Reading John Russell’s splendid new book, The Invitational Champions, has brought back precious memories of the eleven years it was my privilege to report the trial at Paducah.
My invitation to report came from John after my first report of the Florida Championship in 1995. I had attended the trial at Paducah as a spectator briefly in 1993 when Silver Bullett won his second crown, no Runner-Up.
Judging in 1996 were Marshall Loftin, Bill Perry and Dr. Dorwin Hawthorne, and they shared with me generously their impressions of performances, which I sorely needed in light of my limited experiences watching all-age dogs.
Marshall is perhaps the best raconteur among dog men and a wonderful companion for any man who loves a bird dog (or foxhound) and a good story, well told. I will always remember his telling of how he got Clyde Morton to tell him how he conditioned bird dogs for a three hour heat — in exchange for telling Clyde how he (Marshall) conditioned foxhounds for the long chase (Clyde’s first love was foxhounds, according to Marshall, and Marshall is an acknowledged expert on them and their competitions).
House’s Rain Cloud won his first of three Invitationals that year with Silverwood as Runner-Up. Robin does not appear in the photograph of winners, why being a story he will have to tell you.
In 1997 D. Hoyle Eaton and Cecil Rester judged, and picked Rain Cloud as Champion again, no Runner-Up. This time Judge Rester answered my questions during the running with silence. Afterwards he explained his policy to discuss performances during a trial only with fellow judges, but he took an hour afterward to explain what he had observed and the reasons for the decision. That was an invaluable lesson on reporter manners and all-age dogs and performances, one I will never forget. It influenced my description of Rain Cloud’s performance which you can read on pages 338 and 339 of John’s book.
Judge Eaton was delightful and no one has more first hand accounts of great dogs or performances than Hoyle. Particularly touching was his telling of traveling to trials with White Knight after the great dog’s retirement to become his constant companion. Knight stayed in his hotel room and could be trusted to go to the door on his own when released at Hoyle’s truck. On a memorable occasion Hoyle did so expecting the dog to be sitting outside the door when he arrive, but he was not. Remembering they had stayed at the same motel a year before, Hoyle remembered the number of the earlier room and found the old dog there, patiently waiting for him.
John Russell visited Hoyle recently in connection with researching his book. Hoyle told him of Knight’s dying in his arms at age seventeen after summoning Hoyle to his kennel run, a story to bring tears to any dog person’s eyes.
In 1998 the judges were Marshall Loftin again, Cecil Rester again and James Waddell. Rain Cloud won his historic third crown. This was the year of the famous (or infamous) “lunge…jump…or step…” by the Champion on his first find in the final heat. You can read about it on pages 346 and 347 of John’s book.
1999 brought Miller’s True Spirit’s first win of the Championship. Judge Lee West joined James Waddell as the judges. I had watched Judge West handle dogs in Virginia when he served as head of the Civil Aeronautics Administration in Washington D. C., and we had many mutual friends to discuss. We have since become dear friends and share laughs occasionally by telephone. No larger-than-life character inhabits the trial world than Lee, except perhaps the handler of this year’s winner, Ferrel Miller. They are probably the only two citizens who have made money from their bird dog enterprises.
Miller’s White Diamond, another son of Bullett, placed Runner-Up a second year in a row. Spirit’s races were smooth as silk and he found birds four times in the four hours, once more than Diamond. Spirit was first recipient of a new rotating trophy donated by the Suwannee River Field Trial Association to honor Arthur Curtis and JD Boss. Kaye Russell received a crystal bowl from the West Kentucky Club to honor her long service as Secretary.
In 2000 another Bullett son, Miller’s Excel for Mike Johnson and owners Dr. And Mrs. Brian Givhan, would be named Champion with his brother, True Spirit, as Runner-Up, thus extending the dominance of Miller’s Silver Bullett influence. Buzz Marshall, Tommy Hamilton and John Thompson judged.
Then in 2001 True Spirit would win again, the sixth consecutive year for Bullett sons. In February following he would win the National. John Thompson, Mac Coyner’s and David Grubb judged.
2002’s winner was Future Stock for Randy Anderson, the Runner-Up, Broadway’s Silver Belle for Robin Gates, the owners Gary Keel and Bob Drye. Freddy Epp, Aubrey Morgan and John Milton judged. Two finds each for the winners. John’s book contains on page 374 a bar chart showing the number of finds scored in each running of the trial at Paducah, seventy in 1967 down to eight in 2002. Stock’s ground work was strong.
House’s Hiplain Drifter for amateur Billy Blackwell won in 2003. An act of sportsmanship by Rick Furney may have cost Law’s High Noon the win. I can see now Rick bringing Drifter across the front to Billy, hear him yell, “Here’s your dog Billy,” while High Noon slipped away to the front. Drifter scored three finds and no Runner-Up was named.
In 2004 the trial began December 18. It was cold but clear until the finals when it spit snow and Lester’s Absolute proved a worthy winner for Colvin Davis and Rick Stallings. Miller’s Southern Pride came Runner-Up for Rick Furney. Each dog had three finds. Absolute would win again in 2006 and come Runner-Up in 2005 and 2007, a record for consistency that makes him a model for the Invitational type.
In 2005 Southern Pride would win with one memorable find but three strong races. (Co-owner Mike Furney spotted Pride on his lone find in the finals, a scene welded in my brain). I had also witnessed as reporter Pride’s Runner-Up win in the Continental as a Derby where in the finals, Southern Pride’s win was secured by smart scouting and handling in the final fifteen minutes, Pride appearing just before time to finish after an absence while he was rested out of sight, or so speculation had it. Also memorable were Pride’s two turkey finds in his initial hour at Paducah.
In 2006 Lester’s Absolute repeated as Champion and Pride’s Alibi for Fred Rayl and owner John Lee placed Runner-Up. I would later see Alibi’s win at the Florida. It was the first year for released birds at Paducah which proved quite successful, thanks to strong flying birds released wisely.
It was my last year as reporter. I would take nothing for the experiences which gave me much joy and taught me what little I know about all-age dogs and the thrilling drama a good one can create.