Looking back: 2010 Sunflower All Age Championship

The Sunflower Open All Age Championship

October 18, 2010 to conclusion

Flat Top Division of the SMS Land & Cattle Company

Aspermont, Texas

C. W. Bud Moore and Terry Smith, judges

Tula Warrior overcame all obstacles to put on a clinic of front running, hard hunting to win First Place at the 23^rd running of the Sunflower Open All Age Championship.

This renewal overcame several obstacles to have a satisfactory conclusion. Due to legal wrangling over probate, we lost several sections of ground that had comprised our second and third hours of running in Kansas. So… we moved to Aspermont, Texas and the Flat Top Ranch, a division of the SMS Land and Cattle Company. The Swenson Ranches have always been one of the larger West Texas enterprises, at one time comprising about 700,000 acres. The Swenson family have been conscientious stewards of the land. Wild game and the native ecosystem are equally important as livestock to the family. Everyone concerned, from the general manager, game managers, to Burke Harvey who leases the Flat Top for quail hunting, made us feel welcome. The ranch abounds in wild game of every kind, albeit a tough ecosystem on both man and animal.

This renewal was judged by Terry Smith, successful shooting dog trainer from Sallisaw, Oklahoma. His Sequoyah Kennels have produced many fine winners, the latest being the winner of this year’s Quail Futurity. Joining Terry was this author, Bud Moore from Toronto, Kansas. Bud has been breeding and running successful winners for over 50 years. Both judges rode at an even pace, looking for that hard hunting, big running class dog.

Because of several factors the championship title was withheld and the stake reverted back to an all age. Placed behind Warrior for Gary Hill were Conecuh Station Black Rock, Steve Hurdle and Rockin H Roy, Gary Hill. Both dogs impressed on the ground. Black Rock was especially pleasing on the ground, while Roy was extremely strong.

The Derby was an especially strong field on the ground. No Derbys pointed game. Conecuh Black Market ran North of camp and blistered the ground while being responsive to handler. Salty Dog Bee Sting was especially impressive South of camp in the heavy cat’s claw cover. Crown Jack braced with the winner made for an interesting brace as he impressed both judges.

Thanks to everyone who joined us this year in Texas. As we packed our gear, loaded horses and dogs and set out for home, and thought back about the trial, we will always remember with appreciation the friends who experienced Aspermont with us.

Fun Events

Fun Events

For several years Eukanuba dog food company, sponsored the Kick off dinner on Sunday before the Monday running at the National Championship, at the Bird Dog Hall Of Fame, Grand Junction Tennessee.
I was fortunate enough to be asked by the company to represent them at the dinner, and to present the painting .



Shown above are (left to right):
C.W. Bud Moore, Mr and Mrs Gary Lester,
Ross Young ( the artist ), and Ike Todd, the Handler of Snow Watch.
In the second picture Neil Mace is shown standing behind the picture

Four Hall Of Famers

"Captain" Freddie Epp judging the Sunflower - 2011

Seminar at the South East Spring Sports Show

Here is a picture of me working " Buttons N Bows " on the Barrel, at the Atlanta sports show, sponsored by Quail UnLimited, and Safari Club International. Sitting on the front row are Hall of Famer, Freddie Epp and his wife.
"Allie" was 9 months old, and had not had any yard work, or barrel work. We did 3 seminars a day for three days, and at the last session, we turned her loose, no checks of any kind, no electronics, let her point a bird, which I flushed, shot, and turned to answer questions from the audience, when 'Captin' Freddie, asked me was I telling the truth about her age, and previous training.  I grinned, told him it was all true, why? He said she has not moved a muscle! I turned around and she was still "Jacked Up", like there were still birds there.  BUT THERE WERE NOT ANY BIRDS LEFT.  It impressed a lot of people.  Our barrel program really works.
This was the last show the late great Terry Smith, Sequyah Kennels, and I were able to do together..  Terry died less than a year later from cancer.  There is not a day that goes by , that I do not miss him.  He was by far, the best young dog man I was ever around.  He had : kind " hands .

Harry Likes His Dog Buddy

"I ran Buddy in the amateur derby stake at Region 2 all age championship and got 3rd in 14 dogs" 

That's the first time he's been run by anyone other than Jeanette.  And let me tell you, I'm a lousy handler and Bob's not any better than I am so it's pretty safe to say that Buddy was pretty much on his own out there.  <g>  He also recently placed in the derby on the Keystone grounds in a good sized stake.  IIRC around 25-30 dogs.  They run a Spring Classic, the Keystone Champ. is run in the Fall.

I'm not keeping a running total but he places darn near every time that he's run and I think close to 1/2 are firsts.  He's broke on all his finds and starting to run bigger now that Jeanette has more confidence in him.  And as you know, he's a true summer whelp, which puts him behind those January dogs, esp the ones whelped in the previous August!! <g>   Bob, Jeanette and I believe that he'll definitely win as a shooting dog.  That first SD year is always tough but by the time he's 41/2 or 5, I'm confident that he'll be a serious threat every time down as he's become a really reliable dog, nice race and multiple broke finds every time down. 

And once he and Bob get comfortable with each other, he should really beat up on the competition in amateur stakes.  There's no question in my mind that he'll be a champion.  The only question is whether the first one will be open or amateur!   :-)  

Harry

PS  Thanks again for sending me such a good pup!!!  I'll be breeding a bitch or two to him next Fall, if you'd like a puppy all you have to pay is the freight.  You may remember when I first contacted you about a puppy I said that "I'd like to take a ride on your bus" and you generously let me on.  Now maybe you can hitch a little ride on mine (or maybe it would be better if I called it "ours"). <g>   "Buddy" was named Pennsylvania Open Derby of the Year, 2015.

Kansas Puppy Classic winner

 Update June 2015; Billie Sue named runner-up open puppy of the year
 March,2015; On a hot and humid afternoon, Shadow Mountain Billie Sue hunted her way around the Radcliff Ranch near by Dexter Kansas, with blazing speed, and eye-popping style.  Her efforts won her the title of Puppy Classic winner, 2015.  Handled by her co-owner, Patty Moore, Billie Sue outclassed her brother to seal the deal.  Her range was always way in the country, and she handled the deep draws and high plateaus with an adult demeanor.  Her choice of country to hunt sent her on deep casts, that took her out of sight on most casts.  Always showing way to the front she finished at 12:00, after coming off the top to hunt a creek bottom.  This 13-month-old female has the looks and drive of her sire, Shadow Mountain Jack, and the stylish way of going of her mother, A Fancy Shadow.

Shadow Mountain Gus

Shadow Mountain Gus

Gus was second to his scintillating sister, in the Kansas Puppy Classic, held over the Radcliff Ranch , Dexter Kansas.  This was the second placement for Gus, and we foresee many more. 

His opening cast took him one half mile down the middle of the course to the first objective.  For the next twenty minutes he hunted at extreme range, hitting one objective after another.  All this was done on his own as his handler rode the front calling on him.  Miss Patty had gotten behind helping the brace mates handler with the other dog.  She was confident Gus would handle and come around on his own. 

Gus runs with a high "cracking " tail, and lofty head carriage.

Both Gus and Billie Sue epitomize class both running and pointing .  Both are with Steve Hurdle for his spring Puppy program.