Thank You For Another Great Spring Super Stakes!

[Jerry Moll]

The PKC Staff Members have all made it back to their respective homes and families. It usually takes us a few days to recuperate from a week of long days and long nights. The drive home and the first several days following a major event like this is usually a reflective time. We think back on all those that stepped up to help throughout the week with great appreciation. We look at what went wrong, what went right and what we can do to make the future events even better for PKC Members.

The 2019 Spring Super Stakes Championships held last week in Sullivan, Indiana was another outstanding test of top young hounds and great handlers. The Sullivan County CHA, along with the clubs of Greencastle and Washington did their normal outstanding job of providing quality guides, competent judges and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

This host club and satellite locations are among the best I have worked with for getting it all done in a no nonsense kinda’ way. The guides from these clubs put 330 casts of dogs in the woods Monday-Saturday. Out of these 330 casts, nearly 100 used Non-Hunting Judges under Pro Rules. These hard working guys and gals are the main reason everyone looks forward to coming back to Sullivan, Indiana every year in early April!

The PKC membership showed outstanding sportsmanship, even when lots of cash and bragging rights were on the line. The 2019 PKC Spring Super Stakes Awards were amazing, with over $232,065 being paid out to deserving members with smiling faces!

We sure could not have pulled this off without Mike Gilbert, Toby Crosby and their guide network that worked closely with them from Sullivan, Greencastle and Washington. Our full-time judges along with other volunteers, not only worked all night long, but many helped with the entry taking process every day as well; Mike Hensley, Tom Wilson, Jeff Nelson, Darrell Mayne, Tracy Bailey, Garrett Eblen and Bud Hood.

Shane Patton, David Dial and Laken Reynolds also helped out with daily entries, cast winner posting and with other needs even though they were hunting, or had other responsibilities to take care of. Both Ray Raber and Matt Newport served as full time Hunt Directors and late round judges at Washington and Greencastle all week.

We usually picked up 8-12 volunteer judges each night. Thanks to these guys who stayed to judge late round casts after they were beat early. We know that it's much easier to just head to the motel and we appreciate it.

Any time you put over 1,100 dogs in the woods over a six-night period there are going to be bumps in the road. We had a few, but thanks to fellow Coonhunters who stepped up, we were able to resolve these situations. Thank you!

Thanks go out to all who judged, guided, served on panels or helped out in any other way. We appreciate all of you who came to hunt with us! I am happy to report that the PKC Super Stakes program is not only alive and well, but it is growing with Sire, Litter and Pup enrollments all on the upswing.

For all this we say, THANK YOU!