Event: Hobart Ames Memorial Classic
Result: Hobart Ames Memorial Field Trial Club

Location: Grand Junction, Tennessee

Post Date: Feb 25, 2025

Submitted By: Jim Atchison

Open All-Age (front): Mrs. Rita Corder with Game Heir. (Standing, l-r): Dr. Stan Wint (judge), Dr. Fred Corder, Jarrett Bell (judge) and Allison Bell. (On steps, l-r): Isaiah Todd, Ike Todd, Matt Backus, Greg Tapp, and Chris Cagle.

The Ames Amateur Field Trial Association hosted the 76th renewal of the Hobart Ames Open All-Age Classic, followed immediately by the Joe Walker Open Derby Classic, January 14-18 on the Ames Plantation National Championship courses. The start was delayed by one day because of about 8 inches of snow that fell on the preceding Friday and remained evident in densely shaded areas throughout the five days of running.

The All-Age drew 39 entries, and the Derby drew 20. Late Hit, owned by Chris Campbell and handled by Tom Shenker, won first place in the All-Age, followed by second place to Lester's Storm Chaser, owned by John Ivester and handled by Lefty Henry, and third to Game Heir, owned and handled by Dr. Fred Corder. Ike Todd swept the Derby contest, handling all the winners, which were first-place Sunset Sam Houston, owned by Matt Brown; second-place Haney's Double Down, owned by Chris Cagle; and third-place DS Raising Kane, owned by Alex Rickert.

The Ames Plantation field trial courses and plantation facilities were available through the generosity of the Trustees of the Ames Foundation. Management of the plantation is overseen by Matt Backus, Center Director, who was capably assisted by Ryan Braddock, Chris Weatherly, and several other hardworking employees. Backus is the secretary-treasurer of the sponsoring club, and both Braddock and Weatherly are directors. Other officers and directors include Joey McAlexander, President; Dr. Fred Corder, Vice President; Otis Ozier; and Jonathan Burch.

Dr. Stan Wint from Gardner, Kansas, and Jarrett Bell from Troy, Missouri, judged both the All-Age and Derby stakes. The sunny January days of running were excellent, with frosty mornings and afternoon temperatures reaching from the upper 30s to low 50s in the afternoon.

Purina was again the generous official sponsor of the Classics, and their continuing support was acknowledged and appreciated. Also greatly enjoyed and appreciated was the Wayne Tate Memorial Dinner, held in Bryan Hall on Tuesday night and sponsored by the family of Dr. Frank McKnight, the Bank of Fayette County, and the host club. The First Baptist Church of Somerville provided sausage and biscuits for breakfast each morning at the end of the first-hour course.
Ken Blackman efficiently operated the dog wagon throughout the week. Ryan Braddock and Chris Weatherly marshaled every brace, with Matt Backus always nearby. Several men who work full-time on the plantation helped handle and transport horses all five days.

Alex Jackson and several of his Tall Timbers associates rode several braces through the week, anticipating the beginning of their ecology and land stewardship efforts and modifications, which will begin soon, with the goal of improving the habitat for quail on Ames Plantation.

ALL-AGE CLASSIC
Late Hit won first place for Tom Shenker, competing in the 16th brace, which was run on Thursday's first-afternoon course. He had two finds, with the first occurring near Ames Road shortly before crossing Buster Graves' driveway. Afterward, the winner continued to run a strong race and found birds again at 42, having looked strong and stylish both running and on his game. He demonstrated no movement during the flush and shot, appeared to show himself well when such opportunities were available, and required minimal scouting.

Lester's Storm Chaser had birds at 20 neat the southwest corner of the Morgan Field and again at 57 in the eighth brace for Lefty Henry. He also participated in an unproductive when both dogs stood a short distance north of Kyle's barn at 29, but no birds were flushed. Storm Chaser was pretty running, with strength, long strides, and plenty of style.

Game Heir stood twice in the 19th brace. He first backed an unproductive of his bracemate at 19 and then found birds at 57 on the Mary Scott Loop north of the National Championship Drive. He consistently ran to the front for Dr. Corder, demonstrated good style throughout the hour, and remained perfectly calm and stylish when the large covey was flushed at 57.

The other dogs in the All-Age contest are reported herewith in the order in which they were drawn to run. Como Thunder, owned by the Russell, Blackwell, and Arthur group, was handled by David Russell and paired with Barshoe Forget Me Not, owned by Robert Gum and handled by Allen Vincent, in the first brace. Como Thunder had one find at 42, but Russell could not find his dog within the allotted time at the end of the hour. Barshoe Forget Me Not had no birds and was picked up prior to the end of the hour.

Whippoorwill Vette, owned by Dale Bush and handled by Larry Huffman, ran in the second brace with Wynona's All Business, owned by Dr. Robert Rankin and handled by Allen Vincent. Neither dog had any birds, and both handlers picked them up at 31 near Kyle's barn.
Coldwater Odyssey, owned by Andrew and Debra Agnew and handled by Weldon Bennett, and World Class High Def, owned by John Kumpeter and handled by Patrick Siebels, were loosed at Kyles barn for the third brace. High Def was picked up at 39, and Odyssey finished the hour but found no birds.

Haney's Hurricane Seeker owned and handled by David Russell, and Lester's Front Porch, owned by John Kumpeter and handled by Patrick Siebels, were loosed after lunch for Brace 4. Front Porch had one find at 21, north of the Agronomy Unit. Both dogs finished but no other birds were located.

Game Surge went next, owned and handled by Dr. Fred Corder, together with Miss Arkansas, owned and handled by Mike Lemons. Neither dog located any birds. Game Surge had an unproductive at 15, and Miss Arkansas had unproductive stands at 34 and 40.

In the sixth brace, Mayfield's Storm Charger, owned by Jake Davis and Scott Mason, was handled by Allen Vincent and ran with Mr. Arkansas, owned and handled by Mike Lemons. Storm Charger had a stop to flush at 19. Mr. Arkansas found birds at 29 and again at 43 to end the first day of competition.

With the temperature at 28 degrees, Weldon Bennett had Coldwater War Cry, owned by Paul Melton, and Patrick Siebels had World Class Migraine, owned by John Kumpeter. War Cry had an unproductive at 20, and Migraine had an unproductive at 36. Both were picked up before the end of the hour.

I'm Gallant, owned by Jay McKenzie and handled by Allen Vincent, was in Brace 8 and paired with the second-place winner. He backed his bracemate at 20 and shared a divided unproductive at 29 but did not independently find any birds during the hour.

Allen Vincent loosed Wynona's Rebel, owned by Dennis Beauford and Bruce Sooter, while Larry Huffman loosed Whippoorwill Frontline, owned by Jeff Busby, in Brace 9. Rebel had birds twice, at 3 and again at 16, to successfully finish the hour under judgment. Frontline found no birds, and Huffman picked him up at a Turner Road crossing near the end of the hour.

Superstition's Jake, owned and scouted by Ric Peterson, was handled by Brody Byrd, while Allen Vincent handled Sandridge for owners Dr. James Mills, Dr. Natalie McDonald, and James Lighter in Brace 10. Sandridge had an unproductive at 29 and no other birds, prompting both owners to pick up early.

Brace 11 was an excellent hour, with both dogs running good races and producing birds. Game Nation, owned and handled by Dr. Fred Corder, and Misty Morn Masked Man, owned and handled by Joey McAlexander, were together for the entire hour. The pair raised three coveys of birds, as Game Nation pointed, and Dr. Corder flushed at 14 and again at 38. Masked Man had birds once, at 34. Both dogs were stylish and nice to watch, making the hour pass quickly.

Dr. Corder's Game Star and Ric Peterson's Rock Acre Yellow Hawk found no birds in Brace 12 during the last hour of running on Wednesday afternoon.

Miller's Family Tradition, owned by Jannie Chapman and handled by Kory Rinehart, and Haney's Storm Warning, owned and handled by Chris Cagle, started Brace 13 at 8 a.m. Thursday morning. Rinehart's dog pointed at 2, and birds were flushed in the milo stubble of the breakaway field. He finished the hour with no more birdwork. Storm Warning never crossed Buford Ellington Road and was out of contention early in the hour.

Valor's Lace and Grace, owned by Ray Carter and handled by Kory Rinehart, and Coldwater Bounty Hunter, handled by Weldon Bennett for Andrew and Debra Agnew, were drawn for the 14th brace. Lace and Grace finished the hour with no birds. Bennett picked up Bounty Hunter early.

Southern Thunder, owned by Chris Campbell, and Haney's Silver Dollar were the 15th brace pairing. Neither dog finished as Chris Cagle asked for Silver Dollar's tracker at 20, and Tom Shenker asked for Southern Thunder's tracker at 23.

Bonner's Hot Rize, owned by Jannie Chapman and handled by Kory Rinehart, was braced with the first-place winner, Late Hit, in the next brace. Ms. Chapman was in the gallery to watch Hot Rize point and Rinehart flush coveys at 5 and again at 14. However, Hot Rize did not finish the hour, as his tracker was called for at 49.

Dunn's True Reign, owned by Norris Sims and handled by Allen Vincent, and Rebel Dreams, owned and handled by David Williams, went next in an hour that involved several unproductives, some confusion, and no birds.

Vincent and Williams had dogs braced together again in the 18th and last brace on Thursday afternoon. Vincent loosed Blackhawk Lucky Charm, owned by Dr. Mills, Dr. McDonald, and Steve Lighter, while Williams loosed Rebel Gold from his kennel. The pair stood together once, at 25, in an unproductive stand, and both finished the hour with no more birdwork.

Two all-age braces remained to be run on Friday morning. Costas, owned by Gordy Jones and handled by Ike Todd, and Game Heir, the third-place winner, were braced together. Costas had an unproductive stand at 12 and did not finish the hour, as Todd got his tracker at 30.

Only the bye-dog remained for the final brace, #20. Brody Byrd had Como Rain, scouted by owner Ric Peterson. Byrd shot as birds were flushed at 31 and continued to finish the hour.

Grand Junction, Tenn., January 14
Judges: Jarrett Bell and Stanley Wint
OPEN ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 38 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-LATE HIT, F1687601, pointer male, by Miller's Blindsider-Abigail Lil. Christopher Campbell, owner; Tom Shenker, handler.
2d-LESTER'S STORM CHASER, F1697205, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-R W Susie Q. John Ivester Jr., owner; Lefty Henry, handler.
3d-GAME HEIR, F1691409, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Game Snow. Dr. Fred Corder, owner and handler.

JOE WALKER OPEN DERBY CLASSIC WINNERS
Ike Todd swept the board, handling all of the three winners. The first-place winner was Sunset Sam Houston, owned by Matt Brown. Second place was awarded to Haney's Double Down, owned by Chris Cagle, and the third-place winner was DS Raising Kane, owned by Alex Rickert.

Sunset Sam Houston ran in the second brace, which was the first brace after lunch on Friday. He ran a really nice and forward race, showing himself nicely on several occasions. He had one find, at 15, near Ames Road and continued throughout the hour to clench his first-place win with an impressive finish.

Haney's Double Down showed well throughout the hour on the third-hour morning course. He handled well and scored one find on birds that had not been seen at any of the previously run trials on Ames this year.

DS Raising Kane stayed forward and ran well on the first morning course on Saturday morning. He had one nice find, at 17, in native vegetation near the southwest corner of the Morgan Field.

Jack Walker Open Derby Classic (front, l-r): Isaiah Todd with Sunset Sam Houston, Ken Blackman with Haney's Double Down, and Ike Todd with DS Raising Kane. (Standing, l-r): Matt Backus, Caitlin Jackson, Jarrett Bell (judge), Alex Jackson, and Dr. Stan Wint (judge).

JOE WALKER OPEN DERBY CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 18 Pointers
1st-SUNSET SAM HOUSTON, F1705535, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-Purpleline Sally. Matthew & Stacy Brown, owners; Ike Todd, handler.
2d-HANEY'S DOUBLE DOWN, F1715340, pointer male, by Valiant-Haney's North Star. Chris Cagle, owner; Ike Todd, handler.
3d-DS RAISING KANE, F1717824, pointer male, by Rester's Cajun Spirit-Awakened. Alex Rickert, owner; Ike Todd, handler.