The Midwest Vizsla Shooting Dog Championship and Derby Classic were held September 13-16 at the private Bird Dog Ranch near Thayer, Ia.
Entries were substantially up from previous years and a good number of amateurs also participated. More participants means more hands to help in running a trial and event chairman Chad Chadwell very much appreciated the help from many people.
Huge thanks to our sponsors Nestlé Purina and Garmin/Tri-Tronics for their continued support of this trial and the field trial community at large.
Thank you to George and Mary Haines for the beautifully crafted wood plaques shaped in the form of the State of Iowa. The plaques surely will be treasured by the winners.
A huge thanks to Linda Thomas, Tommy Thomas and Ken Windom for hosting the event at their ranch. The grounds were groomed with proper running of dogs in mind and the amenities provided, including the clubhouse, dog wagon, water tubs, available hay, etc. were much appreciated. Noted was the planting of many food plots and feed stations encouraging wild bird populations and several wild pheasant and quail coveys were found by our dogs.
Linda is a gracious hostess and attended each day and ensured we had an enjoyable event. This venue seemed to be enjoyed by all attendees evidenced by many smiles and a relaxed atmosphere.
Weather conditions were a challenge with very hot and muggy conditions. Temperatures rose to near 90° each day with high humidity. Most dogs still had bird finds, but struggled to push forward at times in the hot weather. In spite of the weather, there were many fine runs.
A big thank you to our judges, Brooks Carmichael of Virginia, Neb., and Tommy Thomas of Somonauk, Ill., for sitting long hours in the saddle to watch our dogs. Their sharp eyes and attentive judging is much appreciated!
The Running
B G K’s White Lightening (Smudge/ Jarrett Bell) and CV’s Red Headed Flying Dutchman (Brian Gingrich) took off at 8:00 a. m. on Friday. Both dogs worked their way down the left side. At 5 Smudge was found standing with Dutch backing. As the gallery rode up, Dutch broke on the back and was picked up. Jarrett relocated Smudge several times but was unable to produce a bird and elected to take an unproductive. At 15 Smudge was found standing in the trees on the right side just after the first creek crossing; Jarrett produced a bird here. At 25 Jarrett elected to pick Smudge up.
Burr Oak’s Bam Bam (B. Gingrich) and B G K’s Blinged Up Rossi (J. Bell) worked forward and at 7 Bam Bam was found standing in the far treeline with Rossi backing. Brian produced a bird and both dogs took off to the front along the left side treeline. Rossi was found standing on the left just after the second creek crossing. She was picked up for movement while Jarrett was attempting to produce a bird. At 35 Bam Bam was standing on the left. As Brian got off his horse, the bird popped and Bam Bam worked the find cleanly. At 37 Bam Bam pointed on the right treeline and Brian produced a bird here. Bam Bam finished the hour ahead on the left treeline.
Millstar’s Lion Rampant (Sawney/ Laura Miller) and Another Mai Tai Please (Ty/Chad Chadwell). The third brace produced the runner-up, Sawney. Both dogs worked forward along the left side. At 5 Sawney was found standing in the milo strip. After relocating the dog and being unable to produce a bird, Laura decided to take an unproductive. At 8 Ty pointed in the trees on the right side just after the first creek crossing and Chad was able to produce a bird. Ty continued to work the right side line. As Chad was working to produce his first bird Sawney was found standing at 11 up ahead in the trees on the right. Laura was able to produce a bird. Sawney continued to work the right side. Ty ran the right side line and was found standing again at 14. Chad produced a bird. Ty went forward on the right side. As Sawney caught the front, working the same right side line where Ty just had a bird, he was found standing at 15. Laura flushed a bird. Sawney again worked to catch the front. At 22 Ty was found standing on the left side line just before the road but Chad was unable to produce a bird. At 33 Ty was standing with Sawney backing. Chad was unable to produce a bird after relocating Ty and took an unproductive. As the gallery rode through the third creek crossing with seconds left in the brace, Sawney was found standing on the left side just as the judges called time. Laura dismounted and produced a bird. Both dogs finished the hour.
C K Post Route Scout (B. Gingrich) and Pele’s Wiki Aloha Spirit (Shaka/ Chadwell) were up first Friday after-noon, away at 1:00 p. m. At 4 Chad elected to pick Shaka up. Scout worked the left side and was found standing in the milo strip at 5. Brian flushed a bird. Scout continued working forward. Scout was found standing again at 12 just past the first creek crossing and a bird was produced. At 39 the retrieval unit was pulled for Scout.
Southwind’s Oasis on the Plains (Colby/Jody Beckley) and C K Touchdown Sassy (Gingrich). This brace produced the champion, Sassy. Both dogs had a nice forward race to begin the hour. At 22 the gallery rode up to both dogs standing on the left treeline. Both handlers dismounted and were able to produce a bird out of the trees, both handlers firing for a divided find. At 25 Colby had a find in the treeline on the right hand side. At 34 Sassy worked her way forward up a hill and pointed on top of the hill with Colby backing. As Brian began to work to produce a bird a wild pheasant got up right in front of Sassy with both dogs working the wild bird find cleanly. Sassy had a nice forward race throughout the hour and ended her bid with two additional forward finds, the first at 53 and her final find at 57. Both dogs finished the hour, B G K’s Swagger (Jarrett Bell) carded a find at 4. She was found standing in the treeline at 5 just after her last bird but Jarrett was unable to produce a bird here. At 15 C K’s Too Hot To Handle was picked up by Brian Gingrich. At 40 Jarrett picked up Swagger.
South Wind Nothin Runs Like Deere (Johnny/Jody Beckley) and Briar In My Boot (Justin Hess) were up first Saturday morning, away at 8:00 a. m. At 11 Johnny was found standing in the treeline on the right just after the first creek crossing. Jody produced a 5-6 bird covey. Johnny continued to work the right side line and was found standing again at 15. Jody dismounted and produced a bird. At 20 Johnny worked through the milo strip on the left just past the road and pointed. As Jody worked to try to produce a bird, Johnny took a few steps. Jody elected to take an unproductive. Johnny worked the left side all the way to the next creek crossing. At 30 Johnny was found standing on the left just after the second creek crossing, a bird produced here. At 47 Johnny was standing on the left side treeline just after the third creek crossing. Jody flushed a bird. At 54 Johnny has his last of five finds on the left treeline and finished the hour ahead. Briar had one find and finished the hour.
Rebel Rouser Ulysses (Bowie/ Richard Coleman) and Bangert’s Red Baron (Gingrich) started on top of the hill following the third creek crossing. At 2 both were found down in the far right corner where a large turkey was flushed out of the milo strip. Both dogs continued on, the judges calling the turkey find a non-event. At 26 each dog was found standing on the right treeline just after the first creek crossing on separate finds. Both handlers produced birds. Red continued to work the right treeline, pointed at 28 and Brian flushed a bird. Red then worked 100 yards down the right side line and pointed at 33. Bowie came in and backed. Brian produced a bird. Red continued to have a very nice forward race. At 50 he was found standing on the left side line after the second creek crossing. Red was relocated but Brian was unable to produce a bird. Red finished the hour. Bowie was not located again after the find and the retrieval unit was pulled to end the brace.
C K Guy’s Hot N Spicey (Ginger/Ron Chenoweth) and Burr Oak’s Born Again (Toby/Gingrich). At 12 Toby was standing in the trees on the right side line just after the first creek crossing. Brian relocated Toby but was unable to produce a bird. Both dogs were picked up and did not finish the brace.
B G K’s Long Range Rifle (Henry/ Bell) and Mia’s Wiki Hour of Kalua (Cal/Chadwell) took off after lunch at 1:00 p. m. Cal was not seen until just before the first creek crossing. Jarrett was unable to locate Henry and the retrieval unit was pulled. Cal crossed over the creek and was found standing on the right hand side in the trees at 10. Chad was able to produce a bird. Cal continued down the right treeline and pointed at 12 with a bird produced. Cal continued another 100 yards and was found back on point at 14 in the trees on the end of the right side line. Chad dismounted and produced a third bird. At 45 Cal had his final find just after the road crossing where pheasants were suspected. Chad was unable to produce a bird following an extended relocation. Cal finished the hour going forward.
Southwind Bully’s Green Fire (Hatch/ Elsa Gallagher) and Rambling River Rolling Stone (Bill Stapleton). At 2 Hatch was standing on the left side treeline. Elsa dismounted and flushed a bird. Both Stone and Hatch continued forward and at 8 Hatch was standing on the left side treeline after the second creek crossing. Stone backing. Hatch was relocated and a bird was produced after point was re-established. Stone continued on ahead while Hatch was relocated. At 13 Hatch pointed on the right coming out of the field. As the bird was flushed Hatch followed and was picked up. Stone made a large move to the right away from the course. Bill was able to bring him back around on course but elected to pick the dog up due to him being gone too long.
Kick Em Up Kimber (Bell) and Ramblin River’s Fire Woman (Cinder/Stapleton) broke away in the worst heat of the day. Both dogs worked hard to fight through the heat. At 18 they were found standing on the right side line following the first creek crossing. Both handlers dismounted and a bird was produced as both handlers fired their guns. Both dogs continued to work forward. At 30 Kimber was found standing on the left side line after the second creek crossing. Cinder came up on the find but failed to back and was picked up. Jarrett was able to produce a bird on Kimber’s second find. At 35 Jarrett elected to pick Kimber up as she struggled to battle the heat.
Sugar Cane Express (Ray/Chadwell) and Southwind’s Silent Stalker (Dexter/ Beckley) were away Sunday morning at 8:00 a. m. This brace produced the honorable mention dog, Dexter. The heat was already beginning to build. Both dogs were found on their first birds at 10 just past the first creek crossing in the trees on the right side line. Both handlers worked within 50 yards of each other, on separate sides of the treeline, to produce a bird. Jody produced a bird in the middle of the treeline between the two dogs and both handlers elected to shoot. Ray continued working the right side after the find and pointed again at 15 with Chad producing a bird. Just ahead of Ray’s second find, on the hill on the right side, Dexter pointed at 17 and Jody produced a bird. At 27 Dexter worked the far right side just before the road and pointed. Meanwhile, on the left side, Ray kicked up a bird in the path and failed a stop to flush and was picked up. Jody was unable to produce a bird on the hill. At 39 Dexter was found standing on top of the hill on the left following the second creek crossing and a bird was produced. At 41 Dexter was found standing on his fourth find at the very top of the hill after the creek crossing. With seconds left in the hour, Dexter worked the entire left side line, coming to a stop as time was called, Jody producing a bird to end the brace.
Fortius Wrigs (Sean Anderson) and Alpine’s Playing With Fire (Cinder/Gingrich) broke away with temperatures climbing into the high 80s. At 6 on the far treeline ahead Wrigs was standing with Cinder backing. Sean dismounted and was able to produce a bird. At 13 Cinder was standing on the left side line just after the second creek crossing. After relocating Cinder did not re-establish point and an unproductive was carded. At 17 the gallery rode up to both dogs standing with Brian calling a stop to flush. He dismounted and fired his gun. At 23 Wrigs was found standing on the right side on the hill, Cinder backing. Wrigs was relocated several times but Sean was unable to produce a bird. At 30 on the left side just beyond where he was standing earlier Wrigs pointed and Sean was able to produce a bird. At 47 Wrigs was again found standing on the right after the creek crossing; a bird was produced. After battling the oncoming heat both dogs were picked up prior to the end of the hour.
Cali’s Wiki Mai Tai at Sunset (Chadwell) and Vezeto’s Alpine Redemption (Oliver/Gingrich) were loosed as the temperatures began to approach 90° with minimal wind movement. At 5 Mia pointed along the left side of the hay field, Oliver backing. Chad produced a bird. Oliver turned to mark the bird while backing and Brian elected to pick him up. At 9 Mia was standing in the milo strip on the left after the road. After being relocated, Chad elected to take an unproductive after being unable to produce a bird. Chad elected to pick Mia up.
Thayer, Ia., September 13
Judges: Brooks Carmichael and Tommy Thomas
MIDWEST VIZSLA OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] — 30 Vizslas
Winner—C K TOUCHDOWN SASSY, 1678000, female, by Touchdown Kid—C K Guy’s Dee Dee. Jim Gingrich, owner; Brian Gingrich, handler.
Runner-Up—MILLSTAR’S LION RAMPANT, 1675351, male, by Lundy’s Red Bull—C K Millstar’s Wee Dram. Mike Chowning, owner; Laura Miller, handler.
Gary Jagoda Derby Classic
Then first brace, B G K’s Bolt Action (Bell) and Midnight Run’s Alpine Dragon Fire (Dany/Gingrich), cast off in the heat of the day on Sunday afternoon as temperatures reached 90°. They made their way down the left side. At 10 Bolt pointed on the left just exiting the hay field. Jarrett flushed a bird. At 15 Bolt was again found standing on the left treeline next to the milo strip. As Jarrett got off his horse a 5-6 bird covey flushed out of the treeline. Bolt took off trying to decide how to follow all the birds at once. Dany had no bird contact. Both dogs finished ahead fighting the heat.
Sunset Trail’s Locked N’Loaded (Remi/Gingrich) had a single find in the left treeline exiting the second creek crossing coming into the hay field. As Brian dismounted, the bird flew, Remi chasing it. As Remi was standing on her first bird, B G K’s Lone Gunman (Wyatt/Bell) pointed ahead of Remi on the left line exiting the hay field. Jarrett flushed a bird. Both dogs continued to work hard to battle the 90° temperature and both finished going toward the parking lot.
C K Guy’s Angel (Tess/Gingrich) and Hess Farms Orange Blaze (Hess) were away 7:00 a. m. on Monday morning. The day started warm and humid and soon reached 90°. This brace produced the second and third place dogs. Both dogs worked their way down the left side and made their way to the first creek crossing. Blaze found his first bird at 10 just after the first creek crossing. At 12 Tess pointed across the path on the left. As Brian dismounted a bird flushed. Tess had her second find at 28 on the far line coming out of the third creek crossing. Both dogs had two finds, making forward moves along both the right and left side treelines. The brace ended with both of them going forward toward the parking lot after the third creek crossing.
Diamond C’s Redheaded Paddy was picked up by Gingrich at the halfway point due to the handler’s concern that he wasn’t running normally and he did not have any bird contact in the brace. C K Guy’s Trump (Chenoweth) was found standing on his first bird at 9 on the right side treeline after the first creek crossing. He then made his way down the right side line and again pointed at 12. Trump had a nice forward race through the last half of his brace and at 18 had his third and final find on the left side treeline coming out of the third creek crossing. Trump finished his brace going forward after his third find.
Burr Oak’s Wilma (Gingrich) and C K Guy’s Diva (JJJ) broke away just after 8:15 a. m., temperatures already warm. Both dogs made their way forward through the first half of the course. Diva was found standing on her first find on the left side in the treeline across from the milo strip just after the water tubs coming out of the hay field. JJJ dismounted and produced a bird while Diva stood broke. Diva had her second find at 29 just before time in the treeline at the far end of the field coming out of the final creek crossing. Wilma did not have any bird contact during the brace. Both dogs finished going forward toward the parking lot.
Both Sunset Trail’s Case Hardened Resilience (Rue/Gingrich) and C K Guy’s Light My Fire (Flame/ Chenoweth) worked their way down to the first creek crossing. At 9 Rue came out of the creek crossing and pointed on the right treeline. Brian produced a bird out of the trees. Both dogs worked the left side going towards the second creek crossing, and at 19 Flame had her first bird at the very far left side edge just before exiting the hay field. Ron produced a bird out of the treeline. Flame had her second find at 30 as time was called. Both dogs finished the brace.
Hess Farms Flaming Arrow (Hess) and Reve’s Royal Hawaiian (Aly/Chadwell). The 7th brace produced the winner Reve’s Royal Hawaiian. Both dogs worked as the temperatures again started to approach 90° on a very hot and humid final day. Aly was standing on her first bird at 18 in the middle of the hay field approaching the road and first watering tubs. The bird took off just as Chad dismounted with Aly in hot pursuit. Aly took off to the left side line and exited the hay field. Both dogs continued working their way to the watering tubs. At 23 after working the left side line following her first find, she was again found standing in the milo strip on the left just after the watering tubs with another bird produced. Aly made her way toward the final creek crossing and along the left side of the field coming out of the creek crossing. Aly finished going forward toward the parking lot with tremendous ground speed in the searing heat, and pointed again just as time was called. Arrow did not have any bird contact during the brace.
Ishboy (JJJ), as a bye, had a find at 23 along the left side in the middle of the hay field. Handler picked up early.
Katniss (Dick Steele) and B G K Hess Farms Indy (Hess). Indy took the lead during this last and hottest brace of the day. While both dogs toughed it out, neither dog had bird contact to report.
GARY JAGODA DERBY CLASSIC — 17 Vizslas
1st—REVE’S ROYAL HAWAIIAN, 1686906, female, by C K Post Route Scout—Burr Oak’s Reve. Charles Chadwell & Nancy Browne, owners; Chad Chadwell, handler.
2d—HESS FARMS ORANGE BLAZE, 1680212, male, by Kick Em Up Bullet—Spreadin Like Wild Fire. Jason Boschert, owner; Justin Hess, handler.
3d—C K’S GUY’S ANGEL, 1686481, female, by C K Touchdown Guy—Vanguard’s Make Her Mark. Cody Engebretson, owner; Brian Gingrigh, handler.