Result: U. S. Complete National Open Championship

Location: Hoffman, North Carolina

Post Date: Feb 25, 2026

Submitted By: Margaret C. Drew, Reporter

U. S. Complete National Open Championship (front, l-r): Mark Hughes with Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk and Calvin Curnutte with Buck of Piney Woods. (Behind): Dr. George Najor, Rich Warters, Tony Bingham, Lee Flanders, Ashby Morgan, Roger McPherson, Robert Ecker, Ashley Hopkins, J. D. Waters, Jim Emerson, Dave Huffine, Steve Ferrell, Barb Young, Bob Young, Margaret Drew, Mike Rosano, Bob Phillips, and Jerry Burke.

The U. S. Complete National Open Championship has been held at Hoffman since 2018, when Ted Riley, the Southeast Regional President, requested that the Southeast host the championship. The weather for that first trial was very hot and dry; this year, it was below-freezing cold, with 7" of snow five days before the trial started. There were 24 braces of Shooting Dog and 16 braces of Derbies with no scratches. The judges were past president Ashby Morgan and Lee Flanders. Both gentlemen experienced bird dog folks.

The field trial grounds at Hoffman are part of the North Carolina Sandhills Wildlife Management Area. The development of these grounds began in 1949; however, the first trial was not held until 1954. The original development plan was for 10-year cycles with 950 acres dedicated to field trials. The courses are cut by the wildlife, as well as crops planted. Since 1981, the NCFTA and the state have worked together to allow the association to release quail in early fall and again during the trial season. Trials are held on these grounds from mid-October to the end of March. The NCFTA also feeds the quail on a regular schedule. The state provides a dog/people wagon so folks can follow along.

There are six courses, although the walking groups do not fully use Courses 1 or 6. Each course is numbered to assist with finding one's way around. The clubhouse has a map on the wall to study. In courses where there is no stream, water holes have been dug. During this past very dry year, the water holes were nearly dry, and water tubs had been put out. There is a modern clubhouse and kitchen, dog kennels, outside horse stalls, and a barn. There is plenty of parking. There are several electrical hookups and plenty of water faucets. Two towns with lodging and restaurants are within 20 miles.

Without the support of owners and the 12 handlers, a trial of this caliber could not have happened. Purina remains the top promoter; however, we continue to thank Garmin for providing two collars. Lion Country Supply provided gift certificates for the championship. This year, the group welcomed the sponsorship of Dakota283, another dog supply company. There was supper provided by last year's champion, Smoke Rise Jake, owned by Fred Rose and handled by Tony Bingham. A second evening was a dinner provided by Purina.

The Champion and Runner-Up
The named champion was Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk (PM), owned by Gary and Ellen Winall and bred from their Mohawk Mill line of field trial winners. He was the runner-up last year in this championship and was named the champion in the U. S. Complete Southeast Championship. Knight Hawk was handled by Tony Bingham. Runner-up was Buck of Piney Woods, owned by Rich Warters and Dr. George Najor, and handled by Robert Ecker. This pair ran as bracemates in Brace 9 on day two.

The adverse weather made no difference to these two as each independently attacked the course with pleasing gaits and then on their divided find at 17, both staunch and erect for wing and shot--a winning scene for all to see. Buck had a nonproductive at 30 and a back at 49. He was very stylish on the ground from beginning to end. (I will take that as a reflection of his breeding, as his grandfather, Bud of Piney Woods, was whelped at my kennel from a Chasehill Little Bud cross with our Racey Kate from Calico Kennels). Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk had a strong animated race, which grew stronger as the hour counted down. Knight Hawk had a find at 49 and a nonproductive at 59 as time elapsed. At the end of this hour, the bar had been set to be a winner.

The Running
On February 6, the first of the 24 braces was turned loose on Course 1.
Tony Bingham stood at the breakaway with Cow Creek Red Bud (PF) owned by Aaron McAfee; however, by 15, Bingham called for a location device. Bracemate was Jamie Leitch with Can Am Cooper (PM). Cooper moved appropriately onward; however, he showed too much excitement on his covey location at 25 and was leased. This opening brace on a brisk morning was not setting the bar very high.

Brace 2 found Mark Hughes with Carlos Escalante's Miller's Hopped Up Version (PF) as bracemate for Smoke Rise Hanna (PF), owned by Fred Rose and handled by Tony Bingham. Fred Rose was present to observe. Miller's Hopped Up Version started out promisingly; however, she did not handle a large covey well and was picked up. Hanna took off quickly and required a relocation device at 30.

Brace 3 called for Sweet Grass Slim (ESM), with his owner/handler, Dave Huffine, as bracemate for Smoke Rise Doc (PM), owned by Fred Rose and handled by Tony Bingham. Whether it was experience or the warming temperatures, this brace was to the front immediately with determination. Sweet Grass Slim has run these grounds frequently in the past, earning placements as well. Today he moved purposefully, had a nonproductive at 25 and a well-indicated covey find at 50. He finished his hour in good form. Smoke Rise Doc had a strong forward race. When we thought he was missing, he would be seen well to the front. At 25, he backed his bracemate with a caution from the handler as the covey rose. His hour on the ground was highlighted with a solid find at 55 before finishing going away.

Brace 4 followed a hot lunch with whistles heard at 1:30 and a full wagon, hoping to view some afternoon bird work. Miller's Special Upgrade (PF), owned by Carlos Escalante with Mark Hughes. Ecker had as a bracemate Grouse Hill Rock (ESM), owned by John Capocci. Miller's Special Upgrade had a stop to flush at 2, followed by attractive finds at 10 and 30. He did not complete his hour. Grouse Hill Rock had a moderate to short race with no bird work.

Brace 5 had Frank Joyal with Once In A Bluemoon (PF) as bracemate for Mohawk Mill Big Trouble (PM), owned by Brian and Trisha Rathbone with Tony Bingham. Blue Moon sailed off the breakaway to be found standing at 8 for the handler to flush a nice covey. With her find, she and her handler were a little behind, so it is not surprising that when released, she once again proudly marched out of sight. This led to her not backing her bracemate, shortening her hour by 12 minutes. Big Trouble was taken on after his point at 12; however, by 40, he was leased for not pleasing the handler.

Brace 6 ended day one with Bingham bringing Mohawk Mill War Hawk (PM), owned by J. D. Waters, to the line as bracemate for Rockland Ridge Rocky (ESM), owned by Gary Chlapaty with Ecker. War Hawk sprang from the breakaway, seen on the horizon a few times, although finally required a relocation device. Rockland Ridge Rocky made a buoyant cast for the first eight minutes along the lower left edge, where the high grasses merge into the woods. At 9, he had point called; however, after a lengthy flushing attempt, he decided to assist Ecker. By 11, he was on a leash.

On the second morning, the temperatures were not the problem; rather, the winds that came and went all day were. Brace 7 found another one of Fred Rose's pointers, Smoke Rise Bull (PM), with Bingham as bracemate for Double Deuce Jack (PM), owned by Doug McMillen, with Hughes. Both of these dogs hunted the hour while searching every edge and plum thicket with no success at locating quail.

Brace 8 was brief with Mike McKinney's Santee River Pawley Girl (PF) with Bingham as bracemate for Tooth Acres Bennie The Jett (PM), owned and handled by Ross Penland. Pawley Girl had tight sneakers on and was not seen from the breakaway, requiring a relocation device. Bennie The Jett began an independent trek on course, which was ended when he reacted slowly for a stop-to-flush on a good-sized covey.

Brace 9 was the best of the total championship and covered above under the winners.

Brace 10 found Ecker once again on the line, this time with Mia Star (ESF) belonging to Stephen McKalko as bracemate for Millers Dusty Version (PF), belonging to Mike Husenits, with Hughes. The brace started out promising with two classy dogs bouncing to the front. Then everyone got excited when we saw both standing tall and erect. Dusty Version had a covey pinned with Mia Star backing. Nice sight. Mia Star drifted side to side before standing at 14, where the handler could not put birds in the air. She did not finish her hour. Dusty Version continued her hour without locating quail in any of the places she expected to find them.

Brace 11 had Hughes with Doug McMillen's Double Deuce Miles (PM) as bracemate for Ross Penland's Tooth Acres Ron Takahara (ESM). This pair drove straight forward, although not necessarily to spots where birds might be. Nearing the half hour, neither dog had located quail, and the handlers decided to return their dogs to the wagon.

Brace 12 finished day two with Blue Ribbon River (PF), belonging to Marty Festa, with Ecker and Hughes with Saddled Up Sadie (PF), belonging to Joe Cammisa. These two laid them out nicely for most of the hour. River had a back at 50 and was leased at 55. Sadie had an unproductive at 50, finishing her hour with no birds flown.

Brace 13 opened day three with Glassilaun Parabellum (ESF), owned by Jim Millett, with Ecker and Hughes with Lincoln County Big Stuff (PM) with Bingham. Owner Roger McPherson was present to watch Big Stuff. Parabellum covered the course with style in a good forward race; however, at 60, no birds had been pointed. Big Stuff was briskly off the line and required a location device at 30.

Brace 14 saw Calvin Curnutte change his scouting role to handle John Fort's Aristotle (ESM) as bracemate for Backwoods Wild Fire Blaze (PM), owned by Justin Mason, with Hughes. This pair scoured the terrain for their full hour with no success in locating quail.

Brace 15 called Greg Isenberg to the line with Tenacee Franklin (PM) as bracemate for Mohawk Mill Shake Up (PM), owned and handled by Cliff Monroe. Tenacee is no stranger to field trials and settled right into a hunting routine. He had a good find at 18; however, after searching appropriately, a nonproductive at 20 and 50 ended his hour. Shake Up powered forward with determination; however, at 10 a covey lifted, and he never altered his step. His hour ended early.

Brace 16 found Erin's Battle Cry (PM), owned by Beauford, Timmerman, and Cooke, although handled by Bingham. The bracemate was Mojo's Winston Joy (ESM), owned by Nick and Renee Moelders, with Hughes. Erin's Battle Cry kept a consistent pace and range, checking the many spots that quail could likely be found; however, his hour ended without bird contact. Winston Joy showed a rhythmic gait with intelligent hunting for 30 minutes, at which time he popped a covey and gleefully gave a few hops. His hour shortened.

Brace 17 had Sweet Grass Skeeter (ESM), owned and handled by Dave Huffine, with Sammy the Rock Star (ESM) with Ecker. Rockstar's owner, Dr. George Najor, was present to watch. This pair of classy moving setters rolled through the high cover. Sweet Grass Skeeter was found standing at 11 for a nice covey to be flown. Unfortunately, his hour ended after unproductives at 17 and 37. Rock Star had a find at 11. He finished his hour at a moderate pace that any hunter would be happy to hunt over; however, there was no further bird contact.

Brace 18 ended day three with Justin Mason's Backwoods Dine & Dash (PM), with Hughes. Bracemate was Warren Parrott with Hirollins Gone And Doneit (PM). Dine & Dash made some good hunting casts, some a little lateral, causing him to get a little behind. He was picked up by the handler at 45. Gone And Doneit had a fast and big race with a nice find at 47. Reaching to the front at 58, he suffered a stop to flush to end his hour.

Brace 19 opened the final day of the 2026 Championship. Dr. George Najor's Gracie Ballroom Star (ESF) was on the ground with Ecker. Her bracemate was Sweet Grass Scout (ESF), owned and handled by Huffine. Gracie Ballroom Star ran in a pleasing fashion at a good range. She had an eye-appealing back at 6. Her hour was shortened with unproductives at 16 and 25. Sweet Grass Scout shared this classy setter brace with Gracie Ballroom Star. Scout stood tall and alert at 6; however, no birds were produced. Racing through the grass at 16, she failed to back and her hour ended.

Brace 20 found Ralphy's Chasehill Rip (PM) with owner/handler Brian Ralph as bracemate with Long Island Ice (ESM), owned by Paul Ober and handled by Ecker. Rip lived up to his name as he raced through the cover, scoring a nice covey at 5 with all in order. His hour was shortened after unproductives at 15 and 25. Long Island Ice was picked up early for not pleasing the handler around birds.

Brace 21 saw Smoke Rise Jake (PM), owned by Fred Rose and handled by Bingham, as well as Ironstone's Shenanigans (ESM), belonging to Eli Richardson, and handled by Ecker. Jake had a strong race, always to the front with no scouting required. He was found standing tall and staunch for finds at 29 and 41. He stood again at 55; however, when no birds were flown handler tapped him on a covey burst into the air. Ironstone was seen well to the front and disappearing over the knoll. A relocation device was requested at 24.

Brace 22 had J. D. Waters here to watch his My Way Little Bud (PM) under the whistle of Bingham. Bracemate was Sweet Grass Skipper (ESM) with owner/handler Huffine. Little Bud stood high and tight for a back at 6. His next 30 minutes found him reaching beyond course boundaries, requiring a relocation device to be requested at 37. Skipper had a nonproductive at 6, a good hour race, and a find at 55.

Brace 23 saw Hoppy's War Bird Farmgirl (PF) with Ecker. Owners Rob and Kathy Hopkins were present to watch. Bracemate was Low Country Katie (PF), owned and handled by Steve Ferrell. Both of these dogs were eagerly to the front. Farmgirl got too close to a covey at 6 and was picked up. Country Katie scampered hastily out of sight until located via a relocation device sometime after 24.

Brace 24, the final brace, was bye-dog Emert's Grouse Ringer T (ESM) with Bingham. Owners Daryl and Vicki Grantham had watched most of the braces waiting for Ringer T's turn. Unfortunately, he had unacceptable bird contact at 16 and ended his hour early.

Hoffman, N. C., February 6
Judges: Lee Flanders and Ashby Morgan
U. S. COMPLETE NATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 31 Pointers and 16 Setters
Winner-MOHAWK MILL KNIGHT HAWK, F1685481, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Pirate's Legacy-Katie Lee's Wild Side. Gary & Ellen Winall, owners; Tony Bingham, handler.
Runner-Up-BUCK OF PINEY WOODS, F1696648, pointer male, by Bo of Piney Woods-Grouse Hill Prima. Rich Warters, owner; Robert Ecker, handler.

Derby Classic
The National Derby Classic drew a strong field with 16 braces. Judges Ashby Morgan and Dave Huffine said this had been one of the hardest derby stakes to judge, as there were so many derbies showing the standards of what makes a good derby. The difficulty came when they had several dogs with good range showing intelligence in where to hunt. Most all showed desire to hunt, as well as being classy on the ground. Some derbies had bird work, but not all. When the group had been run, the judges chose three who were placed on style, ground attack, and what looked to be those who would go on to succeed as shooting dogs. The judges noted that several others were close to meeting several of the derby standards.

First place went to Niantic River Molly (ESF), owned by David Phillips from East Lyme, Connecticut. She is in the training school of Adam Dubriske. Molly is from a litter between Barn Owl Mike x J C L's Shadow. She had a wonderfully classy forward race. She worked with her handler and required no scouting. She made consistent casts and finished well to the front.

Second went to Suemac's Southern Ambush (PF), out of Rocky River Halo x Mohawk Mill Lady Justice. She is owned by Roger McPherson, who was present to observe. She had a consistent forward race, listened well, and had a good finish.
Third went to Heartbreaker Bud Light (PM), owned by Thomas Butts, with Mark Hughes. Bud Light covered all the desired hunting objectives with plenty of style, handled well, while maintaining a moderate range.

Judges: Dave Huffine and Ashby Morgan
U. S. COMPLETE DERBY CLASSIC - 23 Pointers, 7 Setters, and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-NIANTIC RIVER MOLLY, F1710602, setter female, by Barn Owl Mike-J C L's Shadow. David Phillips, owner; Adam Dubriske, handler.
2d-SUEMAC'S SOUTHERN AMBUSH, F1716176, pointer female, by Rocky River Halo-Mohawk Mill Lady Justice. Roger McPherson, owner; Tony Bingham, handler.
3d-HEARTBREAKER BUD LIGHT, F1710620, pointer male, by Toth's Tornado Reloaded-Grouse Trails Warrior Cat. Thomas Butts, owner; Mark Hughes, handler.

U. S. Complete Derby Classic (front, l-r): Adam Dubriske with Niantic River Molly, Roger McPherson with Suemac's Southern Ambush, and Mark Hughes with Heartbreaker Bud Light. (Behind): Dave Huffine, Tony Bingham, Ashby Morgan, Greg Robinson, Vicki Grantham, Earl Drew, Susie McPherson, Bob Young, Mike Rasano, Russ Fazio, and Brian Ralph.