Kids, dogs, and field trials
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 6:54 am
What an event...! No words could describe it! Both Craig and Neil
certainly hit the nail on the head. The first annual Bass Pro Shops
Youth Trial, held this last weekend on Whippoorwill Plantation, was
indeed one of the highlights of the year. If any of you readers ever
begins to forget why we are all so thrilled to be in the field with
bird dogs, all you need to do is attend a trial like this one. If I
ever had more fun at a field trial in the last 35 years, I can't
remember it. I heard that same comment from many of the adults in
attendance. Both days were spectacular. A walking stake was held to
kick off the event and then a horseback event was run on both Sat. and
Sun. Of course, the stars of the show were the scores of kids that
came to participate, but the stars were the dogs. All of the dogs
seemed to sense the importance of their jobs and their performances
were spectacular. One example would be Wippoorwill Big Shot, Huffman's
big motor, all-age dog who turned into a foot-hunting, bird-finding
cover dog machine for two days, Tip, as he is called, ran for at least
8 different kids over the two days and he pointed more than 40 coveys.
A number of other dogs also did double and triple duty, running for
one kid and then another. A dog named Shoestring from Fitch Farms and
in the string of Randy Downs, ran one brace for five young girls that
called themselves the Dixie Chicks. What a scene, to see all five
flushing birds for this stylish young pointer. Shoestring ran both
days for a number of different kids putting down a great performance
every time.
The more than three hours of video I captured is nothing but
priceless. Some of this footage may appear on Bass Pro Shops TV show
during the next year and other featured pieces will appear in the
upcoming 2005 National Championship Tape. A write-up and photo layout
will also be sent to the American Field and a related story with lots
of pics will appear in the May issue of Covey Rise.
Bobby Alexander, his entire family, Rick & Kay Carlisle with others
from the plantation like Mark Shires & Ryan Bradoc came to assist and
all were a great help. Larry Garner and his charming wife were present
for the entire trial and they had all the kids involved with a Tracker
scavenger hunt. The entire Huffman clan, numbering more than a dozen,
combined with Linda and Bill Hunt to make this one of the most
wonderful events I have ever attended. The one thing I learned for
certain is that if these kids and this event are any indication, the
future of field trials is indeed very bright. Brad Harter
certainly hit the nail on the head. The first annual Bass Pro Shops
Youth Trial, held this last weekend on Whippoorwill Plantation, was
indeed one of the highlights of the year. If any of you readers ever
begins to forget why we are all so thrilled to be in the field with
bird dogs, all you need to do is attend a trial like this one. If I
ever had more fun at a field trial in the last 35 years, I can't
remember it. I heard that same comment from many of the adults in
attendance. Both days were spectacular. A walking stake was held to
kick off the event and then a horseback event was run on both Sat. and
Sun. Of course, the stars of the show were the scores of kids that
came to participate, but the stars were the dogs. All of the dogs
seemed to sense the importance of their jobs and their performances
were spectacular. One example would be Wippoorwill Big Shot, Huffman's
big motor, all-age dog who turned into a foot-hunting, bird-finding
cover dog machine for two days, Tip, as he is called, ran for at least
8 different kids over the two days and he pointed more than 40 coveys.
A number of other dogs also did double and triple duty, running for
one kid and then another. A dog named Shoestring from Fitch Farms and
in the string of Randy Downs, ran one brace for five young girls that
called themselves the Dixie Chicks. What a scene, to see all five
flushing birds for this stylish young pointer. Shoestring ran both
days for a number of different kids putting down a great performance
every time.
The more than three hours of video I captured is nothing but
priceless. Some of this footage may appear on Bass Pro Shops TV show
during the next year and other featured pieces will appear in the
upcoming 2005 National Championship Tape. A write-up and photo layout
will also be sent to the American Field and a related story with lots
of pics will appear in the May issue of Covey Rise.
Bobby Alexander, his entire family, Rick & Kay Carlisle with others
from the plantation like Mark Shires & Ryan Bradoc came to assist and
all were a great help. Larry Garner and his charming wife were present
for the entire trial and they had all the kids involved with a Tracker
scavenger hunt. The entire Huffman clan, numbering more than a dozen,
combined with Linda and Bill Hunt to make this one of the most
wonderful events I have ever attended. The one thing I learned for
certain is that if these kids and this event are any indication, the
future of field trials is indeed very bright. Brad Harter