Trial of Champions

2008 Champion, Woolum Maveric Attitude

2008 TRIAL OF CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

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Between April 23-26, 2008 the Conservation Birddog Club in Amo, Indiana was the site for NSTRA’s 2008 Trial of Champions.The NSTRA membership and Executive Board appreciates the hospitality provided to us by the CBDC and we look forward to many future events at this site. On Wednesday April 23 only two fields were necessary to complete the day’s running. The format for the trial consisted of the top 20 dogs in A field and the top 19 dogs in B Field on Wednesday advancing to Friday’s elimination round.

Judges for this year’s TOC were Curtis Beckley from the Missouri Show Me Region, Shaun Rydl MidWest Region, C.L.Mitchell and Suvoyee Rudd joined us from the Ohio Region and Allen Greeling and Ron Huels from the Illinois Region. Field Marshals were Staci Holder, Wisconsin Region , Terri Schneider , Illinois Region and Betty Mitchell, Ohio Region. Bird handling duties went to Lonnie Jones , Missouri Show Me Region and Ron Becker, Illinois Region.They all did an excellent job. We are grateful for their expertise in their respective duties.

The 2008 Trial of Champions banquet was held at Martha’s Orchard and as usual, we were treated to a great meal including peach, cherry and blackberry cobbler topped with ice cream. Julie and Bev, office personnel, were in charge of the banquet and we can’t thank them enough for a great job. Dawn Dewey gave the invocation before the meal and immediately following, NSTRA President, Ted Dewey, introduced the sponsors and past presidents of the association. Sponsors present were Bob West and Jim Smith, Purina; Jim Morehouse, Tri-Tronics; and Dion Bliss, Red Haw Supply. Past presidents in attendance were Jim Mahoney, Ed Rader, and Bob Cunningham. The belt buckles from the Quail Invitational were presented and Frank Llano, chairman presented trophies from Wednesday and Thursday’s running. Nick Miller was called to the stage to conduct the NSTRA raffle which brought in approximately $11,000 to the association. Nick and the region presidents should be commended for a great job with the raffle. Nick has taken the "bull by the horns" on our raffle, asking that everyone help out with this endeavor. The evening concluded early and again, thanks to all for making this a special evening.

Fourth runner-up was Mohawk’s Shorty, owned/handled by Charlie Smith a member of the Indiana Region. Shorty is a four-year old tri-colored English Setter Male from the sire-Mohawk’s Little King and dam-Coop’s Creek Junie. He is a 3 time NSTRA champion with 56 lifetime points of which 42 are first place points. Charlie and Shorty were presented with the 4th runner-up trophy, a box of Purina Dog Food and a t-shirt from Red Haw Supply. Congratulations to Shorty and Charlie for a great week.

Fifth runner-up, Kickapoo’s Jackpot, is also from the Indiana Region, owned by Roger Parient and handled by Scott Boomershine. Jack is a 3 ½ year old English Setter Male from Kickapoo’s Smokin Max as the sire and Kickapoo’s Flaming Roxy being the dam. He is a 1 time NSTRA Champion earning his championship on 2/17/08. He has earned 29 lifetime points of which 9 are first place points. Roger was presented with the 5th runner-up trophy, a box of Purina Dog Food and t-shirt from Dion Bliss, with Red Haw Supply. Hats off to Roger, Scott and Jack for a job well done.

After taking a much deserved rest, Don Sievers and Chud and Randy Woolum and Mavric proceeded to the blind with much anticipation from all the onlookers. Both handlers and their dogs had finds in the front field but soon both went on the back. Shots were heard and questions from the gallery could be heard as to who was in the lead. Randy remained in the back field. Don and Chud came back to the front field. Upon their return to the front most believed that it was tied only to have Chud quickly find bird in full view of the front gallery. Don shot and took the legs out on the bird but it flew away from Chud and he could not see it go down. Chud attempted numerous times to go and looked for the downed bird, but was unsuccessful. The trial hinged on Chud finding this bird. Everyone felt for Don, but we were also very happy for him.

In the meantime, Randy remained in the back until time ran out. Nobody could anticipate the scores but everyone knew that two great dogs had faced each other and that while one would have to win, two deserving warriors had given it their best and made their owners very proud. When Marilyn tallied the scored sheets it became evident that Randy and Mavric had prevailed. Congratulations to Randy and Mavric on a hard and well earned victory and to Don and Chud on an incredible finish. Two great dogs that shall be heard from again!!

Chud scored on 5 finds, 3 retrieves, ground coverage and obedience with a final score of 819 points. Mavric scored on 4 finds, 4 retrieves, ground coverage, obedience and a back for a total of 871 points. Well-wishers were on hand as each contender came from the field and both handlers and dogs received a round of applause. All were called to the clubhouse for the awards ceremony which would conclude this year’s TOC.

Third runner-up was Angie’s Dogwood Skipper, a high scoring English Setter Male, owned and handled by Ed Murdock of the Big Sky Region. Skipper had turned 6 years old on Wednesday and is from the sire – Maddox’s Rocky and dam – River Ridge Freckles. He is a 9 time NSTRA Champion with 167 lifetime points of which 106 are first place points. Skipper’s first placement was on 12/28/03 and earned his first championship on 9/4/04. He has placed in 8 national championship qualification rounds and was the Big Sky Regional Champion in May, 2007. Ed was presented with 112 # of Purina Dog Food and the Winner’s jacket by Bob West, Purina Representative and longtime member of NSTRA. Jim Morehouse, Tri-Tronics, presented Ed with a Tri-Tronics gift certificate; Dion Bliss made the presentation of a $50 gift certificate from Red Haw Supply along with a TOC t-shirt. Frank awarded Ed with the coveted Belt Buckle donated by Kickapoo Kennels (Roger Parient, Scott Boomershine and Steven Cunningham) along with the NSTRA wall plaque from NSTRA. He also received a $25 gift certificate from Foster & Smith; lead rope and bird bag from Dogs Unlimited; gift certificate from Ross Young, TOC artist; and a gun case from Boyt Harness.

Second runner-up was Mohawk’s Mudslinger, a 3 year old stylish, hard running English Setter Male owned by Bob Cunningham (Florida Region)/handled by Scott Boomershine. Slinger is a son from Smokin Mohawk’s Chester and Night Trip. He earned his first championship on 12/15/07 and completed his 2nd on 2/23/08. Slinger has 45 lifetime points with 27 first place points. His first placement came on 10/21/06 at the Anderson Sweetwater Farms Trial in Ransom, IL. He placed in a qualification round during the 2007 Purina Endurance Classic in Kennewick, WA. Slinger was 1st runner-up at the 2008 Quail Invitational Championship in Lake Wales, Fl in February 2008. He also placed 1st during a qualification round of the 2008 TOC trial. Bob was presented with 112# of Purina Dog Food and the Winner’s jacket by Bob West; a Tri-Tronics gift certificate by Jim Morehouse; the $50 gift certificate from Dion Bliss along with the TOC T-Shirt; Belt Buckle donated by Kickapoo Kennels (Roger Parient, Scott Boomershine and Steven Cunningham) along with the NSTRA wall plaque from NSTRA. He also received a $25 gift certificate from Foster & Smith; lead rope and bird bag from Dogs Unlimited; gift certificate from Ross Young, TOC artist; and a gun case from Boyt Harness. Scott, again, many thanks to a terrific handler and congratulations to Bob, Scott and Slinger for a special week.

The first runner-up was a phenomenal 5 ½ year old Brittany Male, Beaver Oaks Chud. Chud is owned/handled by Don Sievers from the Mid-West Region. Chud was also the 4th runner-up during the 2007 Dog of the Year Trial; a tough contender to reckon with. Chud is from the sire – Masked Shashoni War Chief and dam – Phipp’s Sureshot Shelly. He earned his first placement on 4/23/06 a the Union Co. Pheasants 4Ever trial and finished his 1st championship on 10/24/07. Chud has a total of 29 lifetime points of which 17 are first place points. He placed during a qualification round during the 2007 Dog of the Year trial and also received a placement during a qualification round of the 2008 TOC trial. Don was presented 225# of Purina Dog Food along with the Winner’s Jacket from Bob West and a Tri-Tronics gift certificate by Jim Morehouse from Tri-Tronics. Don received the NSTRA Belt Buckle donated by Kickapoo Kennels (Roger Parient, Scott Boomershine and Steven Cunningham) along with the NSTRA wall plaque from NSTRA; the $50 gift certificate from Dion Bliss along with the TOC T-Shirt. He also received a $50 gift certificate from Foster & Smith; lead rope and bird bag from Dogs Unlimited; gift certificate from Ross Young, TOC artist; and a gun case from Boyt Harness. As happens at each Championship trial, the first runner-up receives a special pair of Birdshooter Hunting Boots, compliments of W.C.Russell Moccasin Co. These boots are specially made to fit your foot and we are proud to present these to Don as the owner of our first runner-up, Beaver Oaks Chud. Congratulations to this fine man and his extraordinary Brittany.

WINNER: The 2008 Trial of Champions winner was Woolum Mavric Attitude, owned and handled by Randy Woolum of the Ohio Region. Randy has been a longtime member of NSTRA and owner of several champion English Pointers. Mavric is a 5 ½ year old English Pointer Male from Honky Tonk Attitude and Woolum Have Mercy. Mavric’s dam, Mercy, was from the 18 time NSTRA Champion, Wilsher Southern Son and of course we all know the phenomenal record of Honky Tonk Attitude. With lineage like this, and training from Randy, we don’t wonder at the ability of this newest NSTRA National Champion. Mavric earned his first placement on 2/8/04 and his first championship on 1/9/05. He is now a 3 time NSTRA champion with 68 lifetime points of which 39 are first place points. In 2004, Mavric placed during 2 rounds of the Quail Unlimited DOY Qualification. At the 2007 Trial of Champions he placed during back to back qualification rounds. During the 2007 Dog of the Year Trial and the 2008 Trial of Champions, Mavric again placed during qualification rounds. Randy was presented with 450 # of Purina Dog Food and the Winner’s Jacket by Bob West; a Tri-Tronics Collar from Jim Morehouse with Tri-Tronics; the NSTRA Belt Buckle donated by Kickapoo Kennels (Roger Parient, Scott Boomershine and Steven Cunningham) along with the NSTRA wall plaque from NSTRA; and the $50 gift certificate from Dion Bliss along with the TOC T-Shirt . He also received a $100 gift certificate from Foster & Smith; lead rope and bird bag from Dogs Unlimited; gift certificate from Ross Young, TOC artist; and a gun case from Boyt Harness. Also on hand at the trial was Randy’s wife and we know that she was as excited and happy as Randy. Congratulations to the Woolums and Mavric for a great performance.

Again thanks to our sponsors and participants for helping to make this a trial to remember. Each participant received a goody-bag with a NSTRA TOC hat and hat pin, key chains, water bottle and NSTRA stickers, Boyt Harness Collars, Purina water bottles and 8# of Purina Pro Plan Dog Food. Also, K9 Koach helps each trial in providing money for goody-bag items. Please remember to support our sponsors whenever possible; they are good to our association and without them this is not possible. Happy trialing and have a great summer.