Event: Tall Timbers Youth Field Trial
Result: Youth Field Trial
Location: Greenville, Florida
Post Date: Jan 2, 2025
Submitted By: Maria Bassham
Tall Timbers Youth Field Trial: First-place "Rose" with Sawyer King, second-place "Buzz" with Kira Jenkins, and third-place "May" with Griffyn Long. [Photos by Chris Mathan]
Tall Timbers was proud and honored to present its very first youth trial on the hallowed grounds of Livingston Place (formerly known as Dixie Plantation) in Greenville, Florida. The 14 kids that were entered to run were thrilled to experience such a special and memorable event! The winning handlers receive points towards the Dixie Trace FTA Youth Handler of the Year award. Sixteen dogs were braced together to run that morning: 15 Pointers and one English Setter. The temperatures were favorable at breakaway, and the large gallery that followed along on horses and dog wagons was excited to watch and support all the youth. Crystal Davis Rice, Development Director at Tall Timbers, was there to cheer the kids on and participate in all the fun.
We are incredibly grateful to Tall Timbers and Livingston Place for allowing these kids such a grand opportunity. The youth trial was hosted by the Continental Amateur Field Trial Club along with the Continental Amateur Classic, which concluded that Sunday morning as well. Thank you to Livingston Place Manager John Michael McCormick for marshaling and setting the course for these young trialers and their canine athletes. It was so enjoyable to run on some of their hunting courses and get to experience some different grounds of the glorious 9,125-acre plantation. A wonderful lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs was served by Gloria Hagan and Christina Burns at the legendary "Commissary," which has served as the "Lunch Place" for field trialers for over 80 years. Thank you to husband-and-wife Jim and Mary Ann Womack of Meigs, Georgia, for spending their time in the judicial saddles for the morning. We wouldn't be able to hold trials like these if it weren't for all the adults who love and encourage these kids. Jim and Mary Ann have a wealth of knowledge and experience and are always up for teaching and training the young trialers. They enjoyed watching the sportsmanship and comradery these kids already exemplify. It is, after all, a "Gentleman's Sport." Thank you to Ben Melvin, who spearheaded the idea and approached Chris Mathan of Youth Field Trial Alliance last Spring, asking how to conduct a youth trial at Livingston Place. He spent countless hours researching and attending other youth trials to get this inaugural Tall Timbers Youth Trial off the ground. I know it was thrilling for him to ride along and watch his vision come to fruition. Purina awarded the handlers with bags filled with Purina goodies. Chris Mathan presented rosettes and leather leashes to the winners, and the AFTCA and Tall Timbers awarded caps.
The first brace of the morning started off strong as "Bo" with Emaria Parker and "Lady" with Kaidence Cumbie had exciting individual finds at three minutes in. They both had nice-sized coveys up, and shots were fired. The girls did a fantastic job singing to their dogs and keeping them on course. Both dogs were with their young handlers when time was called.
The second place saw third-place winner "May" with Griffyn Long and first-place winner "Rose" with Harper King. These two also had a strong, exciting brace stopping at 9 with Rose out front. Both dogs had birds flushed for them, and shots were fired. Rose had another beautiful find at 15, holding steady to wing and shot.
In the third brace was "Jag" with Makenzie Bach and "Ben" with Cadence Knect. These two young handlers did a great job calling their pointers and keeping them on course. Unfortunately, no birds were found during their time on the ground.
In the fourth brace were "Patch" with Ellis McCall and "Bond" with Kira Jenkins. Patch had a find early in his brace with birds up at 6. Later, Bond stopped, with Patch backing, and was relocated to no avail. Granddad John Milton enjoyed his time in the saddle helping young Ellis with Patch. Both dogs were with their handlers at pick-up.
The fifth brace saw second-place winner "Buzz" with Kira Jenkins and Heatwave Lulu with Madison Thompson. Buzz handled well for his handler and had a nice, classy find with a sizable covey up. Lulu had a find with birds getting up before the judges' arrival. Both dogs were seen at pick-up.
In the sixth brace were "Jr" with Warren King and "Bill" with Emaria Parker. As the morning temperatures continued to rise and birds shut down, these two bracemates did not have any birdwork but did a phenomenal job handling their Pointers.
In the seventh brace were "Joey" with Grant McCall and "Mo" with Jacob McCormick. This brace paired two of our young men handlers together with their fine canine athletes. This was Jacob's first field trial, and Dad, John Michael, proudly rode beside him, giving him pointers along the way. The boys handled their dogs well and kept them on course. There was no birdwork during their time on the ground, but we know they loved every minute.
The eighth and final brace saw "Stan" with Sawyer King and "Tom" with Skylar Riley. Both dogs stopped early in their brace, but birds did not get up. They handled well and had good races, staying out front for their handlers. Both dogs were seen at pick-up, bringing the exciting youth trial to its conclusion.
It was a thrilling day for all the kids and adults alike. We are so grateful for the parents, friends, and family that continue to support and encourage these youth and help keep the sport of field trialing alive and thriving!
PINEWOODS BIRD DOG CLUB
2nd ANNUAL NANCY PEARCE YOUTH FIELD TRIAL
Pinewoods Bird Dog Club was proud to host our 2nd annual Nancy Pearce Youth Field Trial on November 9, 2024. Pinewoods Plantation Manager Jeff Arnold and staff worked hard to have the piney woods ready for the young field trialers. With both wild and pen-raised quail, coveys were plentiful for the three walking and six horseback braces. We had a full day of field trialing with 14 kids and 18 dogs in total. Of the 18 canine entries, 16 of the dogs were Pointers and two Setters.
We would like to thank our judges, Michael Coats and Jeffery Houston Thompson, for spending their time in the saddle watching these young contenders. A huge thank you goes out to Pinewoods Plantation owners Fred and Sally Beshears for allowing us to run on their glorious plantation. Thank you to Erica and Bernard Parker for catering a fun lunch of chicken nuggets and tenders that both the kids and adults enjoyed during our lunch break. It was served in the beautifully renovated Pinewoods Plantation barn with one table dedicated in honor of Nancy Pearce. She was a dear friend and lover of dogs, horses, and field trialing. A huge thank you to Chris Mathan of the Youth Field Trial Alliance for presenting the three winners with rosettes, participation ribbons, and medallions for all the competitors. The second, third, and honorable mention winners were also awarded engraved plaques, and the winner received an engraved Champion's perpetual trophy bowl. Winning handlers receive points towards the NBHA Youth Handler of the Year Award.
We had a gallery full of spectators that followed along on horseback and on the dog wagons to cheer these kids on. Thank you to each and every family and friend for supporting them. They wouldn't be able to do what they love and learn about the sport without all of you.
The walking stake started bright and early at 8 a.m. that Saturday morning with six dogs eager to run. The first brace paired first-place winner Mackenzi Bach and "Sport" with third-place winner Emaria Parker and "Jace." It was an exciting brace for the two girls with plenty of birdwork. Mackenzi handled Sport well and had a successful 20 minutes on the ground with a total of four finds. Emaria and Jace were not far behind with two good finds and nice-sized coveys up. The second brace was Jalon Stover and "Zeus" and second-place winner Emmie McHugh and "Boxie." Boxie hunted close and enjoyed working for Emmie. She had two nice finds with birds seen. The third and final walking stake brace was Emmie McHugh and "Dakota" and Kayson Thompson and "Diamond." Although birds were not seen for these two contenders, they enjoyed learning more about the sport during their time on the ground.
The youth trial drawing braced brother and sister together in the first horseback stake of the day. First-place winner, "Rose," was run by Harper King, and "Eva" was run by younger brother, Warren. Rose ran a great race with three classy finds and lots of birds up. She also stopped to honor Eva at the brace end. Proud dad, Matt, rode along and helped scout for the siblings, and both dogs were with their young handlers when pick-up was called.
The second horseback brace was our Honorable Mention winner, Sawyer King and "Stan" and third-place winner, Kira Jenkins and "Lulu." Both dogs handled well, with plenty of birdwork. Lulu had two nice finds and honored Stan on one of his points. Stan ran a good, clean race and listened to his handler, Sawyer. He had one nice find on the top of the hill, and shot was fired. He also honored two of Lulu's points and had one unproductive when time was called, positioning himself as Honorable Mention.
After our short break for lunch, our third brace was Skylar Riley and "Kane" and Gavin Parrish and "Missy." This was Gavin's first field trial, and he was sharply dressed for the part. He handled Missy like a pro but due to unseasonably warm temperatures, conditions were not in favor for either of the dogs. Kane did not complete the brace, and Missy was not able to locate birds.
The fourth brace was Madison Vinzant and "Bond, and second-place winner Emaria Parker and "Bill." As with Kane, Bond was picked up early. Bill continued his solo race with two nice finds and was with his young handler when time was called.
The fifth brace was Hunter Hennecy and "Jag" and Kira Jenkins and "Buzz." Buzz had one nice find upon breakaway with Jag backing. Both dogs had one more point in their 20 minutes and were relocated with no birds present.
The sixth and final brace of the day was Skylar Riley and "Tom" and Kylah Hennecy and "Ben." Skylar, who barrel races, is no stranger to horses and is still learning and absorbing everything she can about dogs and her new sport. She and Tom did a tremendous job getting birds up on two different finds. One flush took time and determination to get the birds to move. She listened to her dog and didn't give up. At the halfway point of the brace, both dogs had one last find with coveys up, which concluded the exciting day.
Congratulations to all the kids and their canine athletes. They all did a fantastic job running their dogs and will continue to grow and learn in the sport of field trialing.
Nancy Pearce Youth Field Trial Horseback Stake: First-place "Rose" with Harper King, second-place "Bill" with Emaria Parker, third-place "Lulu" with Kira Jenkins, and Honorable Mention "Stan" with Sawyer King. [Photos by Chris Mathan]
Nancy Pearce Youth Field Trial Walking Stake Winners: First-place "Sport" with Mackenzie Bach, second-place "Boxie" with Emmie McHugh, and third-place "Jace" with Emaria Parker. [Photos by Chris Mathan]