Result: North Carolina Field Trial Association

Location: Hoffman, North Carolina

Post Date: May 29, 2025

Submitted By: John Ivester

Open All-Age (front, l-r): Mark McLean, Jerry Raynor with Haney's All In, Karen Norton with Touch's Shadow Rider, Stephanie Ivester with Southern Pioneer, and Robert Henry. (Second row): Brett Croy, Bruce Norton, and John Ivester. (Third row): Alex Rickert and Cliff Monroe. (Fourth row): Tony Bingham and Greg Robinson. (Top row): Carl Owens.

March 15th was the start date of the North Carolina Field Trial Open All-Age and Open Derby.

The trial is a long-standing event at the Hoffman venue. Twenty-five entries were drawn to be run on the six one-hour courses.
Our first-place winner was Haney's All In, handled by Mark McLean for owners Steve and Stacy Croy from Georgia. Placing second was Touch's Shadow Rider, also handled by Mark McLean for owners Bruce and Karen Norton from Doerun, Georgia. In third was Southern Pioneer, handled by Lefty Henry for owner John Ivester from North Carolina.
Haney's All In ran on Course #3. He put down a big forward race and was found pointed on four coveys. Touch's Shadow Rider ran on Course #4 and put down a good ground race with six covey finds. Southern Pioneer was braced with the winner and ran on Course #3. He had three covey finds and one back with a good ground race.
Birds were plentiful in the All-Age stake with 15 coveys on day one and 21 coveys on day two, not counting birds ridden up. The weather was cool but unpredictable, as adjustments were made to avoid fog and thunderstorms.

The Open Derby stake followed the All-Age with 13 entries. The first-place derby was won by Southern Pioneer, handled by Lefty Henry for owner John Ivester of North Carolina. Second place went to Haney's Top Shelf, handled by Mark Mclean for owners Andy and David Freiburger from Georgia. In the third spot was Nickajack Pale Rider, also handled by Mark Mclean and owned by Andy and David Freiburger.

The weather became sunny and warm, so the bird finding slowed down. The three derby winners each had a find and good race to earn their placements.
Our judges this year were Tony Bingham from Shelby, North Carolina, and Cliff Monroe from Mooresboro, North Carolina. Tony has judged numerous trials at Hoffman with years of experience. Cliff Monroe owns and trials his own dogs and pairs up with Tony at numerous events. Their decisions were well received.

To help the trial stay on schedule, the team of Gary and Ellen Winall, Gary Miller, Lefty Henry, and Stephanie Ivester was much appreciated.

On Saturday night, the club hosted the "Handlers' Dinner" at the well-known Beefeaters Restaurant in Southern Pines, North Carolina. In attendance were Mark Mclean, Jerry Raynor, Phill Stephenson, Lefty Henry, and Mike Hester. Most owners attended, a group of 18, and all had a good time.

It was a successful trial, and we all look forward to the 2026 event.

Hoffman, N. C., March 15
Judges: Tony Bingham and Cliff Monroe
OPEN ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 22 Pointers and 3 Setters
1st-HANEY'S ALL IN, F1698756, pointer male, by Ransom-Haney's North Star. Steve Croy, owner; Mark McLean, handler.
2d-TOUCH'S SHADOW RIDER, F1697543, pointer male, by Touch's Smooth Rider-Touch's Gold Dance. Bruce & Karen Norton & Dr. Reuben Richardson, owners; Mark McLean, handler.
3d-SOUTHERN PIONEER, F1718759, pointer male, by Bonner's Hot Rize-Orton's High Cotton. John Ivester, owner; Robert Henry, handler.

OPEN DERBY - 11 Pointers and 2 Setters
1st-SOUTHERN PIONEER, F1718759, pointer male, by Bonner's Hot Rize-Orton's High Cotton. John Ivester, owner; Robert Henry, handler.
2d-HANEY'S TOP SHELF, F1716492, pointer male, by Haney's All In-Haney's Two Dozen Roses. Andrew Freiburger, owner; Mark McLean, handler.
3d-NICKAJACK PALE RIDER, F1706953, pointer male, by Touch's Malcolm Story-Wildfair Joy. Andrew Freiburger, owner; Mark McLean, handler.

Open Derby (front): Robert Henry, Stephanie Ivester with Southern Pioneer, Alex Rickert with Haney's Top Shelf, and Jerry Raynor with Nickajack Pale Rider. (Second row): John Ivester, Brett Croy, Bruce Norton, and Mark McLean. (Third row): Tony Bingham and Karen Norton. (Fourth row): Greg Robinson and Cliff Monroe. (Top row): Carl Owens.