Result: National Amateur Quail and National Amateur Derby Championships

Location: Greenville, Florida

Post Date: Apr 30, 2025

Submitted By: Maria Bassham

National Amateur Quail Championship (back): Ben Melvin, John McCormick, Jim Pendergest, Larron Copeland, William Smith, Cecil Rester, Brian Spear, Chip Pendergrass, Lance Servais, David Williams, Randy Floyd, and Brian Peterson. (Front): Rita Corder, Jim and Mary Womack, Spectator, Woody Watson with Game Heir, Dr. Fred Corder, Tommy Smith, Til Hankley with Just Sayin, Mike Moses, Shannon Nygard.

The Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America hosted the 104th running of the National Amateur Quail Championship on the beautiful, prestigious grounds of the former Dixie Plantation (Livingston Place), the last week of February 2025. The 90-minute all-age braces began on a rainy Monday morning, February 24, and concluded on Thursday afternoon, February 27. The drawing for the all-age and derby participants was held Friday, February 21, and placed 29 pointers and two setters in their running order for the All-Age stake and 26 pointers and two setters in the hour-long braces of the Derby stake.

Thank you to our two judges, William Smith of Moscow, Tennessee, and Chip Pendergrass of Dayton, Tennessee, for spending their time in the judicial saddles for the All-Age stake. It was a pleasure riding with these two fine men, and Mr. William Smith always supplied us with endless jokes and comic relief! For the Derby, we were honored to have judges, and lifelong friends, Hoyt Henley Jr. of Haynesville, Alabama, and Brian Spear of Lowendale, Alabama. We thank all these gentlemen for their expertise and watchful eye in judging these four-legged athletes.

Thank you to manager John Michael McCormick and the entire staff of Livingston Place for their help in making sure the trial ran smoothly. John, Ben Melvin, and Reece Birdeau marshaled each day and kept the gallery on course. Daily lunches were provided for us by Gloria Hagan and Christina Burns, and we can't thank these two ladies enough for all they did to keep our bellies full. And of course, thank you to Randy Floyd for all his stories and help throughout the week.

Thank you to our friend and dog wagon driver, Til Hankley, for being there every day, making sure the dogs were loaded on the wagon and ready for each of their breakaways. Also, for having a cooler (when it didn't fall off the wagon) full of snacks, drinks, and water for everyone at every brace change. A big thanks to Matt, Megan, and Jim Pendergest for helping with the donation of all those goodies! It was very much appreciated and enjoyed by everyone in the gallery. And finally, to our glue, Piper Huffman, who always goes above and beyond to hold this organization together. This trial would not run with such ease if it weren't for everyone who so selflessly contributed.
We are very grateful to Greg Blair and Purina, the official sponsor and supporter of this trial, for the wonderful fish fry dinner on Thursday evening for all to enjoy. It was the perfect way to wrap up the conclusion of the All-Age stake. Purina also presented the winners with bags of Purina dog food, Garmin e-collars, and beautiful plaques.

The Winners
Temperatures for the week were unfavorably warm for the 31 dogs entered to run in the All-Age stake. Monday morning's rain and 51-degree temp proved to hold the best results for the dogs and presented us with the winning dog's brace that morning and the runner-up's that afternoon. Handsome pointer male, Game Heir, put on a show for the gallery and his owner/handler, Dr. Fred Corder, in the second brace that cool, rainy morning. He and his bracemate, James Pond Knightranger, started strong, stopping at 11, with Game Heir backing. Both dogs continued up the hill, and both handlers called point. Knightranger continued his race. Birds were seen for Game Heir, and he held steady to wing and shot. Knightranger did not perform to his handler's liking; therefore, he was picked up at 17. Game Heir continued his strong, classy, solo race for the remainder of his time on the ground. Scout Ruthann Epp found him holding a gallant point at 37 with a grand covey up. A third stylish point was called at the 1-hour, 7-minute mark, giving Game Heir another chance to showcase his superb handling skills. He had one last find at 1 hour, 18 minutes with a relocation that produced a sizeable covey rise. The pointer continued to run a big, clean, forward race that kept spectators and judges riding high in their saddles. Game Heir was found when time was called, thus concluding his exciting, winning brace.

Just Sayin, a male pointer owned and handled by Mike Moses, was crowned runner-up after another invigorating brace on Monday afternoon. The cool, 62-degree temperatures provided good hunting conditions for Just Sayin, who was paired with Chipper Jones, on that misty afternoon. At 38, he had his first find with a nice-sized covey up. He continued to handle well and ran a strong, forward race. He produced his second find at 54, just under the big oak tree, and held steady to wing and shot. His bracemate was not seen for some time, resulting in his tracker being requested at one hour. Just Sayin had one final find at one hour, 3 minutes, with a flight of birds seen by the judges. He finished his impressive race out front and was with his handler when his 90-minute brace came to an end.

The Running
Due to the unseasonably warm north Florida temperatures and damage from Hurricane Helene, a number of dogs unfortunately did not finish their braces in these challenging conditions. In addition to the two winners, only eight of the 31 contenders were able to complete their 90 minutes on the ground.

In the first brace of the All-Age stake, pointer female Touch's Dancing Nancies, with owner/handler Kent Cantrell, had a find at 59. After a relocation, flight of birds was seen by the judges. She also stopped again just after time was called, producing a covey rise.

The third brace paired pointer female Silver Line Destroyer Gold (Paul Daniel, owner/handler), with pointer female Storm's End (Matt Pendergest). Silver Line completed her brace with no birdwork. Storm's End had two finds and two unproductives, one being feathers, and returned when time was called.

The 10th brace was first-timer Colt Copeland and his pointer female, Showtime Mocking Jay. With the help of his scout, Dad Larron, Colt handled his first Amateur Quail Championship. Jay stopped at 8, but Colt did not dismount to flush. It was said that birds had taken flight before the judges' arrival. At 16, he stopped one more time and held steady for wing and shot. The handsome pointer was found shortly after time was called.

Both dogs in the 13th brace finished their 90 minutes that Thursday morning. Pointer female Rebel Dream with David Williams and pointer male Showtime Houston Solution with Larron Copeland each had one find and one unproductive, and both were seen when time was called.
The 15th brace paired Rester's Cajun Justice (Cecil Rester, owner/handler) with Rebel Survivor (David Williams). Both male pointers completed their time on the ground. Justice had one find and one unproductive, and Survivor had a relocation that resulted in an unproductive.

Greenville, Fla., February 24
Judges: Chip Pendergrass and William Smith
NATIONAL AMATEUR QUAIL CHAMPIONSHIP [Ninety-Minute Heats] - 28 Pointers and 3 Setters
Winner-GAME HEIR, F1691409, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Game Snow. Fred Corder, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-JUST SAYIN, F1698956, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Worth The Wait. Mike Moses, owner and handler.

National Amateur Derby Championship
Derby winner Rester's Fair Play, a pointer female owned and handled by Cecil Rester, ran in the 12th brace of the Derby stake. Temperatures reached 77 degrees that Saturday afternoon with clear skies. Both dogs started out with a strong, forward brace. Fair Play had her first classy find at 22 with flight of birds. She continued her race out front and handled well with flawless manners, impressing the judges along the way. At 36, she had her second find with an abundant covey up, holding steady to wing and shot. Fair Play finished her hour on the ground and was with her handler when time was called, completing her winning derby brace. Cecil, who is no stranger to the National Amateur Derby Championship, has won the Derby Champion title three times and runner-up a total of four times in his amateur career.

Derby runner-up Southern Shadows Copper, a pointer male owned by Brian Peterson and Lance Servais, handled by Brian, ran in the third brace of the Derby stake Friday morning. Clear skies and 65-degree temperatures proved favorable for Copper. His first find at 11 had him looking spectacular on his game, and he held well for wing and shot. Two shots were fired out of pure excitement. He stopped again at 41, with a relocation, resulting in an unproductive. The judges certainly enjoyed watching this pointer run his forward, well-handled brace. Copper was with his handler when time was called.

Judges: Hoyt Henley and Brian S. Spear
NATIONAL AMATEUR DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 28 Pointers
Winner-RESTER'S FAIR PLAY, F1706927, pointer female, by Rester's Johnny Ringo-Rester's Cajun Queen. Cecil Rester, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-SOUTHERN SHADOWS COPPER, F1716938, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-The White Pearl. Lance Servais & Brian Peterson, owners; Brian Peterson, handler.

National Amateur Derby Championship (back): Ben McCormick, Til Hankley, Paul Daniel, Cecil Rester with Rester's Fair Play, Brian Spear, Lance Servais, Brian Peterson with Southern Shadows Copper, Hoyt Henley, Jim Tande, Maria Bassham, and Randy Floyd.