Result: All-America Championships

Location: Pinckneyville, Illinois

Post Date: Apr 1, 2026

Submitted By: Jim Atchison

All-America Derby Championship (front, l-r): Judd Carlton with Rester's Wildflower and Luke Eisenhart with Silver W Orange Crush. (Back, l-r): Mike Small, Brad Hargis, Doug Burgess, Kent Walker (judge), Gary McKibben (judge), and Mike Jackson.

One hundred years after the first running of the All-America Derby Championship, the Hoosier Field Trial Club hosted the Centennial Renewal of the Championship, accompanied by the All-America Quail Championship, the companion All-Age competition that received championship designation more than 25 years later. The championships were held in Illinois at Pyramid State Park from March 6-10. Every aspect of the five-day renewal was of celebratory quality, thanks to the advance efforts of some of the local club members, the on-site efforts of the entire club, the superior venue, the quality of the judges, the number of outstanding entries, the number of game contacts, and ok weather conditions, all coming together perfectly.

Gary McKibben, from Hernando, Mississippi, and Kent Walker, from Piperton, Tennessee, judged. The judges' combined years of field trial experience probably equaled or exceeded the 100 years of the competitions they judged. Their placements were well-received and their services appreciated.

Purina's continuing sponsorship was acknowledged, and their always being the primary sponsor of the stakes was greatly appreciated. The club and all participants also appreciated two evening meals hosted by Escape Ranch, represented by Nathan Phillips, and a Sunday night steak dinner hosted by Gary Lester.

Weather conditions varied significantly, with temperatures ranging from mid-30s to mid-70s, and one night and one morning of rain, which caused only two braces to be run on Sunday, starting at 2:00 p.m.

The Hoosier Club members came together to create a team of excellent hosts. Husband-and-wife duo Jim Lawless and Kay Morrison contributed countless hours and a great portion of the energy that made the championships a success. Lawless's outstanding relationship with Pyramid's management team, his year-round dedication to the park, and funding from several sources contributed greatly to autumn olive eradication during the last year, making the venue better than ever. Morrison prepared three meals each day for everyone participating, handled all the secretary-treasurer business, and rode in most braces. Jon Lam, vice president of the club, was busy every day, planting birds each morning with Lawless, marshaling, scouting, and always helping. Doug Burgess provided the ATV, handled all the dog wagon tasks, and agreed to serve as president of the group for the upcoming year. Additional club members, Mike Jackson, Mike Small, Nathan Phillips, and Jim Atchison, were available to help as needed.

The number of game contacts achieved during the championships was impressive. The game contact count was 40 during the Derby stake and 50 during the All-Age stake. Jim Lawless and Jon Lam planted birds each morning at 5:30, always in the same places as the day before. Their efforts were another example of club members' commitment to providing fair and equitable opportunities for all competing entries.

Champions and Runners-up Champions
Derby Stake: Luke Eisenhart swept the Derby Championship as he campaigned both Rester's Wildflower to stand on the winner's table as champion and Silver W Orange Crush to stand as runner-up champion. Rester's Wildflower is a white and liver female pointer, owned by Julie and Pat Roach of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Silver W Orange Crush is a white and orange male owned by Dr. Debbie Ozner, Dr. Baker Hubbard, and Dr. Tom Jackson, with the registration address being Ochlocknee, Georgia.

All-Age Stake: Bandit's Hill Avenger had an outstanding performance to earn champion of the All-Age stake. His capable young handler was Korry Rinehart, from Rienzi, Mississippi. Avenger, whelped in 2022, is owned by Ann Forrester, who traveled from South Fulton, Tennessee, to watch her champion win. Luke Eisenhart, from Dawson, Georgia, also stood at the All-Age winners' table with Haney's Silver Dollar, the 5-year-old runner-up champion, owned by Chris Cagle Sr. and Chris Cagle Jr., from Woodlawn, Tennessee.

Derby Championship Competition
Rester's Wildflower, the Derby Champion, was the top dog drawn to run in the first brace of the Championship. Her performance set the bar for the competition, a level not surpassed as the field of 22 derbies competed and scored 40 game contacts. Eisenhart dismounted three times during the hour and raised birds each time, at 24, 44, and 54. The champion's style, speed, big, smooth race, and absence of need for scouting reflected that she and her nationally recognized handler created a winning combo.

Silver W Orange Crush won runner-up for Eisenhart and his owners in the third brace. He had birds at 10, 32, 39, and 59 during his strong, front-running hour. His tight demeanor and superior style, both while running and on game, were impressive and certainly contributed to his placement.

Millers Inspiration, owned by Al Bryson and handled by Gary Lester, was braced with the champion in the first brace. Lester shot at 12, 20, and again at 52, with both dogs finding birds about 30 yards apart. He also backed his brace mate at 24, and everything was in good order.

Ike Todd had Edge's Ripper, owned by Gordy Jones, while Judd Carlton had Erin's Banshee, owned by Allen Linder, in the second brace. Banshee had birds at 23, 32, and an unproductive at 48. Ripper had birds once, in the last quarter hour of the brace.

Haney's High Dollar, owned by the Cagles--Chris Sr. and Chris Jr.--and handled by Ike Todd, ran in the third brace, with the runner-up. High Dollar had birds at 17, 30, and backed his bracemate at 39.

Red Dirt Road Mondo, owned by Jay McKenzie, who was in the gallery, was handled by Allen Vincent, while Ike Todd had Phantom's Zip, owned by Erick and Holly Parsons. Zip found birds at 6 and 22 prior to an unproductive stand at 48. A couple of minutes later, Mondo pointed in the same general area, but Vincent was not able to produce game for the judges.

Silver W Season Ticket, handled by Luke Eisenhart, went next, loosed with Knight's Iceman, owned by Scott Griffin and handled by Ike Todd. Season Ticket found birds at 15 and 44, before standing by a kill pile at 51. Iceman had a find at 34 and stood at the same kill pile, with his brace mate, at 51.

Sunset Jack and Erin's Desert Storm were the last pair to compete on the first afternoon. Jack, owned by Matt and Stacey Brown, was handled by Ike Todd. Desert Storm, owned by Mike Sweet, was handled by Judd Carlton. Jack found birds at 10 and 23, with Storm backing both stands. The pair had a divided find at 35, and Jack had an unproductive at 47. Storm's final find was at 52, but the bird almost hit him in the face; he ducked, and Carlton took him out of the competition.

The first day ended with the game count standing at 24, plus kill piles. Braces did not start until 2 p.m. the following day because of rain that started overnight.

Cadron Creek Sam, handled by Allen Vincent for Doctors Mills, McDonald, and Lightner, and CK Playmaker, owned by David Melnick and handled by Judd Carlton, were loosed at 2:00. Sam pointed at 13, but erred and was picked up. Playmaker had an unproductive at 5 and pointed at 19, but also erred, so the brace ended early.

The second, and last of the two braces that ran on Sunday was No. 8 and had Erin's Forged In Fire and Como White Lightning loosed together. Sean Pat Derrig had Forged In Fire from his family's kennel, and Luke Eisenhart had White Lightning, with owner David Russell in the gallery. Both dogs had an excellent hour, with Derrig flushing birds at 12, 23, and a woodcock at 59, while Eisenhart flushed at 30, 38, 45, and again at the end of the hour.

The last three Derby braces were completed on Sunday morning. Gary Lester had Lesters Thunder Road, owned by Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton, and Judd Carlton had Erin's Dreamcatcher, owned by Mike Sweet. Thunder Road bumped a bird at 12, on relocation, and was picked up. Dreamcatcher finished the hour, backing his bracemate at 12, and producing additional game at 38 and 56.

Brace 10 had Apache Storm, handled by Korry Rinehart for Jake Davis, paired with Whippoorwill Out Rider, owned by Dale Bush and handled by Larry Huffman. Out Rider backed Apache Storm in a find at 22, and both dogs stood pointed about 100 yards apart at 31. Rinehart was able to flush birds, but Huffman had no luck. Moving toward the end of the hour, Apache had an unproductive and Outrider found birds at 58.

Texas Blue Northern, owned by Dr. Robert Rankin and handled by Allen Vincent, and Rester's In Sync, owned by Adam Houston and handled by Luke Eisenhart, were the last derbies to compete. In Sync had a find at 47, with Blue Northern backing, and then both dogs were picked up in the last quarter hour. The birds found at 47 in this brace raised the total number of derby game contacts to 40.

Pinckneyville, Ill., March 6
Judges: Gary McKibben and Kent Walker
ALL-AMERICA DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 21 Pointers and 1 Setter
Winner-RESTER'S WILDFLOWER, F1718696, pointer female, by Rester's Johnny Ringo-Wynona's Funseeker Dixie. Julie & Pat Roach, owners; Luke Eisenhart, handler.
Runner-Up-SILVER W ORANGE CRUSH, F1719746, pointer male, by Miller's Blindsider-Silver W Thunderbolt's Boom. Dr. Debbie Ozner, owner; Luke Eisenhart, handler.

Quail Championship (All-Age) Competition
Bandit's Hill Avenger, the All-Age Champion, competed in the first brace of the All-Age competition, which started after lunch on Sunday afternoon. Awesome is the best description imaginable for every minute of his winning performance. With Ann Forrester watching, Korry Rinehart flushed birds at 20, 30, 38, 48, 50, and finally at 59. He ran a monstrously fast race the entire hour, covered the course thoroughly, was tight, stylish, responsive, and totally in sync with Rinehart the entire hour. This first brace must have certainly taken the pressure off the judges, relative to knowing they already had a dog they could use in their judicial roles.
Haney's Silver Dollar, owned by the Cagles--Chris Sr. and Chris Jr.--was runner-up champion and handled by Luke Eisenhart in the fourth brace. Silver Dollar had a terrific hour, with birds at 5, a divided find at 20, birds again at 28, 35, and 43, plus another divided find at 53. The 5-year-old's hour was a great one, pleasing in every way expected in the sport, and certainly impressed the judges, earning the runner-up placement.

Erin's Mighty Quinn, handled by Sean Pat Derrig, competed in the first brace, running with the champion. He ran well and had birds at 13, 22, 25, and 47.

Erin's Southern Comfort and Erin's Bold Ruler went next. Sean Pat, declaring himself one of two Sean Derrigs, had Southern Comfort, while Luke Eisenhart had Bold Ruler, owned by Claudia McNamee and Dr. Bill Bruchey. Bold Ruler had game at 6 and 15 but moved and was picked up. Southern Comfort found birds at 15, 25, 35, 47, and 55, keeping the hour interesting and fast-moving.

The third brace drew Beeler's Final Solution, owned by Rick Stallings and handled by Scott Beeler, and Miller's Heat Advisory, owned by Mike Sweet and handled by Judd Carlton, to the line. Heat Advisory had birds first, at 15, backed Final Solution at 28, had birds again at 38, and ended the hour with an unproductive at 59. Final Solution pointed, and Beeler flushed at 28 and 47. He also backed at 38 and 59.

Lester's War Bird, owned by Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton and handled by Gary Lester, was braced with the runner-up in Brace 4. War Bird had birds at 13 and 58. He backed at 5, 35, and 43, plus shared divided finds at 20 and 53.

Through the first four braces of the All-Age competition, the game count soared to 31 and slowed, but continued to reach the aforementioned number of 50 in the following braces.
Wynona's Rebel, handled by Allen Vincent for owners Bruce Sooter and Dennis Beauford, and Erin's Three Amigos, handled by Judd Carlton for owners Mike Sweet, John Mathys, and Jerry Moisson, were loosed at 8:00 on Monday morning, but the brace ended quickly. Rebel moved during a divided find at 5 and was put into his harness. Then, Three Amigos chased a bird during relocation at 10, and the brace was over.

Brace 6 ended quickly, also. Matt Brown had his and wife, Stacey's, Sunset Jack, while Nathan Phillips had Phillips Linebacker that he co-owns with Orrin Ingram. But both were soon picked up.

Gary Lester had Sunset Sam Houston, and Luke Eisenhart had Erin's Copper Colt in the seventh brace. Copper Colt, owned by Allen Linder, had the first find at 5, backed by Sam Houston. Colt then had a find at 12 and soon backed finds Sam Houston had at 19 and 23. However, both handlers chose to pick up their dogs at 37.

Wynona Sugar, handled by Allen Vincent for Bruce Sooter and Brad Tolson, went next, paired with Miss Arkansas, owned and handled by Mike Lemons. Sugar moved during a divided find at 5 and was picked up. Lemons let his dog hunt the rest of the hour, with finds at 40 and 53.

Brace 9 was also a short brace. Gary Lester had Black Rock Snow Goose, owned by Nick Cummings, while Luke Eisenhart had Erin's Code of Honor, owned by Allen Linder. Code of Honor had birds and 6, but both handlers chose to pick up by about the quarter hour.

On Tuesday morning, in Brace 10, Korry Rinehart had Miller's Last Call, owned by Scott Griffin and Derek Bonner, while David Russell had his Haney's Hurricane Seeker. Rinehart flushed birds in front of Last Call at 20 and 30 but picked him up following an unproductive at 48. Hurricane Seeker's whereabouts were unknown, and Russell asked for his tracker at 20.

Blackhawk Lucky Charm, handled by Allen Vincent and owned by the Drs. Mills, McDonald, and Lightner went next, braced with Erin's Legacy, owned by Mike Sweet and handled by Judd Carlton. The pair experienced a mishap at 4, and the brace ended abruptly.

The last All-Age brace had I'm Gallant, owned by Jay McKenzie and handled by Allen Vincent, paired with Quail Pine Woods, owned by Greg Adams and handled by Judd Carlton. Both handlers picked up their dogs at 17.

ALL-AMERICA QUAIL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 27 Pointers and 2 Setters
Winner-BANDIT'S HILL AVENGER, F1702642, pointer male, by Touch's Smooth Rider-Bandit's Hill Daisy. Ann Forrester, owner; Korry Rinehart, handler.
Runner-Up-HANEY'S SILVER DOLLAR, F1698758, pointer male, by Ransom-Haney's North Star. Chris Cagle, owner; Luke Eisenhart, handler.

All-America All-Age Championship (front, l-r): Judd Carlton with Bandit's Hill Avenger and Luke Eisenhart with Haney's Silver Dollar. (Back, l-r): Mike Lemons, Gary Lester, Mike Small, Korry Rnehart, Doug Burgess, Kent Walker (judge), Gary McKibben (judge), David Russell, Mike Jackson, Jon Lam, and Jim Lawless.