Erika Froeming
UKC Forum Member
Registered: May 2006
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Posts: 112 |
Final Four Summary by Zach Sinwell
Our 2015 Final Four was another action packed hour, filled with dogs very deserving of their chance at the wheeler. Our cast included the following double cast winners:
Clipperton’s Starving Cull, Brett Meyers. Friday 425+, Saturday 537 ½ Saturday
Half Breed Rush, Brady & Brett Meyers. Friday 375+, Saturday 575+
NtCh PR Get Your Shine On, Jay Barrett/ Todd Forsythe. Friday 400+, Saturday 400+
NtCh PR Hickory Nut Bawlie, Dave Pollard. Friday 550+, Saturday 225+
2015 UKC Heartland Classic Final Four Summary by Zach Sinwell
Just east of America’s greatest river and north of the Illinois border lies a little town with the claim that the great state of Wisconsin started there. The town’s name is Mineral Point and had multiple resources that were mined by the first immigrants from Europe to settle the area. It is a smaller town with a population of just over 2,000 people. Nestled into rolling hills amongst pastures of Wisconsin’s proudest resource, dairy cattle, is the Iowa County Fairgrounds which held 2015’s Heartland Classic. This is the 10th year of the Heartland Classic and it seems every year the turnout is bigger and better. This year brought competitors from as far west as Oregon and south as Kentucky. After partaking in the majority of the events all weekend long and witnessing the alliance of dog men, it is no wonder why people will travel a distance to enjoy this hunt. The bench shows brought competitors to claim a piece of the prizes and also there were field trials and water races for spectators to enjoy as well. There were also 1 hour youth hunts that the kids could go out and enjoy the event as well. The first night the wind was still and almost sticky and most feared the coon would not move as much but the ‘Sconsin ringtails had something different to say. Scores from 0 to 775+ were brought in and the majority of casts not only brought in plus points, they brought in good scores. The high scoring guide on Friday night saw 15 coons. On Saturday night there were more of the same with good scores and multiple double cast wins. When the dust finally settled, the final four included 2 dogs from Iowa and 2 dogs from Wisconsin. Now before I let you know who got in, I have to mention the great rivalry that is beginning to develop between states at this hunt. I have not seen or been to a hunt, where it almost appears as each dog is on its’ state’s own team. When a man would walk back through the club house after the hunt with the scorecard, everyone would say, “Did you win? What state are you from? That makes 5 dogs from Wisconsin with a cast win….That makes 6 dogs from Iowa with a cast win.” Minnesota and Illinois are also always well represented in this hunt, but it seems like the crews from Iowa and Wisconsin take the most pride in harassing each other back and forth. It only makes sense to have 2 dogs from Iowa and Wisconsin in the finals. The first dog in the final four was NITECH Hickory Nut Bawlie, a Treeing Walker male owned by David Pollard of Platteville, WI and handled by Wisconsin’s own Ben Mick. The second dog was NITECH Get Your Shine On a Treeing Walker female owned by Jay Barrett and Todd Forshthe of Camp Douglas, WI and handled by TA Evans of Kentucky. The third dog was Clipperton’s Starving Cull, a Treeing Walker female owned by Brett Meyers of West Union Iowa and handled by the Vanilla Gorilla himself Zach Sinnwell. The last dog in the timber was NITECH Half Breed Rush, a Treeing Walker owned by Brady Meyers of Decorah, Iowa and handled later in the final four by his little brother Brett. The final four was cut around 4:00am with an hour hunt time limit and judged by Grant Noeske of Illinois and guided by Don Lydic. The dogs were cast with Cull struck for 100 and Rush for 75 and running track left handed from the cast. Bawlie was struck in for 50 to the right and in about 15 minutes Rush let out a locate and Brett had him treed for 125. He treed him so fast I believe he treed the dog as Rush’s eyes were rolling into the back of his head before the locate... Cull took a few minutes and fell treed in deeper behind Rush. Rush had a coon and went up on the cast at 200+. Cull’s tree was circled and was at 225 circle. Bawlie was opening in the distance so Rush and Cull were cast back in with about 40minutes to go. Rush and Cull struck back in for 25 and were running track away from from Bawlie when Ben put Bawlie on the paper for 125. He was in there a piece so quite some time was spent walking to him. When the tree was scored it was determined to be minused and Bawlie went down 175minus. There was short time left in the hunt and TA Evans said he needed to get at least some action and while walking out from Bawlie’s tree we could hear Shine deep so he struck and treed Shine way through the country. The hunt ran out walking to Shine’s tree but she showed a big coon on the outside and was plussed up at 150+ The hunt ended with Rush at 200+, Shine at 150+, Cull at 0, and Bawlie at 175-. Birds were chirping and there was no light needed when the final cast exited the woods. This makes 5 four wheelers that Brett Meyers has won, including 1 in all 3 major Kennel Registries which I believe qualifies him for the Triple Crown.
This hunt is probably the most enjoyable hunt of the year for myself. I bring the family and we get a hotel room, spend some time in the pool, eating lunch with fellow competitors, and watching the Bench Shows, Field Trials, and Water Races with the kids. There is a reason why this hunt continues to grow and receive the support of surrounding states and that is due to the hard work of the Heartland Federation. Without this group of people this hunt would not be enjoyed by so many. All I can say is, I was in the final four and I did not win the four wheeler, I never have won one of those dang things, but I continue to ‘win’ with spending time with friends and family in comradery of our beloved sport. Making friends and spending time and enjoying the company of fellow hunting dog enthusiasts should be the priority at this hunt and if that is a priority for you in your life, then I recommend coming to the 11th Annual Heartland Classic.
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Erika Froeming
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