Category: Field Trial Recollections

Bound to Happen

October 5, 2022 | Ben Reach, National Championship | Comments
After Ben Reach read it on the internet he said to Sam at Breakfast next morning at Millie’s Diner, “It was bound to happen eventually. I wonder if it has happened before and no one ever knew.” The “it” was this. And the “it” has a long and short version. The short one: the National Champion bird dog of 2023 was discovered to be an impostor. Read more

The Saddest Tale

August 9, 2022 | National Free-For-All Championship, Poetry | Comments
You can talk about your endurance tests And yes, Ames is one with its three hours in West Tennessee And the Livingston Place for its hour fifty in briars and Florida heat (But you must not call it Dixie Plantation for both them words ain’t woke) And four hours down at Paducah in three days is a worthy test I guess But the toughest of all Was at Sedgefields West ( Mr. Jimmy’s Sedgefields ) In the National Free-For-All 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

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