2023 Competitor Profiles
The following contestant profiles were compiled by Steeple Bell. We appreciate his effort to provide the interesting "backstory" on this year's competitors.
Bonner's Bulletproof
Bonner's Bullet Proof was the first dog to qualify with a single win under the new "win and in" rule, having won the Missouri Open Championship last spring. In this past season he also garnered a runner-up at the Oklahoma Championship and two second places, Kentucky Quail Classic and Pelican State Open All-Age. Bo is a white, orange, and ticked pointer dog who will be just days shy of five years old for his rookie run here this year. He was sired by National Champion Miller's Speed Dial and is out of Miller's Martha White, and was bred by Derek Bonner. Randy Anderson will handle Bo for his owner Dr. Chris Cornman.
Chinquapin Legacy
Chinquapin Legacy was co-owned and bred by the late E L "Ted" Baker and will return for his second run here with John Baker as his sole owner now. Paul has re-qualified with a first place at the Sunshine (Fla) FTC Classic. He last ran here back in 2020, the year that he won the Florida Championship. Paul is a white, black, and ticked eight year old pointer dog. He is by Chinquapin Reward out of Hilltopper Solid Anne. Slade Sikes will be handling Chinquapin Legacy.
Confident Nation
Confident Nation was sired by Frank LaNasa's True Confidence, a former contestant here, and is out of Southern Songbird. Smoke, a four year old pointer dog, qualified with wins of the recent Georgia Quail Championship and last spring's Southeastern Quail Championship. In all, Smoke holds seven championship titles including his shooting dog and amateur wins. Luke Eisenhart will handle this white, orange, and ticked rookie contestant for his owner Scott Jordan.
Dream Chaser
Dream Chaser has re-qualified for this year's competition with a second place at the North Dakota Classic. This will be his second run, though it is his third year to qualify, as he was scratched his first year. Chaser is a six year old; white, liver, and ticked pointer dog who was bred by David Hendricks. He is by Pleasant Run Bob out of House's Wild Bess Again. Chaser will be handled by Andy Daugherty for his owner Brad Calkins.
Erin's Code of Honor
Erin's Code of Honor has qualified for his first year with a first at the North Dakota Classic and a win at the Tarheel Open Championship this fall. Earlier last spring he was the winner of the National Amateur Derby Championship with his breeder, Sean Derrig handling. Tip is slightly less than three years old. Luke Eisenhart will be handling Tip for his owner Allen Linder. This white, orange, and ticked pointer dog is by Erin's Redrum out of Erin's Miss Maggie.
Game Heir
Game Heir was bred by, is owned by, and will be handled by Dr. Fred Corder. This will be the second year for Jake to run here, having re-qualified with a first at the recent Hobart Ames Memorial OAA. He was lost around the two hour mark in his first year run. Jake also brought home a runner-up at the International Pheasant Championship this fall. Jake is a three year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog sired by Dominator's Rebel Heir out of Game Snow.
Game Wardon
Game Wardon returns for his fifth year. Bred, owned, and handled by Dr. Fred Corder, this white, liver, and ticked pointer dog is just shy of seven years old. Bill is by Caladen's Rail Hawk out of Game Creek. Bill re-qualified this winter with a second place at the Pelican State OAA. In his four previous runs here, he has been remarkably consistent with bird finds every year, but not enough to be in contention and was picked up early each time.
Haney's Storm Warning
Haney's Storm Warning qualified as a derby sensation having won three championships last spring: the Georgia, All-America, and American Derby Invitational. He has since won the Quail Championship Invitational and was most recently runner-up at the Alabama Championship. Bred, owned, and handled by Chris Cagel, Speck is by Valiant out of Haney's North Star. This white, liver, and ticked pointer dog will be a month shy of three years old at this competition.
Hendrix's Touch Up
Hendrix's Touch Up is a six year old pointer dog who is returning for his second run here. On his first attempt he had a two and a half hour run with two finds only to take a step on point on his third find. Hank has re-qualified for this year winning the Southern Field Trial Championship, where he has twice before taken runner-up. Hank is by Pleasant Run Bob out of House's Wild Bess Again and was bred by David Hendricks. Burke and Guy Hendrix are the owners of this orange and white contestant, and Burke will be handling him.
Lester's Shockwave
Lester's Shockwave returns for his third run as last year's National Championship winner. Bud is a white, orange, and ticked five year old pointer dog with a September birthday. He is sired by Ransom out of Beane's Line Dancer and was bred by Derek Bonner. This season he won the National Pheasant Championship, first in the Kentucky Lake OAA, and second at the American Quail Classic. Gary Lester will be handling Bud for Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton.
Lester's Storm Surge
Lester's Storm Surge is this year's Continental Champion. Chip had re-qualified earlier with many other placements, including firsts at the Sunflower and Hoyle Eaton Memorial trials. He is a white, orange, and ticked, five year old pointer dog. He was bred by Derek Bonner and is by Ransom out of Beane's Line Dancer. This will be his third year to compete, last year he finished the three hours. Gary Lester will be handling Chip for his owners, Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton.
Lowrider Frank
Lowrider Frank won this past fall's Oklahoma Championship. This will be Frank's fourth year to run for the title. He has completed the three hour test once before. Frank is this year's oldest contestant at ten years old. This white and liver pointer dog was bred by Tom Woods. He is by Miller's Happy Jack out of Fairchase Jiggs. Frank's owners, Dr. Jim Mills and Steve Lightle will have Allen Vincent handling.
Mauck's Wyeast Owyhee Jack
Mauck's Wyeast Owyhee Jack is a white, orange, and ticked setter dog. This will be Jack's first year to run, having qualified with two chukar championship titles; the 2020 Northwest Chukar Championship and this year's National Chukar Championship. The six year old Jack was bred by Eric Mauck and was sired by Tekoa Mountain Patriot and is out of San Jac's Gypsy. Alex Mauck will be handling Jack for his new owner Steve Croy.
Miller's Blindsider
Miller's Blindsider will make his third run here having re-qualified winning the Masters Open Quail Championship last spring. He has also taken two runner-up titles this season, at the Georgia Quail and Southeastern Championships, and a first at the American Quail Classic. Sam is a six year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog bred by Fran and Jack Miller. He is by Just Irresistible out of Miller's Bring The Heat. Jamie Daniels will be handling Sam for Nick Berrong.
Miller's Speed Dial
Miller's Speed Dial, the 2020 National Champion is returning for his fourth run here and is now. handled by Randy Anderson for his owner Mick Marietta. This white and orange pointer dog has finished a three hour run in every past competition. He has re-qualified with three placements, recently a first at the Prairie Open All-Age. Joe was bred by Wallace Sessions and was sired by Miller's Dialing In and is out of Old Road Lou. Joe is now seven years old.
Miss Stylin Sue
Miss Stylin Sue returns for her second year having completed a three hour run last year. This white and liver pointer bitch is seven years old. Sue was bred by Doug Arthur and was sired by Ransom and is out of Coldwater Snow. Sue re-qualified for this year with a second place in last spring's Missouri Open All-Age and further garnered a third place at the Preston Trimble Memorial. Sue's owners, Dr. Jim Mills and Steve Lightle will have Allen Vincent for her handler.
Painted Owyhee Toad
Painted Owyhee Toad who is from the Pacific Northwest has come the greatest distance of any of this year's competitors. Toad qualified for his rookie year with wins at the National Chukar Championship in 2021 and this year's Cascade Open Championship. He is just shy of eight years old and is a white, liver, and ticked all over pointer dog. Toad has a father-daughter ownership, Jim and Bridget Ledington, with the father as the breeder and the daughter as the handler. Toad was sired by Painted Nickel Mac and is out of Painted Molly.
Pendy's Good Grace
Pendy's Good Grace has re-qualified this year as the winner of the Kentucky Open Championship. Grace first qualified way back in 2018 when she was the Purina Derby Award winner, and since then she has been mostly running in amateur competition racking up a total of 47 placements. Now eight years old, this white, orange, and ticked pointer bitch will be handled by her owner, Matt Pendergest. Jim Pendergest was her breeder and she is by Reloaded out of Dialed In.
Quickmarksman's Dan
Quickmarksman's Dan re-qualified recently with a third place at the Prairie Open All-Age. This will be Dan's second year to run; he was picked up last year just shy of the three hour mark. Dan is an eight year old, white, liver, and ticked pointer dog. He was bred by one of his owners, Larry Earls and is by Quickmarksman's Tony and is out of Witt's Snow Angel. Larry co-owns Dan with Sam Starnes and Mike Hester will be handling their charge.
Rester's Cajun Spirit
Rester's Cajun Spirit is this year's youngest contestant. Still derby aged, two years old, he has qualified with a single win at the Georgia Derby Championship under the new rules. This white, orange, and ticked pointer dog is by Miller's Blindsider and out of Rester's Amazing Grace. Mike was bred by Cecil Rester. Judd Carlton will be handling Mike for his owner Allen Linder.
Shadow's Lord Magic
Shadow's Lord Magic is a seven year old rookie contestant who qualified with a win of the Tarheel Open Championship in 2021 and a first at the Bill Andrews Open All-Age this past fall. Carl Bowman is Mac's breeder and owner. Mac was sired by Carl's previous national champion In The Shadow and is out of Hello Kitty. Luke Eisenhart will be handling this white, liver, and ticked pointer dog.
Touch's Amazing Greyce
Touch's Amazing Greyce is a white, liver, and ticked pointer bitch just shy of three years old. She has qualified for her first run with wins at the Pacific Coast Derby Championship and the Northwest Chukar Championship. She also won the National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship while still a derby. Greyce is by Touch's Grey Street out Intentional and was bred by Jim Pendergest. Keith Wright will be handling for her owner AustinTurley.
Touch's Breakaway Fred
Touch's Breakaway Fred first won a qualifying placement at the Georgia Derby Championship in 2020. His second qualifying win came this season at the Robin Gates Classic. Fred was also runner-up at the Masters Open Quail Championship this past spring. Fred was bred by Keith Wright and is by Touch's Mega Mike out of Touch's American Baby. Mark McLean will be handling this five year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog for his owners, Bruce and Karen Norton and Gary and Becky Futch.
Touch's Fire Away
Touch's Fire Away is the recent winner of the Alabama Championship, his second year to do so. He has qualified for his second year run here with five additional placements, three firsts, one second, and a runner-up at the Missouri Open Championship. Mike is a white, orange, and ticked pointer dog who is just shy of six years old. He was bred by Keith Wright and is by House's Ring Of Fire and is out of Touch's Maswood Anne. Randy Anderson will handle Mike for his owners, Greg and Carmen Adams.
Touch's Malcolm Story
Touch's Malcolm Story returns for his fourth year having won two championships this season, the United States Open and the North Carolina Quail Championships, in addition to three other placements. Big has finished a three hour run here twice before. This seven year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog was bred by Keith Wright. Big was sired by Touch's Knight Rider and is out of Blackhawk's Sunflower. Big's owners, Alex and Brianna Rickert, will have Mark McLean handling.
Touch's Shadow Rider
Touch's Shadow Rider qualified for his first year with back to back wins this past fall at the Lee County (Georgia) Open All-Age and the National Free For All Championship. Jay is a two year old white, orange, and ticked pointer dog handled by Mark McLean for his owners Dr. Reuben Richardson and Bruce and Karen Norton. Jay was sired by Touch's Smooth Rider, out of Touch's Gold Dance, and bred by Keith Wright.
Westfall's River Ice
Westfall's River Ice is one of the two most veteran dogs returning for their sixth year, both are handled by Andy Daugherty. Westfall's River Ice has re-qualified with a first at the Win Ingersoll Memorial OAA and a third at the Missouri OAA. Bud is a white, black, and ticked pointer dog just shy of nine years old. Bred by William P Westfall, he is by Westfall's Black Ice out of Westfall's Quick Gold. Bud is owned by Brad Calkins.
Westfall's True Grit
Westfall's True Grit is one of the two most veteran dogs returning for their sixth year, both are handled by Andy Daugherty. Jack has re-qualified for this year with a first at the D E Hawthorne Border Classic and a second at the Heartland Open All-Age. Bred and owned by Ryan Westfall, Jack was sired by Erin's Braveheart and is out of Westfall's Irish Bell. Jack is a white, liver, and ticked seven year old pointer dog.
Westfall's Wheels Up
Westfall's Wheels Up has qualified for his first year here with wins of the Cecil Proctor OAA last spring and he added the Kansas Prairie OAA this fall. His first qualifying placement was earned in 2021 at the Win Ingersoll Memorial OAA. Beau is a white, black, and ticked five year old pointer dog. He was bred by Ryan Westfall and is by Westfall's Black Ace out of Westfall's Quick Trick. Beau will be handled by Andy Daugherty for his owner, Bill Westfall.
Woodville's Yukon Cornelius
Woodville's Yukon Cornelius finished a three hour run last year and is returning for his second run here. Rudy won two runner-up titles this season, The United States Open and the Quail Championship Invitational, along with two additional second placements, the Dixie OAA and the Sunshine FTC Classic. Rudy is a six year old, white, black, tan, and ticked setter dog who was bred by Ross Callaway. He is by Caladen's DaVinci out of A Tarheel Miss Bo. Rudy's owners, Carl and Ashley Owens will have Mark McLean handling.