Result: Carroll County Amateur Stakes, Tennessee

Location: Huntingdon, Tennessee

Post Date: Dec 10, 2021

Submitted By: Jim Atchison

Shooting Dogs Winners. From left to right: David Williams, Scott Little and Joe Hughes with J Maple Jester, Judge David Russell, Dr. Marion Brown with Wilbaux Sun B, Judge Rachel Russell, and Angie Williams.

The Carroll County Field Trial Club hosted their amateur competition November 18-21 near Huntingdon, Tenn., on land owned primarily by David Williams and tended tirelessly by him throughout each year. As always, the three one-hour courses were in excellent condition.

Sportsman's Pride was the primary sponsor of this 2021 renewal. Kent Walker expressed tremendous appreciation for Sunshine Mills and particularly Ryan Brown and Rickie Hitt for the continuing long-term sponsorship which assists all Mid-South Association Clubs with advertising expenses and the awarding of their professional dog food to the winners of all stakes hosted by the affiliated clubs.

The Shooting Dog trial drew twelve entries and first place was won by J Maple Jester, owned by Joe and Tessa Hughes. Second Cocklebur Drama Queen, owned by the Bubba Spencer family and handled by Amy, while third place was won by Wibaux Sun B, owned and handled by Dr. Marion Brown. Judges were David and Rachel Russell of Como, Miss.

The All-Age competition drew 22 contenders and was judged by Kent Walker and Joe Hughes. Small's White Charger, owned and handled by Mike Small, won first; Rebel Dreams, owned and handled by David Williams, won second; and Storm's End, owned by Megan Henry and handled by Matt Pendergest, won third.

Gary McKibben and Scott Beeler judged the fifteen-entry Derby competition. They awarded first place to Phillips Linebacker, handled by Mike Small for owners Orrin Ingram and Nathan Phillips. Second place recognition went to Awakened, co-owned by Jim and Matt Pendergest (handled by Matt), and third was awarded to Phillips Chalk Line, owned by Nathan Phillips and handled by Mike Small.

THE WINNING DOGS

J Maple Jester won the Shooting Dog Stake with his performance on the second hour course, which enabled Joe Hughes to flush birds twice during the hour. Jester ran to the front and hunted as expected of a five-year-old shooting dog. His first find was at 20 at the lowest side of a thickly vegetated terraced field. He then had birds again, at 32, in a feed plot that laid straight ahead after descending Sickle Pod Hill and before crossing a wooden bridge. His appearance on game was excellent both times and he finished the hour well on the Vickers Farm.

Cocklebur Drama Queen won second with a race rather big for the typical shooting dog. She had an unproductive within her first couple of minutes, near a pond on the third hour course. She then produced birds twice for Amy Spencer, the first coming at 36 in the vegetated field after crossing the gravel farm road on the Vickers Farm and then had her second find at 51 continuing to course southward on the same property.

Wilbaux Sun B, one of two setters in the stake, won third. He had one find, which occurred simultaneously and on the other side of the same field in which the winner had his first find. Dr. Brown and his Setter produced a good one-hour performance, which enabled the judges to easily determine that Sun deserved the placement which was awarded.

In the All-Age Stake, Small's White Charger ran a strong forward race for his owner, Mike Small, and easily won first place with one impressive find. Small flushed birds when Charger pointed in heavy cover at 30 on the first hour course, immediately before crossing the road at the grain bin on the Miles Farm. The fine soon to be three-year-old pointer ran a strong forward race and handled well throughout the hour to earn the favorable nod of the judges.

Rebel Dreams placed second and ran a good forward race for owner David Williams. She produced game once, on relocation at 55, and looked very good both running and on game. Storm's End placed third as she ran the most outstanding ground race of the entire stake. She looked amazing as she ran line after line, without error, for Matt Pendergest with Megan Henry enjoying her performance from the gallery. Her only shortcoming was that she found no birds during the hour and had an unproductive stand at 40.

In the Derby, Phillips Linebacker, handled by Mike Small, placed first in the 30-minute Derby stake. He scored one nice find and executed an excellent ground race to earn the placement. Awakened, handled by Matt Pendergest, placed second and Phillips' Chalk Line, handled by Mike Small, placed third. Neither of these dogs moved any birds, so their placements were determined by their good ground races that showed strong promise for future All-Age careers.

Huntingdon, Tenn., November 18

Judges: Rachel Russell and David Russell

AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] --

10 Pointers and 2 Setters

1st--J MAPLE JESTER, 1675700, pointer male, by J Maple Jake--Coldwater Queen Kate. Joe & Tessa Hughes, owners; Joe Hughes, handler.

2d--COCKLEBUR DRAMA QUEEN, 1658664, pointer female, by Indian Creek Perfect Storm--Reedy Fork Katie. Bubba, Amy & Colt Spencer, owners; Amy Spencer, handler.

3d--WIBAUX SUN B, 1651336, setter male, by Desperado B--Golva Bell B. Dr. Marion Brown, owner and handler.

Judges: Joe Hughes and Kent Walker

AMATEUR ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] -- 20 Pointers

and 2 Setters

1st--SMALL'S WHITE CHARGER, 1687724, pointer male, by Phillips Off Line--Phillips North line. Mike Small, owner and handler.

2d--REBEL DREAMS, 1687736, pointer female, by Dominator's Rebel Heir--Rebel Maiden. David Williams, owner and handler.

3d--STORM'S END, 1687221, pointer female, by Dunn's Tried'n True--K F Prairie Storm. Megan Henry & Matt Pendergest, owners; Matt Pendergest, handler.

Judges: Scott Beeler and Gary McKibben

AMATEUR DERBY -- 11 Pointers and 4 Setters

1st--PHILLIPS LINEBACKER, 1695879, pointer male, by Phillips Off Line--Phillips Silver Lady. Orrin Ingram & Nathan Phillips, owners; Mike Small, handler.

2d--AWAKENED, 1692621, pointer female, by Touch's Grey Street--Intentional. Jim & Matt Pendergest, owners; Matt Pendergest, handler.

3d--PHILLIPS CHALK LINE, 1692239, pointer male, by Phillips Off Line--Phillips North Line. Nathan Phillips, owner; Mike Small, handler.

The Carroll County Effort

After writing a lot of specific details about all the tasks required for successful field trials for more than twenty years, and listing the names of those who performed each task, I have decided not to do that this time. However, the club was especially indebted to Seth Bennett, who owns Watson Lumber Company in Huntingdon, for lumber he gave the club for bridge repair that was needed during the running of this trial.

Others who worked throughout the four days included David Williams, Gary McKibben, Phillip Barnett, Danny Stanfill, Richard Simmons, Angie Williams, Michelle Clark, and Jim Atchison.

As always, the efforts of the above produced an enjoyable and very successful renewal of the 2021 Carroll County Amateur Stakes.