Shooting Dog Championship Winners
Champion - BGK Gotta Briar In My Boot "Briar" O - Justin and Michelle Hess H - Jamie Fountain
Runner Up - Peles Wiki Aloha Spirit "Shaka" O Chad Chadwell & Nancy Browne H - Chad Chadwell.
By Mark Johnson
WAYNESBORO, GA. — The National Vizsla Association (NVA) held the 2019 renewal of its Shooting Dog Championship at Di-Lane Plantation near Waynesboro, Ga., again this year.
Beginning on February 13, a day before Valentine’s Day, an energized group of dogs and handlers waited out the morning before breaking away at 1 p. m.
One of our advertised judges, Mr. Tom Davis, was simply unable to get out of the Ohio snow and ice to join us in Waynesboro. Tom had just returned home from Grand Junction following his induction into the German Shorthaired Pointer group’s Hall of Fame and could not get out of town due to severe weather leaving roads and interstate highways closed up near his home.
Fortunately we were able to secure the services of Jim Wallace, another Ohioan, who was in the area developing dogs and serving as a judge at other trials.
Local plantation manager, knowledgeable judge, and experienced dog trainer Buck Daniels served as our second and advertised judge. Both of these gentlemen gave their full attention to dogs for the next day and one half and their decisions were well received.
As we have previously reported, DiLane Plantation is an 8000+ acre wildlife area managed by the State of Georgia and has a rich history of bird dogs running through these Georgia pines. Numerous championships are held on these grounds throughout the months of January and February and we are most fortunate to have access to the venue for our annual Eastern Championship.
Last year a major logging operation took place throughout the plantation clearing up storm damage and doing selective cutting which really opened up the country particularly on course No. 1.
The DNR staff is most courteous and welcoming to the field trial community as are the town and merchants of Waynesboro, aka “The Bird Dog Capital of the World”.
Weather conditions had been a bit on the warm side for the previous week but leveled off for our event to offer cooler temperatures with rain showers skirting the plantation. While we liberated a good many birds for the Championship our contestants enjoyed numerous encounters with pre-release coveys during the NVA Eastern as well as during the Southeastern Continental Breed Championship which immediately followed this event. Suffice to say, dogs that used the country with intelligence and reach were rewarded with the opportunity to show their manners and intensity on game.
No field trial, much less championships, can survive without the support of dedicated owners, handlers, committee volunteers, quality judges and supporting sponsors.
Of special note, Nestlé Purina and Greg Blair supported this year’s Championship with Pro Plan product and collateral materials which were awarded to the winners. Purina is a longtime exclusive pet food supporter of National Vizsla Association Championships.
Garmin has also been a longtime sponsor of NVA Championships and this Eastern Championship winner was awarded one of their new integrated track and train collars.
Chad Chadwell served as stake manager, and Tippe Fountain served as secretary for this year’s event and made sure all participants and attendees were well fed. Her low country boil dinner on Wednesday evening was a big hit again this year and all who know her look forward to her next meal, be it hot cinnamon rolls and coffee for breakfast, homemade soups at mid-day or “power” desserts, suitable for offering in the best restaurants in Georgia.
Jamie Fountain and the writer filled in as needed to release birds, attend to participant needs and other duties necessary to run a championship caliber stake.
Last but certainly not least we want to acknowledge and thank the owners and handlers who entered their dogs. Several came from afar while others were local central Georgia folks.
The Winners
This year’s winner and runner-up were braced together early in the Championship (brace No. 2). Briar In My Boot, owned by Justin Hess of Foley, Mo., and handled by Jamie Fountain, put on a solid one-hour performance, carding two finds and a mannerly back. Briar was found pointing at 24 between the two creeks on course No. 1, backed his bracemate at 26 and was found pointing again at 33 in a plum thicket near the pipe line road. He finished the hour below the back of the barn on course No. 1, having canvassed the country well for his last 20 minutes.
Runner-up Pele’s Wiki Aloha Spirit (Shaka) was handled by owner Chad Chadwell of Springfield, Ill., and was credited with two finds; the first at 16 along the pines prior to the first creek crossing on course No. 1. Birds were flushed with all in order and she was taken on where her second find was credited at 26. Shaka finished the hour with purpose and stamina below the barn.
Waynesboro, Ga., February 13 — One Course
Judges: Buck Daniels and Jim Wallace
NATIONAL VIZSLA ASSOCIATION EASTERN OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] — 15 Vizslas
Winner—BRIAR IN MY BOOT, 1662736, male, by Boot Scootin Boogie—Kick Em Up Kimber. Justin Hess, owner; Jamie Fountain, handler.
Runner-Up—PELE’S WIKI ALOHA SPIRIT, 1663412, female, by C K Touchdown Guy—Pete’s Wiki Hawaiian Punch. Chad Chadwell, owner and handler.
Derby Classic
The derby was canceled due to low entry numbers.