Result: National Free-For-All Championship

Location: Greensboro, Alabama

Post Date: May 15, 2026

Submitted By: Morgan Brewer

National Free-for-All Championship: Stan Wint (judge), Korry Rinehart with Bandit's Hill Avenger, Gary Lester, Ann Forrester (owner), Jarrett Bell (judge), Kirsten Givhan, Bill Goodwin, and Ruthann Epp.

From a field of 28 of the best dogs in the country, Bandit's Hill Avenger emerged the champion of the 2026 National Free-For-All, held at the celebrated M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area in Greensboro, Alabama. Owner Ann Forrester was at the trial to see handler Korry Rinehart and "Bob" earn the win.

In the third brace of the callbacks, with a heavy frost on the ground, Avenger and his bracemate hit the ground rolling, clearing the Warden's pasture and out of sight over the hill past Turkey Lake. Avenger had a classy find at 37. Then he disappeared out the front, and Rinehart lifted his hat again at 42. Ann Forrester was in the gallery, and excitement was building. Avenger had two more bird contacts at 47 and 75 and finished the 90-minute heat strong to the front.

One of the most prestigious trials in the country, this year's National Free-for-All was particularly special as it marked the 110th running of the trial, which began in Alabama in 1916. In addition, the trial was dedicated to the memory of John Henry Kitchens, a well-loved and longtime fixture at trials around West Alabama. He was particularly devoted to the National Free-for-All. At a club meeting just two weeks before his death, John Henry voiced two goals: to make the Free-for-All even better and to work on the bird program.

Thus, was born the campaign of the "110 JHK" cap, a gift to those who donated to the National Field Trial Club's bird program in honor of John Henry Kitchens and celebrating the 110th year of the trial. Special thanks to all those donors: your contributions resulted in a significant improvement in the bird program--there were 66 bird contacts over the course of the trial, with finds in all but one brace. With plentiful birds throughout the trial, each dog had the opportunity to demonstrate bird finding and handling skills. The Kitchens family, daughter Anna and son John, along with grandson Collier, hosted an excellent memorial dinner in the new Blankenship Event Center. We were delighted to add, as per his instructions, a toast to John Henry after the first brace of the finals in this year's trial. The gallery gathered at the dog wagon and had a bracing sip of peppermint Schnapps provided by the Kitchens family.
The hospitality was outstanding, as always. Kirsten Givhan, Chrissy Pitts, Fontaine Alison, Olivia Alison, and Schley Rutherford generously helped prepare daily lunches.

Teresa Justice and Chris Cagle added their homemade specialties to the desserts.
Tim Jones ran the horse taxi, and Moses Dupree kept the dog wagon on schedule and well stocked with refreshments. Special thanks go to club officers Schley Rutherford, Ruthann Epp, Kirsten Givhan, and Chris Koutras for their hard work in organizing the event. Their dedication and effort are greatly appreciated. The annual Winners' Dinner was a huge success. Steve and Stacey Croy, owners of 2025 Free-For-All Champion Haney's All In, put on a spread at the Blankenship Center, and many tales were shared around the fire pit!

This trial was made possible thanks to Purina's generous sponsorship; without it, events of this quality couldn't take place. We also thank Honey Baked Ham (and Anna Kitchens) for their sponsorship again this year. They provided ham, turkey, and soup for lunch. The Ivester family donated an engraved silver champagne cooler, the championship trophy, which is a top honor and a highly distinguished award. I had the privilege of riding alongside judges Dr. Stan Wint from Garland, Kansas, and Jarrett Bell of Troy, Missouri, both of whom worked to ensure every competitor received a fair and thorough evaluation.

Qualifying Series
It was 40 degrees at breakaway for the first brace when Haney's Storm Warning, owned and handled by Chris Cagle, and Bandit's Hill Avenger, owned by Ann Forrester and handled by Korry Rinehart, came to the line. Storm Warning had clean finds at 6 and 20, one unproductive, and a back at 55. He ran a good race. Avenger's owner was in the gallery watching her stylish pointer male. He had picture-perfect finds at 31 and 55.

Haney's Silver Dollar, owned by Chris Cagle Sr. and Jr., and handled by Luke Eisenhart, and Nickajack Pale Rider, owned by David and Andy Freiburger and handled by Mark McLean, were in the second brace. Dollar was picked up at 48; Rider had an unproductive at 2.
Sunset Sam Houston, owned by Matt Brown and handled by Gary Lester, was a bye-dog in the third brace. Houston had a nice find at 38.

It was 57 degrees at breakaway for the fourth brace when Shagtime Bill, owned and handled by Chris Cagle, and Seranoa's Ramblin' Man, owned by Alex Rickert and handled by Mark McLean, approached the line. "Bill," a setter male, had a stylish find at 5, and handler Cagle then asked for the retrieval unit at 38. Man had a back at 5.

Coal Train, owned by Ron Deal and handled by Lee Phillips, and Erin's Three Amigos, owned by Mike Sweet, John Mathys, and Jerry Moisson, and handled by Judd Carlton, were in the fifth brace. Coal Train had a find at 10. Carlton asked for the tracker at 39.

Lester's Storm Chaser, owned by John Ivester and handled by Lefty Henry, and Touch's Shadow Rider, owned by Bruce and Karen Norton and Dr. Reuben Richardson and handled by Mark McLean, came to the line for the sixth brace. Chaser had bird contacts at 18 and 21. Rider had a clean find at 18, a back at 21, and nice finds at 36 and 50.

It was 45 degrees at breakaway for the seventh brace when Haney's All In, owned by Steve and Stacey Croy, who were in the gallery, and handled by Mark McLean, and Rester's Johnny Ringo, owned by Dr. Reuben Richardson and Cecil Rester, and handled by Luke Eisenhart, turned loose. All In had a strong front-running race with four finds. Ringo had a good race with three bird contacts.

Rayray's Juke Joint, owned and handled by Lynn Oxendine, and Touch's Midnight Rider, owned by John Milton and handled by Mark McLean, were in the eighth brace. Oxendine asked for the retrieval unit mid brace. Rider, a pointer male, had four perfect finds.

Lester's War Bird, owned by Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton and handled by Gary Lester, and Miller's Heat Advisory, owned by John Mathys and handled by Judd Carlton, approached the line for the ninth brace. War Bird had bird contacts at 16 and 25. Heat Advisory had good finds at 45 and 58.

It was 55 degrees when Erin's Code of Honor, owned by Allen Linder and handled by Luke Eisenhart, and Armed, owned by John Ivester and handled by Lefty Henry, turned loose for the 10th brace. Code of Honor, a stylish pointer male, had five perfect finds at 4, 12, 28, 33, and 45. Henry asked for the tracker at 30.

Erin's Copper Colt, owned by Allen Linder and handled by Judd Carlton, and Woodville's Long Hard Ride, owned by Carl Owens and handled by Mark McLean, were in the 11th brace. Colt had a back at 7 and was ordered up at 33 for a breach of manners. Hard Ride, a setter male, had an unproductive at 7, a find at 12, and McLean asked for the tracker at 25.

Miller's King Poast, owned by Al Bryson and handled by Gary Lester, and Haney's Top Shelf, owned by David and Andy Freiburger and handled by Mark McLean, turned loose for the 12th brace. Poast had an unproductive at 3 and bird contacts at 6, 21, 47, and 58. Top Shelf had backs at 3 and 21, and McLean asked for the retrieval unit at 27.

It was 33 degrees and windy for the 13th brace when Erin's Perfect Storm, owned by Brad Woodie and Sandy Hill, and Ike, owned by Bob Lanier and handled by Jerry Raynor, approached the line. Perfect Storm put on a show with a find at 3, an unproductive at 18, and finds at 33, 38, 50, and 57. Ike had a clean find at 7 and was ordered up at 14 for an infringement of manners.

Touch's Malcolm Story, owned by Alex Rickert and handled by Mark McLean, and Erin's Legacy, owned by Mike Sweet and handled by Judd Carlton, were in the 14th brace. Story had a clean find at 9, a back at 28, finds at 36 and 50, and a back at 54. Legacy, a classy pointer male, had bird contacts at 28, 36, 50, and 54.

Callbacks
The judges selected eight dogs to compete in the hour-and-a-half-long finals. Owners and handlers should be proud of the achievement.
Erin's Code of Honor
Owner: Allen Linder
Handler: Luke Eisenhart
Touch's Midnight Rider
Owner: John Milton
Handler: Mark McLean
Haney's All In
Owners: Steve and Stacey Croy
Handler: Mark McLean
Haney's Storm Warning
Owner/Handler: Chris Cagle
Bandit's Hill Avenger
Owner: Ann Forrester
Handler: Korry Reinhart
Erin's Perfect Storm
Owner: Brad Woodie
Handler: Luke Eisenhart
Miller's King Poast
Owner: Al Bryson
Handler: Gary Lester
Erin's Legacy
Owner: Mike Sweet
Handler: Judd Carlton

Erin's Code of Honor (Eisenhart) and Touch's Midnight Rider (McLean) were in the first brace of callbacks. The two shared seven finds at 6, 30, 36, 46, 60, 63, and 73; Honor had one at 19, then at 67 and 90, with Rider backing the last two; and they shared an unproductive.

Haney's All In (McLean) and Haney's Storm Warning (Cagle) came to the line for the second brace. All In had an unproductive at 15 and bird contacts at 20, 39, 72, and 82. Storm Warning was out of pocket at 10, and Cagle asked for the tracker at 47.

With a heavy frost on the ground, Bandit's Hill Avenger (Rinehart) and Erin's Perfect Storm (Eisenhart) approached the line for the third brace of the callbacks. Avenger's run is described above. Perfect Storm disappeared shortly after breakaway, so Eisenhart called for the track receiver at 37.

Miller's King Poast (Lester) and Erin's Legacy (Carlton) were in the fourth brace. Lester called point for Poast at 3; Legacy backed, but no birds were produced.
Legacy had a clean find at 11. Point was called for Poast at 20, and Legacy backed, but Lester couldn't get birds up for the judges, and both dogs were picked up.

Greensboro, Ala., January 9
Judges: Jarrett Bell and Dr. Stan Wint
NATIONAL FREE-FOR-ALL CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 26 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.