2006 National Invitational Amate

2006 National Invitational Amateur Championship

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By Gary Ansell

Wow what a beautiful weekend for the U.S. Complete National Invitational Amateur Championship! The trail was held on December 15-17, 2006, in Ahoskie, NC on the Arcanum Field Trial Grounds provided by Dr. Aubrey Morgan. These grounds were perfect for running a Walking Dogs National Championship. The dogs had to rim large fields and tight turns in groomed broom straw pine woods. Then opening right back up, these dogs really had to handle and run the big country. The cotton fields were just cut down and which looked like snow. There were plenty of wild coveys and released quail on the grounds. The grounds were groomed to perfection for this Invitational National Championship. The weather was 40 degrees in the morning and by afternoon 60 degrees with sunny skies. Twelve dogs with the highest accumulative points were invited to compete. Eight o’clock started the one hour braces Friday and Saturday. All twelve dogs ran on Friday, with a drawing at the close of the day, to change out running orders and times for the next day. The judges were to call back four dogs on Sunday for one and half hour braces. Which to follow a National Invitational Amateur Champion would be named.

The judges for this Championship were Bobby Kirk, Cane Creek Kennels in NC, and Steve Egts of NC. The judges were highly qualified; both judges watched the dogs with so much intensity, not to miss a single stride of each dog. Totally focused on there quest to name a National Champion.

Many thanks to our judges and Frank Monahan, who helped each day with getting the lunches, form the Corner Store (Carolina Bar- B-Q) and southern fried chicken with all the trimmings. Frank kept everything in order. Frank also supplied the tractor for the gallery wagon. Rickey Bryant drove the tractor for the trial, not missing a brace. A really big help! Skip Barber planted the released birds. Skip, great job! Rich Warters, made the announcements before each brace.

Saturday night’s handler’s dinner was held at Mr. Evens Tall Cotton Shooting Preserve. Happy hour started out the evening with the menu consisting of a Bar-B-Q Chicken dinner. A special event of the evening was celebrating Judge Bobby Kirk’s Birthday.

Friday morning:

Ledgefield Lizzy (Bob Leach) and Bob's Elhew Maggie (Bob Phillips) ran to the front hitting the edges. Lizzy was always on the edge handling good for Bob. Both dogs trading off pointing and backing. Lizzy had a total of eight solid broke finds and Maggie hunted her heart out and ended up with eleven finds. What an exciting brace to start off the morning.

Bersik's Thrill Factor (John Bersik) and Holyoke Suzanne (Johnny Lewis).Sue had a good race and stylish on point with precision. She came up with four finds hunting the objectives. Factor was out front, his first find the birds were running and when relocated he pinned them. Everything was is order. Factor looked good on point and ran casting to the left and right. Factor came up with five finds.

Sue's Annie Oakley (Mark Boone) and Class Act Spur (David Keck). Both dogs hugged the edges with good speed with Spanky leading the way. Sue had the first find all was in order. Spur was always out front in the broom straw pines, the dogs were not seen. As we went through the pines the scout was sent out and at the end point was called for Spur. He was stacked up on the edge of the big pines. All in order. This was a Kodak Moment. Spur reamed the edges in search of game. He swapped ends twice and nailed the birds. When time was called Spur was still on the edges way out front. Sue had a lot of style and class running and on her game she was straight up on both ends. She hunted hard for Mark and came up with three finds with a lot of intensity on her birds. Sue got off course and dug in near the end of the brace the scout was sent out.

Quinton Oak Jake (Johnny Lewis) and Class Act Spanky (David Keck) Jake went right to work, hard driving on a hunting quest to find the packed away coveys Jake ran with good speed and class. Jake kept in touch with Johnny staying out front hitting the edges. Jake seemed to cover all the birdie objectives, and came up with seven finds. All was in order and with great style. I enjoyed watching him reaming the fields in search of game. Spanky hunted to the front David had a rough time handling him. Spanky ended up with six finds.

Second to None (Buddy) (Nabil Nassaranmi) and Richfield Silver Belle (Sidney) (Bill McNamee) .Both dogs flew out of site reaming the edge. When we came to the broom straw field both dogs standing with Sidney point and Buddy backing. What a beautiful site. Flushing, Bill could not produce birds so Nabil started to help flush out the birds. Both dogs were created with an unproductive. On relocation both dogs went on hunting. Buddy was fast and hunted with exciting style. Scout found him stacked up on point way down by the creek bottom. Buddy had a great race hit the cover and reamed the extreme edges, this saved Nabil from doing all the walking. He came up with four first class finds. Buddy was anxious after the flush. Sidney flew around the broom straw field and had five finds. Sidney hunted very hard but on some finds she was unsure of the location of her game. She ticked on some birds but when Bill got to her she tighten up, she was steady.

Northern Neck Hero (Gene Ruperti) and Reroy’s Smokin Jack (Lisa Bevan) Hero had a forward race but not contestant in his race. He ran with good style and looked good on his one find. Jack was the only setter running in this trial. Jack hunted at a slower pace. He was happy. Jack flagged on some of his finds. When Lisa got to him then he stanched up for the flush. Jack was a bird finder he tallied up six finds. When time was called Jack was glad.

Saturday’s running started with dogs on the line at 8:06 am cooler and the fog had lifted.

Second to None (Buddy) (Nabil Nassaranmi) and Quinton Oak Jake (Johnny Lewis)

Buddy and Jake were two dogs to watch. Buddy went places where no dog has been. He was always to the extreme, handling for Nabil. Buddy has five finds looking good but still anxious after the flush and went with the last one. This was a large wild covey and Buddy had them nailed. Buddy did not know what to think when they all got up so the ineffaceable happened, He went with the covey. Jake went on a hunting spree right away. He was fast to find game with two intense in the first 10 minutes. Jake racked up five very classy finds handled with grace and way out front as you would want a dog to do. Jake again was hitting all the birdie objectives, reaming the fields in search of Mr. Bob. Jake finished with a lot of motor.

Class Act Spanky (David Keck) and Northern Neck Hero (Gene Ruperti) Spanky ran a large race but on two of his birds he cat walked when David was approaching him. Spanky had Hero was scratched.

Richfield Silver Belle (Sidney) (Bill McNamee) and Reroy’s Smokin Jack (Lisa Bevan) Sidney had a real good race way out front, hunted very hard reamed the edges and came up with five finds one was a wild covey. Jack had four finds and a back, but hunted short.

Bersik's Thrill Factor (John Bersik) and Sue's Annie Oakley (Mark Boone) Factor had four finds and hunted the objectives. Factor had a beautiful find near the spillway looked awesome. Factor was so intense on his game. Sue had six finds and a back always off to the edges. She had good manners. Sue was hard to keep in front.

Holyoke Suzanne (Johnny Lewis and Bob's Elhew Maggie (Bob Phillips) Sue had two finds. On the second find Maggie was backing, all manners were in order with Sue. Both dogs had a forward race. Maggie had 1 find and on her back Bob was not happy with the performance so he picked her up.

Ledgefield Lizzy (Bob Leach) and Class Act Spur (David Keck). Both dogs hit the edges hard. Lizzy had three nice finds always out front swinging side to side when in cover. She had a big forward race. Spur on his second day had a larger race and seemed to get stronger. He flew around the edges going to the extreme objectives. Spur ended up with five finds. Spur had much motor left.

The judges called back four dogs for the final running. The lucky four were Richfield

Silver Belle, Ledgefield Lizzy, Class Act Spur and Quinton Oak Jake.

Sundays call back started at 8:30 am. The call back was to be a one and half hour brace and the course was to be different.

Richfield Silver Belle (Sidney) (Bill McNamee) and Class Act Spur (David Keck

Both dogs were fast and led the way. Both dogs on point right off the bat and a divided find was called. This was a known hide out for the wild coveys. Both dogs hugged the edge around the field with Sidney leading the way. Sidney pointed a long way away, she was flagging bad as Spur flew around her and went on. Spur pointed with good manners up on the edge of the field cut as Sidney reamed the large field and pointed on the far edge. Sidney was flagging again on point across the big field on the strip. When Bill got there she tightened up. Sidney’s style was lacking. Spur took the long way around on the edges reaching out. When we got to the pine road gap Spur was standing tall on the left and had the bird pinned. All manners were in order. In the broom straw pines Sidney was found by the scouts. Point was called and Sidney was staunch on point. Bill spent a long time flushing and Sidney stayed intent. Manners were good. Again Sidney had a off the coarse find by the spillway. All was in order. Sidney was on a quest for her to find game and was away for an extended time. She has a lot of motor. She had five finds.

Spur had another find on the field point as he still reamed the edges. When time was called Spur was so far out front in sixth gear hunting as David slowed down the walk. Spur had six finds all with manners.

Ledgefield Lizzy (Bob Leach) and Quinton Oak Jake (Johnny Lewis) both dogs hit the edges Lizzy had the first find dug in the woods all was on order with good style. Running the edges Lizzy pointed across the field. Jake came in to back, Bob flushed out the birds and when the gun shot, John’s heart stopped. Jake went with the bird. Jake had two finds. Lizzy went on racking up finds. She hunted for Bob keeping in touch from time to time. Lizzy started to shorten up and digging in. near the 1.15 hour mark, Lizzy Came in contact with a wild covey. She dug in more and Bob picked her up. Lizzy had five finds.

Total tally for birds found were 120 finds and four wild coveys in two and half days of running. All of these dogs which were invited to compete are great dogs and had to place a lot in local trials to get here. They are all bird finding machines.

Rich Waters Announced the National Champion Class Act Spur Handled by David Keck.

He was given the Arcanum Revolving Trophy given by Dr.Aubrey Morgan. A oil painting By Bird Dog Portraits Bob Channell, Sponsored by Precise Dog Food, A

Tri-tronics Training collar, A Free repair from Collar Clinic, Quail Unlimited also helped with Gifts for the winner and Judges. Thank you all for your help.