The Sunflower Open All Age Championship

The Sunflower Open All Age Championship
Kimbell Ranch, Yates Center, Kansas
October 2000
CW Bud Moore, Reporter

The year 2000 renewal of the Sunflower Open All-Age Championship was a resounding success. Bear Creek Bess, for owner Brad Calkins, and handler Andy Daugherty annexed her third title over these grounds, her twelfth overall. Bess' hour was an example of power running and savvy bird work; her two finds letter perfect.

Runner-up was Cotton Top for handler Rick Furney. His hour was one of cast after cast, in the zone, out front with a find on quail at 20, where he cast to the east side of a two square mile pasture and pointed outside one of the motts that dot the fence line.

That the trial goes on, and is a success, is the result of great team work. Special thanks to the Kimbell family for providing the grounds and opening up the restaurant to feed everybody on a closed night; Everet Davis, Jr. was always helpful to marshall or drive the dog wagon. Everet has worked dogs on the ranch for 30-plus years. The ever-necessary paperwork job was done by Don Beauchamp.

Bob Enke and Gordon Shaw came from Kansas City, hauled horses down, and did any and everything to help. Bill Black provided the dog wagon. Larry Yeager came to help do the odd chores that always pop up. Patty Black Moore rode every day and put on the steak dinner hosted by last year's winner, High Meadow Brushfire, owned by James Rosenbaum, handled by Butch Winter.

This year's renewal was sponsored by Iams and Eukanuba Dog Food. Their generous patronage was much appreciated. They supplied gifts for the landowners and judges, signs, caps for the participants, dog food for the winners, and paid for a barbecue dinner for everyone on Monday night at Smokey Ben's in Yates Center, Kansas, as well as the American Field ad. Thanks to Bob Borgert, Iams and Eukanuba representative, who came and rode one day at the Mid America and opened gates.

These are the grounds tused by the Hall of Famer, Jack Harper and the Texas Ranger of long ago. Early trials started south of the present day ranch at the railroad siding where cattle were driven cross country to be loaded and shipped. Remnants of the old pens can still be found.

Judges for this successful renewal were Bob Holland and Bill Stubblefield, both of Arkansas. Both started running shooting dogs and gravitated toward the all-age circuit where both have been successful winning the Oklahoma and Arkansas Puppy and Derby Classics with dogs they raised and trained. The decisions were well received, even though several trainers hoped they had a dog in the money.

When asked to describe the ranch, some handlers used adjectives like spectacular, big, panoramic; others just kept saying "awesome!" The grounds roll from gentle hill to hill and ridge to ridge. These hills and ridges give the appearance of being flat, but there's not a flat place in the county. Dogs can go over a hill or ridge and just disappear. Motts of oak dot the hill tops and draws. From the top of a ridge you can see dogs go a long ways in through the country. Native quail and old square tailed prairie chickens were found in every pasture, although only one covey was pointed more than once. The summer was extremely hot and dry, not good for pointing birds. Rains came the last two nights of the trial and one mornign was delayed due to fog.

Professionals in attendance, in no particular order, were Billy Wayne Morton, Colvin and Mazie Davis, Mike and Linda Johnson, Andy and Sharleen Daugherty, Rick Furney, and Steve Hurdle. All were pleasant to be around and pitched in to help where needed. Their strings all showed a sumer of hard work and conditioning.

Due to weather conditions, the stakes and order of running were rearranged and running started immediately following the conclusion of the Mid American Championship on these same grounds.

The DERBY

The Derby was won by Billy Wayne Morton with Pendulum. His was a far flung race of huge prairie proportions. In the second brace we went through the rough second pasture which he negociated like an old dog. At the start of the course you are looking down a deep rough draw, 1/4 mile wide, several hundred feet deep, 1 mile long with side draws running from the west, down hill into the main creek bed. The course goes half way down the draw, then goes up over the west lip, north by north west for a mile. Pendulum swung to the west fence line and took it north and finished in the next pasture in the big draw. This pasture is a mile wide, north to south, and one and 1/2 long, east to west. The draw bisects it on a northeast to southwest angle getting bigger, deeper, and wider as you go. Pendulum was up to the challenge and filled the country.

Sharecroppers Belle ran in the fourth brace going west toward unlimited spaces. These pastures, though, are bisected by high ridges with deep, wide valleys that run off in every direction. Easy for a dog to run the wrong direction. Belle, though at extreme range, kept in contact with handler Steve Hurdle and showed mostly out front. Hers was a big race with no birds. She was braced with Cold Sober for Mike Johnson. Sober's race: the first 25 was strong, though not as forward as his bracemate. Only one derby pointed birds, Henleys Bama Kid for Billy Wayne Morton. His race, however, was not enough to put him in contention.

Other derbies in the stake were Camp Creek Cascade, Buck, Holly, Shell Creek Panoramic, all handled by Billy Wayne Morton. Babe in Action, Briarcrest Heretic, Rick Furney; Cowboy Up, Mike Johnson; and Choppin Cotton for Steve Hurdle who banged hard on the door for a placement.

The CHAMPIONSHIP

The Championship started with Updated Keepsake, Billy Wayne Morton braced with Bar W Khaki, Colvin Davis. Both dogs handled the first twenty minutes by working the scouts hard. We go east for 1/2 mile of prairie, then north for 1mile through low hills covered with big oak trees. Both dogs were out of sight much of the time. Keepsake went north on break away and was gone the first 9 minutes. Both dogs showed far to the front into the second mile pasture. Keepsake went west, scout hard on his heels. Khaki went down the big north south draw and was shown on a 1/2 mile cast before Colvin could get her to hunt for the covey pointed on Friday halfway down the draw. No birds at home today, so Khaki went north to the mile fence and then west with handler. Judges, marshall, and gallery went diagonally across the mile square pasture to the road crossing where we deadhead 100 yards down the road to get into the big east west pasture with the water tower. There is a draw that runs diagnoal from its start northeast by the water tower sowthwest for better than a mile. Both dogs were shown as dots straight west, too far away to be identified or separated. Colvin showed first with Khaki 1/4 ahead of him going down the draw where point was called at 55. It proved to be an unproductive. Keepsake went to the front and chickens were ridden up by judges and marshall. Birds flushed in front of either dog could have changed the outcome.

The second brace was Mark McGuire, Andy Daugherty with Millers White Diamond, Mike Johnson. Both dogs went off at an angle over the hill and it was several minutes before Andy had Mark back out front. Mike showed up with Diamond about 15 minutes later. Mark went left toward the motts and Andy went looking, as birds are normally found there. Mark came out but Andy was lost, to be counted out. The wind had come up and he never heard the cry, "Here's your dog!" Owner Jake Kirkland borrowed a whistle and a gun and took him on (or he took Jake on). Meanwhile, Diamond went to the south fence line and had a good chicken find. While hustiling toward the fron after his first find he whirled to point as chickens left. Both dogs went north and were sticky as course went through thee fence west. Mark finally got birds pointed for Jake and shot was finally fired when a working gun was found. Both dogs went through the west pasture to the corrals where Mark was seen far to the north at pick up and Diamond was found in the middle of the pasture pointing, an unproductive. An exciting hour. I think Jake got his money's worth as he was heard to say, "Boy, was that fun!"

The third brace saw Southern Stroll with Rick Furney braced with Shell Creek Gentry, Billy Wayne Morton. Neither dog got lined out to the front as there wre too many objectives to go see. Both wanted to see it all and both handlers picked up early.

The first brace after lunch saw Special Delivery, Billy Wayne Morton with The Farm Boy, Colvin Davis. Farm Boy was lost going through the hills of the first mile. Special Delivery delivered a true prairie all-age race of good proportions but could not come up with any birds.

Brace 5 had Fullforce Jack, Andy Daugherty for John Evans with Cotton Top, Rick Furney. Jack's race was a 5 on a scale of 1 to 9, some really, really good with some not so good. Cotton Top's race was right out front, not huge, but plenty big enough for the country. At 17 he pointed in the first big mott on the east side of the pasture. Ticking when seen, but tightening up as handler arrived. Wind swirling from two or three direction on the side of the hill. Feeding birds flushed, very good find. He was shown on several good casts after that, always out front in the "zone."

The last brace of the day saw Mississippi Kid, Billy Wayne Morton with Cypress Bud Light, Mike Johnson. Both took turns going to the front and swinging to the side. Both had scouts riding hard to bring both around. The wind was really blowing by now. Both handlers let the judges know they would put them in harness when next seen.

Monday morning started off clear and warm with Shell Creek Cavalier, Billy Wayne Morton and Pink Angel, Colvin Davis. Cavalier went east and was lost. Pink Angel was seen by the dog wagon 2 miles east of break away, but showed up out front in the second pasture. She continued to pour it on for the full hour, but no birds seen. Several coveys ridden up by scouts looking.

The second brace saw Sea Breeze, Rick Furney with Outta Money, Mike Johnson. Money went west and was gone, then back out front, and gone again. Picked up before the hour. Sea Breeze found chickens at the south end of the 1 1/2 pasture, but went with them. End of story.

Brace 9 had Palomar, Billy Wayne Morton with bear Creek Bess, Andy Daugherty. Bess went east at far range, taking in big chunks of country. At 20 she was found south of fence pointing in draw, Palomar backing. A great find. Palomar went to the front and Bess was released south of the fence,only to point a single that had flown down the course. Again, excellent manners. Bess went east after this, not seen for several minutes. Scout brought her to the front and handled her for a while until Andy found us and the front, as the course turned south. Palomar picked up at 50 when found. Bess finished hunting from mott to mott the last 10 at good range. An excellent race with good finds.

First brace after lunch had Quintons Double Take, Mike Johnson with Lonesome Dove Chip, Andy Daugherty. Both dogs were lost in the first pasture.

Break away for the 11th brace was at the pumper's gate. Lehar's Main Tech, Billy Wayne Morton, was brought up as Law's High Noon was scratched. Braced with Flashback, Colvin Davis. Flashback was picked up early, not suiting handler. Main Tech showed she could still put on a show and treated up to 50 minutes of "big" sparkle but alas, she did not show at the end.

Brace 12 was released at the big tank battery in the big south pasture. The course went northwest to the bowl where birds always hang out, then east. Andy Daugherty had Barshoe Esquire and Mike Johnson had Calypso Star. Star put on quite a show until he ass lost in the Sutherland pasture where we are not welcome. Esquire ran a good race but had an unproductive at the pumper's house. Andy elected to pick up after a prolonged relocation.

First brace Tuesday morning saw Peacemaker, Billy Wayne Morton with Updated Bulletin, Colvin Davis. Both dogs tore up the courses way out front swinging to the handlers' calls. Both ran to the front and showed on swing after swing. Either dog with bird work could have had all the marbles.

Second brace turned loose Lehar's Perfect Tech, Billy Wayne Morton with Hill Topper Rowdy, Andy Daugherty. Tech was lost after showing far to the front. Rowdy, on the other hand, was all business. Not huge but workmanlike. He went to the east motts and found the birds feeding there. His deportment was fine and he finished his hour hunting for more birds.

The 15th brace had Kodak Moment, Mike Johnson with Clowers Rain Maker, Colvin Davis. Kodak Moment ran "big", in the judge's words, the first 40, albeit not always to the front. Rain Maker was not as big but more "out front" and handling more kindly. Rain Maker went birdless while Kodak Moment had a nice find after pick up.

The first brace Wednesday morning had Millers Excell, Mike Johnson with Barshoe Sting, Andy Daugherty. Excell never put it all together and was up at 30 while Sting was lost.

The last brace was turned loose at the pumper's gate and went northwest toward the water tower. W W Power Stroke, Mike Johnson was stroking it and went out the front door too far. Wheelin N Dealin, Colvin Davis, also had the wheels turning and was lost out front. Thus ended the 7th Sunflower Open All-Age Championship, with a tropy presentation to the winners and pictures were taken.

Trophies for both the winner and the runner-up of the Sunflower Open All-Age Championship were graciously donated by the Bryan Givhan family whose Millers White Diamond won this championship in 1998. Thanks to Linda and Mike Johnson for making this possible.