalt with Saline River Man, Zack Erne (judge), Clay Erwin with Honey Hush, Glenn Click, Matthew Puckett, Steve James with Saline River Judge, Andy Erne (judge), Glenn Cumbie, Jillian Stuhr, Garry Malzone, a curious participant, and Ken Sauer.

Judges: Andrew Erne and Zach Erne
NBHA OPEN PUPPY - 6 Pointers
1st--SALINE RIVER MAN, 1702059, male, by Hey Mr. Tin Man-Snow's Rhiannon. Steve James, owner and handler.
2d--HONEY HUSH, 1702266, female, by Lester's Storm Surge-Welsh's All In. Clay Erwin, owner and handler.
3d--SALINE RIVER JUDGE, unreg., male, Game Wardon-Saline River Jill. Steve James, owner and handler.

NBHA National Free-For-All
Second Series (Finals):

Brace No. 1--Pure Confidence and Dave's Sho Me Motu. Tango got off to a hot start with a find at 8 and Tu backing. Tu scored on his own at 15 with a nice find past the first creek crossing. At 17, Tango had a stand but only could produce a dead bird. Near the Lick Creek turn, Tu and Tango had a divided find; all was in order for both handlers and dogs. Coming along Lick Creek's edge at 30, Tu suffered an unproductive even after relocation. Heading past the second creek crossing and having to turn in the course, Tango scored on a find with Tu backing. Tu scored finds at 38 and again at 44. Tango, not to be outdone, scored finds at 40 and 43. Coming into the back part of the course, Tu, ahead of Tango, scored a find at 15 on a bird and Tango backing. Tango scored again at 58 to conclude this brace.

Brace No. 2--Piper and Indian Creek Sprout. Piper was the first to score and rewarded with a find at 9 and Sprout backing. Piper had another stand at 14, all in order. Sprout scored on her first find at 18. Piper, ahead in the field, scored at 19, and Sprout backed again. Piper continued her quest with finds at 27 and 34. The find at 34 was considered a divided find. After being cut loose, both Piper and Sprout had finds in two different locations, each finding birds at 38. Sprout scored again at 41 and 45, but the find at 45 was an unproductive even after relocation. Hitting the back part of the course on the creek's edge, Sprout swapped ends at 51, being rewarded with birds being flushed. Piper wasn't done and had a find at 53 to the front.

This concluded the second series, and the judges had performances from the callback dogs not having to go into the depths of the standby dogs.

Judges: Steve Messick and Joyce Taylor
NBHA NATIONAL FREE-FOR-ALL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Qualifying Heats; One-Hour Finals] - 24 Entries
Winner--PURE CONFIDENCE, 1660531, pointer male, by True Confidence-Richfield Rose. Black Meadow Kennels, owner; Garry Malzone, handler.
Runner-Up--PIPER, 1687183, German Shorthair female, by W&w Rip N Dig-H&r Miss Rock Star. Weldon Gardner, owner and handler.

Melissa Sauer with her 40th Anniversary flowers from Rich and Penny Robertson.