Miller's Blindsider

Written By Steeple Bell

Miller’s Blindsider is the 2023 National Champion. He made his third run here having re-qualified by winning the Masters Open Quail Championship last spring. He has also taken two runner-up titles this season, at the Georgia Quail and Southeastern Championships, and a first at the American Quail Classic. Sam is a six year old, white, orange, and ticked pointer dog bred by Fran and Jack Miller. He is by Just Irresistible, who is out of Miller’s Bring The Heat. Jamie Daniels handled Sam for Nick Berrong and Judd Carlton scouted.

Just Irresistible (call name Stud Muffin) was inducted into the National Bird Dog Museum’s Hall of Fame this year. He was by Riverton’s Funseekin Scooter out of Just Wait Bess, and was a contestant here four times starting back in 2014. Miller’s Blindsider’s dam Miller’s Bring The Heat has been a notable producer of champions herself, as was her sister Miller’s White Wall (dam of two time national champion Lester’s Sunny Hill Jo). They were by national champion Lester’s Snowatch out of L G White Lily (and she was a sister of Phillips Silver Star another national champion’s dam, Miller’s Dialing In). Miller’s Blindsider’s son, Rester’s Cajun Spirit is another competitor this year.

Owner, Nick Berrong says what sets Sam apart from other dogs is his endurance. “This dog does not get tired. Even at the end of his three hour run he had his tail up.”

Sam made his run early in the week. He was in Brace three that set out in the morning under cloudy skies and 54 degrees. Ames Plantation’s daily synopsis shared, “Miller’s Blindsider had a find at :04 in the Out Front Field, a find at :15 at the south end of the Morgan Field, a find at :25 at the Turner House Crossing, a find at :33 at the end of Turner Neck, a find at 1:29 at the north end of New Basin and a find at 1:47 at Edward Clark South. Blindsider finished the three hours.” He had six total finds, leading early and maintaining his impressive run for the remainder of the Championship.