2007 U.S. Complete National Open Championship
NAT CH.
Verline's Ringo Star
RU CH
Touchstones Little Bett
By Meredith Jones
Verlene’s Ringo Star, four and a half year old pointer male, was named the U. S. Complete 2007 National Open Champion on March 24, 2007 by judges Mills Hodge and Jim Jones. Running in the 15th brace, under the handle of his trainer, Tony Bingham of Shelby, N.C., Ringo carded six flawless finds during his bid. From the breakaway it was clear that Ringo was a force to be reckoned with. At 3.17, Ringo shared a find with his brace mate, New Storm (Jones). After flush and shot, both dogs were sent on. Storm had an unfavorable encounter with a bird that had been walked up and was up at 11. Ringo pointed near the pheasant tower at 12 and all was in order at flush and shot. Ringo’s third find came at 19 on the woods edge down from the tower. Hunting to the front , Ringo scored again at 25 at the field edge just before the ditch crossing. After crossing the ditch, Ringo took in the entire edge of the big green field with speed and style. He then hunted through the feed patch and along the ditch bank beside the road. At 46 Ringo was pointing at the pond dam. Bingham flushed for Ringo and he remained staunch through the shot. Near where the course loop ends Ringo had his final find at 56 with all in order. Sent into the big field, Ringo hunted the cover area and finished with a big cast across the field and along the edge to end of the field.
Touchstone’s Little Bett, Six and one half year old pointer female, also handled by Tony Bingham and owned by John Snow of Mount Airy, North Carolina was named Runner Up. Bett, fresh off wining the Bob Lee Classic the week before, was braced with Wynot Ranger (Robbins) in the third brace. Bett’s first find came at the Pheasant Tower at 14. After a lengthly flushing attempt, two birds were flushed by Bingham and Bett remained high and staunch at shot. She pointed at 32 in a feed patch with Ranger backing. Another long flushing attempt ensued, followed by successful relocation on a small covey of running birds Ranger was not pleasing Robbins and was leashed at 40. At the end of the course loop, Bett scored at 48 and then again at 50. She was then sent into the big field and had a strong finish on the edge.
Ringo’s owner, Verlene Stephenson, of Seaboard, North Carolina, was riding in the gallery to watch her Ringo as was J. R. Hasty, who was Ringo’s breeder and who campaigned him as a derby.
The judges for this year’s renewal both have vast amounts of experience judging, handling and training walking shooting dogs. Mills Hodge, of West End North Carolina has been campaigning walking and horseback field trial dogs for many years. Mills was involved in the initial development of the U.S. Complete Shooting Dog Association and has served in many offices The first year that this stake was run; Mills won the Runner up title with Bob Lee’s Star. Jim Jones, from Gloucester, Virginia has trained and field trialed his own dogs since the 70’s. He has successfully campaigned his dogs in walking, and horseback stakes. He served as president of the Virginia U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association as well as the president of Virginia Field Trial Association. These gentlemen are both accomplished horsemen. They spent five days in the saddle evaluating the sixty five dogs that competed for this coveted title. Kelly Fogg, veteran trainer, breeder and handler of Buxton Maine was to have shared the judicial responsibilities. However on the day before she was to depart, her brother was in a serious accident. Our field trial fraternity wants Kelly to know that our thoughts are with her.
The Championship was run over the grounds of Tall Cotton Hunting Preserve in Ahoskie, North Carolina. This facility is owned by Mr. E. R. Evans and covers some 2,000 acres. The course was laid out in a large loop which included piney wood, broom sage fields, large winter wheat fields, feed patches and a large open field for finish. Mr. Evans opened up his hunting lodge facilities for use as a headquarters and his bunkhouse for use of the field trial committee. Mr. Evans rode almost every brace with us. We appreciate his hospitality.
Our national president, Rich Warters presided over the activities during the five days and was ably assisted by a committee of individuals who saw to it that all details were well attended to. Field trial chairman Phil Culberth served as marshal and rode every brace with the exception of his own. Lee Layman was busy each morning and every brace planting birds for the five days. J. R. Hasty drove the gallery wagon each day. Verlene Stephenson saw to it that we were all well fed, arranging for daily lunches and both handler’s dinners. Mr. Evans provided us with a gallery wagon and a tractor to pull it. Mark Boone, Bobby Phillips, Carl Bishop and Waverly Coleman took turns at the wheel.
Pen raised quail in the area have been extremely difficult to come by and President Warters had contracted for the birds well in advance of the championship. The supplier failed to honor the contract; however Gary Ansell was able to arrange with Dr. Aubrey Morgan and Berbel Fetkolter of the all age circuit to allow us to purchase the birds that had been allotted for the canceled Eastern Open Shooting Dog Championship.
In addition to the purse, the new Champion and Runner Up received Precise Dog Food, gift certificates from Tracker and Gun Dog Supply and knives from Taylor Brands. The Champion received an automatic dog feeder from Gun Dog Supply
Bunkie Trinity Trophies of Richmond, Virginia designed and crafted engraved crystal vases for the Champion and Runner Up. John Willis Studios donated a one of a kind etched marble plaque for the champion.
Craig Peters, the owner of last year’s champion, Keystone’s Red Ryder, sponsored a handler’s dinner on Wednesday night featuring pork with all the trimmings.
Our national sponsor, Precise Pet Foods, hosted our Friday night handler’s steak dinner and awards ceremony at the Ahoskie Inn. The Precise representative, Doug Kaiser, was on hand for Friday’s running as well as the dinner and ceremony on Friday night. Precise’s continuing support is greatly appreciated.
THE RUNNING
Brace 1 Thunderbird Jammer (Travis Gelhaus) with J-Rex (J.C. Bryant)
The first brace of the championship was turned loose after lunch on Monday afternoon. Rex pointed at 20 with Jammer backing and all was in order. At 35 Rex was picked up near the dam for a breach of manners on birds. Jammer continued hunting to the front scoring a find on a dead pheasant at 40 and a find on a single quail at 46.
Brace 2 Miss Fearless Scooter (Greg Isenberg) with Indian Creek Saga (Gary Malzone)
After this pair was turned loose both dogs hunted well to the front digging into the cover. Scooter had a find on a single at 32 near the pond. Saga hunted hard to the front, made several long casts, but was never rewarded for her efforts during the hour.
Brace 3 Wynot Ranger (Al Robbins) with Touchstones Little Bett (Bingham)
This brace has been previously described
Brace 4 Zumbro’s Ace (Gelhaus) with Pinekone Jack (Dale Morgan)
The fourth brace was the last brace to run on Monday. Jack pointed at 3 and Ace came in and backed and all was in order. Ace was up at 7 after an indiscretion with a bird. Jack’s second find came at 12 and all was in order with this running bird. Jack pointed at 16 and a bird was produced after a long flushing attempt. Jack had his fourth find under the deer stand at 26 with all in order. Jack had additional finds at 33, and 35. Jack pointed again at 39. A slow fluttering bird proved to be his undoing and his hour ended prematurely. In the previous brace a request to examine a female suspected of being in heat was carried out by the judges. They found no evidence and the work of this brace of males was conclusive evidence that the grounds had not been contaminated.
Brace 5 Carolina’s Rough Rider (Bingham) with Eboga Bashful (KenTolbert)
The fifth brace was the first brace of the day on Tuesday morning. Rider pointed at 6 and Bashful failed to back and was picked up. Bingham was unable to produce bird and Rider was taken on. Rider pointed near the pheasant tower at 14 and all was in order at flush and shot. Rider pointed again at 16. After 2 relocation attempts no bird was produced and Rider was up for having 2 unproductives.
Brace 6 Sporty Andy (Art Mourino) with Gazzola Miss Casey (Gelhaus)
After Andy and Miss Casey were turned loose, Miss Casey pointed at 6 with Andy backing. All was in order and the dogs were sent on. Casey returned with a bird in her mouth and was leashed. Andy continued to hunt at a moderate pace with multiple finds, finishing his hour near the end of the course.
Brace 7 Bob’s Miller Sue (Bob Phillips) with Awsum Madness (Bob Leach)
Quite a contrast to the previous brace, either the birds had quit moving or scenting had changed. This pair of pointers hunted hard. Madness tallied a find at15 and an unproductive at 20. Sue came up with a find at 40 with Madness backing. Both dogs finished to the front.
Brace 8 Indian Creek Missy (Malzone) with Thunderbird Punch Buggy (Gelhaus)
Both the pointer and setter had exciting races; however neither dog could manage a find. It seemed that bird finding had come to a halt.
Brace 9 Earl’s Boss (Bryant) with Eboga Bud (Tolbert)
Once again we saw no bird work in this brace before lunch. Bud was lost and although Boss had a good race, he could not come up with a bird. It seamed like an ideal time for lunch and a change of horses. Hopes were that scenting conditions would improve in the afternoon
Brace 10 Summer Heat (Mourino) with Lady Brenda (Phillips)
Summer and Brenda were the first dogs to run after lunch. The birds really began to move after lunch. Summer, a stylish setter, went on a bird finding mission, carding finds at 8, 13, 18, & 25. At 26 she went with a bird and was up. Brenda had a similar fate scoring finds at 11, 14, 28, and 40. Birds lifted in the broom straw at 46 and the temptation was too much for Brenda.
Brace 11 Lincoln Country Grace (Bingham) with Ebola Star (Tolbert)
This was the last brace run on Wednesday. This pair of pointer females was off like the wind, racing to the front. Their exuberance got the best of them as both had encounters with birds that ended their challenge early
Brace 12 Rambling Shadow (Gary Ansell) with Hobbs Pete Rose (Garner Dement)
The 12th brace was the first brace to run on Wednesday. Shadow pointed at 6 and Pete backed however Ansell was unable to produce the bird. Sent on, Shadow passed Pete on point at 8 and did not back and was picked up. After the find at 8, Pete had finds at 14, and 18, however Pete had an infraction with a bird. These were two stylish pointers. Pete had an eye-catching style both on the ground and on point.
Brace 13 Pinekone Spade (Ashby Morgan) with Merritt’s Blaze (Terry Merritt)
The thirteenth brace was away with both dogs moving to the front quickly with Spade pointing at 8 and Blaze backing. Spade was up as a result of a breach of manners. Blaze continued on with a good race and finds at 21, 29, 45, and an unproductive at 55. Blaze had everyone watching closely. He hunted merrily and stood tall on his finds. A late mishap with a bird may have cost him a placement.
Brace 14 Gazzola Lady Sue (Gelhaus) with Eboga Slick Deal (Tolbert)
Sue and Deal were turned loose and Deal pointed at 3 and all was in order at flush and shot. Deal’s second find came at 7 with Deal showing excellent manners. Sue had a find at 9 and all was in order. Sue’s second find came at13 and the dog remained steady for flush and shot. Deal scored again at 15 with all in order. Sue pointed at 19 and Gelhaus produced the bird and all was in order. Sue had an unfavorable encounter with a bird at 40 and was up. Deal continued on with a stylish find at 50 and a strong finish.
Brace 15 New Storm (Jones) with Verlene’s Ringo Star (Bingham)
This brace has been previously described.
Brace 16 Thunderbird Ginger (Gelhaus) with Slim Jim (Gary Miller)
This brace was turned loose after lunch. Ginger backed her brace mate at 4 and was picked up later by handler. Jim had finds at 4, 13, 16, 21, 30, 35, and 39, however he was not pleasing Miller and was picked up.
Brace 17 Bob’s Elhew Nell (Phillips) with Chki Rosebud (Al Ladd)
The 17th brace was short. Both dogs had infractions with a bird early and were picked up.
Brace 18 Ard Righ Rockette (Bingham) with South Bond Chicka (Pat Casey)
This pair left the break away and both dogs had big, strong races. Rockette had clean finds at 5, 30, and 34; Chica had finds at 3, 11, and 33. These two were hunting hard and fast and the birds were apparently moving a bit too much for these two. Both dogs were up before their hour for breaches of manners. This was an exciting brace to watch until its unfortunate end.
Brace 19 Lumber River Gold (Phill Culberth) with Eboga Repo (Tolbert)
These two had a good breakaway and Repo had a find at 5:30 and Gold had a find at 6. Both finds were all in order however both dogs had indiscretions with birds a short time later and the brace was ended.
Brace 20 Come Back Casey (Rex Cottle) with Nordic Jack (Casey)
Casey and Jack were turned loose and both dogs went to the front and Casey was pointing at10. All was in order at flush and shot. Jack had his first find near the pheasant tower at 12. Casey had a mishap with a bird at 16 and was up. Jack suffered an unproductive at 19. Jack’s second find came at 25 with all in order. Jack pointed at 30 but Casey was unable to produce a bird and he was up for having two unproductives.
Brace 21 Merritt’s Bruno (Merritt) with C’Tans Scyther (Bingham)
Bruno and Scythe went to the front early with Scyther pointing at 3 with Bruno backing. All was in order at flush and shot. Sent on Bruno had finds at 7, 8, 11, and 13. Scyther’s second find came at 16 with all in order. Bruno had additional finds at 18, 25, 32, 38, and 39. Scyther was not pleasing his handler and was picked up at 30.
Brace 22 Come Back Audie (Cottle) with High Amp (Gelhaus)
After breakaway, Audie pointed at 5 with Amp backing. Both dogs were sent on and Amp pointed at 10. All was in order at flush and shot. Audie pointed again at 13 but was up as the result of an indiscretion with the bird. Amp was picked up at 30.
Brace 23 Ledgehill Lizzy (Leech) with Eboga Crackerjack (Tolbert)
This was the last brace to run before lunch. After a find at 5, Crackerjack was lost. Lizzy had unproductives at 14 and 16 and was up.
Brace 24 Class Acts Spanky (David Keck) with Rivers Edge Boozer. (Gelhaus)
The 24th brace was the first braced loosed after lunch. Shortly after breakaway, Boozer had an infraction with a bird and was up. After a lengthy absence, Spanky was found on point at 17 and all was in order at flush and shot. Spanky’s second find came at 23 and a find at 33 required relocation. He went on to have finds at 35 and 40; however he had a breach of manners with a bird at 45 and was up.
Brace 25 A Tarheel Sweetlick (McGuire) with Waybetter Speck (Collin Bishop).
Sweetlick was scratched so Speck ran as a by. Speck had a big stylish race and a strong finish coupled with multiple finds and one unproductive. Speck’s unproductive came at 6. Moved on he had finds at 26, 32, 42, 52, 55, 58, and at pickup.
Brace 26 Comeback Judy (Cottle) with Triple L’s Kate (Bingham)
Judy had a mishap with a bird at breakaway and Kate had finds at 4, 12, and 15 before she went unseen for a long period of time and Bingham called for the tracker.
Brace 27 Class Act Buffy (Keck) with Pinot Noir (Gelhaus)
After breakaway for this first brace on Friday, Buffy had a find at 15 however on her find at 20 the temptation won out and she was up. Noir had a find at 4 but liked Buffy’s s bird at 15 a bit too much and was up.
Brace 28 Bobs Elhew Maggie (Phillips) with Porter Meadow Mack (Jim Bush)
Maggie and Mack broke away, moving strongly to the front. Mack suffered an unproductive at 3 and scored at 11 with all in order. After a ten minute absence, Maggie had returned and was hunting to the front. At this time, both dogs suffered unproductive, Maggie at 19 and Mack at 20 with Maggie backing. This being Mack’s second unproductive, he was taken up. Maggie scored additional finds at 25, 37, 39, 41, and 43. At the end of the brace Maggie was sent into the big field and she crossed it and swung left and carried the edge. She was out of sight and scout rode to the top of the small rise and called point. Maggie was standing on the edge of the thicket at the far end of the field. Phillips flushed a bird for Maggie and she stood high and steady for flush and shot.
Brace 29 Day Tripper (Ladd) with Class Act Spur (Keck)
After breakaway Tripper scored at 5. Scout found Spur pointing at 8. All was in order as Keck flushed and shot. Tripper scored again at 10 with Spur backing. Sent on Spur had finds at 13, 29 and 30. On his last find a breach of manners ended Spur’s bid. Tripper had an additional find at 20 and during a relocation attempt at 30 he was also up for a breach of manners.
Brace 30 Raynor’s Elhew Lady (Jerry Raynor) with A TarhIll Passion (McGuire)
After this pair was away Lady had an unfavorable encounter with a bird shortly after breakaway. Passion was running a big race. He was found on point by scout at 6. All was in order as handler flushed and shot. At 10 Passion was charged with an unproductive. He scored additional finds at18, 28, 40, 49, 52 and 56. At the end of his hour he made a big cast across the big green field in front of the pond dam. After scout was sent out, Passion returned to handler and was picked up.
Brace 31 Bersik’s Wild Rose (John Bersik) with Sue’s Annie Oakley (Bingham)
Bersik and Bingham turned this pair loose after the lunch break. Rose pointed to the left of the road shortly after breakaway and all was in order at flush and shot. After a long absence Rose had a find at 25 with all in order. Rose’s final find came at 56 in the same area where she had her first find at the breakaway. Annie was lost early.
Brace 32 Way better Bubbles (Bishop) with Berg’s Head Turner (Gelhaus)
These two were to the front quickly. After finds at 12 and 17 Bubbles was picked up by her handler. Head Turner went on to have finds at 13, 21, 33 and 39 and finished at the big field.
Brace 33 Merritt’s Pearl (Merritt) with Miss Fibber Magee (Bingham)
Pearl got right to work with a find at 3 with all in order. Busily hunting the course she had additional finds at 12, 34, 37, 38, 42, and 44. When sent into the big field at the course’s end she made a big cast to the right end of the field. Fiber suffered an unproductive at 5:18. Sent on, Fibber scored again at 12 near the pheasant tower, with all in order. Prior to the ditch crossing Fibber pointed, however after a relocation attempt, Bingham was unable to produce a bird and Fibber was up for having her second unproductive.
Some Sidelights
At the handler’s steak dinner sponsored by Precise Pet Foods on Friday night, President Rich Warters announced that the judges had named five dogs with notable performances in addition to the Champion and Runner Up. Those five were Eboga Slick Deal, Wayubetter Speck, Bobs Elhew Maggie, A Tarheel Passion and Merritt’s Pearl.
The sportsmanship and comradery amongst owners and handlers, both professional and amateur, which is so typical of the U. S. Complete circuit, was never more evident than it was at this championship. Professional handlers, who are competing businessmen, were always willing to scout or help out another handler, professional or amateur, in any way they could even tho it could cost them a placement.
National secretary, Yevone McKeag was with us on Tuesday and joined us for the handler’s dinner and awards ceremony on Friday.
Many impromptu parties developed which were enjoyed by many, including our president, Rich Warters.
A new face amongst the group was Canadian professional Travis Gelhaus. Travis was a real pleasure to spend time with and we hope to see him again real soon and wish him luck with his string of dogs.
At lunch and dinner on Wednesday we helped Pennsylvanian Collin Bishop celebrate his 24th birthday.
Phillip Culberth, North Carolina State President served a marshal and announced each brace before its start. At the first of the week, Phil was having some difficulty with the pronunciation of Travis Gilhaus’s last name. After much kidding and laughter we all decided that Phil had it down to a “T” by Friday
Every gathering of people and or animals has the task of the final cleanup. This is so important when you have run on private grounds. Verlene Stephenson, Mark Boon, and J. R. Hastey were at the grounds early Saturday morning seeing to it that Tall Cotton was left just as we had found it. Terry Merritt and Judy and Meredith Jones were able to give them some help with this.
The support from our sponsors, Precise Pet Products, Innotek, Gun Dog Supply, and Taylor Brands is greatly appreciated.