The 2005 Sunflower Open All Age Championship was a trial of too much prairie, dogs that ran too much, and as usual, good competition, camaraderie, and an all around good time.

Judges for this renewal were the ever popular and personable Gary Jones with his lovely wife Carol Ann, from Clarksville Tennessee, and Bill Burton,the Brittany man with the smile, from Carrolton Missouri. This was Gary’s second time to judge for us and he is welcome back any time he will come This prairie trial could not go on with out lots of help. As usual Bob Enke and Gordon Shaw from the Kansas City area came down and drove the dog wagon. You could not ask for better help. Always on time, at the right place, and with a truckload of goodies for consumption. Evert Davis Jr. came the first day to see that we got off to a good start. Seth Bell, Ralph Short, and Drew Zink, all helped open and close gates, and do other chores that make for a smooth trial. Without these people, Miss Patty and I would have to think twice about putting on a trial of this magnitude.

Bill Coddington, Jake Kirkland, and Don Powell all came to watch Andy Daugherty run their dogs. Chuck Spellman, from Parsons Kansas, rode one day to watch the “big dogs”.

Monday night we had a tailgate party, sponsored by last year’s runner-up, Kodak Moment, owned by Ed and Dee Stevens of Decatur Ohio. About 25 people enjoyed Brauts, hot dogs, cold Beer, mixed drinks, and all the cheese and crackers, chips and dip they could eat. Tuesday night was the traditional steak dinner sponsored by last year’s winner, Mr. Powerpack, owned by Don and Carol Fox, of Missouri. Our thanks to Patty Moore and her mother Helen Black for a wonderful dinner with many “fixins”.

When the last lost dog had been gathered up, and after some consultation, the judges named Twice The Man winner for Andy Daugherty. Runner-up was Worsham’s Silver Cloud, for Joe Worsham. Left out of the mix was Mississippi Hot Rod for handler Mike Johnson. All Three dogs had one find, but a faux pas left one out. As Judge Gary Jones told me before the announcement,” you can’t judge what you don’t see”.

Twice the Man ran a powerful race to the front, and had point called for him at 14. The dog was standing by the road, looking north, into the wind. Nothing could be raised, and the dog was relocated. A chicken flew from in front of the dog, no shots fired, the dog not whoa’ed, but taken on. At 38, point was called for Man ½ mile to the front at 2 o’clock. The long ride was made, and a chicken put to flight, all in order. A beautiful sight to see, as we watched the judge and handler make the long ride. We were on the side of a long, long draw, and had the elevation to see it all. Man was sent to the front, and made the loop through the “honey hole” and sent west. At 50 minutes point was called, the dog standing a little ways off from a creek bank, out in the prairie. This proved to be an unproductive, but a good place for them to have been. The hour ended with the dog comfortably out in front.

Worsham’s Silver Cloud, ran the same course as the winner, so it was easy to compare the two dogs. His was a more comfortable race with one find on quail at the end of the two-mile draw. Style on the find was level, but the training was true. His brace mate backed the find, and altogether it made one of those mind pictures you often call to memory when you think of the course, and trial.

Hot Rod, on the same course, Blistered the ground for the first thirty minutes, and was found in the “honey hole” standing in the middle of a sumac thicket. Style picturesque. At the flush, the covey flew to the left across a twenty foot wide, ten foot deep ditch, lined with small trees. As the dog was brought out from the thicket, and released, the judge rode his horse across the dog, and the dog jumped left toward the ditch to escape. A “faux pas” in time. The dog was sent west, and made the creek bottom loop in big style. As we turned north into the wind at 55 minutes the dog shortened somewhat, but finished out front.

Allen Vincent had several dogs in the mix, but for one reason or another their hour was not championship quality. Big City Butch looked great going, and backing his bracemate, but was picked up at 55. Daisy Duck was in and out for the hour, but had bird work at the end of the hour.

“Fuz” Smith had a couple of good ones in Hydro’s Trueroot, and Taylor’s Custom Made. We did not see enough of his Steel dog to evaluate.

Dr. Pat McInteer ran two dogs, Nemaha City Slicker, who had an unproductive not ten feet from where Silver Cloud pointed them the next day, and Nemaha Tonic, who had one good find, but his race shortened the last half.

The derby drew 15 entries, and was full of quality. Black Eyed Sue, for Mike Johnson won the stake with a big out front race, no birds. Nemaha Freestyle, Dr. McInteer was second, while Mt. Nebo’s Skyline for “Fuz” Smith was third. A couple like Scooter, Mike Johnson, and Thunder Boomer, Allen Vincent or Shadow’s Perfect Pitch, Andy Daugherty could have changed things, but were lost at the end.

We want to thank the Iam’s company for sponsoring the trial, and giving us the free Water Bottles to give away to all those in attendance. Without corporate sponsorship most trials would fold.

2005 Running Order The Sunflower Open All Age Championship
The Kimbell Ranch, Yates Center, Kansas
October 24, 2005 until conclusion
Sponsored by: The IAMS Company, Eukanuba Dog Food

The DERBY
Judges: Gary Jones, Clarksville, TN
C.W. Bud Moore, Toronto, KS

Brace 1
Scooter, PF, Mike Johnson
Chispa's Rampage, PF, Allen Vincent

Brace 2
Nemaha Freestyl, PM, Pat McInteer
Thunder Boomer, PM, Allen Vincent

Brace 3
Spec, PM, Drew Zink
Mt Nebo's Skyline, PM, Fuz Smith

Brace 4
Black Eyed Sue, PF, Mike Johnson
Wiggins River Jag, PF, Dan Kruger

Brace 5
Mt Nebo's Bubba, PM, Andy Daugherty
Suka's Haystack, PM, Allen Vincent

Brace 6
Hydro's Chickalah, PM, Fuz Smith
Max, PM, Mike Johnson

Brace 7
Moon Dance Cerreca, PF, Dan Kruger
Shadow's Perfect Pitch, PM, Andy Daugherty

Brace 8
Mt Nebo's Billy, PM, Fuz Smith
Bye

The CHAMPIONSHIP
Judges: Gary Jones, Clarksville, TN
Bill Burton, Carrolton, MO

Brace 1
Mississippi Hot Rod, PM, Mike Johnson
Houses Snake Bite, PM, Andy Daugherty

Brace 2
Miller's White Diamond, PM, Mike Johnson
Cherokee Rebel, PM, Andy Daugherty

Brace 3
Mohawk Mill Bullet, PM, Allen Vincent
Hydro's Trueroot, PM, Fuz Smith

Brace 4
Nemaha City Slicker, PM, Pat McInteer
Twice the Man, PM, Andy Daugherty

Brace 5
Jetsetter, SF, Allen Vincent
Bocefus, PM, Andy Daugherty

Brace 6
Nemaha Tonic, PM, Pat McInteer
Steel, PM, Fuz Smith

Brace 7
Norma Jean, PF, Allen Vincent
Barshoe Busy, PF, Andy Daugherty

Brace 8
Heyu Two Pete, PM, Allen Vincent
Mr. Powerpack, PM, Andy Daugherty

Brace 9
Kodak Moment, PM, Mike Johnson
Taylor's Custom Made, PM, Fuz Smith

Brace 10
Big City Butch, PM, Allen Vincent
Miller's Total Eclipse, PM, Andy Daugherty

Brace 11
Daisy Duck, PF, Allen Vincent
Houses Tess, PF, Andy Daugherty

Brace 12
Worsham's Silver Ghost, PM, Joe Worsham
Cypress Gunpowder, PM, Andy Daugherty

Brace 13
Top Crude, PM, Allen Vincent
Worsham's Silver Cloud, PM, Joe Worsham