Result: Georgia Derby and All-Age Championships

Location: Waynesboro, Georgia

Post Date: Feb 9, 2026

Submitted By: Nell Mobley

Georgia All-Age Championship (l-r): George Tracy, Mary Tracy, Greg Strausbaugh, Stacey Goodie, Whitley Stephenson, John Ray Kimbrell, Gary Futch, Jerry Raynor with Seranoa's Ramblin' Man, and Mark McLean with Woodville's Long Hard Ride.

The new year begins annually with the Georgia Championships. They are sponsored by the Georgia Field Trial Association and are staged at DiLane Plantation in Waynesboro, Georgia.
We have been fortunate to have permanent grounds for the competition since 1991. DiLane was acquired by the U.S. Corps of Engineers through mitigation and subsequently leased to the Georgia government with the purpose of hosting field trials.

All entries for the Georgia Derby Championship and Georgia All-Age Championship were in by 7 p.m. on December 30, 2025. Thirty-three entries were drawn for the Derby stake and 23 for the All-Age stake. The drawing was conducted by Gary Futch, Craig Elliott, and Chuck Miller at the home of Nell Mobley.

Whitley Stephenson of Smithfield, North Carolina, and Greg Strausbaugh of Newport, Pennsylvania, rode in their saddles to name a champion and runner-up in both stakes. Both sportsmen are seasoned judges and named, in their opinion, the best two in each stake as champion and runner-up.

Georgia Derby Championship
For the most part, other than cold temperatures, nice weather prevailed. Competition for the Derby stake began at 8 a.m. January 2, 2026, following prayer.

Rester's Wildflower, a pointer female handled by Luke Eisenhart, was named champion for owner Julie Roach of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Flower ran on Course 3 in the third brace of the heat. She started strong and continued the pace for the hour. This young dog was sharp, classy, and snappy on the ground--an excellent potential for her in the all-age stakes.

Ike Todd handled Phantom's Zip, a pointer male, to runner-up honors. He is owned by Erick and Holly Parsons of Center City, Minnesota. Multiple finds, all in order, were recorded at 6, 40, and 54. Throughout the hour, he could be seen out front running a forward race. The hour concluded with a strong finish.

The Others
Brace 1: Erin's Van Saee (Carlton) had one UP and three finds. Edge's Ripper (Todd) had a back and was picked up after the second UP.

Brace 2: Rip Nation (Eisenhart) was picked up after failing to back Miller's Inspiration (Lester), who had two finds, a UP at 30, and failed to back.

Brace 3: Rester's Wildflower was reported as champion, and DS Riptide (McLean) backed at 37.
Brace 4: Erin's Longhaired Country Boy (Derrig) had no birds. Beyond the Pines (Mills) ran a good race, but no birds.

Brace 5: Heafner's Hi-Tailyn Pistol (King) was lost, and Knights Hill Robinhood (Todd) had no birds.

Brace 6: Erin's Forged In Fire (Derrig) had finds at 47, 20, and 17 during his short race. CK Playmaker (Carlton) had a great race and ground application, and picked up with eight to go.

Brace 7: No birds found by Bandit Hill Smooth Rider (Schmidt). Breakaway Big (McLean) was lost.

Brace 8: Silver W Season Ticket (Eisenhart) had finds at 31 and 45, and was gone too long at the end of the brace. Sunset Jack (Todd) went birdless.

Brace 9: Mayhaw's New Money (Mills) was picked up. Phantom's Zip (Todd) was reported earlier as runner-up.

Brace 10: Rester's In Sync (Eisenhart) had finds at 50, 35, and 20. He came from behind twice. Game Pride (Todd) had a back at 50 and a find at 12.

Brace 11: Dominators Rebel Pal (Carlton) had a back at 20. Haney's High Dollar (Todd) had a back at 53, a find at 48, and a find at 26 with good relocation.

Brace 12: DS Superfly (McLean) had a find at 31, and no birds lifted at 14. Heafner's Hi-Tailyn Bullet (King) was lost.

Brace 13: Texas Hold E'm (Carlton) had finds at 2, 17, and 45. Knights Hill Big Al (Todd) was picked up.

Brace 14: Both Game Hale (McLean) and Silver W Orange Crush (Eisenhart) were picked up.

Brace 15: Poker Face (Carlton) had a find at 44, a back, a find at 7, and a UP. Lesters Thunder Road (Lester) had a back at 29.

Brace 16: Both Como White Lightning (Eisenhart) and Red Hills All In Nation (McLean) were picked up.

Brace 17: Tate Nation (Eisenhart) was picked up.

Waynesboro, Ga., January 2
Judges: Whitley Stephenson and Greg Strausbaugh
GEORGIA DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 32 Pointers and 1 Setter
Winner-RESTER'S WILDFLOWER, F1718696, pointer female, by Rester's Johnny Ringo-Wynona's Funseeker Dixie. Julie Roach, owner; Luke Eisenhart, handler.
Runner-Up-PHANTOM'S ZIP, F1709028, pointer female, by Miller's King Poast-Phantom's Rebel Heart. Erick & Holly Parsons, owners; Ike Todd, handler.

Georgia All-Age Championship
At the conclusion of 12 braces, the judges named a champion and runner-up in the All-Age competition. Woodville's Long Hard Ride, a setter male handled by McLean for owner Carl Owens of Awendaw, South Carolina, was named champion. Some excellent traits were noted for Hard Ride. He backed in fashion, had an excellent limb find, a find at 14, ran a strong forward race with little scouting, and a strong, front finish. Close behind, Seranoa's Ramblin' Man, a pointer male (McLean), was named runner-up for owner Alex Rickert of Bozeman, Montana. He ran a smooth, forward race with a find at 26, made some excellent all-age moves, checking in with handler on occasion. He could be seen well to the front when time was called.

The Others
Brace 1: Nickajack Pale Rider (McLean) and Haney's Silver Dollar (Eisenhart) went missing early in the hour.

Brace 2: Woodville's Long Hard Ride (McLean) was reported earlier as champion. Miller's King Poast (Lester) had a find at 37, and a find at 50 with a nice relocation and strong finish.

Brace 3: Erin's Code of Honor (Eisenhart) had a find at 56, followed by a pick up. Lester's War Bird (Lester) had a back at 54, a find at 44, and was picked up at 55.

Brace 4: Erin's War Eagle (Eisenhart) had a back at 50 and was picked up at 55. Touch's Shadow Rider (McLean) had a find at 50.

Brace 5: Quail Woods Pine (Carlton) had a back at 56. Haney's Top Shelf (McLean) was picked up.

Brace 6: Sandy Hill Ike (Raynor) came from behind, while Rester's Johnny Ringo (Eisenhart) was picked up.

Brace 7: Haney's Double Down (McLean) was picked up, and Erin's Copper Colt (Carlton) had some bad luck.

Brace 8: Erin's Perfect Storm (Eisenhart) was lost. Seranoa's Ramblin' Man (McLean) was reported as runner-up earlier.

Brace 9: Nighthawk's Rebel (Swearingen) had finds at 50 and 26. Chasin Coveys Revival (Curnutte) had a find at 20.

Brace 10: The tracker was used for River Keeper (Curnutte). Touch's Midnight Rider (McLean) had a find at 55.

Brace 11: Chasin Coveys Justified (Curnutte) had bad luck, while Haney's All In (McLean) had finds at 50 and 30, then was lost.

Brace 12: Tee's Crazy Train (Swearingen) had a wild covey at 33 and no birds at 46.

GEORGIA ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 21 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner-SERANOA'S RAMBLIN' MAN, F1705774, pointer male, by Touch's Malcolm Story-Seranoa's On Guard Annie. Alex Rickert, owner; Mark McLean, handler.
Runner-Up-WOODVILLE'S LONG HARD RIDE, F1705218, setter male, by Woodville's Saddle Tramp-Yukon Gold Rush. Carl Owens, owner; Mark McLean, handler.

Sidelights
Purina Pet Care has been a big supporter of GFTA for many years. They furnish feed certificates to the winners, sample bags to all the participants, and judges' gifts. The owners/trainers' dinner was provided to 35 attendees. Purina is fortunate to have Greg Blair on their staff.
The Burke County Chamber of Commerce underwrites the advertising of the trials in the UKC Field. Hampton Inn gives discounted rates to guests.
Craig Elliott did an excellent job serving as secretary for his first full year. Your writer resigned her position following 45 years of service.
Several businesses provided lunches every day. Ashley Roberts, executive director of the Chamber, assumed these duties.
Ryan Meckel, Wildlife Biologist at DiLane, made certain that the grounds were groomed for the running. Remarks were made about the excellent job that Ryan has done. Wild coveys of quail were seen as well as released ones every day. Birds are purchased by Pat Johnson and released daily at 6 a.m. by Chuck Miller. Chuck fills many shoes to prepare for the trials - before and after.
John Ray Kimbrell comes from Fort Mill, South Carolina, every year to serve as stake manager and drives the dog wagon provided by Bird Dog Motors.
Gary Futch, president, was limited in his duties. However, he was on hand to ride and marshal when he could. In the fall, he had suffered from blood clots in his legs, requiring surgery.
For the last nine years, Mike Jackson has come from Battle Ground, Indiana, to assist with the trials. This year, he was suffering from a severe case of the flu, losing his voice, and could not be with us. He was missed.
I want to thank everyone who assisted in making the trials a true success.
To all the trainers who came, thank you. Hopefully, you will return in 2027. Good luck throughout the year.

Georgia Derby Championship: Rester's Wildflower with Luke Eisenhart and Phantom's Zip with Ike Todd.