Event: Piney Woods Trial
Result: Associated Field Trial Clubs of Florida
Location: Punta Gorda, Florida
Post Date: Apr 6, 2026
Submitted By: Petie Brown
Open All-Age (front row): Katie McEwen with Holopaw's Rear Axel and Kayleigh Muzynski with Holopaw's Cracker. (Second row): Justin and Carol Muzynski.
Judith Hamilton made it south in time to chair our Piney Woods trial, bringing with her an intense cold spell with temperatures in the upper 40s during the day, dropping into the high 20s to low 30s at night; this caused frost conditions, wind chills, and wonderfully warm campfires. Several judges whom Judith lined up had to cancel, so Dave and Kari Jorgensen were kind enough to spend the day in the judicial saddle. Their decisions, along with our other judges', were well received.
We have two rotating trophies that are awarded to the winners of the All-Age and Shooting Dog stakes. The Lester White Memorial Trophy, placed in circulation back in 1954 for the Piney Woods Field Trial Club, became the Lester Alford Memorial Trophy in 1984. The Shooting Dog trophy, more recently in circulation, honors Don and Sharon Wood and Frank and Mercy Fonseca for all their contributions to our sport, including the Funseeker line, which has many prodigies still running today. Along with trophies, Purina has generously donated Pro Plan to the winners, for which our club is most grateful.
The Winners
The one-hour All-Age had some exciting moments. Vince Feltner's Checkmates Catch Me If You Can ("Jackie"), in the first brace of the morning, handled by Paul Daniel, was on point with a single under her at 34. Jackie ran beautifully and was on point again, not to be found, until the tracker was pulled 19 minutes after time was called. Her bracemate, Holopaw's Rear Axel ("Alex"), had his own excitement with a nice run and a whip around point. Some of the birds were in front of him, and some were under him, so his handler, Justin Muzynski, had a good time flushing and a well-earned first place.
The second brace would have worn this reporter out. Holopaw's Cracker ("Mack") went on point at 13, and Justin relocated four times, but was unsuccessful in his flushing attempts, even as fast as he was. Weather conditions definitely played into the birds' advantage for a speedy getaway, and Mack went on to lay down a classy all-age run, earning second place. Taking third place, Checkmates Country Sunshine ("Tawna"), ran in the first brace of the afternoon. This is usually one of our least favorite braces due to the heat, but not the case on this day. Tawna's first large covey with Paul Daniel handling was just before Pine Island, and her second find was near the Grapefruit Head. Tawna was braced with Dominator's High Maintenance, who was not seen since breakaway and was picked up on the tracker way out to the front, looking for an edge.
The Puppy stake was judged by Paul Daniel and Daniel Linehan, with Myakka Mistake ("Misty") having at least four "contacts" that we saw. Her handler, Beth Brown, barely had time to get back in the saddle as Misty lay out and ran from covey to covey. Her littermates, McEwen's One Night Stand (Katie McEwen), and Myakka Dancing Diva (Petie Brown), took second and third, respectively; they pleased their handlers, but didn't turn up the birds like Misty.
The judges, Beth Brown and Katie McEwen, had plenty to discuss during Sunday morning's Shooting Dog stake. More weather was moving in, and there were some scratches. As the morning went on, the winds picked up, making some dogs appear more scattered. In the first brace, Myakka Lucy Diamond (Petie Brown) placed third with a nice big running shooting dog interrupted by two cyclists coming down the course, who expressed a bit of attitude when we informed them that this was a field trial with the grounds reserved; that was a first, and we hope last. Judith Hamilton's setter, "Holly," ran with great energy, going on point 20 minutes in. Unfortunately, Judith was unable to flush the birds sneaking away; however, Paul Daniel rode them up afterwards. Second place went to Judith Hamilton's Higby Bon Hiver ("Bonnie"), who had an unproductive, but quickly recovered with a clean find. A well-deserved first place went to Manatee Sam, handled by Justin Muzynski, who hunted with determination, producing two clean finds.
Punta Gorda, Fla., January 17
Judges: Dave Jorgensen and Kari Jorgensen
OPEN ALL-AGE [One-Hour Heats] - 8 Pointers
1st-HOLOPAW'S REAR AXEL, F1690238, pointer male, by Holopaw's Axel-Hot Digity Dot. Kenneth & Justin Muzynski, owners; Justin Muzynski, handler.
2d-CHECKMATES COUNTRY SUNSHINE, F1702591, pointer female, by Nacho's Texas Rebel-Nacho's Drama Ma Ma. Vince Feltner, owner; Paul Daniel, handler.
3d-HOLOPAW'S CRACKER, F1690236, pointer male, by Holopaw's Axel-Hot Digity Dot. Kenneth & Justin Muzynski, owners; Justin Muzynski, handler.
Open Shooting Dog (front row): Kayleigh Muzynski with Manatee Sam, Judith Hamilton with Higby Bon Hiver, and Petie Brown with Myakka Lucy Diamond. (Second row): Justin Muzynski, Katie McEwen (judge), Robert Dykstra, and Carol Muzynski.
Judges: Beth Brown and Katie McEwen
OPEN SHOOTING DOG - 7 Pointers, 1 Setter, and 1 German Shorthair
1st-MANATEE SAM, F1690412, pointer male, by Holopaw's Axel-Hot Digity Dot. Kenneth & Justin Muzynski, owners; Justin Muzynski, handler.
2d-HIGBY BON HIVER, F1684702, pointer female, by Erin's War Creek-Higby Rilo. Judith Hamilton, owner and handler.
3d-MYAKKA LUCY DIAMOND, F1665013, pointer female, by Elhew G Force-Myakka Hey Jude. Petie Brown, owner and handler.
Judges: Paul Daniel and Daniel Linehan
OPEN PUPPY - 4 Pointers
1st-MYAKKA MISTAKE, unreg., pointer female, by Checkmates Prime Time One-Silverline Destroyer Gold. Beth Brown, owner and handler.
2d-MCEWEN'S ONE NIGHT STAND, unreg., pointer male, by Checkmates Prime Time One-Silverline Destroyer Gold. Debbie & Katie McEwen, owners; Katie McEwen, handler.
Open Puppy (front row): Laura Dykstra with Myakka Mistake, Katie McEwen with McEwen's One Night Stand, and Petie Brown with Myakka Dancing Diva. (Second row): Beth Brown and Robert Dykstra.