The Florida Championship

The Florida Championship is no more
A glorious trial is over forever
Like all things conceived by mortal man
It had a beginning and has come to an end

It was unique in many ways
Embodied the best of the field trial game
Wild quail on sloping prairie-like land
Wire grass cover over sand

No mud ever
Briars diminished by flame and chopper
Ridge top courses gave magnificent views
So a big-going dog painted a masterpiece on the memory

But it was Ted Baker made it grand
His big heart and love of the game
But more than that his love of us rascals
Of the field trial fraternity

From 1969 through 2022
(Save ‘94 when Bernie put Suwannee in the penalty box)
Ted gave trialers Chinquapin his best hunting week
To run their dogs in competition

Gave us Loncala for practice
Lunches daily and a dinner party
Kennels and paddocks for our stock
Help with anything and a generous purse

And did we have fun!
Riding those courses behind the black truck
Watching the dogs search and find
Hearing the crack of the handler’s gun

Seeing big coveys fly after they’d run
Thank you Ted for all you did for us and the field trial game
And now you’ve joined T Jack and Murph and Tom Kennard and Skip Griffin

On the courses without an end
Riding a paint that never tires

 

Memorable Dogs and Men at Chinquapin

Remembering Ted

43 Years of the Florida Open All-Age Championship

Mr. Ted