Result: Georgia-Florida Invitational Field Trial Club

Location: Thomasville, Georgia

Post Date: Apr 16, 2024

Submitted By: Amy Fuller

Open Shooting Dog (l-r): Ray Pearce with Nonami's Johnny Come Lately, Cody McLean with Nonami's Smokin Joe, Thomas Rice III with Cheap Thrill, Erik Small (judge), and Greg Shepherd (judge).

The annual spring running of the Georgia Florida Invitational Field Trial Club was March 8-11 at Osceola Plantation, courtesy of the Williams and Parker families, Jason Loper, and Osceola Plantation Staff. Located south of Thomasville, Georgia, Osceola is intensively managed for wild quail. The grounds are picturesque, with rolling hills to showcase a good-going dog with ample birds. It takes good club members and property owners to continue this trial, now in its 61st year of running. We are thankful for both!

During the running, many birds were pointed and seen. After a long season of being hunted, it definitely takes a little luck to have a winning dog. The judges this year were Greg Shepherd of Thomasville, Georgia, and Erik Small of Tallahassee, Florida. We were pleased to have two judges who are also trainers and hunt wild birds. These gentlemen knew what they were looking for, and their decisions were well received.

The winning dog was Nonami's Johnny Come Lately, handled by Ray Pearce and owned by R. E. Turner. Johnny and Ray are no strangers to the winners' circle, having won the Masters and the Southeastern Open Shooting Dog Championships in 2023. The winning dog was run in the fourth brace of the Open Shooting Dog trial on Friday morning. Johnny had four evenly spaced finds with a strong forward race and was ridden for at time.
Placing second was Nonami's Smokin Joe, handled by Cody McLean and owned by R. E. Turner. Joe ran a good forward race, showing well to the front when needed, coupled with two good finds and a strong finish. Joe is a derby, having won the fall derby stake of this trial along with several derby placements this season. It's safe to say this dog has the markings of a good future.
Third place went to Cheap Thrill, handled and owned by Tommy Rice III. "Reba" ran a very smooth shooting dog race with two finds. She is a classy young dog who took second place at the Carolina Celebration only two days before.

The Derby stake was judged by Reid Hankley of Tallahassee, Florida, and Keith Wright of Covington, Indiana. We are thankful to have two judges who have trained and handled winning dogs. They knew what to look for and had several dogs to consider, with some good performances seen.

The winning derby this year was Mayhaw's Georgia Time, handled by Trey Mills and owned by Mayhaw Plantation. Georgia had a strong forward and showy race with two finds, with the second find observed are time far to the front.
Second place was Minnesota Red Confidence, handled by Tomas Rice III and owned by Rylee Ann Wood. He ran a strong forward race coupled with two finds, with the second find coming after the time being found far to the front.
Third was T S Standing Rock, handled and owned by Lee Phillips. Rock ran a classy forward race with two finds.

Thomasville, Ga., March 8
Judges: Greg Shepherd and Erik Small
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 32 Pointers
1st-NONAMI'S JOHNNY COME LATELY, 1694190, male, by Ransom-Pinewood's Jenny Bell. R. E. Turner, owner; Ray Pearce, handler.
2d-NONAMI'S SMOKIN JOE, 1703258, male, by Touch's Malcolm Story-Beane's Sky Liner. R. E. Turner, owner; Cody McLean, handler.
3d-CHEAP THRILL, 1699020, female, by Just Thrillin-Charitable Deed. Thomas Rice III, owner and handler.

Judges: Reid Hankley and Keith Wright
OPEN DERBY - 17 Pointers
1st-MAYHAW'S GEORGIA TIME, 1706479, female, by Mayhaw's Cowboy Magic-Mayhaw's Queen Flush. Mayhaw Plantation, owner; Trey Mills, handler.
2d-MINNESOTA RED CONFERENCE, 1702232, male, by True Confidence-Red Sunshine. Rylee Ann Wood, owner; Tommy Rice III, handler.
3d-T S STANDING ROCK, 1704655, male, by Touch's Mega Mike-T S Dial Again. Lee Phillips, owner and handler.