Event: Smoke Rise Jake Wins
Result: U. S. Complete Southeast Open Regional Championship

Location: Hoffman, North Carolina

Post Date: Apr 27, 2023

Submitted By: David Huffine

U. S. Complete Southeast Open Regional Championship. Mark Hughes is stacking Smoke Rise Jake with Handler Tony Bingham behind him. Earl Drew is holding Ms. Lady W with Margaret Drew behind him. David Huffine.

Smoke Rise Jake, a four-year-old white and lemon pointer male, bested a field of 40 dogs to win the Southeast Open Regional Championship of the U. S. Complete Shooting Dog Association held March 1, 2023 at the J. Robert Gordon Field Trial Grounds in Hoffman, N. C. Jake is proudly owned by long-time and highly successful field trialer Fred Rose and was ably handled by Tony Bingham. The 2023 Champion is out of Stoney Runs Buddy and Smoke Rise Mariah.

Runner-up went to crowd favorite Ms. Lady W, a six-year-old orange and white pointer female, owned and handled by the cantankerous Earl Drew and expertly scouted by his better half, Margaret Drew, both of whom are in the U. S. Complete Hall of Fame. Lady is out of Dunn's Tried and True and Moonlight Magic.

The Championship took place on the famed Hoffman Field Trial Grounds which has six continuous courses carved out of longleaf pine and wiregrass in the 63,000-acre Sandhills Gamelands. Trials at Hoffman began in 1954. They were primarily horseback trials until a few years ago when U. S. Complete began holding both its National Championship and this Regional Championship on the grounds.

In this reporter's opinion, Hoffman is the best test of a dog and walking handler in North Carolina. The handler and dog must be fit to handle the sugar-sand and changing elevations of the North Carolina sandhills and the dogs must be adept bird- finders as there are no daily releases. Several of the handlers walked 4 hours in tough conditions to finish their dogs.
2023 has been a frustrating year for the bird populations at Hoffman. The early release took place as scheduled but a supplemental release planned for early January was cancelled due to adverse weather and was not rescheduled until later in March. Birds were scarce and the warm weather was tough on even the best conditioned dogs.

THE VIBE
All handlers, judges and guests considered this one of the most entertaining and "fun" Championships they had ever attended. Laughing was frequent and contagious. Competing handlers helped other handlers without being asked. The judges were attentive, helpful and congenial. Our illustrious dog wagon driver, Greg Roberson, serenaded us with George Jones and Johnny Cash songs at virtually all of the snack breaks. Greg and judge Ellen Clements sang old hymns for us at lunch. Surely, we could have used more bird work but we all had a great time. It's the way field trialing should be.
THE JUDGES
The Championship was fortunate to have two of the best judges to oversee a US Complete trial. Gary Winall and Ellen Clements of Powhatan, Virginia sat in the saddles for our Championship. Gary began in the early walking trial circuit but has since produced Hall of Fame credentials in all-age competition. Ellen has shared in and contributed to the Mohawk Mill team success and has no superior as a scout for amateur stakes (and possibly open stakes). Gary fulfilled his judging commitment while suffering from severe disc issues but watched all dogs diligently. Near the end of the Championship, Gary saw a dog heading toward the highway on Course 5 and put his horse at a full gallop to try to help the handler avoid an accident. All handlers were most appreciative of their expertise, effort and service.
THE PLACEMENTS
The Champion ran in the 4th Brace which began at the first turn on Course 4. His bracemate was Backwoods Wildfire handled by Mark Hughes. Both dogs broke away strongly on the straightaway, showing good style and ground application. Jake ran a big race and handled well, showing at appropriate times and places. Wildfire required a little more handler supervision but was competitive. At approximately 40, both dogs were missing. Tony sent his scout hard left looking for Jake and showed some concern that he might be lost. At 45, judges and gallery summitted the rise before the creek crossing. Jake was spied standing just to the left of a thicket at about 250 yards. Tony had to cross the creek and traverse the next hill to get to his dog with Ellen Clements following closely behind. Upon reaching the dog, Tony began a long and bloody flushing attempt in the heavy cover. Ellen dismounted and was on the ground looking for birds. Tony finally saw the birds running in the heavy cover and Ellen was able to see two birds. She told him to fire his pistol. Tony did so and collared his dog to the front. After as good watering, Tony released Jake who finished well. Mark had called for the tracker and retrieved his dog.

The runner-up Champion batted leadoff in the trial, breaking away at 8:02 in comfortable 52-degree weather on Course 1 near the clubhouse. Part of Course 1 was not used in the trial because of the sand and verticality of the first portion of the course but the remaining portions of Courses 1, 2 and 3 are suitable for a full morning at a walking trial. Lady was braced with Low Country Kate (PF-Bingham). Kate disappeared at breakaway but returned at 30 and was picked up by Tony. Lady was long off of the breakaway but settled into a moderate, consistent race, always to the front and handling well for Earl. She made two particularly nice casts at 25 and 40 but disappeared thereafter. The handler, judges and gallery were moving to the last field before the road crossing when Margaret calmly called point on the left and to the rear, all having passed the dog in the cover. Lady waited stylishly while Earl dismounted and flushed on the edge of a newly timbered cutover. Five birds lifted as Earl fired his pistol. Tony graciously helped Earl with his dog while he remounted. Lady quickly resumed her stylish but methodical race until the end of her hour. Margaret was unofficially given the Top Scout Award for guiding Earl to the placement and the find shall be remembered as "Margaret's Find".
THE RUNNING
The Brace 1 summary is above.

Brace 2 matched Sweet Grass Slim (ESM-David Huffine) and Wayward Flying Tomato (ESM-Mark Hughes). Both dogs broke away strongly and to the front. Slim had an erratic race with large casts to the front followed by facetime with his handler. He had an unproductive just past the Army Camp. At 45, he was seen standing at approximately 300 yards to the front. The flushing attempt produced a nice covey of birds with all in order. Slim finished his hour. Mark's dog had a more consistent race with a back on the unproductive but had no bird contact.

Mohawk Mill Warhawk (PM-Tony Bingham) and Double Deuce Oscar (PM-Hughes) broke away on Course 3. Oscar was wide and right early and then made a big cast to the left as the course turned to the right. Deer were seen in the vicinity and both dogs appeared to be intrigued by their presence. Scouts located the dogs but they had no interest in returning to the course. Both handlers called for their trackers. Thereafter, Tony's dog was found standing on several birds well off the course.

The Brace 4 summary is above.
Miller's Special Upgrade (PF-Hughes) and Island Blue Gene (ESM-Drew) drew Brace 5. The thermometer was rising quickly as they broke away at 3:15. Both dogs produced exceptional ground races in the heat and humidity and carried their style and class throughout their race but were ultimately birdless.

The last brace on Wednesday placed Hirollins Talking Smack (PM-Scott Miller) and Knight's Last Chipster (PM-Bingham) on Course 5. Scott's dog looked great and produced the best race of the day, ranging well and consistently to the front and showing when appropriate. Tony's dog had a good, forward race but not as aggressive as his bracemate. He suffered an unproductive. Neither dog produced birds.

Thursday sunup brought 64 degrees and a light drizzle as Miller's Hopped Up Version (PF-Hughes) and Belle Star (PF-Miller) attacked the straightaway on Course 1. Mark's dog had a medium to long race. An unproductive at 5 in a plum thicket was all she had to show for her efforts. Scott's charge had an excellent, reaching race but found no birds. Both dogs finished their hour.

Drizzle had turned to a steady rain by the time My Way Little Bud (PM-Bingham) and Double Deuce Sage (PF-Hughes) were loosed for Brace 8. Both dogs stayed to the front with moderate races, possibly due to the inclement weather. They shared an unproductive at 27 but no birds were produced by either dog.

CC Jax Rebel Wonder (GSM-Miller) and the 2022 Champion, Hirollins Gone and Doneit (PM-Bingham) finished the morning in Brace 9, breaking away at 10:45. Scott's dog ran a moderate race, always to the front. Gunner ran his normal "big" race, ignoring weather conditions. Unfortunately, the birds were as miserable in the rain as the handlers and were not pointed by either dog.

Brace 10 began the afternoon braces with 2021 Champion Ringo's Sweet Heart (PF-Verlene Stephenson) paired with Suemac's Sashay (PF-Hughes). Heart made a huge move to the front on the long straightaway on Course 4, passing the waterhole and the tall pines in the center of the course. She checked in with Verlene for a short period of time as the course turned to the northeast but then disappeared again. Verlene reluctantly called for the tracker at 35. Mark's dog ran a modest, forward race. She was found standing at 30 but flushing efforts produced no results.

Doc Haven's Jake Law (PM-Bingham) and Lucky Recharge (PM-Drew) matched up in Brace 11. Both dogs were relatively short. The veteran handlers knew that they were not "beating" dogs that had previously finished. Tony picked up at 30 and Earl followed at 35.

Braggabull (PF-Hughes) ran as a bye dog in the final brace of the day as Tony Bingham scratched Smoke Rise Hannah. Mark's dog had a beautiful cracking tail and the early race was good. However, she shortened later in the run and Mark picked her up at 45.

Clayhill T Bone (PM-Harry Cook III) and Tenacee Frankin (PM-Isenberg) had the early brace on Friday morning. T Bone's race was moderate but he shortened late, Harry elected to pick him up at 58. Frankin performed well in spite of his owner/handler's inability to spell his home state of Tennessee correctly on his registration. He was really classy on the ground and handled well with a moderate race. He had an unproductive at 55 and finished birdless shortly thereafter.

Brace 14 was released at 9:18. Double Deuce Zeke (PM-Hughes) ran a big race but was missing his handle for a portion of the hour. He was stylishly right and long for long periods of time but his efforts produced no birds. Zeke's bracemate was the handsome Erin's Battle Cry (PM-Bingham). Tony's dog had a moderate race interspersed with some really nice longer casts. Unfortunately, he also was birdless.

Brace 15 pitted another Hall of Famer, Bobby Phillips, running Bob's Elhew Sage (PF) with Attakullakulla (ESM-Bingham). Sage had a rare bad day, having difficulty finding the front and not handling as Bobby required. She was collared at 20. Tony's dog tired early and he also picked up at 20.

Harry Cook was up again in Brace 16, running Cook's Back in Black (PM) with Greg Isenberg's PM, Tenacee Shelby. Harry's dog was lost shortly after breakaway and he called for the tracker at 20. Shelby ran a big race in the warming temperature but was gone for long periods of time. Greg collared his dog at 40.

Brace 17 was run in the heat with Twiggy (PF-Cliff Monroe) paired with Sweet Grass Skeeter (ESM-Huffine). The appropriately petite Twiggy had a delightful race, dancing across the ground long and to the front. Her only failing was finding birds. Skeeter looked good going but suffered some in the heat. However, he would get some water and come back with another big cast. He had a nice covey find at 25 near the water hole before the road crossing on Course 4 with everything in order. Skeeter finished his hour.

Tenacee Rowdy (PM-Isenberg) was on Course 5 for the 18th Brace. Rowdy is a very handsome and athletic dog and showed a race that was competitive with any other dogs in the Championship. Unfortunately, he was birdless. He was braced with Hirollins BK Bushwacker (PM-Warren Parrott). Warren's dog struggled in the heat and Warren elected to pick him up at 35.
Brace 19 featured Treasure Chest (PM-Monroe) and No Name Emma (PF-Drew). Cliff's dog ran a modest race and handled well but found no birds. Emma was not minding Earl and, after his performance on the first day, he was not in the mood to waste time with her with the trial nearing an end and the judges growing tired. He graciously picked her up at 15.

Shoal Creek Belle (PF-Monroe) and Rebel's Orange Crush (ESM-Bingham) broke away on Course 2 for the 20th Brace. Belle was gone early and Cliff called for the tracker at 25. Tony recognized that his dog was not performing well enough to beat the dogs that had preceded him and picked up at 35.

Triple L's Ben (PM-Bingham) ran as a bye dog in the final brace of the Championship. Ben handled well and showed a moderate race but was not positioned to place in the Championship. Tony collared him shortly after the 30-minute mark.
Hoffman, N. C., March 1
Judges: Ellen Clements and Gary Winall
U. S. COMPLETE SOUTHEAST OPEN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 34 Pointers, 6 Setters and 1 German Shorthair
Winner-SMOKE RISE JAKE, 1684876, pointer male, by Stoney Run's Buddy-Smokerise Mariah. P. F. , owner; Tony Bingham, handler.
Runner-Up-MS. LADY W, 1671582, pointer female, by Dunn's Tried'n True-Moonlite Magic. Earl Drew, Jr., owner and handler.
PAUL WALKER OPEN DERBY CLASSIC
Sixteen derbies faced off in the Paul Walker Derby Classic. The competition was reduced to 30 minutes based upon the large number of entries for both the Championship and the derby stake. Margaret and Earl Drew agreed to substitute as judges. Unfortunately, no birds were found during the derby stake but ground races for the young dogs were good and the future looks promising.
First Place went to Red Bud's Lightning Catcher (PM-Bingham) who had a good race and a great finish.
Second place was awarded to Hirollins All American, a snappy setter handled by Warren Parrott.
Third Place went to Hirollins White Lightning (PM-Miller) who also had a good forward race and a nice finish.
Judges: Earl Drew and Margaret Drew
PAUL WALKER OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 13 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-REDBUD'S LIGHTNING CATCHER, 1697098, pointer male, by Clayhill Bones-Santee River Ice Cream. Aaron McAfee, owner; Tony Bingham, handler.
2d-HIROLLINS ALL AMERICAN, 1702820, setter male, by Grouse Feather Hawk-Sky's The Limit. Warren Parrott, owner and handler.
3d-HIROLLINS WHITE LIGHTNING, 1696976, pointer male, by Hirollins B K Unforgettable-Newbegun Courtney. Warren Parrott, owner; Scott Miller, handler.

AFTERWORD
The U. S. Complete contingent at Hoffman has established a wonderful team which has worked together to facilitate three Championships at the venue in 2023. Tony Bingham is responsible for ground operations which may include recruiting judges, securing "loaner" horses, buying groceries and consulting with the trial chairman on "in trial" matters. Margaret Drew shepherds all of us, reminding us of what must be done, what should be done and covering for us when we don't do it exactly right. For several years, our missing "piece" was the food service. Gretchen and John Adsit have filled that void, working tirelessly to see that lunches are available in the clubhouse and stretching dinner leftovers to help greatly with our tight budgets. Gretchen recruits Hoffman friends to assist and their help is essential.
Greg Roberson drives the dog/gallery wagon and is an absolute delight. He is reliable and timely but he is also engaged in the trials, following each dog and handler attentively. This year Greg added a wonderful singing voice to his previously known talents of storytelling and regaling truck riders with off-color jokes.

We give special thanks to Warren Parrott who sponsored the handlers' dinner. The food was delicious, but the dining experience was enhanced by the stories, ribbing and laughter among old friends and competitors.

The Cape Fear Field Trial Club thanks both the Wildlife Resources Commission and the North Carolina Field Trial Association for making this trial possible. Hoffman has 52 horse stalls, corrals and numerous kennels, all with running water which makes a multi-day trial easy on the organizers and the competitors.

The Club also thanks Purina for its sponsorship of the Championship. Our trial and many others would not occur without the support of Greg Blair and Purina.

IN MEMORIUM
We all share in the loss of our dear friend and U.S. Complete leader Ted Riley who died March 8, 2023. Ted was present at the founding of U. S. Complete, often traveling with Bob Lee and others to recruit new clubs to membership. Ted served as Co-chairman for the Futurity, chairman of the Bob Lee Classic and ran and organized many other trials in North Carolina. He was President of the Southeast Region for many years and was active in his leadership positions. Ted was a leading proponent for the handicapped rules now in effect and was responsible for the U. S. Complete National Championship moving to Hoffman. This Championship is held as a result of Ted's efforts to bring walking trials to this venue.
We will miss Ted and our best wishes and memories go out to Ted's family.

Paul Walker Open Derby Classic. 1st Row J. D. Waters, Cliff Monroe, Jamey Miller Scott Miller 2nd Row Unknown, Chris Catanzarite, Unknown, Tony Bingham, Greg Roberson, Margaret Drew (Judge), Earl Drew (Judge).