THE National
Amateur Chukar All-Age Championship (22 entries) commenced after
lunch on March 26- A high wind delayed the pre ceding Pacific Coast
Championship trial, delaying this trial until the afternoon. Since its inception in 1986 the trial has rotated between the three AFTCA regions in the Far West Region 9, consisting of Idaho Montana and Utah, Region 10, consisting of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and Region 11, consisting of California and Nevada. The National Amateur Chukar Shooting Dog Championship rotates in the same manner and in March 2003 it will be held in Region 11 at the Anderson Ranch at Sunnyside Wash. Present at the trial for the entire time was Linda Hunt, secretary of the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America which conducts the various National Amateur Championships throughout the country. Occasionally two trials being held at the same time causes Linda to attend one or the other, but generally she is present to participate in the entire trial from conducting the drawing to the awards ceremony. At this trial site emphasized the assistance given by Kasco, Tri-Tronics. Bruce Fox, Tarpin Hill Saddle and Field Trial Magazine. She thanked those sponsors, the individuals assisting in the trial and the landowners- While this trial does not lend itself to a car gallery, there are trails and cross- country routes by which the dog truck can be summoned by radio when a brace ends mid-course. They are not roads by any stretch of the imagination hut on these Linda appeared in her rented SUV, following the action and prompting the remark that Linda will go anywhere. Having Linda present at these trials is a great comfort to those participating giving the AETCA a tangible presence which adds considerably to the perception of the trial as a national" event. The assistance of the sponsors was instrumental in enabling a first class trial. Kasco, a leading manufacturer of dog food for field trial dogs, provided generous financial assistance for the advertising in The AMERICA FIELD. As at all National Amateur events Kasco was the host for a delicious dinner which this year preceded the drawing. Kascos assistance is much appreciated. Tri-Tronics, the leader in electronic collars, donated a model 500 electronic collar to the winner and their Sportsman model to the runner-up. Bruce Fox, plaque manufacturer in Indiana, donated plaques for the winners. Tarpin Hill Saddle Co of Salem, Ill., and Field Trial Magazine donated gift certificates for the judges and reporter. These generous contributors assist greatly in the promotion of field trials and make it possible to conduct a considerably higher type trial than would occur without their assistance. This trial was run on the ranch which has been used for the National Open Chukar Championships since 1959 through the generosity of the Anderson family. Originally it was Ike Anderson and since his death it has been Rick and Sharon Anderson who have made available the portion of the ranch which they inherited. No finer landowner hosts exist anywhere and the field trialers in the far West are enormously grateful to them for the opportunity to show their dogs in one of the finest field trial grounds anywhere. Wide open spaces of grass and sage, without trees, afford an ideal area for viewing field trial dogs in wild bird country. No longer containing the incredible numbers of wild birds once existing, it is still the type of terrain which chukars and Hungarian partridge inhabit and there are always some wild birds present. The drought this year caused most of the birds to move to elevations higher than the field trial area. Released birds have in recent years supplemented the wild bird population. The predators this year were unusually vicious - ravens, hawks and coyotes killed the released birds in unprecedented numbers, forcing a change in the location of the usual courses in order to concentrate the released birds. Unfortunately there were all too many braces in which excellent searching efforts were denied results due to the lack of birds. Consideration is being given by several to methods to increase the number of available birds for the next trial and hopefully results will be produced. Judges were Butch Nelson, professional of Bozeman, Mont., who returned from his training grounds in Georgia just in time for this trial, and Alex Mauck of Troutdale, Ore., who kindly stepped in at the last minute when California professional Sheldon Twer was forced to head for home when his house burned. Sheldon is perhaps the only professional trainer on the major circuit with a Ph.D. degree and the thousands of volumes in his library were destroyed by fire or water damage. Our sympathies are extended to Sheldon and his wife, Barbara. Butch Nelson has long experience as a trainer and has judged in many parts of the country, most recently on the northern prairies last year, and his expertise was much appreciated. Alex Mauck has been involved as an amateur handler, trainer, judge and breeder; his brother Eric bred Tekoa Mountain Sunrise, most recent setter to be elected to the Field Trial Hall of Fame and far and away the greatest producer of current field trial winners on the major circuit. Both Butch and Alex know the good ones from the mediocre and gave constant attention to performances, for which the participants were very grateful. Especially appreciated was Alex rearranging his schedule when the high wind during the Pacific Coast Championship delayed that trial and caused this trial to run a half day later than anticipated. Jeremy McCain undertook the task of planting birds. Due to the vicious predators it became necessary to release birds before each brace. Although Jeremy put out 15 chukars for each brace and there had been 500 released during the immediately pre ceding Pacific Coast Championships and the Region 10 Amateur All-Age trial, the predators kept the numbers of birds at a low level. Driving the dog truck was Warren Smith, a field trialer since the 1950s, for many years secretary of the Pacific Coast Championship Association and presently secretary of the National Chukar Championship Association. Warren had every dog at the line on time and was there to pick them up at the end. The fine dust covered his vehicle and permeated the interior but we heard no complaints. Such attention to duty deserves the grateful appreciation of all.THE WINNERS When Jimmy White of Bowling Green, Ky., brought to Canada two setter puppies by Hicks Rising Sun out of Jett's Secret Lady, field trialers looked them over, recognized their possibilities and promptly purchased both. One went to Tommy Hamilton and was named Hamilton's Blue Diamond. The other was purchased by Eric Mauck who named him Tekoa Mountain Rising (Bingo). Bingo was an all-age dog which won for Rich Robertson and also when Eric handled him. Impressed by that breeding Eric acquired Jett's Secret Lady and with frozen semen from Hicks Rising Sun produced Tekoa Mountain Outrage, a full brother of Ch. Tekoa Mountain Rising and Ch. Hamilton's Blue Diamond. Working Outrage on his training grounds above the White River near Tygh Valley, Eric put Outrage into the excellent condition which he demonstrated in this event. With Eric handling, and Mardell scouting, Outrage had a great start and a strong finish with two finds in between. His first find at 21 was handled in fine fashion, although he let down in intensity at the flush. His second find at 54 was excellent and he went on to finish very strong. Runner-up went to Torben Hansen's pointer male Bullett's Ricochet. His start was not as good as the winner's but then he settled in and had the find of the stake at the knob. He ran strong for the remainder and put on a tremendous finish. Much appreciated by your scribe was the Judges Award of Merit, a History of Sunnyside, given to Herb Anderson by Judges Alex Mauck and Butch Nelson and inscribed by the judges: For the handler that epitomizes the excitement of what field trials are: the handling of a great bird dog through the Rattlesnake Hills. Also included in the award is a set of bookends decorated with saddle, boots and western hat, a most attractive western motif.THE
RUNNING
Little White Spot (Gary Brown) had a slow start then a find at 8 in the draw. He looked good. Spot ran well, handled and had a find at time under the power line and looked good on that find too. It was a good run coupled with two finds. B F Billy (Mel Lee) started off to the right and by 27 had been away for some time and Lee asked for the tracker. He was picked up in the second brace. Blackhawk Alley
Oop (Steve Grundmeyer) had a good opening cast but never got on
track, short ened and was picked up at 34. Windsong's Casey (Joe
Brinster) was rough on the breakaway, then picked up, had an unproductive
and finished forward. Where's Jim (Kate Brown) was lost on the breakaway. Madras (John Files) is a great bird dog and has won many times for John. In a trial where birds were not plentiful, Madras showed his talent with finds at 21, 34, 45 and 52. At the end he shortened and was picked up at 54. Kettle River Jones (Bob Henneman) was out of pocket at first but then settled in and was doing a workmanlike job when he disappeared to the north at 32. At 53 Bob took the tracker. Bullett's Ricochet (Hansen) didn't start as well as the champion but he had the find of the stake at the knob where he was spotted in the far distance on a majestic stand. He had the bird and just looked great with perfect manners. From the knoll he ran to the gate where he was watered and then displayed a tremendous finish, going away with great strength and determination, hunting all the way. Spectre Sam (Herb Anderson) in the previous week had captured his fifth major circuit championship when he won the Pacific Coast Open All- Age Championship and would go on the next month to win runner-up in the Western Open Championship at Reno and then emerge as winner in the Iron Nation Open All-Age. Lone Mountain Opus (Henneman) was formerly campaigned by John Mandell and this was one of Bob's first ventures with him. He broke to the left on course No. 1 and Bob went after him at a gallop blowing his whistle and as a result Sam swung out in front of him following Opus which was last seen in front of the dairy a mile and a half away, headed for Sunnyside. Jeremy McCain, scouting for Herb, got Sam's attention and healed him to the front where at 15 he caught up with Herb and the judges at the top of the first draw. When turned loose at that point Sam took the draw to the right, going out the south side and coming back on the north side where he met his handler and was watered. Running big to the front he was next seen near the knob where he checked but did not point feathers. Turning east with the course Sam ranged far ahead through the sage and at 56 pointed with good style at the edge of the draw on the north side of the course. His manners were excellent as a chukar was flushed. Turned loose he went out of sight to the front as time was called. When his handler rode forward to pick him up he found him in a very intense point at the edge of the draw. A chukar was flushed and all was in order. He had two finds and a good run (with the first fifteen minutes of it off the course due to the problem at the start). Rocky Knoll Diana (Pat Lockhart) failed to stop at flush and went with the bird at 9 resulting in a quick pickup. Sting (Rocky Tavares) moved out quickly, disappeared, then was seen crossing the front at 4 but thereafter was seen no more. He was timed out at 25. When handler took the tracker he found Sting on point. Canadian Jet (Clark Lundgren) ran very big and kept to the course to render perhaps the best ground effort of the stake. At 55 he had a find but had to relocate three times. Jet squatted when the bird was finally flushed, then wheeled around to watch the flight. Bal's Dancer (Lyle Hansen) was moderate in the beginning, had a little trouble finding the front, then straightened out and made some good casts midway. He had a good find at 22 but overall his effort was moderate. Joe Brinster had left for a medical appointment and Clark Lundgren was handling Canadian Brute, a dog he raised and gave to Joe. Brute had a great find at 5, displaying excellent style and manners, but he is particularly fond of Joe and without him he never seemed to get going. He had an unproductive at 35 and was picked up at 50. White Hawk (Hansen) had a good breakaway and later was rid den by on point which was discovered by scout Steve Grundmeyer at 13. All was in order at the flush. Hawk had another find at 25 which he handled well. Then he made some nice casts but later shortened and was picked up at 49. Wells Fargo Patty (Paul Wells) was very fleet of foot and was scouted on the breakaway. Thereafter she was seen fleetingly, far out. She was seen in the vicinity of the knob and then again on the ridge to the north and was last seen at 32 crossing the front to the southeast. The tracker was obtained at 52. Tekoa Mountain Hytest (Mardell Mauck) had great ground speed and looked very good running, had a good find at 45 which he handled well. He shortened some what at the end but finished nicely.
I wish to thank Dr Charles Hjerpe and The
American Field for re-publication of this article.
25 Aug. 2002 Copyright © 1999-2002 UplandBirdDog.com |
|||||||||||||||
