Paducah 1977

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

The Invitational Champions

The Invitational Champions By John P. Russell (Lu Lu Publishing 500 pages) John Russell has given the field trial sport a precious gift: a comprehensive history of the Quail Championship Invitational, the dream trial for the twelve best of the best held each Thanksgiving weekend, and its Champions. First held in 1941 and 1942 at Albany, Georgia and suspended for the War years, it was revived in 1964 by the West Kentucky Field Trial Club at the West Kentucky Wildlife Area grounds at Paducah which has since stewarded it through innumerable hardships despite having no wealthy patron members. It has survived on the love of a few dedicated individuals for a class all-age bird dog. For twenty of those years it was led by the author, whose dedication to its cause this reviewer observed for eleven of those years, while serving as reporter. Read more