Result: Central Carolina Amateur Field Trial Club

Location: Hoffman, North Carolina

Post Date: Dec 27, 2024

Submitted By: Sammy and Nida Giddens

Central Carolina Amateur All-Age (front, l-r): Angel Rogers with Erin's Demolition Man, Worth Lewis with I Dream of Jeannie, and Whitley Stephenson with Chimney Creek Bud. (Back row): Bob Youngs (judge), Nida Giddens, Kyle Whitfield, Jett Ferebee (judge), Ashley Lewis, Sammy Giddens, and Greg Robinson.

As we were driving into the J. Robert Gordan Field Trial Grounds at Hoffman, North Carolina, we admired the piney woods and thought about how many handlers, horses, and dogs have ridden and run on the field trial grounds, which offers six continuous one-hour courses considered by many to be the finest running grounds in the country since 1954. How many celebration parties and midday lunches have been served in the spacious clubhouse? How many trailers and campers have enjoyed the electrical hookups at the clubhouse grounds? How many horses have been stalled in this massive 56-stall horse barn and open corals? How many dogs have been kenneled in these 100+ kennels!? How many championships have been held here? Still today, we have the Tar Heel Open Championship, North Carolina Quail Championship, Region 3 Amateur All-Age Championship, NCFTA Shooting Dog Championship, Atlantic Coast Shooting Dog Championship, U. S. Complete National Walking Championship, and the Southeast Regional Walking Championship. In the last two years, the Carolina All-Age and Derby Jamboree, spearheaded by Carl Owens, added the International Pheasant Championship and the National Pheasant Championship. The National Quail Shooting Dog Futurity is also held on these grounds.

The Central Carolina Field Trial Association was organized by Bill Andrews, John Harmon, Hugh Wilder, and Dr. Claude Kidd. Now, the committee for the Central Carolina Field Trial Association is President Sammy Giddens, Secretary/Treasurer John Ivester, and Directors Dr. Claude Kidd, Nida Giddens, and Lefty Henry.

Thank you to our NC Field Trial Association officials: President Johnny Atkinson, Vice President Grayson Francis, and Secretary/Treasury John Ivester.

Thank you to the NC Wildlife Commission and the Sandhills Wildlife Team led by Lee Criscoe for all the work they do to provide us with these updated facilities and grounds.

Thank you to our gallery dog wagon driver, Greg Robinson. He knows all the courses and always has the dogs on the line on time. He also has the best snacks at break and entertains us by singing his songs! Thank you to Barbara Youngs, who rides with Greg daily and keeps a tally of covey counts, dog performances, etc., throughout the trials.

Thank you to Purina Pro Plan and Greg Blair, Area Manager, for your generous sponsorship of our trial.

Thank you to John Ivester and his team--Lefty Henry, Bob Youngs, Mike Hester, Gary Miller, and Steve Mills--for their time pre-releasing the quail on the grounds and keeping them fed throughout the season.

Thank you to Gun Dog Supply/Steve Snell, Angie's (Newton Grove), Mule City Feed (Benson), and Johnny O'Wards (Aberdeen) for providing gifts for our judges.
A special thank you to Tommy and Will Herring for all the behind-the-scenes donations they have given to help make Hoffman the best it can be.

Daily lunches prepared by Nida Giddens were enjoyed each day. Thank you to Carl Owens, Jamboree chairman, for sharing BBQ cooked by Brandon Rogers to use for delicious sandwiches on Friday.

In honor of last year's winner, Betty's Karma, owners Johnny Atkinson and Darrell Miller hosted dinner on Friday night. Angel Rogers cooked her famous chicken bog (a rustic comfort food dish of chicken, sausage, and rice)--a Hoffman favorite.

Saturday night's cocktail party--a table full of heavy appetizers and drinks of choice--was sponsored by the Club and prepared by Nida Giddens.

Louise Wilcox traveled from New Jersey to celebrate with us. In honor of her husband of 54 years, the late Dr. A. Hunter Wilcox, a veterinarian, a Field Trial Hall of Famer, chairman of the Century Fund, and a friend to many, always willing to lend a helping hand to all field trialers and their horses and dogs. Louise prepared a fabulous lasagna dinner Saturday night, topped off with delicious pumpkin pie for dessert. Gary and Ellen Winall shared a grilled vegetable succotash. To all our surprise, we were delighted to have Fay Joye, wife of the late Ray Joye, join us in the celebration!

We were fortunate to have Bob Youngs from Ellerbe, North Carolina, and Jett Ferebee from Greenville, North Carolina, handle the judicial assignments. They both rode hard and gave their complete attention to rendering their decisions, which were well received.
Bob got his first bird dog, a Brittany, when he was 9 years old. He has been field trialing since 1970. Bob was very competitive in Brittany trials. He won the Brittany U.S. Open Championship and the National Open 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.

Jett is a true gentleman sportsman who enjoys dogs, horses, sporting trials, and family. He works hard to develop his land in eastern North Carolina for wildlife habitat. Jett will verse in what a class bird dog is and what it takes to develop one. He was the breeder of the famous Hamilton's Blue Diamond, an eight-time champion, and runner-up twice before illness took a toll on his health. Jett has several great dogs with pro handler Doug Ray on the shooting dog circuit. Jett is known for his fine horses and horsemanship.

The drawing was held at the home of Sammy and Nida Giddens. Twenty-eight all-age and thirteen derbies were drawn for the trial. Enthusiasm was high at the trial. The high temperatures and humidity made it tough on the horses, dogs, and handlers. Even with these weather conditions, there were many fine performances with coveys pointed throughout the trial.

As each day began, Sammy asked for all to have a moment of silence to remember our trialers no longer with us and for those dealing with health issues. Greg Robinson led us in prayer.
At the beginning of each brace, Sammy announced the course, the handlers, and the registered names of each dog. He also marshaled each brace.

Amateur All-Age Winners
Erin's Demolition Man (PM/Paul Kelly (owner/handler)/Kyle Whitfield (scout). Man ran with a high head and fast gait. He was always forward. At the 34-minute mark, in the mile-long field, point was called by scout. Kelly rode hard on the right side of the field, finding Man on point standing in broom sedge with beautiful style. He had excellent manners at flush and shot. After being released, Man was seen far ahead at the top of the hill, heading to the front of mile-long field. He continued his forward race, swinging through the draws, headed toward the beaver pond on Course 1. Man finished the hour always forward and independent but at the same time maintaining rapport with his handler. This performance set the standard of what the judges were looking for in an all-age dog.

I Dream of Jeannie (ESF/Kyle Whitfield (owner/handler)/Worth Lewis (scout). "Jen" was released on Course 4 in the mid-day heat. Jen ran a smooth forward race, making intelligent casts and always keeping in contact with her handler. Jen was found pointed in a feed strip before the little water hole at 10. Her second find, a large covey, was on the left-hand side close to where Course 6 crosses at 20 minutes. At 45, she had a UP. Jen completed her hour with a third find at 55. Jen showed great style, manners, and intensity on each of her finds.

Chimney Creek Bud (PM/ Will Herring (owner/hander)/Tommy Herring (scout). Although the weather was hot and dry (90 degrees), Bud showed much energy, stamina, and a desire to find birds. Bud pointed at 15, but unfortunately, no birds were found. Bud was released, and he was soon seen at the hill, pointed again at 17 with a successful covey find. At 25, Bud had a second find. At 45, Bud had a third find. Birds had left the feed strip. Will relocated Bud, and he displayed excellent relocation skills. A huge covey was flushed. As Bud made long casts through the field adjacent to Derby Road towards Jacob's house, he pointed his fourth covey on the right-hand side in a plum thicket, showing great style and composure. Will's father, Tommy, enjoyed scouting and watching his son show his dog, Bud.

Hoffman, N. C., November 1
Judges: Jett Ferebee and Robert (Bob) Youngs
AMATEUR ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 24 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-ERN'S DEMOLITION MAN, F1699908, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Erin's Rebel Maiden. Paul Kelly, owner and handler.
2d-I DREAM OF JEANNIE, F1699099, setter female, by Hot Blooded-Shamrock's Miss Grace. Kyle Whitfield, owner and handler.
3d-CHIMNEY CREEK BUD, F1704203, pointer male, by Hirollins Gone And Doneit-Santee River Iced Crush. Will Herring, owner and handler.

Dr. A. Hunter Wilcox Amateur Derby Winners
Mohawk Mill Lady Justice (PF/Gary and Ellen Winall (owners)/Gary Winall (handler)/Ellen Winall (scout). Lady was released on Course 5. It was a hot, dry afternoon. Lady ran a powerful, forward race with a flowing, reaching gait. At 15, she crossed Field Trial Road and continued with much stamina to the finish of the brace. Looking forward to seeing the development of this outstanding young derby.
Armed (PM/Jim Pendergest (owner/handler)/Whitley Stephenson (scout). Armed ran the first derby brace. Weather conditions were hot and dry. He was always forward and reaching throughout the brace, hunting the edges hard. Armed moved strongly from start to finish with a lot of class on the ground.
Rocky River Reloaded (PM/Grayson Francis (owner/handler)/Angel Rogers (scout). Rocky ran the fifth brace. He ran a fast, forward race, crossing the main dirt road. He and his bracemate were running the far-right edge toward the Jacobs' house when the handler called point. A big covey lifted.
Roll On Buddy (PM/Darrell Miller (owner/handler)/ Nida Giddens (scout). Buddy ran the last derby brace as a bye-dog. Buddy had a find at 10 and ran an outstanding race. Unfortunately, he was lost at 24. The judges asked that we recognize this young dog for his outstanding performance.

DR. A. HUNTER WILCOX AMATEUR DERBY - 11 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-MOHAWK MILL LADY JUSTICE, F1706908, pointer female, by Imagine-Mohawk Mill Dolly. Gary & Ellen Winall, owners; Gary Winall, handler.
2d-ARMED, F1706136, pointer male, by Imagine-Mohawk Mill Dolly. Jim Pendergest, owner and handler.
3d-ROCKY RIVER RELOADED, F1714162, pointer male, by Broken Halo-Morgan's Mountain Maggie. Grayson Francis, owner and handler.

Dr. A. Hunter Wilcox Amateur Derby (front): Ellen Winall with Mohawk Mill Lady Justice. (Back row): Bob Youngs (judge), Sammy Giddens, Gary Winall, Jett Ferebee (judge), and Louise Wilcox.

Judges (l-r): Bob Youngs and Jett Ferebee.