2008 GSCA Championship Results

2008 GSCA National Championships

National Champion: FC/AFC Tomar’s Renegade Crackerjack

National Championship

18 starters

National Champion: FC/AFC Tomar’s Renegade Crackerjack "Crackers"

R-U: NFC/NAFC/FC/AFC Par’s Falcon On The Prowl "Tiger"

3rd: DC Indian Sky Gordon Hill Scout "Scout"

4th: FC Tomar’s Whistling Dixie "Dixie"

JAM: Falcons Blind Sided "Strider"

2008 GORDON SETTER CLUB OF AMERICA

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Rick & Sharon Anderson welcomed us to their majestic Sulphur Creek Ranch located at the base of the Rattlesnake Hills. No finer landowner hosts exist anywhere and the field trialers in the far West are enormously grateful to them for the opportunity to show their dogs in one of the finest field trial grounds anywhere. Wide open spaces of grass and sage, without trees, afford an ideal area for viewing field trial dogs in wild bird country. No longer containing the incredible numbers of wild birds once existing, it is still the type of terrain which chukar and Hungarian partridge inhabit and there are always some wild birds present.

To most of us that don’t have the opportunity to ride in vast country such as this, distance has a new perspective as does change in elevation. From the cast off the dogs traverse ¼ mile of a very slight upslope, it really appears flat. From start of the rise to the water tank, ¾ mile, the course rises 560 vertical feet. Your steed will tell you how much work that climb is. This venue offers a challenge unseen in any previous GSCA Championship. Not highly technical to navigate as Fishtrap, cover not as deep as Solon Springs, no well established tree lines as Ionia or Flaherty. The Sulphur Creek challenge is a physical test coupled with openness. There is no place to hide a dog, he is either doing it or not. One can see a dog the whole way around, in fact with a good pair of binoculars you could watch two-thirds of the course right from camp and not miss a thing.

National Championship

Eighteen contenders came to the breakaway for this renewal. Our judges were Stan Noble and Harry Beck. Their work was before them and they handled it to the best of their abilities. Thank you gentlemen for your efforts.

The 2008 Gordon Setter Club of America National Field Champion

FC Tomar’s Renegade Crackerjack

(Crackers)

Crackers is a coming seven year old owned by Anne Boyd and trained/handled by Trena Cardwell. Crackers ran the second day just after the lunch break in brace ten. From the cast off he displays extreme range, rolling to the left of the first sage up the hill until he looks like a little black crow on the hillside up by the water tank. At 15 minutes he is rewarded for his effort with a find in the sage area below and to the left of the water tank, Crackers has a mannerly level tailed find. He gives the appearance that he is on his own, but Ms. Cardwell is able to bring him in for water at will. He makes the second water tank by the 20 minute mark, after a short swim he is sent on and he goes to places on the course that so far not been visited by a dog. Crackers hunts through Coyote Canyon in big fashion and exits at 41 minutes going away. He finishes without further bird contact.

The Running

Brace 1: Chaparral BangZ Look At Lil (Lilly) o/h: Linda Sanders

Shadowfax Fraser MacFarlane (Fraser) o: L. Barnett h: T. Cardwell

Both dogs break away showing moderate gun dog range. Both dogs weave their way up the hill to where we find Lilly carding her first find at six minutes in the first sage line with Fraser backing. Fraser with an upright stylish posture. Bird work is satisfactory and both dogs are sent on. Fraser cards his first piece of birdwork on the second sage line, the right side, at 11 minutes. Lilly has a breach in manners on a stop to flush and is picked up. Fraser’s birdwork is very stylish, holding high head and tail. Fraser scores his second find at 15 minutes near the gate which nears the top of the course. At 22 minutes Fraser on point again in the third sage line which is below and down course from the first water tank. Fraser handles with style and composure. 4 minutes down hill and down course Fraser is called on point, but comes up empty. He is sent on down the CRP slope towards the second water tank and crosses the road at 30 minutes still moving at the same pace as earlier. Fraser grinds his way uphill after the water tank at a close gun dog range and into a find at 37 minutes. Ms. Cardwell flushes and needs to relocate her charge to get a good location on the bird. Once again, Fraser with plenty of style. Handler elects to pick-up at 39 minutes.

Brace 2: FC Tomar’s Renegade Says Who (Sophie) o: S. Farnham h: T. Cardwell

Falcons Blind Sided (Strider) o/h: P. Sanborn

At cast off Sophie boils to the first sage line hunts through this and continues to the right hand sage line up to the gate. Due to injury Sophie is picked-up at 10 by handler. Strider working at moderate gun dog range to his find at 12 minutes near the fence short of the first water tank. Style is impressive and birdwork is in order. Strider weaves a path downhill through the CRP below the wellhead. Coyote Canyon is an area uphill from the second water tank and across a CRP flat, here Strider cards his second stylish find.

Brace 3: Ch. Shadowmere Spellbound Hiflyer (Amelia) o: C. Gold h: T. Cardwell

NFC/NAFC/FC/AFC Par’s Falcon On The Prowl (Tiger) o: G. Churton h: R. Smith

Amelia starts with a “rev up” loop and Tiger breaks to the front. Both dogs then trade the front to the second sage line at which Amelia takes a firm grasp of the front by the gate. 11 minutes finds Amelia handling a stop to flush. On the downhill slope below the sage, both dogs reaching to the front. In the sage line just under the wellhead at 18 minutes we find Amelia pointing a single chukar. All in order. Dogs reach the second water tank at 22 minutes. Amelia is called on point by her scout at 30 minutes in the semicircle of sage before Coyote Canyon. A bird is produced and handled with proper manners. At 35 minutes Tiger is hunting at moderate gun dog range. Just before he drops into Coyote Canyon Tiger racks up is first and only find. Style is upright and tail is straight. Three minutes later at 38 minutes Tiger points but no bird is produced.

We break for lunch and resume at 1pm.

Brace 4: Teutoburger Wald Sugar Magnolia (Maggie) o: C&B Ulness h: T. Cardwell

DC Indian Sky Gordon Hill Scout (Scout) o: S. Desilver h: M. Basilone

Both dogs break away fast and to the front with Maggie making the longer casts. Scout slips under the fence and hunts the “right side” of the fence for a short time before coming back. The pace for both dogs is very fast and reaches the second water tank at 20 minutes. Maggie stops on the left ridge of Coyote Canyon at 23 minutes, no bird is produced after an extended flushing attempt. 25 minutes finds Scout with a crouching posture on a bird in the sage semi-circle before Coyote Canyon. The bird is flown and all in order. This brace has been very fast and we end up coming close to the cast-off area.

Brace 5: NFC/FC/AFC Sierra-Nevada Hot Wheels (Jack) o: J. Grunbok & A. Boyd h: J. Grunbok

Ch. Conobtra’s Back To Life SH UD RN (Vita) o: L. Matzke h: R. Matzke

Jack makes big cast to the left over the rise and re-appears crossing between the first/second sage, at 13 minutes he is called on point in the sage below and to the right of the water tank. Jack’s posture is level and intense, a single is flown and handled properly. Vita applies herself in a moderate gun dog range. At 20 minutes Vita causes a bird to take flight and takes it for a ride, Jack fails to stop when this bird flies over his head.

Brace 6: NAFC Tomar’s Renegade Hot Attitude (Addie) o/h: J. Grunbok

Rice Creek Jesse James (Rigby) o/h: A Bailey

At cast off Addie with an extreme cast to the first sage, the second sage and up the hill. Rigby cards a stylish find at 6 minutes in the first sage. He holds his tail upright and all is in order on the single. Addie is seen by a judge moving under a bird and gets the rope. At 10 minutes Rigby scores in the sage line below and to the right of the water tank, again stylish upright posture. In the sage semi-circle before Coyote Canyon Rigby points. Allen flushes to no avail. Rigby is sent on but only moves 20-25 feet before pointing again. This bird is flown and all is in order. At about 28 minutes Rigby is seen under a bird. This was the last brace of the day.

Brace 7: Tomar’s Locust Hill Surprise (Jill) o: A. Boyd & D. Walker h: T. Cardwell

FC Cobb’s Golden Kernal (Kernal) o: L. Sanders & P. Jaeger h: G. Dixon

Both dogs break way fast and to the left. Kernal takes a tour above the first sage and is joined by Jill between that and the second sage area. Both dogs boldly take the hill where Kernal is called on point in the sage below and to the right of the water tank at 10 minutes. Style is upright on both ends. The handler kicks the sage in front of Kernal to flush and the bird flies past his head. Kernal spins with the bird, takes 2 steps and is ordered up by the judge. Jill is picked up her handler at 20 minutes near the second water tank.

Brace 8: FC Tomar’s Whistling Dixie (Dixie) o: C. Roberts h: T. Cardwell

Dixie making wide sweeping casts, very fast on the ground and reaches the first water tank at 12 minutes. In the sage after the water tank, at 14 minutes Dixie is called on point. She has a small turn to mark on the flush, all in order. At 21 minutes in the sage line below the well head Dixie has a level tailed find. Again small turn to mark the flight, all in order. The sage semi-circle after the second water tank at 28 minutes Dixie has another find. A single chukar is flown, Dixie takes two small steps at the shot. Time is called at the end of Coyote Canyon under the power line.

Brace 9: FC/AFC Countdown’s Duncan MacFarlane (Duncan) o: L. Barnett h: T. Cardwell

Duncan marches up the hill in a workman like gun dog, consistently to the front. At the top of the second sage near the gate, at 9 minutes, Duncan has a slightly above level intense find. A single chukar is produced and all is in order. 20 minutes Duncan pointed slightly above level, no bird is produced. At 32 minutes the handler elects to collect her charge and put him on the rope.

Brace 10: FC/AFC Tomar’s Renegade Crackerjack (Crackers) o: A. Boyd h: T. Cardwell

Crackers brace is described previously.

Brace 11: FC Wynd Dancer Tenasscity (Pudgey) o: B & D Voss h: T. Cardwell

From the cast off Pudgey starts with a “rev up” loop and then takes direct aim at the first sage line where at 5 minutes she establishes a slightly above level intense point. A single chukar is flown and all is in order. From here she makes a nice cast to the fence and then into the water tank. Coming down the CRP field below the well head, Pudgey quarters the field into the wind and arrives at the water tank at 25 minutes. At 27 minutes in the sage before Coyote canyon Pudgey points. Her handler rides up and dismounts. Trena’s foot just hits the ground and Pudgey self relocates. Trena remounts without flushing and goes on. At 40 minutes Trena collects her charge and applies the rope.

Placements:

1) FC/AFC Tomar’s Renegade Crackerjack

2) NFC/NAFC/FC/AFC Par’s Falcon On The Prowl

3) DC Indian Sky Gordon Hill Scout

4) FC Tomar’s Whistling Dixie

Judges Award of Merit: Falcons Blind Sided

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National Amateur Champion: FC Cobb's Golden Kernal

National Amateur Championship

18 starters

National Amateur Champion: FC Cobb's Golden Kernal "Kernal"

R-U: NFC/NAFC/FC/AFC Par's Falcon On The Prowl "Tiger"

3rd: FC Wind Dancer Tenasscity "Pudgey"

4th: Rice Creek’s Jesse James "Rigby"

National Amateur Championship

Bill Gibbons and Brian Lybeck filled the judicial saddles for this stake. Years of experience prepared them for what was to become a very competitive stake to judge. Eighteen dogs would run under their judgment, each striving for the title.

The 2008 Gordon Setter Club of America National Amateur Field Champion

FC Cobb’s Golden Kernal

(Kernal)

Kernal makes a big opening move to the outside left of the first sage, then continues left to right across the hill to the right sage area where he goes on point. Addie’s run described later. Linda flushes in front of Kernal, but not quite far enough. She relocates the dog, he moves up a considerable distance and pins the bird. Style is upright on both ends. As the brace starts downhill Addie is quartering the CRP, Kernal is casting to the front. In the sage eyebrow under the well head, Kernal is rewarded for his effort. A firm whoa is applied as the bird is flown and shot fired. As Kernal charges forward through Coyote Canyon to contest the front we find him on point. A difficult flushing attempt for Ms. Sanders, Kernal turns to mark as the shot is fired. He has no further bird work.

Brace 1: DC Indian Sky Gordon Hill Scout (Scout) o/h: S. Desilver

FC/AFC Tomar’s Renegade Crackerjack (Crackers) o/h: A. Boyd

At cast off Cracker takes the hill head on, Scout working at a quartering moderate gun dog range. No bird contact for either dog as they pass the second water tank, Scout extending her reach now. Both dogs have no bird contact during their allotted time.

Brace 2: Ch. Shadowmere Spellbound Hiflyer (Amelia) o: C. Gold h: L. Green

Shadowfax Fraser MacFarlane (Fraser) o/h: L. Barnett

Both dogs break to the right side of the course and continue up hill where Fraser is rewarded with a stylish find to the right of the first water tank up near the fence. Fraser working at a moderate gun range and finishes his time without further bird contact. Amelia is reported to have “ran all over the place” but did not have bird contact.

Brace 3: Chaparral BangZ Look at Lil (Lilly) o/h: L. Sanders

Falcons Blind Sided (Strider) o/h: P. Sanborn

Lilly has an infraction at 9 minutes and Linda puts her on the rope. Strider hunting at moderate gun dog range up the hill and down to the second water tank. Strider has a stylish find on the flat before Coyote Canyon at 20 minutes. He maintains his posture through the flush. He is sent on and hunts Coyote Canyon thoroughly where he has a clean find at 24 minutes. He has no further bird contact.

Brace: 4 FC Wynd Dancer Tenasscity (Pudgey) o: B&D Voss h: B. Voss

FC Sierra Nevada Hot Pursuit (Trouble) o/h: S. Farnham

Pudgey takes it strong to the front to the left sage line, Trouble is working the flat before the rise. Pudgey is found on point in the left sage with nice style and intensity. Trouble skirts by below and without seeing the birdwork. Pudgey continues with a strong forward race to the water tank. Trouble working moderately in front of Stu up the hill. Both dogs making nice moves down the hill and are found at 20 minutes, on the sage line below the well head, with a piece of birdwork that the judges deem a divided find. Stu is selected to flush and the handlers are instructed only one shot to be fired. Both dogs handle this pressure well as the bird is flown and shot fired. Both dogs take the hill after the second water tank when Pudgey is called on point on the flat before Coyote Canyon by her scout. Again the gallery is rewarded with a stylish well mannered find. Pudgey is cast off and retakes the front, hunting the ridge of Coyote Canyon. Trouble trying to work through the bottom. Both dogs finish without further bird contact.

Brace 5: Tomar’s Locust Hill Surprise (Jill) o/h: A. Boyd

Rice Creek’s Jesse James (Rigby) o: A. Bailey h: L. Sanders

Both dogs smartly to the front to the left then to the right sage line where Jill is found backing Rigby. Linda takes a tumble in the sage while flushing, but both dogs handle the situation well. Rigby more to the front of the two as we come down the through the CRP where below the well head we once again find Jill backing Rigby. Linda flies the chukar and all in order. Anne is not pleased with her charge and picks up. Linda turns Rigby loose and he makes a big sweeping cast to the second water tank. In for a short swim and up the hill from the second water tank Rigby is found “high and tight” with style through the flush and shot. Then on the flat before Coyote Canyon Rigby cards his fourth and final find, which was handled nicely.

Brace 6: FC Cobb’s Golden Kernal (Kernal) o: L. Sanders & P. Jaeger h: L. Sanders

NAFC Tomar’s Renegade Hot Attitude (Addie) o/h: J. Grunbok

Addie applies herself at a nice gun dog range. As the brace starts downhill Addie is quartering the CRP. Addie has gained the front past the second water tank. Her effort goes without reward. This concludes the braces for Friday.

Brace 7: FC Tomar’s Renegade Says Who (Sophie) o/h: S. Farnham

Teutoburger Wald Sugar Magnolia (Maggie) o/h: B. Ulness

This braces breaks away at 8:30 under bright skies, a light westerly breeze and temperatures of about 50 degrees. Sophie makes a bold cast to the first sage line where we find her on point at 6 minutes. Maggie hunts her way to the same sage line and as we arrive we find her stylishly backing Sophie. A very nice piece of work by both dogs. Sophie is sent on and she scampers to the second sage area on the right side of the course where she makes game and then points. Stu flushes a single chukar. At 15 minutes below the water tank, Sophie has played a game of connect the dots. Stu chases the bird around, this bird isn’t polite as it doesn’t take to the air. The judge instructs the handler to fire and all is in order. Maggie hunting as a moderate gun dog through the CRP. On the flat above the second water tank it is reported that Sophie has had another find. Bruce hunts Maggie on the side hill in the first third of Coyote Canyon. She stops and points, but no bird is produced. Maggie has no further bird contact. This scribe was behind and it is reported that Sophie, at 40 minutes, had another find on the hillside.

Brace 8: NFC/NAFC/FC/AFC Par’s Falcon On The Prowl (Tiger) o: G. Churton h: G. Lutz

NFC/FC/AFC Sierra-Nevada Hot Wheels (Jack) o: A. Boyd & J. Grunbok h: J. Grunbok

This brace is off at 9:30. Tiger hunts his way to the first sage and is rewarded with a stylish find. Jack breaks away big to the front but now as we climb the hill settles into a comfortable gun dog pattern, quartering the front. Jack encounters the non-flying bird from the earlier brace and handles it well. Tiger continues in a workman like manner to a stylish find below the well head, which is well handled. At 23 Jack also has a find under the well head. Tiger makes a sweeping cast towards the second water tank and finds himself, in a draw just short of the water, on point. No bird is produced. At nearly the same time Jack has a find in the CRP just short of the water tank which is well handled. At 32 minutes on the flat before Coyote Canyon Tiger has another stylish find. Both dogs complete their allotted time at a moderate gun dog range and without further bird contact.

Brace 9: FC Tomar’s Whistling Dixie (Dixie): o: C. Roberts h: D. Voss

FC/AFC Countdown’s Duncan MacFarlane (Duncan) o/h: L. Barnett

Dixie is the farther reaching of the two, but Duncan is applying himself in a workman like manner to the front. Duncan has a find in the first sage area which he handles well. Dixie reaches the sage just below the water tank and points. As handler Voss makes his way to her, Duncan is sent on. As Dan is readying to flush, Duncan arrives and with some encouragement honors. Dixie’s bird is the same as Jack’s and Sophie’s bird, the non-flyer. After a short chase a shot is fired, Dixie takes a step at the shot. Both dogs are sent on, blow by the water tank and downhill towards the second water tank. Both dogs are collected and in for swim. Dixie takes the right side of the hill, Duncan the left. Dixie points, has a nice style. The bird is flown and at the shot Dixie offers a couple steps. Duncan is now in front hunting the sage areas, and Dixie catches the front. Both dogs are now hunting Coyote Canyon, Dixie on the left hill side well to the front, Duncan taking the right side. Both exit the canyon into the CRP field and cast back towards camp, crossing the road. Both handlers water at 42 and send them on, going away at time.

Placements:

1) FC Cobb’s Golden Kernal

2) NFC/NAFC/FC/AFC Par’s Falcon On The Prowl

3) FC Wind Dancer Tenasscity

4) Rice Creek’s Jesse James

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Companion stakes.