Deep South Brittany Championship Association

2002 R.D. Hinson Derby Classic

By Kent D. Patterson

Tara Hill Plantation is called, "The land o f milk and honey," and after my first trip there I understand why. The Cain's, Alva and Katherine, host field trials with the milk of human kindness and the grounds are a honey sweet place to run bird dogs. The Deep South Brittany Championship Association is grateful for the opportunity to use these beautiful grounds and wants to thank Alva and Katherine Cain for allowing us to run our trial on their beautiful and well-maintained property.

The R. D. Hinson Derby Classic is run just prior to the DSBCA Free for All and the drawings for both stakes were held on Wednesday night with a large group in attendance. Refreshments were provided by the DSBCA and Linda Zartarian who supplied an appetizer of smoked salmon. Linda caught, fillet and smoked the salmon herself during a recent trip to Alaska. Normally the drawing is done so the stake can be run and a champion named, however on this night we were able to name a champion as well. Tom Tracey's Jack Russell, Toby, earned his Night Grand Championship for treeing a possum, on the inside of a tree. Toby was reluctant to come out of the tree, but with Renee Ackerman calling him, a little nose appeared. When Tommy started to reach in and pull Toby out, the question was asked, are you sure that's Toby's nose? Tommy decided to let Renee call a little more and sure enough it was Toby.

This year's derby field was small but select, with 12 dogs being run under the watchful eye of our judges. Who this year were Brian Spear from nearby Lowndesboro, Al and Jim Hoyer from not so near Niobrara, Nb. Brian has judged a number of major pointer trials such as the Gulf Coast Shooting Dog Championship and the National Amateur All Age. Jim is a professional Brittany trainer since 1983, though he himself is 1936 model, and has judged numerous Brittany trials and the Brittany U.S. Open Championship. These gentlemen gave their undivided attention to the dogs and their decision was well received by everyone.

Since the weather was somewhat unpleasant, really cold and wet, the first brace break away was delayed until after lunch on Thursday. Fortified by Mrs. Johnson's lunch of fried chicken, greens, mashed potatoes and corn bread, we were ready to brave the elements. The winner, Kinwashkly Jumping Jack Flash, was in the second brace on the first day. Astutely handled by Tom Tracey, Flash had a mature, far reaching ground race from start to finish. Except for a brief distraction by a coydog or coyote, ( the gallery could not agree), he showed consistently to the front. Point was called at 20, and Tommy flushed a pair of birds with Flash displaying derby manners. A long sweeping cast down the left edge at 34 took Flash well to the front and that is where he was when time was called.

Runner-up, Dakota Prophet, handled by Rob Rohner and owned by Dr. Bo and Renee Ackerman, ran in the first brace on the first day. His ground race was wide and forward, requiring scouting on occasion. There were times when his race was further reaching than the winner, but by 37 the cold and wind had taken a toll and he had shortened considerably.

THE RUNNING

Brace 1:
Rascal (Tracy)
Dakota Prophet (Rohner)

The pair broke away at 12:15 p.m. on a cool, windy and overcast day. Both dogs were away strong, making a large forward cast down the left edge toward a forward tree line. Rascal was hunting the wooded areas hard and showed occasionally to the rear, while John covered a great deal of country. We thought both dogs were onto birds at 32, but no point was called. Some gallery members said they observed birds leaving the area. The end of the brace had both dogs moderately to the front.

Brace 2:
Clyde's Micro Breeze (Kline)
Kinwashkly Jumping Jack Flash (Tracy)

Both dogs were away with Flash to the front, while Mike had some fun with tweety birds before John got him on track. After his brief distraction by the coydog Flash pointed in the area of a feeder at 14, but released himself without any birds being flown. Flash pointed again at 20, this time he had the birds pinned and Tommy flushed a pair with Flash displaying derby manners. Mike was somewhat erratic in his ground pattern and being somewhat hardheaded. He had an unproductive at 22 and was not pleasing John, who picked him up at 37. Time was called with Flash reaching far to the front.

Brace 3:
Royal Trace of Kid (Lorenson)
Lucky Stars Roll The Dice (Donahue)

Kid and Roly were strong to the front on the right edge at breakaway. Unfortunately the course went more to the left and Trace never did recover from his strong breakaway. He was not seen after and the tracking collar was out at 20. Roly did come around to the front with a move that had the gallery paying attention. This little dog made some beautiful, large forward casts during the brace, Confusion in the middle and during the last 10 minutes cost Rob and Roly a shot at the winners.

Brace 4:
Chesterfield's Original Formula (Rohner)
and Shady's Count Rafaga (Lorenson)

This was the last brace of the day. Dr. Ken Cherry was in the gallery to watch his dog Gus perform. Gus broke away strong down the left edge, but then had to be scouted and returned to the front through the gallery and at 20 Ben elected to pick up. During this time Coke had a find at 3 with several birds flown. His race was forward for the most part and he pointed again at 20 displaying derby manners. He finished to the front, but not as far reaching as the winners. Rob said the young dog had 5 bird contacts that were not seen by the judges or gallery.

Brace 5:
P.T. Cruiser (Rohner)
Mr. Magilicutty (Poole)

Pete and Mick were away at 8:00 Friday morning with sunshine and mild temperatures. Mick was short and hunting, with point called at 12. Dale was not able to produce birds and elected to pick up, neither he nor Mick was having a particularly good morning. Pete was the larger running of the two being somewhat hard to handle, he was rarely seen and the brace was over when his tracking collar came out at 42.

Brace 6:
Material Girl (Gorrow)
Cedar Valley George (Tracy)

Girl and George were the last brace of the stake and broke away strong to the front down the tree line on the right. The course swung left and both handlers had their work cut out to turn these hard charging young dogs. Both regained the front in good order with Girl showing strong on the edges. George began to shorten at 35 and looked tired. Girl was running hard at pick up and it if not for some erraticness in her ground race may have bumped the runner up.

DAY 2

Safford AL., Feb 14-15,2002
Judges: Brian Spear and Jim Hoyer
The R.D. Hinson Derby Classic
[45 Minute Heats] --- 12 Entries

Winner:
Kinwashkly Jumping Jack Flash
o. Jodi Miller, h. Tom Tracy, Jr.

Runner Up:
Dakota Prophet
o. Bo & Renae Ackerman, h. Rob Rhoner