2021 German Shorthaired Pointer National Champion Is A Male Named ‘Lewey’

A 7-year-old male named “Lewey” kept his cool under hot, humid conditions to win the 2021 National German Shorthaired Pointer Association (NGSPA) National Championship. With four quail covey finds during the one-hour stake, NC-FC-AFC BMB’s Free Ride drove a riveting performance. “Lewey showed a lot of power and really nice style,” says handler Brandon Blum, of Berthoud, Colorado, the co-owner with his wife, Jen. It was Lewey’s 20th championship win, his first National Championship. Lewey is the first bird dog that Blum, an amateur, fully trained himself. Blum started with bird dogs about 10 years ago with a Vizsla, switching to German Shorthairs as he got more involved with field trials. Other winners Blum handled at the NGSPA National are Lewey’s 5 ½-year-old half-sister, RU-NASDC-FC-AFC BMB’s Madison Ave, the Runner-Up Champion at the National Amateur Shooting Dog stake, and his 3 ½-year-old son, RU-NAC-FC BMB’s Freeloader, the Runner-Up Champion at the National Amateur All-Age stake. Bred by Matt Smith of Florida, Lewey was sired by FC Kimber Tactical out of FC Time To Pay The Piper. This year’s National Champion, an easygoing house dog when not running field trials, is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula.