Event: Winall Pointers Win Derby and All-Age
Result: Southern Pines Celebration

Location: Hoffman, North Carolina

Post Date: Jul 2, 2022

Submitted By: Dwight Smith

The Southern Pines Celebration third field trial was a success thanks to the owners of the Top Amateur-Age entries that came from a three state area. Twenty-seven entries competed for the three placements in the Amateur All-Age. Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk captured first place honors for owner Gary Winall. Woodville's Saddle Tramp garnered second place for owner Carl Owens and Steve Mills' pointer, Walnut Tree Blue, was awarded third place by Judges Whitney Stephenson and George Kimbrell.

The companion derby stake was also captured by a Gary Winall pointer, Mohawk Mill Jacked Up, followed by Palmetto's Knight Light, Rodney Poston's young pointer for second place. Teacher's Little Tommy, owned by Ray Joye, placed third.

The three-day event was held at Robert Gordon Field Trial Grounds near Hoffman, N. C., on the Sandhills Wildlife area.

Enough good things cannot be said about the Robert Gordon Grounds, commonly known as "Hoffman". There are plenty of kennels, horse stables and corrals, camper hook-ups and a nice clubhouse.

The grounds are in superb condition thanks to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission employees led by Brady Beck and Lee Crisco.

The quail release program has worked well for the past seven years. At the present time, John Ivestor and Robert Henry are guiding the release efforts.

Weather during the three-day event was unusual. Friday was about normal for Sandhills weather this time of the year. Rain came on the second day and a hard freeze, which was very unusual, followed Saturday and Sunday morning.

John Atkinson, Ray Joye, and Grayson Francais were the workhorses of the 2022 Southern Pines Celebration. Every detail of the trial was carried out, was well organized and moved in a timely manner.

Gretchen and John Audit took care of the meals with suggestions from Ray Joye. The Audits have been a positive influence on trials at Hoffman after moving to the area from Vermont.

Dog truck driver Gregg Robertson is new to the job but he is fast becoming a fixture at Hoffman.

The 2022 Southern Pines Celebration was a fun trial - and an exciting trial. The Directors and the Celebration want to thank the two sponsors, Purina, who helps trial after trial and makes it possible for some trials to be able to put on a better trial with their support.

Whitney Stephenson and George Kimbrell judged the All-Age Stake. Grayson Francais joined Kimbrell for the Derby.
OPEN DERBY

The eight entry Open Derby stake kicked off the 2022 Southern Pines Celebration on a bright sunshiny day.

Mohawk Mill Jacked Up got the trial off to an exciting start with a find within the first ten minutes, then followed with more bird work before the big lake. He was exciting and a pleasure to watch; made one think he was going to explode with energy. His ground work was what made him stand out from the other entries. It is easy to predict a bright future for him.

Palmetto's Knight Light placed second with more than ample foot work and one find, then he had an unproductive just before pickup. He impressed with his strength and easy way of moving.

Teacher's Little Tommy placed third on a solid ground effort for handler Ray Joye. The Ray Joye pointer had bird work at nine and he too had an unproductive just before pickup.
South Point Speedy impressed with range, style and speed but had two unproductives.

Richmond County Tourism Authority supports the quail release program. Without their support finding enough quail during trials might not be possible. Field trialers and outdoors people can find whatever they need in Rockingham be it eating, fuel, sleeping and animal food.
Hoffman, N. C., March 11
Judges: Grayson Francais and George Kimbrell
OPEN DERBY - 8 Pointers
1st--MOHAWK MILL JACKED UP, 1689941, male, by Stoney Run's Buddy-Miller's Fancy Lady. Gary Winall, owner and handler.
2d-PALMETTO'S KNIGHT LIGHT, 1697096, male, by Palmetto's Spy Ranger-Santee River White Light. Rodney Poston, owner and handler.
3d-TEACHER'S LITTLE TOMMY, 1689374, male, by Mohawk Mill Image-Bevy's Cadillac Jukebox. Miles R. Joye, owner and handler.

AMATEUR ALL-AGE
The flagship stake of the Southern Pines Celebration is the Amateur All-Age. Its purpose statement states that a class moving, hard hunting, responding to handler and well manner quail dog will be honored with a placement. In this writer's opinion Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk met all the ideas in the Celebration's purpose statement.

Hawk drew the first brace in the All-Age and set the bar so high no other entry reached it.
His ground work was about as good as it could be on course three and he had two well spaced finds, displaying excellent style and manners around game. As someone in the gallery was overheard saying "how does Winall put all that style in his dogs pointing."
The answer might be the dogs are born with it and Winall develops it.
Carl Owens brought his setter, Saddle Tramp, up to Hoffman. The Mount Pleasant, South Carolina to take second place. Tramp showed intelligence in selecting places to hunt and he did not just run. He was rewarded with a find near the concrete bunker at which he displayed excellent manners and style.
Walnut Tree Blue, owned and handled by Steve Mills, was awarded third place on the basis of a sound ground effort and one find which he handled well.
Hitch, Grayson Francais' pointer, had some admirers in the galley. He had two pieces of bird work.
Judges: George Kimbrell and Whitney Stephenson
AMATEUR ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 21 Pointers and 6 Setters
1st--MOHAWK MILL KNIGHT HAWK, 1685481, pointer male, by Mohawk Mll Pirate's Legacy-Katie Lee's Wild Side. Gary Winall, owner and handler.
2d-WOODVILLE'S SADDLE TRAMP, 1681364, setter male, by Caladen's Davinci-Shamrock Rising Star. Carl Owens, owner and handler.
3d-WALNUT TREE BLUE, 1680850, pointer male, by Walnut Tree Fred-Dialing Kate. Steve Mills, owner and handler.

Amateur All-Age. Front row, from left: Ellen Clemmetts and Mohawk Mill Knight Hawk, 1st place and Carl Owens and Woodvilles Saddle Tramp, 2nd place. Second row. Gary Winall, Whitney Stephenson, Judge, George Kimbrell, Judge and John Atkinson. Third row - Dwight Smith and Sandra Stone. Back row - Gretchen Audit, Scott Griffin, Ray Joye, Gregg Robertson, John Audit.