1999 ABC Prairie Chicken Classic
By Jack Higgins
The 1999 renewal of the ABC Chicken Classic took place September 20-26 at
the Taylor Ranch north of Burwell, NE. The 17,000 acre ranch is owned by Jim & Ester
Taylor, sons, Bob and Clifford, and their families. It is part of the 19,000 square miles of
Nebraska sandhills conducive to cow/calf operations. This land is rolling sand dunes,
lightly covered with soil and native grasses and meadows, some wet, that once were
lakes. The Taylor family have been stewards of the land since 1937 and have
maintained an excellent balance with nature as evidenced by the abundance of wild life,
including the white fringed prairie orchid.
Six one-hour courses are used, offering objectives in the form of meadows, low
and high hills, valleys, marshes and edges, home to both the Greater Prairie Chicken
and the Sharptail Grouse. This gave ample opportunity to our 73 contenders to show
their ability. We were privileged to again have the judicial services of Hank Rozanek of
Vizsla fame, and Roy Jines of Forkland, Alabama, both of whom have trained dogs for
years in the sandhills. Under their watchful eyes, the best of the best were picked as
this year’s winners.
The winner, Scarface, handled by Loyd Budd, ran in the 28th brace in the
afternoon heat, on the course noted for the most burrs and cacti, seemingly ignoring the
hardships and earning top prize for his owner, Richard Brewington of Wolcott, Iowa.
“Toby”, as he is called, is a 4 year old roan male sired by Lobo’s Blazing Bandit x Texas
Dancer. He had been campaigned sparingly before being purchased from Glynn
McCauley.
Runner-up honors go to F.C. Mo-Kan Razzle Dazzle, handled by Rob Rohner
and owned by Don Hinskey of Bentonville, Arkansas. She ran in brace 14, a morning
brace on the coveted 2nd course. Razzie did “dazzle”everyone with her strong forward
race but no birds, necessitating a second series which took less than two minutes for
her to show her ability to find and handle a Prairie Chicken. Her sire is FC MoKan
Playboy.
3rd place honors went to F.C. Poki Dot, handled by Lyle Johnson. Running in the
3rd brace, Poki set the standard early with a pleasing race and the most picturesque
find of the stake. She is one of 13 entries sired by NFC Microdot running in this classic.
4th place went to 1998 NFC, DC Gambler’s Ace In The Hole, handled by Chad
Holman and owned by Ed & Donna Janulis. Rocky ran in the 8th brace on course #2.
He and his bracemate put on a great show.
Events were well orchestrated with John Schlicht on the grill, Chairman Ron
Curtis and Mary Karbiner running the drawing, and Glen Hansen handling the raffles.
Our Marshall, Bob Taylor and dog wagon driver, Clifford Taylor, kept everything and
everyone in the right place. Food service was provided by Esther Taylor and her staff.
We owe a great deal of gratitude to our official sponsor, Purina Dog Foods, also
to Tim O’Neal Chevrolet, Bluffs Dodge, Tri-tronics, The New Dunns, Cabelas, Pointing
Dog Journal, Dressler’s Dog Supply, The Collar Clinic, Innotek, Trail Blazin Innovations,
and Leather Brothers for their help in making this event possible and fun. Chad Holman
and Richard Brewington each won a new Tri-tronics Upland Special Collar. A big
“Thanks” to the many people who took turns opening and closing gates. We look
forward to hosting this trial again in the next millennium .
The running:
Jim De Bob’s Miss T’s A Dan D (John) - Bar Nones Rocking Robin (Johnson):
Breakaway at 8:11 a.m. in the Heifer Pasture. Temp mid 50’s with a slight breeze. Forty
mounted riders. Course #1 was wide open, mostly flat mowed meadows with fence
lines, patches of cat tails, areas of trees, and a center pivot. Both dogs broke away,
Robin to the right. Robin with a stop to flush at 2, a point at 10 with no bird officially
observed, and non-productive at 16 and 56. Miss T started big, had a find at 15,
shortened somewhat, then stretched out again and slowed the last few minutes.
Farther Out Ace (Holman) - Rebels Wild Sparks (John): 9:18 a.m., Course #2
heads west with rolling hills dotted with Blestem and proven to have birds almost
anywhere during the hour. Both dogs came to run. Point was called for Ace over a hill
with the bird ridden up by John on the way to his dog. Ace and Rowdy were both
standing. Ace had a big run for 55 minutes, then shortened. Rowdy suffered an
unproductive, and then gave chase to a resident White Tail, still managing a strong
finish.
Lightnings Bismark (Rohner) - Poki Dot (Johnson): Breakaway N.E. of Marshall
Bob Taylor’s house in open meadows leading to high sharp hills, then through the
famed Blue Pick Up Pasture. Both dogs broke away with vigor. Birds were seen leaving
in hills with both dogs standing. Poki made a huge cast from hills to meadow below and
pointed a single which Lyle flushed directly in front of her. This was a very impressive
sight from our view point on top of the hills. Bismark had a stop to flush near a fence line
with a covey in the air. Both dogs rimmed the meadows, with Poki pointing into a pot
hole for a non-productive. These two finished at impressive range.
Ramlin Willie (Rohner) - Buddy’s Trucker Express (Trimble): Breakaway at 1:45
p.m. 1/2 mile west of camp, headed west in rolling hills. Both dogs stretching their legs.
At 6 Willie had a non-productive. Birds were in the air at 25 with Trucker standing as we
topped the hill. At 28 Trimble called point for Trucker on a side hill. Ray made a big
sweep and put up a well located single. At 33 Trucker made game, tried to locate his
bird and it left close by. At 35 Rohner called point for Willie and the marshall told him the
bird had left when he rode over the hill. At 58, Trucker pointed on a sidehill with no bird
produced.
Tequilas TJ Max (John) - The Time Machine (Holman): The 5th hour is more
rolling hills with mowed meadows in between. At 3 Max was found standing as a
chicken left, then a flock left from the left side, another flock to the rear, then a flock to
the right side. Lyle Johnson said, “Exactly 15 or 20 birds got up”. At 9 Trip had an
unproductive and at 10 Max did the same. At 20 Max had another unproductive on the
meadow’s edge. At 23 Trip was leashed. At 24 Max had another unproductive, and at
42 sand burrs slowed him and he was picked up.
Rocks Renegade Billy the Kid (Burchett) - Rudy’s Jacque of Lady (Hoyer): 3:40
p.m.. This course starts out in a short grass meadow and these dogs really opened up.
At 40, Kidder had a find in the hills to the left. Kidder had a non-productive at 45.
Jacque’s handler retired him at 50. At time, Kidder was running a line far forward in
spite of the increase in temperature.
Dogs Posted Day 1
Farther Out Ace, Rebel’s Wild Sparks, Poki Dot
Jocin Mr. Micro Tye (Johnson) - Riverglen’s Blazing Saddles (Burchett):
Breakaway at 8:03 a.m. Both dogs were charging across the frosty meadow. Tye had a
stop to flush at 6 by the center pivot. Saddles took a non-productive at 31. Tye stopped
to flush on a flock of chickens at 32. Birds were seen at 55 and 59 with no dogs
involved.
Gamblers Ace in the Hole (Holman) - Masked Shoshoni War Chief (Burchett):
Breakaway at 9:10 in the rolling hills. Rocky hit burrs right away and Chad cleaned him
off. Chief had a non-productive at 21. Point was called for Chief at 25 a bird left 30
yards away. Both dogs had a stop to flush at 31. Rocky pointed again, and Chad rode
up four birds getting to him and flushed six more in front of his stand. Next it was Chief’s
turn to point in tall grass straight ahead with eight well located chickens. At 50 Chief
pointed again with no bird produced. Both dogs hunted hard with Rocky the wider of the
two.
Muddy’s River Flash Rio (Hoyer) - Brisco Buddy Boy (Trimble): Breakaway at
10:37. Sharptails were ridden up in the high hills overlooking the blue pick up pasture at
20. At 45 both dogs were found standing and a Jack Rabbit was produced. At 55 both
handlers called point to the far right with no shots fired. Both dogs ran well.
Pilots Pecos Prieto (Rohner) - Buddy Jac (Holman): 1:37 p.m. Started heading
west with a slight breeze, temps in the 70’s. Birds were seen at 33 and 44 with neither
of these hard going dogs involved. At 51 Peck didn’t stop quick enough on a bird and
got a leash. Buddy pointed by a windmill at 55, but to no avail.
Micron (Lincoln) - Ajax VII (Holman): Headed south and west at 2:43 p.m. Micron
was deburred the first time at 4. At 7, nineteen chickens were ridden up by the gallery.
Ajax had a non-productive to left front and the gallery rode up his bird after he was sent
on. Micron continued to attract burrs and was leashed at 26. Ajax continued to run a
strong race until misconduct on birds ended his hour at 58.
Ru-Jem’s Field of Feather (McGee) -Charlie Mack’s A-Dan Sparks (John):
Breakaway at 3:15. Feather got caught up with burrs several times and her handler
picked up early. Charlie handled the heat and burrs well, but had no bird contact.
Posted Day 2
Gamblers Ace In The Hole
Rambling Rose VIII (Rohner) - Aldo’s Sugar and Spice of Gibson (Holman): At
8:07 it was 42 degrees with no wind as we cast off. Rose made a big cast to the right
front along a fence line and drew a moving violation on a loner at 1 minute. Gibby ran a
good race while five groups of birds were ridden up by handler and gallery. At 57 Gibby
pointed to the right front and Chad rode birds up, flushed birds in front, and walked up
more birds before turning his dog loose.
MoKan Razzle Dazzle (Rohner) - Lobos Boss Man (Maxwell): Headed west up
the valley at 9:15 a.m. At 12 it was apparent that these dogs were here to run, with both
dogs reaching in to the hills on the right. Razzie tried to point in a low spot at 30, but
Rob waved it off. Boss had a stop to flush at 34. Both dogs were still rolling and Boss
was watered at 45 at a corner several hundred yards from a gate. Three birds were
seen leaving by the gate opener and Boss Man pointed where they left at 46. Razzie
finished the hour way out front in the hills.
Lanes End Bowtie Annie (Holman) - Nobleman Jax (Burchett): Breakaway at
10:43 and it was warming up. Annie pointed at 23 and Chad waved it off. Jax had a stop
to flush at 31 and went hunting again before Bob got there, ending his hour early. At 32
Chad called point, climbed a fence to reach Annie and could not produce a bird. Annie
continued to cover lots of ground but went birdless.
Absolute Proof (Budd) - Windagails High Hand (Holman): 1:35 p.m. headed west
with a warm south breeze. Proof took some immediate scouting to get him to the front.
At 12, point was called for Proof standing four low hills away. Loyd flushed a bird as he
rode to him with all in order. Sherman was picked up at 39. Proof continued to run hard,
but not always in the right direction, and ended his hour in the heat with a big sweeping
cast to an abandoned farmstead.
Renegades Double Trouble (Burchett) - Finale (Johnson): Breakaway at 2:43
p.m. headed west. Finale was outfitted with duct tape sandals for a trip over Cactus Hill.
Birds left at 3 in front of the dogs. A stop to flush for Finale. At 40, both dogs were really
showing their speed, running in hills across the valley. Finale was leashed at 57, and
Trouble was going away at time.
DLD’s Born to Boogie (McGee) - Kid’s Kid Lone River Moose (Burchett):
Breakaway at 3:58. At 3, chickens flushed by a gate. Moose came by and more birds
rose. Moose didn’t stop and managed to flush another brace of birds before Bob caught
up. Boogie did an admirable job in the heat until burrs got him at 44 and Jerry elected to
pick him up.
Posted Day 3
Mo-Kan Razzle Dazzle, Aldo’s Sugar & Spice of Gibson
Taken off - Rebels Wild Sparks
Sadie Fair Lady (Johnson) - Shambo’s Dark Shadow (John): Breakaway at 8:07
a.m. Thursday. It was 60 degrees already. Birds were seen several times at edges of
the course without dog contact. Sadie was the wider of the two. Sadie pointed in front at
50, several hundred yards from a gate. Lyle was unable to produce a bird after a long
relocation, but one left 100 yards ahead. At 55 she had a stop to flush wide right with
everything in order. Jimmy called point even further out but couldn’t produce birds.
Strongs Rum Runner Barney (Burchett) - Blaze Dakota Trucker (Rohner): 9:15
a.m. Headed west in rolling hills with light breeze. Gallery rode up birds at 2. Trucker got
a non-productive at 16, and pointed a turtle at 25. Both dogs were running the hills.
Time was called with both dogs well out front.
Hills Just Judd (Johnson) - Blazes Ramblin Mo Man (Rohner): At 10:39 every
jacket was loaded in the dog wagon and we headed east. Mo had a stop to flush at 15
and drew a moving violation. Judd had trouble with burrs and was done at 20.
Ru-Jem’s DLD’s Shoplifter (McGee) - Buddy’s Special Delivery (Holman): It was
86 degrees at 1:36 p.m. as we headed into the low rolling hills. Drifter got into burrs on
the breakaway. He was cleaned up and ran well, the wider of the two. Birds were ridden
up 3 times, but the best JR could do was a non-productive at 22. The end came at 34
for both dogs.
Wild Wood Radar (Rohner) - Evil Roy’s Sonic Boom (Budd): We headed SW at
2:15 p.m. Rob rode up a bird behind the dogs in the first 20 steps. At 20 Boom pointed
on a hill to our left front. A bird was produced with all in order for Boom, but Radar was
on a mission and missed his opportunity to back, ending his chances. Boom covered a
lot of ground, slowing somewhat at 50, but stayed at admirable range in the heat.
Tequila’s Joker (John) - She Loves to Fly (Rohner): Breakaway at 3:33 p.m. It
was hot and burrs were a problem. Delta was leashed at 24. TJ spent his hour in front,
demonstrating his notable running ability, but was not rewarded this day.
No Posting Day 4
Make My Day Dude (John) - Microcopy Sugar Spot (Johnson): Off at 8:07,
temperature almost 60 with no breeze. Bird contact at 8:08 and the Dude’s day ended.
Michael gave a brief chase to a coyote while Dude was rounded up. Birds were in the
air twice with no contact, even though Michael searched high and low.
Go Man (Maxwell) - RC’s Rone Ranger (Richter): We were off at 9:17 a.m.
Headed up the tall grass valley of the Prairie Chicken. Birds were ridden up several
times, and a herd of cows caused some confusion. At 34 Zach pointed over a hill where
birds had left moments before. At 41 Maxwell waved off a called point. At 47 Zack
pointed again, birds left, and Maxwell flushed two more in front. At 59 Zach had a stop
to flush three hills away and Ranger stopped at the shot. They were released and time
was called.
Suka’s Win Mini (Lincoln) - White Out (Holman): At 10:25 Mini demonstrated an
ounce of prevention with a Pam spray job. At 2 Mini had a stop to flush with Whitie
whoa’d. Sharptail were ridden up in the high hills. At 21 nature called Mini and while in
the act she became aware of two grouse in front of her. While she wasn’t exactly
pointing, Whitie came on the scene and was stopped. Everything was flushed and we
went on. At 30 Whitie pointed with Mini backing, non-productive. At 34 Whitie was
leashed. Mini got water at 50 and rewarded her handler with big casts to the end of her
hour.
Rebel’s JJ Wishful Thinking (Truksa) - Scarface (Budd): Away at 1:34,
temperature in mid 80’s with south breeze. Both dogs were long gone from the
breakaway. At 8 Hope showed to right front, bird in the air, no dog involved. Toby
showed in the hills way out front. Loyd was across the meadow looking for him and
Chad filled in. At 24 Hope had a non-productive. Meantime, Toby was five hills away
and going strong. As Loyd got Toby rounded up, he pointed a flock of chickens between
two bunches of cattle at 27. Budd called point at 33, birds left, Loyd arrived and flushed
one more. Then the judge, scout, Loyd, et al, each rode up a bird as Toby was sent on.
At 58 Loyd called point far to the front with Hope backing. Ten chickens were flushed
from the bluestem. As Loyd collared his dog, two more left. The dogs were released and
this exciting hour was in the books.
Rebel Jac’s Hammerin Hank (Holman) - Tejas Iron Mike (Rohner): Breakaway at
2:45 p.m. heading west. At 7 five birds were in the air on a hilltop, then more birds flew
with Hank and Mike in hot pursuit.
Euchee Rocky (Budd) - Blazing Rebel Jac (Holman): We were headed west at
3:02 with both dogs going hard. A bird flew at 2 and Rocky was stopped, then sent on.
Point for Rocky was waved off at 21 on Cactus Hill. At midway, both dogs were racing
down the meadow as far as the eye could see. The hour ended with both dogs running
hard but not hitting objectives.
Posted Day 5
Scareface
Lobo’s Kodiak Kody (Maxwell) - Blueridge’s Grandmaster B (John): Started at
8:08 with a north breeze and 60 degrees. As usual, a chicken was ridden up by the
pivot at 8. At midpoint, both dogs were running at moderate range in mowed meadows.
Kody ran a bigger second half and was rewarded with a find a 57 far to our right.
FC Windagails Last Trade (Holman) - Lobos Legend (Johnson): We were
headed west in the bluestem at 9:18. Legend had a stop to flush on the right at 4. At
16, we maneuvered around cattle, Chip south, Legend north. At 20, Legend pointed in
bluestem to the right front. During an extensive flushing attempt, Legend’s posture
suffered, whistled up, he relocated and nailed two chickens. Chip suffered
unproductives at 33 and 50. At 53, Legend “missed a chance for a stop to flush” on a
group of birds.
Rimardas Mad Max (Holman) - Rattler Hills Tennessee Rambler (Rohner):
Rambler was a no show, having slipped a collar the night before and did not return in
time. Max was turned loose at 10:40. He pointed a turtle at 16 in the highest hills. At
34 his efforts did not please his handler and he went to the truck.
Chikamins Repeat (Budd) - FC Shamrocks Missouri Magic (Holman): Started at
1:30 P.m. Pete was in the hills, Mo in Front, then Mo in hills and Pete in front, then Mo
in hills and Pete in front. At 10, the marshall rode over a covey on a hilltop, both dogs
were out of sight. At 33, just over a hill, Mo had a stop to flush with Pete backing. As
Chad left, birds went everywhere. Mo skidded to a stop 200 yards up the valley, but he
hit so hard his posture was incorrect and he ended up on the dog wagon. Pete gained
a second wind and was so far out he disappeared from sight. He was going strong at
the end of his hour.
The Prairie Tornado (John) - Misfits Radikewell Krista (Burchett): Started at 2:48
p.m. Handlers were in the meadow, the dogs in the hills. Grouse were twice ridden up
on the trail. Heat and burrs caused the end of Twister’s fun at 32 and Krista’s at 41.
Jerobs Magic Tradewind (Holman): At 3:22 we headed east to Cactus Hill.
Breeze ran far ahead down the valley in short grass. At 32, Breeze pointed way out
front. When we arrived, her posture was low and the hour ended.
A second series was called for by the judges consisting of Farther Out Ace and
MoKan Razzle Dazzle. Breakaway was at 5:00 p.m. in the Heifer Pasture (Course #1).
Ace went straight ahead with Razzie going to the right front. At one minute, Razzie
pointed and Rob flushed a chicken with all in order. At the same time, Ace had a stop
to flush on another bird. The judges had seen enough, and we went to camp to await
the outcome.
Open LTD. All-Age-Chicken Classic
70 Starters
J: Hank Rozanek & Roy D. Jines
1st Scarface
by Lobo’s Blazing Bandit x Texas Dancer
o Richard Brewington, h Loyd Budd
nd
2 FC Mo Kan Razzle Dazzle
by FC MoKan Playboy x Ten K Katy
o Dan Hinskey, h Rob Rohner
3rd FC Poki-Dot
by NFC/AFC Microdot x Wee Dee
o Jim & Meam Floyd, h Lyle Johnson
th
4 NFC/DC/AFC Gambler’s Ace In The Hole
by NFC Rimarda’s Gambler x FC B-Bar-K’s Jamie Lyn of Auten
o Ed & Donna Janulis, h Chad Holman