AKC National Gun Dog Championship starts tomorrow!

[jetjockey]

For those of you who don't know, the 2012 AKC NGDC starts tomorrow at Ames Plantation in Grand Junction Tennessee.  This is the first time the AKC NC has been held on the historic grounds at Ames.  The AKC NGDC is typically considered the #2 All Breed Nationals in the country behind the American Field Nationals that just finished last week at Ames.  The AKC Nationals is open to any AKC registered pointing dog who qualified as a Field Champion or placed high enough in a qualifying trial.  The AKC Nationals usually moves around the country so as to attract dogs from all regions, but being held at Ames will make this years National special!

This year 124 Dogs are entered of which 105 are field champions. There are FC's from all 9 major AKC pointing breeds competing. The trial will start tomorrow and run through Saturday the 10th (no running on Sunday). There will be 6, one hour braces per day, 3 in the morning, and 3 in the afternoon, for a total of 12 dogs per day. At the end of the trial, up to 12 dogs will get called back to run a final day. The winner will be based on their combined performance in both runs. The trial is being run on wild quail, with no birds being released. Each day a "Day Dog" will be posted by the judges. The "Day Dog" is the dog that performed the best for that day, but does not mean the dog will make the call back.

Based on what I read about the AF Nationals that just finished at Ames, bird work will be at a premium for the AKC Nationals. In the AF trial, the winner had 6 pieces of bird work for a 3 hour trial. I won't be suprised if a lot of the AKC dogs go birdless since we only get an hour on the ground. I think its going to take a fast dog that covers a lot of ground to find birds consistently. I would be suprised if many dogs have more then 2 or 3 finds. This will be a trial where the run will be just as important as the actual bird work. Without a great run, there probably won't be much bird work. And just because a dog has a lot of bird work, doesn't necessarily mean the dog will get posted or make the call back. Running order will also have an impact IMO. Dogs running early or late in the day will have the best chance at bird work. My dog didnt draw a great brace, but thats trialing. The two litter mates to my dog both drew first brace of the morning on their respective days. I pretty much drew the worst brace of all the dogs entered on my Pro's string. 

Here's a couple links if any of you would like to follow.

Running order
http://www.akc.org/events/field_trials/pointing_breeds/gun_dog_championships/

Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/265795523432769/


Here's a picture of the dog Id love to see on the podium in two weeks!    Hopefully she will get a little lucky and find a couple birds while running well and keeping everything in order.  Ill update the forum every couple of days and Ill post the Day Dogs as the trial unfolds.  Ill be heading over to Ames next Wednesday to ride the last several days of the trial.  Its gonna be fun to watch many of the best AKC Gun Dogs in the country run on the historic Ames Plantation.

[jetjockey]

Rumor is first three braces went birdless this morning.  Gonna be a tough trial.

[Wacenturion]

Keep us posted.  Was this the one you were posting about earlier, or another one.  I was looking for updates and didn't see any.  Now I know why if it didn't happen till now..lol.

Again.....good luck to you great looking Brit!

[Stilly bay]

Good luck, Im jealous 

[jetjockey]

12 braces and 24 dogs down.  4 dogs have found birds with 2 dogs posted.  A GSP, Setter, Brit, and a vizsla have found birds with a Brit and the GSP being posted.  Both the Brit and GSP have All Age placements.  Tough trial!

[YellowDog]

Dumb question, what do you mean by "posted"? 

[jetjockey]

It's basically like a leader board.  If a dog isn't posted it doesn't have a chance to make the call back.  However, just because a dog is posted doesn't mean they will make the call back either.  Not sure about this trial, but at some trials posted dogs can get dropped off the board as well if they have a couple dogs do really well and knock the posted dog out of contention.

[jetjockey]

18 braces down, with 44 braces to go.  So far, 4 dogs posted.  1 Brit, 1 GSP, and 2 Pointers.  However, only the brit has bird work so far.  This is a free for all style trial so a dog can make the call back based only on their run, but if they make the call back, they HAVE to have bird work to place.  There has been a fair amount of bird work so far, but these are wild birds and some of the dogs are blowing themselves up.  From the sounds of it, a few dogs have had decent bird work but not championship style races. 

Braces 19-24 run today.  1 Irish Setter, 2 Weims, 2 Pointers, 3 Vizslas, and 4 GSPs.

[jetjockey]

33 braces down with 9 dogs on the board, 5 of them have bird work.  1 brit, 1 Vizsla, 1 setter, 1 GWP, 2 pointers, and 3 GSPs.  Dogs with birds are 1 brit, 1 Vizsla, 1 GWP, and 2 GSP's.   Today is really the last day for the big push of GSP's running, after today there will only be 7 GSP's to go.  Tomorrow starts the big push of brits with 21 brits left to run, including many of the big hitters in the brittany world. One of the best brit Pro's in the country has yet to put a dog on the ground, and he has some really nice dogs.  So far, a mostly GSP Pro is whipping up on every body with 4 dogs on the board (1 pointer, 1 setter, and 2 GSPs..  but only 1 of the 4 have bird work).  They are a half day behind because of weather on friday, with 5 full days of braces yet to go. Here's the synopsis so far for those of you who would like to read.


Day 1
1A) FC Chesterfields Molly (Molly), Brittany, h Tom Tracy

1B) FC Ikes Eshod Delight (Dee), GSP, h Ray Dohse

The skies were cloudless; the temperature was in the mid 50's with a very light wind as the first brace was released. Both dogs were quickly to the front. Dee was to be lost to judgment early in the brace, Dee was not seen after the 13 minute mark and her handler called for the tracker at 28 minutes. Molly hunted diligently, using the wind and edges well. Her pattern took her into the heavy cover on several occasions. At 48 minutes, after she had not been seen for an extended time, her handler decided to call for the tracker.

2A) Jay-Mar's How Do You Like Me Now JH (Greivious), GWP, h Jim West

2B) FC Uncle Kracker (Kracker), Brittany, h Tom Tracy

This pair of dogs both took to hunting the edges and running hard. They were doing a nice job of covering the course, using the cover to good advantage. At 35 minutes Kracker swapped ends and pointed into the line he had been running along. A brief flushing attempt did not produce any birds and Kracker was asked to relocate. No birds could be located even with an extended relocation effort and he was taken on. Both dogs continued a strong forward application and finished the hour as strongly as they had started.

3A) Mo Kan Duramax ( Max), Brittany, h Mike Boydston

3B) 3X NGDC 2XNAFC DC AFC Crimson's Twenty Gauge Ruger SH CGC (Ruger), Vizsla, h Mark Spurgeon

With the temperatures rising and riders shedding jackets, the third brace of the day was released. This was a powerful pair of dogs that applied themselves well. Max tended to go a little deep into the cover in his quest for birds. His hunt was diligent but he was not rewarded with any bird work. Ruger spent his hour running the edges and displaying the reason so many judges have liked him in the past. At 40 minutes he was found pointing into a tree line. After a good flushing effort and a brief relocation he was taken on with no birds produced. He finished the hour still cruising the edges.

4A) FC PJ Wildfires Big-N-Juicy (Lucy), GSP, h Bob Erbe

4B) FC/AFC Hannah Remchester White MH, (Hanna), Brittany, Ben Garcia

The day had warmed into the mid 60's as the first brace of the afternoon was released. Both dogs were quickly forward. Both dogs were displaying a good forward hunting pattern, using the cover to good advantage. Just across the first road crossing, at 20 minutes, Lucy was found pointing into a hedgerow alongside the road. Hanna took the opportunity to back her brace mate nicely. Lucy's handler was unable to produce the birds and she was asked to relocate which proved unsuccessful. Both dogs displayed good gundog range and patterns but neither was able to locate game. Both competitors finished the hour with jump in their step.

5A) FC Roundabouts Call Me Bodacious JH (Bodie), English setter, Ben Garcia

5B) FC WW's Million Dollar Mollee (Mollee), Brittany, Burton Wice

This fine pair of dogs jumped to the front at the first whistle and impressed early with their speed and patterns. Mollie slowed by the 38 minute mark and her handler elected to pick her up. Bodie seemed to be oblivious to the temperature and continued to show her attractive gait to the judges. At 40 minutes Bodie was found pointing with very nice style. As her handler entered the stand of tall weeds were Bodie indicated the birds were a single flushed and her handler fired with all in order. At the sound of the blank gun the remainder of a nice sized covey erupted from the cover with all in order. Sent forward, she was again found on point on a hillside to the left side of the course at 48 minutes. Birds were produced for the dog and a couple of steps were taken before her handler stopped her. Sent on she would record a non-productive at 56 minutes. She finished the hour still hunting hard.

6A) DC AFC JB's Asker Bout Birds (Kinze), Vizsla, h Joanne Beckley

6B) FC/AFC Marjo's Here For the Party (Gretchen), Brittany, Joe Luisi

High clouds had begun to appear and the temperature began to feel a bit cooler as the last brace of the day was released. Gretchen went to work right away, taking the edges and running with a good, forward pattern. She displayed good speed and was well gaited in her quest for game. Kinze was wide and fast making her race harder to follow as she tended to go deeper into the heavy cover. She was impressive in her enthusiasm in her pursuit of game. Both dogs were hunting hard when at 40 minutes Kinze was found pointing in a group of trees on the right side of the course. Gretchen was passing the area as a single bird flushed wild from the covey that Kinze was pointing. Its flight path was directly over the fast running Gretchen. She was unable to stop in time and she was leashed. The remaining birds were flushed for Kinze with her displaying acceptable manners. Taken on she continued to apply herself and she finished the hour.

Posted Dogs Day One – No dogs posted.

Back to Top

Day 2
Tuesday morning began with warm temperatures, in the low 50's. The skies were filled with high clouds and a light breeze was blowing out of the north east. As the day progressed the Clouds became heavier in advance of an expected weather front. The morning had the feeling of being a good day to go bird hunting.

7A) FC Augustus of Tiger (Gus), Brittany, h Tom Tracy

7B) FC Light-Em-Up Luke (Luke), Brittany, h Ben Garcia

The first brace of the morning broke away at 8 AM sharp. Both dogs displayed hard hunting patterns. Gus made several nice moves, some that took him deep into the heavier cover. His race was forward and hard charging but by 49 minutes the string had broken and his handler asked for the tracker. Luke hunted a nice forward race that did not take him to the extremes that his brace mate went, but none the less his effort was very nice. At 27 minutes, as Luke was entering a big field and starting down a line, a bird flushed wild and the dog stopped mannerly. His handler walked in front of the mannerly dog and put a small covey to air. Luke again was pointing at 47 minutes in a stand of tall grasses. His stance said "the birds are right here" but none could be flushed for the intensely standing little dog. Relocation was unsuccessful and the hour finished without further bird contact.

8A) FC AFC Blue Rock's Diamond Girl JH (Diamond), Brittany, John Perry

8B) FC jay Hawk's Georgia Girl (GiGi), Brittany, Tom Tracy

The birds were on the move during this brace. Temperatures were rising and the cloud cover began to have holes in it, reviling patches of bright blue sky. Away at 9:05 this pair both gave strong performances. Diamond hunted in a pleasing manner responding well to her handler. GiGi was the wider of the two, running a powerful race that on two occasions required some power handling, but was overall very pleasing. GiGi possesses a long smooth gait that easily takes her to far reaches of the course and makes her eye catching as she ran the lines. Diamond was the first to score on a single quail. She was stylish and mannerly on her game. Her diligent hunting led her to a nice second find at 44 minutes, deep in the bottom of a large draw. Here GiGi's handler was able to point out the birds on the ground, and fired for the mannerly dogs. At 49 minutes, GiGi swapped ends and pointed with great style into a bushy area. Diamond came into the area and nicely honored her brace mate's find. A small covey was flushed for the very well-mannered dog. Sent on, Diamond was again pointing at 58 minutes. This would prove a nonproductive. Both dogs finished the hour well.

9A) FC/AFC Da Capo by Bartalk (Topper), Vizsla, Marcia Schlesinger

9B) Spring Hill's Hot Wheels (Wheels), Brittany, Nick Mellon

The third brace of the morning provided a nice pair of hunting dogs for the judge's examination. Both dogs hunted the cover and both dogs ground race remained consistent throughout their hour. They scoured the ground for bird scent. Each dog responded well to their handler's commands, displaying great teamwork with their handler. Wheels was not to find birds today but showed well on the ground. Topper had a nice, stylish find at 48 minutes. Topper is well broke and displayed excellent style on this find. This was to be the only bird contact of the brace. Both dogs finished their time.

10A) NAFC FC Brody's Shenanigans (Shauna), Irish Setter, h Greg Dixon

10B) NGDC FC AFC Llano's Big Bad Betty (Betty), GSP, h Chad Inderman/Joe Inderman

The first brace of the afternoon was released at 1:15 PM. The day had continued to warm to its expected high of near 70 degrees, the cloudy condition continued with the clouds having thicken considerably, the wind had also increased and were out of the east. This well accomplished pair of dogs shot to the front at the whistle applying themselves to the edges. At 10 minutes, Shauna carded a mannerly stop to flush along the edge of the second field. Betty was found pointing into dense cover at 30 minutes. After the flushing attempt and relocation she was taken on, recording a non-productive. This was in the same area that a non-productive was recorded yesterday. After the dog had gone on, the gallery reported riding up a big covey of birds not far from the area of the non-productive. At 40 minutes Shauna was found by her scout, buried deep in very heavy cover, only her orange collar observable. A very through flushing effort that consumed about 5 to 6 minutes she was taken on without birds being flushed. She spent the remainder of her time hunting hard. Betty recorded no other bird contact but ran an impressive hour that was quite eye catching.

11A) FC Eshod's Revolution (Mason), GSP, h Ray Dohse

11B) FC Oakridge's Sport (Sport), GSP, h Jim West

This pair of dogs ran under less than ideal conditions. The day was warming and the east wind was making scenting conditions poor at best. Mason, who has placed in this event in the past, ran a vcery impressive race. He searched the likely bird holding covers, used the wind to his best advantage, and was very attractive to watch. His race had everyone's attention. Sport was also hunting hard. His race was wider and required more operator input than his brace mate but also was fun to watch. Neither of these dogs pointed game and both finished the hour.

12A) Eshod's Rosie o'Floin (Rosie), Irish Setter, h Ray Dohse

12B) FC/AFC JMA's Fire Tail Comet (Holly), GSP, h Jim West

This was a shortened brace. Rosie was a handful and at 25 minutes her handler threw in the towel. Holly ran a hunting pattern that was nice but was not what the dogs or her handler wanted and was leashed at 40 minutes when she was unable to find game.

Posted dogs:

Top Dog of the day;  8B, FC jay hawk's Georgia Girl. Also posted; 11A FC Eshod's Revolution

Back to Top

Day 3
Day 3 began very warm, local weather stations reporting a temperature of 70 degrees at 6 AM. Heavy storms had affected areas north of the Ames Plantation but had so far missed us. Cloudy skies greeted us and there was a threat of rain in the afternoon. Strong winds were in the forecast as a cold front was predicted to pass through the area. Despite the warm temperatures, the cloudy skies prevented the temperature from feeling oppressive. During the last brace of the day the temperature actually fell somewhat, as the front passed through and the skies cleared.

13A) NFC FC Cherrystone La Reine de Pearls (Marie), Wiemaraner, h Greg Dixon

13B) Trinity's Pop'n the Clutch (Poppi), English Setter, h Ray Dohse

This brace was away at 8 AM. Both dogs had a very hard time getting going this morning. As we reached the first road crossing both handlers elected to pick up their dogs.

14A) FC Old School Attitude (Bella), Pointer, h Greg Dixon

14B) FC Loknlode Black Bitty (Bitty), Pointer, h Ray Dohse

When released, this pair of well gaited pointers wasted no time getting to work. Bella ran a very purposeful race. Her pattern was wide, to the front, and very strong. She hunted the covers well, applying herself to the objectives presented her. At 42 minutes she was pointing into a known covey haunt with arresting style. Her handler was unable to produce birds and she was taken on. She finished the hour with the same snap that she had started with. Bitty also put on a show. She hunted the front with purpose and applied herself well. She was unable to find birds but impressed everyone with her manner of going and her endurance. Both of these dogs were posted for the day.

15A) FC Windtuck The Rowdy One JH (Rudy), Brittany, h Ben Garcia

15B) FC/AFC Early Times (Earl), Brittany, h Tom Tracy

The final morning brace brought two attractive Brittanys to the line. Both dogs started well, going to the front and using the available cover well. Rudy was seen very little after the breakaway and at 25 minutes his handler called for the tracker. Earl settled into a moderate hunting pattern. He seemed to not be on his game today and having not been able to connect with game his handler elected to pick up at 48 minutes

16A) Royalerun Sam Adams (Sam), GSP, h David King

16B) FC/AFC Bill's Last Chance (Luke), English Setter, h Dave Pomfert

The skies had darkened considerably as we drove to the afternoon breakaway. We had no sooner arrived at the parking area then the rain began to fall. Rapidly moving heavy rain showers, followed by light rain, then more heavy rain was the story of this brace and most of the second brace. This pair of competitors broke away well, taking the first line and following it for its entire length.  Here Luke took a wrong turn and was not seen again under judgment. His handler called for the tracker at 25 minutes having not being seen by the judges for 21 minutes. Sam stayed forward hunting at a moderate gun dog pace. He was using the cover well. At 32 minutes he was observed pointing into one of the numerous grassy strips. Like had a covey well located. A small covey was flushed. Luke took a couple of steps to mark the flight of the birds but stopped on his own. Sent on, he became more handy and at 48 minutes his handler called it quits.

17A) FC/AFC Day Tripper (Tripper), English Setter, h Judith Hamilton

17B) Coffee's Codorna (Ce-Ce), GSP, h David King

Released at 1:15, both dogs settled into a comfortable gun dog range. Both had an easy handle and were pleasing to watch. At about the 30 minute mark a cold front finally moved through and the rain stopped. Tripper was very workman like in his application. Ce-Ce was somewhat shorter than her brace mate but went to the cover and appeared to have purpose to her race. At 48 minutes Ce-Ce was pointing into a strip of grasses. Her handler was unable to flush and relocation proved unsuccessful. Tripper pointed at 59 minutes with good style. This also proved to be a non-productive. Both dogs finished the hour with no further game contact.

18A) FC Remek Rozalia's Red Moon (Rose), Vizsla, h Jerry Jordan

18B) FC/ AFC Erbes Fire Skeeter (Skeeter), GSP, h Bob Erbe

The final brace of the day featured two very attractive representatives of their respective breeds. Well gaited and easy to watch this pair went to work from the opening whistle. The front that had passed through during the previous brace had the birds moving to feeding areas. At 5 minutes both dogs stood intensely pointing into a patch of heavy grassed. Rose's handler went into the cover to flush for the pair. A good sized covey was flushed and both dogs displayed polished manners. Skeeter was found pointing near the cemetery with very nice style. Rose took advantage of the find to display her good manners and high style by backing her brace mate. An extensive flushing effort ensued but the birds were not home today. Taken on both dogs hunted the tree lines and grassy patches with determination. As the hour progressed the toll that these grounds extracts began it have its effects. At 57 minutes, Rose was found pointing into a briar patch. A nice sized covey was flushed in front of the intense dog. Good manners were again on display and she was sent on. Both dogs would finish the hour.

Posted Dogs:
Top day dog, 14A, FC Old School Attitude
14B, FC Loknlode Black Bitty

Back to Top

[jetjockey]

Day 4
Day 4 dawned with temperatures in the lower 50's, clear skies and little or no wind. As the day progressed the wind did increase as did the temperature. A forecast high of 70 degrees had everyone thinking this would be a hot day for the dogs and water bottles were on every scout and handler's horse.

I would like to add a little comment or two about this trial. All birds at this event are wild or pre-released. Releases are done early enough in the year such that they have become acclimated to the wild. This is not a throw down (planted) bird trial! Dogs that get birds pointed here are experienced enough that they have learned where birds naturally go to avoid the heat, the cold, rain, or predators (even humans on horseback). Past radio telemetry studies on these birds have shown that they have learned that they can avoid dogs and people bothering them by walking off into deeper cover. The noise of a large gallery of horses and loud handlers is likely to cause these birds to move to safety. A dog / handler team must work together to get these birds handled. It is strongly believed by your humble reporter that many of the non-productive that we have seen are caused by the birds that had originally caused the scent that the dog pointed, to have moved off.   Several occasions where a dog ends up with a non-productive, people have seen birds on the ground in the area of the non-productive or ridden up by the gallery after the dog has been taken on. Wild bird trials show a level of training and development that is not able to be obtained by running the dog only on the pin raised birds that most week-end events are run on. The professional trainers that have come to this event normally spend their summers exposing their dogs to wild birds so as help the dogs develop into great bird dogs. Due to the nature of this trial and the fact that weather conditions are a big variable in this event, the unique format of this two series trial was developed. It takes a special kind of dog to excel at this level.

19A) NFC FC Erbebhoe SNS Boogie Woogie Bo (Bo), Wiemaraner, h Diane Vater

19B) NGDC FC/AFC Burr Oak's Old Number Seven (Jack), Vizsla, h Brian Gingrich

The first brace of the morning began at 7:55 AM after some announcements and safety messages from Chairman Blackman. The skies were cloudless and there was no wind to speak of. Jack never seemed to get with the program and after several attempts by his handler to encourage him, he was up at the second road crossing at 28 minutes. Bo had his running shoes on and made several nice moves. Occasionally he was confused by the numerous lines this course provides for a dog and his scout was kept busy assisting in bringing him forward. This big gray dog gave it his all for 60 minutes. He reached out to the edges of cover and looked impressive doing so. His effort was for naught as he would not get any game pointed.

20A) Grau Geist Hidden In Plain Sight (Seek), Wiemaraner, h Diane Vater

20B) FC/AFC Burr Oak's Quarterback (Rex), Vizsla, h Brian Gingrich

This pair of dogs broke away like they had a purpose. Both dogs were fast on their feet and very attractive to watch. Rex had a well-directed pattern that led him to numerous likely bird haunts. As we were passing to the left of a big field of bi-color and grasses, his scout called point at 18 minutes. Rex stood with good style along the edge of the cover on a bush hogged path. A through flushing attempt and a relocation proved fruitless and he was taken on. He continued his tour of the country and was again pointing at 47 minutes. He was in the bottom of a big draw, in the same place that a dog pointed a running covey on the first day. Again his handler could not produce birds. Rex was asked to relocate and he carefully worked his way up the bank of the draw and again pointed on the top of the hill. Once more no birds were produced. Taken on he had only gone about 75 yards when he again pointed into the same line of cover. This would be his third non-productive and his day was ended. Seek ran a powerful race that caused him to be rather f=difficult to follow. He made several good casts that caught everyone's eye. He was last seen by this reporter at about 40 minutes going away in the next field to the left. He was not seen again under judgment and his handler asked for the tracker at the 60 minute mark.

21A) FC/AFC Just Wait Bess (Bess), Pointer, h Tracy Haines

21B) FC Ana von Heidbrink (Annie), GSP, h David King

The temperature had risen to near 65 degrees as this brace was released. The breeze had picked up a bit but was still very light and out of the north-east. Both dogs took off and were running with purpose. Both dogs hunted forward and covered ground with eye appealing gaits. As we crossed he Ames road, just 50 yards from the crossing, Bess was fond on point with Annie backing nicely. A brief flushing effort produced nothing and the relocation was fruitless. Taken on this pair again scoured the country in their quest for birds. Bess again was pointing at 47 minutes and again Annie backed her stand very nicely. Again relocation was needed, Bess moved forward with her head high and her tail going higher with each step she took. She was unable to pin point the covey and was taken on. Just after the final road crossing Bess's scout called point for her along a strip of trees, grasses and weeds. Once more nothing was home. Both of these dogs ran a good race and hunted the likely objectives, they were just not able to get these elusive birds pointed.

22A) FC/AFC WFK Hilted Marshside Margarita (Sister), GSP, h Dave Walker

22B) FC/AFC Eshod's Arkansas Lady (Lady), GSP, h Ray Dohse

Released at 1:15 PM under blue skies, with continued rising temperatures, and a light south-west wind, this pair was quickly to the front. Sister ran a comfortable gun dog race. She hunted hard and tried her best to find birds. At 48 minutes she established point, facing into a grassy line. She looked good and everyone was thinking she had game pinpointed. Despite a good flushing effort, the streak of dogs being fooled continued. Lady ran a strong, forward race that was fast and attractive to watch, being very well gaited she seemed to float over the ground. She applied herself well to the objectives. She pointed with very good style at 44 minutes. A large covey was flushed right where she said they were. Her manners were above question. Both dogs were able to finish the hour well despite the warm conditions.

23A) FC/AFC Palm Glades Lee's Madeline (Maddie), GSP, h Dave Walker

23B) FC Sinbad's Lil Swami (Genie), Pointer, h Ray Dohse

Genie had a short day. She did not seem right today and her handler elected to pick up at 35 minutes. Maddie is a well gaited GSP that covered the ground well. She used the objectives to their best advantage. At 35 minutes she was found standing with great style. This turned out to be another non-productive. She spent the rest of her time touring the country but was unable to find game on this day.

24A) FC/AFC Tommy's Dixie Chick (Dixie), Vizsla, h Jerry Jordon

24B) Cedar Creek Ginger snap (Ginger), Irish Setter, h Ed Liermann

The final brace of the day was released at 3:30. The breeze had continued to increase which made the day feel somewhat cooler. Dixie hunted hard, displaying a good gun dog pattern. She is well gaited and seemed to remain consistent in her race throughout her hour. Her well-directed hunt lead to her being found pointing at 55 minutes. She stood her find with class and style. Her handler walked in front of her and a large covey of birds exploded from the grass. Taken on she finished the hour as she had started it. Ginger was very good at holding an edge. Her manner on the ground was somewhat further ranging that her brace mate. She was able to stay to the front through all the turns and twists on this course. Despite the quality of her application she was unable to find birds. She did not let down and finished the hour with as much gusto as when she had started.

Posted Dogs:
Day Dog - 22B) FC/AFC Eshod's Arkansas Lady, h ray Dohse
Posted - 24A) FC/AFC Tommy's Dixie Chick, h Jerry Jordon

Back to Top

Day 5
Friday, the fifth day of this championship was to be a short day. Weather forecasts for the area warned of strong storms with high winds, hail, and possible tornados in the afternoon. After careful consideration the afternoon running was cancelled. The forecasts proved correct with a series of strong storms passing the area. Periods of heavy rain lasted until the cool front moved through. The scheduled afternoon dogs will run Saturday morning.

The morning felt very muggy. The temperature at 7 AM was 70 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. There was a moderate south-west wind. Air was heavy giving everyone the feeling that storms could very well happen at about any time. The gallery members were wearing or carrying rain gear as most were sure that rain gear would be needed before the morning braces were done. Throughout the morning temperatures rose somewhat and breaks in the clouds caused the "feel like" temperature to be uncomfortable. It seemed to your reporter that the warm temperatures did not affect the dogs on the ground as much as one might have expected. Their performances were a tribute to the conditioning and God given talent that these dogs displayed.

25A) Burr Oak's Kick Em Up Jake (Jake), Vizsla, h Brian Gingrich

25B) 2xNAFC FC/AFC Chukarhill Rimrock Ridge (Ridge), English Setter, Cynthia Findley

Released at 8 AM, both dogs went to the front and were displaying good ground speed. Jake took advantage of the edges and lines, displaying a gun dog race that at times was very good. He did not point game but did score a natural back of his brace mate. He slowed somewhat in the final minutes but not enough to distract from his effort. Ridge is a heavily mark dog that at times is difficult to see when he is in the cover but well worth looking for. He was fast and well gaited, appearing to float as he ran the edges. Ridge was not afraid to go into the cover, and many times he chose the harder path, looking for game in the heavy grasses and woods. His search took him to places on the course that other dogs have not reached. At 30 minutes, near the third road crossing, Ridge was found on point, at the end of a wide strip of tall, heavy grasses, with his brace mate honoring. He looked very confident that the birds were right in front of him. His handler was unable to flush game, he was asked to relocate and was unable to pin the birds. Taken on, Ridge continued his tour of the planation, going to all the right places. He was strong to the finish but would finish without game.

26A) Backwood's Oh Yeah (Earl), GSP, h Greg Dixon

26B) Trinity-Eshod's Streak (Streak), English Setter, h Ray Dohse

Earl was lost shortly after the break away. His handler asked for the tracker at 20 minutes. Streak put in a powerful hour. He is a well gaited Setter, very easy to watch. He ran hard and used the edges to his best advantage. He was mainly forward, only getting lateral because of the twists and turns that this course takes. He finished with gas in the tank but would not record any finds.

27A) GCH DC AFC Bitteroots Nicholaus Cazador CDX GN RAE2 MH CGC (Nick), Vizsla, h Roger Poole

27B) Eshod's Uprising (Ryder), GSP, h Ray Dohse

Nick was a scratch and Ryder ran alone. Ryder disappeared to the front at break away not to return. His handler asked for the tracker at 20 minutes.

Day 6 Synopsis


The storms that the area received had left the area during the night and today dawned with clear skies. The temperature which has been much warmer than normal returned to more seasonally normal. Winds were very light if any at all. Early morning temperatures were in the mid-thirties with the high expected to reach only about 56. As the day progressed the wind picked up to 10 to 15 MPH in the afternoon. This day was some of the best conditions for bird hunting than we have experienced to this point of the trial.

Often times, people that play the field trial game forget the roots of our sport. Field trial began as a method of determining the best bird dogs for breeding to help to assure the continuation of quality bird dogs. Many of the qualities that are valued in a good bird dog are evaluated in a field trial. Traits such as hunting style (application), bird finding ability, gait, willingness to hunt with you, and endurance are evaluated. 60 minute stakes, such as this one, are an especially good evaluation of a dog’s endurance but also give judges a better look at the dog’s strong points and also those that are not so strong. The grounds at the Ames Plantation were developed to showcase the qualities that a hunter would value in a top flight bird dog. The courses are laid out in a logical manner but they also present challenges. The courses are not easy by any definition. A dog that “takes the bit in his teeth” and is not a true partner in the hunt can be easily lost to judgment. This is not to say any of the dogs that have been lost to judgment are bad dogs just that they might have had a bad day (we all do). An hour is a long time to be under judgment. A dogs strengths will come out during the brace as will weaknesses that are not as easy to evaluate in shorter brace times. Each of the posted dogs and some that did not make the board have demonstrated that they are sound dogs that are fine examples of their breeds.

28A) Erbe’s Fire Powder (Powder), GSP, h Jim West
28B) NGDC DC AFC Up N’ Adams Super Sioux CDX MH (Sioux), GSP, h Dave Walker

This pair of GSPs began the day, released at 8 AM sharp. Neither dog had their head in the game today. After the first field both handlers picked up their dogs at 11 minutes, at the first road crossing.

29A) FC Brillows Big Wild Western (Wiley), GWP, h Jim West
29B) FC AFC Dakota Luke (Luke), Brittany, h Dick Mantler

Both dogs broke away strongly, going to the edge and following it to the next field. Luke brought on line across the front and was found pointing at 3 minutes. He looked good as we approached, but evidently lost the scent cone and moved up on his own. This relocation was too much for the small group of birds the cover contained and they flushed back into Luke’s face. This proved too great of a temptation and Luke’s day was done. Wiley is a young dog just passed two years old. He spent the hour running hard, making numerous showy casts. He seemed to rarely choose the easy footing when there was better cover available. He spent much of his time not on the edge but 10 to 20 yards inside the dense cover. Despite the more difficult path he showed much power and drive in his application. He spent the hour running hard and did not let up through-out the time allotted him. At 55 minutes he was out of pocket and did not return under judgment. This is a young dog, just turned two years old, legacy is yet to be written and his future is very bright.

30A) FC Wolf River’s Winning Ticket (Cash), Brittany, h Al Garrow
30B) FC AFC Spector (Spector), English Setter, h Dave Pomfret

The gallery had grown to about 50 people as the final brace of the morning was released. Spector made a wrong turn early and was not returned to judgment. His handler was given tha tracker at about 20 minutes. Cash did an excellent job of filling up the country. His race was forward, his gait smooth, and his application was excellent. He seemed to be able to find the correct side of every objective he was presented. He responded to his handler well, needing very little scouting. Impressive as his hour was he was unable to get any birds pointed. His hard charging effort lasted for the entire 60 minutes.

31A) FC Broad Runs Tornado at Wind Dance JH (Tori), Vizsla, h Jamie Fountain
31B) FC/AFC I’m Maddie (Maddie), GSP, h Jim West

Conditions were cool, and breezy but very good conditions for the first brace of the afternoon. Both dogs began by racing to the front, displaying pleasing patterns. Shortly after the first road crossing, Maddie was found pointing into an edge of grassy cover and trees. This would ultimately be scored as a non-productive after a good flushing attempt and relocation. Only about 150 yards from where Maddie had pointed, Tori also established point. Again the handler was unable to flush and he took her on. Both dogs continued on at a good pace, Maddie the more forward of the two. Maddie again established point at 58 minutes with Tori coming in and backing nicely. Unable to flush the birds, Maddie was asked to relocate and Tori was taken on. This brace ended with the score, birds three, dogs zero.

32A) NAFC DC AFC Ariel’s Justa Gotta Go Now (Louie), GWP, h Jim West
32B) FC Stoney Hill Mr. Dixon (Dixon), GSP, h Jamie Fountain

Released at 2: oo PM, Dixon raced quickly to the front. Louie seemed somewhat confused in the opening minutes. At 5 minutes, Louie was credited with a good find to the left of the trail. As the gallery approached several birds lifted and his handler was able to flush the remainder of the large covey. This seemed to turn the key for him as he was very strong on the ground for the remained of his time. At 6 minutes, Dixon pointed nicely but no birds could be produced and he was taken on. Both dogs at this point were very powerful on the ground and impressed with their application. At 30 minutes point was called for Dixon with his scout reporting that a bird had left as he approached. His handler decided to try to flush and was able to produce a bird over the stylish Vizsla. Both dogs finished the hour strongly.

33A) FC Suka Smooth (Jenny), Pointer, h Steve Bailey
33B) FC/AFC Ricochet’s Lightning Feather (Curlew), GSP, h Rebecca Jacobs

It was a little cooler, a bit breezier, and the shadows were growing longer as this brace was released. Jenny had her running shoes on today. This fine Colorado dog was not used to this much cover but showed often enough early to define her race. At twenty minutes As looking for his charge, Jenny’s handler rode up a nice covey of birds. Jenney was in and out for most of her time. At 42 minutes her handler asked for the tracker and within minutes she had returned. Curlew started very well, applying herself well to the cover. She was found pointing, with good style at 34 minutes. Unable to flush birds her handler took her on. Curlew is a veteran campaigner and slowed some in the later portions of the brace. At 48 minutes her handler threw in the towel.

On the seventh day the field trailers rested. Running will resume on Monday morning.

Posted dogs
Saturday morning a dog was added to the board.
Friday top dog: 26B) Streak, h Ray Dohse

Saturday top dog: 32A) Louie, h Jim West
Also posted: 32B) Dixon, h Jamie Fountain

[wildweeds]

The Rimrock ridge dog is a nice dog to bad Miss Findly had birdless run,his daddy was a ROCKER ROLLER in his day NAFC/FC/AFC 1x Nstra CH Joe's little rowdy.............A washington dog.Easily a big shooting dog by AF standards,right on the edge of AA.Definatly an AA at britt trials,he won in more than a few AAA brit  stakes.

[jetjockey]

Wild

They have posted a few dogs based on run only, so a dog doesn't necessarily have to have bird work to make the call back.  It's a free for all style trial, so if a dog gets called back for the second series without bird work then it has to have bird work in the callback to place.  There are a lot of really nice dogs yet to run.  Seems like the judges are liking the bigger running dogs.  They posted two dogs yesterday with no bird work while two dogs had birds, but didn't get posted.

That rowdy dog looks like a nice dog based off the field trial database sight.  He never actually won any Brit AA trials but it looks like he placed 2nd and 3rd in two small Brit AA trials.  He also got 2nd in a decent AGD brit trial.  Looks like he ran as a GD most of his career.  Here's his AKC record.

http://www.remekvizslas.net/dog.php4?id=3291

[jetjockey]

46 Braces down and 15 to go.  13 dogs now posted and 7 have bird work, 2 dogs with multiple finds.  Here's the breakdown.  5 GSPs, 3 Brits, 2 EPs, 1 GWP, 1 Vizsla and 1 English Setter are now posted.  Dogs with birdwork are..  3 brits, 2 GSPs, 1 Vizsla, and 1 GWP.  Dogs with multiple finds..  2 Brits..

Up to 12 dogs can make the call back, and in order to place, a dog must have bird work in either the first round or the call back.  There are 30 dogs still to run..  14 Brits, 7 GSPs, 2 Weims, 2 Vizslas, 1 Irish Setter, 1 Gordon Setter, 1 Pointer, and 1 English Setter.  All but two of the 30 left are Field Champions, and 3 are National Field Champions.

[jetjockey]

Call back starts tomorrow.  My dog had a decent run but went bird less.  She started out great then slowed at about 30.  Thought that maybe it was the wet conditions making it tough for her to run only to find out after the brace that she sliced herself up pretty well.  Typically she gets bigger and faster as the hour progresses so to see her slow was a bit strange.  Considering she had a one inch plus slice in her chest right next to her right front leg, I was pretty happy with her run.  She had a really nice cast to start followed by a nice 500+ yard cast where she just hung on the edge.  I'm surprised just how tight Ames is.  If a dog runs big without a good handle you might as well forgett about it.  BTW.  12 dogs for the call back.   4 Brits, 4 GSPs, 2 pointers, a GWP, and something else.

[wildweeds]

Staples required?

[jetjockey]

As of now no.  We looked at it last night and it's right in her armpit.  Gonna just granulex the heck out of it for right now.  Gonna be interesting to see what happens in the callback.  One of the better dogs has a busted up pad.  We will see how it affects him.

[jetjockey]

Well, It all over!

1. FC Old School Attitude (Bella), Pointer, h Greg Dixon
2. FC/AFC Eshod's Arkansas Lady (Lady), GSP, h Ray Dohse
3. FC Stoney Hill Mr. Dixon (Dixon), GSP, h Jamie Fountain
4. FC Cedar Valley Bandit (Bandit), Brittany, h Tom Tracy


What a fun trip, but Im exhausted. I got home this morning at 3:30AM and Im just starting to catch up.

I watched 3 of the 4 winners call back runs yesterday. IMO, you could have tossed a coin between them. The EP basically won because of its qualifying run earlier in the week from what the judges were overheard saying. It ran "ok" yesterday but not great. Its one find left a little to be desired though because of a self relocation prior to point being called that Im not sure the judges saw. The second place dog ran pretty well, but had 2 non productives and 1 split find. It was also out of pocket for a WHILE. I think the judges were granting some leniency on the EP's bird work and on the 2nd place GSP's time out of pocket. I was waiting for them to give the handler the tracker when she showed up, and she finished behind her bracemate at time. I didn't get to see the 3rd place GSP run, but I hear it did a nice job. The brit did a nice job, but wasnt as pleasing to the eye as you'd like to see in a championship run because it blew a pad earlier in the week while roading.  The handler was just trying to get it around.   IMO, and several other people I talked to, nobody won this thing outright. The GWP that got called back was absolutely smoking everyone, for 35 minutes. And then he ran out of gas. But before he ran out of gas, he easily had the best 35 minute run that I saw. Too bad for him it was a 1 hour trial. haha..

Even though this was the AKC GD Championship, the dogs ran much more like All Age dogs then Gun Dogs. The judges also put more emphasis on run then bird work. Judging is tough, its a balancing act. Do they take a dog with lots of great bird work but didn't run great, or do they take a dog who runs amazing but doesn't have a lot of bird work? In this trial they seemed to lean a lot more towards the run then towards the birdwork. I would have leaned more towards the dogs with bird work since they all ran pretty well, but thats just me. Judging is subjective, and all 4 dogs who placed could have won, or finished 4th. Either way, all 4 dogs deserved it in a field of over 120 dogs.

[Happy Gilmore]

http://www.akc.org/events/field_trials/pointing_breeds/gun_dog_championships/2012/event_coverage.cfm

[wildweeds]

It evens out though........... last years stake was more of a gundog stake at milepost 9 because those judges were judging it as such,the bigger running dogs were not even part of the equation and some were picked up for running to big.Fact is the dog I know FC Jaydog's Wonderboy ran an AF AA race  according to the AF folks that were in attendance watching and was picked up/quit being looked at at less than the halfway point.Your dog is young she got a bunch more tries at it.

[jetjockey]

Wild.   I know one of the judges who judged last year.  According to him they judged it as more of an AA stake.   Can't say since I wasn't there, but that's what I was told.  I also know that later in the trial they were picking dogs up at 30 that weren't beating the dogs already on the board.  Because they lost a couple days because os weather they had no choice.  When did that dog run?   Actually, I just looked it up.  Looks like that dog ran after the judges made the decision that unless a dog was beating what they already had, they would be picked up.  I doubt it was because the dog ran too big knowing one of the judges.

[RC3]

I don't know hardly anything about these trials thats why I'm just curious how a dog wins the championship by running for an hour in a field and having 1 find ( i'm assuming there are quite a few birds in the field) just curious how that works?

[jetjockey]

It's not a field, it's a horseback trial on a course with multiple fields. This year had two continous three hour courses that were about 5 miles long each on the 12000 acre Ames Plantation.  There were no released birds.  With all the rain and mud, it takes a dog in great shape to put down a full hour at the speed judges want to see.  These are traditional horseback field trials.

[RC3]

I see so it is more of a race than a hunt. 

[wildweeds]

I know for sure it was because the dog ran to big,the judges told the handler to corral him up because he was out there 3/4 of a mile  and that's when they told him it was a gundog stake and would be judged as such.

Wild.   I know one of the judges who judged last year.  According to him they judged it as more of an AA stake.   Can't say since I wasn't there, but that's what I was told.  I also know that later in the trial they were picking dogs up at 30 that weren't beating the dogs already on the board.  Because they lost a couple days because os weather they had no choice.  When did that dog run?   Actually, I just looked it up.  Looks like that dog ran after the judges made the decision that unless a dog was beating what they already had, they would be picked up.  I doubt it was because the dog ran too big knowing one of the judges.

[jetjockey]

RC3.. You have to understand where traditional field trials came from.  Trials began in the south.  Traditionally quail here hunted off horseback on small farms and plantations.  People wanted to see who had the best dog, so they started competitions just like the way they hunted.  Off horseback looking for coveys of quail.  The fastest biggest dogs usually won because they covered more ground and found the birds first.  Today we don't have endless miles of farms to hunt like the original trials, so they came up with courses to try and emulate what was happening back then.  Traditional trials are judged just like any other sport, and the entire application is judged.  Dogs are not just judged on how many birds they find.  They are judged on their run, how they hunt the cover, how well they respond to their handlers,  how many birds they find, their style when they find birds, their level of steadiness when the birds are found, etc.  They are judged on the entire package.  Just because a dog stumbles upon 4 birds in an hour, but doesnt hunt for its handler, doesn't hold steady, and runs like crap, doesn't mean its going to beat a dog with 1 find that covered the correct correctly, handles well, looks good on point, and shows perfect manners.  I compare it to olympic diving.  Just because a diver has a perfect entry doesn't mean they are going to win gold.  The entire dive has to be perfect. 

[jetjockey]

Wild..

Is that dog a GD or AA dog?  On the database sight it looks like it only has 1 AA placement, and the rest are GD placements.   If the dog you are talking about did hit 3/4 of a mile, then it was hitting 1000+ yards.  Ive never seen a dog open up that fast from being a gun dog.  Ive seen GD's hit 750+ yards in the prairies, but only because they went the wrong way and didn't go with.  Otherwise GD's are usually 300 yard or less dogs.  It looks like it was running GD just a few months before the AKC Nationals. What I was told is that the judges judged the stake as a shooting dog stake, not uncommon for AKC 1 hour GD trials.  IMO shooting dogs are a lot closer to AA dogs then they are GD's. 

Im not too worried about her having another shot at it.  This was probably the only time she will run in the AKC GD Nationals.  For the most part, she was done running GD trials last fall.  The one GD trial we entered her in this spring was an hour GD trial, and it was the first trial she ran this spring.  She was picked up at 45 when the judges asked the handler why she wasn't running AA.  She threw the biggest cast I saw at Ames before she slowed because of her injury.  We came over a small hill in an open field just after the breakaway and she was already taking the far side at easily 500+ yards from the trainer.  According to the trainer, she has been running a lot bigger then that where the terrain allows.  It will be interesting to see how big she gets as she ages and gains more and more confidence.  She still isn't 4 years old yet.

[RC3]

Thanks that makes more sense, I was just trying to figure out how they worked.

[wildweeds]

He's really an AA dog with a cooperative nature and a good handle,owned by the Littles of Brittiany world,Chik n Little and Shady's Tia Maria ring a bell?

Wild..

Is that dog a GD or AA dog?  On the database sight it looks like it only has 1 AA placement, and the rest are GD placements.   If the dog you are talking about did hit 3/4 of a mile, then it was hitting 1000+ yards.  Ive never seen a dog open up that fast from being a gun dog.  Ive seen GD's hit 750+ yards in the prairies, but only because they went the wrong way and didn't go with.  Otherwise GD's are usually 300 yard or less dogs.  It looks like it was running GD just a few months before the AKC Nationals. What I was told is that the judges judged the stake as a shooting dog stake, not uncommon for AKC 1 hour GD trials.  IMO shooting dogs are a lot closer to AA dogs then they are GD's. 

Im not too worried about her having another shot at it.  This was probably the only time she will run in the AKC GD Nationals.  For the most part, she was done running GD trials last fall.  The one GD trial we entered her in this spring was an hour GD trial, and it was the first trial she ran this spring.  She was picked up at 45 when the judges asked the handler why she wasn't running AA.  She threw the biggest cast I saw at Ames before she slowed because of her injury.  We came over a small hill in an open field just after the breakaway and she was already taking the far side at easily 500+ yards from the trainer.  According to the trainer, she has been running a lot bigger then that where the terrain allows.  It will be interesting to see how big she gets as she ages and gains more and more confidence.  She still isn't 4 years old yet.

[Wacenturion]

Jet....thanks for the updates.  Enjoyed following along with what was happening.  Had a Red Setter I used to trial somewhat way back in the late 60's as a Derby dog in FDSB trials.  Best thing to come out of it was she accidentally got bred by the best Derby Red Setter that Year, Spud Murphy.  Ended up with 13 absolutely beautiful pups as a result without the stud fee.
Needless to say, those pups went fast after I got her back upon leaving Charleston S.C. where I was stationed in the Air Force, picked her up in Illinois at the trainers facility and ended up in Moses Lake, where they were born in 1970.  Traded one of them for a male Red Setter pup from another guy near Sprague, which ended up being the best bird dog and companion I ever hunted over.  At that time it Moses Lake was bird hunting paradise.  Miss those days.

[jetjockey]

Wild..  Yep, I know the Little dogs.  Chubasco II and Chicken Little will be GG grandparents to the pups I'm going to breed in about a year.   Hopefully the breeding will produce a couple nice big running pups.  The biggest running Brit I have ever seen came from those lines.  He's still young though and doesn't have a great handle yet.  Hopefully that will turn around because he can go head to head with any FDSB AA pointer there is.  My dads Brit is out of those same lines and she is awesome, and she handles.  Too bad she will never get the chance to trial.  At camp last summer the trainer started reeling her in when she started pushing 800-1000 yards on the garmin.  She won't be 2 till June and in 2 months the trainer had her whoa broke, backing, stopping to flush, and broke to wing.  She is really easy and just loves to make ya happy.  And I could have had her for free.  Oh well, I can't afford two dogs running AA on the trial circuit. 

WA.  I grew up hunting pheasants in Sunnyside and Royal City when they still had birds.  Royal City used to have some pretty damn good hunting.  Too bad my kids will never see it.  I miss hunting in that part of the state and having birds.

[Bluemoon]

Jet
I'll second what WACenturian said.  Thank you for all the updates on the Championship.  You posting the running of the braces from the scribes was great.   I know a lot of the dogs and people who were there.
Once again
Thanks

[wildweeds]

Richard.................................................the write up sounded like Flair would have been a pretty good fit.

Jet
I'll second what WACenturian said.  Thank you for all the updates on the Championship.  You posting the running of the braces from the scribes was great.   I know a lot of the dogs and people who were there.
Once again
Thanks