Event: South Carolina Amateur Classics
Result: Association of South Carolina Field Trial Clubs

Location: Patrick, South Carolina

Post Date: Apr 17, 2023

Submitted By: Jadie C. Rayfield

South Carolina Amateur Shooting Dog Classic Winners (from left): Lane Hodges with One Day Lucky Strike and Gray Watson with Excalibur River Queen. (Back row, from left): Roger McPherson, Darcey Hodges, George Hickox (judge), Rodney Poston, Travis Gelhaus, and President Mac Stidham.

The South Carolina Amateur Shooting Dog and Derby Classics held the 58th Renewal January 6-7 over the H. Cooper Black Memorial Grounds. The grounds are between Patrick and Cheraw, S. C., just a few miles off Highway 1.

Judges for this renewal were high-quality and experienced dogmen. Mr. George Hickox of Ochlocknee, Ga., and Travis Gelhaus of Ridgeland, S. C., judged a high-caliber field of 21 dogs. Mr. Hickox is co-owner of multi-champion and award-winner Chelsea's Thunder Bolt. Travis started training walking dogs and quickly moved up to horseback. Travis also has qualified dogs and competed in The National Championship at Ames Plantation.

The meals were catered by Corner Crossroads Store out of Kingstree, S. C. Store owner Matt White did a fantastic job preparing authentic southern lunches and our appreciation supper on Friday night. All attendees enjoyed watching Matt preparing our food on his outside kitchen grill.

Many thanks to Greg Blair of Nestl Purina for the continuing support of the South Carolina Field Trial Association. The field trial fraternity is extremely fortunate to have representation from such a top-shelf individual.

The South Carolina Association would like to thank all the attendees and participants. We look forward to seeing everyone again and planning next year's event.

Winners and Others
The first brace on Saturday morning paired two strapping pointer males. One Day Lucky Strike, owned by Lane and Darcey Hodges of Griffin, Ga., and Hirollins Gone And Doneit, owned and handled by Warren Parrott of Pamplico, S. C.

Weather conditions for this second morning of running were ideal. These powerful canines thrilled the judges and those in the gallery with a talented hunting, action-packed hour. Three minutes into the brace, each dog was espied, standing majestically posed on the left side of the course. Everything was in perfect order at flush and shot. After being released, Lane and Warren sat back in the Money Hole, showing their charges making forward and intelligent hunting cast. Then at 17, each handler lifted their caps skyward. Upon our arrival, Luck Strike and Done It were viewed standing with high calendar style. The birds were located and manners excellent to wing and shot. Seven minutes later, handlers found their charges standing separately in the large Minefield feed patch. Once again, each entry showed intensity and advanced training. We made the Beaver Pond crossing finely, with handlers showing their entries hunting independently over the distant sand-hill ridges.

Then again, at 35, both dogs were found standing alongside the wax myrtle hedge. Lane dismounted and flushed a single directly in front of the motionless Lucky Strike. All was in order for the sound of the gun. Meanwhile, during Parrott's initial flushing effort, game could not be raised. Warren, showing complete confidence in his dog, tapped Done It on his head to relocate. The dog moved to the right and straight forward to slam in to point. He went to the "meat" and was statuesque for the quick flush and shot.

From this point on, these hard-hunting competitors hunted the course intelligently and mindful of handlers at all times. Done It stopped to point in a known release site at 49. Warren showed Judge Gellhaus a fresh kill and elected to regain the front. At the call of time, Lucky Strike was shown on the distant pine line with Done It crossing the Goose Pond dam at a fast clip reaching for more country.

In brace No. 10, Excalibur River Queen, a well-bred pointer female owned and developed by Rodney Poston of Pamplico, S. C., came to the line. This beautifully made first-year dog went to work immediately. Queen scored a corking field trial find at the end of her opening cast. Queen stood pretty as a peach while Rodney flushed and presented birds to the gun. Rodney sent his fancy female forward, and Queen hunted the course as if she owned it for the next 25 minutes. Then at 28, Rodney again raised his cap for the dynamic first-year contender. Everything was in order to wing and shot. At 40, Queen stood proudly with an exaggerated style and showed advanced training during the flush and shot. For the remainder of the hour, Rodney sat back and showed his Queen hunting, boldly searching for game.

The Other Contenders
The first brace kicked off the trial with a competitive female pairing. Bella Bulli had three pieces of bird work for Pennsylvanians Ernie and Karen Saniga. Her bracemate, One Day Queen Bee, also scored three times for Lane and Darcey Hodges.

Brace No. 4 paired pointer male Cottonwood Banjo, owned and handled by Tim Ruff, with Lane and Darcey Hodges's fancy female, One Day La Bandita. Banjo finished his hour with three pieces of bird work and a natural back. Bandita tallied two pieces of bird work combined with a fine hour on the ground.

David Huffine and his setter male, Sweet Grass Slim, rendered a fine hour. The stylish setter presented birds to the gun five times and naturally backed his bracemate.

Patrick, S. C., January 7 - One Course
Judges: Travis Gelhaus and George Hickox
SOUTH CAROLINA AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG CLASSIC [One-Hour Heats] - 19 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st--ONE DAY LUCKY STRIKE, 1684551, pointer male, by Heard Hill's Memory Lane-DuBose's Snow White. Lane Hodges, owner and handler.
2d--HIROLLINS GONE AND DONEIT, 1679825, pointer male, by Fastforward's B K Gunner-Littlewing B K Tia. Warren Parrott, owner and handler.
3d--EXCALIBUR RIVER QUEEN, 1691691, pointer female, by Bonner's Excalibur-Santee River Iced Crush. Rodney Poston, owner and handler.

The Derby Classic
The dynamic pointer female, Palmetto's Street Singer, owned and handled by Gray Watson of Pamplico, S. C., nailed down first place. Street Singer and Gray were super exciting to watch. Street Singer spun an exciting forward pattern during her bid, and Gray enjoyed every second. "Dixie" was rewarded for hunting efforts at 29!

Harry Cook III of Darlington, S. C., piloted his well-made pointer male, Cook's Fleetwood Mac, to second. This handsome youngster has a stride that gains attention from the start. Mac slammed into a rigid, high-style point at 8. Harry could not produce on the initial flush and required relocation. The classy moving animal finished his hunt, hunting with a diligent forward pattern.

Sweet Grass Skipper, a beautifully made setter, rounded out the placements. David Huffine, of Wilmington, N. C., is the proud owner and handler. The Skipper had four stylish pieces of bird work and hunted every step of the way.

AMATEUR DERBY - 6 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st--PALMETTO'S STREET SINGER, 1699456, pointer female, by Touch's Grey Street-Hirollins Fancy Lady. J. Gray Watson, Jr., owner and handler.
2d--COOK'S FLEETWOOD MAC, 1699983, pointer male, by Bonner's Excalibur-Hirollins Canadian Mist. Harry Cook III, owner and handler.
3d--SWEET GRASS SKIPPER, 1698209, setter male, by Sweet Grass Slim-Tower Hill Zoey Zee. David Huffine, owner and handler.

Amateur Derby Winners (from left): Palmetto's Street Singer with Gray Watson and Cook's Fleetwood Mac with Harry Cook III. (Standing, from left): Lane Hodges, Jadie Rayfield, Roger McPherson, Rodney Poston, Sims Cannon, Annalia Cool, George Hickox (judge), Travis Gelhaus (judge), and President Mac Stidham.