NGSPA SAVANNAH RIVER
Submitted by Diane Coppens / Peter Here
The 2024 Championship was held at “THE” Showtime Plantation in Bronwood, GA. These grounds are well groomed for multiple courses ran on wild birds. Showtime Plantation is owned and maintained by Larron & Laura Copeland. Our gallery marshals were Colt Copeland. Peter Coppens was the dog wagon driver this year. There is a nice club house where we served lunches and suppers.
We would like to thank Purina, Karl Gunzer, Greg Blair and Terry Trzcinski for their support. Sport dog and Jim Moorehouse for the dog collars. Please support the companies who support our trials.
Thank you to Mrs. Peter Here for doing the lunches & suppers and all the paperwork for this Championship.
Open Shooting Dog
Submitted by Hollywood Pollock
The NGSPA Savannah River Open Championship started on Sunday, February 2 at 8am and ended on Monday, February 3. The weather was beautiful, but a little warm in the afternoon for the dogs. 19 dogs were brought to the line in this year’s Open Stake. Thank you to our pros that supported this stake. Joe Orndorff, Dan & April DiMambro, and Jason King. Judges were Ms. Lisa Pollock from Lucas, IA and Mr. Bill Haynes of South Vienna, OH. We appreciate your expertise and time in the saddle.
The Open Champion for the 2025 NGSPA Savannah River Championship is Macke’s Jax Black Label (Jax). Jax was handled by Dan DiMambro and scouted by April DiMambro. He is owned by Katelyn and Abe Macke. Jax ran in the 10th brace.
This year’s Runner Up Open Champion is Two Ponds Blanco Roux (Roux) handled by Dan DiMambro and scouted by April DiMambro. She is owned by Jason Brooks. Roux ran in the 6th brace.
Here is the breakdown:
1A Raider, Dimambro
1B Mike, Orndorff
Broke away at 8:05 am heading into the corn field. Both dogs made big casts on the far west edge. As we crossed the road, Mike was out of pocket, but showed by the pond by camp. Raider shortened somewhat in the heavy cover. Mike went missing again before we crossed the road and tracker was called for by the biscuit barn.
2A Sonny, King
2B Layla, Orndorff
Broke away in the piney woods heading east. Layla disappeared to the front often, but always showed far to the front after her absences. Sonny had a shorter race with a non productive at 45. Tracker was called for at time for Layla… she was found standing 100 yds. Ahead.
3A Tuskie, Orndorff
3B Rommel, Dimambro
Broke away by the pond on the north side. Both dogs had a strong breakaway. Rommel was spotted on an edge two fields away, heading on course. Tuskie shortened in the woods at went on point at 13. She was sent on after a relocation, no birds produced. Rommel had a nice covey find at 19 and went missing after he was turned loose.
4A Rio, Dimambro
4B Ruger, King
Broke away from camp at 1:30 pm. Rio showed well on the west edge of the corn field. Both dogs searched the likely bird locations around the corn field, but neither was rewarded. Rio was wide to the left around the pond, but gathered and sent out again at the road crossing. Both dogs finished to the front, but no birdwork to report.
5A Huck, Dimambro
5B Libby, Orndorff
These two away broke on course 2 and were quickly to the front. Point was called for Libby at 20, but it was on deer and armadillo. Both went missing and trackers were called for at 30.
6A Roux, Dimambro
6B scratch
Broke away at 2:45 pm. Roux was snappy to watch and always up front. She pointed at 6, but no birds were located. At 16, while handler was riding wide right, the gallery spotted Roux standing tall off to the right. A nice covey lifted as we approached, all in order. At 25, Roux was found standing again, but no birds were located with several relocation attempts. Roux finished the hour and was found standing to the front at time.
7A Boone, King
7B Johnny, Orndorff
We began at 8 am, but after 20 minutes we suspended the brace due to fog. After almost an hour and a half delay, we resumed. Boone had a non-productive at 37 and Johnny had one at 48. Boone picked up before the hour.
8A Uno, Orndorff
8B Brutus, King
These two spent much of the brace hunting together. Uno went wide and took some time to be gathered. Upon return, she shortened, but finished the hour with no bird work They shortened at the end of the hour with no birds
9A Rumor, Orndorff
9B Gus, Dimambro
These two started with a great race. At 10, they had a divided stop to flush at the end of the pond. Rumor’s race shortened and did not have any other bird contact. Gus had a very busy hour. He had a good find at 15, an absence due to deer and trouble with a few armadillos. He finished the hour with a stop to flush at 59.
10A Gunner, King
10B Jax, Dimambro
These two dogs used the big cornfield edges in an efficient manner. At 20 point was called for Jax before the road crossing. All in order and he was sent forward. Both dogs were always strong to the front. Very impressive patterns for these 2 young dogs.
This year due to lack of entries we only ran a Shooting Dog stake. We would like to invite everyone to plan to attending this wild bird championship at Showtime Plantation in February 2026.