Blog

A Day Remembered From Summer 1952

June 25, 2022 | Remembrances | Comments
I had just turned fourteen. It was about four in the afternoon on a sunny Saturday. I had finished my farm chores, showered and dressed in clean Lee blue jeans, a white T shirt and black Converse high-top sneakers for a four-mile trip to down-town Christiansburg. Read more

If You Ever

June 20, 2022 | Poetry | Comments
If you ever as a boy Shot at a grouse or quail Over a dog pointed You know the thrill For some that thrill persists And becomes a way of life An escape from countless worries A way to capture joy And for a few The connection with the dog Becomes the thing And bird dog field trials come to dominate The beauty of the country Where game birds live Read more

Burn or Bury (A deadly serious story)

June 15, 2022 | Ben Reach, Short Stories | Comments
Ike Slapp died after surviving two wives and leaving two daughters, one by each wife. Ben was fishing in Montana with Sam when Ike bit the dust, literally and figuratively. Ike’s older daughter took the bull by the horns and arranged Ike’s funeral and burial without consulting Ben or her sister. When Ben got home he found Ike snug in his coffin, buried in a local cemetery with (literally) his first wife. Read more

Memorable Dogs and Men at Chinquapin

June 7, 2022 | Field Trial Championships, Field Trial Recollections | Comments
As we lament the loss of Ted Baker, we remember some great dogs that showed their stuff at Chinquapin and the characters who owned (or were owned by) and handled them. We start with some of Ted’s. All know the story of Builder’s Addition, National Champion of 1980 and first winner of the Florida after it became a Championship in 1979. It cemented a bond between Ted and co-owner T. Jack Robinson and between them and handler Bill Rayl. And their love of the Invitational, which it won and came Runner-Up in twice. All three men and Builder’s Addition adorn the Hall of Fame. Read more

Ted Baker

May 5, 2022 | Other Things, Ted Baker | Comments
On behalf of the family, thanks to all of you for being here. Today’s display of love and respect means the world to those of us who Ted left behind. I’m sure he is looking down with a big smile on his face and a tear in his eye. TED BAKER WAS NO ORDINARY MAN. Read more

43 Years of The Florida Open All-Age Championship

May 3, 2022 | Florida Open All-Age Championship | Comments
1979 CH: Builder’s Addition, PM (Builder’s Risk x Bearwallow Babe), Fred Rayl R-U: Triple Squeeze, PM (Endurance x Silver Springs), Bob Lamb 1980 CH: Blackbelt, PM (Flush’s Country Squire x Quailwood’s Sally), Freddie Epp R-U: Arcanum’s Hurricane, PM (White Knght’s Button x Arcanum’s West Wind), Charlie Cameron 1981 CH: Texas Squire’s Hank, PM (The Texas Squire x Fast Delivery Jane), John Rex Gates R-U: Annex, PM (Builder’s Addition x Highway Read more