Event: Handler Judd Carlton Sweeps the 2025 Continental Derby Championship!
Result: Continental Derby Championship
Location: Greenville, Georgia
Post Date: Mar 3, 2025
Submitted By: Tim Moore with Steve Standley
Continental Derby Championship (front): Judd Carlton with Erin's Three Amigos and Luke Eisenhart with Erin's Legacy. (Back): Chris Cagle, John Mathys, Til Hankley, John Michael McCormick, Woody Watson (judge), Reese Birdeau, Kent Cantrell, Mike Sweet, Bill Bruchey, Gary Lester, Claudia McNamee, John Lee (judge), Tim Moore, Maria Basham, and Randy Floyd.
Erin's Three Amigos, owned by Mike Sweet, John Mathys, and Jerry Moison and handled by Judd Carlton, earned the championship title under the whistle of Judd Carlton. Judd also handled Erin's Legacy to the runner-up title for beaming owner Mike Sweet. Mike was in the field for both performances and as he later said, "It was a dream come true."
The 2025 Continental Derby Championship began on January 20, 2025, amid threatening winter storm weather predictions. The famed grounds, noted for a strong population of wild quail, suffered four named hurricanes in the recent past 18 months. The last one was Helene, in the prior September. In a time when we have become desensitized to the vast damage done by Mother Nature across this country, it was devastating to see for all who know Livingston Place, aka Dixie Plantation.
Some areas are unrecognizable with the loss of trees and the lack of cover caused by the massive cleanup effort. It is amazing that the crew was able to successfully prepare the place for the Continental. It did seem that the birds had been pushed to the extreme edges of the courses and probably on into the swamps and heavy woods. Birdwork was hard to come by, but there was enough for worthy champions to be named. Numerous scouts who rode the wings witnessed coveys flushing wild some 50 yards ahead of the dogs.
With all of that said, there was a strong and worthy entry of 27 promising competitors.
Livingston Place manager John Michael McCormick should be commended for directing the massive cleanup effort that took place so that this event could happen. He was assisted by employees Ben Melvin, Vince Little, and Reese Brideau. The plantation mainstay, who has the longest history here, is Gloria Hagen. She was born here, and her mother rests in peace here.
Randy Floyd, manager here for some 32 years, has retired but maintains his position as President of the Continental Field Trial Club. In this role, he manages the trial and reports to the Field Trial Board.
All involved in this Championship owe a debt of gratitude for the men that took on this important judging assignment. Dr. Kent Cantrell of Anthony, Florida, and Woody Watson of Leesburg, Georgia rode in challenging weather conditions without complaint, clear-eyed and focused to select these worthy placements.
The Winners
The championship performance was found in the exciting effort of Erin's Three Amigos with Judd Carlton handling. Owners Mike Sweet and John Mathys were mounted to witness the performance. Missing was the third Amigo co-owner, Jerry Moisson. Three Amigos was braced RW Sweet Crude for owner Roger Watson with Gary Lester handling. As a side note, it was particularly good to see Gary competing again after his prolonged serious health emergency.
The fifth brace began at the water barrel at the end of the Long Field. Things began quickly as Lester called point at 5, but it proved to be Three Amigos who scored a good find. Carlton's charge showed well through the half, with strong casts going past the Flat Pond and southward toward the Moccasin Creek crossing.
Crude had pulled off on the right just past the half but was with us again at the crossing. At 43, Three Amigos styled up, and the birds left on their own. The Pointer stood on and looked good. We crossed the dam at Roger's Pond at 48, made the turn, and when pick-up was called, Judd had to ride for his dog.
This dog was not seen much at times, but as he continued to show out front it was obvious that he kept appearing "out there." This was through his strength and a strong desire to find game. Judd rode confidently through his dog's efforts and garnered this major victory with a most worthy performance.
It was 9:25 in the morning during the second brace as Erin's Legacy (Carlton) began his quest for his place in history. Legacy earned his runner-up championship title after a wonderful performance amid frigid temperatures on his trek toward and past the Y. He was paired with Miller's Triple Crown (Lester), and the pair stood for a well-handled divided find at 10. Scout called point for Legacy on the right before the Gene Field. Next, flight was called, but when Judd neared his dog, he elected to take him on. We continued, and scout Luke Eisenhart called point at 21 on the left. Judd again called flight, this time confirmed by the judge, and all was good.
We regained the front at 25 near the Turkey Field, and the Carlton entry looked strong on his venture toward the Boy Scout House. He made a showy swing through that area, which held everyone's attention.
Meanwhile, Triple Crown had not maintained contact with Lester, and Gary harnessed him at the road.
Legacy made a strong cast alongside the Long Pond and swapped ends to stand attractively. He looked good, but there was only a small patch of cover, and flushing efforts resulted in an unproductive. He used the country well at the end of the Long Pond and forward until time was called. This was a strong performance with two finds and an unproductive in tough conditions.
The Running
The first brace featured Seranoa's Ramblin' Man (McLean) and Haney's Double Down (Cagle.) Both dogs looked strong and attractive on the ground, but nothing was accomplished during the hour.
The second brace featured the runner-up champion and was described earlier.
At 10:30, on the south end of the Long Pond, Armed (Pendergest) and Rester's Knight Move (Carlton) were released for No. 3. Knight Move maintained the front in high style through the first quarter and established point in the cover near the main road crossing. All was in order.
Knight Move's owners, David and Lindley Melnick, were in the dog wagon. This was their first trip to the Continental, and they were able to see their dog on point! Woody Watson, scouting for Armed, called point on the south side of the Double Ponds and suffered an unproductive. Armed continued in an erratic form, and Pendergest lifted him at 54. Knight Move had shown attractively but began to shorten on the ground and he finished without further game contact.
Black Rocks Iceman (McLean) and Notorious Propane Jane (Mathys) began the afternoon at 2 o'clock. At 50 seconds, Jane had a find while leaving the Dove Field. Black Rocks suffered an unproductive near the hayfield, and the handler took his dog on. Neither dog was getting the job done, but as we continued, Iceman pointed several times but did not seem to have it together and was harnessed at 45. Mathys withdrew Jane near the Long Field to end the fourth brace.
The fifth brace contained the championship performance as previously described.
Nickajack Pale Rider (McLean) and Erin's Bold Ruler (Eisenhart) were in the last brace of the day. Bold Ruler's owners were present. Claudia McNamee was riding, and Dr. Bill Bruchey was in the dog wagon. Pale Rider's owner, David Freiburger, was mounted in the field. He was able to see Pale Rider have a good find at 7 near the powerline. At 12, both dogs were with us going up the edge of Lake Windom. As we turned right away from the lake edge, Pale Rider scored as McLean put a large covey to flight. At the quarter hour, Bold Ruler pointed, and Luke could not raise anything even after a relocation. When Eisenhart reached down to take his dog on, a single flew. This bird was probably a single from McLean's earlier find. We all had hopes for the well-touted Bold Ruler, but it proved not to be his day. On the crest of Hickory Hill Pale Rider suffered an empty stand but redeemed himself at the half with a good connection on a pair of birds. Rider made some good moves after this but was in the harness at 49 with his second unproductive.
The second day of the Derby found Shadow Oak New Edition (Eisenhart) on the ground with Notorious Sweet Ginger (Mathys) with temperatures just above the freezing mark. Just past the Ben's Hog Pond breakaway, Mathys called point for Ginger ahead and to the left of the course. It was a good find. On the way to the front, Ginger had a good find on the "ghost covey" just as we made the right turn toward the road crossing. At 10, New Edition had an empty stand before we got to the road crossing and was on the rope at 21. Ginger had an unproductive before the half 50 yards off the road where the first morning course and the second afternoon course overlap. She went on to tally a clean find at 47 before Cadillac Pond. She scored again at 52 on the west end of the Cadillac Field in good order. Ginger finished across the forward hayfield.
Rester's Cash'n In (Eisenhart) and Dominators Southern Beau (Daniels) broke away just south of the water barrel at Acorn Hill. Both dogs were a little handy on the way to the Y. The pair stretched out through the forward fields but Cash'n In was in the harness at 23 for infractions on game. Southern Beau finished his brace without any glamor.
We were in the Big Woods with Notorious Dominator's Reserve (Mathys) and Southern Pioneer (Lefty Henry). Pioneer had a good connection at 5 near Boyd Corner. Dominator's Reserve had a classy looking pose at 11, beautiful spot, and he did have birds. Southern Pioneer did have a good find at 5 but went on to be lost with Lefty requesting the retrieval device. Dominator's Reserve did not finish.
The 10th brace started at 1:20 and featured Haney's Top Shelf (McLean) and Dominators Rebel Mark (Daniels.) At 30, Mark's dog had an unproductive as Jamie's dog backed. Jamie threw the towel in at the road crossing below the Boy Scout house. Top Shelf had a small covey pinned near the dirt road crossing just shy of the Long Field. This was a strong find after several absences, and his efforts on the ground during the last quarter were very appealing. He finished at the next water barrel near the main road crossing.
Notorious Southern Son (Mathys) and Haney's Northern Lights (Cagle) were off at 2:29. The pair had ambitious starts through the first quarter hour. The pair stood at 17 just east of the Cadillac Pond and were staunch for the birdwork. The pair moderated in their application as we neared the office. Cagle called point at 39 as Southern Son backed, but no game was produced. At 50, we crossed the dam at Roger's Pond; the pair always seemed to be near each other. Northern Lights stood for his next birds at 54 with style in the Kudzu Hill block. The brace finished without further action.
Erin's War Eagle (Eisenhart), owned by Dr. Bruchey and Claudia McNamee, began the 12th brace as he was braced with Shagtime Bill (Cagle.) Bill is a Setter male. Cagle called point near Cocklebur Bottom at 4 as War Eagle honored. The stand was empty even after relocation.
The pair went on to show well and to the front on through Ben's Hog Pond. At the next field, Luke flushed a nice covey for War Eagle, the birds some 25 yards out in front of the attractive Pointer; manners were impeccable.
Past the right turn into the scrub oaks Bill nailed a nice covey with all in order. He went on to finish in the big field south of the office.
It was 3 o'clock as Erin's Redemption (Mathys) and Erin's Copper Colt (Carlton) were loosed in No. 13. Just as we made the turn at the water barrel at Boyd Corner, Mathys called point on the right as Carlton called point on the left. Mathys had a find, and Judd suffered an empty stand. Back at the front by the quarter hour. At 27, between the Double Ponds, Copper Colt stood attractively for a covey.
Copper Colt got to the crossing into the Long Field. He was the first dog that had this course to use this field as it should be used. He took the right edge, hunted ahead halfway down, stopped, made a few steps toward his handler, turned back, and continued on the right edge to the far end of the field. He reached the road crossing at 56 and went on to finish in fine form.
The 14th brace was to be T's Cash-Slinger as a bye-dog, but he was scratched. This ended the Derby.
All involved in this championship owe a debt of gratitude to the men who took on this important judging assignment. Dr. Kent Cantrell of Anthony, Florida, and Woody Watson of Leesburg, Georgia, rode in challenging weather conditions without complaint, clear-eyed and focused to select these worthy placements.
Greenville, Ga., January 20
Judges: Dr. Kent Cantrell and Woody Watson
CONTINENTAL DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 24 Pointers and 3 Setters
Winner-ERIN'S THREE AMIGOS, F1714259, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Erin's Pearl. Mike Sweet & John Mathys, owners; Judd Carlton, handler.
Runner-Up-ERIN'S LEGACY, F1715866, setter male, by Erin's Hidden Shamrock-Erin's Princess Rene. Mike Sweet, owner; Judd Carlton, handler.