The National Championship is one of the oldest and most revered tests in bird-dog competition. First run in 1896, it has made its home at Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, Tennessee, since 1915. Each winter, the Championship draws elite field dogs to an exacting three-hour test of endurance, range, bird work, judgment, and style. More than a century after the event began, Ames Plantation remains the home of the National Championship; the 127th running was scheduled there for February 2026.

At the 2013 National Championship, an English Setter named Shadow Oak Bo did something no Setter had done in 43 years: He won the title. Then he came back in 2014 and did it again.

Owned by B. G. “Butch” Houston and Dr. John Dorminy and handled by Robin Gates, Bo became a two-time National Champion with consecutive wins in 2013 and 2014. His repeat was especially historic. While Johnny Crockett had been the previous English Setter to win the National, in 1970, Bo was the first Setter to repeat as National Champion since the great Llewellin Setter Sioux won back-to-back titles in 1901 and 1902. In his 2014 winning performance, Bo recorded seven finds.

A few years later, the ground shook again.

Lester’s Sunny Hill Jo, a Pointer owned by David Thompson and Gary Lester and handled by Gary Lester, was named National Champion in both 2017 and 2018. His 2018 win confirmed him as another consecutive two-time champion in the history of the National Championship. The official Ames Plantation list records Jo as champion for both years, and the National Bird Dog Museum likewise identifies him as the 2018 winner.

At National Purebred Dog Day, we are absolute suckers for breeds that can still do the work for which they were created. “Bo” and “Jo” were exactly those kinds of dogs: an English Setter and a Pointer demonstrating, at the sport’s highest level, the inherited talent, athleticism, desire, and bird sense that have made pointing breeds indispensable to bird hunters for generations.

We did have a link to share that showed the photos of these fine dogs, but we see as of a minute ago that FB has gotten stingy and will no longer allow links unless we “pay up.” For now, we share another image of a field English Setter. If you have a problem with this, share a photo of your own ES field dog.