Upland Bird Dog: Field Trials

Western Open Championships

Open All-Age; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

Open Derby; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

Open Shooting; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

Judges Roy Epp and David Taylor take some time to observe handlers and their dogs.

About 30 mins in the one hour brace a tub of water is strategically placed for the dogs to relax and cool off before making a strong finish.

Jerry Lewis looks towards the hillside where his Pointer was covering the slope. Chukars are known to run uphill and are gregarious birds. Typoon is a termoudous bird dog that ran when the country was open, yet shortened up in the tight rolling hills, suggesting a smart and experienced bird dog.

Typhoon stands indicating a bird while Jerry Lewis attempts to flush the bird out. Although Typhoon slammed into a point, Jerry was unable to produce one. Nicky McGinnis (lower right), Mazie Davis (left) and Judge David Taylor watched the event.

While Typhoon was indicting birds, Bully was found in the distance pointing. We rode hard to get to the Pointer. Still some distance away, I managed to take this image with Sheldon on foot while others watched on horse back. Sheldon could not produce a bird for Bully, perhaps the bird had run off before we reached his dog.

I believe this was the last brace of the Western Open All-Age Championship. The two dogs were quick to get out in the country. Tommy "B" a setter, was handled by Rich Robertson while Next Chapter was handled by Mike McGinnis. Both ran wide and far however, neither bird dogs found birds.