Event: Lynn Taylor Memorial Classic
Result: Carroll County Field Trial Club

Location: Huntingdon, Tennessee

Post Date: Mar 24, 2026

Submitted By: Jim Atchison

Lynn Taylor Memorial Open All-Age Classic (front, l-r): David Williams with Haney's Hurricane Seeker, Ike Todd with Game Heir, and Gary McKibben with Coldwater Crackerjack. (Back, l-r): Phillip Barnett, Tim Hammons (judge), and Jim Pendergest (judge).

Weldon Bennett Honored
Weldon Bennett's more than 50 years of dedicated service to the Carroll County Field Trial Club were acknowledged with great appreciation as the Club presented him with a Bird Dog Foundation Life Patron Membership at the Saturday night meal of the Club's 2026 renewal of their Open stakes. Weldon's wife, Carol, helped the club by arranging, without Weldon's knowledge, that about 25 of their family members would join the club's members for the occasion.

David Williams, president of the club, masterfully made the presentation as he told of the club's origination and early trials being run on the Milan Arsenal and Ammunition Plant's grounds. Williams reflected that the club became dormant for several years when the grounds were lost and was reborn around 1986, when he, Williams, started to establish field trial courses on his land, where the club's trials have been run ever since. His presentation included remembering Bennett's involvement through all the years, while remembering others, now deceased, who were with Bennett during the years.

Weldon Bennett's reputation as a gentleman of high character, who always demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and actions that enhanced the reputation of the sport, was a part of the presentation and the discussions that followed. Others joined Williams and told of their association with and appreciation for the man being honored.
Bennett's acceptance remarks were brief, but his "THANK YOU" was very Weldon Bennett genuine and sincere. Also, both his and Carol's demeanors left no doubt that their hearts were filled with appreciation, both for the honor and for sharing the evening with their families and numerous friends who enjoyed the meal that followed.

The Annual Renewal
The 2026 renewal of Carroll County's Open stakes was held February 21-23, with 27 Open All-Age entries drawn to compete in the Lynn Taylor Memorial Classic and 15 Derbies drawn to compete in the Open Derby stake.

Purina was again the generous sponsor of the stakes, and their continuing sponsorship was acknowledged and much appreciated.
Jim Pendergest from Lexington, Kentucky, and Tim Hammons from Berea, Kentucky, were the judges. Kris Hammons accompanied her husband to the judging assignment. The personable judges fulfilled their judicial responsibilities well, and their services were greatly appreciated.
While mentioning members of the club who helped make this year's effort successful, the first person mentioned is a faithful dog wagon driver who, in addition to Weldon Bennett, is probably the only surviving original member of the club. He is Danny Stanfill, called Lebob, by those who know him. Lebob was joined by Vince Taylor on the dog wagon. Others who took care of the many other demanding tasks included David Williams, Gary McKibben, Jim Atchison, Phillip Barnett, Michelle Clark, and Jamie and Allison Daniels. The group enjoyed their long-term connection and being together to produce another successful field trial.

The sunny, warm weather on the first day was a spoiler, as temperatures plunged into the teens on each of the following mornings, with a north wind that increased the level of discomfort reflected on the thermometers.
First place in the Lynn Taylor All-Age stake was won by Haney's Hurricane Seeker, owned and handled by David Russell from Como, Mississippi. Mississippi amateur handlers won the entire stake; second place was won by Game Heir, owned and handled by Dr. Fred Corder from Corinth, and third place was won by Coldwater Crackerjack, owned and handled by Gary McKibben from Hernando.
Also, Dr. Corder received numerous handshakes and congratulatory remarks for having just won the National Championship with Game Surge. The congenial doctor's win of the National put him into the very small league of amateur handlers who have earned that honor. According to William Smith, our friend and a competent historical source, Dr. Corder is only the seventh amateur to win the National Championship in its 127-year history.

All-Age Performances
Haney's Hurricane Seeker earned first place for David Russell with his use of the first course in the first hour of the All-Age contest. The winner was credited with three finds, with the first being at 22 in the north field before crossing the railroad right-of-way the first time. His bracemate was pointed nearby, but in a stand that was not considered to be divided. After circling the Miles Farm and crossing back to the west side of former railroad, he, at 46, was credited with finding a woodcock that was seen by the judge. In the last quarter-hour, he continued to run a strong, forward race to have his final find at pickup.

Dr. Corder's Game Heir had the third-hour course on the first afternoon of the competition. He broke away from the back of the shed on the Vickers Place, covered the first bottom, then negotiated the vast untilled area called the Quiet Place Loop. At the end of that loop, at 27, he had his first find and looked great on his birds. He then ran the long Vickers bottom and proceeded back toward the clubhouse, having his second find at the end of the hour.
Coldwater Crackerjack won third place for McKibben in the frigid second brace on the second morning. He backed his bracemate at 28 on the second hour course and continued to run a solid race, finding a woodcock at 48. Credit for the woodcock find was accentuated, as the find was acclaimed a true limb find.

The other entries, listed in the order they ran, follow. Millers Inspiration was braced with the winner in the first brace. He had an unproductive in dense briars at 21 and another UP at 49, whereupon Gary Lester picked him up.

Miller's Blindsider, handled by Jamie Daniels and owned by Nick Berrong, was paired with Game Surge, owned and handled by Dr. Corder, in the second brace. Blindsider was lost, and Daniels asked for his tracker at 35. Game Surge had an unproductive on a green barrel feeder at 42 and then finished the hour.

Bandit's Hill Avenger, owned by Ann Forrester and handled by Korry Rinehart, went next, along with Mayfield Storm Messenger, owned by Jake Davis and handled by Patrick Siebels. Avenger had one find, at 37, ran a nice all-age race, and finished the hour. Siebels asked for his tracker when time was called.

After lunch, Game Star and Rebel Dreams were loosed. Both dogs finished the hour, with Game Star finding birds for Dr. Corder at 30 and 37, and David Williams' Rebel Dreams backing both of those stands.

Brace 5 held Miller's Last Call, owned by Scott Griffin and Derek Bonner, paired with World Class Migraine, owned by John Kampeter and handled by Pat Siebels. Siebels asked for his tracker at 16, and Last Call was picked up at 48.

Dominators Southern Beau went next, braced with the second-place winner. Beau, owned by Jeff Arnold and Gene Brown, was handled by Jamie Daniels. The brace ended when Daniels asked for his tracker at 42.

On Sunday morning, with bitterly cold weather worsened by an angry north wind, Jamie Daniels loosed Dominators Rebel Mark, owned by Nick Berrong and Jack and Sarah Schwarz, as Patrick Siebels loosed World Class High Def. Siebels picked up at 27, and Daniels did the same at 32, ending the brace at the grain bins on the Miles Farm.

Sunset Sam Houston, owned by Matt and Stacy Brown and handled by Gary Lester, went next, along with the third-place winner. Sam finished the hour for Lester and was credited with one unproductive, which was at 28.

Brace 9 had Jamie Daniels with Dominator's Lilyrose, owned by Dean Pearson, and Lester's Front Porch, handled by Pat Siebels for John Kampeter. Front Porch had unproductives at 17 and at pickup. Lilyrose ran a nice race, but found no birds and was picked up at 50.

Just First Class and Mayfield Storm Front went next. Both First Class, handled by Daniels for owners Tracy Haines, Nick Berrong, and Scott and Lisa Little, and Storm Front, handled by Siebels for John Kampeter, were picked up at 30.

David Williams had Rebel Gold, and Patrick Siebels had Miller's Triple Crown, owned by Jake Davis, in Brace 11. Triple Crown had an unproductive at 17 and was put in harness, while Rebel Gold was lost at pickup and was credited with no birds found.

The last brace on the cold Sunday had Lester's War Bird, owned by Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton and handled by Gary Lester, braced with Whippoorwill Vette, owned by Dale Bush and handled by Larry Huffman. Vette had an unproductive at 55, and Huffman picked her up. War Bird ran a strong race for Lester, but was not seen by the judges again after 55.

The last All-Age contenders to run were Black Rocks Snow Goose, handled by Lester for Nick Cummins, and Pleasant Run Dot, owned by Paul Rosevear, and handled by Huffman. Dot was picked up at 30, and Snow Goose found no birds.

Huntingdon, Tenn., February 21
Judges: Tim Hammons and Jim Pendergest
LYNN TAYLOR MEMORIAL OPEN ALL-AGE CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 27 Pointers
1st-HANEY'S HURRICANE SEEKER, F1698759, pointer male, by Ransom-Haney's North Star. David Russell, owner and handler.
2d-GAME HEIR, F1691409, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Game Snow. Dr. Fred Corder, owner and handler.
3d-COLDWATER CRACKERJACK, F1702009, pointer male, by Coldwater Odyssey-Coldwater Fancy Like. Gary McKibben, owner and handler.

Open Derby
Phantom's Zip won first place under the whistle of Ike Todd, while her owner, Erick Parsons, rode to watch. Zip scored her win using the second half of the third-hour course. She left from near the shed on the Vickers Farm and ran a strong, forward race, progressing toward the clubhouse. Her solid performance was marked by an impressive find at 20, which was followed by a strong finish on the right while approaching the end of the course.
Todd also handled the second-place winner, Knight's Iceman, owned by Scott Griffin. Iceman was loosed at the grain bins on the Miles Farm, had a short absence after the breakaway, then shared a divided find with his bracemate on the hill before crossing the concrete bridge remnants at the creek. He then ran a strong cast around the Big Sandy bottom and on the left side of the big field, advancing to finish at 30.
Larry Huffman handled Whippoorwill Outrider, owned by Dale Bush, to win third. Outrider circled the Quiet Place Loop well for Huffman and had a find when leaving that area, at 27. He then proceeded into the long bottom and finished strong, to the front and on the left side.

Open Derby (front, l-r): Erick Parsons with Phantom's Zip, Ike Todd with Knight's Iceman, and Brad LaVerne with Whippoorwill Outrider. (Back, l-r): Phillip Barnett, Tim Hammons (judge), and Jim Pendergest (judge).

OPEN DERBY - 15 Pointers
1st-PHANTOM'S ZIP, F1709028, pointer female, by Miller's King Poast-Phantom's Rebel Heart. Erick & Holly Parsons, owners; Ike Todd, handler.
2d-KNIGHT'S ICEMAN, unreg., pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-Bonner's Miss Mississippi. Scott Griffin, owner; Ike Todd, handler.
3d-WHIPPOORWILL OUTRIDER, unreg., pointer male, breeding not given. Dale Bush, owner; Larry Huffman, handler.

Weldon Bennett (left) with David Williams after receiving the Bird Dog Foundation's Life Patron Membership.