Event: Central Carolina Amateur Field Trial Club
Result: Central Carolina Amateur Field Trial

Location: Hoffman, North Carolina

Post Date: Jan 4, 2024

Submitted By: Sammy & Nida Giddens

Amateur All-Age Winners (front, l-r): Whitley Stephenson with Betty's Karma. (Second row): Johnny Atkinson, Nida Giddens, Barbara Youngs, and Tim Ruff (judge). (Third row): David Huffine, Louise Wilcox, Sammy Giddens, Bob Youngs (judge), and Crissi Joyal. (Fourth row): Gretchen Adsit, Greg Robinson, and John Adsit. (Not pictured): Image and Storm's End.

The Central Carolina Field Trial Club sponsored the 93rd Central Carolina Amateur field trial on November 3-5, 2023. The competitive trial hosted 30 all-age dogs and six derbies. It was a fun and successful three-day trial at the Robert Gordan Field Trial Grounds at Hoffman, North Carolina. These grounds offer six continuous, one-hour courses filled with picturesque views of milo, pearl millet, switch grass, wire grass, and blackjacks throughout the long-leaf pines. Most of the courses have long edges and rolling hills, which gives the handlers the opportunity to sit in their saddles sideways at the top of the hills and show the judges their big running dogs. These grounds are considered the finest courses in the country.

Our field trial ground facilities provide electrical hookups for trailers and campers (a second electrical hookup area was added in the last six months), a huge barn with 52 stalls, outdoor corrals, lots of dog kennels, new water lines and spigots to corrals and kennels, a large clubhouse equipped with bathrooms, full kitchen, and large dining fellowship room.

Our club would like to thank the NC Wildfire Commission, the Sandhills Wildlife team led by Lee Criscoe and the NC Field Trial Association, President Johnny Atkinson, Vice President Grayson Francis, and Secretary/Treasurer John Ivester, for all their work to provide the opportunity for all of us to enjoy these wonderful grounds and facilities.

In September and October, coveys of quail were pre-released throughout the six courses.
Thank you to John Ivester and his team--Lefty Henry, Greg Robinson, Bob Youngs, Mike Hester, Steve Mills, and Gary Miller--for their hard work releasing these quail and keeping them fed throughout the season.

Thank you to those who helped sponsor our trial. With your support, we can continue to enjoy this great trial.
Purina Pro Plan, led by Area Manager Greg Blair, provided dog food to winners.
Surestay Plus/Best Western, Southern Pines, for their special rates and great staff.
Gun Dog Supply, owned by Steve Snell, provided gift certificates to judges.
Johnny O's Awards (Martha) always provides superb service, preparing winners' plaques and providing gifts for judges.
Andi's Tack (Andy Neal, Newton Grove, North Carolina) graciously provides judges' gifts.
Mule City Feeds (Paul Dunn and Lone Jones, Benson, North Carolina) provided judges with bags of Maximum Performance horse food.

We are especially thankful for Greg Robinson, our gallery dog wagon driver. He greets everyone with a smile and cheerful hello and makes sure the right dogs are on the line in a timely manner. No one goes hungry or thirsty; Greg has the best refreshments and even entertains us with his songs during breaks.

Daily lunches and Saturday night cocktail foods were prepared by Nida Giddens. Thank you to Fred Rose for graciously providing the cocktails each year. Lunches consisted of hot dogs with all the fixings, baked beans, freshly baked pork loin sandwiches, and homemade chili and beans. And added bonuses were homemade cookies and peach cobbler with ice cream which was enjoyed during this warm weather.

Thank you for all the kitchen assistance contributed by John and Gretchen Adsit, Barbara Youngs, Crissi Joyal, and Tommy Herring.
Louise Wilcox prepared a fabulous dinner on Saturday night in honor of her husband, the late Field Trial Hall of Famer Dr. A. Hunter Wilcox. Dr. Wilcox was a friend to many and was always willing to lend a helping hand to any field trialer, their dogs, and their horses while competing with his own dogs.

A feast consisting of grilled pork tenderloin, creamed potatoes with gravy, green beans, apple sauce, layered tossed salad, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, etc., was enjoyed by all. Thank you, Louise, for this delicious dinner.

Thank you to our past president, Dr. Claude Kidd, and his dear friend, Carol Burke, for providing us with the "Scout of the Year" plaque. We are honored to display it in the clubhouse.
Thank you to all who made this such an enjoyable trial. Good sportsmanship and friendship were displayed throughout the trial. A special thank you to Tommy, Sharon, Will, and Karen Herring for participating in our trial. This was their first trial as a family at Hoffman. We look forward to them joining us for many more. The Giddens/Herring family friendship goes back more than 100 years.
Bob Youngs from Ellerbe, North Carolina, and Tim Ruff from Irmo, South Carolina, handled the judicial assignments.
Bob got his first bird dog, a Brittany, when he was nine years old. He has been field trialing since 1970. Bob was very competitive in the Brittany trials. He won the Brittany United States Open Championship and the National Amateur Championship, along with many other successes. Bob has a Brittany in the Hall of Fame. Bob says one of his proudest parts of field trialing is the friendships his family has made through dogs. Thank you to Bob and his wife, Barbara, for always giving back so much to the sport and the trials and grounds at Hoffman.
Tim is a true Southern gentleman and is thoroughly versed in what a class bird dog is and what it takes to develop one. Tim started bird hunting in 1974 and field trialing in the 80s. He has served on many committees, including president and secretary of the South Carolina Open Shooting Dog Association for years, president of the South Carolina Association for four years, and a Purina Field Trial Awards Committee member. Tim is an experienced judge, having judged the National Shooting Dog Championship for three years and many other championships. Tim said he tries to give back to the sport for what it has provided to him.
Both judges rode the perfect pace for his all-age field trial. They understood the type of performances it takes to win the all-age and derby stakes.
Sammy Giddens, stakes manager and president of the Central Carolina Field Trial Club, enjoyed riding every brace with these judges and announcing each dog's full name and the name of handlers at the start of each brace.
Just before breakaway each morning, Greg Robinson gave prayers for the safety of all participants and their dogs and horses and for Ray Joye, our past president Dr. Claude Kidd, Dr. Duerksen, and any others battling various health issues.

Amateur All-Age Winners
First place went to Betty's Karma, a pointer male owned by Johnny Atkinson and Darrell Miller, handled by Johnny Atkinson, and scouted by Grayson Francis. Karma is an animated female with a lot of eye-catching appeal. Her early development began with Darrell Miller. Karma was turned loose on course 1 at the 40-minute mark. Point was called at 10 by scout. She was standing next to a very thick plum thicket. Johnny relocated briefly and decided to carry her on to the front. After crossing the field trial road, Karma took the left edge. Scout called point at 40. Karma was standing at the edge of a plum thicket. A large covey exploded as Johnny flushed. At 50, the gallery saw the tip of her tail in a food plot. A covey was flushed and all in order with style. Karma finished with a strong forward race.

Second went to Imagine, a pointer male owned and handled by Jim Pendergest and scouted by Matt Pendergest. Imagine ran a very competitive race. Breakaway was on course 1 on a chilly, 24-degree morning. At 8, Imagine was found standing to the right side in a grassy area with great composure. Unfortunately, Jim could not provide birds. Imagine and Jim caught the front at the dirt road entering the Moon Field. At 50, both dogs were standing. Both handlers flushed hard in a large plum thicket. Suddenly, a pheasant came bursting out high into the sky. Both handlers shot with both dogs standing. Imagine finishing with a strong forward race.

Third went to Storm's End, a pointer female owned by Matt Pendergest and Megan Henry, handled by Matt Pendergest, and scouted by Jim Pendergest. Storm's End showed strength, courage, and desire to find game while hunting through course six. At 10, Storm's End stopped to flush as one bird flushed and other quail were seen running through the plum thicket. All was in order. At 20, as Storm's End was running through a piney wood area on the left side, she pointed in a switch grass area beside a feed strip. A tremendous covey kept getting up. Storm's End stood with great composure. At the back of course 6, as the course swings, Storm made a long cast on the right side and connected out in front of Matt. As we came out of the piney woods area and headed back toward the clubhouse, the judges sat on top of the hill, watching as Matt pointed her out, making a long, strong cast on opposite hill. She finished the hour strong.

Hoffman, N. C., November 3
Judges: Tim Ruff and Robert Youngs
AMATEUR ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 27 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-BETTY'S KARMA, 1696872, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior-Steel Valley Wardance. Darrel L. Miller & Johnny Q. Atkinson, owners; Johnny Atkinson, handler.
2d-IMAGINE, 1693699, pointer male, by Touch's Grey Street-Dialed In. Jim Pendergest, owner and handler.
3d-STORM'S END, 1687221, pointer female, by Dunn's Tried'n True-K F Prairie Storm. Matt Pendergest & Megan Henry, owners; Matt Pendergest, handler.

Dr. A. Hunter Wilcox Amateur Derby
First place went to Sweet Grass Scout, a setter female owned and handled by David Huffine and scouted by Dennis Snyder. Scout, an orange, ticked, and white setter, was released on course four on a sunny, 80+ degree afternoon. Even with these hot temperatures, Scout ran a forward race with a great gait and carried her head and tail high. Scout worked well for David and demonstrated strong all-age potential. After crossing the main road coming into the field trial grounds, the judges rode to the top of the hill to watch Scout make a beautiful cast on the left side, going up the next hill to finish the brace and win first place.

Second went to Chimney Creek Bud, a pointer male owned and handled by Will Herring and scouted by Whitley Stephenson. Bud, an orange and white pointer, was braced with the first-place dog, Scout, in this 80+ degree weather. Bud ran with a stylish, animated, forward race displaying eye-catching appeal. He showed a special connection with his handler, Will. Very mature for a derby. He made great casts, hitting all the edges showing great all-age potential.

Third went to Miss Lucille, a pointer female owned and handled by Gary Miller and scouted by Whitley Stephenson. Turned loose behind the horse barn as temperatures were 80+ degrees, Lucille ran a classy forward race, showing consistency to the front and all-age trials. Her run finished with high style and lots of class.

Thank you to everyone who supported our all-age trial with your time and entries. Our goal was to host a trial that gave everyone participating the opportunity to enjoy good friendships and have fun running their dogs and watching others run their dogs. We look forward to 2024.

DR. A. HUNTER WILCOX AMATEUR DERBY - 5 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-SWEET GRASS SCOUT, 1700663, setter female, by Shag Time Bobo-Black Cloud's Angel. David Huffine, owner and handler.
2d-CHIMNEY CREEK BUD, 1704203, pointer male, by Hirollins Gone And Doneit-Santee River Iced Crush. Will Herring, owner and handler.
3d-MISS LUCILLE, 1704780, pointer female, by Quickmarksman's Excalibur-Hirollins Fancy Lady. Gary Miller, owner and handler.

Dr. A. Hunter Wilcox Amateur Derby Winners (front, l-r): David Huffine with Sweet Grass Scout, Karen Herring with Chimney Creek Bud, and Tommy Herring with Miss Lucille. (Second row): Bob Youngs (judge), Tim Ruff (judge), Will Herring, and Greg Robinson. (Third row): Sharon Herring, Crissi Joyal, Louise Wilcox, Barbara Youngs, Nida Giddens, and Sammy Giddens.