Event: Virgil Beasley Sr. Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog Classic
Result: Old Hickory Field Trial Club

Location: Lavergne, Tennessee

Post Date: Feb 24, 2025

Submitted By: Jeff Blackwell

Virgil Beasley Sr. Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog (front row, l-r): Malachi, Micah, and Dereck Layne (dad/scout) with Hytime Dixie, Madison McDonald (scout) with Miller's Triple Digit Heat, and Joe Hughes (scout) with Warioto's Mia Storm. (Back row, l-r): Morgan, Tracy, Mason Layne, Justin Howard (judge), Ben Weddington (winning handler) and Charlotte, Allen Linder, Buddy Morrison, Scott and Lisa Little, Tessa Hughes, Todd Montgomery (judge), and Jeff Blackwell (reporter).

A beautiful sunny Friday morning greeted participants, gallery, and club officials at the Virgil Beasley Sr. Memorial Amateur Shooting Dog Classic at Poole Knobs WMA in LaVergne, Tennessee, on January 17, 2025. As the first Virgil Beasley Classic was held in 2008, this would make the 17th running (one year was canceled due to weather and no available make-up date) to honor long-time, respected dog man Virgil Beasley Sr.

The members of the Old Hickory Field Trial Club were pleased to have Dr. Justin Howard from Selma, Alabama, back in the judicial saddle for the second year in a row. Todd Montgomery, Union Springs, Alabama, ably aided Howard as the second judge. We appreciate their time and attention in marking the Derby and Virgil Beasley Classic cards.

Surprisingly, scenting conditions must not have been good as eight derbies participated, but only one bird contact was scored. Bryant's Silver Lining, a Pointer male owned and handled by Kenton Bryant, was the first-place winner in a strong forward-ground race. Second place was awarded to Dry Kreek Fiesty B, a Pointer female owned and handled by Chris Koutras. Pointer male, High Drive Impact, owned by Allen Linder and handled by Buddy Morrison, placed third. All three dogs showed great potential with out-front, pleasing races.

The first brace of the Virgil Beasley Classic was dropped down at Martin Lane. Birds were found at the Power Lines 30 minutes in by Gentry's Little Jane, owned and handled by Taylor Henley. Her bracemate, Lovely Lady May, was a little eager to get to the birds and was picked up by owner/handler Joe Hughes. Jane had an unproductive with five minutes to go and finished the hour.

Tennessee Farmer's Co-op, a longtime supporter of our trial, furnished a delicious barbeque lunch. After Derby winners were announced, prizes handed out, and the blessing of our meal, everyone enjoyed fellowshipping and a warm lunch. It was great to see field trialer of the past and friend of the club, J. D. Bumpus, down from Clarksville, Tennessee, for a visit. He even assisted with the dog wagon and some trailer repairs. Thanks, J. D.!

Brace 2 turned loose at the clubhouse at 1 p.m. First-time participant of the Virgil Beasley Classic, Robert Spillman, and his Pointer female Ubetcha B K scored her first find at :53 at Courtney's Crossing and was backed by running mate Gal Gadot, a Pointer female, and Joe Hughes. Ubetcha found birds again at :31 at the Big Oak and finished the hour. Gadot was picked up before time.

Next were Bryant's Give It A Rip, an English Setter male with Kenton Bryant, and Hengen's Spunk, a Pointer male, with Taylor Henley. Rip was gone, and the tracker requested. Spunk was picked up with no birdwork.

With clouds moving in and a forecast of all-night rain, scenting conditions definitely changed for the last brace of the day. With Warioto's Crazy Daisy, Scott and Lisa Little's Pointer female being scratched, Ben Weddington and Hytime Dixie had the course to themselves. Dropped down at the Gas Lines heading toward the back, Ben's Setter female said there were birds at the top of the hill, but none were found four minutes into the hour. However, she impressed the judges with a great out-front shooting dog race and four good finds over the next 56 minutes. The first at :43 at Martin Lane, next at :21 at the end of the S-curve fields, at :11 before entering the Knob Field, and lastly at :05 at the Power Lines. Ben was "on the whistle" and Dixie finished the hour out front still hunting game.

The weatherman was mostly correct. It rained all night, but instead of continuing through Saturday morning, it stopped well before our 7:30 start time. Especially after the extremely dry summer and fall in Middle Tennessee, we thanked the Lord for the rain and for not having to ride in it! Four braces were scheduled for the day, and hats were in the air 27 times on Saturday. Boy, what a difference a day and weather change makes.

Veteran handler Buddy Morrison turned loose Miller's Triple Digit Heat for owner Allen Linder, and owner/handler James Heimdal whistled to Big Creek's Coldwater Frank to begin the day from the clubhouse starting line. Both Pointer males tallied five finds each. Heat, a big running dog, was on point at :50 in the Gas Line Field, :34 at the Power Line Turn, :25 (divided find) at the Big Oak, :10 at the Banana Fields, and was found at time at the end of the S-curve field way out front. Another strong performance for this multi-time winner at these Percy Priest grounds. Frank scored at :52, :40, :36, :25, and :14 but just had the urge to get a step closer to the birds a couple of times.

Brace 6 started at the S-curve and featured Pointer females J Maple Jester and Miller's Flowers and Lace for Joe Hughes and Madison McDonald, respectively. They started off with a bang as both dogs were on point with separate finds at the end of the field at :57. Jester crossed the field and pointed at :53 with Lace backing, all in order. Lace found birds at :44 before the Knob Field and Jester backed. At :35, Jester stopped again at the Carp Pond for her third find. Lace found her third at :29 in the Gas Line Field, with Jester wanting to "get a better view," but she did honor Lace. Both dogs finished in the Banana Fields, with Jester on point with one minute left and Lace found pointed after time at fields end. A great brace to watch!

The 7th pairing of the Virgil Beasley Classic saw Heimdal and Little dropping down Big Creek's Hamilton, a Pointer male, and Warioto's Mia Storm, a Pointer female, respectively, from the Martin Lane starting line. Hamilton had bird work three times at :40, :32, and :25 and backed Mia Storm twice. Mia Storm tallied four nice out-front finds at :40 just before the Pond Dam, at :32 entering the Knob Field, at :22 by the Carp Pond and lastly :15 in the Gas Line Field. Mia Storm finished out front with nose to the ground, still hunting.
After three exciting pairings with lots of birdwork and fairly rain-soaked grounds, most all involved "didn't have enough horse" to make a fourth hour, so lunch was the next order of business. Tracy Layne, wife of club president Dereck, had the food ready and waiting. Thank you, Tracy!
With fresh horses under saddle, Hughes and McDonald would show the judges the last two dogs of the trial, Dominator's Big Mike, a Pointer male, and Miller's Upgrading the Ante, a Pointer female. Mike had a breach of manners and was picked up by Hughes. Ante had finds at the Carp Pond and the Big Oak and finished the hour.
I had the privilege to thank our judges, Justin and Todd, again, along with all owners, handlers, and club officials, and announce the 2025 winners. Congratulations to all!

A special THANK YOU to corporate sponsor Purina Feeds for supporting our trial with bags of Purina Pro Plan and other gifts. Their support makes a huge difference!

Lavergne, Tenn., January 17
Judges: Justin Howard and Todd Montgomery
AMATEUR DERBY - 8 Pointers
1st-BRYANT'S SILVER LINING, 1710183, pointer male, by Haney's Silver Dollar-Haney's High Price Penny. Kenton Bryant, owner and handler.
2d-DRY KREEK FIESTY B, F1705464, pointer female, by Electronic Warfare-Midge's Miracle. Chris Koutras, owner and handler.
3d-HIGH DRIVE IMPACT, F1706166, pointer male, by Erin's Grey Justice-Erin's Miss Daisy. Allen Linder, owner; Buddy Morrison, handler.

VIRGIL BEASLEY SR. MEMORIAL AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 14 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-HYTIME DIXIE, F1682354, setter female, by Hytest Palladin-Wynona's Bohawk Dixie. Ben Weddington, owner and handler.
2d-MILLER'S TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT, F1685675, pointer male, by Just Irresistible-Miller's Bring The Heat. Allan Linder, owner; Buddy Morrison, handler.
3d-WARIOTO'S MIA STORM, F1696703, pointer female, by Lester's Storm Surge-R W Susie Q. Scott Little & Lisa Little, owners; Scott Little, handler.

Amateur Derby (front row, l-r): Bryant's Silver Lining with Kenton Bryant, Dry Kreek Feisty B with Chris Koutras, and Dereck Layne (scout) with High Drive Impact. (Back, l-r): Justin Howard (judge), James Heimdal, J.D. Bumpus, Buddy Morrison, Todd Montgomery (judge), and Jeff Blackwell.