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Fred Dileo

October 21, 2018 | Fred Dileo | Comments
Since his tragic death At 46 in 2007 I have been working To tell his story I have bare facts From the written records Memories too of what I witnessed Many stories others told me Now I hope to gain your help Those who knew him watched him work To climb the ladder to the top Dog by dog trial by trial Please share your memories As I post the Read more

A Reinstatement

October 17, 2018 | Ben Reach, Short Stories | Comments
“Gilbert Blevins called and asked if he might come see you,” Joanne said to Ben Reach on his return to the office from lunch at Millie’s Diner. “When will he be here?” Ben asked. “At three, today is his day off.” “Good.” Read more

What Do I Do With Gnarly Pine?

October 10, 2018 | Ben Reach, Short Stories | Comments
Sequel To Per Stirpes or Per Capita Bob Blain had to decide what to do on his death with all his wealth except Gnarly Pine Plantation, the five thousand acre quail plantation outside Thomasville his family had owned and stewarded since 1895. He could leave it to whomever he chose without estate tax concerns because it was held in a trust for him that was not transfer taxable when he died. His family was gone except for his six grandchildren, ages fourteen to thirty. None of them could afford to own it alone, but as partners—all or some of them—might be able to swing it. Big problem for Bob, he did not know them well enough to judge whether some or all would be suitable stewards for this special place. Read more

Per Stirpes or Per Capita

October 2, 2018 | Ben Reach | Comments
Ben Reach got the call on the morning of November 1. The caller was Bob Blain, formerly of Boston, now a resident of Thomasville where his family had owned a quail plantation since 1895. Until now Bob had resided on the plantation only Thanksgiving to March 1 each year, plus a week for Spring gobbler season and some bream fishing and some weekends in dove season. Bob was Ben’s age. “Ben, I want to review my estate plan with you now that I am a Georgia resident, “ Bob said after opening pleasantries. They agreed on a meeting time a week later. Read more

The Set Up

September 23, 2018 | Ben Reach, Short Stories | Comments
Ben got the call on his cell phone on Saturday morning, the first week in March, as he and Sam fly cast for bream from a Jon boat on a pond at Mossy Swamp Plantation. “Mr. Sam, we been set up.” The caller was Andy Ames, a young pointing dog handler just turned pro. Ben could detect the fear and anguish in his voice. “Who is ‘we’ Andy?” Ben said from instinct. “Me and Mr. Harold,” Andy replied. Read more

2002 Florida Open All-Age Championship

September 18, 2018 | Field Trial Championships, Field Trial Reports | Comments
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. Read more

The Last Dream

September 13, 2018 | Short Stories | Comments
It was a dream he had started hundreds of times but never completed. Before now, the dream had always ended with his waking to reality. He was a pointing dog trainer-handler, one of hundreds that had since the 1870s eked out a living taking young dogs and molding them into useful workers for their owners, bird hunters or field trialers who as amateurs ran them in trials for amateurs. But what he aspired to was to find and mold a dog that he could handle as a pro to win major open field trials, including the ultimate, the National Bird Dog Championship, held each February at the Ames Plantation at Grand Junction, Tennessee. Read more

Races ~ 5

August 30, 2018 | Prose | Comments
None who saw it Will forget it Silverwood’s hour at Chinquapin In January 2002 If an hour race Can be called magic This one was it Plus it was Hunter’s first year as scout The judges were Luke Weaver And Vernon Vance The bracemate Last year’s Champion Million Dollar Man Read more

Races ~ 4

August 19, 2018 | Prose | Comments
Twelve hours Nine days Three Champion titles In the Quail Championship Invitational 1996, 1997, 1998 House’s Rain Cloud A record never to be challenged Consistency personified Read more

Paducah 1977

August 12, 2018 | Book Reviews | Comments
In his marvelous new book, The Invitational Champions, John Russell alludes thus to mysterious events: “The 1977 edition is one likely to be long remembered by those in attendance as events occurred both during the running and after hours that elicited plenty of conversation. Descriptions of all of the happenings vary with the telling and re-telling but suffice it to say that there were some memorable characters involved and not all of the events were suitable for this account.” In this John is a master of the understatement. Read more