2016 National Open Gun Championship Judges

Kent Patterson

I grew up in the red clay hills of north Region, held the National Field Trial central Mississippi with a passion for Dates Coordinator position, served on squirrel . At the age of 13, I went the ABC Finance Committee, and cur- quail hunting with a neighbor and his rently chair the ABC Hall of Fame Com- briar scarred pointers. With only a mittee for Dogs. Since its inception, single barrel 20 gauge, I didn’t do I’ve been the Nutro/ Tritronics/Garmin much damage to the 10 covey’s we Shooting Dog Award Coordinator.

found that day but remember, with great detail, the splendor of those I’ve had the privilege of owning or han- dogs finding and handling wild birds. dling some special field trial competi- After college, I took a job in the tors over the years. Most notable are mountains of western North Carolina 2006 National Amateur All Age Cham- where grouse were the only upland game of note. A friend pion, Just Call Me Roy; 2007 National mentioned most folks in the area hunted over Brittanys, Amateur All Age Champion Maxwell’s White Spirit; 2008 thus began my love affair with the breed. After moving back Runner-up National Amateur All Age Champion, Maxwell’s to middle Tennessee in1980, there has always been a Britta- Gunsmoke and 2012 Runner National Amateur Champion ny in the kennel. In the mid-nineties, some friends and I Piney Run Art. Other championship winners include Rattler founded the Music City Club and the companion Hill’s Tennessee Rambler, The Prodigy, CoChief, Lobo’s Ko- American Field stake, The Dixieland Brittany Championship. diak Cody, One Off Mojito Mike, Piney Run Hank, and Piney I was honored to be a founding member of the Deep South Run Jake.

Brittany Free-for-All Championship, one of the most signifi- cant endurance championships that forever changed my I look forward to Ionia and the ABC National Cham- perspective of what it takes to be a “special” dogs. I’ve pionship….Best of luck to all competitors! served on the ABC Board of Directors from the East Central

Diane Vater

My life with dogs began in the mid 80's truly living my dream. with obedience Cocker . I got In addition to judging numerous local my first pointing breed (a Weimaraner) trials, I have judged the following re- in 1990, and began field trialing. I gional and national championships: turned pro in 1996. I started in Weims, VCA National Amateur Championship; but now train all pointing breeds. Since GWPCA National Open Championship turning pro, with the help of my hus- and National Amateur Championship; band, Chuck, I have finished over 50 NGSPA National Amateur Shooting Field Champions. We have won 19 Dog Championship; ABC National Am- National Open Championships (13 ateur Gun Dog Championship; Inez Weim, 4 Vizsla and 2 Pointer). And we Smith Amateur Invitational; NGSPA are very proud that our customers have won 9 National Am- Region 4 ASD Championship; NGSPA Region 12 All Age and ateur Championships with dogs that we trained (8 Weim ASD Championships; Great Lakes ASD Championship; ABC All and 1 Vizsla). Age Chukar Championship.

Chuck and I travel from coast to coast, training and trialing, I am honored to be asked to judge again. I saw some really with a large string and 6 horses. We have a Summer Camp in good dogs when I judged the amateur a couple of years ago! the UP of Michigan, and a Winter Camp in New Mexico. I am I look forward to seeing more good dogs this time. 2016 National Amateur Gun Dog Championship Judges

Howard Burbach

Howard Burbach has been associated Howard draws on a dog’s natural ability and with bird dogs for nearly all his life. He prides himself on reading those abilities. He has hunted behind Spaniels and believes a Judge should be committed to Pointers as a child, to his current level watching a dog from start to finish thus of Field Trial/Conformation Shows evaluating the total dog. He feels it is with German Shorthaired Pointers. important to keep notes and have a good Since 1989, he has finished several of dialogue with a judging partner, thus his Shorthairs as Field & Show allowing every dog to compete at the same Champions and the Dual Champion/ level. Amateur Field Champion status. He

has been involved with his local club serving as Trial Secretary, Chairman, He considers it an honor to judge this and Club President. prestigious event and wishes the best of luck to all participants. He has participated in and marshaled many Local, National and Species Trials. He has actively judged American Field and AKC Field Trial/ Hunt Tests for several years. He has judged many national breed and species championships.

Mike Mullineaux

and shoot-to-retrieve. In 1988, I broke Basically I have been around bird my ankle and got a medical discharge dogs all my life. Growing up, my from the K9 Unit and decided to go parents had pointers and train bird dogs full-time. , and when I turned four we got a Weimaraner. I hunted Since then I have finished 34 Master over that dog until I was 15 Hunters and 77 AKC Field Champions. I years old. I got out of the Air- have won over 50 regional champion- Force in October 1977 and start- ships in 4 different breeds and have ed field trialing my setters in won the Weimaraner Nationals. I have American Field events. In 1978, I judged over 100 AKC trials, many started work with the Philadel- American Field Championships, like phia K9 Unit as a dog trainer for the Potomac Classic, The Keystone and , bomb Classic, Region 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and and drug detection. 17 in many areas of the country. I have judged many AKC Championships, like On weekends, if I was not at a Schutzhund or tracking event, the Mid-America Weimaraner Classic in 1996; and many I went to a field trial. I watched how other handlers and shorthair, red , vizsla, wirehair and Brittany champion- trainers handled their dogs. In 1978, I bought my first AKC ships, like the Champagne Classic etc. German Shorthair. I finished him at 2 years old in 1980. I then started to do more events and even some hunt tests Best of Luck to all dogs and handlers at this event!