Rich Robertson Jr., Bobbi Richardson, Keith Richardson, Jadie Rayfield, Dan DiMambro, Drew Bastian, Ali Bastian, Ray Larrondo (Holding PW Race to the Front (Raycee), and April DiMambro (Holding Chicoree’s Riden High Trixie (Trixie).
2024 NGSPA Hungarian Partridge Championships
By Keith Richardson
The 23rd running of the “Hun” Championship was a wonderful and fun event. Competitors appreciated the extra Handler of the Year points for a Species trial.
It ran from September 13 until September 22. The weather was near perfect for running dogs. A little warm some afternoons but there was plenty of water on course. The Richardson Ranch is nearly 7,000 feet in elevation and very dry, and attendees are always advised to drink a lot of water and use ample sunscreen.
The “Hun” Championship and Region 8 are held back-to-back at the Richardson Ranch and are two of the premier NGSPA Championships. The challenging grounds, and difficult birds provide an extreme test for dogs and handlers. The two courses are remarkably different, each with its own challenges. The end of the day brings a relaxing time in the Bunkhouse including a wonderful home-made meal, beverages of choice, friendship and hospitality.
We enjoyed the best lunches and dinners of any trial in the country, expertly prepared by Marya Kerchner. Marya had the outstanding assistance of Diane Crabbs at all meals. Fine aged wines from Keith’s cellar were served by Gary Kercher. We hope our official “Field Trial Sommelier”, David Quinn will be able to join us next year. Other benefits of the facilities enjoyed by all were: showers, laundry, and electrical and water hookups. round pens and enclosures for horses, plus ample areas for staking out dogs. Judges enjoyed first-class accommodations in either the Guest House or the Bunkhouse.
These two Championships provide unrivaled “on-the-job-training”. The large number of challenging multiple chukar and Hun finds, running coveys, large explosive covey flushes, and concentrations of “old” scent will teach the dogs things that cannot be learned in training setups.
The “Hun” is the only trial in the American Field (and the entire country as far as we know) that uses pen raised Hungarian Partridges. The birds were young, strong, great flyers and remarkably like wild Huns. Large covey rises, with birds exploding in all directions tested the steadiness of every dog. A dog making it clean through the Hun Habitat continues up Shooting Dog Draw along the rim of a steep plateau where mixed coveys of jumpy chukars and Huns lurk. The immense pressure of many difficult, multi-bird contacts places the Hun Championship at a level of difficulty arguably exceeding that of the wild bird trials. Dogs that survived the “bird cover” were able to demonstrate their endurance during a mile of undulating prairie with a draw on one side and a drop to the Habitat on the other.
This year we experimented with using Shooting Dog Draw instead of Derby Draw to reach the rim and it worked so well that it has become our new course. It added more time to the “bird zone” and less to the open prairie at the end.
During our two weeks of Championships we were pleased to have two pros in attendance : Dan DiMambro, and Rich Robertson. We missed Josh Nieman who has reorganized his trial schedule. We were happy to welcome a number of amateurs from outside of the region: Ray and Tami Larrondo (ID), Dr. Fred Ryan (OH), Hank and Dina Lewis (OH), Kirk Loftin (TX), Sherri Tangsrud (MO), Bill Padovano (IL), Peter Coppens (IL), Terry Zygalinski (CA), Our “local” amateurs from CO included: Keith Bryant, and Robin Lambourn. Ziggy and his able assistant, Adolfo, also provided horses for judges and guests.
We had a slate of excellent judges and our thanks go out to each of them. Our Open Shooting Dog, Open Derby and Amateur All Age stakes were judged by Colin Kennedy (AB), and Peter Coppens (IL). Our Amateur Shooting Dog Championship was judged by Jadie Rayfield (SC), and Rich Robertson who took over after Drew Bastian was injured. Our Open All-Age Championship was judged by Jadie Rayfield (SC), and Drew Bastian (SC).
The Hun course gives the judges an opportunity to evaluate a dog’s “total package”. The cast-off crosses a half mile of rolling short‐grass prairie before entering the “Hun Habitat”, which is a 3-mile flowing line of dense willow-lined creek bottom bordered by large mown fields, stands of wild plum thickets, and an irrigation ditch with dense grass and shrubs. The new course then heads towards the steep Shooting Dog Draw, allowing the dogs to reach to the slope to the east of the draw and hunt it before rounding the corner at the base of the draw. A right turn at the top takes the dogs along the Upper Rim, where a dog can hunt the rim or search the many pockets below the rim until reaching Suicide Bench often loaded with large coveys all around its steep edges. The course continues along the Badlands with steep draws, which tend to draw the dogs backwards. This demanding course finishes (time permitting) through the High Gate and along the edge to the right until reaching the main road to the Habitat and then flowing through the Habitat and possibly the Ferguson Gate until time is called.
We are grateful for our sponsors. Purina provided financial support and a pallet of Pro Plan for the winning dogs. We also welcome the sponsorship of Sport Dog with their generous gifts of excellent training collars and bark collars. Our good friend, Jim Morehouse continues to generously support our events. Beautiful Hungarian Partridge mounts, generous cash prizes and Gift Cards, Purina Product and Sport Dog collars were among the gifts to Champions and Runners-Up. Our good friends, Eldon and Terry Hongo, who own the local Bunkhouse Bar and Grill kindly gave $50 gift certificates to all Champions.
A special thanks to the organizational abilities and hard work of Bobbi Richardson without whom these trials would not be successful. A big thanks also to all of the other folks who helped: Joe and Japheth Frauendienst and Ty-bird catching, planting, and feeding, and water sled filling. Gary and Chris Kercher-bird planting and organizational details. All participants were grateful to the “dog wagon team”: Kaitlin Gaukel, Japheth Frauendienst and Ty, who booted all dogs with best-in-class boots from Ruff-Wear to protect them from cactus. They also picked up dogs and helped keep us on schedule. Other behind the scenes “heavy lifting” was done by Justin Peppers, and Brittiny Haberkorn, and assisted by Nancy Kutchara.
Open Shooting Dog Championship
By Keith Richardson
Judges: Colin Kennedy and Peter Coppens. Starters: 17 GSPs.
GENERAL COMMENTS BY THE JUDGES
Huns can often be at a premium during the first stake of the trial, but this year they were plentiful and flew as strongly as wild birds. The cover was good, but birds were often found feeding in the shorter grass to the surprise of the unsuspecting dogs.
Slate Rock’s Mountain Heart (Rommel), handled by Dan DiMambro and owned by James and Andy Dynkiewicz, was named Champion.
PW That Was Then This is Now (Nova), handled by Rich Robertson, owned by Keith and Bobbi Richardson, was named Runner-Up.
The Champion and Runner-Up both came from Brace 7, the first brace of day 2. The morning was sunny and cool and both dogs put on a show. They cast off with speed and took direct courses to the front across the prairie and into the Habitat. Both dogs disappeared to the front as they headed into the Ferguson course. Both dogs were found standing at 14 with Nova backing Rommel. After passing through the double gate Nova took the left willow line and Rommel took the right side of the course. Both dogs had what looked like a divided find at 23 near the end of Habitat, but after working the dense willow stand both handlers took an NP and moved on. Both dogs were sent up Derby Draw with Rommel making a fast, powerful move to the steep bench on the right, flowing through the dense mountain mahogany stands and large rocks as he hunted to the top of the draw and rounded the corner to Suicide Rim where he was found pointing. Meantime Nova headed up the left side of the draw taking a bit longer to get lined out before making a nice move to the top of Chukar Hill and around to Suicide Rim where she backed Rommel. Both dogs were released and Rommel had a stop-to-flush at 31 and both dogs had stops-to-flush at 34 with Roma dropping down the hill and having a nice find at 37 with Rommel backing her. Nova had her final find on a covey below Cathy’s Bench at 49 with Rommel coming in for a back. Both dogs had a strong finish. It was an exciting brace to watch as both dogs were very consistent, always hunting, always to the front, running with speed and power as strongly at the cast off as at the finish. Their bird work was flawless as they were presented with some difficult situations. The judges had to split hairs, and in the end named Rommel Champion because of his stronger move up Derby Draw.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Canyon Creek High Tide “Dylan” Handled by Ray Larrondo and owned by Ray and Tami Larrondo.
Dylan held first place all through Day 1 with nice finds at 22 and 42. She had an excellent shooting dog performance but slowed down during her finish.
Right Stuff’s Rock N Roll (Rock) Handled by Dan DiMambro and owned by Bill Padovano.
Rock had finds at 16 and 45 handling his game nicely and showing plenty of power and speed consistently throughout his race. He was hurt by an extended absence.
Open Derby Classic
By Keith Richardson
Judges: Colin Kennedy and Peter Coppens. Starters: 11 GSPs.
GENERAL COMMENTS
The derby is run on an out and back course from one end of the Habitat to the other and there are some wide-open vistas so the bigger ranging dogs can be easily seen. There is no cactus so the dogs do not need to be booted.
PW Tall Dark and Handsome (Tallie), handled by Rich Robertson, and owned by Keith and Bobbi Richardson, earned First Place.
Chicoree’s Willie B Front (Willie), handled and owned by Dr. Fred Ryan earned Second Place.
Tallie and Willie were braced together in the second brace. Both dogs took off fast and strong to the front hunting along the way. They were seen at 10 standing nearby each other but on separate birds, and both dogs stood through the shots as both handlers fired simultaneously. Tallie had a second nearly broke find and a stop-to flush, and Willie had a second find. Both dogs looked great on their birds and were nearly broke. They were consistently forward with good ground races and they hunted the cover. Tallie had a bit better application and range.
Dana Point’s Deuces are Wild (Deuce), handled by Dan DiMambro and owned by Arthur Grant, earned Third Place.
Deuce had a nice race throughout the 30 minutes with no birds. Her ground race was good, but not as strong as the first two dogs.
Amateur All-Age Championship
By Keith Richardson
Judges: Colin Kennedy and Peter Coppens. Starters: 11 GSPs.
Twin Creek’s Running Rocky (Rocky), handled and owned by Kirk Loftin, was named Champion.
In true All-Age fashion, Rocky blasted across the prairie and disappeared over the ridge into the Habitat and was not seen until 9 minutes, when he was spotted to the front hunting the willow line before the double hills. After the handlers passed through the double gate Rocky was not seen but his bracemate was found standing at 18. Loftin continued riding to the front, and was excited to finally see Rocky on point at the very end of the Habitat at 23. It was the culmination of what could only have been a huge all age move. Meantime his bracemate caught the front and backed Rocky. All was in order and both dogs were brought to the water troughs and sent up Shooting Dog Draw. Rocky took a direct line to the distant slope leading to Shooting Dog Draw which he hunted nicely going on point at 35 in the rocky cover high above the corner. His last find was at 48 along the top of the rim. He went on to work all available cover including the draws of the Bad Lands before passing through the High Gate and finishing deep into the Prairie where he was spotted below Ziggy’s trailer at time. During his entire run Rocky did not use the roads, was always to the front and he ran with power and All-Age range from start to finish. His bird work was immaculate with high tail and intensity.
Hi-N’s Curtain Call (Charlie), handled and owned by Hank Lewis, was named Runner-Up.
Charlie cast off across the prairie to the Habitat where he was briefly seen and did not show up again until he was found on point at 13 above the depression before the double hills. The Huns were quickly put into the air and manners were perfect. His next find was at 23 at the plum thicket ¼ mile from the end of the Habitat. He was watered and sent towards Shooting Dog Draw where he had a find at 33 at the corner of the draw. He coursed well to the front all the way around the upper rim until breaching the High Gate and continuing through the prairie for a strong finish. All of Charlie’s bird work was exquisite with a high tail and exemplary intensity, and his run showed consistent power and range. His use of the roads detracted from his performance.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCE
Chicoree’s Glitter and Gold (Glitz), handled and owned by Dr. Fred Ryan.
Glitz was braced with the Champion. She had a strong cast off across the prairie and disappearing into the Habitat where she was not seen until spotted on point at 18. She possessed wonderful style and bird work. She had a back at 38 where she took a few steps during the flush and was picked up. Until that time she was looking really good.
Amateur Shooting Dog Championship
by Keith Richardson
Judges: Jadie Rayfield, Rich Robertson. Starters: 16 GSPs.
GENERAL COMMENTS
Early in the running of this stake our judge, Drew Bastian, had a horse wreck and was taken to the hospital in Cheyenne to make sure he was okay. Meantime Rich Robertson was selected to finish judging the stake for Drew. It turned out that Drew was OK, but the two days off were good therapy and he returned to the judge’s saddle for the Open All Age. It was a tough stake because of the difficulty of the birds. The weather was good and the Huns were often out in the open around a corner where the dogs couldn’t see them until it was too late. The Huns were very explosive and didn’t take much pressure to fly-it was too much pressure for many of the dogs to handle.
Hi-N’s Curtain Call (Charlie), handled and owned by Hank Lewis was named Champion.
Charlie ran in the second brace of the first day when Drew Bastian was still judging. Throughout his performance he showed himself to be a very intelligent dog, hunting every minute of the hour with birds on his mind. He was mindful of his handler and was beautiful on his birds. On the cast off he stayed front until dropping into the Habitat where he hunted his way along the willow line the entire way through the Habitat. Near the end at 25 he had a really showy find, and immediately after being released he had a natural back that was picture perfect. Charlie continued forward up Shooting Dog Draw and along the upper bench where he was lost to the front for awhile. Scout and handler worked their way forward searching all of the likely cover without finding him. He was eventually spotted deep in the cover at the bottom of a steep draw for what the judge described as a “dinger”-one of those best-in-stake finds that sets a dog apart. Handler produced a covey of over 10 birds and Charlie’s manners were perfect. He had a strong finish through the High Gate. Overall Charlie exhibited a consistent, powerful, run with solid shooting range.
Uodibar’s Robbi Jo (Robbi), handled by Kirk Loftin and owned by Sherri Tangsrud was named Runner-Up.
Robbi had four finds at 33, 45, 51 and 57, all with good style and manners. She had a good forward race and handled nicely. She lost some time in the Habitat where she was gone for a while but showed near the spot where the judge saw her go in. She hunted the cover nicely and had a good forward race handling kindly throughout, with good shooting dog range. She didn’t match the power and range of the Champion.
HONORABLE MENTION
Windjammers Gemma “Gemma”, owned and handled by Terry Zygalinski
Gemma had a really nice run. She was forward and hunted the cover intelligently with good shooting dog range, and the handler let her “do her thing” without any need to hack or scout. She stayed off the roads and was always seen searching for birds. She backed her bracemate but had to be “whoaed” into it, and she loosened up a bit while handler was flushing out of sight. Judges weighed these against Robbi’s absence. Gemma was a “hair’s width” from winning the Runner-Up title.
by Keith Richardson
Judges: Jadie Rayfield and Drew Bastian. Starters: 16 GSPs.
GENERAL COMMENTS BY THE JUDGES
This was a high quality All-Age stake. There were four dogs that were worthy of being named Champion except for the dogs that ran before them. It was a difficult course with the dogs having to “beat the prairie” to show a good finish. They all showed strong all-age races with plenty of endurance. They showed consistent power throughout the hour with strong finishes. However, the two placing dogs “owned the course” with two brilliant performances. They exhibited excellent rapport with their handlers and they had “no quit” in them. The judges were also impressed with the quality of the trial and of all of the people involved. Everything flowed smoothly and on time. Meals were outstanding and the booting of the dogs was fast and flawless. They observed that the dogs were unaffected by the boots.
PW Race to the Front (Raycee), handled by Rich Robertson and owned by Keith and Bobbi Richardson, was named Champion.
Raycee immediately grabbed the eye of the judges with her ground speed and the direct line she took from cast-off disappearing over the hill several minutes ahead of the handlers and judges. No other dog matched this start. She remained unseen due to her distance to the front until she was finally spotted after handlers passed through the double gate. She was briefly seen on the south side of the habitat willow line to the distant front. She crossed back to the inside (north) of the line and was seen on point at 25 at the far end of the Habitat. Handler produced the bird after taking only a few steps into the cover and her manners were perfect and intense with no let down. After watering she again took a fast, direct line directly to the base of Shooting Dog Draw, where she disappeared into the cover and was found on point by the handler with a covey of birds running all around her. She handled this difficult situation beautifully. After release she was immediately out of sight until five minutes later she was briefly seen working the cover on Chukar Hill where she disappeared again. She was seen working the draws in the Badlands and a glimpse of her was caught as she passed through the High Gate, where she finished at the end of the course. Every cast was a huge All-Age move, and she was mindful of her handler who merely sang and road. She ran with birds on her mind from start to finish with no use of the roads. By all measures Raycee put on a true All-Age show.
Chicoree’s Riden High Trixie (Trixie), handled by Dan DiMambro and owned by Rondal Alexander, was named Runner-Up.
Trixie ran in the third brace of the first day and made a huge opening cast making a move that no other dog made. She coursed to the right working the hillside above the Habitat before she dropped into it taking the willow line. She was spotted far to the front a few times while working the cover until she was seen on point near the end of the Habitat. The birds proved elusive and the handler could not produce them despite a snappy relocation.
Her next move was a speedy line to Shooting Dog Draw where she worked the cover before moving up the draw. She was seen periodically as she worked the edge of the steep plateau. A judge spotted her pointed on a steep edge and she exhibited excellent manners and style. She rolled on through the Badlands and the High Gate and finished strong deep into the prairie. Throughout her run Trixie possessed consistent All-Age range, power and endurance, handling exceptionally well for Dan requiring no hacking and very little scouting. She was hunting throughout her brace refusing to take the roads and she had a huge finish. The judges agreed that she had set the bar, but she was edged out by Raycee who ran in the next brace. Both dogs ran in the heat with a very strong wind.