2016 Inductee – Hackamore “Jag”
Owner/Handler: Dan Sojka
1039 Champion Points
Legendary Status Champion
52x Champion
9 Super Major Championships
5 Major Championship
It was March 2004 that a small black and white Springer Spaniel named, “Jag” showed up at the BDC National Championship event. Pulling into the K-Bar-C Hunt Club it was his very first Nationals. He was only a little over two years of age and there weren’t high expectations, but that was all about to change.
With a field of 52 dogs entered in the Flushing Doubles division and Jag at his first National Championships, he had the very first run of the day. With Casey Powell was Dan’s wing man, that run time did not intimidate the high caliber team. Jag dissected the field like he knew exactly what had to happen and did so with rocket speed and efficiency putting up a really fast time. Fifty-one other dogs followed that first run, including nine current BDC Hall of Fame Dogs, all 6 of Sojka’s and Powell’s dogs, and a host of other top competitors with their dogs. Not one dog that followed them would beat that opening score. Hackamore Jag was the NBDCA Doubles Division National Champion.
That same year at that very same event, lightning struck twice. Jag was also in the Top Gun Division and beat out all of the other dogs and would be crowned the 2004 NBDCA Top Gun National Champion. This young ball of energy with profound speed swept the National Championships in 2004; a feat that very few have accomplished.
Expectations for this speedy little springer would move to the lead of the pack, and in the coming years Jag would go on to win seven more Super Major Championships. He would beat the best of the best, Jerry Brost and Tikka, at the Top Gun Championships in Wisconsin. Jag would go on further and win the Invitational, Player’s Championship, and World Championship titles all in the Top Gun event.
Dan will be the first to tell you that Jag was one of the best dogs he has ever run behind. He was smart, no nonsense, quick, covered a ton of ground on the edge of control, and had a tremendous nose. He had a sharp, speedy retrieve, and he would run for anyone with a gun. He was a true joy to own. He was special and a very loving dog.
On this day, Thursday, March 17th, 2016, Hackamore Jag enters the BDC Hall of Fame with 1039 Champion Points, 9 Super Major wins, and 5 Major wins. A true legend in the game that will forever be remembered.