The California Chukar Championship & Derby

The California Chukar Championship and companion derby stake are held in a valley against the beautiful backdrop of the Alabama Hills.

The differences in field trial venues across the U.S. are amazing. Jerry and I are very familiar with grouse trial grounds, whether aspen cuttings of the Lake States, Pennsylvania’s  more open, mature forests or thick cover of the northern New England. Too, we’ve seen trials held on wide open prairies and historic plantations in the South.

But the location of the California Chukar Championsip and Derby in Lone Pine is vastly different.

Lone Pine, California, is in Owens Valley with the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the west and the Alabama Hills to the east. It’s considered high desert (average annual precipitation less than six inches) with an elevation of 3,727 feet.

It’s so stunning that movie producers have used various locations in the area for decades. Actors from movies long ago include John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy and Barbara Stanwyck while more current actors are Jeff Bridges, Russell Crowe and Robert Downey, Jr.

Bill Owen moves in to flush for Northwoods Charles in the California Chukar Derby held near Lone Pine, California, in mid November.

That we know about the trial is due to Bill Owen, a Californian and amateur competitor on the all-age circuit, who bought a puppy from us out of Northwoods Chardonnay by CH Ridge Creek Cody in 2012. His brother Steve (from Montana) had bought a puppy from us in 2011 out of Northwoods Blue Ox x Northwoods Chablis and, also in 2012, a CH Houston’s Blackjack x Northwoods Chablis male.

The championship and companion derby, hosted by the Setter Springs Field Trial Club, were held in mid November. Following are the placements.

California Chukar Championship (27 dogs)
•    Champion:  Utah’s Red Rock Express (pointer male), owned by Herb Anderson, handled by Rich Robertson
•    Runner-Up:  Highground Jax Jabba (setter male), owned by Chuck and Kara Kunde, handled by Lori Steinshauer

California Chukar Derby (16 dogs)
•    1st Place:  Scent Seeker (pointer male), owned and handled by Ed Dixon
•    2nd Place:  Tekoa Mountain Bulldog (setter male), owned and handled by Bill Owen
•    3rd Place:  Northwoods Charles (setter male), owned and handled by Bill Owen

This isn’t the first time Bill has campaigned Charlie, nor is it the first time the dog has placed. Charlie won the derby held in conjunction with the Cascade All-Age Championship and placed third in the Larry Brech Memorial Open Derby Classic. Bill commented:  “He’s coming along really well. Took him chukar hunting after the trial. Had 9 finds in 90 minutes!!!!”