IDAHO STATE OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP

And LARRY BRECH MEMORIAL DERBY CLASSIC

By Larry McConnell & Colin Kennedy        

The 2006 Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship and the accompanying stakes were hosted by the Boise Valley Pointing Dog Club. The five-day day trial commenced September 27 at the Robertson Ranch near Payette, Idaho with the running of the Larry Brech Memorial Derby Classic.

 The Robertson Ranch is near the end of Little Willow Road, just before the road climbs up the rough lava strewn hills to Paddock Reservoir. It normally takes about a ½ hour to drive to the ranch once you are on Little Willow Road. The Robertson Ranch owned by the Richard Robertson family has been graciously used since the 2000 running of the Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship. The previous running had been held on the famous Mile Post 9 grounds near Marsing, Idaho. Due to grounds conflicts with other dog clubs and the opening of deer hunting season, the trial was moved to the Robertson Ranch. The Championship has continued to grow since 2000 with the 2006 running being the all time largest trial. 3 new 1 hour courses were laid out for the 2006 running. The bird hatch was the best seen since 1976. It was very rare that a brace of dogs would not have multiple wild bird contact.

Judges rooms, lunches, and the Saturday night BBQ were hosted at the Robertson Club House. The Larry Brech Memorable Derby Classic, The Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship and The Northwest Amateur All Age Classic were held over this 5 day event. This was the largest 5 day field trial held at the famous Robertson ranch.

Club officers, Larry McConnell, Jack Cafferty, and Kelly McConnell headed up trial. They were assisted by Club members: Jim Ledington, Gary Stevens, June McConnell, Josh & Brandy Miller, Rich Heaton, Richard Heaton Sr., Richard Robertson Sr. and Richie Robertson. Other Club members who participated were: Tina McFarland, Neal McLean, Bob & Frank Wregglesworth, and Emily, Penny, and Johnnie Robertson.

A trial is only as good as the quality of the participants. Many thanks to the extremely talented participants who drove many long miles to attend: Doug Favor and Matt Coverdale from Southern Idaho, Sean Kelley, Ron Young, and Mike Stephens from California. Joe Brinster, Janel and Joe Kirby, Gary & Kate Brown, Alex Mauck, Mel Lee, Todd Schaff, and Rocky Tavares, from the Northwest. A special thanks to Matt Coverdale, a true supporter of the Boise Valley Pointing Dog Club and American Field Trialing. Matt who had previously won the Region 10 Amateur All Age the weekend before, drove home to Eastern Idaho, flew to the East Coast, returned on Friday and drove all night, to participate in the weekend activities. This young man is a class act!!

Thanks to Mr. Pat Lamantia of Purina who helped sponsor this trial. Marshall Radio Telemetry, Bass Pro Shops, and Sportsman's Warehouse who also made generous gift certificates available to the winners and the judges. Pergo Design Gallery and Nickel Pointers donated prizes for the winners. A special thanks to club member Josh & Brandy Miller who donated $500.00 to the winners of the Larry Brech Memorial Derby Classic. Josh was a previous winner with his Miller's Mighty Chester in the 2005 running.

The Judges for the Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship were Colin Kennedy of Calgary, Alberta and Harold Chadwick of Grantsville, Utah. The winner of the 2006 Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship was pointer male, North Bound Traveler, owned and handled by Mel Lee. Traveler was the class dog of the stake. Traveler ran a super shooting dog race, always to the front, and had great class and style on his bird work. Copper Sunrise, setter female, owned and handled by Richard Heaton Sr. was named Runner Up Champion. Copper ran a smooth ground race and carded 1 find on Chukar. Copper was scouted by Rich Heaton Jr.

The 3rd Annual Larry Brech Memorial Derby Classic was held just prior to the running of the Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship. Veteran Judges, Larry McConnell, of Meridian, Idaho and Mike Wilkin, of Reno, Nevada were in the saddle. This stake was named in the memory of Larry Brech, a Boise Valley Pointing Dog Club member, who had passed away in 2003. The winner of the Larry Brech Memorial Derby Classic was Riverton's Magic Molly, owned by Matt Coverdale and handled by Rich Robertson. 2nd place went to Kelly's Laser Eye, owned and handled by Sean Kelly. 3rd place was awarded to Silverado's Blew Biyou owned by Glen Johnson and handled by Rich Robertson.

The Boise Valley Pointing Dog Club members would like to express our appreciation for having the opportunity to host the Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship on the spectacular Robertson Ranch. The Club House was "the icing on the cake". Thanks again to Richard and Johnnie, Rich, Penny, and Emily Robertson, for their hospitality.

Idaho State Open Shooting Dog Championship Running

Brace #1: Kid - Rocky Tavares - Kid broke away to the front and was gone at 8. Rocky asked for the tracker at 24. A deer had crossed the course just after gate on #1 course. Rocky's dog couldn't resist the chase. Charlie Girl - Ed Mahue - Girl was credited with a stop to flush at 8. Girl continued to run a nice forward race and point was called at 33 on Huns. Girl exhibiting nice style. Girl went with birds on flush.

Brace #2: Ground Force - Joe Kirby - Force's race was a little erratic today. Flight of hen pheasant was called by handler Mauck. Both dogs stopped along marsh area. Kirby's dog behind brace mate by about 25 yards. Joe elected to pick up at 18. Miss Getsis - Alex Mauck - Getsis ran a good purposeful forward race. Divided bird work at 18. Flight of hen pheasant called by Mauck. Mauck pointed his dog out standing about 25 yards in front of brace mate near this end of the cover. Shot fired without further flushing attempt. Credited with stop to flush. Mauck called point at 40 however this became an un-productive. Mauck's dog finished to the front with no further bird work.

Brace #3: Hottie - Sean Kelly - Excellent forward race from start to finish. No scouting required. Unfortunately no bird work. Doc - Rocky Tavares - Too big for this stake and was eventually counted out at 48.

Brace #4:  Final Approach - Mel Lee - Approach had a little rough start. Approach came around and made the front. The temperature was climbing. Approach began to show the effects of the heat and was watered at the tank at 35. Refreshed Approach made a couple of big moves and finished the hour without any bird work. Kelly's Rebel Maggie - Sean Kelly - Maggie started big and had to be scouted on 2 occasions. Sean elected to pick up at 30.

Brace #5: DB - Gary Brown - DB broke away under power lines and was soon gone. Scout dispatched. DB was observed returning to the front on his own at 15, however, crashed on birds and was picked up. Promised Land - Ron Young - Land showed well to the front on break away, and returned on is own. Point was called at 20. Land lost intensity and concentration during extented flushing attempt. A hen pheasant was observed leaving the area. Handler informed and a shot fired. A find on dead hawk rooster at 25. Point was called again along the road at 42 and resulted in an unproductive. Land finished to front at time.

Brace #6: Big Shot - Gary Brown - Gary released his stylish white pointer and the dog moved out of sight into sage along right side of course. Point called at 5. After an extended search with Gary some 30 yards in front his dog released on his own to join the hunt. Gary elected to pickup. T's Tango - Rich Robertson - Rich's charge moved to the front however at limited range. Not pleased with his dog's effort, Rich elected to pickup at 30.

Brace #7: Just A Hellion - Larry McConnell - First brace in the afternoon. Bull worked up the right side of the course and appeared to be working birds. Bull crossed the fence and disappeared. Point called by scout at 13 in the area the dog was last seen. Handler flushed hen pheasant and all in order at shot. Bull got behind after the release and could not be returned to the front. Larry elected to pick up at 30.and called for the tracker. Mauck's Loowhit - Alex Mauck - Alex's stylish setter had a fine opening and continued to hunt all the likely spots. She was rewarded with a nice find on Chukar at 13. All was in order at flush and shot. Alex called point at the water tank. Loowit was standing in tank with great style. Alex decided to relocate, however, no birds could be flushed and was credited with an unproductive. Coming across the front at 51 "Loowhit" stopped just off of the road with Alex calling point. Hun's lifted far up the hill side. Nice find all in order at shot. Dog continued to hunt the front until 58 when an unfortunate encounter with a covey of running Hun's ended her day.

Brace #8: DB Blackrock Stich - Doug Favor - Blackrock had an unproductive at 5. Stopped again at 15. Doug concerned about a second unproductive wasn't convinced that his dog had birds and choose to wait and not to call point. While making up his mind a hen pheasant lifted from in front of his dog followed by a second bird off to the side. Hour finished without any further contacts. North Bound Traveler - Mel Lee - Traveler started very strong and continued ranging to front, going to all likely spots one would expect to find chukar. Traveler carded a nice limb find at 25 out to the front on the hill side. Traveler marked the bird at flush and shot. All was in order. Traveler finished strong and to the front. Ideal shooting dog race with excellent application to the task at hand.

Brace #9: Paladelia's Shadow - Rich Robertson - Big wide shooting dog race that required hard riding by handler. Shadow got out of pocket in the big valley heading back to power line. Point called at 33 right in front of handler just before course heads down under the power line. A single chukar flushed with dog stepping to mark flight of bird. Shadow was gone at 50 and was returned just before the hour after lengthy search by handler. Storm - Josh Miller - Storm was booted up due to sore feet. Josh elected to pick up 9.

Brace #10: Daisy A Nickel - Jim Ledington - A meeting of chukar on the edge of road at 3 was "Daisy's" undoing. Riverton Jet Stryker - Matt Coverdale - Didn't fair much better on a covey of Hun's at 5.

Brace #11: Shadow of Justice - Mike Wilkin - Shadow had a nice happy way of going. However, he was undecided on just where he wanted to go. Shadow ran hard but did not complete the casts to the objectives. Shadow was cautioned into a back on brace mate at 22. Shadow ran the hour with out any bird contact. Copper Sunrise - Richard Heaton SR.- Copper started well and got stronger as the hour progressed. Copper had a find on a dead chukar at 22 and was backed by brace mate. Returned from a big forward cast at about 35. Continued to hunt rock out croppings and was eventually rewarded with point being called at 54 to the left front just as course turns and winds its way back to the power line. Richard asked copper to relocate which was accomplished and point was again established. Good intensity with the tail just above level. Handler produced a single chukar in rocks some 5 feet below where dog was standing. Copper took a small step to mark bird at shot. Hour ended with time being called.

Brace #12: Sport Machine - Ron Young - Machine made a big opening cast. Returned on his own and had a stop to flush on quail at 19. Machine made another forward cast from 33 to 43 again returning on own. Machine did not handle a stop to flush at 48 and was picked up. Way Going Hoot - Mike Stephens - Hoot had problems getting started and spent time taking the road under the power line. Hoot was returned and had a good forward race. Hoot crossed the stream and was reported a nice find on Hun's at 24. Style on point was marginal and flagged during flush and shot. Hoot was gone at 50 and was returned by scout at 59.

Brace #13: Zaddie - Bobby Wregglesworth - Zaddie was very stylish and animated on the ground. Point called at 18. Relocation produced no birds. Zaddie continued a forward race and finished the hour without further bird contact.