Result: Masters Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Albany, Georgia

Post Date: Apr 9, 2026

Submitted By: Steve Standley and Tim Moore

Masters Open Shooting Dog Championship: Stephens Walker and Tracy Swearingen with Rampage, and Bo Brewer and Mike Tracy with Waybetter Rebel, joined by participants.

The 2026 Masters Open Shooting Dog Championship commenced on March 1, 2026, over two of South Georgia's most prestigious quail hunting estates. The three morning braces were contested over Wildfair Plantation, owned by businessman Joe Davenport and managed by Kevin Beane. The afternoons were spent on Ted Turner's Nonami Plantation. Nonami is managed by Ray Pearce. Both places are successfully managed for wild quail, and the opportunities for bird contact are great. Sincere thanks are extended to Mr. Davenport and Mr. Turner for allowing this noted Championship to be contested on their private grounds.
The Southern Field Trial Club has a dedicated group of men who work to ensure the continued prestige of the stake. Along with Ray and Kevin, other principals include long-time Secretary/Treasurer Tim Moore, Shon Powell, and Steve Wiley. Past Wildfair manager Ronnie Beane rode each morning and helped marshal the group over the courses. Staff member Robbie McCue marshaled over Wildfair. On Nonami, Shon and Ray managed marshaling duties. They were assisted by Nonami colleague Justin Hunt. Buster Cobb, retired Pineland Plantation dog handler, expertly drove the dog wagon. Thanks are extended to Flint Ag & Turf for the new John Deere tractor to pull our dog wagon. Flint Ag & Turf also supplied financial support for this Championship.

The Southern Field Trial Club always provides excellent meals and opportunities to socialize in the pavilion. Home-cooked meat and vegetable lunches were prepared by Hannah Sholar Marchbanks and her cheerful crew. Hannah always has delicious food and a big smile. All enjoyed a very tasty seafood dinner that included fried shrimp, bay scallops, fried oysters, and all the trimmings. The Club sponsored this delightful meal.

Judges for this Championship were Derek Bonner of Mooresboro, North Carolina, and Scott Griffin of Charlotte, North Carolina. Both men work at Knight's Hill Plantation in Camden, South Carolina. Scott grew up quail hunting, and as that faded out, he entered the field trial arena. He went north for several years with Whitley Stephens and also had dogs with Randy Anderson for a number of years. Scott has also competed in and judged many noted trials and spent many hours in the saddle at the Hoffman grounds. He and his family own a masonry and concrete business in the Charlotte area. At their Knight's Hill Plantation, Scott and Derek quail hunt many of their friends and business associates.

Derek grew up in the walking horse world, where he and his wife, Deb, competed in all aspects of the Tennessee walking horse world. He has judged the Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville, Tennessee, for a number of years. As of late, he has put his efforts into the bird dog business. Associated early with Ferrell Miller, he has gone on to develop as a successful dog trainer and a champion of the sport.

The Qualifying Series
It was determined by the club that if there were more than 60 dogs entering this stake, a 30-minute qualifying series would be run. From that, the judges could select up to 12 dogs for one-hour callbacks from which a champion and runner-up champion could be named. The normal morning three hours were contested over Wildfair's three one-hour course grounds. The afternoons were spent on Nonami.

There were 67 dogs in the initial series, and many fine, multiple-find performances occurred within the 30-minute time period. This writer is sure that there were numerous disappointed handlers whose dogs did not make the cut after a worthy performance. All of the courses have many coveys of wild quail offering ample opportunity for game contact.
The judge's decisions were made, and the callback braces are described below.

Callbacks and the Winners
The first brace of the callbacks was released onto Nonami and featured Mo's Curtain Call (Tracy) and Thunder's Wild Agin (Kinkelaar). Call pointed at 4, and a single was put up, then the balance of the bevy immediately took flight.
Just prior to this action, Kinkelaar suffered a barren stand with Wild Agin. Wild Agin redeemed himself with a good find, some 150 yards off the judges' path.
By the quarter hour, both dogs had applied themselves in good form with one find each.
At 16, Curtain Call had a breach of manners and found herself on the rope. At the same time, Wild Agin had a find in the first chopper swath off the judges' path, and Shawn put up a large covey for his composed pointer.
At 26, Shawn called point and then the flight of birds; unseen officially, he took his dog on. We made the turn at Blue Springs headquarters at the half. When Shawn got his dog lined out to the fore, Wild Agin stood for a strong covey and displayed excellent manners.
Next, Shawn called point on a small hill. Flight was again called but not seen by the judges. At 38, as the handler had his dog to the front, he scored a clean find ahead.
Some 10 minutes later, as we made the final turn toward Sam's old church, Wild Agin went on to show deep to the left fore and pinned a nice covey in good form. This dog was offering a bold performance in the strong heat.
At 51, near the last brood field before the small lime sink, Wild Agin produced once more among the pines. She showed well despite the strong heat as we continued past the large lime sink.

The last quarter hour was probably Wild Agin's best effort as she "gutted it out" and offered a good finish in demanding conditions. This dog probably pushed the winners the closest.
Released onto Nonami, Dominator's Wild Bill (Daniels) was paired with Nonami's Ben Lately (Pearce). Ben pointed right off the breakaway but ended up with an unproductive after a relocation. Ray went on to have his second empty stand and was out.
Wild Bill had a good find at 5 behind Cody's old house. Next, just past the road, Jamie had another good find in the bottom amid the big timber.
When the course turned at the north end of the property, Bill had an empty stand. He went on to show well on the ground in tough conditions. Not seeing what he wanted, Jamie put Bill on the rope at 38.

The third brace of the callback featured both the champion and runner-up, as later described.
The fourth brace of the callbacks began Thursday at 8 a.m. over Wildfair Plantation. Featured were Strut's Bee Sting (Tommy Davis) and Steel Valley Raven (Mike Tracy). At 3, Davis called point for Bee Sting, then flushed to no avail. Meanwhile, Raven came in and ran over a bird. Bee Sting stopped, and Davis shot over his dog and took her on.

Next, Bee Sting pointed, then someone in the gallery called flight. After a short effort, Davis continued. The judges later described this as a non-event.
Bee Sting had looked animated and attractive on the ground and had a find on a single bird at 23. She continued with a workman-like effort but was on the rope at 47.
The fifth brace of the callbacks featured Parkway (Tracy) and Panther Creek Rosie (Rice III). At 3, Rosie carded an empty stand. At 7, Tracy handled birds for Parkway at the Shack Haynes Rd.
Just as we crossed the road at the old Confederate soldier's house site, both dogs showed well through the next pretty bottom and ahead. Both dogs had offered good, strong, and forward ground applications that required little scouting.
At 20, Rosie offered good work on a single about 300 yards east of the Pineland crossing. Some five minutes later, she had a clean find on a single in a briar thicket as Parkway honored. Rosie again stood perfectly for another single near the Pineland crossing. Rosie went on to offer a smooth forward shooting dog race.
At 35, in the southwest corner of the property, before we get to the 100-acre grass pond, she stood properly for a pair of well-located Bobwhites. Rosie went on to offer another barren stand and was up. Disappointing to see.
When we regained the front, Tracy withdrew his entry.

Wiregrass Wayne (Dustin Kirby) and No Denying (Daniels) made up the final brace in the callbacks. Wayne made a good swing to the south and came back across the front and pointed. Kirby put a bird up just where the dog said they were. No Denying drove toward the northwest corner of Wildfair and went unseen for enough time that Daniels requested his tracker.
The Wiregrass entry was a fast-moving and classy dog that attracted attention. At 30, south of Wolf Pond, Kirby had a good find on a hillside with all in order. Just as Wayne was released, he immediately had another clean find.
At 55, the judges had a conversation with Dustin that ended the brace. It was a commendable effort, but it could not top what the officials were carrying.

The Winners
Waybetter Rebel (Mike Tracy), owned by Bill and Muriel Primm and Allen Linder, was braced with Tucker Johnson's Rampage (Tracy Swearingen) as they were cast at the second pivot field back to the south on Nonami. At 6, Rebel had a find on the right, and at this time, Rampage had his own independent find with all in order.
At 9, Rebel stood, but Tracy could not raise a bird. When released to relocate, Rebel made three jumps and pinned the covey. This was a good find and an even better relocation.
At 17, near the main entrance, both dogs established independent stands, some 50 yards apart. Both handlers flushed and put a good covey up between the rigid dogs. These birds were pointed the day before in this area.
By the half hour, Rampage showed well and strong in the more open areas, offering numerous big forward driving casts. Rebel was out of pocket through the breeding grounds but came in shortly to be viewed working the front.
At 38, Rampage was out of contact as we made the turn to the west. Meanwhile, Rebel came back to the front, and Bo Brewer called point for him at 41. Jamie Daniels handled the bird work, which was successful following a clean, deliberate relocation.
Meanwhile, scout Stephens Walker called point off to the right in the old irrigation field for Rampage. This resulted in a clean find after which Rampage regained the front at 47 at the old hayfield.
Rebel pointed at 48 as Rampage came in from a different angle to establish point on the same covey. Both handlers shot, and both were credited for the divided work. At 53, Rampage scored again on a single in good form.
At 57, we were at the last brood field before Hardup Road, and Rampage scored once again, his last bevy of the day.
Two great jobs, both with short absences, but they were excellent performances. Rampage was named champion, and Waybetter Rebel claimed the runner-up title.
In later discussions with the judges, they described the brace as a heavyweight boxing match. They went on to state that both dogs were beautiful around their game. Judge Bonner also stated that everyone appeared excited to see the pair afield. He also commented that you don't often see two dogs offer this level of performance at the same time.

Albany, Ga., March 1
Judges: Derek Bonner and Scott Griffin
MASTERS OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 63 Pointers and 4 Setters
Winner-RAMPAGE, F1705323, pointer male, by Touch's Red Rider-Southpoint's Dixie Chick. S. Tucker Johnson, owner; Tracy Swearingen, handler.
Runner-Up-WAYBETTER REBEL, F1689139, pointer male, by Dominator's Rebel Heir-Calico's Country Strong. Bill & Muriel Primm & Allen Linder, owners; Mike Tracy, handler.