The HOF results for 2023 are now reported, and before campaigns begin for 2024 I want to name two givers to the sport who are most worthy. They are not wealthy for both were career teachers. But they gave, and gave, unselfishly and effectively, motivated by a love of the game.
They are Brad Harder and John Russell. Brad taught horsemanship and related skills at Hocking College. John taught engineering at Western Kentucky University.
Brad videoed the National Championship for three decades and edited his work, then published CDs of each year’s performances. I expect more people have been introduced to the sport through Brad’s work than in any other way. And each year Brad’s productions got better. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and Brad’s videos prove the truth of the adage. Think of the hours Brad put into photographing and editing these works, which are classic and a high quality, vital historical record of our sport’s signature annual event.
In addition, Brad has judged hundreds of major trial across the continent.
John Russell chaired the Quail Championship Invitational at Paducah over two decades, and did the heavy lifting for this great trial, including tracking eligibility , issuing invitations and recruiting and looking after judges and their mounts (for the decade I served as reporter I watched him at 5am each morning feed, water, groom and tack up judges mounts). John also marshaled.
John judged major trials many years across the country and hauled his horses to do so. He also trained and ran in all-age stakes, amateur and open, his own dogs, winning runner-up in the National Derby Championship and in his proudest moment Top Qualifier in the Florida Open All-Age Championship.
Perhaps John’s greatest gift to our sport was his book, The Invitational Champions (Lulu Press, 2018), in which he reports in very useful detail the performances in each Invitational, including the inaugural years at Albany (1941- 42) and the Paducah years (1964 – 2018) He includes vital information for breeders on the pedigrees and performance and production records of winners. This book is indispensable reading for any serious breeder or competitor in field trials.
Finally, John serves as a director of the Bird Dog Museum at Grand Junction, representing pointer and setter interests.
Brad and John have been true givers to our sport consistently for many years and deserve election to the Field Trial Hall of Fame.