The 2007 National Invitational Amateur Championship

Reported By Gary Ansell

 

             The 2007 National Invitational Amateur Championship was held in Ahoskie NC, on Dec. 14-16 at Dr Aubrey Morgan’s Arcanum Field Trial Grounds. There were plenty of wild coveys and released quail on the grounds. The course was groomed to perfection for this Invitational National Championship. The weather was 40 degrees in the morning and by afternoon 65 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.

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Judges for this Championship was Bill Fowle from VA and Tom Pastula from SC. Ritchie Frisella from RI came down to help planting birds for the trial. Frank Monahan, who helped each day with getting the lunches, from the Corner Store, (Good old southern style cooking) Frank also supplied the tractor for the gallery wagon. Rickey Bryant drove the tractor the 2nd year for this trial, not missing a brace. A really big help! The Handlers Dinner was Friday night at the 561 Club. Dinner was provided by Woods Chick’s BBQ

            Thursday night the braces were drawn for the 1st day of qualifying.  Friday evening the braces were drawn for the second day of qualifying.  The drawing for the call back was Saturday evening.  For the call back on the 3rd day

This US Complete National Invititational Amateur Championship Trial is run on a Different Format from all the other US Complete trials. The 12 Dogs run for 1 hr. the first day, redrawn for the second day for another hr of running and then there is a callback for the third day of 4 or 6 of the top performing dogs to be run for the 1.5 hour brace on a different course.

It is very challenging for the dogs and handlers to compete at this level.   Knowing that their dog could be the next National Invitational Amateur Champion. The dogs and handlers have to have a lot stamina and endurance to get through the grueling 3 days of clean performance  with the dogs keeping their running and pointing style to perfection as a to be National Champion should.  

There were 4 dogs called back that gave a championship performance during the first 2 days of qualifying. All four dogs had what it takes to be named champion before the third day running.

First brace was Second to None (pointer) handled by David O’Brian and Merritt’s Pearl (setter) handled by Terry Merritt.

            The weather was bad in the morning, after the bad thunder storms Saturday night. The temperature dropped and the fog was thick.  The judges decided to wait for the fog to be blown out by the expected high winds. At 10 am the winds came in and within 10 min’s all the fog was gone. Both dogs broke away and it was great to see the dogs hit the edges.  Pearl was found on point all in order as the stylish setter stood high and mighty. Then Buddy pointed as the setter was in front and going on. Pearl was found on point with Buddy backing what a Kodak moment this was as the gallery looked on. All was perfect manners. Both dogs faded out of site and Pearl was seen chasing something (no birds were seen) and Pearl was sent on. Buddy was then seen giving chase, stopped and pointed. Buddy was picked up. Pearl was reaming the big bean field as she had a puppy moment with a wild covey. (She was picked up)

Second brace was last years National Invitational Champion Class Act Spur (pointer) handled by David Keck and Summer Heat (setter) handled by Art Mourino.

This brace started off with the setter with a lot of motor straight away to the front with Spur following. Both dogs were found running around in the woods, and the handlers got them out in a hurry. Summer was to the front again, hugging the edges. Then it happened,

Summer started mousing something across the field as she was flagging; Spur came up from behind and backed. Art tried to flush the bird Summer still flagging, David took his dog on, and Art flushed the bird and then he picked up Summer. Spur pointed in the woods, all was in order. Spur was lost and David asked, and the scout was sent out to locate the dog. 16 min’s passed and Spur came from behind and David sent him down the edge.   Spur pointed again, style lacking however all was in order.  Spur was sent on, Going down the edge Spur pointed again, all was in order. Spur was handling harshly and was pointed out off to the right in the pines as David was flushing Spur lost his intensity on point during the flush.  Spur was sent on and found to the front on the woods line. This proved to be an unproductive and was sent on. Spur was seen again reaming the big soy bean field and when Spur hit the hardwood cut Spur was seen sending quail to flight then he pointed. David shot and all was in order. David took the dog on as the 2 judges were talking about this situation.

While talking about this matter to make a positive decision, Both Judges rode up to David and handed him the tracker with 18 min’s left in the brace.

With this decision there would not be a 2007 National Invitational Champion named this year. The title would be withheld. The Judges told me that they could not place any dog National Champion that knocked Birds.

            This US Complete Invitational trial is the hardest of all the US Complete trials to win. The dogs that win these trials are special dogs that have all the nuts and bolts together for the grueling 3 days. I want to thank the Judges for keeping the US Complete standards high for this National Championship. Next year the high point dogs will return again for a shot for the Title of US Complete National Invitational Amateur Champion. (NO CHAMPION WAS NAMED THIS YEAR)

 

 Judges Tom Pastula and Bill Fowle

 Gary Ansell’s granddaughter, Melanie Thomas, this was Melanie’s first field trial

 

 Bob Phillips with Maggie pointing and Bobbie backing