Field Trials find new home News October 20, 2021October 19, 20210 Submitted photos Breakaway of the first brace of the 2021 National Chukar Shooting Dog Championship. Winners of the 2021 National Chukar Shooting Dog Championship are Champion “Janie’s American Rebel” (a male English pointer owned and handled by Jason Staley of Twin Falls, Idaho) and “Gotta Little Project” (a male English pointer owned and handled by Todd Schaaf of Woodland, Wash.). The National Chukar Championships found a new home this year — Roaring Springs Ranch in Fields. With the property owner’s permission, ranch manager Stacy Davis opened the gates to 15,000 acres adjacent to Skull Creek for this year’s competition. Three one-hour horseback courses were identified, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife granted a permit for the trial to be contested on both wild and released birds. Announcement of the new grounds has generated much enthusiasm, and numerous competitors from around the country are expected to attend. The National Chukar All-Age Championship is a “qualifying trial” for the National Championship Field Trial, which will be held in February at Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, Tenn., continuing a 122-year-old tradition. In order to qualify for the National Championship, a dog must win two qualifying championship titles. The National Chukar Shooting Dog Championship will qualify dogs for the National Open Shooting Dog Championship, which will also be held in February. These field trials determine the top pointing dogs each year, and they have a long history dating back to the 1870s. About field trials A field trial is basically a gentleman’s wager. Those willing to bet that their dog is the best, ante-up an “entry fee,” creating a pot of money to award to the winner. The dogs’ names are then placed in a hat and pulled out in pairs in the “draw” to determine the order of the “braces” in which they will run. Since the weather and movements of the birds can vary, this is considered the “luck of the draw”. Judges are named to select the winner (and runner-up, if desired). Each one-hour brace is run with the dog’s “handler” and judges riding horseback over a predetermined course. The handler is expected to guide the dog over the course, always out front and often at great distance. Each handler may be assisted by a “scout” who may ride out to return a dog to the course should the dog run sideways or get lost. However, scouting is frowned upon in the judgment. When the dog finds birds, it “points” (holds its position like a statue), and must do so with perfect manners until its handler flushes the birds and fires a blank gun. No birds are harmed in these competitions. The difference between an “all-age” stake and a “shooting dog” stake is the range that the dog is allowed to run and the handling expectations that the judges look for. The all-age dog is allowed greater range and may be out of sight of the handler (but always on the course). A shooting dog must remain in sight and control of the handler for the duration of the brace. Here lies the difference between a hunting dog and a field trial dog: While a hunter most often follows the dog to find birds wherever the dog wanders, a field trial dog must be handled to the course. Inez Thompson Derby Classic In addition to the Championships, the October trials will include the Inez Thompson Derby Classic. Derby competitions are for the young (1 to 2-year-old) dogs. The stake is named for Inez Thompson, who was the president of the chamber of commerce in Sunnyside, Wash. Sunnyside has hosted these field trials for the past 30 years and has been home to the hosting field trial club since 1958. Thompson and her husband were long-time supporters of the trials and much beloved by the field trial community. Opportunities for youth In June, the National Chukar Championship Association hosted the inaugural Chuck Cox Youth Stake at their spring trial near Crane. Harney County residents may know Cox as the former owner of Dairy Queen. However, they may not know that, for many years, Cox competed in field trials with a successful string of English pointers. Watch for future announcements about the youth stake, which is open to any youth interested in learning about this sport. Dogs and equipment are provided for youth to compete, and everyone is welcome. The National Chukar Championship Association also administers the Torben Hansen Youth Trial Scholarship Trust. Chucker Championship kicks off this weekend The drawing for this year’s National Chukar All-Age Championship will be held Friday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. at the Diamond Inn in Denio, Nev. The competition’s contestants will meet in Skull Creek Canyon (approximately 17 miles north of Fields) on Highway 205. Roadside signs will be placed ahead of the turnoff to the grounds to provide direction. Anyone with a horse is welcome to come and ride along in the gallery or watch the trial proceed from a distance along the courses. The first braces will be turned loose at 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 23. Contact Holly Higgins at (541) 480-7620 if you wish to attend. The National Chukar Championship Association would like to thank Stacy Davies, Andrew Shields, and all of the great folks at Roaring Springs Ranch; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Stacie and Mark Fenton; and the wonderful community in Harney County for their gracious hospitality and support of this event.