Result: Quail Championship Invitational

Location: Kevil, Kentucky

Post Date: May 4, 2026

Submitted By: Alaina Berendzen

Quail Championship Invitational (l-r). Erin's Code of Honor with Scout Judd Carlton and Lester's War Bird with Scout Korry Rhinehart, Jim Kleve, April Berendzen, Judge James Kleve, Cooper and Benson Clark, Judge Nathan Berendzen, Winning Handler Luke Eisenhart, Harrison Lee, Dog Wagon Driver Mike Crouse, Judge Justin Crook, Runner Up Handler Gary Lester, Amanda Luedloff, Ruby Clark, Trial Chairman Mary Sue Schalk, Eddie Berendzen, Chad Young, Reporter Laney Berendzen. [Photo by Ben McKean]

The air at the breakaway held that distinct, kind of reverent electricity only found at the pinnacle of the bird dog world. As the sun rose over the grounds, the morning air was filled with a symphony of the sport: the frantic, eager barking of elite pointers, the rhythmic creak of saddle leather, and the hushed giggles of children perched on horses. To be here is not merely to compete; it is to be recognized. The Quail Championship Invitational remains the ultimate filter of greatness, where an invitation is a badge of honor and the three-day grind is the ultimate test of stamina, manners, and bird-finding brilliance. Mary Sue Schalk organizes this wonderful trial with the help of Mike Crouse and other members of the West Kentucky Field Trial Club.

The panel of judges was the youngest in the history of the Quail Championship Invitational. As a young person myself, I can confidently say these young men were honored to be entrusted with this responsibility. The judges were Justin Crook, James Kleve, and, lastly, the youngest judge ever, Nathan Berendzen. Yet, this was merely one layer of the history written that day.
Saturday, day one started. From the first prayer whispered over bowed heads to the final shot ringing out across the never-ending fields, the 2025 renewal was a masterclass in the bond between man, horse, and hound.

The Running
Brace 1: Lester's War Bird (Gary Lester) and Haney's Storm Warning (Chris Cagle). Gary Lester's War Bird set a blistering pace, hunting the cornfield edges with surgical precision. At 22:32, Lester's voice echoed through the valley, "Point!" Birds were produced from a brushy creek bottom hill. War Bird continued a relentless forward race, having a find again at 56 after a diligent flush in thick brush. Haney's Storm Warning matched the intensity, having finds at 13 and 29, with Cagle showing masterful handling to ensure safe road crossings in the heat of the hunt.

Brace 2: Haney's Silver Dollar (Luke Eisenhart) and Miller's Heat Advisory (Judd Carlton). Luke Eisenhart's Silver Dollar displayed early brilliance with a find at the shortcut bend, backed stylishly by Heat Advisory. Judd Carlton's Heat Advisory had a find at 49, pinning a covey with precision right after the creek crossing.

Brace 3: Erin's Three Amigos (Judd Carlton) and Erin's Wild Atlantic Way (Luke Eisenhart). Three Amigos put on a big race performance, hunting the extreme edges. At 44, a covey boiled out by the power plant. Wild Atlantic Way showed his grit early, burying himself deep in a finger of brush at 5:43 to produce birds for Eisenhart.

Brace 4: Erin's Code of Honor (Luke Eisenhart) and Haney's Hurricane Seeker (David Russell). Code of Honor began what would be a historic run, hitting the left edges of the cornfields. He pinned birds at 23, 43, and 59 near the railroad tracks, all producing birds. Hurricane Seeker shared a divided find at 23, and despite a late-afternoon hail storm, Haney's Hurricane Seeker stood tall for another find at 29.

Brace 5: Bandit's Hill Avenger (Korry Rhinehart) and Rester's Johnny Ringo (Gary Lester). Bandit's Hill Avenger was a bird-finding machine, having a find at 8, 25, and 47, the latter featuring a dramatic scout-call from a hilltop. Rester's Johnny Ringo suffered a setback, necessitating the retrieval of the tracker at 42 for the dog's safety near the highway, a difficult but honorable decision.

Brace 6: Miller's King Poast (Gary Lester) and Erin's Perfect Storm (Luke Eisenhart). Despite a soaking rain, Miller's King Poast stood with a high tail in a row of trees at 41, followed by another find at 47. Erin's Perfect Storm was equally prolific, with a divided find at 10 and solo finds at 31, 41, and 49, displaying incredible relocation skills near the plant.
We ended with wet clothes and a hunger for more. Day two appeared promising after the performances of day one.

Day two started the same way, with a prayer and an eagerness to begin as on Saturday. Sunday started Brace 1 with Erin's Perfect Storm handled by Luke Eisenhart and Bandit's Hill Avenger handled by Korry Rhinehart.
Under sunny skies, Erin's Perfect Storm returned to the creek row to find birds at 14, 38, and 58. Bandit's Hill Avenger proved his Saturday performance was no fluke, pinning birds again at 41.

Brace 2: Haney's Hurricane Seeker (David Russell) ran as a bye-dog due to Eisenhart making the tough decision for the safety of Rester's Johnny Ringo. Haney's Hurricane Seeker had finds at 5 and 22; the second find was to the soundtrack of Russell's daughters cheering in the background.

Brace 3: Erin's Code of Honor (Luke Eisenhart) and Miller's King Poast (Gary Lester). This brace featured a masterclass in manners. Code of Honor had a point at 38 and 45, standing "tall and proud." King Poast backed at 10:55 and shared a divided find at 22, where both handlers showed the utmost sportsmanship.

Brace 4: Haney's Storm Warning (Chris Cagle) and Erin's Wild Atlantic Way (Luke Eisenhart). Storm Warning showing off his hunting skills with finds at 9 and 26, both producing birds. Made a big cast hunting the edges. Cagle relocated the dog twice at 33 to produce a covey that had the gallery, and the dog, trembling with anticipation. At 45, point is called again just off the road where we've seen birds before. Right as Cagle decides to take him on Storm Warning points again, birds this time. Erin's Wild Atlantic Way was picked up at 22.

Brace 5: Miller's Heat Advisory (Judd Carlton) and Lester's War Bird (Gary Lester). War Bird was a force of nature, having a find at 4, 11, 21, and 33. Gary Lester had to dive into embankments and brush to flush for his charge. Heat Advisory backed War Bird at 4, solo find at 11, and birds produced at these times. Unfortunately, no birds were home at the divided find at 33.

Brace 6: Erin's Three Amigos (Judd Carlton) and Haney's Silver Dollar (Luke Eisenhart). The day ended with a flourish. Erin's Three Amigos was a part of a divided find just off in the brush, and two shots rang through the air. Three Amigos was picked up at 17. Haney's Silver Dollar was sensational, with finds at 17, 28, 37, 43, and 53; all produced birds. Eisenhart actually had to reload his gun after a "brace full of finds," a rare and beautiful sight.

The callbacks were announced with bated breath: Erin's Perfect Storm, Lester's War Bird, Haney's Storm Warning, and Erin's Code of Honor, with Bandit's Hill Avenger and Miller's King Poast on standby.

Callback Brace 1: Erin's Perfect Storm (Luke Eisenhart) and Lester's War Bird (Gary Lester). Lester's War Bird put on a clinic of endurance and bird sense. From 8 to 1:37, he tallied nine distinct finds, relentlessly attacking the edges and the old shortcuts. His performance was a grueling, high-speed marathon of excellence. Perfect Storm stood strong with finds at 17, 21, and 59, all producing birds. He ran a big all-age brace, showing the endurance that it takes to be invited and the reason he was called back. Unfortunately, his bid ended at 1:37 with Luke making the toughest decision to grab his tracker.

Callback Brace 2: Haney's Storm Warning (Chris Cagle) and Erin's Code of Honor (Luke Eisenhart). The final hour belonged to the legends. While Storm Warning had finds at 10 and 39 before taking the tracker at one hour, Erin's Code of Honor was writing his name in the history books. He was a beacon of consistency, having a find at 10, 24, 34, 1:23, 1:28, and a final, emphatic find at 1:53 at the end of the power line field. Under the masterful whistle of Luke Eisenhart, he didn't just run a race; he commanded the terrain, running an all-age brace mixed with the proof of why he was here. The endurance, stamina, and willpower of both man and dog are exactly why the invite was sent.

As the sun dipped low, the results were read with the pride such a grueling contest deserves.
The 2025 Quail Championship Invitational concluded not just with trophies, but with the shared knowledge that the spirit of field trials remains as vibrant and honorable as ever.

Judges: Justin Crook (pro trainer from MIssouri), Nathan Berendzen (amateur field trial competitor, host, etc from Missouri) and James Kleve (pro trainer from Kentucky). [Photo by Ben McKean]

Kevil, Ky., November 29
Judges: Justin Crook, Nathan Berendzen, and James Kleve
QUAIL CHAMPIONSHIP INVITATIONAL [One-Hour Qualifying Heats on Consecutive Days; Two-Hour Finals] - 11 Pointers and 1 Setter
Winner-ERIN'S CODE OF HONOR, F1696057, pointer male, by Erin's Redrum-Erin's Miss Maggie. Allen Linder, owner; Luke Eisenhart, handler.
Runner-Up-LESTER'S WAR BIRD, F1705485, pointer male, by Lester's Storm Surge-R W Susie Q. Tommy & Bonnie Hamilton, owners; Gary Lester, handler.

Scout Judd Carlton with Erin's Code of Honor. [Photo by Ben McKean]

Gary Lester [Photo by Ben McKean]

Young Field Trialers Ruby Clark and Avian Humphrey. [Photo by Ben McKean]