Result: Cumberland Field Trial Club

Location: Lavergne, Tennessee

Post Date: Jan 22, 2021

Submitted By: Caroline Leonard

Amateur Shooting Dog Winner. From left: Ronnie Rogers, Amy Spencer, judge; Caroline Leonard with Seekin A Thrill, first in the Amateur Shooting Dog Stake, Ross Leonard and Bubba Spencer, judge.
LAVERGNE, TENN. -- The newly established Cumberland Field Trial Club held its inaugural Amateur Derby and Shooting Dog Stakes December 20-22 at the Percy Priest Wildlife Management Area grounds near LaVergne, Tenn.

The club was fortunate to have secured Amy and Bubba Spencer to judge the shooting dogs. Amy and Bubba are highly sought-after to judge major open championships and amateur club trials. They are successful and respected amateur competitors and breeders and captured the 2013-14 Purina Top Amateur All-Age Dog Award with Ch. Cocklebur Treasure Quest. They were attentive to all of the performances of the dogs and approachable and helpful to the handlers. They were the key to making this a successful trial and we greatly appreciated their time and efforts.

We greatly appreciated Greg Blair and Purina for supporting our trial and generously providing Purina Pro Plan to the winners.

Harry Layne was indispensable, as usual, driving the dog truck, manning the road crossings and getting animals to the breakaway locations on time. We are grateful to Harry for his efforts as we would not be able to have trials at Percy Priest without him.

THE WINNERS

We had an encouraging number of shooting dog entries (26) with handlers coming from east, central and west Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky.

Earning first place was Seekin A Thrill, five-year-old pointer male owned and handled by Ross Leonard. The winner ran a far-reaching race with speed and purpose and scored six well-mannered finds along with a nice back of his bracemate.

Second was awarded to Dr. Marion Brown's Wibaux Sun B which executed a bird-finding clinic requiring Dr. Brown to dismount seven times and reload his gun. The well-built setter exudes class and exhibited a pleasing rapport with his handler.

Casey Creek Crystal Ice put down an impressive race pushing the limits of the course for owner-handler Buster Tucker, rewarding Buster with a nice piece of bird work toward the end of her run to secure third place. Crystal is a supremely athletic first-year dog that is exciting to watch.

The Derby entries were bested by Arnold Hall's pointer John Wesley Harden, a big and handsome prospect with a long graceful stride. He ran to the front for Arnold and had a commendable broke find. Lance Servais handled Southern Shadows T Rex and earned second place. Rex was fast and active throughout his run and scored on a broke find. Phil Morgan was close with Morgan's Out On Parole. The young pointer captured the judges' attention with a quick and snappy race and a good piece of bird work.

Thanks to all the competitors and spectators who participated in our new trial. We hope you will return next year.

LaVergne, Tenn., December 20

Judges: Ross Leonard and Bubba Spencer

AMATEUR DERBY -- 8 Pointers and 3 Setters

1st--JOHN WESLEY HARDEN, 1682536, pointer male, by High Drive Rocky--Cedar Rock Rose. Arnold Hall, owner and handler.

2d--SOUTHERN SHADOWS T REX, 1682853, pointer male, by Skyfall--Miller's White Wall. Lance Servais, owner and handler.

3d--MORGAN'S OUT ON PAROLE, 1686994, pointer male, by Miller's Dialing In--Lester's Wild Sally. Phil Morgan, owner and handler.

Amateur Derby Winners. Front, from left: Arnold Hall with John Wesley Harden,Katharine Williams, Brian Peterson with Southern Shadows T Rex and Phillip Morgan with Morgan's Out On Parole. Behind: Ross Leonard, judge; Lance Servais, Phil Morgan and Bubba Spencer, judge.

Judges: Amy Spencer and Bubba Spencer

AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] -- 19 Pointers, 5 Setters and 2 Irish Setters

1st--SEEKIN A THRILL, 1661543, pointer male, by Just Irresistible--Snow Thrill. Ross Leonard, owner and handler.

2d--WILBAUX SUN B, 1651336, setter male, by Desperado B--Golva Bell B. Marion Brown, owner and handler.

3d--CASEY CREEK CRYSTAL ICE, 1676908, pointer female, by Casey Creek Icy Hot--Charie's Dream Girl. Buster Tucker, owner and handler.