Congradulations, Kip, Brent and Kari! - at their first Championship trial
2002 - Dog of the Year Finals - First Runner Up
"2x Champion Mac's Royal Kip"
Sired by 6x CH. Blast's Big Mac
Dam is Poplar Ridge Amerilo
"NSTRA Big Sky Region 2002 - High Point Dog"
2002 Dog of the Year National Trial in Amo, Indiania
October 26th, 2002
Kari and I left 6:00AM on Saturday, October 19th. Adrenaline was high and stopping
to sleep seemed silly and counter productive. About noon the next day we were at the Mecca of NSTRA, the
Conservation Bird Dog Club. History and tradition oozed from everywhere. We then spent the rest of that day and
the next 2 days putting birds out and training. We also quickly learned the term Tennessee Bald Rocket. The birds
were provided by Sam Jones of Tennessee and by far these were the fastest birds I have ever seen.
Thursday we headed to the C field for the 2nd brace with Kip. Kip pointed 3 birds but after a
protest we lost one because the less intelligent part of the team sent Kip in early on a backing situation. After 14
braces of sweating and pacing we held out to the end for the bubble spot.
On Friday, Kip ran in the 10th brace against a quick little Brit owned by Pat Conn from Texas.
The Brit could only come up with 1 but Kip found 3 birds including one with only a minute to go. Kip was 5th and it was
time to wait and pace. Watching the other dogs run was too hard. Luckily the waiting ended in the 15th as we were in
6th place. In the end we were the bubble dog again in 8th place.
Saturday we started out with another quick little brit named Emma from South Carolina. Kip
was struggling with the scenting and did some creeping and cheating up on the bird but found 3 birds. The 2 birds he
creeped on were only scored 59 & 68 so we had a very beatable score. We had to be in the top two of 8 dogs and in
the end we ended up 1st.
The next round was all up on A field with 6 dogs. I now started to think about getting in the
top 4. We drew first brace and Nolan's Last Bullet (Buddy). Buddy was one of the dogs favored to win
so we had our work cut out for us. Kip pointed a bird on the first cast which set the pace for a 2-2 to Buddies 1-1. Kips
bird work was much better, scoring in the upper 80's, so things were looking up. I figured we had given it a great run
and hoped for a 3rd place at best. Amazingly we beat both dogs in the next brace which meant we were now no worse
than 3rd. Now playing in the final hour brace started to creep into my consciousness. The next 2 dogs didn't do much
and our 2-2 held for the #1 spot. We were now in the hour and no matter what happened this made Kip a 2X Champion.
COOL.
After an hour or so rest Kip and I were back in the blind with Jed (a setter) and Mark House.
It was now determined the 2002 DOY winner would be a setter. The pressure was now much less and it was time to have
some fun. Kip got the first bird and held the lead for most of the first half-hour. At one point we were up 3-1. Jed got
several birds late and beat us 5-5-B with a great score.
Overall the experience was obviously beyond our wildest dreams. However advancing and
placing was only part of the fun. The people you meet are great and camaraderie is amazing. The long drive is
defiantly worth it no matter where you end up.
Great Winter Classic - Jan. 12th & 13th, 2001
60 mile per hour gusts, 4 horses, 26 dogs, 130 quail, 4 very appreciated judges, 20 handlers.
Sounds like a NSTRA trial but in JANUARY, you folks must be nuts! Well we must have been
because that's what took place January 12th on the trial ground just past the airport. Since
there is lots of trees and shelter, the wind won't as bad, oops guess those weren't trees but
huge tumble weeds going by as fast as we normally see the jets go over. This didn't stop the
handlers or the dogs. Even in the wind the scenting was phenomenal. Nearly every bird put out
was found.
In the first brace Brent Underdahl & Kip and Doug Cartwright & Elvis from GTSDC duked it out.
This was a great brace with a lot of dog work. Kip got the first one, then Elvis got the next,
and the next. Now they are running side by side. Kip hits scent, then Elvis hits scent and stops
fractions of a second sooner. Elvis' bird. Side by side again, both dogs trying to stay in front,
You definitley don't want to try and find birds behind either one. Now Elvis hits scent, Kippy hits
scent, right after him but this time Kip stops fractions of a second sooner. Kips bird. Kip gets
the next one and we are all tied up except for Elvis' back. Kip gets opportunity to back when
Elvis and Doug take out the scored on bird from the safety on Kips last bird. Kip thinks about
stopping but not hard enough and roads in hard. WHOA and other words are said. The back is
scored--ZERO. They have made it around the field, all 6 birds gone. Oh, oh, no more birds left
and we are only 13 minutes in and have 17 to go. Save your dog for the next brace as a little
winter fat has stuck to Kip and Elvis is in the 3rd brace. Doug puts in his order for the box of
shells to cover the side bet. Putter, putter, putter, what's this Kip is on point. Lets see Kip 3,
Elvis 3 but he looks pretty convincing, kick, kick, no bird, must be old scent from the first bird.
Relocate, more flushing, relocate again, flush, flush, HOLY SMOKES there goes a bird. Bang,
retrieve. "12 gauge-8 shot please Doug". Just goes to show you should never give up. Not
even in the first brace. Now it is time to sweat for 12 more braces. Missed bird here and there,
miss handled bird and a bird seconds after time runs out --Kips first place holds out and Elvis
ends up 3rd. A first and third in the first brace is virtually unheard of.
The win was extra special for Kip since it filled out his championship. Congrats to Kip and his
owners, Brent & Kari Underdahl. Congrats to Doug to on his first run and first placement as a
Big Sky region member. Since Elvis is a 3X champion he is obviously not new to NSTRA.
Welcome to Montana Doug we really are glad to have you and Elvis in this region. It is fun to
watch a great dog work.
Since Brent has been in the first brace at the winter trial 2 years in a row and won it both times
with 7 birds in the field, even though everyone trusts his integrity but he will probably be patted
down just for good measure.
The club would like to thank everyone that helped out. Extra special thank you's got to our
judges, Wynell Marquis, Stan Zech, Tammy Pyrah, and Mike Jepson; and Bryn Lepine for bird
planting. In the wind these jobs become down right miserable and you hardly heard a single
whine out of any of them. Jack Bell was the chief marshal, and of course Jennifer Jaap and
Tracy Helgeson all kept us comfortable with food before during and after the trial.
E-mail: stockleykennels@esva.net
Return to Champions Page
Return to Stockley Kennels Home Page
In case you found us doing a search, you might want to check out all that we offer
Neil and Judy Lessard
Stockley Kennels
P.O. Box 298
Eastville, Va. 23347-0298
(757) 678-0966 or FAX (757) 678-0039