Quail Invitational Championship

2008 Quail Invitational Winners & Well-Wishers
Left to Right - Scott Boomershine with Boomer's X-Rated; Bob Cunningham/James Carver with Mohawk's Mudslinger;
Jeff Keck with Quail Valley Trooper; and Chuck Vande Hei with Vande Hei's Put'N On the Ritz.
Trial Officials L to R - Ron Robertson, Jimmy JOhnson, Don Hinds, Donnie Parker, Bo Marcum and Purina Representative - Ray Cacchio

2008 QUAIL INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Click here for complete writeup and results of all running (.DOC)

Field trialers and families from throughout the United States and Canada once again ventured to Lake Wales, Florida for the 21st running of the National Shoot to Retrieve Quail Invitational Championship. Florida in February is a place for families and friends alike. Temperatures in the 70’s with cool evenings made for great trialing weather as well as sightseeing trips throughout the state. The Central Florida Field Trialers Birddog Club welcomed everyone to their grounds consisting of four fields, camping facilities and a large clubhouse. The club hosted a pre-trial on Saturday, Sunday and Monday before the championship and our hats off to Donny and Anita Layton for a fine job in chairing this trial. As always, the club members provided delicious meals each day. Chairman, Marilyn Frank and co-chairman, Ed Murdock, met with trial officials on Thursday morning explaining boundaries, safety areas, and making introductions. Judging A field was Donnie Parker and Don Hinds. Donnie hails from the Arkansas Region and his judging history precedes him – 150 trials – 9 regionals and 16 championships. Don is new to the National Trial judging scene – having judged 4 regionals and 1 championship. Jim Bishop, Florida Region, stepped up to the plate at the last minute assuming the field marshalling duties. Bo Marcum, Mo-Kan Region, kept them guessing with his expertise birdhandling abilities.
Handling the judging duties on B field were veteran judges Jimmy and Glenn Johnson coming to us from the Georgia Region. Jimmy has judged 279 trials in his career with 4 regionals and 20 championships to his credit. Glenn is quickly catching up to Dad with 229 total trials – 4 regionals and 13 championships. Christy Hill, Virginia Region, and new to the National Championship scene consented to marshal and handled her duties exceedingly well.

Ron Robertson from the Indiana Region kept things in line as marshal on C field with judges Shelley Dunn and Chip Hall holding the pencil. Shelley’s experience is next to none in judging birddogs. He has judged 420 trials with 6 regionals and 16 championships under his belt. Chip Hall is a Florida Region member and has judged 89 trials with 3 championships.

Cookie Anderson was our senior field marshal for the trial, working D field with Gary Drinnen and Ernie Cooper. Gary comes to us from the Georgia Region having judged 60 trials and this being his first championship. Ernie is also from Georgia with 57 trials to his credit which includes 3 regionals and 2 championships. Brian Rick performed the birdhandling abilities in his usual championship style.

We can’t say enough about this fine group of officials. It’s a special feeling when that first brace is released and a chairman knows the ball is in their park and they are competent to handle what may come. Thanks to this special group of people.

The 3rd runner-up was Van de Hei’s Put’N On The Ritz, a perky little 7 year old Brittany female, owned by Chuck Vande Hei of the Wisconsin Region. Ritzi is from the McCandless/Wyatt connection of De La Cour Mike and Beeline Wink. She earned her first placement on 12/8/02. Her first championship came on 2/19/05. Ritzi has 113 lifetime points. In April, 2007 she won a qualification round at the Trial of Champions. On May 19, 2007 Ritzi won a qualification round at the Wisconsin Regional Elimination. The following day, she was the first runner-up at the Wisconsin Finals Championship. During the 2008 Quail Invitational she placed first during a qualification round.

The 2nd runner-up, Quail Valley Trooper is owned and handled by Jeffrey Keck of the Georgia Region. His sire is Brannigan’s Bud Lite with the dam being Newton’s Becke. Trooper is a 6x NSTRA champion earning his first championship on 11/20/04 and has 111 lifetime points. He was born on 8/1/01 and his first placement came on 10/04/03. Trooper also won an elimination round at the 2007 Georgia Regional and placed 2nd at the Georgia Region Championship Finals. In 2008, Trooper won a placement at the Quail Forever pretrial followed by a first place finish during a qualification round of the 2008 Quail Invitational.

With Scott Boomershine bringing 3 dogs to the Saturday morning rounds, it was a good chance he would have at least one dog in the top 4. But Scott saw a challenge to be met and ended up with 2 dogs in the Top Two spots. As was fitting, he chose to run his dog, Johnny, in the final hour. Bob asked James Carver to run Slinger in the final hour and he graciously accepted. After an hour break, both handlers came to the blind for the 10 bird plant. A soaking rain had started during the A field braces and looked to be threatening again; it came again during the hour break and was still drizzling when the handlers were called to the line for the final hour’s running. Two fine handlers and two exceptional dogs. Jimmy and Donnie were asked to judge this final brace which proved to be a phenomenal final hour. At the end of the first ½ hour, both dogs had scored on 5 finds, 5 retrieves and a back. At the end of the second ½ hour, handlers and dogs came back to the gallery and were welcomed by a huge round of applause. Handlers and bystanders knew the brace and scores would be close and when the final tally was added, our newest NSTRA Champion was Boomer’s X Rated with Scott Boomershine. The 1st runner-up was Mohawk’s Mudslinger owned by Bob Cunningham/handled by James Carver. Johnny had scored on 5 finds – 84, 88, 87, 85, 89; 5 retrieves – 87, 90, 87, 88, A; obedience – 66; ground coverage – 87; and back – 69 = 1095 points. Slinger scored on 5 finds – 89, 89, 88, 89, 89; retrieves – 80, 83, A, 86, A; obedience – 64.5; ground coverage – 85.5; and back – 65 = 1074 points.

Our first runner-up was Mohawk’s Mudslinger owned by Bob Cunningham, a member of the Florida Region. Slinger was whelped 1/18/05 – a 3 year old snappy English Setter male. Slinger is from the long line of Mohawk Setters going back to Ch Ace’s King. His sire is Smokin Mohawk’s Chester and dam being Night Trip. He is a 2x NSTRA Champion earning his first championship on 12/15/07. His first placement came on 10/21/06 at the Anderson’s Sweetwater Farm Trial. He has a total of 38 points with 20 first place points and 18 others. Slinger placed 3rd during a qualification round of the 2007 Purina Endurance Classic in Kennewick, Washington. Bob and Slinger were presented a certificate for the Purina winner’s jacket and 225 pounds of Pro Plan dog food. Bob also received the belt buckle and 1st runner-up trophy from Ed along with the metal wall plaque from NSTRA. He also received a $50 gift certificate from Foster & Smith, gift certificate from Tri-Tronics, gun case from Boyt Harness, game bag and check cord from Dogs Unlimited; a t-shirt and $50 gift certificate from Red Haw Supply (Dion Bliss); a pair of birdshooter hunting boots from the W.C. Russell Moccasin Company. Congratulations to the Slinger group consisting of Slinger, Bob, Scott and James. It was a great group of guys and an extraordinary dog.

THE WINNER: The 21st National NSTRA Quail Invitational Champion was Boomer’s X Rated, a hard-running, consistent English Setter male owned by Scott Boomershine from the Indiana Region. Johnny was whelped on 9/17/03 – the sire being 11x NSTRA champion Boomer’s Super X and the dam being Rockpoint Trixie. Johnny has acquired 122 lifetime points – earning his first championship on 3/12/07. He is a 2x National NSTRA Champion. Johnny’s first placement came on September 18, 2005 at the Conservation Birddog Club in Amo, Indiana. In 2006, he won a qualification round at the 2006 Grand National Championship in Firestone, Colorado. During the 2007 TOC, Johnny placed 3rd during a qualification round and proceeded to win the title of Trial of Champions National Champion on April 28, 2007. In September, he placed during a qualification round of the Purina Endurance Classic in Washington and followed with a first place win during a qualification round during the Quail Forever trial on January 11, 2008. That said, Johnny sailed to a 2nd runner-up placement during the final round of the Quail Forever Championship. Quite a record for this young setter. As was mentioned, he works like a well perfected machine. Scott is also a superb handler as was evident during the entire trial. Scott received the Purina Winner’s Jacket and 450 pounds of Pro Plan dog food presented by Ray Cacchio. Ed also presented Scott with the Tri Tronics Collar, compliments of Tri Tronics, the leading electronic collar company. He also received the NSTRA belt buckle, presented by David Demeza, $100 gift certificate from Foster & Smith, gun case from Boyt Harness, game bag and check cord from Dogs Unlimited; and a t-shirt and $50 gift certificate from Red Haw Supply (Dion Bliss). To Scott and Johnny, congratulations to quite a team; a terrific dog and a quiet, competent handler. We’re proud of you Scott.