Vizsla Club of America, Inc.
2012 National Gun Dog Championship
And National Open Puppy
The 2012
running of the
Vizsla National
Gun Dog
Championship
and National
Open Puppy
was held at
Quail Country
Plantation
near Arlington,
Georgia. Quail
Country is an
Orvis-endorsed
preserve of the
highest quality
in its fifty
second season.
Piney woods
mixed with
broom sage and thickets provided plenty of cover. Many dogs showed they knew the game and had
style yet only the few were chosen.
The 2012 National Puppy Stake broke away at 9:24 am, on a humid South Georgia day that
would prove a test for these young dogs. Birdwork was at a premium, with only a handful of braces
coming away with bird contact. The puppy course proved a challenge for puppies and handlers alike,
requiring the willingness to stretch out for likely objectives as well as the fortitude to pierce cover
that might have proven too thick for many a dog. The puppies handled the conditions and the course
in a manner that made their owners and handlers proud.
National Open Puppy stake judges Jim Carter DVM and Bill Holloway paid close attention to
their sixteen entries.
Finishing in 4th place and out of the 7th brace was Millstar’s The Boss Of The Plains owned by
Melissa Thomas and Cindy Pescod and handled by Melissa. Boss did a very nice job, working a nice
forward pattern and applying himself well. Boss covered some nice ground and made his scout earn
his keep.
In 3rd place, out of the 8th
brace, was Barben’s Queen of
Hearts. Owned by Barbara
Zahn, Karen Buerki and
Trish Burdin and handled by
Trish, Nikki was a pleasure
to watch. She worked well
with her handler, covering
plenty of ground while
hitting all of the right places
in an attractive fashion,
notching a staunch find 6
minutes in and finishing the
brace strong.
In 2nd place, also out of the 8th brace, was Pinnacle’s Carolina Cutter, owned by Scott Rothenberg
and Sue Rushing and handled by Clint Sails. Bailey had an outstanding breakaway, exhibiting
impressive ground speed and nice application. Bailey’s handler was kept on his toes by his dog’s
enthusiasm … but in a good way.
Our 2012 National Puppy Stake winner ran in the 7th brace. Rojo De Tejas Twenty Gauge Luger,
owned by Manny and Lauren Eggleston and handled by Manny. Luke hit the woods as hard as
anyone, going where the birds were and notching finds at 6 and at 12 minutes. Luke started strong,
finished strong and was a pleasure to watch in between.
Running for the National Gun Dog Championship started Saturday morning under clear skies
and a promise of a warm day. Judges Bill Holloway and Heath Kooima were the judges and their
time and attention was well appreciated.
Fourth place went to DC AFC Bitteroot Semper Fi Cutter. Cutter and bracemate TomBoy broke
away at 10:25. Cutter scored first at thirteen minutes with bracemate pointing near-by. Again at
twenty two both dogs were found pointing separate birds both in a mannerly fashion. Another find
at twenty seven minutes prior to entering the shooting area. Cutter’s first find resulted in a safety,
his second find completed the retrieve.
Third place finisher was the 2011 Champion, 3xNGDC 2xNAFC DC AFC Crimson’s Twenty
Gauge Ruger SH. With bracemate Macy on point Ruger showed style and training with a nice
honor. At twenty seven minutes a divided find in the woods gave Ruger his first score. After
pointing again at thirty five and thirty eight Ruger made his retrieve in the shooting area. Just
after leaving the retrieving area had another find at forty six.
Second place was garnered by AFC FC Tommy’s Dixie Chick. Dixie ran with good speed and
range. Dixie pointed at thirteen under the now familiar tree. Pointing again at 32 minutes moved
Dixie into the shooting area where she pointed and completed her retrieve.
Announcing DC AFC JB’s Asker Bout Birds, as first place was no surprise to these reporters.
The connection
between Kinze
and her handler
was a great
example of how a
Gun Dog should
work. Kinze ran in
the second brace
Monday morning.
Kinze ran with
animation and
speed, she
responded very
well to her
owner/handler
Jodie Beckley and
at twenty one
minutes scored her third find. Other finds at thirty one and thirty five showed good manners and
style. Prior to entering the shooting area at the forty four minute mark Kinze showed off her
training with a stop to flush. In the shooting area Kinze’s first bird was a safety; her second find
cooperated for a good retrieve.
There were several very good performances that made the hour and a couple that almost
finished. Judge’s Award of Merit went to:
FC Shawnee’s Red Lioness, FC AFC Rushcreek Semper Fi High Style, FC AFC Burr Oak’s
Quaterback and AFC Poppyhills Martini with A Twist
Day One NGDC: 03/24/12
Brace 1: Lewis, handled by Sue Towne, and Jack, handled by Brian Gingrich. Lewis and Jack
broke away at 8:15 under cloudy skies, as the rain from the previous night moved its way out of the
area. Lewis went on a stylish point at 3 minutes. After a lengthy search and relocation, Lewis
carded a nonproductive. With the dogs separated, Jack’s performance was difficult to see. His day
ended on a manners infraction at 34 minutes. Lewis finished the day with 2 solid finds on the back
course and a stop to flush and a retrieve in the shooting area as time expired.
Brace 2: Macy, handled by Clint Sails, and Ruger, handled by Mark Spurgeon. Both dogs moved
well to the front, with Macy carding a find at 17 minutes with Ruger backing. All was in order and
the pair moved on, with a shared find being recorded at 27 minutes in the woods. Ruger had 2 more
finds as we approached the shooting area at 35 and 38 minutes. Once joined by the gunners, Ruger
had a find and a completed retrieve and moved on, recording his final find on a covey at 46 minutes
just outside the shooting area. Macy’s finds in the shooting area were mainly birds that did not
agree with the gunners’ intentions. After 2 safety situations, the gunners had a shot on the 3rd bird,
Macy completed the retrieve, and all was in order. Both dogs finished the hour.
Brace 3: Topper, handled by Marcia Schlesinger, and Rock, handled by Mike Dalby. Topper and
Rock started strong, with both making nice moves as they moved through the first field. Topper was
first on the board with a nice find at 13 minutes, but unfortunately his day ended shortly thereafter.
Rock continued alone, notching his first find at 30 minutes. All was in order on this find, although a
manners infraction ended his run on another bird soon after.
Brace 4: Tori, handled by Jamie Fountain, and Belle, handled by Tracy Faber. Belle wasn’t
making her handler happy, so she chose to leash her at 20 minutes. Tori carded finds at 11 minutes
and 44 minutes, with the latter in the shooting area, resulting in a retrieve that was completed in
good order. Tori finished the hour with 2 finds and a nonproductive.
Brace 5: Tootsie, handled by Brenda Roe, and Jake, handled by Brian Gingrich. In the first brace
after lunch, Jake jumped on the board first with mannerly finds at 11 and 26 minutes. Tootsie
recorded a nonproductive at 16 minutes. Tootsie followed suit with 2 finds in the shooting area at 35
and 40 minutes; both were safety situations and a shot was not to be had. Shortly thereafter, Jake
had his retrieve at 42 minutes with all in order. Tootsie had her last find in the shooting area,
culminating in a satisfactory retrieve. At the very end, Tootsie recorded a second nonproductive.
Both dogs finished the hour.
Brace 6: Gman, handled by Melissa Thomas, and Ginny, handled by Sarah Hayes. These two
broke away at 3:09, with Ginny the first to record bird contact with a find at 13 minutes. All was in
order, and Ginny moved on, recording a nonproductive at 20 minutes. Gman got his first bird at 36
minutes – while standing in the water bucket - and handled it well. Ginny had 2 finds in the
shooting area. She was unable to complete her first retrieve at no fault to the dog. On the second
find, she went on shot and her day was done. Gman completed his retrieve in satisfactory manner at
54 minutes.
Brace 7: Geena, handled by Joan Heimbach, and Monte, handled by Janice Branam. The dogs
got separated at Monte’s first find 7 minutes in, so details on Geena are thin. Monte recorded finds
at 18 and 25 minutes, with Geena backing on the second one, with all being handled properly. The
pair had a divided find at 21 minutes. Geena also recorded a nice find at 33 minutes in the woods.
Manners were in order for all finds and both dogs were clean. Shortly afterwards, Monte had a find
approaching the retrieving area. Both completed retrieves in the bird field, with all in order. Both
dogs finished the hour.
Day 2 NGDC: 03/25/12:
Between scratches and bitches in season, the running order required some modification from the
original. The braces below are what ran today.
Brace 8: Gus, handled by Cindy Pescod, and Cali, handled by Kae Deckert. Gus and Cali broke
away at 8:16. Gus had the first find at 22 minutes. This find was handled well, and Gus moved on to
record another find at 26 minutes, this one in the trees. Gus had a find at 38 minutes in the
shooting area, resulting in a missed shot and no retrieve. Gus had his retrieve on another find at 48
minutes and all was in order. Gus moved on to finish the hour. Cali entered the shooting area and
recorded a find at 35 minutes. After a good flush and accurate shot, Cali completed a nice retrieve.
Moving out of the shooting area, Cali recorded her second find, handling it well. Cali also finished
the hour.
Brace 9: Stormy, handled by Tracy Faber, and Dixie, handled by Steve Whitney. Stormy and
Dixie broke away at 9:21. Dixie was found standing under a tree at 13 minutes, bird was flushed
and handled well. Stormy had a nearby find at the same time and also handled it with manners.
Stormy had a find at 29 minutes and worked it to the judges’ satisfaction. Dixie had a mannerly find
at 32 minutes and continued on. Dixie was the first to complete her work in the shooting area with a
nice find. Stormy had a nice find in the shooting area that ended with some unfortunate luck, and
his day was over. Dixie finished the hour strong.
Brace 10: Cutter, handled by Clint Sails, and TomBoy, handled by Paul Hermes. Cutter and
TomBoy broke away at 10:25. Cutter had the first find at 13 minutes. Bird was flushed and handled
well. In the meantime, TomBoy recorded a covey find nearby, with handler flushing the birds with
all things in order. Moving on, both dogs again scored finds nearly simultaneously at 22 minutes.
Both finds were handled well and the dogs moved on. Cutter had a find at 27 minutes with good
manners. Cutter’s first find in the shooting area was a safety situation. A clean shot was made on
the second find, with Cutter completing the retrieve in prompt fashion. TomBoy had her find in the
shooting area, with the bird cooperating, the gunners making the shot and TomBoy completing a
satisfactory retrieve. Both dogs finished the hour clean.
Brace 11: Rigby, handled by Mark Spurgeon, and Reba, handled by Cindy Pescod. Both dogs
moved out strong and took to the course well. Rigby had a find at 15 minutes with all affairs in
order. His second find at 19 minutes proved his undoing and his day was over. Reba had an
unfortunate contact with a bird at 29 minutes and joined her bracemate in the dog wagon.
Brace 12: Hudson, handled by David King, and Kate, handled by Amber Duff. These dogs broke
away at 2:15. Kate carded the first find at 18 minutes, with all in order and Kate moved on. Hudson
had a find in the shooting area at 44 minutes. Hudson handled the bird with style, resulting in a
shot bird and a completed retrieve. Kate followed suit with her own find and retrieve in the shooting
area. Both dogs moved on and finished the hour.
Brace 13: Rex, handled by Brian Gingrich, and Bogart, handled by Bill Stapleton. At 7 minutes,
both dogs were found standing, with Rex credited with the find. A dead bird was produced. Rex
scored another find at 18 minutes in the treeline. Everything was in order and the dog was moved
forward. Bogart ended up on lead at 21 minutes after encountering some uncooperative birds. Rex
had a point called at 32 minutes just before the shooting area, resulting in a nonproductive. Rex had
a find in the shooting area, with the bird running down a tortoise hole, making a flushing attempt
ill-advised. Rex had a second find, resulting in a flush, shot, and a completed retrieve. Rex moved on
and finished the hour.
Brace 14: Octane/Viva. Both dogs recorded finds at 15 minutes, with both handling them well.
At 38 minutes, Octane had a find in the shooting area, resulting in a completed retrieve. Octane
continued on out of the shooting area to finish the hour. Viva had a find shortly after at 43 minutes,
resulting in nice birdwork and a completed retrieve. Viva’s handler elected to leash her dog at 49
minutes upon leaving the shooting area.
Day 3 NGDC: 3/26/12: With bitches in season and dropped dogs the braces are numbered as
run.
Brace 1: JR, handled by Rodney Albin, and McKinley, handled by Jamie Fountain. This brace
broke away at 8:08, with JR recording the first find 8 minutes in on a covey in the trees. JR kept his
affairs in order and moved on, recording his second find in a mannerly fashion at 17 minutes.
Shortly thereafter, McKinley was found on point at 19 minutes. After a lengthy search and
relocation, McKinley was moved on and charged with a nonproductive. At 26 minutes, McKinley’s
second find was handled under the trees. After a nice relocation, 2 birds and a rabbit were produced.
McKinley kept his wits about him and continued on. His third find at 34 minutes in the stand of
pines approaching the shooting area was completed with all things in order. JR hit the shooting
area first and performed a nice retrieve at 39 minutes, with the bird delivered in good fashion.
McKinley followed suit with a satisfactory retrieve at 45 minutes. Both dogs moved on and finished
the hour.
Brace 2: Jack, handled by Andrew Turner, and Kinze, handled by Jodie Beckley. Jack and Kinze
broke away at 9:12. Kinze had her first find at 11 minutes under a large tree. The bird was flushed
and all was in order. Kinze followed up with a find at 19 minutes, also handled well. Kinze’s third
find was at 21 minutes looking into a thick treeline. After a lengthy and cautious relocation, the bird
was located, Kinze’s handler flushed it and Kinze handled it in a mannerly fashion. At about the
same time, Jack was further along on the course and got on the board with a find of his own; all was
in order and Jack continued to the shooting area. Kinze was found standing at 31 minutes on
another mannerly find, following up with yet another at 35 minutes. This one required a relocation,
which was handled in good fashion and Kinze moved on. Meanwhile, Jack had entered the shooting
area, completed his find and a satisfactory retrieve, and moved on. At 44 minutes on the edge of the
shooting area, Kinze had a stop to flush on a covey, again handled in good order. Once in the
shooting area, Kinze had a safety situation on her first find at 48 minutes. She completed a
satisfactory retrieve on her second find and all was in order. Both dogs continued on to finish the
hour.
Brace 3: Sage, handled by Brian Gingrich, and Shelly, handled by Nancy Heinhold. The final
brace of the 2012 National Gun Dog Championship left the breakaway at 10:17. Sage notched the
first find at 7 minutes, handling it well. Shelly’s day ended at 11 minutes on a manners infraction.
Sage’s second find was at 12 minutes under a large tree. The bird flushed wild as the handler
approached; a shot was fired, the situation was handled well, and Sage moved on. Sage recorded
additional finds at 28 and 33 minutes, with both handled well. With all things in order, Sage moved
into the shooting area, recording her first find at 40 minutes. After a missed shot and no retrieve,
Sage continued on to her second find at 44 minutes. This bird zigged when it should have zagged,
the gunners downed it, and Sage completed her retrieve in good order. Sage went on to finish the
hour.
Thanks as always goes to a good committee that works hard to provide the breed the opportunity
to showcase its best. Thank you for a well-run event.
Paul Hermes and Gary Sadler