NBHA 2026 Breeders Championship
Front Jillian Stuhr with Champion Indian Creek Sprout; Andrea Wood Ward with RU Foxy Lady Sadie Tom Waite
L-R Kevin Western, Randy Zimmer, Garry Malzone, Mike Taylor, Judge Mike Poehler, Frank Christie, Judge Doug Myers, Joe Zimmer, Chris Leeson, Tim Penn, Rick Torres, Bob Burchett, Jim Ogle
The 2026 National Bird Hunters
Association Breeders Invitational Championship was held on the Sportsman's Association grounds near Grovesprings Missouri. The trial started on February 10th, and lasting three and a half days. We had some of the most perfect weather Missouri could offer. We drew 40 dogs for this prestigious and coveted title. Our judges were Mr Doug Myers from Toganoxie Kansas and Mr Mike Poehler from Strafford Missouri. We ran six braces a day and spent the rest of the day with chores and dog stories from the past.
The Missouri Bird Hunters were again on hand to help with the duties of this trial. It takes an exceptional team to make this go smoothly. Trial chairman and MBHA President Christian Ogle has the best team. Starting every morning was Randy Zimmer. Randy cooked biscuits and gravy to give everyone a full belly to start their morning. He would later hop in the truck and make sure dogs were at the starting line on both ends of the course. He would also help with lunch duties. Next up is Mr Joe Zimmer. Joe was always up early helping with the bird planting. Throughout the day Joe was driving his UTV to help with bird planting, hauling the trial reporter, or chasing down dogs that needed GPS pickup. Mr Kevin Western drove his two-seater buggy borrowed from his lovely wife Heather. Also hauling extra spectators, bird planting, and being our second dog wagon. Thank you, gentlemen, for all the behind the scenes work you do to perfection. These gentlemen are leaving family and chores at home for a week so you can run dogs. Please thank them every time you see them.
Our gracious sponsors Purina pro plan. Purina is our largest sponsor and donating so much dog food to our winners. Garmin donates collars to our winners in every Championship. On X hunts is one of our new sponsers. They are donating an elite membership to our winners. Gundog Supply donate gift certificates. Mulebrand clothing’s does coupons for our winners. Gundog Central takes care of our website. I would like to personally thank you all. Without your support we would be lost.
Day one, Brace one. Blair's Holy Thunder Tom Waite braced with Indian Creek Pearl Jam Garry Malzone. Cut loose at 8:01 a.m. it didn't take Pearl long to be found pointed near the cemetery. At 8:04 a single was produced. At 8:13 she was pointed again, Thunder with a nice back. Pearl was picked up for manners at 24 minute mark. Thunder was pointing in Sycamore bottoms near the big chute. At 38 he was picked up for manners.
Brace 2 breakaway 9:05 Indian Creek Pineapple, Garry Malzone bracemate Bandit Hill Bess, Klaus Schmidt. Bess had her first find at 14 minutes. The birds were under a down cedar tree near the Little Vine loop. She would go on to have two more finds but unable to produce birds on both. Gary picked his dog up at 35 no infractions.
Brace 3 10 19 a.m. Cate's Rocket Girl Zach Ernie bracemate Glover's Flintstone Jack Glover. Rocketgirl had a find at 28 and 32. She had a nice back at 54. Flintstone had a back at 32 and a UP at 54.
Brace 4 11:30 a.m. Dale Creek Tothe Max Tom Waite bracemate Snow's Home Again Katie Kenny Snow both dogs picked up early.
Brace 5 after lunch. Breakaway 1:56 p.m. Chippewas Dog Of War, Zach Ernie bracemate Haney's Big Country Garry, Malzone. Zack had to get his tracker after a long absence. Big had a UP at 34. At 48 he was pointing near the cedar tree in Little Vine loop. After a relocation a single was produced.
Brace 6 turned loose at 3:05. Erin's Pancho Villa Chuck Leonard bracemate Raintree Blue Moon Tom Waite. Bluemoon had a UP at 25 both finished the hour.
Wednesday morning brace 7, 7:56 a.m. breakaway. Flintridge Ranger, Paul Ott bracemate Need For Speed, Tom Waite. Ranger had a find at 14 in the breakaway bottoms big hill. Ranger was again pointed at 19. Paul relocated but could not produce a bird. Tom picked his dog up for a failure to back. Ranger had his second UP at 49.
Brace 8, 9:09 a.m. Indian Creek Spur, Garry Malzone bracemate Miller Creek's On The Horizon, Matt Miller. Spur had a find at 7:00. A single was produced in the little vine loop. Spur was found to the front pointed but Garry found a dead bird. Reyna was found forward on the course in Sycamore bottoms. Matt was unable to produce a bird. At 38 both dogs were pointed and the judges called a divided find. At the 50-minute mark Reyna was pointed again with Spur backing. A small covey was produced. At 55 both dogs had another divided find. Both handlers elected not to flush.
Brace number nine, 10:05 a.m. Erin's Deja Vu Garry Malzone bracemate Bakers Shining Star Duke Tom Waite. Both dogs were found in breakaway bottoms on separate birds. Tess had a single and Duke had a UP. At 25 Tess was pointed in Sycamore bottoms by the big chute. Garry flushed and she went with the birds. Duke had a find at the Big hill in Sycamore bottoms. Tom flushed a single and they finished the hour.
Brace number 10, 10:29 a.m. Southern Shadow Stoner, Klaus Schmidt bracemate River City Hitman, Zach Ernie both dogs picked up for infractions.
Brace 11 after lunch break away at 1:58. Hey Mr Tin Man, Kenny Snow and Full Red Afterburn, Tom Waite. Red had a pair in breakaway bottoms at 13. At 22 Tin Man was pointed where birds had been found earlier. No birds were produced. Red was picked up for failure to back. Tin man would have his second UP at 54.
Brace number 12 was turned loose at 3:10 p.m. Indian Creek Sprout, Garry Malzone and bracemate Penrosa Hidncash, Tim Penn. It would only take Sprout 5 minutes to have her first find. Standing tall while Garry kicked up a single. Her next find she was again standing tall and proud on the hill behind the big Sycamore tree. Another single would be produced. At 30 minutes Cash would be pointed in a briar patch in Sycamore bottoms. Cash got a UP as Tim couldn't produce a bird. At 38 both dogs were pointed across from Andy's house, in different locations on different birds. Both handlers were able to put birds in the air. Both dogs finish the hours strong and to the front. Sprout made a big move to the front finishing her lines. All finds to the front with big boost to get there.
Brace 13 Thursday morning 7:58 a.m. Dale Creek Janie Bell, Tom Waite bracemate Harbor City Pride, Garry Malzone. Both dogs picked up at 5 minutes.
Brace number 14, 8:45 a.m. Snows Sea Dollar Kenny Snow bracemate Kissimmee Grousewoods Tea Garry Malzone. Tea had her first bird contact 7 minutes in Garry flushed a pair in the Little vine loop. Sea dollar was found to the front standing on the big hill in sycamore bottoms. At 20 minutes Tea had her second find by the drycreek bed in Little Vine loop. Her third find at 35 was the East timber in the breakaway bottoms. At 37 Kenny was unable to produce a bird for UP both dogs finish the hour.
Brace 15, 10:00 a.m. Miller Creek's Misbehavin, Matt Miller was scratched, she was in season. Raintree Simply Singular, Tom Waite was picked up early.
Brace 16 River City Free Agent, Zach Ernie bracemate Glover's Pepper Shaker, Jack Glover. At 24 Pepper was pointed on the big hill by the sycamore tree. Jack flushed a single. At 36 she had a UP. At 46 Jack picked her up.
Brace 17 1:29 p.m. Flint Ridge Oakley, Paul Ott bracemate Indian Creek Courageous Cat, Garry Malzone. Oakley had a find at 5:00 in the breakaway bottoms a single was produced. At 14 minutes both dogs were
picked up.
Brace 18, 2:23 p.m. Southern Shadow Bootlegger, Klaus Schmidt bracemate Blair's Calvary Mountain, Tom Waite. At 24 Shadow was pointed on the hill near the sycamore. Klaus put a single in the air. At 30 another find near the south end of breakaway bottoms.
Brace number 19, Friday morning 7:59 a.m. Miss Grace, Dan Crunk bracemate Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior, Garry Malzone. Buddy had a find at 4 minutes Garry flushed and then relocated this time he was able to put a pair of quail into the air. Grace had a find at 12. Dan flushed a single. Buddy was on point at 18 on the south end of breakaway bottoms. Dan picked up Grace at 28 for manners. Buddy pointed again at 31 on the hill by the big sycamore. At 44 he had a UP. At 56 a single was flushed for Buddy in the little vine loop.
Brace 20, 9:15 a.m. Double D Star Linebacker, Danny Draffen bracemate Foxy Lady Sadie, Tom Waite. Sadie had her first find at 15 minutes. A small covey flushed from the scrub brush on the big hill in the little vine loop. At 26 she was pointed on the big hill by the sycamore. Tom flushed a single. At 42 she had a find on the south end of breakaway bottoms. Double D had a nice back of Sadie. At 50 he was picked up for manners. Sadie was always fast and found on point to the front. Snappy and style finishing lines to the end.
This year's 2026 Breeders Champion is Indian Creek Sprout. Sprouts owner and scout is Jillian Stuhr handler Garry Malzone. Team Malzone continues their success and shows what teamwork and a good work ethic will get you in life.
Runner-up Champion is Foxy Lady Sadie. Sadie is a red setter owned by Mike Fox. She is handled by Tom Waite and scouted by Andrea Wood Ward.
Both of these dogs are a pleasure to watch. The excitement of watching both of these dog’s slam point makes judges and gallery alike smile and set up in their saddles. Congratulations to both of these dogs, breeders, owners and scouts.
NBHA BREEDERS CHAMPIONSHIP
CH Indian Creek Sprout, PF; owner, Jillian Stuhr / handler, Garry Malzone
RU-CH Foxy Lady Sadie, RSF; owner, Mike Fox / handler, Tom Waite
In closing I would like to thank everyone for allowing me to host these trials the last 6 years. I hope the next person that takes on the task of the Futurity will uphold the standards and keep our future breeding programs held to the highest level possible. Be honest with everyone and treat them fairly and with respect and you will be treated the same. May God Bless you all.
Christian Ogle
