2002 Quail Unlimited Purina National Championship Dog of the Year Trial

When the staff exodus began from Quail Unlimited National Headquarters in Edgefield, South Carolina, to Bronwood, Georgia, for the national dog trial, the weather was a real concern. The steady and sometimes hard rainfall was a clear reminder of last year’s trial. But as we began to set up for the 15th Annual Quail Unlimited/Purina(tm) National Championship Dog of the Year Trial, sponsored by Purina(tm) Pet Care, the sun broke through the gloomy clouds and set a beautiful stage for the weekend of March 14-17, 2002.

The field consisted of 110 dogs competing for over $5,000 in cash and prizes from Tri-Tronics(tm) and Purina(tm) Pet Care. Registrants represented 16 states ranging from Pennsylvania and Illinois to as far west as Oklahoma and Texas. The competition was intense this year in Bronwood!

The trial started at the break of dawn on Thursday with a quick-paced full day of practice. After everyone had gotten a good look at all four fields and the last practice brace had been run, several hours of story swapping and laughter filled the evening.

Friday morning started off a bit misty, but the competition began in earnest at 7:30 a.m. Only the top 16 dogs advanced to the second round of competition on Saturday. After the dust cleared a bit before 5 p.m., the field was set for the next round of competition.

Tom Daniel's Daniel's Cryin' Babe - "Babe"

The scores varied from field to field, but the top scoring dogs from each field had exceptional performances. On "A" field, James Carver’s female pointer Sarver’s Little Jody scored 915 points. Kevin Jerome’s male German shorthaired pointer Buchkshot’s "00" Buck scored 900 points. Jim Turner’s male pointer Tokeena Elhew Rex scored 711.5 points. On "B" field, Roy Burchel’s male pointer Burchel’s Dutchman scored the overall high for the day of 1,101 points. Dennis Brooks’ female Brittany BB Lady Bullet scored 969 points. Bert Currel’s female German shorthaired pointer Wild Dixie Rose scored 870 points. On "C" field, Donald Brownlee’s female German shorthaired pointer B & L Royal Flush Roxey scored 944 points. Tom Daniel’s male German shorthaired pointer Daniel’s Cryin’ Babe scored 894.66 points. Alec Sutton’s male English setter Rough River Snake scored 690.5 points. On "D" field, Alec Sutton’s male English setter Snake’s Carbon Copy scored 1,053 points. William Darney’s male German shorthaired pointer Dinnerbell’s Rostig, who was handled by Dion Bliss, scored 1,035.82 points. Nolan Huffman’s male Brittany Nolan’s Last Bullet scored 917 points. Each of these dogs and their handlers received trophies for finishing in the top three on each field. They also received Quail Unlimited Gun Dog Championship points.

That night, the Albany Area Chapter of Quail Unlimited hosted a dinner and auction. The Georgia State Council co-hosted the bar with Budweiser(tm) provided by Albany Beverage Company, and Coca-Cola(tm) providing the rest of the refreshments.

Beginning Saturday morning, the trial was a straight beat-your-bracemate competition. Three fields were utilized for the competition, which began at 7:30 a.m. Throughout the day, there were several instances when less than 20 points separated two dogs, but only the highest scorer could advance. The most anticipated brace of the day began right after lunch when Roy Burchel’s pointer Burchel’s Dutchman took the field against Nolan Huffman’s Brittany Nolan’s Last Bullet. After the 30-minute brace, Burchel’s Dutchman edged out Nolan’s Last Bullet with a score of 682 points to 501.5 points.

Saturday’s "A" field winners were Harold Hufstetler’s Pineywoods Fearless Huff and Pineywoods Buckshot with scores of 877.5 points and 782.5 points respectively. The "B" field winners were Randy Woolum’s Woolum Have Mercy with a score of 1,012 points and Jim Turner’s Tokeena Nick with a score of 920.16 points. The "C" field winners were Kevin Jerome’s Buchkshot’s "00" Buck with a score of 937 points, and the returning 2001 champion, Randy Schultz’s Julia’s Bocephus, had a score of 880 points. Other high scoring dogs included J.D. West’s Tekoa Sunrise, Jim Turner’s Tokeena Elhew Snake, Alec Sutton’s Rough River Snake and Snake’s Carbon Copy, Suvoyee Rudd’s Rudd’s Running Bobber, Harold Benge’s Stillinger’s Rocket Man and Aaron Parker’s Bragan’s Strike Baby. These dogs scored over 700 points for the day, but all of the dogs were a joy to watch.

For those 64 dogs who did not advance to the second round, a consolation trial was held for the first 32 dogs and handlers who wished to enter. This competition was held on "D" field. Trophies were given to the top three winners, along with an accessory beeper donated by Tri-Tronics(tm). The winners also received Quail Unlimited Gun Dog Championship points. When the smoke cleared at the end of the day, Alec Sutton’s male English setter Barr’s Chipper won with 928.33 points. Neil Roberts’ male pointer Coca-Cola Joe won second place with 914.5 points. Tom Daniel’s male English pointer Vest’s Tall Railroad won third place with 836.83 points. Even though he didn’t place, Greg Whitaker’s male setter West Lakes Bullett held onto the third place position with 799 points until Alec Sutton’s Chip took the field in one of the last braces of the day. Mark McAfee’s male setter Miami Valley Sun was the only other dog who scored over 700 for the day with 714 points.

After the competition on Saturday, everyone headed back to the clubhouse for dinner. The evening was co-hosted by the Butler County Ohio Chapter of Quail Unlimited and Albany Beverage Company.

With the field of 32 dogs, the competition on Sunday was guaranteed to be trying for those dogs who made it to the final rounds. Round three consisted of four half-hour braces on four fields; round four (16 dogs) consisted of four braces on two fields, round five (eight dogs) consisted of two braces on two fields, and round six (four dogs) consisted of one half-hour brace on two fields to determine third and fourth place. Then the final round was a one-hour brace on an expanded "A" and "B" field.

Several hours later, the sixth round was narrowed to the four dogs who ran for the prizes. Tom Daniel’s Daniel’s Cryin’ Babe and Roy Burchel’s Burchel’s Dutchman, who was handled by Dustin Crow, ran their brace on "A" field. Kyle Bowyer’s Joe’s Bozeann Mountain, a male English setter who was handled by Donald Bowyer, and Dr. Gary Ramsey’s Windswept’s Clay Bullet, who was handled by Nolan Huffman, ran their brace on "B" field. After this half-hour brace, Burchel’s Dutchman came away with the fourth place win with 508 points. He received a $500 check, a trophy and a three-month supply of Purina(tm) Pro Plan. Windswept’s Clay Bullet received the third place prize of $750 (sponsored by the Quail Unlimited and Dove Sportsman’s Society Midlands Chapter in South Carolina), a Tri-Tronics(tm) accessory beeper, a trophy and a three-month supply of Purina(tm) Pro Plan.

After a brief rest break for the handlers and the judges, the final brace began between Babe and Joe and 10 released birds. After a grueling hour, Daniel’s Cryin’ Babe had a final score of 1,061.66 points and Joe’s Bozeann Mountain had a final score of 997 points. Babe had five finds and retrieves, and Joe had five finds and four retrieves. Donald and Kyle Bowyer walked away with $1,250 in cash, a Tri-Tronics(tm) accessory beeper, a six-month supply of Purina(tm) Pro Plan and a trophy. Tom Daniel received the grand prize of $2,500, a Tri-Tronics(tm) Upland Special dog collar, a one-year supply of Purina(tm) Pro Plan, a trophy and the privilege of gracing this issue’s cover of Quail Unlimited magazine and promoting the 2003 Quail Unlimited National Championship Dog of the Year Trial. Bob West from Purina(tm) Pet Care presented the prizes to all the winners of the competition.

Everyone was sad to see the day come to an end. Harold and Janice Hufstetler did a wonderful job again this year, and a special thanks goes to them for their hard work and the use of their farm. Purina(tm) Pet Care also receives our gratitude for their generous donation of their time, name and support of this event. Tri-Tronics(tm), Albany Beverage Company and Coca-Cola(tm) contributed greatly to this year’s trial as well. The Midlands Chapter of South Carolina, the Butler County Chapter of Ohio, the Georgia State Council and the Albany Area Chapter of Georgia all lent tremendous support to make this year’s trial bigger and better. Thanks again on behalf of Quail Unlimited, Inc. to all of the volunteers who donated their time and effort to make the 15th Annual Quail Unlimited/Purina(tm) National Championship Dog of the Year Trial such a success.
Please make plans to join us next year at Hufstetler Farm in Bronwood, Georgia, March 13-16, 2003, for the 16th Annual Quail Unlimited/National Dog of the Year Championship. For more information on next year’s trial, please contact Kellie Rae Rangus at Quail Unlimited at (803) 637-5731, ext. 31, or send e-mail to dogtrials@qu.org.