Result: Clarksville Bird Dog Club

Location: Huntingdon, Indiana

Post Date: Apr 5, 2023

Submitted By: Lisa Little, Club Secretary

Amateur All-Age Winners (bottom row): David Williams with Rebel Survivor, Mike Small with Small's White Charger, and Gary McKibben with Coldwater Paradise. (Top row): Angie Williams, Mason Ashburn, and Judges Keith St. John and Chris Sellers.

The Clarksville Bird Dog Club held its amateur field trial on the prestigious grounds of the David Williams family in Huntingdon, Tenn., on January 26-30. The trial began with the United States Amateur Derby Invitational 2023 East Region Super Qualifier. We were honored to have the opportunity to co-host the event this year. Region 6 competitors have shown strongly in the Derby Invitational each year. Quintin Wiseman, administrator, will give a full report on the Super Qualifier Derby stake.

A field trial can only be successfully run with the expertise and work of many volunteers to fulfill all the necessary roles. The club was extremely grateful to have Keith St. John and Chris Sellers fulfill the judicial seat for the Amateur Shooting Dog and Amateur All-Age stakes. Both gentlemen brought vast field trialing and judging experience to the event. David Williams, Phillip Barnett, and Scott Little spent several hours Wednesday in the strong winds and bitter cold, setting out 500 quail over the three courses. Dog wagon drivers Dan Warrick, Lebob Stanfill, and John Burrow were always ready at each road crossing to ensure competitors' safety, assist with loading and unloading dogs, and see to the field trialers' needs between braces. Michele Clark, Angie Williams, and Elise Warrick were on hand with meal preparation and clean-up throughout the five-day event.
Additionally, Michelle, Clark, Gary McKibben, Phillip Barnett, and Scott Little served as marshals and scouts. We are incredibly appreciative to David Williams and his family for the use of the facilities, grounds, and housing for the judges. I would be amiss if I didn't mention how thankful we are for each handler and their canine competitors, all of which are top-notch. Lastly, I thank Sportsman's Pride for supporting our amateur trial. Their generosity is shown by assisting with advertising costs and sending product gift cards for the stake winners.

The Amateur Shooting Dog stake began after lunch on Friday afternoon with a field of 18 competitors and nine handlers. Taking the top honors for the stake was Southern Shadows T Rex. This white and liver pointer male was handled by Brian Peterson and scouted by owner Lance Servais. Running on Saturday afternoon on the first-hour course, Rex had one find and a big ground-covering brace. Rex recently turned five years old and is the son of Skyfall and Miller's White Wall. Second place was awarded to Nickajack Pathfinder, a 5-year-old white and orange pointer male handled by his owner Ross Leonard. "Willy" ran Saturday afternoon on the second hour's course. He had one back, one unproductive, and a very nice shooting dog ground race. Willy is the son of Touch's Smooth Rider and Cocklebur Stripper Candie. Garnishing third place was Lester's Top Recruit for owner and handler Lance Servais. Top Recruit is a 5-year-old white and liver pointer male by Lester's Sunny Hill Jo and Rivertons Funseeker Riley. Top Recruit ran on the third hour's course Saturday morning, no bird work occurred, but he impressed the judges with his ground race and handling skills.

The Amateur All-Age stake began Sunday morning, having a field of 16 competitors and eight handlers. The most impressive brace occurred on the third-hour course Sunday afternoon. Rebel Survivor set the standard with four finds, one back, and a forward, fast pace. This impressive performance earned "Solo" the first placement for his handler and owner, David Williams. Rebel Survivor is a 5-year-old white and orange male pointer by Rebel Pride and In Swami's Shadow. Braced with Rebel Survivor was Mike Small's white and orange male pointer, Small's White Charger. White Charger had one find and an impressive fast-running ground race and was always to the front. Small's White Charger is four years old and out of Phillips Off Line and Phillips North Line. Earning third place honors and the only female to earn a placement during the trial was Coldwater Paradise. "Josie" is a 3-year-old white and orange pointer by Coldwater Spectre and Coldwater Belle. She made her mark on the first-hour course Sunday afternoon with a nice piece of bird work and a beautiful ground race for owner and handler Gary McKibben.

Thanks again to the handlers, owners, volunteers, and sponsor for helping make this a fun and successful trial!

Huntingdon, Tenn., January 27
Judges: Chris Sellers and Keith St. John
AMATEUR ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 14 Pointers, 1 Setter and 1 Irish Setter
1st-REBEL SURVIVOR, 1680246, pointer male, by Rebel Pride-In Swami's Shadow. David Williams, owner and handler.
2d-SMALL'S WHITE CHARGER, 1687724, pointer male, by Phillips Off Line-Phillips North Line. Mike Small, owner and handler.
3d-COLDWATER PARADISE, 1684062, pointer female, by Coldwater Spectre-Coldwater Belle. Gary McKibben, owner and handler.
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG [One-Hour Heats] - 13 Pointers, 2 Setters and 3 Irish Setters
1st-SOUTHERN SHADOWS T REX, 1682853, pointer male, by Skyfall-Miller's White Wall. Lance Servais, owner; Brian Peterson, handler.
2d-NICKAJACK PATHFINDER, 1680947, pointer male, by Touch's Smooth Rider-Cocklebur Stripper Candie. Ross Leonard, owner and handler.
3d-LESTER'S TOP RECRUIT, 1681841, pointer male, by Lester's Sunny Hill Jo-Riverton's Funseeker Riley. Lance Servais, owner and handler.

Amateur Shooting Dog Winners (bottom row): Brian Peterson with Southern Shadows T Rex, Ross Leonard with Nickajack Pathfinder, and Lancer Servais with Lester's Top Recruit. (Top row): Scott Little and Judges Keith St. John and Chris Sellers.