Result: Virginia Amateur Field Trial Club

Location: Ahoskie, North Carolina

Post Date: May 23, 2023

Submitted By: Gene Hogge

Parke Brinkley Amateur Derby Classic Winners (front, from left): Hoss Earley (judge), Jeff Smith with Calico's Sugar 'N' Spice, Gary Winall, Ellen Clements with Mohawk Mill Shake Up, David Huffine with Sweet Grass Skipper, and Rob Maguire (judge). (Back): Lynn Deaton, Parke Brinkley, Bill Bruchey, Larry King, Al Dahl, Barbel Fetkoter, Fred Potts, Sammy Giddens, Nida Giddens, Darrell Miller, Art Cohen, and Brandon Johnson.

The Virginia Amateur Field Trial Club held its trial on March 24 with a full slate of stakes run over the Cutawhiskie grounds generously given to the club by the late Dr. Aubrey Morgan in St. John, N. C. Weather for the trial was very warm and made the going tough for handlers, horses, and dogs. Hoss Earley of Richlands, N. C., and Rob Maguire of Chesapeake, Va., were trial judges this year. Both did an exceptional job of watching the entries and were able to stretch their horses to the max to cover the stakes.

The grounds have continually improved due to the year-round effort of club members and the support of the Twentieth Century Fund. Feed strips have been maintained and expanded, new paths have made the courses easier to negotiate, and increased quail habitat has resulted from aggressive burning and mowing. The early-release program continues to supply an impressive amount of wild birds during the fall and winter.

It's quite an undertaking to put on the trial, and many thanks go to Barbel Fetkoter for her tireless work. She raises the quail from day-old chicks to their timely release and ensures they are well-fed throughout the season. She also ensures that we are well-fed during the trial with the help of some club members. Skip Brown does his outstanding chicken barbeque, and Jim Jones prepared a great seafood dinner in honor of Gary Winall's 2022 All-Age winner, Mohawk Mill Gangster. Parke Brinkley had his burgers ready for the early arrivers Thursday night.

We would also like to thank our friends at Purina for their generous support of our trial.

In the Verle Farrow Puppy Classic, Gary Miller's female pointer, Lucy, showed future potential with a strong race to capture first. David Huffine's setter, Sweet Grass Scout, ran a classy, forward race to take second. Larry King's pointer female, Sweet Sorrow, was awarded third.
The Parke Brinkley Derby Classic was won by Calico's Sugar 'N' Spice, a pointer female owned and handled by Jeff Smith. Spice had three finished finds, a back and a forward, animated race to take first. Gary Winall's pointer male, Mohawk Mill Shake Up, was close behind, with two finds and two backs. The first and second-place dogs were braced together in a very competitive 30 minutes. David Huffine's Sweet Grass Skipper had one classy find and finished to the front to round out the placements.

The one-hour Amateur All-Age stake was topped by Larry King's pointer female, Alibi Girl. Her far-flung race carried her off course before the dam crossing, where her scout found her on point. Getting back on the course, she had two more finds as she ran the edges and handled the course well. Dry Creek Zeke, a pointer male handled by Jeff Smith, did well in the heat with two finds and a good race to take second. Walnut Tree Blue, a pointer male, was handled by Steve Mills with two finds, an unproductive in an impenetrable privet hedge and a forward race.

Setter female I Dream of Jeannie won the Open Derby for Kyle Whitfield. Classy on the ground, she had three finished finds to go along with a very good ground effort. Gary Miller's pointer female, Miss Moneypenny, took second with good bird work to accompany her fine race. Walnut Tree Buddy, a pointer male handled by Steve Mills, rounded out the placements with an acceptable performance.

Gary Miller's pointer male, L C Smith, won the half-hour Open All-Age stake. Gary hung on as his dog found game three times and finished well. Second place was pointer female, Warrior's Debutante, handled by Gene Hogge. She had two finds and finished to the front. Third, placed on race, was Pagan Creek Atticus.

Ahoskie, N. C., March 24
Judges: Hoss Earley and Robert Maguire
PARKE BRINKLEY AMATEUR DERBY CLASSIC - 5 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st--CALICO'S SUGAR 'N' SPICE, 1700320, pointer female, by Waybetter Rocky-Waybetter Rummy. Calico Kennels & Jeffrey Smith, owners; Jeff Smith, handler.
2d--MOHAWK MILL SHAKE UP, 1698765, pointer male, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior-Legendary. Gary S. Winall, owner and handler.
3d--SWEET GRASS SKIPPER, 1698209, setter male, by Sweet Grass Slim-Tower Hill Zoey Zee. David Huffine, owner and handler.

Amateur All-Age Winners (front, from left): Larry King with Alibi Girl, Jeff Smith with Dry Creek Zeke, and Steve Mills with Walnut Tree Blue. (Back): Hoss Earley, Parke Brinkley, Gene Hogge, Gary Winall, Barbel Fetkoter, Rob Maguire, Darrell Miller, Kimberly Maguire, and Larry Cox.

AMATEUR ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 12 Pointers and 4 Setters
1st--ALIBI GIRL, 1667107, pointer female, by Southbound Ben-Shadow's Carolina Molly. Larry J. & Casey King, owners; Larry J. King, handler.
2d--DRY CREEK ZEKE, 1682747, pointer male, by Black River Hawk-Aries. Jeffrey Smith, owner and handler.
3d--WALNUT TREE BLUE, 1680850, pointer male, by Walnut Tree Fred-Dialing Kate. Steve Mills, owner and handler.

Open Derby Winners (front, from left): Rob Maguire (judge), Kyle Whitfield with I Dream of Jeannie, Gary Miller with Miss Moneypenny, and Hoss Earley (judge). (Back): Parke Brinkley, Darrell Miller, Lee Flanders, Skip Brown, Gary Winall, Barbel Fetkoter, Gene Hogge, and Kimberly Maguire.

OPEN DERBY - 3 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st--I DREAM OF JEANNIE, 1699099, setter female, by Hot Blooded-Shamrock's Miss Grace. Kyle Whitfield, owner and handler.
2d--MISS MONEYPENNY, 1701988, pointer female, by Erin's Country Rebel-Quickmarksman Brave Heart. Gary Miller, owner and handler.

OPEN ALL-AGE - 3 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st--L C SMITH, 1671185, pointer male, by Stoney Run's Buddy-Class Act Rachel. Gary Miller, owner and handler.
2d--WARRIOR'S DEBUTANTE, 1688027, pointer female, by Mohawk Mill Trail Warrior-Sinbad's Little Lady. Gene Hogge, owner and handler.

Open All-Age Winners (front, from left): Rob Maguire (judge), Gary Miller with L C Smith, Darrell Miller with Warrior's Debutante, Gene Hogge with Pagan Creek Atticus, and Hoss Earley (judge). (Back): Gary Winall, Skip Brown, Lee Flanders, Barbel Fetkoter, Parke Brinkley, and Kimberly Maguire.