Event: Georgia Amateur Celebration
Result: Georgia Field Trial Association
Location: Waynesboro, Georgia
Post Date: Mar 27, 2025
Submitted By: Nell Mobley
Georgia Amateur Shooting Dog Celebration: One Day La Bandita with Darcy Hodges, One Day Queen Bee with Lane Hodges, Shoulder's Lone Wanderer with Jesse Brown, joined by Randy Marsh, Jason King (judge), Nell Mobley, Ron Lambert, Joe Orndorff (judge), and Alan York.
The Georgia Amateur Celebration is traditionally held on the second Friday in February at DiLane Plantation, Waynesboro, Georgia. It consists of amateur stakes with three placements of shooting dogs, all-age, and derbies.
There were no All-Age entries. However, the Shooting Dog stake drew 16 dogs, and the Derby stake drew eight entries.
Riding in the saddles to name the top three winners were Jason King of Thomson, Georgia, and Joe Orndorff of Wardensville, West Virginia. Joe and his wife, Cindy, spend the winter in nearby Leesburg, Georgia. Both gentlemen run their own dogs in amateur stakes. They are very knowledgeable of good dogs when they see one. They named, in their opinion, the top three among the entries. From all indications, their decisions were well received.
In 1983, a revolving silver pitcher was donated by the late Frank Berry and Bill Wolfe in memory of Clinton Sullivan to be presented to the top shooting dogs. Clinton worked for professional trainer Bob Herrington. Clinton died at a young age of cancer and was working for Bob at the time of his death. To further describe the trophy: if a dog wins three times the trophy would be presented to the handler to keep in his possession. To date, no dogs have earned that honor. However, One Day Lucky Strike, handled by Lane Hodges, has won twice. Lane continues to work towards that goal.
The Winners
This is the fifth consecutive year that a One Day dog has won first place in the Georgia Amateur Celebration. One Day La Bandita, handled and owned by Lane Hodges, was named in first place. She was turned loose at 10:04 and took the course running with style, hunting in the right places. La Bandita pointed at 16 with a covey raised. Continuing on the course, she had a nice find at 27. She was pleasing Lane with all-in-order finds at 36 and 50. When time was called, she could be seen to the front with commendable forward race.
Named in second place was La Bandita's littermate, One Day Queen Bee, with Hodges handling. Queen Bee looked good, running at a rapid pace for the hour. She had all-in-order finds at 13 and 24.
Third-place honors went to Shoulder's Lone Wanderer, with Jesse Brown in the saddle. Wanderer performed well for a Pointer male who will be 3 in July. He had well-spaced finds at 26, 34, 46, and 54. When time was called, he could be seen to the front.
The Others
The stake began at 8:03 on a very cool morning with the wind blowing. Lilly was handled by Jeff Crouch. She pointed at 20, birds were in flight when flushed. At 24, she honored her bracemate and had another find at 32. She ran a medium shooting dog race. One Day Queen Bee is reported earlier in the report in second place.
Darton's Gun Fire (Brown) and Pearl (York). Fire was not pleasing handler resulting in request of tracker at 24. Pearl self relocated at 17.
One Day La Bandita (Hodges) is reported among the winners. No birds were seen at 14 and 29, resulting in pick up for "Lou."
The afternoon activity got underway at 1:30 with One Day Lucky Strike (Hodges) and Goldie (Wells). Lucky Strike finished the hour birdless. Goldie pointed at 36, all in order. She ran a nice wide-shooting dog race until she came from behind at 45.
River (Hodges) and Shoulder's Lone Wanderer (Brown). Slow time for River for a young Pointer female. Shoulder's Lone Wanderer is reported with the winners.
Fancy (Wells) and Mae (Marsh). Fancy had commendable finds at 9, 24, and 51 with a medium race. Mae backed her bracemate at 9 and 24.
Montana Dream (Macke) and Slick (Bollman). Dream pointed at 7 and self-relocated at 17, but no birds were seen. Slick pointed at 24 with birds in flight. He pointed along with Dream at 17 but went birdless. Picked up at 32 for not heeding to training.
Dominator's High Maintenance (Hutwagner) and Made For The Moment (Macke). Bad luck for both dogs and picked up.
Waynesboro, Ga., February 14 - One Course
Judges: Jason King and Joe Orndorff
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CELEBRATION [One-Hour Heats] - 16 Pointers
1st-ONE DAY LA BANDITA, F1684577, pointer female, by Heard Hill's Memory Lane-Dubose's Snow White. Lane Hodges, owner and handler.
2d-ONE DAY QUEEN BEE, F1684579, pointer female, by Heard Hill's Memory Lane-Dubose's Snow White. Lane Hodges, owner and handler.
3d-SHOULDER'S LONE WANDERER, F1702386, pointer male, by Jesse's Cold Shoulder-Pinehill Lucky Lady. Jesse Brown, owner and handler.
AMATEUR DERBY - 6 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-EMPEROR'S STONE COLD WARRIOR, F1714276, pointer male, by Perkins Sawyer's Warrior-Empire On Line. Brad Macke, owner and handler.
2d-BECKWORTH'S JOHNNY REBEL, F1712409, setter male, by Max's Double Rebel-Shadow Oak Saige. Alan York, owner and handler.
3d-WELLS MIDAS TOUCH, F1711553, pointer male, by Miller's Upgraded Version-Wells Ray of Gold. Darrell Wells, owner and handler.
Georgia Amateur Derby: Emperor's Stone Cold Warrior with Brad Macke, Beckworth's Johnny Rebel with Alan York, Wells Midas Touch with Darrell Wells, joined by Jason King (judge), Nell Mobley, Ron Lambert, and Joe Orndorff (judge).
Some Sidelights
Purina Feed presented feed certificates to all the winners. Greg Blair, field consultant of the company makes sure they are timely received. Indeed, a great sponsor for years.
Through funding via the hotel-motel tax, the Burke County Chamber of Commerce pays for the advertising in the UKC Field.
The Hampton Inn gives the GFTA discounted rooms during the weekend.
Your writer prepares lunch for both days and dinner for everyone on Friday night. Salter Building Supply furnished barbecue for the meal.
Amie Elliott posts the write-ups on the computer for the UKC Field. Thank you, Amie, for a job well done.
I want to thank everyone who came to participate in our trials. Hopefully, I can count on your entries in 2026. If anyone missed us in 2025, I hope you will join us in 2026.