My life as a field trial reporter began in 1995 when I was 57. Before that I had been a farmer (1950-1960) and a lawyer (1961-present). Reporter was by far my most satisfying profession.
Why? Because it was fantasy. It allowed me to ride horseback and watch world-class bird dogs perform and compete across beautiful hunting grounds, handled and scouted by professionals seeking perfection, then write accounts of what I had seen. What could be more fun than that? For me, nothing.
And it led me to yet another profession: storyteller. Compulsively, I began to write stories, fiction but inspired by events, people and animals I had observed while reporting. What a gift!
I have written elsewhere about how it happened, pure luck and good fortune that led to my meeting Ted Baker. That started it all, and after publication of my first field trial report, of the 1995 Florida Open All-Age Championship, invitations to report poured in. Why? Because few people share my love of reporting is the only logical explanation.
Be that as it may, those invitations led me to unbelievable fun. In particular, the invitation to report the Invitational at Paducah was rewarding (no pun intended). Held each Thanksgiving weekend, It matched the twelve top all-age dogs of the year in head-to-head competition over three days in four hours (1-1 and 2-hour heats, judged as one continuous performance). No where could a bird dog fan watch so much top talent in such concentration. The judges each year were two top arbiters plus a respected top handler. They were wonderful teachers, sharing their knowledge and observations with me, providing a much needed education. And they became friends.
Over the ensuing years I reported the Continental Championships, the open Free-For-All and National Derby Championships, the National Amateur Pheasant Championship, the Oklahoma and Southeastern All-Age Championships, the amateur Free-For-All Championship, the Alabama Open Shooting Dog Championship, and the North Dakota Classics, several repeatedly, plus for its centennial, the Virginia Amateur. And every year through 2022, the Florida. Now at age eighty-four, my career as a field trial reporter is over. It has been incredibly rewarding, and I thank all who have made it possible.
Without question you were one of the all time great field trial reporters. My only regret is that you had not started reporting trials much, much earlier in your life.
The blessings for you were many! Witnessing great dog performances along with the talented handlers and scouts were just one of the many blessings. Add to that riding sometimes, not always, wonderful horses and getting to meet so many wonderful people were the bonus points. Add to that getting to witness some of the most beautiful country in North America!
You have been blessed my friend!
Thanks for sharing your stories! Dad enjoyed them and so do I.
I’ve so enjoyed your work, but ashamed to say I haven’t read enough of it. I look forward to diving into much more of it!!
Sorry to hear of your retirement. You are the best and our sport will not be the same without you.
I can’t believe that you have quit reporting field trials!! I hope you can still write the one page stories!! I really enjoyed the ones you sent to Luke for many years!!