Sunshine Jamboree Hunts 542

Georgetown, GA - The 2002 PKC Sunshine Jamboree offered something for anyone who is interested in the tree dogs sports whether they be coon hunters, squirrel hunters, or bench show enthusiasts. Competitive events licensed by Professional Kennel Club, Inc. were available for each of these groups over the three-day event. The squirrel hunt and the PKC/PURINA National Bench Show Tour event will be addressed in separate news stories here on PROHOUND Online.

The third and final night of the PKC Sunshine Jamboree night hunt for coonhounds hunted 177 dogs, an exact match of the Thursday night total. The overall number of hounds entering the 2002 rose to 542, an increase of 51 entries over the 2001 event held in Thomasville, Georgia.

Here are the Saturday night winners in the Open and Pup Derby events:

OPEN EVENT
$1000 Added Purse
149 Entries
Split Winners

4th – Floyd
Early round score – 350 plus
William Bondurant, owner
Kevin Barnes, handler

4th – Hooker
Early round score – 325 plus
Jason Miller, owner/handler

4th – Bud
Early round score – 325 plus
Rocky Wilker, owner
Terry Lumley, handler

4th – H.P.
Early round score – 325 plus
Blake Stubbs, owner/handler

PUP DERBY
$500 Added Purse
28 Entries
Split Winners

4th- Brutus
Early round score – 350 plus
Grady Brock, owner
Ryan Sanders, handler

4th – Cindy
Early round score – 200 plus
Avery Bell/Kevin Turner, owners
Kevin Turner, handler

4th – Sue
Early round score – 125 plus
Pace/Horne, owners
Jonathan Smith, handler

4th – Ace
Early round score – 100 plus
Bagwell/Jackson, owners
Wayne Jackson, handler

James “Jimbo” Thomas served as the coordinator of the Sunshine Jamboree and worked tirelessly throughout the weekend to assure that everything was in order for the hunters who drove from across the nation and from Canada to attend. Bob and Eddie Parker from the Ozark, Ala., area and Bob Dudley from Opelika, Ala., were also instrumental in getting dogs to the woods for the large entry each night. The kitchen crew kept hot coffee and meals coming around the clock. Raffles were held each day and offered two dog boxes, hunting lights, and a tracking system. All received a great deal of attention from the hunters.

All in all, the first-time attempt at hosting this event with a show and a squirrel hunt thrown in, the club did an excellent job. Roger Carnegie, Carol Fielder and myself attended on behalf of PKC and deeply enjoyed the hospitality shown to us by the Georgia and Alabama folks. The host hotel, Ramada Inn of Eufaula, Ala., situated on the western bank of the Chattahoochie River was extremely hospitable.

Watch for additional articles on the squirrel hunt and the bench show later today on PROHOUND Online.

PHOTO CAPTION: Tony Bullard won a complete set of Kumro tires as a result of being the overall high scoring dog of the Sunshine Jamboree.

PKC – “On the last weekend in January, the Sunshine Jamboree is was indeed a great place to be!”