Clutch of Mayhem, Georgia Coon Dog, Wins National Title

Ross Jackson, of Madison, handles Clutch of Mayhem, a 5-year-old treeing Walker. The pair was the 2009 earnings leader in PKC’s Blue Ribbon Pro Division. Mary Simpson, of Farmington, is Clutch’s owner.

A dream came true for coon-hound handler Ross Jackson, of Madison, when owner Mary Simpson, of Farmington, told him to go get the best dog he could find.

“She told me to find the one I wanted to win with, and we bought him,” said Ross.

The result of his search was a 5-year-old, male, treeing Walker hound named Clutch of Mayhem, and the investment has paid off. With more than $8,000 in winnings for 2009, Ross and Clutch led this year’s money standings in what is arguably the top coon-hunting competition trail in the world, the Professional Kennel Club’s (PKC) Blue Ribbon Pro Division.

Out of an eight-hunt schedule, Ross and Clutch took two first-place wins in Illinois and Missouri hunts and advanced to the semi-finals casts in a Mississippi hunt to become 2009’s top money winners. Those were the only three hunts Ross and Clutch competed in on the 2009 schedule.

To top off a great season, Ross and Clutch also made the semi-finals at the PKC World Finals in October. Plans for Clutch now include a continued run in the Pro Division and breeding.