Result: Lee County Field Trial Club

Location: Bronwood, Georgia

Post Date: Mar 16, 2023

Submitted By: Maria Bassham

The Lee County Field Trial Club held its annual trial on the beautiful grounds of Showtime Plantation in Bronwood, Ga., starting December 9, 2022. The trial consisted of Amateur All-Age, Amateur Derby, Open All-Age, and Open Derby stakes.

Riding in the judicial saddles for this qualifying trial were Jeff Gibbons of Deatsville, Ala., and Bill Mason of Moundsville, Ala. Larron Copeland of Bronwood, Ga., stepped in for Bill for the open derbies. For the amateur stakes, Jamie Daniels of Dawson, Ga., and Keith Bollendorf of Guntersville, Ala., shared their time and expertise in placing the amateur winners.

A delicious, homecooked meal was provided daily for lunch and sponsored by several local businesses. Warm Hardee's biscuits were served each morning thanks to Trial Marshal Steve "Kudzu" Wiley and his wife, Marilyn. They were much appreciated and enjoyed daily at the 9 a.m. brace change.

A huge thank you goes out to Larron and Laura Copeland for being gracious hosts and holding this trial on their gorgeous plantation. Thank you to Greg Blair and Purina for providing the winners with bags of Purina Pro Plan dog food and for their continued support of this trial.

Open All-Age

The Open All-Age stake started December 12 on a foggy, misty Monday morning. Three setters and 26 pointers were entered to run in this qualifying trial.

Brace No. 1 was Erin's Perfect Storm (PM/Luke Eisenhart) and Touch's Malcolm Story (PM/Mark McLean). Storm, a handsome male pointer, started strong with a find and flight of birds at 2; Malcolm Story honored that find. Both dogs raced across the field and made a big cast along the outside edge. They both continued running at the edge of the pines, but both handlers picked up before time was called.

Brace No. 2 was Hirollins Macho Man (PM/Luke Eisenhart) and Miller's Blindsider (PM/Jamie Daniels). Macho Man had the first find of the brace at 15 and held steady to wing and shot. Blindsider stopped for a point at 21. Jamie asked him to relocate, and birds were seen. Macho Man continued to run his race with a point at 31. He tapped him to relocate, but the pointer ran on. Blindsider pointed at 42 with an unproductive. His handler had seen a hawk fly overhead. Blindsider ran off before pick-up and did not return. Macho Man was seen at the end of the brace.

Brace No. 3 was Lester's Storm Surge (PM/Gary Lester) and Confident Nation (PM/Luke Eisenhart). Storm had a find at 12, and a large covey was up. Nation had an unproductive at 21. Both dogs ran a big race across the field at 28. Nation had his second unproductive at 36 and was picked up. Storm stopped for a point at 46 with relocation but moved on. He returned to his handler when time was called.

Brace No. 4 was Dominator's Rebel Queen (PF/Jamie Daniels) and Miller's King Poast (PM/Gary Lester). Queen, the first of the three female pointers entered to run, started the brace with a large covey up at 3. Both dogs cast out front at the top of the field at the edge of the towering pines. King stopped for a point with relocation but moved on at 30. Handler picked up at 49. Queen was running the edge of the tree line. She ended the brace strong and was with her handler when pick-up was called.

Brace No. 5 was Woodville's Yukon Cornelius (ESM/Mark McLean) and Notorious Dominator's Heir (PM/John Mathys). At 6, the handsome male setter, Rudy, pointed with relocation but moved on, and the handler picked up at 21. Dominator was missing for quite some time, so the handler opted for his tracker.

Brace No. 6 was Erin's Three Leaf Shamrock (ESM/Luke Eisenhart) and Showtime Game Changer (PM/Larron Copeland). The second male setter to run, Shamrock, had point called twice at 3 but was waved off. One more point was immediately called, and a flight of birds was seen. He had another find at 10 with a nice covey up. At 19, he pointed and was relocated but moved on. Game Changer had an unproductive at 25 and was picked up. Shamrock had a productive find at 31 with a flight of birds. He continued his solo race running big across the field with 15 minutes left of the brace. He had one last find at 55 with birds seen and was picked up at 57.

Brace No. 7 began Tuesday Morning, December 13, with Erin's Grey Justice (PM/Luke Eisenhart) and Touch's Midnight Rider (PM/Mark McLean). Justice started the brace with a large covey up at 2. He held steady to wing and shot. Both dogs raced out front along the edge of the tree line. At 41, both dogs stopped to point with Midnight Rider honoring Justice. Sizeable covey was flushed, and shot was fired. Midnight Rider was picked up before time was called. Justice returned with his handler within the allotted time.

Brace No. 8 was Erin's Ty Breaker (PM/Luke Eisenhart) and Dominator's Mae Belle (PF/Jamie Daniels). Ty had a nice, classy find with a relocation at 8 and a large covey flushed. Both dogs ran big at the edge of the field along the tree line and continued their race with their handlers through the cotton field cutaway. Maybelle, the second female pointer of the stake, stopped for a find at 58 with a flight of birds. Both dogs handled well and ended the brace strong returning with their handlers at pick-up. This placed Erin's Ty Breaker in third place.

Brace No. 9 was Erin's Wild Atlantic Way (ESM/Luke Eisenhart) and Touch's Gallatin Fire (PM/Mark McLean). The third and final setter to run, Atlantic Way, had the first find of the brace at 12. Birds were up and shot fired. Gallatin Fire stopped for a point at 15, was relocated, and moved on. A single bird was briefly seen as horses were cantering across the field to catch up to the gallery. Atlantic Way had another find at 35 with a flight of birds. At 37, he pointed a rabbit but moved on. He had one last successful find at 45, and shot was fired. Mark requested a tracker for Gallatin Fire at 56. Atlantic Way did not return to the handler after the end of the brace.

Brace No. 10 was Miller's Unbridled Forever (PM/Luke Eisenhart) and Dominator's Wild Bill (PM/Jamie Daniels). Both dogs made a big cast at the top of the field along the tree line. Unbridled had a sizeable find at 32. Wild Bill continued his race with a nice, classy find at 40. Big covey took flight. Both dogs were out front with their handlers when time was called.

Brace No. 11 was Lester's Shockwave (PM/Gary Lester) and Supreme Confidence (PM/Luke Eisenhart). Shockwave started strong with a find at 5 and a flight of birds. Confidence pointed a large covey at 9 but was picked up at 38. Shockwave was found on point at the far bottom of the field and was relocated several times with an unproductive and was picked up at 45.

Brace No. 12 was Dominator's Queen Bee (PF/Jamie Daniels) and Rentz's Hijacked (PM/Luke Eisenhart). Hijacked had a find at 4 with birds seen. Meanwhile, Queen, the final female pointer of the open stake, was also pointing a find and had a flight of birds. Queen had a second find at 31 with shot fired. She was picked up at 33. Luke requested a tracker at 37 after the dog had not been seen for some time.

Brace No. 13 was Touch's Shadow Rider (PM/Mark McLean) and Erin's Code of Honor (PM/Luke Eisenhart). Shadow Rider started strong in this winning brace. He had a nice, classy find at 5 with a sizeable flight of birds. Code of Honor had a find at 10 and held steady to wing and shot despite some birds flushing in his direction. Both dogs handled exceptionally well in their forward race, running with their handlers. They both continued on the edge of the trees at the top of the field after simultaneously redirecting. Both contenders ran a clean race and were with their handlers when time was called for this exciting brace, placing them first and second in this Open All-Age stake.
Brace No. 14 was Navajo Nation (PM/Luke Eisenhart) and Touch's Breakaway Fred (PM/Mark McLean). Navajo Nation had the first find at 3, and birds were seen. His second point was at 8 with relocation and was then picked up by the handler. Fred had a point with relocation at 14 and was also picked up.

Brace No. 15 was bye-dog Dunn's Sneak'n In (PM/Luke Eisenhart). He ran his solo brace for 20 minutes and was picked up.
Bronwood, Ga., December 12
Judges: Jeff Gibbons and Bill Mason
OPEN ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 26 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st--TOUCH'S SHADOW RIDER, 1697543, pointer male, by Touch's Smooth Rider-Touch's Gold Dance. Bruce & Karen Norton & Dr. Reuben Richardson, owners; Mark McLean, handler.
2d--ERIN'S CODE OF HONOR, 1696057, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Erin's Miss Maggie. Sean Derrig, owner and handler.
3d--ERIN'S TY BREAKER, 1678678, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-My Minnie. Theodore R. Roach, owner; Luke Eisenhart, handler.

Open Derby
Rester's Johnny Ringo (PM/Luke Eisenhart) was the first-place winner. Johnny ran in the third brace of the derby contenders against Gary Lester and Miller's King Poast. The two dogs raced to the top of the field and cast big along the distant tree line. Johnny had a find at 11 and held steady to wing and shot. A nice-sized covey took flight. Luke returned with Johnny when time was called to end the brace.

Second place was awarded to Five60 Breakout (PM/Judd Carlton). This dog ran in the fifth brace of the derbies against Luke Eisenhart and Nighthawk's Rebel. Both dogs raced big across the field towards the pivots at the tree line. Breakout had a nice find at 18 after relocation, and birds took flight. Judd was at the top of the hill with his white and orange pointer at pickup.

Third place went to Dominator's Big Mike (PM/Jamie Daniels). Mike ran in the eighth brace with his bracemate, Chip, and Luke Eisenhart. Mike stopped for a point at 2 with a relocation only to move on. Both dogs continued to race big across the field towards the far row of pines. Mike had a find at 14 with a large covey up. At 20, both dogs pointed with Mike out front and Chip honoring the find. Mike held steady to wing and shot, and birds took flight. Jamie had Mike at the end of the brace when time was called. He ran a very nice race and was well-liked by the judges.
Judges: Larron Copeland and Jeff Gibbons
OPEN DERBY - 21 Pointers
1st--RESTER'S JOHNNY RINGO, 1695797, male, by Miller's Blindsider-Rester's Amazing Grace. Cecil Rester, owner; Luke Eisenhart, handler.
2d--FIVE60 BREAKOUT, 1701713, male, by Pleasant Run Bob-Hendrix's Hunger Strike. Guy & Burke Hendrix, owners; Judd Carlton, handler.
3d--DOMINATOR'S BIG MIKE, 1702018, male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Gal Gadot. Joe Hughes, owner; Jamie Daniels, handler.
Amateur All-Age
The first-place winner was Touch's Dancing Nancies (PF/Kent Cantrell). This liver and white female pointer had four finds and ran a smooth race. She made all the right moves in her time on the ground.
Second place was awarded to Erin's Southern Comfort (PM/Sean Derrig). This pointer male had four finds in his forward race, and a perfect limb find.
Third place went to Rester's Johnny Ringo (PM/Cecil Rester). He ran a wild, lateral race and had three nice finds. He had good bird work with a limb find. Plenty of birds were seen, and the judges' decision was well received.
Judges: Keith Bollendorf and Jamie Daniels
AMATEUR ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 15 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st--TOUCH'S DANCING NANCIES, 1680402, pointer female, by Touch's Big Whiskey-Blackhawk's Sunflower. Kent Cantrell, owner and handler.
2d--ERIN'S SOUTHERN COMFORT, 1693833, pointer male, by Erin's Lone Star Law--Erin's Irresistible Jane. Sean Derrig, owner and handler.
3d--RESTER'S JOHNNY RINGO, 1695797, pointer male, by Miller's Blindsider-Rester's Amazing Grace. Cecil Rester, owner; Luke Eisenhart, handler.

Amateur Derby
The first place was Showtime Samcro (PM/Larron Copeland). This male pointer ran a very reaching race.
Second place was awarded to Showtime Houston Solution (PM/Larron Copeland). This littermate to Samcro had nice bird contact and has a very promising future.
The third place was Showtime Doc Holiday (PM/Larron Copeland). Another littermate ran just a little shorter than his brothers. The judges' decisions were well-received for all the derby placements.
AMATEUR DERBY - 7 Pointers
1st--SHOWTIME SAMCRO, 1700152, male, by Showtime Sam Houston-Chelsea's Mae West. Larron & Laura Copeland, owners; Larron Copeland, handler.
2d--SHOWTIME HOUSTON SOLUTION, 1700153, male, by Showtime Sam Houston-Chelsea's Mae West. Larron & Laura Copeland, owners; Larron Copeland, handler.
3d--SHOWTIME DOC HOLIDAY, 1700154, male, by Showtime Sam Houston-Chelsea's Mae West. Larron & Laura Copeland, owners; Larron Copeland, handler.