Silverwood Captures Crown, Double Rebel Pearl Named Runner-Up
In a race that will be retold as long as any who saw it can faintly remember, ten-year-old pointer multichampion Silverwood scorched the second course at Chinquapin Farms, scored four perfect finds and unleashed a spectacular finishing drive that carried him a mile beyond the usual finish to capture the Florida Open All-Age Crown for handler Robin Gates and owner Dr. Everett Crouch. His was a near-perfect hour, on a course of hogback ridges, sloping plains, wiregrass cover under sparse pines and abundant wild quail—as fine a stage as exists in quaildom. It yielded Big his ninth open all-age championship, on the heels of his week-before win at the Georgia Quail Championship. Double Rebel Pearl won runner-up with a two-find race on the course called “27” that was deep, responsive and consistent, and reminded of the winning performance of her grand-sire Double Rebel Buck on the same course. She is owned by Dr. Tom Kennard and Ted Baker and was handled by Fred Dileo. Vernon Vance of Winchester, Kentucky, and Luke Weaver of Jackson, Georgia, judged.
Believed out of competition two years ago because of life-threatening spinal-column problems, Silverwood has achieved a miraculous physical comeback against all odds, chronicled later in this report.
Silverwood’s bracemate Million Dollar Man also performed to championship standards with a forward, fast, deep and responsive race and one good limb find. With one more, he might have been runner-up. Excitement built through their hour, as the mounted gallery lifted in their stirrups, and the dog-truck riders stood at their high seats, all silent. It was the kind of hour that comes seldom, but reveals our sport’s unequalled power to thrill. Seventy-seven were entered, and seventy-six came to the line. The stake commenced Friday, January 10, and concluded on Thursday.
The stars lined up at Chinquapin for a great canine athlete, the men who trained and handled and scouted him, the owner who backed him, the veterinarians and caregivers who repaired his injuries with surgery and therapy, and a generous host. The result was a magic hour, with all the drama of a sellout Broadway show. Fortunately, Dr. Everett and Gerry Crouch were riding to watch Silverwood, and R. O. Berryhill and Larry Lee to watch their Man.
They began their battle in the second hour at the ridge top where Ch. Chinkapin’s Bisco Buck is buried (the second highest hill in Florida) and rolled to the front through the first leg at flank speed, both pointed out as dots in the distance. At the corner where the course first turns left, Silverwood was found pointing at 9 on a knoll on the right, chin and tail up in a typical pose. His birds were quickly put to wing fifteen yards before his nose, and he remained a statue at the shot. Released, he hunted through the descending terrain to the next corner where he was again found standing on the left at 15; all was letter perfect on the bevy which rose in a tight bunch dead ahead of the dog. Silverwood quickly regained the front as Gates heeled him up a mowed strip on hillside on the left, and the two master ground workers used the rising terrain to show at the front at great distances. At 22 call of point came for both dogs, Man on the right just inside the cover next to fence-line firebreak, Silverwood on hillside just left of the course path. Silverwood had a single, Man a big covey, both quickly handled with style and manners. They bore on to the front at true all-age range past the power-line crossing where they both momentarily took the firebreak beside tree line on right, Man a few yards in front. At 33 scouts called point, and Dileo rode to the firebreak expecting to find Man, only to find Silverwood standing five yards into the cover. He called Gates in, and a perfectly located bevy was put to wing for the proud champion who had just wiped the eye of his younger bracemate. After the turn left away from the highway at 42, both dogs bored in deep, and handlers rode to turn them. Here all wondered, can Silverwood, considering his age and physical adversities, possibly have the stamina not to fade? The odds seemed stacked against him…
Here began the climax, as Silverwood hunted bigger and bigger, coming across the front at the second power-line crossing and filling the country on the left side of the cone, while Man worked the right at comparable range. When we reached the ridge-top where the final leg of the course turns left (south) toward the highway along a gas pipeline, both dogs came around in wide arcs, swinging for handlers at great distances, and as the final minutes ticked away, they reached down through the cover toward the corner where Silverwood had scored his second find. At call of time, they had used all the land available.
Silverwood’s was the best job in an hour stake that this scribe has been privileged to watch. Robin Gates later asked Judge Luke Weaver if he’d ever seen a better all-age hour. “I’ve been thinking about that. The best I’d seen before was Buzzsaw’s Stormy Bud for Bubba qualifying at the Continental… I guess Bud’s was the best—but that’s because I like Bubba better than I like you,” Luke teased. Judge Vernon Vance later called it the best all-age hour he had witnessed below the Canadian border.
Watching Silverwood’s race was a spiritual experience for all. Afterwards as we rode to the third course breakaway reflecting, the symbolism of the old dog’s epic effort began to sink in. It had been a triumph of will over adversity, of heart over hardship. A feat symbolic of Robin Gates’ comeback, with the support of a loving family and the inspiration of a son, now his scout. Symbolic of Joe Hick’s victory over the staph infection that just a year ago threatened his life, overcome with the loving support of his Talisha and of Ted Baker. Symbolic of the sacrifices of all the heroes, living and fallen, of 9 –11 and its aftermath, so much on everyone’s mind.
Silverwood’s win record begins in the spring of 1994 when he captured first in the Vidalia Club’s Open Derby and Open All-Age stakes. These wins foretold a fabulous career, to yield to date nine open all-age championships, the Dominion (’96), Continental (’96 and ’98), Southeastern (’97), Masters (’97), Saskatchewan (’98), Georgia (2000 and ’02) and now the Florida (’02). He has also been named runner up five times, including twice in the Continental (’97 and 2000) and at the Invitational (’96). In 1999 he was named top qualifier in the Continental, an hour this scribe will always remember along with this year’s race in the Florida. His placements to date total 27, and he has produced 27 winners of record with 88 placements. Likely he will be remembered for the producing daughters he has sired, like Alford’s John and Rebel Wrangler. (Doctor Crouch remarked that he has won all the Canadian prairie championships except the Border, and his grandson, Flatwood Silver, by Joe Shadow out of Silverwood’s daughter, won that one for Gates and Doctor Crouch this fall).
Silverwood’s pedigree:
The Running
Peacher’s Silver Dollar (Furney) was gone too long. First Touch (Edmundson), a first-year dog, impressed with his style and desire to find birds. He suffered a stylish an unproductive on the edge under power line at 15, then a find at 15 on the pipeline edge, his manners a bit on the derby side, then a second find at 20 in the corner where course turns south, where he marked flight. Edmundson brought him back from the front at time, overall a race and statue on birds that showed promise.
Hilltopper Tooter (Russell) had Kaye Russell on the dog truck rooting. She started impressively with a limb find in the first corner, found by scout, all in order. She used the country well until 40 where she had a second find, and took a step as they rose. She shortened some in the final third. Bar W Khaki (Davis) had a good race early with finds at 22, 33 and 41, all in order, but shortened at the end.
Salem’s Rebel (Daugherty) was picked up at 34, not pleasing handler. Virginia Squire (Hilliard) was lost at 23.
After lunch, we reconvened on “27,” skies overcast with a good breeze and temperature above 70.
Hale Bop (Hilliard) was picked up at 55 after a moderate race with an unproductive at 25 and a rabbit at 33. Rebel Rex (Rayl) slipped away mid-heat after impressive swings early. Eddie Rayl was scouting for brother Fred.
Cherokee Rowdy (Daugherty) was picked up at 36, not reaching to suit his handler. Goodbye Fiddler’s Gage (Rayl) found no birds in a moderate race with an unproductive at 3 and a rabbit at 15.
Mark McGwire (Daugherty) and Admonition (Robinson) made big casts to the front and were seen no more to end the first day.
Saturday dawned overcast and cool. A thick fog delayed the start for over an hour.
Oakhurst Ellen (Edmundson) and Ballentine (Rayl) started with a calendar picture point on right at 4, Ellen just right of pipeline, Bal backing above her on a hillside, the covey scattered feeding, and both dogs stylish and mannerly. Ellen suffered an unproductive at 19 on left edge of pipeline, then scored handsomely at 25 where she had swapped ends on a covey beside the course path, all in order at flush and shot. She was lifted at 48 on another unproductive. Ballentine was gone for 19 minutes, then found on point at the front just right of course path at 36, his posture indicating he’d been there a long while, but birds still with him, and he stayed motionless for the shot. He finished strongly, deep left of pipeline.
Chimone’s Bisco Buck (Dileo) and Bullett’s Tradition (Goza). Buck resembles his sire, Chinkapin’s Bisco Buck, twice champion here. He scored four handsome and mannerly finds, none requiring relocation, and all with his birds where he said, at 12, 18, 35 and 55. His groundwork was lateral at times, and his finish not as extreme as his handler would have hoped for. If Dileo can get him patterning right, he’ll be a force. Tradition’s groundwork was brilliant at times, with big showy swings on this showiest of courses. He stood at 12 and whirled twice when they lifted, a bit too much marking. He nailed a single at 15. At 35 he stood again, and during relocation, judge rode up a bird away from the dog. He finished well.
North Dakota Discovery (Bush) and Rester’s Grand Slam (Daugherty). Bob Napier rode for Discovery. They looked good in the opening ridges right of highway, and at 19 Discovery nailed a covey on hilltop approaching Big House, all in order. At 24 he stood just south of Big House, and Marshal Slade Sikes called flight of birds as judge approached through a depression, but they were not seen by the judge. Discovery slipped away soon after. Slam was attractive and forward, suffered an unproductive at 31 where scout Colvin Davis saw him point in palmettos, a place more suggestive of a snake than quail. He scored a handsome and mannerly find at 45 near Big House road. He had one too many at 49, where Andy said, “He moved too much, didn’t he Vernon?”… “Well, he moved all four feet.” “I seed him,” responded a grinning Andy as he reached for the rope, suggesting by his tone that a “yes” or “no” from Judge Vance would have sufficed.
Farm Boy (Davis) and Fortune Seeker (Hillard) went on “27” after lunch with a shower threatening. Boy soon disconnected. Seeker made a big swing to front early, seen near southeast corner, then was gathered and hunted the first northerly leg at front, and at 19 established on a well-located covey, moving a step at flush. At 20 he stopped on a single and was stylish and motionless at shot. He went on to run the counterclockwise ovals in true all-age fashion, laying out consistently at good range. Near the end, he hunted across the front in a manner that helped his effort. Overall, a strong, consistent ground race.
Broadway Silver Bell (Gates) was lost at the end after a limb find at 15 where a relocation in stiff breeze on a running covey was highly creditable and followed by another stylish find at 30 beyond the old judges trailer spot. The setter Lucy Diamond (Edmundson) was lost early.
Resters New Wave (Gates) was lost. Cap’s Return (Robinson) put down a true all-age race, with an unproductive at 6 and a find at 16, after which he ate up the country, showing occasionally at the front. At 50 he suffered another unproductive and was lifted. Had it been a find, the standings at this point likely would have changed.
Saturday night brought rain, and there was ice on windshields Sunday morning. The day would be clear and bright, crisp early, with a wait for the ground fog to lift.
Chinquapin Millennium had Joe Hicks handling because Bobby Hartwig, who developed him and handled him to runner-up here last year, was laid up with a knee injury. He began auspiciously with a beautiful find on a covey leaving the roost left of pipeline at 4, all just right. He stretched out after road crossing and made the most of this difficult course, coming through the piney woods on right, then taking the front through the east leg, Hicks’ arm up often to point him out far ahead. Meanwhile, Flatwood Earl (Gates) worked the left woods beside pipeline, and handler brought him up the far property line for the eastward leg. They were together for the southern stretch, both hunting forward at good range. Millenium went into the corner by house at the end and responded to Hicks’ call to come out and hunt the southern line west. At 41 point was called for Millennium, and as Judge Weaver rode to him, a bird was seen lifting, the dog a statue for the shot (Ted Baker in the gallery had warned that this covey was notorious for jumping early). Millennium continued to plow through the cover under the pines at good range, and into the final stretch north again. After the power line, he crossed to the left edge of pipeline, and a quarter mile ahead of handler, swung left for a deep and handsome cast into the piney woods. Call of point came at 56, and as Hicks dismounted, Millennium moved up boldly on the running birds, pinning them for a quick flush and shot. He had just enough time to take the whistle for a finishing cast up a mowed strip in the blackjack-piney woods cover. It had been a splendid hour of groundwork, punctuated by three good finds, the dog bucking the cover at good range all the way. Earl’s groundwork had been mostly forward at good range, but he found no birds and was out of pocket at the end.
Silver Bullett’s Native (Goza) was braced with Barshoe Esquire (Daugherty). Mrs. Goza was watching from the dog truck, and Tom Faller rode for his Esquire, the 2000 Florida Champion. Unfortunately Esquire disappeared after a big cast to the front from the breakaway. Native hunted out the hour at modest range and birdless.
Updated Bulletin (Davis) found birds by a thicket at 21, pointing them with less than level tail. At 30 she had an unproductive, and Davis lifted her, limber tail suspected. Hilliard lifted bracemate Quail Acres Sally at 42 after some creditable groundwork early.
After lunch, on “27,” Clinton Bush piloted Spec’s Free Boy with owner Bob Napier scouting and Sandy Napier watching from the dog truck. He stood a rabbit at 24 and had a find at 58, his race moderate. Yeah Boy (Gates) had a good find at 6 on tree line to right, Gates calling flight of birds as we rode to him, and a sleeper staying for the proof. Soon after, he vanished.
Kilsythy’s Golden Spur (Rayl) had the Dixie Plantation contingent on hand to root for him, with Joe Milligan, Randy Floyd and Poo Bear riding and Mrs. Milligan atop the dog truck. (Poo Bear has grown a foot since last year, his grin still constant.) Ben Washington, Jr., scouted. The handsome white pointer suffered unproductives at 5 (on power line) and 22 (near old judges trailer place) to be lifted. Law’s High Noon (Furney) had co-owner Gary Futch riding for his showy hour. At 14 Noon suffered an unproductive on the right. At 31 he stood on hilltop just before the trailer place, but Furney could not get birds to fly. During relocation, running birds lifted from area where Furney had flushed and Bull had said they were; at the time, Bull was attempting to relocate beyond their whereabouts. On being advised birds were up, Furney woahed his dog and shot. From here Bull hunted handsomely through the cover at good range and to the front and was seen pointing in course path at 40 by Judge Vance. Judge Weaver rode up a big covey to the left and in front of Bull as he sought to get in position to see the birds if they lifted in woods. All was in order. From the corner with crop field on our left, Furney sent Bull forward on right, and rode the parallel course path, relying on Bull to course off his song through likely cover. It paid off, for where course reaches Sherwood Forrest, Bull was found standing, a beautiful limb find. Two birds promptly responded to the flush, and Bull stayed a statue. At 58 Judge Weaver asked Furney to take Bull to the hayfield for his finishing cast, and we arrived in time to see him jump into the cover at the end of the field as time expired. A strong hour overall from the reigning National Champion.
Joe Shadow (Gates) had owner Butch Houston riding for his race with Wingmaster’s Caddo (Bush). Shadow scored handsomely at 12 in the hills beyond Lookout Ridge, all in order, then suffered an unproductive at feed patch at 19. Caddo had an unproductive at 11. At 28, Caddo stood in feed patch, and Shadow came in and failed to back, then put up a bird and stopped. (“I don’t think he saw him,” Gates said amiably to Judge Weaver. “Then he must be blind,” Weaver quipped in return.) Caddo suffered a second unproductive at 34 to end the day.
Monday was one of the rare days at Chinquapin—it rained. Lightly at first, gradually increasing through the day.
Quicksilver Design (Davis) and Cindy Crawford (Edmundson) shared an unproductive at 10 on left just before gravel-road crossing. (Andy Daugherty, scouting for Davis, said to Judge Weaver, “I saw quail tracks.” A minute later, Judge Weaver called Andy over and asked, “Andy, would you swear you saw quail tracks?” Andy grinned and shook his head “Not for Colvin’s dog.”) At the first lateral firebreak, Design made a big swing to right, and at 21, scout called point for her in deep; Judge Vance reported all in order. Meanwhile, Cindy was keeping the front through the piney woods at good range. On her return, Design made a probe deep left to the corner, then came back down the end of the course’s north line, and they both hunted ahead on the east leg. At 37 Design stood on course path, and Davis put up a covey quickly, all in order. Then just beyond, she stood again, and after a quick relocation, she had the bevy nailed, but she danced one step too many when they lifted, and after inquiring, Colvin reached for the rope. Shortly thereafter, Edmundson elected to take Cindy up. “Let’s try two more,” Jimmy said.
On the much-admired second course, Chinquapin’s Bisco Mark (Sikes) went down with Stateline Showdown (Edmundson). Jadie Rayfield rode for his Showdown, which had impressed on this course last year until a youthful jump (straight up and down) on a covey had caused his voluntary withdrawal. They came through the first leg impressively at the front, then both got swallowed up, Showdown for good. At 20 distant call of point came for Mark, and his location proved he’d made a huge swing to the front. During relocation, a bird lifted away from the dog, and Sikes stopped him and shot. He kept the front to the power line, where Sikes elected to lift him.
Chinquapin’s Buck (Hicks), a derby, and Quick Cash (Rayl) started across the road in a steady rain. When they reached Swallow’em Bottom, both went in deep, with Buck the first to come out. At 21 came scout Fred Robinson’s distant call of point for Cash, and a mile ride across the bottom to the power line was rewarded as birds lifted just as Judge Weaver arrived to see them. Cash was stylish and mannerly and had them well-located. We rode the course backwards to meet the front in the hills before the Big House road crossing. Buck, meanwhile, had hunted swiftly and at good range through the course, and at 38, was rewarded just beyond the Big House road crossing where scout Slade Sikes found him on the left. All was in order. As we approached the clubhouse through the bottom, Buck disconnected, not to return. Cash hunted the rest of his hour at good range and finished going toward the Big House hill. It was raining in earnest now, a steady downpour.
After lunch on “27,” Miller’s North Star (Daugherty) and Pride’s Bullett (Rayl) enjoyed a brief letup in the rain, and Bullett quickly proved Chinquapin birds would move in the conditions with finds at 1, 4 (on top the old railroad bed) and 15. On the last, he danced a bit too gleefully, and Fred reluctantly reached for the harness. North Star ran a big, front-probing race, pleasing to watch, until he got away about 50.
She’s So Fine (Gates) and Sea Breeze (Furney) started in a harsh rain. Breeze found a bevy at 10 on the right just across power line, and her snappy relocation paid off. She was stylish and mannerly. Soon after, she was lost. Fine was swift, and at 22, stabbed a covey just beyond old trailer place, style and manners good. Hunter Gates had been gone a while, and when he returned just after this find, reported his horse had fallen, but that he was okay. Fine nailed another bevy at 28, style and location impressive, manners tops. She hunted the rest of her hour a bit more laterally than ideal, but her finishing casts to the front were most impressive, to the delight of her thoroughly drenched owner, Jed Dempsey, who became convinced today that quail could be pointed in the rain at Chinquapin.
Solid Reward (Robinson) and Interstate Zack (Edmundson) were ordered up soon after release as the rain became a torrent and fog began to settle in. They were scheduled to go again at the end of the Stake.
Tuesday dawned overcast and cool, with the promise of clearing, a near perfect day for bird hunting following heavy rain through most of the night. For the first time, there was no fog to delay the start.
Braggin’ Rights (Bush) and Big River Ben (Gates) opened the day. Ben had point called by scout at 3 far to left of pipeline, and when we arrived, Hunter announced birds had left. Gates nevertheless took shotgun from scabbard and walked in front, then gathered Ben by the collar without flushing, so it went in the books as an unproductive. Ben hunted his hour at good range and scored at 19, 44 and 50, all with good style and manners, a creditable hour. Rights hunted at moderate range with some good swings, suffered an unproductive at 46 and was birdless.
Silverwood and Million Dollar Man’s hour has been told.
Briar Crest (Furney) and Goodby Joe (Rayl) toured the third morning course south of the highway. Joe got lost midway. Briar Crest hunted the early country handsomely at the front, and at 12, eagle-eye David Johnson, riding in the gallery, spotted Briar Crest on point deep in Swallow ’Em Bottom. She had the covey before her nose, and all was in order. She shortened some in the middle, then began to stretch out again, handling nicely for Furney. At 37 Fred Rayl called point for her just across Big House road, and she had another bevey well-located and handled it appropriately (“Thank you Rickey,” Fred quipped as Furney took her on. “I was going to thank you later,” Rick answered sheepishly, absorbed in his task.) At 46 Judge Weaver spotted Briar Crest on point on firebreak a hundred yards to right of course path, and all was in order. Complemented on his eyesight, Judge Weaver quipped, “Wish everything else worked as well.” Briar Crest finished hunting at good range.
Anticipation (Rayl) was lost at mid-heat. Double Rebel Sonny (Dileo) put down a scorching hour of front-running ground work, but went birdless in the warming sunshine. Dr. Mike Fucalow and Terri Daniel, who became engaged at Christmas, were on hand to watch Mike’s Sonny.
Oklahoma Traveler (Furney) was lost. Just Wait (Dileo) had a find at 30 and hunted a moderate race through his hour.
Frontline Jack Henry (Dileo), a derby, hunted a strong hour, punctuated by a finish that carried him near the Big House and a well-handled find at 52. Owners Tom Kennard and Ted Baker watched. Quail Cross (Hillard) made some good swings early, disconnected for a short spell and came back to score at 27, all in order. He suffered an unproductive at 37 and hunted the rest of his hour at the front.
Wednesday dawned cold (30°F), calm and clear, with heavy frost.
Gun Barrel (Furney) suffered an unproductive at 7 where handler announced a bird had left before attempting flush, and then was gone too long. Frontline Beck (Dileo), an attractively-moving derby, made a handsome cast deep into the left corner of piney woods where course turns east and scored at the end of it as he returned at handler’s call, all in order. At 36 he got too close to a bevy and went onto the truck. Owner Chester Stokes was on hand to watch.
Barshoe Sting (Daugherty) was lifted at 36, not pleasing handler, after a good find at 9. Belle of Nebraska (Edmundson) hunted too handy and scored an unproductive at time.
Clower’s Rainmaker (Davis) was lost at mid-heat, and Double Rebel Legacy (Dileo) soon after. When the tracker came out for Legacy, he was found on point near where last seen, buried in blackjacks, the birds still before him. Owners Tom Kinnard and Ted Baker were watching.
At lunch, Colvin Davis was treated with a birthday cake and a spirited rendition of Happy Birthday to You.
Pink Angel (Davis) was picked up at 30. Double Rebel Pearl (Dileo) laid down a deep, probing and consistently forward hour on “27,” rewarded with handsome finds on well-located birds at 18 and 36. Time after time she was pointed out far to the front, in a race that had everyone watching to see her next move. She finished still reaching with plenty of jump at the southwest corner. Her pattern and hunting style, as well as her appearance, were reminiscent of her grandsire, Double Rebel Buck, who won on this course with three finds and a similar race. Her performance earned her runner-up honors, with proud owners Tom Kinnard and Ted Baker watching as Dr. Mike Furcolow, who owned Buck and Pearl’s sire Double Rebel Sonny, also watched happily.
Flatwood Silver (Gates), a first-year dog that won the Border this season, hunted a strong hour. The attractively built and quick-moving pointer, grandson of Silverwood on the bottom side and sired by Joe Shadow, scored at 19 at the corner near Bobby Hartwig’s house just after backing a barrel, all in order. He scored again at 42 in the far corner before entering Sherwood Forrest, a limb find handled with manners and style, birds well located. Out of the woods area, he kept the front at good range and was spotted on point after time by Fred Robinson from the gallery following a good finishing cast onto Lookout Ridge. All was in order. Gerry and Dr. Everett Crouch were rightfully well pleased with their young dog’s performance. Aucilla’s Golden Touch (Phillips), which won the National Derby Championship, hunted a fast, forward hour and scored two solid finds at 32 and 37 at the front, birds well located, the dogs’ manners faultless on each. The second was punctuated by a snappy relocation. She disconnected for a spell in heavy blackjacks and came on to the front on her own, where Furney took her to Lookout Ridge for a good finishing cast just as Phillips got back to the front. She pointed just before time in feed patch in bottom, but birds couldn’t be flushed. Overall a good hour by this snappy pair.
Babe in Action (Furney) and Double Rebel Sis (Dileo) were lifted mid-hour to end the day. (As Rick Furney came in to announce his dogs’ withdrawal, he handed Joe Hicks a butane lighter, a grinning suggestion that the heavily blackjacked area be burned at the first opportunity. Joe couldn’t have agreed more—the sever drought conditions of the last three years have made it impossible to get burning permits for some areas, much to Joe’s and Ted Baker’s consternation. When your scribe departed Chinquapin Thursday afternoon, smoke lifted high in a clear blue sky. The Boys of Chinquapin were out burning.)
A frost and a heavy ground fog greeted us Thursday morning, and the start was delayed until 9:30. Another Hero (Dileo) impressed early with good swings through the piney woods at the front. He suffered an unproductive at 18 and at 50 Dileo asked for the tracker only to find him a hundred yards ahead on course on point. Cotton Top (Beeler) hunted his hour mostly at the front at fair range, but found no birds.
Air Force One (Beeler), a handsome setter, started modestly and then began to stretch his casts, scoring a nice find at 16 on the corner where course turns toward the highway. He had an unproductive at 24, and at 31 was picked up on a second where his birds got up just beyond flushing area as Scott thanked the judges and fitted the harness, a tough break. Spy Hill Pride (Rayl) used this beautiful course to advantage, taking the firebreak around right edge toward the highway. He scored at the front at 11, all in order. He kept the front through the rising terrain toward the power line and was rewarded with a good find at 28, style, manner and location good. From here, he kept the front at fair range ’til the course turns away from the highway where Fred called on him to reach and be responded, hunting over to the gas line where the first course starts and taking it north, where Fred rode for him and swung him back at the second power-line crossing. From here, Pride hunted at good range at the front until 55 when Fred watered him and sent him on toward the highway for an adequate finish. A good hour overall.
Solid Reward (Robinson) and Interstate Zack (Edmundson) had been ordered up in the torrent at the end of the day on Monday, and rescheduled for the last brace. Reward hunted at good range and responsively early but disconnected in the heavy blackjack country mid-way. Zack hunted at the front for Edmundson and made some good casts, but at 50, he was lifted to end the trial.
Back at the clubhouse, lunch was enjoyed, and then the announcements made, to little surprise, though there were several performances in contention for runner-up honors.
* * * * *
That Silverwood should compete in this year’s Florida and Georgia Championships, much less win them decisively, is a miracle, a tribute to veterinary science, skillful surgery and rehabilitation, and to the loving care of the Gates family. Most of all, perhaps, to the character of the dog.
Silverwood’s physical problems first revealed themselves in the qualifying heats of the 2000 Continental, when on the breakaway he collided with his bracemate and yelped in pain. He was obviously hurting badly in his hindquarters, and Robin considered withdrawing him, but in seconds, he seemed to recover, and his desire to continue hunting showed in his eyes. He proceeded to qualify and win runner-up honors, proof of an intractable will. Later, it became obvious that he was suffering, and after Doctor Crouch made extensive inquires, Big went to D. C. Sorjonen, D.V.M., a specialist in neurosurgery. Doctor Sorjonen describes his work on Big in March 2000:
A 20-cm incision was made along the back midline over the last three lumbar and first three sacral vertebrae. The bone overlying the spinal segments at the last lumbar and first two sacral vertebrae was removed exposing the lumbosacral nerve roots. A massive bone and soft-tissue compression was noted around these nerve roots, predominately on the left side. The compressive material was gently removed, and the affected nerve roots were traced out of the spinal canal into the peripheral muscles, removing any additional compression. Following the decompressive procedure, the spine was tested for instability; finding none, a routine 4-layer soft-tissue closure was performed.
This was major surgery, performed with the hope of prolonging the life of the gallant campaigner, without any hope that he could continue to compete. But after convalescence at the Gates kennel, he seemed to regain his strength and to be pain free and unrestricted in his movements. In July, Robin decided to take him on the trip to Canada, not with a view to further competition, but to get him out of the South Georgia heat. By prairie-trial season, he seemed fit and anxious to run, and so Robin and Doctor Crouch decided to enter him in the Alabama Prairie Trial, which he won! His pre-injury wins put him on the chart for the Invitational, and in preparations for that, he showed first signs of returning lameness. He completed the first two days at Paducah, but there it became evident his back problems had come back to haunt him. X-rays revealed a vertebra fracture in the area of his surgery.
Again Doctor Sorjonen was asked to evaluate. He explained further surgery might be an option, but with too-high odds of adverse consequences. He referred Silverwood to Jan Steiss, D.V.M., Ph.D., PT., a specialist in physical therapy with the Department of Biomedical Scientists of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health of Tuskeegee University. Doctor Steiss explains her services to Silverwood:
Dr. Sorjonen requested physical therapy for Silverwood after he determined that surgery was not the best course of action at the time. My goal in the rehabilitation program was to strengthen Silverwood’s back muscles but at the same time avoid harmful movement of his spine at the fracture site. If Silverwood had been a person, he probably would have been fitted with a custom back brace. However, this is not practical in dogs.
I designed a rehabilitation program based on isometric exercises. For example, while Silverwood was with us at the Animal Health Center, he was slowly walked on leash to the treatment room 2-3 times per day; after he stood quietly, we worked on shifting his weight from side to side for 10-20 repetitions. Silverwood was set home with instructions to repeat the isometric exercises twice per day, to kennel him alone, to avoid situations where he would be twisting or turning his spine, and to leash walk him very slowly on level ground for short distances. The distances would gradually be increased as he improved.
When Silverwood came home to the Gates Kennel, Mary Ann Gates assumed responsibility for continuing the physical therapy program prescribed by Doctor Seiss. Silverwood responded, and in six weeks time, he seems pain free and unrestrictive in his movements. There was no thought of his competing, just a desire to make his remaining life as comfortable as possible.
Next came the time for Robin and Hunter’s annual Canadian departure. As the other dogs were loaded for the trip north, Silverwood raised hell in his kennel run. He stood at the kennel-run door and barked his unhappiness at being left. fter all the dogs were loaded, Robin walked to his run to tell him goodbye, then said to Hunter, “What the hell, let’s take him. He’ll be out of the heat at least.”
Through the early prairie-training season, Silverwood fussed in his run as the young dogs were loaded for workouts and the veterans hitched to the four-wheeler for roading. He showed no signs of physical impairment, so one day, Robin roaded him alone for fifteen minutes just to see if any soreness might result. Next day he was not stiff or sore, so Robin did it again. Before long, Silverwood was working in the roading harness for an hour and a half with the other veterans. He seemed as strong as ever and always eager to go again. As the prairie trials grew near, Robin decided to turn him loose on the training grounds just to see what he might do, still with no idea of entering him in competition. His first time down, he “wasted a championship,” Robin says. In a few more workouts, he ran marvelously, and so Robin and Doctor Crouch decided to enter him in the 2001 Canadian prairie series, but to withdraw him at the first sign of distress or if he did not run competitively. “We were not going to embarrass the old boy, just give him a chance to see what he could do, because he obviously wanted to compete,” Robin says.
In each of the 2001 prairie trials, he ran marvelous races, but did not have the luck to come up with a bird. Robin and Doctor Crouch then decided to enter him in a few select winter trials—the Georgia, Florida and Continental. The rest is history. He won the Georgia Quail Championship decisively with a big four-find race. And he won the Florida most dramatically, as has been told. Doctor Sorjonen says, “If asked the odds that Silverwood could compete again, I’d have said they were infinitesimal. The best I hoped for was a comfortable old age for Big.”
Silverwood may be the greatest all-time example of the power of the canine spirit to overcome adversity.
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An atmosphere of goodwill and comradery permeated the 2002 Florida Championship. No doubt the events of September 11 had everyone thinking about our blessings and thankful for the opportunity to pursue in freedom our peculiar passions in this near perfect place. Old grudges seemed forgotten, or at least well muffled; everyone joked and teased. (Teasing is the way men show one another true affection.)
Birds were plentiful, but sometimes hard to find and always hard to flush. There were several highly creditable performances that on another day might have yielded a championship, though Silverwood’s hour was so outstanding as to dwarf them. These included, in order of appearance, Chinquapin’s Millennium, Law’s High Noon, She’s So Fine, Big River Ben, Briar Crest, Million Dollar Man, Double Rebel Pearl and Flatwood Silver.
As always, hospitality was the theme of the Florida Championship, starting with the drawing party and dinner on Thursday night, with Talisha Hicks and Donna Hartwig serving the delicious meal. Again on Wednesday night came cocktails and an oyster roast at the clubhouse, plus pork barbecue masterfully prepared by the all-day cooking of Howard Brooks and Ted Baker. Each day Talisha and Donna served free lunches at the clubhouse. Leonard Craig served as wrangler with his customary efficiency and good humor. Darrell (Cowboy) Summers alternated between driving the dog truck and marshaling, and when he wasn’t driving, Donald Sparrow was. Slade Sikes, who is coming on strong as assistant dog trainer at Chinquapin, also marshaled alongside manager Joe Hicks, now recovered from his scary bout with staph infection. Bobby Hartwig was laid up most of the week with his knee problem, but made it to the oyster roast. Chinquapin’s crew is a happy bunch, and it shows in the way they do their jobs, making everyone feel welcome and cared for. The grounds were groomed by mowing to perfection, though the drought had prevented burning some areas.
Among faithful attendees of the Florida Championship returning this year were J. D. Boss, Bill and Donna Ball, Denver and Lucy Kilborne, Don Price, John Hicks and others mentioned elsewhere.
At the Big House, during dinners with the judges, field-trial stories were told and retold. One night, Ted Baker and T. Jack decided to telephone Fred Arant, who had laid out Chinquapin’s courses many years ago. Fred answered Ted’s greeting thus: “Why are you calling me Ted? I’ve already voted for you for the Hall of Fame.” Luke Weaver told Mr. George Moreland stories that had everyone in stitches, especially Luke. Dr. Tom Kennard toasted Ted Baker after grace each night. Howard Brooks fixed breakfast each and every morning, delicious but not designed to keep arteries open. It was especially good to have Skip Griffin back after a couple years absence due to business commitments.
The judges this year brought a world of experience and compatible views. Vernon Vance is retired from a 37-year career in personnel management with IBM, has campaigned dogs as an amateur and as patron of professional handlers for many years, and judged and reported major trials across the continent. Luke Weaver competes in the southern quail-belt region, teaming with close friend Bubba Moreland, who handles his dogs in open competition and Mike Cheeley. (When Luke calls the Moreland’s Coney Island Plantation, Mr. George frequently answers the phone, and Luke ritually asks, “How are my dogs doing, Mr. George?” to which Mr. George always replies, “They ain’t worth a damn.”)
Among Mr. George’s philosophical pronouncements, Luke recited:
“Horse shakes with the saddle on, it’s going to rain within forty-eight hours.
“Two things you don’t want on a plantation, a pacing horse and a servant named Mo.”
“The big money’s up front.”
“If they ask you to judge where it’s too far to take your own horses, you best not go.”
As Luke loaded his big warhorses for the drive back to Georgia, he remarked, “Thing I liked best about judging the Florida was livin’ like a rich man for a week.”
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Silverwood painting by Ross Young