American Derby Invitational Championship

By Max Eldred
The American Field

The American Derby Invitational Championship was held March 22-23 over the beautiful grounds of Outland Ranch owned by Jim and Peg Fornear. The Fornears make the grounds one of the most enjoyable places I've seen anywhere in the good old USA to judge, report, run a dog, or just come by and ride. For the 11 days of the All-America Championship and American Derby, Jim and Peg fed the large crowd for free. They also made out a check to help with expenses of the trial. . .

THE FIRST DAY

The ground had softened from the bright sunshine and we were off into the breakaway field of Outland Ranch at 9 a.m.

Frantastic Red (Burke Hendrix) and Survivor's Little Bill (Bill Hunt). Blake Kukar was the only owner to have two dogs in the field of 12, Survivor's Little Bill and Ben Adams. . .

Survivor's Little Bill filled up the large first field and made a showy cast along the woods edge headed into the back loop. Scout called point for Bill at 15. He was styled up along a feed strip at the exit to the loop. He looked good on point and handled the covey okay. He was gone a few times but would reappear and be carried to the front where he finished with a good workmanlike race.

Hytest Sky Hawk (Ray Warren). It was discussed in the gallery that this might be only the second setter to run in the history of the Derby Invitational. Hytest Sky Hawk's owners, Jack and John Elliott, were riding. Ben Adams, handled by Bill Hunt, was the bracemate. Hawk showed he was a pretty-made setter as he was turned loose. He was gone most of the hour and showed up later at the beautiful home of the Fornears. Ben Adams had some real bright spots, came from behind some and showed good on the front at 40 to 55 minutes, and slowed some the last five minutes. . .

SECOND DAY FINALS

Survivor's Little Bill was paired with Prairieland Pride for the second brace of the callback. Both dogs were good on the ground the first part of the long heat. Little Bill pointed on the right fencerow in the Johnson bottoms. He looked good at first, let down some, and handler Bill Hunt let him relocate. He went 40 yards down the fence and one bird popped out on the other side of the fence. The dog went several feet before the haldler could get him stopped. He was okay for the shot. He had a small letdown in the middle of the heat. At 74 he pointed off a thicket north of the kennels and a deer had just left the area. The dog was taken on winthout flushing. Survivor's Little Bill had a good finish. The judges saw him coming down the edge toward us at pickup. It took the handler and scout some time to gather the dog. . .