Result: Southeastern All-Age Championship

Location: Dawson, Georgia

Post Date: Apr 7, 2026

Submitted By: Lamar Childers

Southeastern Open All-Age Championship (front): Michael Jackson with son Bo. (Behind): Woody Watson, Jacob, Stacy Croy, Steve Croy, Lee Phillips, Mark McLean, Tessa Hughes, Cody McLean with Haney's All In, Joe Hughes (judge), Davey Deal, Ron Deal, Larron Copeland, Luke Eisenhart with Erin's Code of Honor, Jeff Gibbons (judge), Rita Corder, Dr. Fred Corder, and Shannon Nygard.

Marking the 36th running of the Southeastern All-Age Championship, and the 40th year of field trials on these grounds, the championship competition commenced on March 1, the traditional start date. As in all previous renewals, the trial was headquartered on Hall of Famer Dr. Ron Deal's Chickasaw Plantation and is contested over the grounds of Chickasaw, Abigail, and Ecila Plantations. We are extremely grateful to Richard Burk for the use of Abigail, to Frank Foley for Ecila, and to the Deal family for Chickasaw. Thanks to Purina for their regular support of this event.

The conditions here in March, with the seasons changing, can be challenging, but the birds are plentiful, and the opportunity to see these canine athletes compete on these plantation grounds is exciting. Rainfall has been low this winter, and the numerous wet-weather ponds are dry, allowing better use of the grounds.

Judging was two experienced arbiters who knew and agreed upon what they were looking for in an all-age champion. Both hail from the state of Alabama: Jeff Gibbons of Deatsville and Joe Hughes of Moulton. Joe was accompanied by his lovely wife, Tessa. Tessa had the distinction of having her horse depart for home during the break between braces one afternoon and returned to her after a lengthy chase by some in the official party. Tessa also got to practice her mud bogging skills, driving their nice Ford dually through the "shortcut" to the local fish house on Gillionville Road.

For the first several years, Truman Cowles reported both our All-Age and Shooting Dog trials, as well as being a mentor and advisor to our team as we sought to gain championship status for our trials. Several individuals handled the reporting duties until Dr. Ron Deal became our reporter and did such a good job for many years. Claudia McNamee has reported for the last couple of years and was scheduled to report this year, but had something come up that prevented her. Your scribe was enlisted, and after an unplanned return home after Brace 12, Dr. Deal provided the brace-by-brace report from 13 on to complete this report.
Wilson Napier handled the dog wagon with his usual efficiency, maintaining as close contact with the gallery as possible to allow the wagon riders to view the action. The club provided lunch each day, prepared and served by Chickasaw employee Mike Jackson and his wife, Alexa.
Willis Wright, with a 35-year tenure on Abigail Plantation, was present as always to lend a hand and served as the front marshal.

The Winners
Winning the gold was multiple champion Haney's All In, ably handled by Mark McLean, braced with Erin's Legacy, handled by Judd Carlton, appearing in the 15th brace, the last brace in the morning. The first two braces of the morning were cut short, using only a combined 50 minutes of the first course. The eventual champion and bracemate were released at the normal start of the second course, after the afore-mentioned horse roundup was concluded. Released in the course path these two sped away and pointed simultaneously less than a minute into the brace. As the saying goes, "point 'em where they are." Both dogs running strong on the right front making contact with handlers to cross Rock Story Road around 7. At 14, All In was standing well ahead in a pine strip with excellent manners as the covey was put to flight. This was repeated on another covey at 19. Both dogs were laying down a good race with All In having the edge. At 33, well ahead, Legacy was seen pointing and nearing his stand. All In was seen in the backing position. A good piece of work with all in order. At 40, both dogs were seen well ahead, nearing the county road to cross back onto Abigail. All In shown on Abigail in the green fields on the right at 42, Legacy crossing the creek with Carlton at 44. McLean crossed the creek about 46, but he did not have his charge. He continued to ride the course. Legacy showing on the left and gathered at 52 for the turn toward the water crossing back to Chickasaw, and made the crossing at 56. As McLean approached the crossing, he inquired of the judge how much time he had left. McLean crossed to Chickasaw and rode straight ahead. Momentarily at 58, he called point for All In on a little knoll, with his dog looking tall and sure. Birds were flushed, and he immediately sent the dog away to a strong finish.

Claiming runner-up honors was Erin's Code of Honor, appearing in Brace 12 with Beyond The Pines. Honor was handled by Luke Eisenhart for owner Allen Linder, and Pine was handled by Lee Phillips with co-owner Dr. Ron Deal on the dog wagon to observe his derby age entry.
After a shortened Brace 11, these competitors were released and headed into a hard right turn. They broke away strong and straight ahead at the turn. Both handlers rode to regain contact with their charges and were soon spotted with the dogs in front and regaining the course in front of the field trial party as the course path turned left. Both dogs continued strong and to the front, seen occasionally on good casts. Handlers had contact with their charges as we crossed the county road. After going through the water crossing back onto Chickasaw, as we were traversing the rock crossing, Honor was seen on the far right side of the grass pond reaching to the front. At 45 point was called from the dog wagon to our right. This was on a line frontward from where Honor was last seen across the dry pond area. All in order. Both dogs continued their reaching race behind the barn and across the road by Davey's house, and finished strong, reaching toward the end of the big peanut field across the ditch.

The Running
The first brace consisted of Miller's Blindsider (Jamie Daniels) and Touch's Shadow Rider (Mark McLean), with both dogs carding finds way to the right at about the 5-minute mark. Both dogs had good races with Shadow Rider carding additional finds at 45 and 60. Blindsider concluded a good hour found pointed ahead just after the hour with all in order.

In the second brace, Jackie Hutwagner handled Dominator's High Maintenance, and Luke Eisenhart put down Comanche. Hutwagner was at a disadvantage in that he was unfamiliar with the course and was unable to maintain contact with his charge, and got the tracker at 25. Comanche had a find at 15. Eisenhart got his tracker before time.

Brace 3 featured Just First Class (Daniels) and Touch's Midnight Rider (McLean). Class made some good casts and recorded stylish finds at 30 and 36, and an unproductive at 42. Rider and McLean were not on the same page, and the tracker asked for early.

In Brace 4, the first of the afternoon, Carlton put down Erin's Three Amigos with Notorious Sweet Ginger handled by Mathys. Carlton's dog ran a pretty good race but went birdless. Finding birds in the early to mid-afternoon had been difficult the last couple of weeks of the hunting season. Ginger ran a moderate race with unproductives at 48 and 59.

Brace 5 pitted Dominators Lilyrose (Daniels) against Haney's Silver Dollar (Eisenhart). Rose is a nice young dog showing promise with a good race with no bird work, and picked up at 50. Dollar ran a big and bold race with a find deep to the left front at 7; at 30, the call of point for Dollar came from afar. The judge made a long, hard ride with Eisenhart calling flight of birds before the judge got line of sight. Brought on, Dollar was leaning into the bridle and carded another good find at 59. Strong throughout.

Brace 6 paired Showtime Game Changer (Copeland) with Woodville's Long Hard Ride (McLean). Copeland was having trouble maintaining contact with Game Changer and asked for the retrieval device early. Ride ran a hustling race reminiscent of his sire. He did not have quite the forward reach of the winners, but impressed with his speed, hustle, and finds at 8, 40, and 46.

Coming to the line on the second morning in Brace 7 were Late Hit (Shenker) and Quail Woods Pine (Carlton). Late Hit was found pointing on the left front in the blackjack oaks before the hourglass field at 8. When released, he took the right side of the hourglass field on the left of Watts Pond, and at 18, as we traversed the Chute, point was called for Late Hit on the left at the end of Watts Pond. A good find. About the same time, point was called for Pine on the right of the chute. After showing most of the hour, Hit was out of pocket after 50 as we headed toward the hard right turn at the property line swamp. He regained the front just before time. Pine ran a mostly forward, strong race to go with his one find. He closed his hour with a good cast.

Brace 8 featured Notorious Reserve (Mathys) with Erin's Bold Ruler (Eisenhart). Away at the right turn on the back side of Ecila, both dogs are making the turns that take us to Rock Story Road crossing. At 7, Ruler pointed, then corrected and went on. Both dogs ahead through the end of the pine rows, across Hog Hill, and bearing right through the row of live oaks. Reserve was out of contact, and Mathys got his tracker. Ruler had finds at 19 and 32, but his appearance was not pleasing to Eisenhart, and he picked up.

The 9th and last brace of the morning had Southern Thunder (Shenker) with DS Riptide (McLean), away at 10:02 near the end of the Ecila courses and soon across the road and on to Abigail, through the creek crossing at 10. Tom riding, trying to keep contact with Thunder, asked for the tracker at 25. Riptide covering the country in good order but out of pocket at times. On through Chickasaw, passing the burned tractor behind the barn, then across the road by Davey's house at 47, McLean called point and flushed the birds. He elected to pick up at this point.

Brace 10 saw Night Hawk Rebel (Swearingen) with Joe Nation (Bush). Released behind the barn at the usual start, Bush had recruited Willis Wright to handle Nation. Nation was not responding, and Bush assumed the handler role at 12 as we made the turn out of the hourglass field. Rebel had traversed the blackjack oak area and down through the hourglass field, continuing on around Watts Pond, coming around to join us at the front as we rode down the chute. At the beginning of the chute, Bush got his tracker as Nation was not reaching out. Rebel crossed the water to Abigail, and at the top of the field, a left turn was spied on point. All in order. He continued on always forward, but working laterally across the front at times. He had finds at 50 on the left and at 54 to the right of course. At 57, where the course turns sharply right at the swamp, Rebel was seen going deep to the left front, and Tracy rode to get him, calling point from the distance at 59. A good piece of work that ended his hour.

Brace 11 saw Shagtime Bill (Cagle) and Game Heir (Corder) released well before the usual start of the second course. The course turned right in about a mile with Bill making the turn and Game Heir not seen at this time. At the crossing of Rock Story Road, Bill pointed, birds were flushed, with Bill not handling it well, and he was picked up. Although seen in the distance two or three times, Heir could not get on the same page with the handler, and he elected to pick up at 28.

Brace 12, Beyond the Pine, with Erin's Code of Honor, previously reported.

Brace 13 saw Erin's War Eagle (Eisenhart) and Nonami's Johnny Come Lately (Pearce). Both dogs had an early find before being picked up at 20 before the water crossing off Chickasaw.

Brace 14, Notorious Southern Son (Mathys) and World Class High Def (Siebels), started just across the water on Abigail. The handlers got their trackers on Ecila at 30 without bird work.

Brace 15, Erin's Legacy (Carlton) and Haney's All In (McLean) was described earlier.

Brace 16--Strut's Bee Sting (Davis) was scratched. Game Star (Corder) had a good find on the right at 14 and another at 52. The dog ran a commendable hour but suffered a non-productive event at time.

In Brace 17, Miller's Heat Advisory (Carlton) and Mayfield Storm Front (Siebels) began on Ecila. Heat Advisory had a find just off the breakaway at 1. Siebels called point on the left at 3. Momentarily, Heat Advisory pointed on a rise about 30 yards away. Siebels could not flush birds. Carlton put birds up in front of his charge. The wind direction raised the possibility that both dogs could have pointed the same covey. Storm Front was put on the wagon shortly thereafter. Heat Advisory continued to show well on the ground and finished in the long field heading toward Chickasaw without additional bird work.

In Brace 18, Confident Nation (Jordan) and World Class Migraine (Siebels) crossed onto Chickasaw at 3. Confident Nation was picked up on his second non-productive stand at 25. Siebels followed suit to end the day.

In Brace 19, Miller's Triple Crown (Siebels) and Tate Island Nation (Jordan) started the last morning after an hour delay due to fog. Triple Crown had a good find on the right side at 3. Seibels regained the front at 5. Jordan found his dog pointed on the left side at 7 and put up birds. Both dogs were running aggressively. Point was called for Nation deep on the left side of the chute at 14. Jordan flushed birds in front of his dog, then caught the front at 16. Siebels found his dog about 100 yards beyond where Tate Nation had birds on the left and carded a good find at 16. Both handlers crossed the water onto Abigail at 22 after four finds in the first 16 minutes. At 27, both handlers flushed and shot. The creek was crossed at 36. Triple Crown subsequently had two non-productive stands and was picked up. Jordan crossed onto Ecila at 51 and carded additional finds at 53 and 58.

In Brace 20, Erin's Copper Colt (Carlton) and Shagtime Jay (Cagle) were released on Ecila. Cooper Colt suffered a non-productive at 9, and Jay had a similar fate at 33. The brace ended early without bird work.

In Brace 21, Lester's Front Porch (Siebels) and DS Superfly (McLean) began on Ecila about 14 minutes from the crossing back onto Abigail. Superfly pointed at 3, but no birds were produced after a relocation attempt. The handlers crossed the creek at 16 and the water back onto Chickasaw at 30. Superfly had a second non-productive stand at 32. Siebels continued with Front Porch until 44.

In Brace 22, Showtime Houston Solution (Copeland) and Mayfield Storm Messenger (Siebels) began the last afternoon brace. Storm Messenger had a find on the left side at 3. Both handlers had their dogs for the water crossing at 17, ahead of the usual schedule. Houston Solution was found pointed just before the creek. Storm Messenger was backing. Siebels took his dog on when Copeland asked for a relocation. No birds were put up. Both handlers called it quits at the creek crossing.

In Brace 23, Seranoa's Ramblin' Man (McLean) and Game Surge (Corder) were released just beyond the creek crossing at 2:49 p.m. Both dogs ran well in spite of the heat. Game Surge was found pointed at 23 with Ramblin' Man in the backing position. Nothing was produced. McLean picked up shortly thereafter. Corder continued with Game Surge but picked up before time without bird work.

Dawson, Ga., March 1
Judges: Jeff Gibbons and Joe Hughes
SOUTHEASTERN OPEN ALL-AGE CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 43 Pointers and 3 Setters
Winner-HANEY'S ALL IN, F1698756, pointer male, by Ransom-Haney's North Star. Steve Croy, owner; Mark McLean, handler.
Runner-Up-ERIN'S CODE OF HONOR, F1696057, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Erin's Miss Maggie. Allen Linder, owner; Luke Eisenhart, handler.