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Result: NGPDA National Championships

Location: Pickneyville, Illinois

Post Date: May 10, 2023

Submitted By: Diane Rakers Coppens

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NGPDA National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship Winners (back, from left): Josh Nieman (judge), Kirk Loftin, and Aaron McAfee (judge). (Front): Sherri Tangsrud with Stoney Hill's Pinnacle Dee and Abraham Macke with P J Wildfire's Little Lexi.

The National German Pointing Dog Association (NGPDA) held its 67th National, 53rd National Shooting Dog, and 43rd Amateur Shooting Dog Championships at Pyramid State Park, Demark Unit, in southern Illinois.

The park has three courses on the Demark unit. Course one was not used due to overgrowth on this course. We had nice, chilly weather for this trial. Thanks to Diane for handling all the lunches, paperwork, organization, etc. Once again, the Amateur Dinner was sponsored by Purina, and we thank them for their support. It was a fun night, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

This trial would not be possible without our sponsors. We want to extend our great gratitude to Purina and SportDOG. Thank you to Alan Davidson, owner of Dogs Unlimited, for your generous donation. Also, a shout out to our SportDOG representative Jim Morehouse who has donated and shown a great commitment to our sport. Jim also represents Purina, and we appreciate all you do for us. Thank you to Greg Blair for making it so easy to work with Purina; a shout out to Terry Trzcinski for always supporting this trial and to Karl Gunzer, who is with Purina. Without their help, our dog trial would not be the same. Please support these companies.

Thank you to the bird planters, Dan DiMambro, Mike Patrick, and Peter Coppens. Also, thanks to everyone who helped with the dog and horse wagons. Everything runs great when the dogs/horses are at the line and ready to go on time. A national event doesn't work unless you have volunteer help from everyone. We appreciate the pros, amateurs, and all who attended this year's trial. Peter Coppens was the scribe with the help of the judges. Due to a lack of entries, we did not have a Shooting Dog or Derby this year.

NGPDA National Amateur Shooting Dog
The NGPDA Amateur Shooting Dog stake was held on March 19 and 20. The judges were Aaron McAfee and Josh Nieman. Both of them have years of experience running and training bird dogs. We thank them both for their time and capable judging abilities. Dan DiMambro served as the stake manager. Thank you all for your time and dedication. The weather was perfect for running dogs. Fourteen dogs were entered for consideration of this prestigious National Amateur title in which German shorthair pointers and German wirehair pointers, Vizslas, and Weimaraners can compete.

Crowned champion was Stoney Hill's Pinnacle Dee, owned and handled by Kirk Loftin and scouted by Sherri Tangsrud. Dee came from brace No. 3. She was snappy and fast on the ground. She is a super high-quality bird dog. Dee handled kindly for Kirk with two finds. This earned her the champion title.

This year's runner-up, P J Wildfire's Little Lexi, came from brace No. 6. Lexi is owned by Larry and Kirk Loftin and handled by Kirk. Lexi had finds at 9, 18, 33, 45, and 54. She had a nice shooting dog race and applied herself very well to the course she ran. Handled well and ran the edges out front. Lexi handled with an application even with the wind. This garnered her the runner-up title.

Pinckneyville, Ill., March 12
Judges: Aaron McAfee and Josh Nieman
NGPDA NATIONAL AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats]- 14 German
Shorthairs
Winner--STONEY HILL'S PINNACLE DEE, 1694168, female, by Simons Gunner-Shadowrocks Mighty Mouse. Kirk Loftin, owner and handler.
Runner-Up--P J WILDFIRE'S LITTLE LEXI, 1663717, female, by P J Wildfire's Little Bud-Lone Creek Sweet Anna. Kirk & Larry Loftin, owners; Kirk Loftin, handler.

NGPDA National All-Age
The NGPDA National All-Age Championship was run on March 20 and 21 on the Denmark Unit of Pyramid State Park in Pinckneyville, Ill. The judges were Mike Kindler and Aaron McAfee. We thank you both for your dedication. The judges were presented with 12 dogs.

B D K's Dirty Harry, who came from brace No. 4, was named champion. Harry is owned by Mark Wasserman and handled by Josh Nieman. Harry had a find at 12 and a back at 16. He had a consistent all-age race and handled kindly for Josh.

Twin Creeks Running Rocky came from brace No. 6 and was named runner-up. Rocky is owned by Larry and Kirk Loftin and handled by Kirk. Rocky had a forwardreaching race with finds at 14 and 50.

Judges: Mike Kindler and Aaron McAfee
NGPDA NATIONAL ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 12 German Shorthairs
Winner--B D K'S DIRTY HARRY, 1675196, male, by Slicks Cuttin Wild-C L K's Point Me The Way. Mark Wasserman, owner; Josh Nieman, handler.
Runner-Up--TWIN CREEKS RUNNING ROCKY, 1685652, male, by Twin Creeks Running Ruger-P J Wildfire's Little Lexi. Kirk & Larry Loftin, owners; Kirk Loftin, handler.

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NGPDA National All-Age Championship Winners (back, from left): Josh Nieman, Aaron McAfee (judge), Mike Kindler (judge), and Kirk Loftin. (Front): Abraham Macke with B D K's Dirty Harry and Sherri Tangsrud with Twin Creeks Running Rocky.