The Sunflower Open All Age Championship

The Sunflower Open All Age Championship
Kimbell Ranch, Yates Center, Kansas
October 2002

Millers Excell running in the sixth brace threw out a challenge that was never bested to win the 2002 Championship.

Handled by Mike Johnson, and owned by Ken and Tom Honecker, Excell, ran Tuesday morning in weather miserable and getting worse every minute. Rain had started falling at daybreak, and the temperature was around 35 or 36 degrees. The wind was blowing from the west-northwest, and the course went into the wind the entire hour. Loosed from the old pumpers house in the middle of the three-mile section, the dogs, Barshoe Trump Card, Andy Daugherty and Excell lit a shuck for far reaches. Trump card was wide to an extreme the first pasture, not wanting to run into the weather, and Daugherty put him on the wagon at the first chance. Excell had been reaching wide, and Johnson put him in the big draw going southwest in the second pasture. Excell put on a show, and the judges were excited to say the least to watch him go. We cantered for better than a mile to watch him lay out to the front. Through the honey hole, no birds at home, we went west for a mile, and Excell stayed on the creek bottoms, seining for birds. At the end of the mile, the course went north and Excell was still going west on the creek, and the party went a quarter of a mile north to the gate. Johnson went west and north while Ray Warren, scouting, went back to the creek bottoms, searching. The call of point rang out, and we rode to the bottoms to see Excell standing and birds lifting all around him. He stood for Johnson to reach him and shoot. Five minutes were left in the hour, and he was taken on into the wind and rain to finish his hour.

The runner-up, Omaha, handled by Randy Anderson had already run on the same course, so it was a comparison between the two dogs. Omaha was big the first thirty minutes, and had birds in the honey hole. Dog loosening at flush and shot. Upon release, Omaha, made a large back cast and had to be ridden for and rounded up to be returned to the front. He negotiated the creek bottoms in good fashion, and when the course turned north, he went west for a long, long ways. He was returned after time.

Oscar Wilde is quoted as saying, “Life is a bad quarter of an hour made up of exquisite moments.” So was the Sunflower Championship week. The trial was supposed to start at eight o’clock Monday morning, but fog delayed the start until after lunch. Twenty derbies were drawn, and the stake started after an abbreviated first try. The first brace was loosed, and run for about twelve minutes before the judges decided that visibility was not good enough to see all age derby’s.

The weather went downhill after that and all week was wet, extremely windy, cold, and muddy. On several occasions, Snowflakes were seen, and sleet fell for nearly one whole brace. Most of the dogs did not put their hearts into hunting into the wind, rain or snow(sleet). Many were picked up early, as it was obvious that they were not throwing out a challenge to the dogs that had already run and done an acceptable job. Several dogs did make the judges sit tall in the saddle and ride to watch true prairie all age dogs strut their stuff. John Gardner once told Oggie Price who was judging a Canadian All Age Championship, “give your heart to God, your seat to the saddle, and ride like hell man, this is an all age stake.” That quote was brought to mind several times during the trial as dogs went across the Kimbell ranch at all age range and style. Both judges would sit up tall in the saddle, and away we went to watch. You never had to wonder if the judges were watching, if the dogs were doing “ it,” the judges were there to watch “it”.

It is truly a sad day when a person who is lacking in knowledge and experience accepts a judicial assignment and then because of personal prejudice makes a mockery of prairie all age traditions, practices and procedures. Not so our judges. Edward L “Bud” Walters of Lomeita Texas, and Art Crowell of Dardanelle Arkansas, Both men have a wealth of wisdom from blowing the whistle over their own dogs in championship competition. Both are “Shooting Dog men’, and know the difference between a shooting dog, and a prairie all age. Both have owned and campaigned champions such as Barshoe hardtwist, Mt. Nebo ‘s Dolly, Barshoe Gotcha, and others to their titles. This writer has know both gentlemen for over 25 years, and like me neither is a spring chicken. While a little rough around the edges, both are honest to a fault, and were good to be around. Just having good judges makes a bad week better.

Because of the weather, abbreviated braces, and lack of bird work, a brace by brace description is not necessary, and would be bad reading. Suffice it to say, several dogs did put it mostly together, but for one reason or another did not catch the brass ring. Probably closest to the winners were two dogs run by Randy Anderson. Silver Hawk in the 5th Brace had a gutsy race in the bitter cold and mud to point birds at 55 all in order. Future Stock had a far-flung mostly forward race with one find where definition was questionable. Medicine Cloud for Ray Warren had a huge first 30, good bird work, then faded at 50. Blue Steel Addition also for Ray Warren had a good find, chickens not seen by the judges, and an unproductive. His race was abbreviated at times as the weather was worsening. Storm Warning for Anderson had it all going for him for 45 then faded. Clowers Rainmaker for Colvin Davis had birds at 20, and then faded south with the storm when the course went north. Millers White Diamond for Johnson had a heck of a race but no birds. Bar W Kaki for Colvin Davis did her usual job of a superb ground race, but no birds. Sakakawae for Ray Warren did a super job on the ground, but no birds. Bad News for Anderson was viscious on the ground but no birds. Houses Tess for Andy Daugherty had a great hour on the ground, and scout rode up birds going to her after time. Worshams Silver Streak for Joe Worsham was putting it all together but had a mistake on birds to end his hour. Cornerstone for Anderson had a huge up front hour but no birds. Farm Boy, for Colvin Davis had a great first half and then faded in the weather.

The Derby

The derby drew 20, and the judges went with three that had blistering races and no birds for placements. Pat for Mike Johnson went north into the wind for better than a mile, and then came around on her own to win the stake while the abbreviated first brace ran last, and Keep on Rolling for Randy Anderson was second. He came back in time to finish out front, and that was the difference between he and his brace mate, littermate, Kansas Rebel for Andy Daugherty. Both dogs were gone “ over the hill” on all age casts until time, and Anderson got his back in time to send him out front.

We would like to thank all who attended, especially the professionals Randy Anderson, Colvin Davis Andy Daugherty . Mike Johnson, Allen Vincent, Ray Warren. Owners and Amateurs who attended in no special order were Joe Worsham, Dr. Davis, Bill Compton, Don Fox, George Langabeer, Jake Kirkland, Don Powell, Dell Trogdon, and Dr. Bruce Chambers. Thanks also the the Kimbell family for opening up their ranch to us and the restaurant in town to feed us every night.

Trials like the Sunflower Championship are not possible this day and age with out corporate sponsors. We are proud to say Eukanuba is ours. They helped in many ways. Galen Sears our rep. was in attendance on Tuesday, and brought gifts and dog food. Eukanuba also helps with the Monday night feed where 32 were fed. The winner’s dinner was held at the new home of Bud and Patty Moore on Thursday night and 28 enjoyed steaks, compliments of Mike Johnson and Cowboy Up last years winner.

Gordon Shaw, the current dean of Kansas field trialing and his side kick Bob Enke were everywhere do everything men again this year, and drove the dog wagon in the mud and crud and were always where you needed them. Evert Davis jr. came to do it all again this year, but had to leave early as his wife had surgery. We are glad to know Marge is doing o.k. And last but not least, the trial would not go on with out the help of my wife Patty Black Moore who does it all.