Event: Rocky River Loaded, Grayson Francis Winner of Ray Joye Amateur All-Age
Result: Southern Pines Celebration

Location: Hoffman, North Carolina

Post Date: Apr 15, 2025

Submitted By: Dwight Smith

Open Derby (l-r): Gary Winall, Ellen Winall with Mohawk Mill Cliffhanger, Larry Cox (judge), Til Hankley with Mohawk Mill At Dawn, John Atkinson, and Rodney Poston with Longview Addition.

Rocky River Loaded, a nearly 5-year-old Pointer male, won first place in the Ray Joye Amateur All-Age stake of the 2025 Southern Pines Celebration field trials.
The white and orange Pointer is owned and handled by Grayson Francis of Brookneal, Virginia. He had a solid ground performance with two finds and an unproductive.
The Southern Pines Celebration, the last amateur trial held at the Robert Gordon field trial grounds this year, which is a part of the Sandhills Wildlife area, is usually well attended by amateur trialers and local residents of the Hoffman, North Carolina, community. The 2025 trial was a few entries short of what was expected for the All-Age stake, but the Amateur Derby had a nice entry. However, all those in attendance enjoyed the three-day event, except for an accident that happened on the second day of the trial.
Judge Larry Cox was thrown from his horse before the second brace of the Amateur All-Age stake. The Richmond County first responders were called, and after stabilizing Larry, he was carried to a medical center. It was reported back to the field trial participants that Larry suffered several injuries. All of the field trial group were deeply concerned, and several prayers were said on Larry's behalf. Everyone showed deep concern over his health.

The first day of the trial was cold, windy, and uncomfortable, but by the morning of the second day, typical North Carolina Sandhills weather prevailed, and quail were moved in nearly every brace.
Johnny Atkinson is the chairman of the Celebration; the likeable Grayson Francis, Til (L. M.) Hankley and this reporter make up the club membership.

Things were well-organized by Francis and Atkinson. Til Hankley drove the dog truck and entertained the ladies. This reporter just enjoyed the trial. Hopefully, a couple of new members will be added by next March. Ray Joye, who passed away before the 2024 Celebration, was still missed.

The grounds at the Hoffman venue are in excellent condition, and new improvements have been made to the facilities.
As far as the grounds are concerned, not many changes are needed. The quail population is excellent. They are being fed and protected in a good way.

The Robert Gordon grounds are among the best in the United States. They have to be to attract the out-of-state trials now using the facilities and grounds such as the Pheasant Championships.
More and more field trialers from different parts of the United States are moving into the Richmond County, North Carolina area to live, and they are attending trials.
Local residents' attendance isn't like the Union Springs, Alabama locals' attendance, but it could be getting there.

A Friday night dinner was a centerpiece of the weekend, bringing locals and field trialers together for a good meal and fellowship. The meal was prepared by Angel Rogers and Brandon Lynn.

Todd Williams and Larry Cox were the advertised judges for both stakes, but Cox's horse accident, previously addressed, required a judging change. Several calls to a possible stand-in judge were made. Finally, Mack Hillard agreed to help judge the final nine braces. Williams and Hillard are both from the Derby community of the area, know bird dogs and field trial procedures, are good horsemen, and know all about quail. They rendered a well-accepted decision. Hillard helped out under some very difficult conditions.

OPEN DERBY
The first day of the Southern Pines Celebration started off with a strong, cold wind blowing from the northwest that brought cold temperatures to the Sandhills part of North Carolina. It was downright uncomfortable outside.
Twenty fine young Pointers and Setters were entered in the Open Derby. It was not only a cold, windy day but a disappointing day because no dogs that placed were credited with birdwork. Quail simply were not moving, and as my grandpa told me, "Boy, you ain't going to find them much if they ain't moving."
Judges Todd Williams and Larry Cox both relayed the fact that there might have been seven or eight of the entries that gave an outstanding performance, but only on groundwork.
Gary and Ellen Winall's beautifully animated, strong Pointer, Mohawk Mill
Cliffhanger, was awarded first place on a ground performance that was about as good as it gets. Someone remarked, "He just about ranged into another zip code area," meaning he hunted, yea hunted, at great range.
Mohawk Mill At Dawn was placed second on an effort that rivaled her kennelmate's performance. Paul Gadd's Longview Addition, handled by Mack Hillard, had a very similar ground effort.

Hoffman, N. C., March 6
Judges: Larry Cox and Todd Williams
SOUTHERN PINES CELEBRATION OPEN DERBY - 14 Pointers and 6 Setters
1st-MOHAWK MILL CLIFFHANGER, F1709792, pointer male, by The Treasure Chest-Twiggy. Gary S. & Ellen Winall, owners; Gary S. Winall, handler.
2d-MOHAWK MILL AT DAWN, F1706911, pointer female, by Imagine-Mohawk Mill Dolly. Gary S. & Ellen Winall, owners; Gary S. Winall, handler.
3d-LONGVIEW ADDITION, F1706728, pointer male, by Miller's Grey Street-Walnut Tree Allie. Paul Gadd, owner; Mack Hilliard, handler.

RAY JOYE AMATEUR ALL-AGE
Rocky River Loaded was named winner by judges Williams and Hillard. It was very fitting for Loaded to win the Ray Joye All-Age because Ray Joye owned the white and orange Pointer at the time of his death. Grayson Francis obtained him after the death of Joye, who was one of Francis's best friends.
Loaded drew the fifth brace, in a course with some challenging turns and far edges. Francis handled him through the bear trap turns and then kind of sat back and let Loaded hunt the country ahead of him. The results were a beautiful all-age race with two finds plus an unproductive. The finds were spaced out through the hour to show he was hunting throughout the 60 minutes. His finish was strong, with Francis and his scout, Dr. Dohl, having to ride for him at time. He was credited with an unproductive.
Bud Adams was braced with Rocky River Loaded and placed second. As one might imagine, it was a very interesting brace. The two Pointers seemed to know what was at stake and matched each other in their ground races at time. Bud would be far ahead on a long edge, cross over the open country to hunt the other side, and his bracemate did likewise going in the other direction. Bud is a hard-driving machine that didn't let up for the 60 minutes. He had one find that he handled just as it should be done. He finished strong, to the front, still kicking sand. He was charged with an unproductive and credited with a back of his bracemate.
John Ivester rode to the grounds with one dog, one horse, and a scout and left with a third-place trophy. Ivester released Lester's Storm Chaser on course one, and Chaser went right to work. He took in big chunks of country, seemed to always be in the right place at the right time, and impressed with his strength and selection of places to hunt. Chaser had one find, all in order, and an unproductive.

Other Entries That Impressed
Betty's Karma had two well-carded pieces of birdwork and her kennelmate, Just Bruce, might have had the best ground effort of the trial with one find. Woodville's John Lee Walker had a big race, and one find and probably was considered by the judges for a placement.

Judges: Mack Hilliard and Todd Williams
SOUTHERN PINES RAY JOYE AMATEUR ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 18 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-ROCKY RIVER LOADED, F1696572, pointer male, by Broken Halo-Morgan's Mountain Maggie. Grayson Francis, owner and handler.
2d-BUD ADAMS, F1702121, pointer male, by Stoney Run's Buddy-Muddy Belle Kate. Chad Adams, owner and handler.
3d-LESTER'S STORM CHASER, F1697205, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-R W Susie Q. John Ivester Jr., owner and handler.

Ray Joye Amateur All-Age (front): Grayson Francis with Rocky River Loaded, Chad Adams with Bud Adams, and John Ivester with Lester's Storm Chaser. (Second row): Til Hankley with the Southern Pines Trophy, Rodney Poston, and John Atkinson.

A sample of the beautiful courses at Robert Gordon Field Trial Grounds, Hoffman, North Carolina.