Event: Heartland Open All-Age
Result: Pony Express Field Trial Club

Location: Gentry, Missouri

Post Date: May 5, 2023

Submitted By: Steve Auxier

Heartland Open All-Age Winners (left to right): Westfall's Wheels Up, Westfall's True Grit, and Firefly's Invictus. (Front row, left to right): Ryan Westfall, Landon Westfall, and Matt Cochran. (Back row, left to right): Bill Westfall, Mark Johnson (judge), Allen Vincent, Andy Daugherty, Frank LaNasa (judge), and Steve Auxier.

The Pony Express Field Trial Club members Tommy Smith, Terry Doolittle, Barry Ward, Larry/Linda Smith, and Steve Auxier came together and hosted a successful event! This year's event was highlighted by outstanding performances and maintained the camaraderie everyone looks forward to each spring! We want to thank in advance all the bird dog breeders, owners, handlers, and sponsors for this National Qualifying event. Without their support, this event would not be possible. Purina, SportDOG, The Saddle Guy, and Good Life Fitness sponsored this year's event.

The Heartland Open All-Age commenced over the rolling north Missouri countryside known as Smith Farms, west of Gentry, Mo. The field trial venue owned by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Smith has been laid out with four continuing one-hour courses to showcase all-age dogs.

We want to thank Mr. Bill Westfall for helping transport dogs between braces and assisting the dog wagon in helping make the trial run more efficiently.

Smith Farms has a pre-release quail program with habitat and food plots designed to provide sustainable quail. Birds are released every day before the day's running, where every entry could have ample opportunity to find game. The Pony Express Field Trial club provided horse hay and meals for the participants and all handlers. Thank you to Mrs. Linda Smith and Donna Gladstone for preparing all the meals for the event; they did a fantastic job!

This year's Heartland Open All-Age judges were Mr. Frank LaNasa and Mr. Mark Johnson. The Pony Express Field Trial Club is truly honored to have these fine gentlemen in the judging seats. The judges had many great performances with multiple pieces of bird work and good races. The judges noted they enjoyed the field trial, grounds, nice dogs, hospitality from the Pony Express Field Trial Club, and multiple bird contacts by all dogs.

Heartland Open All-Age
Westfall's Wheels Up was named first, with Westfall's True Grit second and Firefly's Invictus third.

Topping the strong field of contenders was pointer male Westfall's Wheels Up, who ran in brace No. 8, handled by Mr. Andy Daugherty and owned by Mr. Bill Westfall of Liberty, Mo. Wheels Up scored three perfectly spaced out finds and a solid forward race showing his endurance with a large finish heading west along the creek line off in the distance at time. Wheels Up showcased immense style on his game and ran the country, staying on the lines and having a great connection with Andy. Daugherty handled Westfall's True Grit to score second, recording six finds in brace No. 2. Both second and third-place dogs came from this brace, exciting to watch as it was like a boxing match with True Grit pointing, Firefly Invictus backing, and then Firefly's Invictus pointing and True Grit backing. True Grit was noted for a strong ground performance in challenging 30+mph wind gusts testing his overall endurance. Mr. Ryan Westfall of Kearney, Mo., owns True Grit. Taking third was Firefly's Invictus, handled by Mr. Allen Vincent for owners Bonnie and Dennis Hidalgo. Firefly's Invictus scored multiple finds with a smooth and consistent forward race in tough windy conditions. All the dogs were noted as having good performances over the rolling hills at Smith Farms.

Gentry, Mo., February 18
Judges: Mark Johnson and Frank LaNasa
HEARTLAND OPEN ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 15 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st--WESTFALL'S WHEELS UP, 1680653, pointer male, by Westfall's Black Ace-Westfall's Quick Trick. Bill Westfall, owner; Andy Daugherty, handler.
2d--WESTFALL'S TRUE GRIT, 1663635, pointer male, by Erin's Brave Heart-Westfall's Irish Bell. Ryan Westfall, owner; Andy Daugherty, handler.
3d--FIREFLY'S INVICTUS, 1680661, pointer female, by House's Ring of Fire-Touch's White Radiance. Dennis & Bonnie Hidalgo, owners; Allen Vincent, handler.

Heartland Open Derby

Beeler's White Knight was named first, Westfall's Pioneer Pete second, and Sandridge Big Iron third.

This year's derbies provided an exciting stake with many solid performances. We thank our judges, Mr. Frank LaNasa and Mr. Mark Johnson. First place was credited to Beeler's White Knight, handled by Mr. Scott Beeler and owned by Charlie and Scott Beeler. White Knight put on a big front-running all-age performance with five nice finds. Second place was Westfall's Pioneer Pete, handled by Mr. Andy Daugherty and owned by Mr. Ryan Westfall. Pioneer Pete scored a nice limb found by his scout by the pond north of the clubhouse. Pioneer finished the 45-minute brace strong with a good finish. Third place was Sandridge Big Iron, handled by Mr. Allen Vincent. Big Iron scored two finds and a good forward race.

HEARTLAND OPEN DERBY - 7 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st--BEELER'S WHITE KNIGHT, 1700938, pointer male, by Touch's Smooth Rider-Touch's Wildwood Flower. Scott & Charlie Beeler, owners; Scott Beeler, handler.
2d--WESTFALL'S PIONEER PETE, 1698838, pointer male, by Foster's Tall Cotton-Flush Em Feathers Queen. Ryan Westfall, owner; Andy Daugherty, handler.
3d--SANDRIDGE BIG IRON, 1700919, pointer male, by Westfall's True Grit-Gin Smoke And Lies. Allen Vincent, owner and handler.

Heartland Open Derby Winners (left to right): Beeler's White Knight, Westfall's Pioneer Pete, and Sandridge Big Iron. (Front row, left to right): Scott Beeler, Larry Smith, Landon Westfall, Matt Cochran, Thomas Smith, and Emerie Smith. (Back row): Terry Doolittle, Frank LaNasa (judge), Bill Westfall, Ryan Westfall, Mark Johnson (judge), Allen Vincent, and Andy Daugherty.