2013 GSCA Championship Results

National Championship

Judges: Tom Milam & Jack Murphy

Judge's Marshal: Scott Johnson

National Champion: 3xNFC/NAFC/FC/AFC Milomix Roy

2013 GSCA National Championship Scribe’s Report

Judges: Tom Milam and Jack Murphy Judges Marshal: Scott Johnson

The Course: The course for the 2013 National Championship was similar to the counter-clockwise oval used in 2012. It is 4.40 miles long, and has elevation changes from 1295 ft. to 1440 ft. It begins with a cast off toward the northwest across a field nearly a mile in width, and rises to a small orchard just below the Big Ridge crest. As the ridge turns southerly the course goes up and over the ridge, referred to as the Rock Hill. Immediately after the hill we drop down into a large rolling bowl, spotted with Osage orange thickets, hawthorn trees and interlaced with run-off ditches. The bowl is high on the north side and slopes toward the south where there is an odd-shaped pond referred to as Meat Cleaver Pond. This scenic bowl angles around toward the southwest, and we exit on the high western edge of the bowl at a point referred to as Pride Rock. There is a small pond directly below Pride Rock. From that point the elevation falls away as we descend westerly onto a large flat field, with two parallel tree-lined ditches perpendicular to the course. The course crosses the first ditch (Soggy Bottom Ditch), a smaller field, then the second ditch (Roy’s Rabbit Draw) which leads into a brushy orchard area of about 5-7 acres, just below Keegan’s Ridge. This ridge runs southeasterly and the course turns to run parallel. This large open area takes us southerly toward the Big South Lake, where we often saw a waterfowl mix. The course goes around the south end of the lake and turns to head north through a large open field with few objectives. After about a quarter mile, the course takes a sharp turn to the east at a fence corner (No Ma’am’ Corner) through another field (ranch house field) with the Bechtel home in the distance on the right. Another third of mile takes us past the third water pond and into the south side of the first big field. There are many objectives, brushy thickets, (including one brush pile referred to as Dano’s Demise), draws, and thickets along this finishing part of the course approaching the cast-off. The course has ample water, cover, and terrain to challenge, yet show the hunting and application skills of the dogs.

Monday, November 4, 2013: Clear skies, winds southerly and increasing, temperature 53 degrees.

Brace 1: Earl (Rabidou) and Buck (Voss). Both dogs break away smartly and with great speed. They easily stretch out to the front nearly one third mile ahead and reach the ridge orchard. They hunt through the orchard with no bird contact and cross over the Rock Hill at 8. At the top of the Rock Hill, Earl has a breach of manners and his bid ends early. Voss takes a moment to water his dog and drops into the bowl. At 12, Buck is found on the lower side of the bowl on point, high and tight. Bird flushed, shot fired in order. A bit further on, point is called again for Buck, but after an extended flushing and relocation attempt, Mr. Voss elects to collar his dog and move forward. At 25, Buck has crossed to the high side of the bowl and is seen on a stylish point under an Osage orange tree. Two birds are flushed, and Buck holds properly as the shot is fired. The dog makes a bold move down nearly the entire the length of the Soggy Bottom ditch, and then turns hard to cross the field toward Roy’s Rabbit Draw. In an independent move to the front toward the objectives, Buck races into the west orchard and skirts the backside, and continues forward just below the crest of Keegan’s Ridge, and then over the top. As Mr. Voss reconnects with his dog coming down off the ridge at the Overlook, Buck suddenly slams into a point in the middle of a patch of grasses and wild asters. As Mr. Voss moves into flush, over 2 dozen quail explode from the cover and the dog remains high and tight. At 51, Buck is found on point in the South Lake draw. The judge points out the dog to Mr. Voss who rides over and flushes 5 birds for the staunch dog. After a drink in the Big South Lake, Buck continues his forward pattern as time is called as he enters the ranch house field.

Brace 2: Strider (Sanborn) and Matty (Cardwell). Both dogs begin their run a bit lateral in the open field, but as we move up the slope toward the orchard, both dogs move to the front and are seen coursing through the orchard. Strider has a successful stop to flush with shot fired. Matty has a proper find near the west end of the orchard, all in order. Immediately following, Strider hits a point in the same location, and holds as the shot is fired. Both dogs cross over the Rock Hill at 11. At 16, Matty is seen on point about halfway through the bowl but Strider races in and steals the point, at which time he is picked up. Unfortunately at the flush, young Matty succumbs to the pressure and sits down, thus ending her effort.

Brace 3: Mazie (Chapman) and Dirk (Heckert). Just shortly after the breakaway, Dirk unfortunately bumps up a chukar in the middle of the big field and goes with the bird. At 7, Mazie is found on point in the orchard, and holds for a successful flush and shot. Just 100 yards further down, Mazie goes on point again with a bit more style as the flush is in order. At 13, Mazie drops into the bowl and her hunting style becomes a bit more lateral and deliberate. At 20 minutes, Mr. Chapman elects to pick up his charge.

Brace 4: ZZ (Job) and Rowdy (Chapman). Winds have increased to 20 mph. At the breakaway, ZZ makes a characteristic cast to the left edge of the field, and Rowdy moves forward. ZZ’s scout rounds him up and then charges northerly across the field toward the orchard. Both dogs move intelligently to the downwind side of the orchard. At 7 Rowdy is found standing just off the two track in the orchard. Ms. Job takes her dog around the outside edge of the orchard. Bird is produced in order for Rowdy. At 9, ZZ takes a drink at the Rock Hill water tub and Rowdy rejoins the front as we drop into the bowl. Going into the swirling wind in the bowl, both dogs work more laterally. At the far end of the bowl, ZZ makes an independent move up into the trees just below the crest and point is called, however no bird is produced and the dog is moved on. Rowdy has a successful stop to flush. Moving out of the bowl both dogs make strong moves toward the Soggy Bottom ditch, with Rowdy coming back northerly for a dip in the pond and ZZ going the length of the draw before coming back up and crossing the ditch. ZZ makes a hard left to take the draw again, while Rowdy moves out onto the sloped hill on the north. Both dogs are hunting hard at the north end of Roy’s Rabbit Draw, and move westerly into the west orchard at 30. At 31 ZZ is called on point, but Ms. Job cannot produce a bird for ZZ and he is picked up. Rowdy continues in workmanlike fashion to search every objective, but at 35 Mr. Chapman also collars his dog.

Break for lunch. Skies still clear and winds dropping a bit.

Brace 5: Booker (Chapman) and Jill (Cardwell). Both dogs break away cleanly. At 7, Jill is found on point midway through the orchard with nice style, and shot is fired in order at the flush. Ms. Cardwell takes her dog quickly to the front. At 10 both dogs cross over the Rock Hill, and both dogs drop into the bowl. Jill is seen on another stylish point off to the side at 14, and as two birds lift, a shot is fired in order. Ahead, Booker has a very attractive point and Mr. Chapman fires in order. Booker reaches the end of the bowl and is moving forward with a lovely flowing gait, while Jill has another point on the high side of the bowl, all in order. At 23, Jill and her handler are cantering to the front, with Jill moving with a snappy gait. Mr. Chapman and his dog have reached the west orchard. Jill takes the Soggy Bottom ditch about halfway down and Ms. Cardwell calls her to turn toward the front. At 28, both dogs come together and tag team it toward the end of Keegan’s ridge, with contrasting styles of run. At 32, just below the Overlook, Ms. Cardwell finds an intense Jill on point and nearly 20 birds are flushed in order. Booker has moved slowly forward to the Big South Lake, but neither dog has game contact in the draw, and move northerly into the ranch house field. In this area of the course where objectives are few, both dogs shorten a bit, although Jill leads the way. At 48, both dogs now reach forward toward Dano’s Demise. Toward the south end of the Demise, Booker is cautious as he picks his way through the brush until he strikes a stylish point. Jill circles the other side of the brush pile but upon seeing Booker, stops herself for the back. Under a bright afternoon sun, this scene plays out beautifully. Following the flush and shot, the judges ask the handlers to cast their dogs northerly up a runoff draw. About 200 yards up the little draw Jill has her final point under a bush. Booker appears to be coming back down the draw, but in a gentlemanly manner, the judge uses his horse to re-direct the dog to the front. Both dogs on the ground as time is called.

Brace 6: Drew (Heckert) and Ricki (Grunbok). Dogs break cleanly and early on Ricki shows a bit more range and a snappy gait. Drew makes a powerful forward move up the slope toward the ridge orchard, and disappears over the crest and then shows moving forward along the backside of the orchard on the downwind side. Both dogs hunt through the orchard and Drew has a clean stop to flush at the west end. Near the bottom of the Rock Hill, Ricki has a successful find. At 12, both dogs take a break in the Rock Hill water barrels, and drop into the bowl. In a bit of confusion right at the hedge break, Ms. Grunbok appeared to call point and Heckert was signaling point, as well. Ms.Grunbok continued forward and then called point for her dog about 200 yards away. Mr. Heckert had collared his dog, but then continued forward with an apparent stop to flush. Ricki’s point was a successful covey find. At 19, on the far west edge of the bowl, Mr. Heckert calls point, and Ricki comes in and is cautioned into a back. Several birds were flushed and Drew maintained a stylish point through the flush. At 23 Ricki is seen on a very stylish point in the Soggy Bottom ditch, but as Ms. Grunbok dismounts, the dog moves off on its own. Drew has continued covering many objectives and appears to be getting stronger as the brace continues. He has a natural flow to his gait. At 31 Drew has a stop to flush in the west orchard. Ricki has a point on 4-5 birds just below the Overlook, in order. At 54 near the final tank, Ricki fails to back Drew on point and is up. Drew finished his hour to the front.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013. Light rain, 55 degrees with light southerly winds.

Brace 7: Roy (Chapman) and Polly (S. Clock). Dogs are away cleanly, with Polly a bit more lateral and Roy dashing forward toward the orchard. Polly has a successful point in the orchard, and Roy is found standing. A large covey is flushed for Roy, who maintains his well-known high head and tail. Toward the west end of the orchard, below the Rock Hill, Polly has another solid find in order. At 17, as the gallery moves west over the Rock Hill, scout and owner Jimmie D’Amico signals that Roy is on point in the dense grove to the south. It takes a bit of time for the judge and Mr. Chapman to ride to the dog. Roy is found high and tight with an impressive find. Released over the Rock Hill, Roy charges to the front, as Polly has a clean find on the west edge of the bowl. Polly has shown herself to be workmanlike in her application. At 27, Roy has rimmed nearly the entire bowl and is seen on point on the high northern edge. A covey is flushed cleanly. Roy is sent on, and gets out far to the front. Far ahead in the Soggy Bottom ditch, Polly is on point, and the veteran Roy handles himself into a very stylish back before Mr. Chapman arrives. He is staunch throughout the non-productive flush by Ms. Clock and the judges ask that Roy be moved on. Polly has a bit of trouble on a point at the north end of the Rabbit Draw and is picked up. Roy cruises through the west orchard at 40, pops down to check out the low draw, then crosses the field back to the west and scales Keegan’s Ridge. After being out of sight for a few minutes, Roy is found at the end of the ridge just below the Overlook on a lofty point. Mr. Chapman flushes a large covey of birds, and with a few birds still popping up around the handler, Roy stands beautifully as the shot is fired in order. At 58, Roy has rounded the Big South Lake and was seen racing north across the homestead field. As time is called, the judge and Mr. Chapman ride forward to locate the dog and he is seen on point up a long draw.

Brace 8: Fraser (Rabidou) and Dexter (Heckert). In what was the shortest brace of the competition, both dogs broke away cleanly, but encounter a chukar about 300 yards into the field. Fraser has a stop to flush, but Dexter gives chase and the temptation proves to be too much for Fraser, as well. A disappointing outcome for these two fine dogs.

Brace 9: Thor (Keegan) and Scout (Chapman). Still under a light mist, both dogs get away well and are applying themselves more laterally early on. At 11, both dogs go over the Rock Hill, neither having game contact to this point. At 14, Thor has a very nice covey find off to the south side of the bowl, and ahead Scout has a successful covey find. At 20 however, Mr. Chapman is not pleased with Scout’s application and he collars his dog. Thor is known as a hard hunter and he is actively investigating every objective in his workmanlike style. Following a water break, Thor makes a nice move passing Roy’s Rabbit Draw and westerly up to the big orchard. His range shortened considerably and the judges ask for him to be collared at 34.

Brace 10: Buzz (Chapman) and Dusty (S. Clock). Dogs are away cleanly with Buzz showing great speed on a couple of casts then returning to check in with his handler. Dusty shows his deliberate style and moves more laterally. Buzz makes a speedy long move away from the direction of the course to the south edge of the big field. It takes a bit to corral him and the judges indicate that he was under a bird ending his bid. Dusty has a point at the west end of the orchard and shot is fired, but the judge also saw Dusty under a bird and he is ordered up.

Brace 10: Stripper (Cardwell) and BYE. Stripper was dropped to the end as a result of being in season. She is an exciting young dog full of speed and animation. She appears to lack focus and Ms. Cardwell elects to pick herup at the end of the ridge orchard having no game contact.

Scribe: Cindy Findley

National Amateur Championship

Judges: Ken Chenoweth & Mike Martin

Judge's Marshal: Cynthia Findley

National Amateur Champion: FC Chukarhill Buck Nekkid

16 starters

National Amateur Champion: FC Chukarhill Buck Nekkid "Buck"

R-U: NAFC/FC/AFC Chukarhill Sharp Dressed Man "ZZ

3rd: FC Gunsmoke Dust A Flyin "Dusty"

4th: Gunsmoke Just Amazin TicTaulk "Mazie"

2013 GSCA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP SCRIBE’S REPORT

Judges: Mike Martin and Ken Chenoweth Judges Marshal: Cindy Findley

The Course: Other than an alteration to the cast-off and first mile, the course used for the 2013 National Amateur Championship was the same as the National Championship course. This breakaway, however, was located on the east side of the north/south hedge line in a large rolling field, dotted with objectives, running parallel to the roadway. Dogs had several early opportunities for game contact. After going north for about 1/3 of a mile, the course turns left and dips down to a deep ravine with a small amount of water flowage. From there, the course heads up the northeast face of the Big Ridge, crosses the Sidehill Draw, and re-connects with the championship course just east of the ridge top. This adaptation provided several more objectives in the first few minutes and challenged the handlers to have their dogs with them as they crossed the first deep ravine.

Thursday, November 7, 2013:Clear, 38 degrees, winds N-NW increasing to 15.

Brace 1 was dropped to the end.

Brace 2: Rowdy (DeSilver) and Buck (Voss). Dogs cast off smartly with Buck taking the lead. Rowdy under the handle of Susie DeSilver moves forward on the right side of the field. At 3:30, Buck is spotted far to the front standing high and tight under a lone tree, and a bird is produced in order by Mr. Voss. Rowdy is enjoying investigating every objective as we near the deep ravine. At 9, Ms. DeSilver elects to pick up her dog after seeing a bumped bird. At 10, Buck had been gone for a few minutes after we crossed the deep ravine, but comes around and leads the way up the face of the Big Ridge. He carefully sniffs his way into a point under a small clump of trees with success. Mr. Voss casts him ahead through the orchard and in the distance we see him crest over the Rock Hill. At 23 as the handler arrives in the bowl, Buck has not been seen in several minutes, but is spotted down near the edge of Meat Cleaver pond standing staunchly. He had probably been there for some time. Mr. Voss flushes a small covey and moves forward. The dog shows great capacity for covering ground and he is next spotted toward the south end of the Soggy Bottom ditch on point over a deep ditch. Mr. Voss re-locates his charge, but feels the birds have moved so quickly sends his dog forward. As we round the Big South Lake, Buck makes another powerful move north and he is found standing under a small brushy clump. Several birds are flushed and tall Mr. Voss takes a less than graceful tumble while collaring his dog. At 57, Buck’s final point comes in the last Cedar Ditch toward the parking lot. Standing with his characteristic high head and tail, he is well-off the covey. The judge asks Mr. Voss to kick a large deadfall at the head of the ditch, at which time more than a dozen birds flush, with some zipping out right past the statuesque dogs’ nose. Shot is fired in order and time is called.

Brace 3: Roy (D’Amico) and Fraser (Zygalinski). Early on the dogs have a divided find in the first hedge, handled well by both dogs. Fraser has a lovely find under the same tree where birds were pointed in the first brace, and Mr. Zygalinski flushes and shoots quickly. At 9, scout DeSilver finds Roy standing far ahead and toward the upper end of the first field with great style. Mr. D’Amico has an easy flush and shot. As we approached the Sidehill Draw, both dogs were seen under birds and ordered up.

Brace 4: Thor (Keegan) and Jill (Boyd). (For this brace Ms. Boyd has designated Mr. Voss as her flusher in accordance with AKC guidelines). At 6, Mr. Keegan is unable to flush birds for the pointing Thor, and after a re-location is moving his dog forward. At 8, Thor has a bit of trouble locating a bird under a tree and comes out underneath it to end his bid. Jill is found on point at 18 in the Sidehill Draw, but no birds are produced so she is moved on. At 30, Jill has cleared the orchard and Rock Hill and after water, is sent down into the bowl. At 44, Jill is pointing in the Soggy Bottom ditch under a tree. Mr. Voss attempts to flush, but to no avail so Ms. Boyd asks to re-locate her dog. No birds were located so Ms. Boyd has her dog collared.

Brace 5: Strider (Sanborn) and Mazie (S. Clock). Dogs break cleanly, working a bit laterally as we move forward through the field. At 11, birds are seen in the air and Strider was seen under them so she has collared her dog. At 13 Mazie has a non-productive at the Sidehill Draw. In the ridge orchard, she is found on point and many birds are seen skittering about. Ms. Clock cautions her dog and has a bit of trouble to get them to flush. In a light-hearted moment Ms. Clock asks if the judges saw a bird and as she took one more step over 30 birds exploded! Mazie looked a bit bewildered but held nicely. At 28 we crest over the Rock Hill and Mazie needs a bit of encouragement to keep moving forward as she shows a tendency to circle back to her handler occasionally. She has a spritely gait and is hunting well. At 50, Mazie locks into a point right at the fence corner on the homestead field. Several birds are flushed and a few more kept popping out as Ms. Clock turned to her dog. With a stern “Whoa, No Ma’am’”, Mazie held. With a smile the judge opined that her command was “quite effective” considering the stress on the dog from the multiple birds. He further suggested that we all use the command. Mazie finishes the hour.

Brace 6: ZZ (Voss) and Ricki (Grunbok). These two speedsters get away cleanly and forward. At 6, ZZ has a point under the same lone tree. Known for his high style, he handles the flush nicely. Ms. Grunbok is also attempting to flush over on the west side of the field, but following a non-productive she moves forward. At 12 minutes we come up from the deep ravine and find Ricki on point on a deadfall with ZZ backing. Mr. Voss is instructed to move ZZ forward. After a second non-productive, Ms. Grunbok takes Ricki forward to the front. At 19, ZZ has a proper find in the orchard. Following the successful flush and shot, it was noted that over 50 birds poured out of the orchard. Ahead, Ricki is called on point along the fence at the top of the Rock Hill, so Mr. Voss takes ZZ south about 250 yards to the next fence break and drops into the bowl. Ms. Grunbok was unable to produce a bird for a third non-productive, but elected to move on. At 28 Ricki has a successful find on a brushy clump in the bowl. ZZ is working the southwest side of the bowl. At 36, ZZ has a stop to flush and then goes on point about 100 yards further on. The judged joked that the dog was “getting’ greedy.” Ricki has rejoined us at 39. They circle the Big South Lake and cruise through the homestead field. At 45 ZZ has scaled the high ridge edge overlooking the homestead, and is on point just below the crest. ZZ worked hard, re-located, but a bird could not be pinned down and Mr. Voss moves the dog out into the flat field where he slowed a bit. Ms. Grunbok watered her dog at the third tank, and had a quick point and shot on the far edge. Ricki had one more successful find at the limestone creek crossing. Both dogs finished the hour.

Friday, November 8, 2013. Breezy, 45 degrees, clear.

Brace 7: Scout (DeSilver) and Dusty (S. Clock). Early on, nine-year-old Dusty locks into a point in the middle of the field and a couple of birds are flushed as Ms. Clock rides up. The dog stands staunchly as about two dozen birds lift. Dusty has a stop to flush on the slope just past the deep ravine at 11, followed by a covey point in the Sidehill Draw at 9. At 20 minutes Scout goes up and over the Rock Hill and drops into the bowl with no bird contact yet. At 33, Scout has hunted the bowl methodically and finally eases into a point. As Ms. DeSilver flushes, birds start popping all over, and although Scout holds for the first dozen or so, temptation proves too much and unfortunately he finally leaves with a bird. Ms. Clock has handled Dusty through the bowl in workmanlike fashion and had a single successful find.

Brace 8: Earl (Voss) and Buzz (D. Morf). Both of these energetic dogs get away quickly. At 10, Buzz has made it through the end of the field, while Earl has a find just past the first hedge crossing. At 17, the exuberant Buzz has covered an incredible amount of ground, crests the Rock Hill, and makes a powerful move along the entire fence edge above the bowl, running well over a half mile ahead. Earl had a find in the orchard, but a breach of manners took him out of contention. At 28, we come upon Buzz standing on point on the two track in the field above Roy’s Rabbit Draw. After a flushing attempt, Mr. Morf relocates the dog, but after an extensive search elects to move his dog on with a non-productive. Buzz continues to run with the afterburners on, and he is seen in the distance occasionally. He finishes his hour with great ground race, but no bird contact.

Brace 1: Polly (S. Clock) and BYE. Ms. Barnett was not able to get to the grounds to run Bonny, so Sandy Clock will run her dog Polly as a bye dog. Polly is a methodical dog, covering many objectives but at a much more reserved pace. She is credited with a find on the face of the Big Ridge under the lone tree. She takes her time to hunt thoroughly. At 30 minutes the dog has finally reached the ridge orchard. Ms. Clock gives her dog an affectionate pat and collars her to complete the running.

Scribe: Cindy Findley

Companion stakes.

Open Derby

Judges: Ken Chenoweth & Rebecca Voss

11 starters

Open Puppy:

canceled due to insufficient entries.