Grand National Invitational Championship
2010 Winner, Beeline Bullet's Oxidation
owned and handled by Nolan Huffman, North Carolina Region
Final Four with Gallery - 1st - Nolan/Rusty; 2nd - Scott/Fritz; 3rd - Adam/Blazer; 4th - Paul/Minnie
Top 8 - L to R - David Healan/Dixie, Scott Townsend/Fritz, Paul Vaughn/Danny Brownlow(standing)Minnie, Kevin Johnston/Emma, Nolan Huffman/Rusty, Louie Rose/Quincy, Nick Miller/Katie, Adam Fellers/Blazer
Back Row - L to R - Stan Perdue, Danny Brownlow, Ernie Cooper, Ray Cacchio, Jamie Johnson, Eddie Green
The Brownlow Family - Our Gracious Hosts - Ernie, Beth, Colton, Nancy, Danny, Shelia
 Crosswind's Truckin' Fritz |
 Premier's Fancy Trailblazer |
 Bright Points Minnie |
2010 NSTRA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Brownlow’s 4-Star Plantation was the setting for the 13th running of the National Shoot to Retrieve Grand National Championship. Four-Star belongs to Danny and Nancy Brownlow and is located in Northeast Georgia close to Elberton. The Brownlow’s have hosted the Quail Forever/NSTRA Championship for 3 years and generously agreed to allow NSTRA the use of their facilities for this year’s Grand National. As always, the Brownlow’s did a superb job of having the fields prepared, the facilities in prime shape and the delicious “southern style” meals to everyone’s liking. A pre-trial was hosted by the Georgia Region the weekend prior to the championship adequately run by David and Angela Healan with help from various Georgia Region members. This allows those coming from out of town to get a preview of the fields and “lay of the land” prior to the national trial.
The format for the Grand is brace winners advancing from each qualification day to Friday’s running. The top eight scoring dogs from Friday’s A and B fields advance to Saturday morning with 4 braces in each field. Saturday’s running is once again brace winner’s advancing in each round of competition.
The top 4 dogs from this year’s Championship are as follows:
Minnie is owned by Danny Brownlow of the Georgia and handled by Paul Vaughn. Minnie earned her first NSTRA Championship on 4/13/08. She has a total of 30 lifetime points of which 20 are first place points. Her first placement came on 6/9/07 at a Michigan Region Trial and Minnie ran most of her early trials in the Michigan and Ohio Regions. Since coming to Georgia Minnie has won 2nd during a 2009 Quail Forever qualification round and placed first during a qualification round of the 2009 Georgia Regional Elimination. Danny and Paul were presented with 112 # Pro Plan dog food and the Purina winner’s jacket by Ray Cacchio, a $50 gift certificate from Reading Hound and Hunting Supply, Championship Belt Buckle, trophy and wildlife coasters from NSTRA, gun case from Boyt Harness, Gift Certificate from Tri Tronics, gift certificate from Foster & Smith, gift certificate from Dogs Unlimited, EMT gel and vitamin supplement from Trophy Animal Health Care, Gift Certificate and t-shirt from Red Haw Supply. A big “hats off” goes to Danny, Paul and Minnie for a placement in the “Final Four” winner’s circle.
Blazer is owned by Adam Fellers of the Mid-West Region. He was the Purina Top Performance Winner for 2009, hosting 73 points for the year. Blazer earned his first championship on 9/7/08 and is currently an 8 time NSTR Champion. This is perhaps unheard of in NSTRA history that is to acquire 8 championships in just a little over one year. He has 145 lifetime points of which 88 are first place points. In October, 2009 Blazer place in 2 qualification rounds at the DOY trial and also placed in a qualification round during the 2010 Grand National. His first placement came on 11/20/05 at the Tokeena Trial Grounds in South Carolina. His early days were spent at SCR and Georgia trials, but later began trial nationwide. Blazer and Adam were presented 112 # Pro Plan dog food and the Purina winner’s jacket by Purina Representative, Ray Cacchio. Ray flew in from Ft. Lauderdale and it’s always a pleasure to visit with Ray and hear about Purina products. Adam also received a $50 gift certificate from John Burks, Reading Hound and Hunting supply, a new NSTRA sponsor who specializes in all kinds of hunting supplies. Our thanks to John and we welcome him into the NSTRA organization. Other prizes were the Championship Belt Buckle, trophy and wildlife coasters from NSTRA, gun case from Boyt Harness, Gift Certificate from Tri Tronics, gift certificate from Foster & Smith, gift certificate from Dogs Unlimited, EMT gel and vitamin supplement from Trophy Animal Health Care, Gift Certificate and t-shirt from Red Haw Supply, Dion Bliss. Congratulations to Adam and Blazer for a great trial and winning week.
The Final Hour would see 2 veteran handlers in the brace, Nolan Huffman and Scott Townsend. Both of these men are fine handlers and friendly, outgoing gentlemen. The weather was wet and soggy, but a new champion emerged with 9 finds and retrieves scoring 1657 points. Beeline Bullet’s Oxidation bested Crosswind Truckin Fritz for the title of the 2010 Purina Grand National Champion.
First runner-up, Crosswind Truckin Fritz, scored on 3 finds and 3 retrieves scoring 645 points. Fritz was first runner-up at the 2005 Grand National and in 2008 was 3rd runner-up. In 2007 and 2008 Fritz also won the NSTRA/QF Championship – both being held on the Brownlow grounds and in 2009 was crowned 2nd runner-up of the QF/NSTRA Championship. In 2003 Fritz won 2nd runner-up during the DOY Championship, won the Michigan Regional Championship in 05, 06, and 07, and placed 3rd runner-up during the 2006 DOY Championship; quite a championship history for this fine German Shorthair. Scott and Fritz were presented with the winner’s jacket and 250 # of Pro Plan dog food by Ray from Purina, a pair of Bird Shooter Hunting Boots from W. C. Russell Moccasin company; Championship Belt Buckle, trophy and wildlife coasters from NSTRA, gun case from Boyt Harness, Gift Certificate from Tri Tronics, gift certificate from Foster & Smith, gift certificate from Dogs Unlimited, EMT gel and vitamin supplement from Trophy Animal Health Care, Gift Certificate and t-shirt from Red Haw Supply. It’s a sure bet that Fritz and Scott do well on Georgia soil and this year was no different. Congratulations to two tough contenders.
THE WINNER: Although Nolan is not new to the winner’s circle, Beeline Bullet’s Oxidation, Rusty, is and at four years old, we wonder how many more times he will be there. This fine Brittany Male, out of the phenomenal Nolan’s Last Bullet, finds lots of birds, scores high and is handled by long time Brittany owner, Nolan Huffman. “Buddy” was initiated into the NSTRA Hall of Fame in 2009 having proven himself as the most winning dog in NSTRA history, 32 time NSTRA Champion and prodigy listing 105 descendants. Among Rusty’s other kennel mates are well known Beeline Bullet’s Bravado, Beeline Destined, Beeline Bullet’s Proof and up and coming Beeline Reloaded. Rusty was the first runner-up during the 2008 SCR Regional Finals and placed during a qualification round at the 2009 Quail Forever Championship. He also placed during a qualification round at the 2009 Trial of Champions. Nolan’s received 450# Pro Plan and the winner’s jacket during the presentation ceremony from Ray. He will also receive a portrait commissioned by Steve Kyles, Wildlife Artist, from Odum Georgia. Steve has become a new NSTRA sponsor and we are happy to welcome him aboard. Nolan was presented with the electric collar from Tri Tronics, a $100 gift certificate from Foster & Smith, Championship Belt Buckle, trophy and wildlife coasters from NSTRA, gun case from Boyt Harness, gift certificate from Dogs Unlimited, EMT gel and vitamin supplement from Trophy Animal Health Care, Gift Certificate and t-shirt from Red Haw Supply, an ATV box from Nick Miller and a Owens' Dog box donated by members of the Ohio Region attending the trial. It was a great week for Nolan, Danelle and Rusty and our congratulations to them.