2007 Amateur Free-For-All Championship

The announced judges for 2007 were Jimmy Berneathy of Vinita, Oklahoma and returning 2006 judge Joel Paulk of Cumming, Georgia. A couple of days before the start of the stake Joel, a professional horse trainer, amateur field trialer and mounted cowboy shooter had a horse break his foot while conducting one of these pastimes and had to decline this assignment because of his injuries. DSBCA Director and all around great guy Scott Ackerman was called and agreed to fill in for Joel on short notice. Scott was in the saddle at breakaway after having driven late into the night to arrive on time. Judge Berneathy, also a returning judge, judged the first DSBCA Amateur Championship in 2003. Jimmy is a professional Brittany trainer and field trial handler and came to this event after recently winning the American Brittany Club’s National Championship. The judges were very attentive and their placements were well received.

THE JUDGES Jimmy Berneathy (Left) Scott Ackerman (Right)

HANDLERS RE-SADDLE AT THE TOP OF TARA HILL The DSBCA Free For All and Amateur Championship combined made for 6 days of running on Tara Hill's demanding couses. Handlers had to change horses every hour the last couple of days.

Wide fields with long woody edges offer a great challenge to the contestants. It takes a well-conditioned dog with great bird finding savvy to take on these courses. The dog our championship association is looking to name champion, here, on these grounds, will happily accept this challenge. From breakaway until the hour is up they are continually driving to the front, intelligently covering huge swathes of ground by not wasting time hunting areas with a low probability of bird contacts and when they do locate game they snap on point with a fully focused intensity that would make a Marine Gunnery Sergeant smile. There are usually several dogs in the stake that accept the challenge and perform as I just described, but the Champions will accomplish all that and at the same time they will make it look easy!

But it’s all got to be relaxed to be smooth and flowing. The best handlers I’ve been fortunate to know over the years anticipate the challenges they face on the course ahead of them and calmly work to nullify the effect they will have on their dog’s forward momentum. Jake Schroeder, one of those “best” handlers I mentioned before, said to me one day “James, if you’re going to win this championship you’ve got to have a plan”. Jake and JoJo (Jake’s beautiful wife and scout) always have a plan. Jake, knowing where the trouble spots on the courses are, will anticipate a troublesome spot on course and apparently, according to plan, he will calmly canter out and intercept his charge and heel him back to the front, send him on, and then sit back and enjoy the show.

COOPER'S FIRST FIND 2007 DSBCA Amateur Free-for-All Runner Up Champion stands tall on his first find.

CHANCE 2007 DSBCA Amateur Champion goes to work

Behind the Caine’s old family home is a bench that has a long and growing list of famous feet that have rested on it’s white washed surface. The long white bench has it’s own place in the championship winning experience, it’s rough-hewn surface elevating winners, past and present, to stand proud and distinguished while owners and others delight in the opportunity to record a single moment of a champion’s career. Four of those famous feet belong to Chancey Jackpot Lotto and for the third time in his competitive career The Bench once again supports this great champion as admirers record another of his “moments”.

Bird dog is what Chance brought to the table in 2007. Scoring 6 finds in his hour with Vic at the helm, Vic was heard to mutter, “I’ve never run out of ammo before. Can I borrow someone’s gun”? Chance broke away on the number one course closest to camp and sailed straight away to the front. As the party approached the caretaker’s home some ten minutes later Chance was found standing. As his brace-mate, Roy (Just Call Me Roy) came up on the scene; Roy stopped for a few seconds and then went on. He was leashed at that point. In the commotion of that incident Chance used the time to make his stand even more firm for flush and shot. Sent on Chance disappeared to the front and was found standing by judge Berneathy to the right of course one near a feeder. A long flushing attempt ended with a good size covey put to flight with all in order.

CHANCE'S SECOND FIND Handler Vic Williams flushes

CHANCE ON THE BENCH

Away from this find Chance again sailed to the front and within five minutes was again found standing. Vic had trouble getting anything to flush but having dismounted to get a better view, one of the judges flushed a single right where Chance said he should be. Manners at flush and shot were once again in order and Chance was released only to go about fifty feet and slam on point again with another single handled like a champion. Chance glided over Tara Hill from this find and was once again found standing buried up in a cedar filled fence line on the right side of the course.  A large covey was put to flight from this stand and again Chance was released. It was about this time that Vic was reminded to check his ammo and he came up short. Chance crossed Safford Road and was gone to the front. As we made the crossing onto the Hamilton property Chance was seen standing tall to the left of the crossing. This reliable covey blasted out of the cover with the whole party in a semi circle around the action. Chance was sent on and as he disappeared down the edge of the long meadow leading to the Bramlett camp, time was called. A short canter and search had Chance back at the dog wagon. Wow!

Lost from sight in a woody patch on the right edge of the course he was seen by his handler standing tall in some low thick grass in the bright sunshine. The first flushing attempt produced nothing. Tapped to relocate Cooper moved up five feet and froze. There sitting like she was on a nest was a lone hen quail enjoying the sunshine on this cold morning. Flush and shot were witnessed with Cooper’s normal high and tight intensity and he was sent on. He continued for the next several fields scorching the edges and as he traversed the west edge of the Big Muddy field, distance between he and the Party widened until he disappeared from sight.

James flushes for Cooper

Winner
Chancey Jackpot Lotto
"Chance"
Brittany Male, by Hired Gun Lucas
X Rooster's Little Bambino
Vic Williams & Joyce Roberts, owners
h Vic Williams


Runner-Up
Cooper's Ozark Traveler
"Cooper"
Brittany Male, by Blaze Dakota Trucker
X Mokan Razzle Dazzle
o. James and Betty Doherty
h. James Doherty