52 entries, a handful of volunteers, and a LOT of heart. That’s what it took to successfully pull off the 2020 Western Classic and Western Field Futurity, an event that was swiftly put together in November by members of the Southland Weimaraner Club in a final attempt to salvage what was left of a COVID-ridden year.
Keri Cassinelli on Clyde watching her dog, Singas
The event was held in the Mojave Desert in Southern California, with entries coming from as far north as Oregon and as far east as New Mexico. Dogs ran in spectacular weather conditions, and had plentiful, good-flying birds. Handlers stayed on their horses and made it around the rocky hillsides, bird planters zipped along between braces replenishing the courses, and back at camp, folks scurried around making sure (pre-packaged) food was on the table and everyone had plenty of (bottled) water.
Julia Pond, Kristi Salse, and Jana DeTevis
It must be noted that members of the Southland Weimaraner Club (SWC) are truly a special bunch of people. To have the blesssing from the Board to put on a regional trial without much notice was tremendous. Offers for help were given before it was even asked. Bob and Vickie Margolis brought out their RV and stayed all week to help as needed, even though they personally did not have any entries. Carly Devine ordered beautiful rosettes and totes and coordinated a delivery of fun merchandise. Even Lou D’Alessandro, who was supposed to be out of town, showed up for a day and helped relieve Carlos DeTevis of bird planting duties. Charles and Kristi Salse replenished the water buffalo (twice!) and went into town to grab (pre-packaged) lunches. Dona Tanaka couldn’t make it onto the grounds, but sent in some items for our silent auction fundraiser. Jana DeTevis and Beth Worrell double-handedly got all the paperwork and accounting in order, and even Barry Burnell made a couple of special appearances to deliver much-needed supplies for his wife.
Judges Jeff Rhine and Gregg Knight
A special thank you as well to those not within the SWC, but contributed invaluable resources to make this event happen. While nursing a recent injury, Jeff Rhine sat in the saddle to judge for us everyday. Raul Pineda took a day off of work to judge for us. Judge Julia Pond flew in all the way from Idaho as well. And Gregg Knight had us covered in three different stakes. Ellis Hertz not only judged but gunned for us as well, and Ken Kraft loaned us his quad for bird-planting purposes. Shari Hardi organized the porta-potty and loaned us supplies from the California Brittany Club and Brian Jean took time out of his day to set up all three courses for us. Terry Zygalinski came down from Northern CA with a trailer full of walking horses for rent. Last, but certainly not least, was Warren Eizman (also on the injured reserve list), behind the scenes making sure we had courses, birds, and water.
In an era where field trials are not as robust as what they once were, we rely on every. single. person. possible. to support our club and and make our event possible. It was incredibly heartwarming to have so many field trial friends, whether they be Weimaraner owners, Vizsla owners, Brittany owners, Shorthair owners, Wirehaired owners, etc. come out and help, just to be helpful.
Finally, a big thank you to the breeders, owners, trainers, and handlers of the 52 entries. It takes a village to develop and produce field trial dogs, and many have an important role in that process.
Without further ado, we present this year’s placements!!!
Amateur Gun Dog
Judges: Jim House and Jeff Rhine
- “Reign” – Trax Free Reign at Sky Ranch (NAFC AFC Snake Breaks Sargent Von Reiteralm x FC AFC One Trax Mind), b/Marilyn James & Shirley Nilsson o/Lisa and Jon DeLeonardo h/ Lisa DeLeonardo
- Withheld
- Withheld
- Withheld
Field Futurity
Judges: Ellis Herz and Jeff Rhine
- “Thor” – Trax Thunderbird (Trax Search Engine x CH Trax the Light Fantastic), b/ Marilyn James & Shirley Nilsson o/ Holly McKnight & Shirley Nilsson h/ Todd Yamamoto
- “Prim” – BaseCamp von Barrett Evening Primrose (MK’s Echo x CH Barrett’s Lady Grey), b/o Erin Smith & Kim Burnell h/Terry Chandler
- “Shadow” – Silver Rain’s Shadow Trax (FC AFC PM Trax Trigger Happy x Trax Ivy League), b/Terry Meek & Megan Bastien o/ David & Melissa Dugan h/ Leslie Like
- “Teddy” – Barrett BaseCamp v. L&L Teddy Bear Cholla (MK’s Echo x CH Barrett’s Lady Grey), b/ Erin Smith & Kim Burnell o/Brent & Amanda Saxton h/Brent Saxton
Open Derby
Judges: Gregg Knight and Julia Pond
- “Shadow” – Silver Rain’s Shadow Trax (FC AFC PM Trax Trigger Happy x Trax Ivy League), b/Terry Meek & Megan Bastien o/ David & Melissa Dugan h/ Leslie Like
- “Nacho” – BW Touchstone’s Skip a Heartbeat (Silvershot’s Otto von Knapp x Heartbeat’s Bird Field Bliss), b/Kim Burnell o/Anne Taguchi h/ Beth Worrell
- “Sierra” – BaseCamp von Barrett Western Flint (Bespoke von Trax x CH Barrett’s Lady Grey), b/o Erin Smith & Kim Burnell h/Terry Chandler
- Withheld
Open Gun Dog
Judges: Gregg Knight and Jeff Rhine
- “Sparkle” – Trax Edenrock Fireworks One (CH Sanbar’s Truly Legendary x CH Trax Edenrock One Hot Mama CD), b/Cindy Cerne & Shirley Nilsson, o/Anabel Schafnit & Cindy Cerne & Shirley Nilsson h/Todd Yamamoto
- “Tazer” – Grau Geist-N-Knights Light-Em Up (NAFC GFCH FCH Grau Geist’s Texas City Slicker x Reiteralm Shine on Brymar Knights), b/o Gene Mason & Holly McKnight h/Todd Yamamoto
- “Reign” – Trax Free Reign at Sky Ranch (NAFC AFC Snake Breaks Sargent Von Reiteralm x FC AFC One Trax Mind), b/Marilyn James & Shirley Nilsson o/Lisa and Jon DeLeonardo h/ Lisa DeLeonardo
- “Socks” – Trax Business Time (GCH CH Breica’s Extreme Exposure x CH Trax Tour de Force VCD1 BN RE OFP CA CGC), b/Sarah Jones & Shirley Nilsson, o/David Schafnit & Sarah Jones h/Todd Yamamoto
Open Puppy
Judges: Raul Pineda and Julia Pond
- “Atlas” – Touchstone’s Holder of the Sky (DC Knight-N-Reiteralm’s Heartland Flyer x Brymar N’ Touchstone’s Los Angeles), b/Jeffrey Toms & Anne Taguchi h/ Jeffrey Toms
- “Sierra” – BaseCamp von Barrett Western Flint (Bespoke von Trax x CH Barrett’s Lady Grey), b/o Erin Smith & Kim Burnell h/Terry Chandler
- “Truck” – Silverpoint N Rain Long Haul Trucker (FC AFC AFCH Silver Rain N Edelweiss Traxion Tire x Silvershot’s Gotta Love Silverpoint Savvy), b/Scott & Shelley Banzhaf, o/h Leslie Like
- “Captain” – L&L von Barrett First Avenger (Sire: Rugerheim’s Royal Prince v. Barrett x CH Barrett’s Primorial Princess), b/Brent & Amanda Saxton o/Kim Burnell & Brent Saxton h/Terry Chandler
Thank you ALL, and hope to see you in the not-too-distant future!!!
– Kim Burnell, Southland Weimaraner Club Field Trial Chair and 2020 Western Event Chair
Leslie Like and Terry Zygalinski celebrated their 22nd and 25th birthdays with us
Merchandise and silent auction table
Merchandise and silent auction table
Brent and Teddy in the Open Puppy stake
Shelby in the Open Puppy stake
Open Puppy course
Jeffrey Toms and Atlas, and Carly Devine and Temu at the start of the Open Puppy course
Jeffrey Toms and Atlas
Beth Worrell and Max
Curt Cress and Sierra
Terry Chandler giving Lani Saxton an afternoon pony ride
Dominique Gallagher riding Clyde to see a bit of the Open Gun Dog course
Lisa DeLeonardo in the gallery on the Open Gun Dog course
Beth Worrell and Soba on a find on the Open Gun Dog course
Camp gathering
First Place Open Puppy goes to Jeffrey Toms and Atlas!
More humor at camp
Outtake # 1 of getting ready for placement photos
Outtake # 2 of getting ready for placement photos
Outtake # 3 of getting ready for placement photos
Lani Saxton proudly carrying a Fourth Place ribbon for a dog her dad bred
Time for happy hour!
Jim House and Leslie Like
Terry Chandler with Sierra
Bird planter extraordinnaire Carlos DeTevis, Field Trial Secretary Jana DeTevis, and future Field Trialer Dominique Gallagher
Starting line… with donuts
Donuts, anyone?!
Open Gun Dog course
Todd Yamamoto handling
Todd Yamamoto handling
Getting ready for callbacks
A view of Camp H
One of our message boards
Kelly Bagley riding “Cookie”
Charles Salse on the Amateur Gun Dog course with Baja
Vickie Margolis handing out ribbons
Congratulations to Todd for Second Place with Tazer!
Vickie Margolis handing out the First Place ribbon to Sparkle!!! Owner Anabel Schafnit and handler Todd Yamamoto
Leslie Like and Lisa DeLeonardo at the start of the Open Derby course
Congratulations to Anabel and Sparkle!!!
Curt Cress and Pax
Carlos DeTevis getting ready to run Soba
First Place Open Gun Dog for Team Sparkle!!!
A future Field Trialer coming to check out the action
Kim Urbani, Kelly Bagley, and Beth Worrell
Dessie (Hansen) Butterworth came by to say hello!!!!
Everett Butterworth, Dessie Hansen Butterworth and John Nelssen
Lani, Dapper Dan, and Kim
A Weimaraner having a lot of fun being a bird dog