2019 National Championship Brace by Brace Synopsis

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Game Bo is one of the survivor dogs from the tragic fire at Randy Downs kennels. Bo was just a pup then but he still has the scars if you look closely. This liver and white pointer male is owned and was bred by Dr. Fred Corder. He will be running for his second year having recently re-qualified with a third place at the Prairie OAA. Last year he was picked up at 1:45 with only one find. This seven year old was sired by Rockacre Rambo out of Regret C. Bo will be handled by Weldon Bennett.

Bo's sire, Rockacre Rambo, was one of Dr. Corder's dogs who died in the tragic fire that also took Dr. Corder's Hall of Fame dog Game Maker. Rockacre Rambo was by Rockacre Playmaker out of Miss Elhew Chillpill (by Rockacre Blackhawk out of Elhew Katie Lee). Bo's dam, Regret C was also bred by Dr. Corder. She was by Amarige (another of Dr. Corder's past contestants who ran for three years here) out of Silver Susie.

This will be the fourth year for Reb to qualify, but only the third year for him to run since the first year he qualified as a derby and was held back. In his two previous runs he has finished the three hours with three or more finds. He has four placements this year that will re-qualify him: seconds at the Blackbelt (Ala) Classic, the Lynn Taylor (Carroll County) Classic, and the Kentucky Quail Classic, and a third at the Dixie Classic. Jim Hamilton's Dominator's Rebel Heir is a white, liver, and ticked five year old pointer. He was bred by his handler, Jamie Daniels, and is by Riverton's Funseekin Scooter out of Pearl Again. Reb has five championships on his past scorecard: the Continental, the Florida, the Missouri, and the Masters Quail Championship twice.

Reb's dam, Pearl Again was a daughter of Elhew Sinbad out of Cuirve River Daisy. Daisy was a daughter of Double Rebel Sonny and Swingabout, she goes back to John Criswell's Swingalong bitch and back further up this line is John S Gate's Sugarplum. Reb's sire, Riverton's Funseekin Scooter was a contestant here for four years (2011 to 2014) and was a son of the 2007 National Champion Funseeker's Rebel.

Mike returns for his second year by winning the Blackbelt (Ala) OAA Classic and the Masters Open Quail Championship. He was last year's Purina All Age Award winner. His first year here was disappointing as he had to run in abysmal weather and was picked up early. Mike is a four year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog owned by Eddie Sholar and Ted Dennard. He was bred by Keith Wright. Mike is by House's Ring Of Fire out of Touch's Blaylock Bess. He will be handled by Mark McLean.

Touch's Mega Mike was last year's winner of the Joe Hurdle Award and the Purina Top All Age Award. He is one of the few dogs to have ever won that Purina award without having won any of the bonus points trials. Mike's sire, House's Ring Of Fire ran two years at the national championship prior to an injury which retired him to Keith Wright's kitchen floor. House's Ring Of Fire's sire, Lance's Last Knight has so far been the most successful sire of any of the sons of Erin's Bad River as he has sired five contestants here (including Cole Train and Touch's White Knight who are contestants this year). Mike's dam, Touch's Blaylock Bess is a daughter of Whippoorwill War Dance out of Whippoorwill GMA, who was a daughter of Game Maker. This mother-daughter line goes back to Bar Lane Dot.

Born and bred, raised and handled by amateur Burke Hendrix, Bud will be making his rookie year appearance. First appearing on the major circuit radar back in 2015 with a runner-up at the National Pheasant Championship as a derby, he got his first qualifying win at the Southwestern Championship in 2016. Bud's second qualifying win was a first place at this past fall's Tootsie Hurdle OAA. He is now five years old. This white, liver, and ticked pointer dog was sired by Game Strut out of Hendrix's Outlier.

Both of Bud's parents have been previous contestants of the National Championship. Game Strut was by Strut out of Pineknoll's Pepper, he ran here two years. Hendrix's Outlier ran just one year here, she was by Whippoorwill War Dance out of Hendrix's Sassy Tide. Bud is the fifth dog that the Hendrix's have qualified to run at the National Championship.

Westfall's Black Ace had four placements in the qualifying trials this past season. His second qualifying win came at the Heartland OAA, a trial which he had also won the year before. Ace is an eight year old, white, black, and ticked pointer dog who was bred by his owner Bill Westfall. Ace is by Westfall's Black Ice out of Black Bama. He will be handled by Andy Daugherty.

It is interesting that Ace's sire, Westfall's Black Ice, and his grand-sire, Rockacre Blackhawk were both champions in the shooting dog circuit. Ace will be joined in this year's competition by two of his half siblings, Westfall's Black Thunder and Westfall's River Ice. Ace's dam, Black Bama is by Easy Button out of Super Skirt.

Chip returns this year with a second place at the Broomhill OAA (Iron Nation) trial to re-qualify. This will be his second year to run. Last year he was picked up early after a little more than an hour's run with not enough birds. Chip is a six year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer male who was bred by Sean Derrig. He is by Erin's Whiskey River out of Erin's Wild Rose. Chip is owned by Brad Calkins and will be handled by Robin Gates. He has one championship win, the Manitoba Championship, and one runner-up, the Dominion Chicken Championship to his credits.

Chip's dam, Erin's Wild Rose was a daughter of Elhew Sinbad out of Wiggin's River Deuce. Erin's Wild Rose has achieved the rare status as the dam of three national championship contestants. Chip's littermate, Erin's Redrum has been a contestant in the previous two years, and though he was re-qualified, he was not nominated this year. Her third contestant, Erin's Braveheart, was produced when she was bred to Erin's Bad River, and Braveheart is the sire of another contestant this year, Westfall's True Grit. Chip's sire, Erin's Whiskey River was a notable veteran contestant of recent years past. He ran here eight times. Erin's Whiskey River was a son of Erin's Bad River, so refer back up to the profile for Erin's Full Throttle for the information about him.

Bob qualified as a derby winning the Georgia Derby Championship and the American Derby Invitational with Ike Todd handling him. In this season, his first as an all age dog, he took a first place at the North Dakota OAA Classic and recently was runner-up at the Georgia Quail Championship. He is a three year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog who was bred by Keith Wright. He is by House's Ring Of Fire out of Touch's Sandy. Duke is owned by Alex Rickert and will be handled by Mark McLean.

Since Touch's Gallatin Fire and Touch's Spaceman are littermates, their breeding details will be given under Touch's Spaceman's profile. A sideline here would be to point out the remarkable success that Ike Todd has had in his puppy/derby program. This year he has qualified two for the National Championship, Game Wardon and Touch's Gallatin Fire, and last year's Purina Top All Age Award winner, Touch's Mega Mike was qualified by Ike as a derby, too.

Bo is this year's most veteran contestant. He returns for the seventh time having re-qualified with a runner-up at the Manitoba Championship. Bo has completed the three hours twice before. This white, lemon, and ticked pointer dog will be a few days short of ten years old when he runs this year. Bo was sired by House's Line Up and is out of Line Of Beck. He was bred by T Mason Ashburn, is owned by Ric Peterson, and will be handled by Randy Anderson.

Bo's sire, House's Line up is a son of Miller's Dateline, a grandson of Miller's White Powder, and a great-grandson of Miller's Silver Bullet, which is the anointed lineage of the Miller's... blue bloods. Bo's dam, Line of Beck is a daughter of Cherokee Gunfire out of a grand-daughter of Cherokee Gunfire. Bo's record now stands at five championship wins with four runner-ups.

Nick has qualified for his rookie year here by twice winning the Northwest Chukar Championship under his previous owner Talmage Smedley. He now resides in Texas with new owners Bruce Sooter and Steve Burns. Nick is a six year old, white, orange, and ticked setter dog who was bred by Richard Robertson. He is by Rapidan out of T's Skyline Angel. He will be handled by Allen Vincent.

Nick's sire, Rapidan ran as a contestant here back in 2015. Rapidan is by Stone Tavern Matrix out of Made In America. Nick's dam, T's Skyline Angel is by Tekoa Mountain Outrage out of T's Tango who was a daughter of T's Gunrunner. T's Gunrunner was another former contestant and a son of Tekoa Mountain Sunrise.

Gary Lester's rookie contestant is also called Joe, but this time with an "e" (wonder how the dogs know the difference?). Miller's Speed Dial is a three year old, white and orange pointer dog who was bred by Wallace Sessions. He is by National Champion Miller's Dialing In out of Old Road Lou. Joe has qualified by winning the American Derby Invitational and the Kentucky Lake OAA. He will be handled by his owner.

Miller's Dialing In's breeding was discussed under the profile for Dunn's Tried N True. Old Road Lou is by Old Road Cody (a son of Easy Button) out of Joe Shadow's Dixie (by Joe Shadow out of Clardy's Suzanne). This mother-daughter line is a branch of the same line which produced Lester's Leeza, the dam of National Champion Lester's Snowatch.

Hawk is a rookie contestant who has qualified with two championship wins this season, at the Saskatchewan Open Chicken Championship and the Southland Open Championship. He had his first qualifying win back in 2016 at the Kansas Prairie OAA. Westfall's Black Thunder is from the first breeding of Westfall's Black Ice and Westfall's Quick Gold made by his owner Bill Westfall. Andy Daugherty will be handling this six year old, white, black, and ticked pointer dog.

Westfall's Black Ice was from the Rockacre Blackhawk - Elhew Katie Lee knick that produced so many shooting dog champions, and so far he has proven to be the best stud of that lot. Westfall's Quick Gold is from a combination of Elhew and Fiddler ancestors. She is by Mount Nebo's Lefty (by Rock N Roller out of Absolute Charm) and out of I B Fancy (by Highview Buddy out of I B Lonestar). A little further look at this pedigree shows that Rock N Roller was a son of Elhew Damascus, Highview Buddy was a son of Fiddling Rocky Boy, and I B Lonestar was by I B Fiddler out of My Judy's Damascus (a daughter of Elhew Damascus). This makes her breeding somewhat close to the Fiddler ancestors of Rockacre Blackhawk.

Touch's Blackout had six placements in the qualifying trials this season including a win at the Mid-America Championship. This will be his first year to run for this title. Duke is a six year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog. He was sired by the 2011 National Champion Touch's Whiteout out of B C Angelina, and was bred by Gary Baird. Duke is owned by Ric Peterson and will be handled by Randy Anderson.

Duke's sire National Champion Touch's Whiteout (a son of National Champion Lester's Snowatch) died young and produced very few litters. Touch's Blackout is the first of his offspring to run here, and may perhaps be the only one to do so. Duke's dam, B C Angelina was also a daughter of Lester's Snowatch out of Beaucoup's Daisy. Duke is closely related to two other contestants, the littermates Touch's Spaceman and Touch's Gallatin Fire whose dam was a daughter of Touch's Whiteout.

Dan has re-qualified with three championship wins this season: the United States Open Quail Championship, the Tarheel Open Championship, and the Quail Championship Invitational. And if you have been counting, that makes his tally of nine championships so far. He will be running for the elusive National Championship for the fourth year after a year's absence and has yet to finish three hours in any of his previous years. Erin's Wild Justice is a seven year old, white, liver, and ticked pointer dog. He was bred by MIke Moses and is by Whippoorwill Wild Agin out of Sparrowhawk. Dan is owned by Allen Linder and will be handled again by Luke Eisenhart.

Erin's Wild Justice has several close cousins in this year's competition, but those cousins don't have Erin's... names. So in addition to all the relatives on his father's (Whippoorwill Wild Agin's) side, Dan's dam, Sparrowhawk is from the famous knick of Rockacre Blackhawk and Elhew Katie Lee that produced so many shooting dog champions (including Westfall's Black Ice who is the sire of three of this years contestants yet to be discussed: Westfall's Black Ace, Westfall's Black Thunder, and Westfall's River Ice).

Returning for his fifth year, Lester's Jazzman has a credible past record at the Ames Plantation. He has completed the three hours twice, has run more than two hours the other years, and has never gone birdless. Perhaps his best past performance was in 2017 with eight finds. Sam has re-qualified this year with a runner-up at the All-America Quail Championship. This seven year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer male is owned by Dan Hensley. He was bred by W M Harkins and is by National Champion Lester's Snowatch out of High Point Jesse. Sam will be handled by Randy Anderson.

Sam's sire, Lester's Snowatch was the 2009 National Champion. There are eight contestants this year who are sons of former National Champions. There are four by the 2008 National Champion Whippoorwill Wild Agin (including National Champion Whippoorwill Justified), one by the 2009 National Champion Lester's Snowatch, one by the 2011 National Champion Touch's Whiteout (who was by Lester's Snowatch), and two by the 2015 National Champion Miller's Dialing In. Sam's dam, High Point Jesse is by Miller's White Powder out of Native Missy, who was a daughter of Miller's Silver Bullet.

Touch's Spaceman qualified to run by winning the first two trials which he ran in as a first year all age dog this past summer, the Broomhill (Iron Nation) OAA and the Border International Chicken Championship. He is the recent runner-up at the Alabama Championship. Patch is a three year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog who is owned by Matt Griffith and will be handled by Randy Anderson. Patch is by House's Ring Of Fire out of Touch's Sandy and was bred by Keith Wright.

House's Ring Of Fire, the sire of the littermates, Touch's Spaceman and Touch's Gallatin Fire, was discussed above in the profile of their half-brother Touch's Mega Mike. Perhaps Mike is a little more than a half-brother. Touch's Sandy is by Touch's Whiteout out of Touch's Whippoorwill Road and she is a sister of Touch's Blaylock Bess the dam of Touch's Mega Mike. Touch's Spaceman was named for a song by the Dave Matthews Band, a favorite of Keith Wright and Ike Todd who were responsible for his upbringing.

Salt has qualified for his fourth year with two second places, at the Heartland OAA and the Tootsie Hurdle OAA, and a runner-up at the Southern Field Trial Championship. He has yet to complete a three hour run here. Whippoorwill Wild Assault is by Whippoorwill Wild Agin out of Boxwood Bang. Jim and Stephanie Bickers are the owners of this white, orange, and ticked, eight year old pointer dog. Larry Huffman is Salt's handler.

Salt's dam, Boxwood Bang is a daughter of Miller's White Powder out of Holly Hunter who was by The Texas Air (aka Whippoorwill Pleasure) out of Good As Gold. A final word about Salt's sire, Whippoorwill Wild Agin, with this year's field of contestants Whippoorwill Wild Agin moves up on the list of sires of the most national championship contestants. Whippoorwill Wild Agin is now on record as the sire of twelve contestants which places him in a tie for fifth place with Riggins White Knight.

Mike has recently qualified with a first place at the So-La-Tex Cajun Classic. His previous first place was back in 2016 winning the American Derby Invitational. Mike is a five year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog who is owned by Ric Peterson. He is another who is by Whippoorwill Wild Agin out of Sparkles, and bred by Bob Walthall. Larry Huffamn handles Whippoorwill Mayhem.

Mike will be running against his brother Patch and more about this remarkable breeding was given under Patch’s (Whippoorwill Justified’s) profile.

Dr. Fred Corder's newest home-bred contestant qualified as a derby winner winning the All-American and Continental Derby Championships. This white, liver, and ticked pointer dog is just shy of three years old. He is by Caladen's Rail Hawk, one of Dr. Corder's former contestants, and is out of Game Creek. Bill will be handled by Luke Eisenhart for his rookie run here.

Caladen's Rail Hawk is a son of Rockacre Blackhawk and was a four time contestant here for Dr. Corder. Game Creek is by Decision Maker out of String and Lace (a daughter of Touch's Hardtack). Decision Maker is a son of Dr. Corder's other notable past contestant, Game Maker, who ran here seven years.

Meg has re-qualified this year winning three championships, the California Pheasant, the California Chukar, and the California Bird Dog Championships. This will be her fourth year to qualify, but only her third year to run (she qualified as a derby and deferred that year). She is only five years old and now has six championship wins. This white and orange pointer bitch is owned by her breeders Jim and Cami Wolthius. She is by I B Ironhorse out of Super Express Nash Begone. Meg will be handled by Sheldon Twer.

Meg is one of the two contestants who have won three championships in this past season, the other is Erin's Wild Justice. Meg’s sire, I B Ironhorse is by Wells Fargo First Dude (by Kelly’s Laser Eye ex Cache Creek Julia) out of Wells Fargo Mollie (by Pinehill Doc’s Trouble ex I B Abbigale). Kelly’s Laser Eye is by Yastremski out of I B Bean, and this sireline traces back to Paladin’s Royal Flush. Pinehill Doc’s Trouble traces back to Tiny Wahoo. Meg’s dam, Super Express Nash Begone is by Super Express William out of Amazon Express Bullett. Super Express William was a former contestant here, and his lineage comes down from Elhew Mr McGoo. Amazon Express Bullett was by Miller’s Silver Bullet out of Super Express Samantha, who was a great-grand daughter of Gwinn’s Little Gal. This mother-daughter line tracks back to the immortal Brenda Breeze.

This will be the third year for Lulu to run here and on her past two runs she performed admirably, completing the three hours each time. This white, liver, and ticked pointer bitch has re-qualified for this year with a runner-up at the Unites States Open Quail Championship, a third place at the Hobart Ames Memorial OAA, and was the recent winner of the Alabama Championship. Lulu will turn five years old at the first of the trial. Her sire is Coldwater Warrior, and her dam, Thunder Bess, is a sister of Thunder Snowy who was a previous contestant here for Lulu's co-owner Doug Arthur (with Rachel Blackwell as the other co-owner). She was bred by Gary McKibben. Lulu will be handled again this year by Steve Hurdle.

Coldwater Thunder's sire, Coldwater Warrior competed here six times. His sire Whippoorwill War Dance competed here three times, and War Dance's sire National Champion Whippoorwill Wild Agin competed five times, winning in his third year. Lulu's dam, Thunder Bess was by National Champion Lester's Snowatch.

Bo is a white, orange, and ticked seven year old pointer dog who has re-qualified for his fourth year's run with a first place at last spring's Dixie OAA Classic. His 2017 performance here was a memorable heartbreak when they asked for the tracker at 2:58 after he had six finds. Bo is by Lance's Last Knight out of Prairieland Lucy and was bred by Dwight Grace. He is owned by Eddie and Carole Sholar and will be handled by Mark McLean. Bo is a four time champion and three time runner-up champion.

Bo is a half-brother to Cole Train sharing the same sire, Lance's Last Knight, and more about him can be found under the profiles for Touch's Mega Mike and Cole Train. Bo's dam, Prairieland Lucy was a daughter of the 2001 National Champion Law's High Noon out of Shelly Rae who was a daughter of Black Crude.

Tom will return for his second run this year. Last year he was lost taking the right edge of the morning course break away which is always a tricky proposition. He has re-qualified for this year with a second place at the North Carolina OAA. He was campaigned sparingly, only running in about a half a dozen trials this season. Tom was bred by his owner, Larry Earls, and is by Quickmarksman's Tekoa out of Quickmarksman's Sue. Tom is a stout, little, white, orange, and ticked setter dog who is seven years old. He will be handled by Mike Hester who was instrumental in his training and field trial career.

Tom Tekoa was a home-bred dog, as were his parents. Larry told an interesting story about the beginning of his kennel which bears repeating again this year. The dog that started it all for him was a son of Tekoa Mountain Sunrise who didn't have a tail. A vet had mistaken the litter of puppies for a litter of brittanys and had docked their tails. Larry was offered one of these pups for a hunting dog back then, and now Tom is his hunting dog several generations later.

Bud has re-qualified for his second year's run with a first place at the Alberta Classic (Stoughton, Sask.) and second places at the Stillwater OAA and the Inola OAA. He was picked up early in his first run here last year. Bud is from the repeat breeding of Westfall's Black Ice and Westfall's Quick Gold which was made by his owner Brad Calkins. This four year old, white, black, and ticked pointer dog will be handled by Andy Daugherty.

It is interesting that the younger of these brothers (Westfall's River Ice) was the first to qualify for the National Championship. Though the older sibling (Westfall's Black Thunder) has a better scorecard, showing showing two championships and three runner-ups. Westfall's River Ice's record shows just one championship, the Southland Open Championship last year.

This four year old pointer male is the most recent contestant for veteran handler Robin Gates. Joe will be making his rookie year appearance. He has qualified by winning last year's Florida Championship and this past summer's Manitoba Championship. Joe is white, orange, and ticked, and is by Ransom out of Ronnie Beane's Beane's Line Dancer. Joe is owned by Baker Hubbard and Jim Clark.

Joe's sire Ransom, was from the first litter of the Whippoorwill Wild Agin-Sparkles knick. Beane's Line Dancer is a daughter of House's Line Up out of Burrow's Sinbad lady (by Elhew Sinbad out of Waubeek Rose). Joe is a half-brother of two time National Champion Lester's Sunny Hill Jo, and a nephew to National Champion Whippoorwill Justified.

Stardust Chaz re-qualified this year with a first place at the Sunflower OAA Classic. He is the most senior setter contestant and is returning for his fifth year. He has completed a three hour run here in the past, but was lost last year. Chaz is a white, orange, and ticked setter dog who is now nine years old. He was bred by one of his owners, Scott Kermicle, and is by Wildwing Warrior out of Stardust Coco. His other owners are John Sayre and Bob and Sarina Craig. Steve Hurdle will be handling Chaz.

When looking at the pedigrees of Chaz and Quickmarksman's Tom Tekoa there is a remarkable similarity to be found even though they have no shared parents or grand-parents. Both ultimately go back to Tekoa Mountain Sunrise, but they do so from his lesser known descendants who were essentially bred to be hunting dogs. Chaz's sire, Wildwing Warrior is by Coveyrise King (by Panovski's Billy Boy, a 2xgreat-grandson of Tekoa Mountain Sunrise ex Stardust Baby, a daughter of Havelock Blacksmith) out of Nicky Stardust (by Long Ridge Dusty ex Wendy Stardust, both sired by Stardust Nick who was a grandson of Tekoa Mountain Sunrise). Chaz's dam, Stardust Coco is by Angie's Dogwood Doc (by Diamond's Tricky Dick, a great-grandson of Tekoa Mountain Sunrise ex Tricky Dick Beauty) out of Grouse Point Sport (by Mountain Sundrop, a grandson of Tekoa Mountain Sunrise ex Grouse Star Patches).

Jack returns this year with re-qualifying wins at two championships, the Southwestern and the National Free For All Championships (his ninth and tenth championship wins), a runner-up at the International Pheasant Championship, three first placements at the Kentucky Quail Classic, the Bill Andrews OAA (Central Carolina), and the Sunshine FTC (Florida) OAA, and a second place at the Dixie Classic. This will be his fifth year to run for the National Championship and he has finished the three hours twice before. Jack is a six year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer male who was bred by Chris George. He is by the 2015 National Champion Miller's Dialing In out of White Royal Pain. Jack is owned by Will and Rita Dunn and is handled by Luke Eisenhart.

For several past years, Jack has been the youngest of a three generation trio to compete here, but he will run solo this year to carry the banner of these Miller's... blue bloods. His grandfather Miller's Happy Jack has now retired, and his father Miller's Dialing In will not compete again this year. Miller's Dialing In's dam, Phillips Silver Star (and her sister L G White Lily) is by White Powder Pete out of Hawk's Silver Sue. Jack's dam, White Royal Pain was by South's Late Night (a son of Miller's White Powder) out of Henley's Becky Lynn (a daughter of the 2004 National Champion Miller's On Line). Both Miller's On Line and Miller's Happy Jack were contestants here for a near record nine years.

Jack was last year's youngest contestant and he was picked up early in his rookie year run. This year he has re-qualified by winning back to back the Missouri Open Championship and the Missouri Open All-Age last spring, and he also took a runner-up at this past summer's Border International Chicken Championship. Jack is by Erin's Braveheart out of Westfall's Irish Bell, and was bred by his owner Ryan Westfall. Andy Daugherty will be handling this three time champion, three year old, white liver, and ticked pointer dog.

You may be excused if you don't remember that Jack's sire, Erin's Braveheart, was mentioned in the profile for Erin's Longmire, that was after all twenty-five or so profiles ago. Westfall's Irish Bell is by Wiggins C C (by Wiggins River Crossing out of Wiggins Miss Maggie) out of River Ranch Bell (by Caladen's Rail Hawk out of Caladen's White Powder Rail). How she got an "Irish" name is a mystery.

Jake has re-qualified by winning the recent Georgia Quail Championship and this will be his third year to run at Ames Plantation. Jake is the only dog to have qualified for both the all-age National Championship and the National Open Shooting Dog Championship, and he will run in both if the drawing's schedule permits. He is a white and orange pointer dog who is just a few days shy of five years old. He is by Game Strut out of High Value Special, and was bred by Tommy Davis. Jake will be handled by his amateur owner Scott Jordan.

Strut Nation's records show him as a versatile competitor.  He has won on the prairies at the United States Chicken - Northern States Championship and has won the sister Northern States Amateur Chicken Championship twice. He has won both the Georgia Derby Championship and the Georgia Quail Championship.

Erin's Full Throttle has re-qualified for this year with two championship wins, the Kentucky Open and the North Carolina Quail Championships, and a runner-up at the Tarheel Open Championship. Dan will turn eight years old during the competition. This is his third year to run here, and returns after an absence of two years. He was picked up early on his previous runs. Dan was bred by Sean Derrig and is by Erin's Stoney River out of Erin's Pretty Penny. Robert Henry will be the handler for Dan's owners John and Susan Ivester.

Erin's Full Throttle is one of five grandsons of Erin's Bad River that are contestants this year, and there are three further great-grandsons competing, too. Hall of Fame member Erin's Bad River was the product of a brother/sister mating, by Erin's Southern Pride out of Erin's Rockin Robin, and their sire was the Hall of Fame member Erin's Southern Justice. Dan's dam, Erin's Pretty Penny has a pedigree full of grand, and great-grand children of Erin's Southern Justice, too.

True Confidence has re-qualified to run for his fourth year and he has finished a three hour run once before. Bob was the winner of the US Chicken - Northern States Championship this past summer and has since garnered two runner-ups, at the Southwestern Championship and the Quail Championship Invitational. Bob is a nine year old, white and orange pointer dog who was bred by Robert J Saari. He is by Two Acre Bulldog out of Bar P Annex. He will be handled by Luke Eisenhart for his owners Frank and Jean LaNasa.

Bob's sire, Two Acre Bulldog was by the 2007 National Champion Funseeker's Rebel out of Rester's Tiny Dancer. Bob's dam Bar P Annex was by Bar P Shadow (a son of Shadow's Mark) out of Bar P Xena (a daughter of Front N Center). Bob is now a three time champion and six time runner-up.

Shadow's Next Exit has re-qualified with two runner-ups at the Masters Open Quail and the Saskatchewan Open Chicken Championships. All of Pat's qualifying placements have been at championships and he is now a three time champion, three time runner-up. Pat gets his "Shadow's" name from his home, owner Butch Houston's Shadow Oak Plantation. This five year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog will be making his third appearance at the National Championship. Pat is by Exit Lane out of Weber's Little Snowball, and was bred by Jason Loper - Osceola Kennels. Robin Gates will be handling Pat.

Pat's sire, Exit Lane is by Exit Wound (a son of the 2005 National Champion Cypress Gunpowder) out of Time Line Lane who was by Miller's Dateline out of True Freedom Lane (a daughter of Miller's White Powder). Pat's dam, Weber's Little Snowball is by Weber's Little Bullet out of Bentley's Snowy Bess who was a daughter of National Champion Lester's Snowatch.

Cole will be just shy of seven years old for his fourth visit here. He is still yet to finish a three hour run here, but he has never gone without finding birds. Cole has re-qualified with a second place at the Kentucky Lake OAA, and he has three previous championship wins on his record: the Missouri, the Kentucky, and the International Pheasant championships. This white, black, and ticked son of Lance's Last Knight was bred by Ray Hamilton out of his Quinton's Pretty Baby. Cole is owned by Dr. Fred Corder and his handler this year will be Randy Downs.

Cole's sire, Lance's Last Knight, is a son of Erin's Bad River and there are numerous other relatives from this line competing this year. His half-brother, Touch's White Knight, will join him with three nephews (all sons of House's Ring of Fire) Touch's Gallatin Fire, Touch's Spaceman, and Touch's Mega Mike. Cole's dam, Quintin's Pretty Baby was the product of a half-brother/sister mating, both sharing the same dam, Quintin's Rambling Kate, who was a mother-daughter descendant of Nell's Rambling On.

Patch is the 2016 National Champion who will be returning for his fourth run. He won in his first year's run and finished the three hours last year with five finds. Patch has six placements this past season; four are first places in the Lynn Taylor (Carroll County) OAA Classic, the Buck Tuck OAA, the Benton County (Miss) OAA, and the Hobart Ames Memorial OAA; two were runner-ups at the Missouri and Mississippi Championships. Patch is a six year old, white, liver, and ticked pointer dog from the Whippoorwill Wild Agin-Sparkles knick bred by Bob Walthall. He is owned by Ronnie Spears and will be handled by Larry Huffman.

The knick between Sparkles and Whippoorwill Wild Agin is one for the record books, but there are many records involved here. Let’s start with this knick has produced eight all-age champions, and no other dam has come close to that. They are: Whippoorwill Blue Blood, Whippoorwill Red Rage, Texas Wild Agin, and Ransom from the first litter; Skyfall and Dazzling from the second litter; Whippoorwill Justified from the third litter; and Whippoorwill Mayhem from the fourth litter.

 Six of them have been contestants here and that breaks the top dam's record set by Wiggins Miss Sammie. And there may yet be more from the youngest litter of the repeat breedings, as Matt Cochran's Whippoorwill Forever Wild won his first qualifying first place this year.

Whippoorwill Wild Agin and Whippoorwill Justified are the most recent father-son national champions. It wasn’t that long ago that Lester’s Snowatch and Touch’s Whiteout had shared that distinction, but now neither are living.

And all that is just for the first generation, in the second generation we find a second National Champion, Lester’s Sunny Hill Jo, who is a son of Ransom.

For the record, Whippoorwill Wild Agin is by Whippoorwill Wild Jack (by National Champion Whippoorwill Wild Card ex Bitter Delight) out of Whippoorwill Girl (by Bly Spy Master ex Silver Belle H); and Sparkles is by Rockacre Blackhawk (by Rockacre Buckwheat ex Santo) out of Southern Sunflower (by Erin’s Southern Justice ex Elhew Sunflower). Elhew Sunflower was one of the three Hall Of Fame shooting dog daughters of the famous blue hen Hanna’s Elhew Lou.

Jo's past performances here should be familiar, he has run twice and won twice. He has also won the Southeastern, Alabama, and National Free For All championships. Jo is a six year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer male. He is by Ransom out of Miller's White Wall, and was bred by Chris George. Gary Lester will handle Jo who is owned by David Thompson.

No other three time winner of the National Championship has won in three consecutive years, so we will all hold our collective breath for such a new record this year. Jo's sire Ransom was the sire of another contestant this year, Lester's Georgia Time and so far is the most notable stud to come from the Whippoorwill Wild Agin-Sparkles knick. Jo's dam, Miller's White Wall is by National Champion Lester's Snowatch out of L G White Lily (a sister of Phillips Silver Star, the dam of another National Champion, Miller's Dialing In).