Event: ABHA Tennessee State Classic
Result: Cumberland Valley Field Trial Club

Location: Lavergne, Tennessee

Post Date: Apr 13, 2026

Submitted By: Ben Weddington

ABHA Tennessee State Classic Open All-Age (l-r): Julianne Bryant, Rachel Bryant, Clyde Bryant, Kenton Bryant, Hunter Sexton, Ben Weddington (handler) with Hytime Dixie, Briar Morrison, Mary Sue Schalk (scout) with Miller's Triple Digit Heat, Buddy Morrison, Amber Morrison, Raelyn Morrison, Bud Morrison, James Kleve (handler) with Boatright's Renegade, Jimmy Gentry, and James Heimdal.

The Cumberland Field Trial Club ended the month of February, hosting two back-to-back horseback trials at the Percy Priest W.M.A. Field Trial Grounds in LaVergne, Tennessee. The event kicked off with the two-day American Bird Hunters Association Tennessee State Classic, which ran all Open stakes, and was immediately followed by the Cumberland Field Trial Club's Amateur trial. The club also hosted its inaugural Youth Horseback stake on Sunday afternoon as part of the Amateur event, which drew a large crowd of spectators. Combined, the two events drew 62 dogs and brought together handlers, judges, scouts, and spectators in the gallery from seven states, including as far away as North Dakota. Many thanks to our veteran do wagon driver, Mr. Jimmy Gentry of Hixson, Tennessee, whose invaluable service kept us running smoothly and on schedule. Thanks to our fantastic judges, our volunteers, and everyone else who assisted in making the Cumberland FTC's two Spring 2026 trials such a success. Thank you also to the Youth Field Trial Alliance, Chris Mathan, Claudia McNamee, Allison Daniels, and Chris Sellers for graciously sponsoring all the awards and entry fees for our Youth Horseback event. Lastly, a giant thank you goes to both Purina and Greg Blair for sponsoring both of our trials and for continuing to support the great sport of field trialing around the country.

The ABHA Tennessee State Classic kicked off our five days of running and featured all Open Horseback stakes with 28 dogs drawn. Conditions were cool and rainy to start, but later dried up, with warm, sunny afternoons.

Open All-Age
The event officially began with the Open All-Age stake, judged by Mr. Aaron McAfee of Clinton, Illinois, and Mr. James Heimdal of Lebanon, Tennessee. Besting the field of competitors and taking home both first place honors and the Open All-Age winner's plaque was Hytime Dixie, a fancy orange and white female setter sired by Hytest Paladin, owned and handled by Ben Weddington of Brentwood, Tennessee, and scouted by Buddy Morrison of McMinnville, Tennessee. Dixie has enjoyed an excellent 2025-26 season, with earlier Region 6 wins in both All-Age and Shooting Dog stakes. She exhibited a big forward race, running every edge, and her first find came at 21, several hundred yards to the front, where her scout pointed her out, standing along a distant hedgerow. A small covey of quail was flushed, much to the delight of both handler and gallery. Her second and final find came at 39, her scout again noticing her pointed out front along a distant tree line, the next field over. Birds were again flushed, and all was in order. Dixie finished her brace, still hunting hard, far out front along a bean field edge as time was called.
Second place went to Miller's Triple Digit Heat, an impressive male pointer owned by Allen Linder of Livingston, Tennessee, and handled by Buddy Morrison, who was almost methodical in his large ground race and never seemed to tire. He recorded one find in his allotted time and was exceptionally stylish both running and on his game.
Third place went to the tri-colored male setter, Boatright's Maverick, owned by Terry Boatright of Richmond, Kentucky, and handled by James Kleve of Paris, Kentucky, who ran a very large race and sported a high, snappy tail throughout. Though he appeared to be absent several times throughout his brace, each time he showed far out front, where he continued searching every likely objective with great enthusiasm.

Open Derby
Eight dogs made the starting line for the Open Derby stake, which ran right after the conclusion of the All-Age and was judged by Mr. Ben Weddington of Brentwood, Tennessee, and Mr. James Kleve of Paris, Kentucky. First place was awarded to Princess Lea IV, a liver and white female GSP, handled by Justin Crook of Jasper, Missouri, for owner Samantha Willard of Neal, Kansas. Lea has been no stranger to the podium this season and was very stylish on the ground, running a large race with high enthusiasm throughout her 30 minutes. Buddy Morrison took second place with a fancy liver and white pointer male, Windy Hill Triple Digit. He was impressive on the ground and made a number of large, beautiful casts during his allotted time. Crouse's Grouse Feather, the orange and white male setter sired by Shagtime Max, and his owner/handler, Mary Sue Schalk, took third place. "Patch" laid down a proper ground race and handled well, slamming point in the final five minutes of his brace and showing off his manners, though no birds could be produced.

Open Shooting Dog
The Open Shooting Dog stake, which was judged by Mr. Ben Weddington and Mr. Ronnie Rogers of New Market, Tennessee, ran immediately following the Open Derby and brought with it 14 starters to the line. First place honors and the Open Shooting Dog winner's plaque were awarded to Fast Money, a liver and white female pointer handled by Justin Crook for owners C.W. and Patty Moore of Toronto, Kansas. Truly a pleasure to watch, Molly was very stylish on the ground, ran a large race with a nice high tail, and recorded three staunch finds during her brace. Justin Crook also took second place with a stout liver and white male pointer, Chelsea's Thunderstruck, for owner Brad Sadler of Port Royal, South Carolina. Sired by 23x Open Shooting Dog Champion Chelsea's Thunder Bolt, the big male pointer ate up the country and recorded a pair of nice, very stylish finds that were evenly spaced throughout his brace. Third-place honors were awarded to the orange and white male setter, Snyder's Hank, handled by James Kleve for owner Steve Snyder of Ellendale, Minnesota. Sired by the famous champion setter, Ponderosa Mac, Hank laid down a nice shooting dog race and handled extremely well. He finished his time on the ground the same way he started, hunting hard with a snappy, enthusiastic tail.

LaVergne, Tenn., February 25
Judges: James Heimdal and Aaron McAfee
ABHA TENNESSEE STATE OPEN ALL-AGE CLASSIC - 4 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-HYTIME DIXIE, F1682354, setter female, by Hytest Palladin-Wynona's Bohawk Dixie. Ben Weddington, owner and handler.
2d-MILLER'S TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT, F1685675, pointer male, by Just Irresistible-Miller's Bring The Heat. Allen Linder, owner; Buddy Morrison, handler.
3d-BOATRIGHT'S MAVERICK, F1694705, setter male, by Rufus Del Fuego-Outcast Starburst. Terry Boatright, owner; James Kleve, handler.

ABHA Tennessee State Classic Open Derby (l-r): Justin Crook (handler) with winner Princess Lea IV, Charlotte Weddington, Ben Weddington, Buddy Morrison (handler) with Windy Hill Triple Digit, Emory Adams, Mary Sue Schalk (handler) with Crouse's Grouse Feather, and Anna Katherine Schalk.

Judges: James Kleve and Ben Weddington
ABHA TENNESSEE STATE OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 5 Pointers, 1 Setter, and 2 German Shorthairs
1st-PRINCESS LEA IV, F1725222, German Shorthair female, by Prince's Rocket Man-Rice's Ruby Houdini. Samantha Willard, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
2d-WINDY HILL TRIPLE DIGIT, F1714511, pointer male, by Miller's Triple Digit Heat-Windy Hill Shadow Dancer. Carl S. Morrison Jr., owner; Buddy Morrison, handler.
3d-CROUSE'S GROUSE FEATHER, F1713380, setter male, by Shagtime Max-GF Southern Belle. Mary Sue Schalk & M. D. Crouse, owners; Mary Sue Schalk, handler.

ABHA Tennessee State Classic Open Shooting Dog (l-r): Clyde, Rachel, and Julianne Bryant, Ann German, William Weddington, Emily Weddington, Emory Adams, James Kelve (handler) with Snyder's Hank, Mary Sue Schalk, Charlotte Weddington, Sara Adams, and Ben Weddington. [First and second place not pictured].

Judges: Ronnie Rogers and Ben Weddington
ABHA TENNESSEE STATE OPEN SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC - 11 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-FAST MONEY, F1681232, pointer female, by Stash The Cash-Lester's Speed Queen. C. W. & Patty Moore, owners; Justin Crook, handler.
2d-CHELSEA'S THUNDERSTRUCK, F1697295, pointer male, by Chelsea's Thunder Bolt-Double Wild. Brad Sadler, owner; Justin Crook, handler.
3d-SNYDER'S HANK, F1703517, setter male, by Ponderosa Mac-Shamrock's Tomoka Sally. Steve C. Snyder, owner; James Kleve, handler.

Amateur Trial
Immediately following the club's ABHA Tennessee State Classic Open Trial, the Cumberland Field Trial Club held its Amateur Horseback Trial, which began on Friday morning with the Amateur Shooting Dog stake. Temperatures were cool to start but warmed throughout the morning and reached 75 degrees by mid-afternoon. The highlight of the Amateur trial was the inaugural Youth Horseback stake, held on Sunday afternoon, which drew eight entries and a large gallery of spectators.

Amateur Shooting Dog
Sanctioned as a Purina Points, Invitational Points, Region 6 Points, and Southern Circuit Points trial, the Cumberland FTC's Amateur Shooting Dog Stake began on Friday morning, February 27. The day started with 18 dogs making the starting line. The highly competitive stake was judged by veteran dogmen, Mr. Hunter Payne of Spring City, Tennessee, and Mr. Dereck Layne of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, and featured many of the season's top Amateur Shooting Dogs in Region 6. Topping the podium and taking home first place honors and a custom silver belt buckle was the black and white male setter, Bryant's Give It A Rip, sired by Erin's Wild Atlantic Way, owned and handled by Kenton Bryant of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and scouted by Ben Weddington. A prior Region 6 champion and the season's current Region 6 runner-up champion, "Rip" was exceptionally stylish on the ground and was always to the front, running a huge race and sporting a snappy 12 o'clock tail. Rip didn't waste any time getting to work, and his first find came just five minutes after breakaway along a bean field edge. Ten minutes later, he was pointed again, this time along a tree line separating two soybean fields, nailing down a larger covey of quail with his bracemate, honoring from behind. At 30, both dogs were found standing out front along a short tree line. After some deliberation on whether Rip was honoring his bracemate or also pointed, his handler made the decision to take him on. Around 58, Rip had been absent for some time, but eventually showed several hundred yards to the front, where he was found standing point to conclude his hour.
Second Place was awarded to Shepherd's Blackfoot Jane, a black and white female setter owned and handled by Ronnie Rogers. Jane drew one of the toughest braces of the trial, running in hot, sunny 75-degree afternoon temperatures, but still put on a show, running every edge, staying out front, and finishing her hour with the same enthusiasm she started with. Jane recorded three finds, the first of which was a sizable covey of quail in a thick briar patch at 15. Her bracemate was slightly ahead and had already run past it, but Jane showed off her great nose and slammed point in front of the judges. After an extended flush, the covey was eventually produced some 40 yards into the cover. Her second find came at 30 in a thick brush pile. Her final find may have been her most impressive and came after an hour of hard running in the hot sun, with "point" being called just one minute before time expired.
Third-place honors on the day went to the black and white female pointer, Gentry's Jenny, and handler Taylor Henley of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, for owner and grandfather Jimmy Gentry of Hixson, Tennessee. Jenny tore out from the breakaway fast and continued running bigger with every step. Her first find came at 18, pinning down a single along a crop field edge. Less than 10 minutes later, at 26, she was pointed again, and this time a small covey was produced out of the thick hedgerow. A bit later, around 40, after exiting a long graveled lane, Jenny took the left edge of the next soybean field and followed it around, where she pointed a hen/rooster pair out in front of both judges and the gallery. She finished her allotted time still hunting hard.

Amateur Derby
The Amateur Derby stake, which produced eight starters and was also judged by Dereck Layne and Hunter Payne, ran immediately following the conclusion of the Shooting Dog. Besting the field and taking first place was the strong liver and white male pointer, Windy Hill Triple Digit, owned and handled by Buddy Morrison. Windy Hill Triple Digit also placed in the club's Open Derby only a couple of days prior. He laid down a fantastic forward ground race and recorded one very stylish find midway through the brace. He demonstrated a large amount of natural ability and has the potential to make a very fine finished dog next season.
Second place went to Bryant's Princess Kate, an orange and white female pointer handled by Kenton Bryant of Bowling Green, Kentucky, for owner Jill Bryant of Glasgow, Kentucky. "Katie" was fancy running and highly enthusiastic, handling nicely for Mr. Bryant. As the final minute ticked off the judge's clock, Katie pointed along a tree line next to an old road crossing. Birds were flushed, and she stood stone broke as her handler fired his gun.
The final placement also went to Buddy Morrison, who handled Allen Linder's liver and white male pointer, High Drive Zero, to the third-place award. A littermate to the first-place dog, "Zero" was exceptionally stylish on the ground and recorded two nice finds in his allotted time. The first came a few minutes after the breakaway, where he was found standing with a perfect 12 o'clock tail along a field edge. His second find was a sizable 15-bird covey that came around 20 and was flushed out of some thicker native cover.

Youth Horseback (back, l-r): Rachel, Clyde and Julianne Bryant, Hunter Sexton, Briar Morrison, Kenton Bryant (scout) with Bryant's Princess Kate, Jimmy Gentry, Bud and Amber Morrison, Raelyn Morrison (handler) with High Drive Impact, Buddy Morrison (scout), Dan and Heidi Waddell, Mackenzie Waddell (handler) with Hytime Dixie, Ben Weddington, James Kleve (judge), and Woody Woodruff. (Front): Mary Sue Schalk (judge), Vivian Woodruff (handler) with Sammy, Sterling Woodruff (handler) with Rester's Powered Up.

Youth Horseback
The Cumberland Field Trial Club's inaugural Youth Horseback stake was held on Sunday afternoon, March 1, immediately following a catered lunch the Weddington Family provided for everyone. The Youth Horseback was the most highly anticipated stake of our entire five days of running and featured some of the best pieces of bird work of the entire two trials. Eight entries with seven different handlers, consisting of five girls and two boys, were drawn for the 20-minute stake, and every single brace had multiple finds. Our expert judging panel consisted of the honorable Mr. James Kleve and Mrs. Mary Sue Schalk of Dixon, Kentucky. Conditions were warm and sunny with a light breeze as the first breakaway commenced.
Up first were veteran field trialer Sterling Woodruff and his male pointer, Rester's Cash'n In, scouted by his father Woody Woodruff, who was braced with first-time field trialer Raelyn Morrison and her male pointer, High Drive Impact, scouted by her grandfather Buddy Morrison. It didn't take long for things to get interesting...seven minutes from breakaway to be exact, which is when Ms. Raelyn recorded her first find. Her dog pointed up front along a hedgerow, and she proudly produced three quail after some minor assistance flushing in the thick briars. Just a minute later, before she was even back in the saddle, Mr. Woodruff called point for his dog in a hedgerow on the opposite side of the same field, and he, too, produced a bird after an extended flush. Both dogs were beautiful on their game. In the final minutes of the brace, the gallery topped a hill and found High Drive Impact standing point along a distant tree line with Rester's Cash'n In honoring from the neighboring bean field. Raelyn raced enthusiastically up to her dog and flushed, again producing several birds that took flight. Both dogs were on their best manners as the shot fired. All was in order, marking an exciting conclusion to the first brace.
The second brace also featured a veteran/rookie pairing with Vivian Woodruff and her female pointer, "Sammy," scouted by her father Woody Woodruff, braced with first-time field trialer Mackenzie Waddell and her fancy female setter, Hytime Dixie, scouted by family friend Ben Weddington. At breakaway, the two 11 and under-aged handlers tore out on their matching pair of black and white spotted horses at a hasty all-age pace, racing after their big running dogs. The first find came just four minutes in with Ms. Mackenzie's Dixie slamming point along a tree line out in front of the two handlers and Ms. Vivian's Sammy honoring from the left. Birds took flight as the handler flushed, and both dogs remained staunch through the shot. Throughout the remainder of the brace, the girls were all business as they sang out to their dogs and used their horses to help direct the dogs around the course and keep them out in front. Minute 15 marked another find way up front for Hytime Dixie, who had been unseen for several minutes prior, with Sammy again coming in to honor her bracemate. As Mackenzie flushed, several quail flew out the end of a long hedgerow, which produced smiles from both handler and gallery. Again, both dogs proudly showed off their broke manners. In the final minute of the brace, Sammy was found by her scout standing on point along a tree line. Vivian flushed enthusiastically for her dog in the thick cover, and birds were observed by the judges to be running. They eventually took flight, and a shot rang out from the handler's gun, signaling the end of an action-packed brace for the two young ladies.
The third brace again called Sterling Woodruff to the line, this time to run his strong male pointer, Rester's Powered Up, scouted by his dad, Woody Woodruff. They were braced with Hunter Sexton, another rookie field trialer who handled female pointer Bryant's Princess Kate, scouted by friend and mentor, Kenton Bryant. After breakaway the pair of handlers immediately began showing off their dogs, putting them on opposite edges and singing loudly as they progressed through the large crop fields. Both dogs stayed up front and handled particularly well for the young men. Towards the end of the brace, the action began heating up. At 15, Mr. Sexton's scout called "Point!" after noticing Bryant's Princess Kate standing in the distance along the edge of a soybean field. Her handler proceeded to flush, and Katie remained staunch as the birds took flight. Just three minutes later, shouts from Mr. Woodruff rang out up ahead as he, too, called "Point" for his dog. Though tricky to see at first, there in the distance along a tree-lined hedgerow was Rester's Powered Up standing tall on point. Sterling loped up on his pony and proceeded to flush in the thick cover. Judge Kleve noticed the birds take flight and instructed Sterling to fire his gun. Almost as soon as his dog was turned loose after the find, he was found stopped again on the backside of a large hill...this time honoring Katie, who had just pointed some 75 yards ahead. Officially, Katie's final find came a mere 20 seconds before time expired. Hunter proceeded to flush, and this time it was Judge Schalk who noticed the birds darting through the cover. The handler fired his gun, and both dogs remained steady; all was in order.
Besting the field of youth competitors and taking first place honors, along with the blue ribbon, a custom silver belt buckle, and an assortment of other great prizes graciously donated, was the orange and white female pointer, Bryant's Princess Kate, handled by Hunter Sexton for owner Jill Bryant. Katie was fancy running and handled well, recording two great finds in her time on the ground.
Second Place, along with a red ribbon, plaque, and an assortment of other great prizes, was the liver and white male pointer, High Drive Impact, handled by Raelyn Morrison for owner Buddy Morrison. He was stylish on the ground and worked well for his youth handler, recording two fantastic finds in his time on the ground.
Third-place honors, along with a yellow ribbon, plaque, and an assortment of other prizes, went to the fancy orange and white female setter, Hytime Dixie, handled by Mackenzie Waddell for owner Ben Weddington. She ran a huge race with a high, snappy tail and recorded two impressive finds during her brace.
Honorable Mention, along with a YFTA ribbon, plaque, and an assortment of other prizes, was awarded to Rester's Powered Up, handled by Sterling Woodruff for owner Woody Woodruff. He ran a great race and was beautiful on his game, recording one find and honoring his bracemate once. Lastly, the 11 & Under Top Dog award, along with a YFTA ribbon, plaque, and assortment of other prizes, was awarded to Sammy, handled by Vivian Woodruff for owner Sterling Woodruff. Sammy was an all-around great bird dog during her brace and handled beautifully, recording one find and honoring her bracemate twice on the course.

Amateur Shooting Dog (l-r): Cindy Weddington, Ann German, Sara Adams, Emory Adams, William, Ben, Emily and Charlotte Weddington, Rachel, Clyde and Julianne Bryant, Dereck Layne, Kenton Bryant (handler) with Bryant's Give It A Rip, Ronnie Rogers (handler) with Shepherd's Blackfoot Jane, Laken, Courtney, Taylor, Landon, and Logan Henley with Gentry's Jenny, Jimmy Gentry, and Hunter Payne.

Judges: Derek Layne and Hunter Payne
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 14 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st-BRYANT'S GIVE IT A RIP, F1701553, setter male, by Erin's Wild Atlantic Way-Cline's Live Oak. Kenton Bryant, owner and handler.
2d-SHEPHERD'S BLACKFOOT JANE, F1701280, setter female, by Daphne's Gage-Katlyn's Jan. William Rogers, owner and handler.
3d-GENTRY'S JENNY, F1693423, pointer female, by High Drive Rocky-Walden's Ridge Chatter Box. Jimmy Gentry, owner; Taylor Gentry, handler.

AMATEUR DERBY - 5 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-WINDY HILL TRIPLE DIGIT, F1714511, pointer male, by Miller's Triple Digit Heat-Windy Hill Shadow Dancer. Carl S. Morrison Jr., owner; Buddy Morrison, handler.
2d-BRYANT'S PRINCESS KATE, F1719742, pointer female, by Miller's Blindsider-Silver W Thunderbolt's Boom. Jill Bryant, owner; Kenton Bryant, handler.
3d-HIGH DRIVE ZERO, F1714513, pointer male, by Miller's Triple Digit Heat-Windy Hill Shadow Dancer. Allen Linder, owner; Buddy Morrison, handler.

Amateur Derby (l-r): Rachel, Clyde and Julianne Bryant, Anne German, Sara and Emory Adams, Cindy Weddington, Ben, William, Emily and Charlotte Weddington, Dereck Layne, Buddy Morrison (handler) with Windy Hill Triple Digit, Mary Sue Schalk, Hunter Payne, Kenton Bryant (handler) with Bryant's Princess Kate, Jerone Boggs, Aaron McAfee (scout) with High Drive Zero, and Jimmy Gentry.