Greatest Field Trial Upset of All Time?

by
posted on March 26, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

English setter "Shadow Oak Bo" has made history by besting a field of mostly pointers to win his second straight National Championship Field Trial at Ames Plantation. Why is this a big deal? A setter hasn't won back-to-back nationals in 112 years; in fact, Bo's initial victory was the first win by a setter in 43 years.

Arguably Bo's championship defense is even more impressive than that of a female setter named Sioux, who repeated in 1901-1902. As my buddy Brian Lynn notes, "When she repeated, it was against a field of only 10 other dogs—all of which were setters. Bo squared off against a [75-dog] field overwhelmingly made up of pointers."

Those familiar with the rules of pointing-breed trials will appreciate what a powerful setter is required to defeat the pointers. Are Bo's two championships the greatest field trial upset of all-time?

Only one other comes to mind. In October 2005, English cocker spaniel "Warrener's California Quail" (call name Storm) defeated an 86-dog field of mostly English springer spaniels to win the Canadian National Championship spaniel trial. It's the only time in the event's 47-year history that a cocker spaniel has defeated the springers, which are at a major advantage in terms of size, stamina and strength.

"Some said it would take a miracle for a cocker to defeat a springer in a national," wrote Storm's handler/trainer Paul McGagh. "'Do you believe in miracles?' I asked [owner Vicky Thomas] when I phoned her. Storm had won."

Latest

Lede 7BCK
Lede 7BCK

First Look: Horizon Firearms Exclusive

Custom & Collectable Firearms proudly unveils the Horizon Firearms Exclusive, a 1-of-50 limited series built for hunters and anyone who values accuracy, value and dependability.

Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young Now Accepting Javelina Entries

The Boone and Crockett Club (B&C) and Pope and Young Club (P&Y) announced in August that they have completed scoring procedures and are now accepting entries for javelina (collared peccary, Pecari tajacu) in their record books.

First Look: SnapSafe Modular Super Titan

The SnapSafe Super Titan, with all of the security of a conventional, welded safe in an easy-to-assemble gun vault that moves anywhere piece-by-piece and then locks together in minutes with included hand tools, offers gun owners the security they require with all the convenience and mobility they demand.

First Look: CVA Endura Muzzleloaders

CVA has announced its Endura series of muzzleloaders, the most advanced muzzleloader series CVA has ever built.

Smith & Wesson Announces Grand Opening of Training Academy

Smith & Wesson has announced the grand opening of the new Smith & Wesson Academy.

Preseason Report: Benelli Nova 3

As the 2025 fall season gets underway, check out this clip of Senior Executive Editor Jon Draper putting the Benelli Nova 3 through its paces, and chatting with Benelli USA VP of Marketing Tim Joseph about the gun's design and capabilities.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.