Result: Spencer Farms Field Trial Club

The fall field trial was run on October 22-23, in Milton, Fla. The weather conditions were warm, dry, and dusty, with the temperatures reaching the low eighties. Pastries and grilled sausages were provided each morning. Lunches were a selection of pulled pork, homemade soup, homemade egg salad, potato salad and with all the trimmings. Saturday evening the club hosted a full course rib-eye steak dinner that was enjoyed by all. A special thanks to Cleve and Nancy Rhodes for catering the meals and refreshments.

The rotating panel of judges for the field trial were Scott Phipps, Lance Johnson, Keith McDill, Robert Thomas, Junior Sims, and Tom Hennes. Their decisions were well received.

The grounds were in great shape with plenty of burning, chopping and mowing quite apparent. Water tubs were placed strategically on the course and the dogs took advantage of them. Birds were plentiful yet the scenting conditions were at a premium.

We would like to thank all those who were in attendance making this a special and enjoyable field trial event.

The first event was the Amateur All-Age. First place was Dubose's Wander Dog owned and handled by Bobby Dubose. At 83 years young, Bobby has not lost his touch with his dogs and young horses. Second place was Spencer's Rambling Justice owned by Jim Spencer and handled by Junior Sims. Third place was Sims Gamer Changer, owned and handled by Junior Sims.

The Amateur Derby was won by Erin's Mason Man, owned by Alan Atkins, Roger Key and Phil Tomlinson, and handled by Roger Key. He had a nice find and a forward race. Second place was Daley's Long Tall Sally, owned by Stan Padgett and handled by Daley Dalton. This is Daley's first placement, and she is still in high school.

The Amateur Shooting Dog was won by Erin's Young Offender, owned by Alan Atkins, and handled by Roger Key. The second place was Murphy's Law, owned by Jim and Mary Ann Womack and handled by Jim Womack. Third Place was Dubose's What a Dog owned and handled by Bobby Dubose.

The Open All-Age was won by McFay's Dire Straits. He was handled by Michael Martino. He had one find and a strong forward race. Second was Spencer's Rambling Justice owned by Jim Spencer and handled by Junior Sims. He had two finds and a forward race. Third place was Melrose Ramblin Man, owned and handled by Terry James Chastain, Jr. He had smooth forward race, always to the front.

The Open Derby was won by Erin's Mason Man, owned by Alan Atkins, Roger Key and Phil Tomlinson, and handled by Roger Key. He had a nice find and a forward race. Second place was Erin's Johnny Be Good, also owned by Alan Atkins, Roger Key and Phil Tomlinson, and handled by Roger Key. He had a nice find and a forward race.

The Open Shooting Dog was won by Melrose Ramblin Man, owned, and handled by Terry James Chastain, Jr. He had smooth forward race, always to the front and 1 find. Second Place was Deception Wild Justice, owned by Jeffrey Gilbertson, handled by Michael Martino. He had one and a nice race. Third place was Wiggins Pree Dawn Reward, owned by Katie Lyons and handled by Tom Hennes.
Milton, Fla., October 22 - One Course
Judges: Tom Hennes and Scott Phipps
SBHA AMATEUR ALL-AGE - 6 Pointers
1st-DUBOSE'S WANDER BOG, 1684553, male, by Heard Hill's Memory Lane-Dubose's Snow White. Bobby Dubose, owner and handler.
2d-SPENCER'S RAMBLING JUSTICE, 1684191, male, by Spencer's Rambling Lawman-Caladen's River Hawk. James Spencer, owner and handler.
3d-SIMS GAME CHANGER, 1692936, male, by Sims Ramblin Rex-Caladen's River Hawk. Junior Sims, owner and handler.
Judges: Lance Johnson and Robert Thomas
SBHA AMATEUR DERBY - 4 Pointers and 1 German Shorthair
1st-ERIN'S MASON MAN, 1701057, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Erin's Pearl. Alan Atkins, Roger Key & Phil Tomlinson, owners; Roger Key, handler.
2d-DALEY'S LONG TALL SALLY, 1698599, pointer female, by Conner's Trigger Man-Cordell's always Right. Stan Padgett, owner; Daley Dawson, handler.

Amateur Derby (from left): Roger Key and Hanna Todd with Erin's Mason Man,
Hardy Martino, and Daley Dawson with Daley's Long Tall Sally.

Judges: Keith McDill and Scott Phipps
SBHA AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG - 8 Pointers, 3 Setters and 1 German Shorthair
1st-ERIN'S YOUNG OFFENDER, 1692325, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Erin's Irresistible Bess. Alan Atkins, owner; Roger Key, handler.
2d-MURPHY'S LAW, 1669023, setter female, by Attitude's Iron Will-Broken Bridges. Jim Womack, owner and handler.
3d-DUBOSE'S WHAT A DOG, 1684554, pointer male, by Heard Hill's Memory Lane-Dubose's Snow White. Bobby Dubose, owner and handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog (from left): Roger Key with Erin's Young Offender, Mary Ann and
Jim Womack with Murphy's Law, and Jade Todd and Bobby Dubose with Erin's What A Dog.

Judges: Lance Johnson and Robert Thomas
SBHA OPEN ALL-AGE - 10 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-MCFAY'S DIRE STRAITS, 1694069, pointer male, by Miller's Hennessey-Jamback's Amazing Grace. Cleve McFay, owner; Mike Martino, handler.
2d-SPENCER'S RAMBLING JUSTICE, 1684191, pointer male, by Spencer's Rambling Lawman-Caladen's River Hawk. James W. Spencer, owner; Junior Sims, handler.
3d-MELROSE RAMBLIN MAN, 1686301, pointer male, by Melrose Strong Heart-Melrose Ramblin Gal. Terry J. Chastain, Jr., owner and handler.

Open All-Age (from left): Michael Martino with McFay's Dire Straits, Junior Sims, Jim Spencer with Spencer's Rambling Justice, and Terry James Chastain, Jr. with Melrose Ramblin Man.

Judges: Lance Johnson and Junior Sims
SBHA OPEN DERBY - 9 Pointers and 1 German Shorthair
1st-ERIN'S MASON MAN, 1701057, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Erin's Pearl. Alan Atkins, Roger Key & Phil Tomlinson, owners; Roger Key, handler.
2d-ERIN'S JOHNNY BE GOOD, 1701056, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Dominator's Rebel Maiden. Alan Atkins, Roger Key & Phil Tomlinson, owners; Roger Key, handler.
3d-SUNBELT JOE, unreg., pointer male, by Miller's Heat Seeker-Backcountry S H Sassy. Michael Martino, owner and handler.

Open Derby (from left): Roger Key with Erin's Mason Man, Jade Todd with Erin's Johnny Be Good, and Michael Martino with Sunbelt Joe.

Judges: Keith McDill and Scott Phipps
SBHA OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 10 Pointers
1st- MELROSE RAMBLIN MAN, 1686301, pointer male, by Melrose Strong Heart-Melrose Ramblin Gal. Terry J. Chastain, Jr., owner and handler.
2d-DECEPTION'S WILD JUSTICE, 1676380, male, by Eri's Wild Justice-Wild Covey Sandstorm. Jeff Gilbertson, owner; Mike Martino, handler.
3d-WIGGINS PREE DAWN REWARD, 1690453, female, by Wiggins War Trace-Wiggins Elhew C. Katie Lyons, owner; Tom Hennes, handler.

Open Shooting Dog (from left): Terry James Chastain, Jr. with Melrose Ramblin Man,
Michael Martino with Deception's Wild Justice, Katie Lyons and Tom Hennes with
Wiggins Pree Dawn Reward.

The Club would like to congratulate winners of all stakes and thank all those who participated and those who were in attendance that made this field trial a success.

During the Saturday night supper hosted by our gracious host, Jim Spencer, the club presented Jim Spencer with The Bird Dog Foundation, Inc. "Life Patron Membership" plaque for Jim's 45 years participation in the field trial sport.
The following full article was submitted to the Bird Dog Foundation, an abbreviated edition of the article was inscribed on the plaque presented to Jim Spencer and to be displayed at the Bird Dog Museum.

Lifetime Patron Recognition-James W. "Jim" Spencer
In the 1970s, approximately 7,000 acres of the Blackwater Forest were set aside for the exclusive use of conducting 7-10 field trials per year. For the success of such premier field trial venue in the Black Water WMA, it required continuous hard work from a dedicated group of individuals (Billy Taylor, Mark Cohorn, Jim Spencer, and others) who had the same passion. Jim Spencer was employed with the Florida Fish and Game Commission between mid-1970s through 1986 and assigned as head Law Enforcement Officer overseeing the Blackwater WMA and field trial grounds. Beyond his official duties, he assisted Billy Taylor in setting up/marking the field trial courses, provided use of family tractors for bushhogging, planting on courses. Jim allowed use of family's stables for the judges and club officials horses. He also arranged housing for the judges.

With grounds for bird dog training and field trials becoming scarce, Jim embarked on a mission to groom the family farm to be suitable for achieving such purposes. Jim always welcomed newcomers to the sport and opened his grounds for training. Jim provided pigeons, quail and use of assorted training tools and shared his knowledge he acquired from the prior years he participated in the sport between the mid 1970's through 1986. As the grounds improved, he allowed AKC Field trial clubs, The Florida Panhandle Pointing Breed Club and Emerald Vizsla Club to name a few to hosts field trials on a regular basis.

Seeing there was a lack of qualified judges, Jim acquired his judging certificate with AKC and filled in as a judge on stakes. Later as he campaigned his two dogs, Pajkos Semper Special Ops MH (Gunny) and Spencer's Rambling Addition MH (Willie), across the Southeast his judicial services became sought.

A new pup (Copper) acquired in 2014 was the conduit that brought back his involvement with the American Field horseback field trial venue. Copper, being a true all-age prospect, Jim sought the services of professional hander Fred Rayl to train his horseback field trial prospects and his support in forming Spencer Farms Field Trial Club. In 2016, the Spencer Farms Field Trial Club, Jim started hosting a fall and spring field trials in both amateur and open stakes and putting on training seminars.
Friends of James W. "Jim" Spencer