2019 Regional Results

The Regional elimination trial is always the pinnacle of the trial season. This year was no exception as all the dogs that had placed during the season along with previous champion dogs flocked to Newton Utah to battle it out for the Utah region crown. Judges Jerry Youmans and Michael Ouchida had come all the way from the Northwest region to judge the trial. They found the trial grounds in a brilliant shade of green from this springs wet weather. Old friends and newer friends gathered around the club tent to wish each other luck as the first braces were underway.

In the Elimination round, last Year's Region Champion 3XNSTRA CH Sunnie and Handler Bret Wonnacott had a 4-4 run to score 751 to win. Dan Felter and Moose had the second-best run going 3-3 for 678.5. Bret Wonnacott and the ever-present, 3XNSTRA CH Tic finished third with a score of 655. The rest of the top six finished out with Kelly Irons and Annie scoring 651 for fourth, Kid and Layne Peterson scoring 587, and finally Rich Lowe and NSTRA CH Chip squeaking into the final six with a 534.

After a draw, the round of six was set to play out like this.

Kelly Irons and Annie Facing off against Bret Wonnacott and Sunnie in the first brace. Annie went 1-1 and a back scoring 360. Sunnie found no birds.

In the second brace was Dan Felter and Moose against Rich Lowe and Chip. Moose became a bird hog scoring often throughout the brace. He appeared unstoppable and had the run of the day going 5/5 and a back to score 1089.5 to win the round of six and earn a place in the final. Chip went 2/2 and a back to score 570. That score would get Chip into the final.

In the third brace, Bret Wonnacott and Tic would battle against Layne Peterson and Kid. In a hard-fought brace, Kid found a bird in the closing seconds to go 2/1 and a back. He scored 454. Tic went 1/1 and a Back to score 405. Kid's score would land him in 3rd place.

The final of a NSTRA regional elimination trial is a test in itself. You first have to battle two full braces to get there. And then the final is a grueling hour-long brace ran in a field roughly double the size of a standard NSTRA field, and in our region, often in high temperatures. A total of ten birds are released into the field while the handlers and dogs wait in the blind before the final. It seems to take forever for that planter to ride that big field and set all those birds. During that time, it is easy to let one's nerves get a little frazzled. Winning a region final is challenging, to say the least.

After a long and hard-fought first two rounds, we had broken it down to the two top dogs. Rich Lowe and his faithful Champion Chip would share the field with Dan Felter and his stingy dog Moose. Both Handlers are seasoned veterans in the game of NSTRA, and the stage was set for yet another exciting region Final. Though no clear advantage was given, it was apparent that Moose had the advantage of momentum in his favor when they stepped to the line.

One of the judges yelled, "Handlers ready?" followed by, "Let 'em go!" and the two great dogs jumped into the heat of competition. It was exciting to watch as Chip would score and then Moose would score. For the first thirty-five minutes, it appeared to be anybody's field. And then Chip started to pull away. She scored on one bird and then another until at the end of the hour she was ahead 6/6 for 1101.5 to Moose's 3/3 and a back for 647.5.

Moose had competed like a true Champion and given all that he had in a valiant effort only to fall short. Fortunately, Moose is a brilliant young dog of terrific breeding who will be a force in our region for years to come. Congratulations Dan and Moose on a great day and winning runner up.

Rich, just couldn't believe it when the judge called time. Chip was only able to run because of a failed breeding attempt. Had the breeding been successful, she would have been with pups. She was the dog he had held out of trials for most of the season for one reason or another, and she had just won the 2019 Utah Regional Elimination Trial for him. Congratulations on a great win, Rich and Chip!!! This is Riches second region title.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THAT PLACED!

Congratulations to Tracy Neilson and Cheeto! Cheeto was named region Highpoint dog for the second time. She had one heck of a season.

We want to thank all that make our trials possible by judging, marshaling, chairing trials, and bird planting. As many of you know, we are at a crossroad. We will be releasing our long-time president soon. She has given of her time and talents selflessly for far too long. We all owe her a great deal of gratitude. At times, she carried our region on her back. Thank you, Maureen, for all you have done for the Utah region. You mean more to us than you will probably ever know. She wears small shoes that

will still be impossible to fill. Elections are coming soon.

On a personal note, I owe you all an apology. I have tried to do write-ups and get scores posted this season and failed too many times. Sometimes life just gets in the way. It has been a busy spring for Angie and I. Next year, as things settle down some, I should be able to do better. Thank you to all of you for your patience. I will do better.

-Bret Wonnacott-