The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-13
Great Field Trial -Birn,inghams Star in Dogdonn

what Is SO rare as a day in June?''
What thrills the soul Of the lover OF
the dog and gun more than to so abroad
in the fields. in the winter months. when
the frosts and winds have beaten down
the rank growth of weeds and briars
to see a CLASSY bird dog moving with
brilliant dash. like some winged Mer-
curry, far TO the front, away to the right
OFT to the left, then swinging back to
the main course, having perhaps pointed
one or more coveyss and mailing sin
gles" after a flush
Spirit and dash and speed and nose
and bird sense,t all come into the show
ing as to class and rating. The ham
ding of BIRDS" the direct, fixed point;
the tmid blinking or uncertain nose,
ell enter into the scale of marking for
ffizes And while a field trial dog is not
always a good shooting dog" some of
the stars have proven Al. Thousands of
dollars are expended in breeding, develop
ing and training dogs for the classy
CT rtests" The field trials sport usually
opens in Manitoba, on prairie chickens,
late in the summer. The leading train
ers go there in midsummer to prepare
for the trials which begin after the vast
fields of grain are cut and shocked. Next
they visit the Dakotas for the Septem-
Der trials After these, they take up
the circuit of field trials on quail, ac-
cording to their entries. Many of the
states have trials, some of them rank
ing very high. THE Ohio, the Virginia
Carolina" and the Georgia" are growing
in popularity and Importance.
Here in Alabama upon IL cir splendid
preserves at Letohatchie, just below
Montgomery, in Lowndes county, the
Southern Field Trials club will hold one
of their classics" next week, December
IA, and continue three or more days as
may be required to complete the pro-
gramme
In January, upon the same ground, the
national field trials will be held to &c
followed by the United States at Grand
Junction, Tenn
The last great event of the season will
be the championship"
In field trials. the classes are the Der
by. the Futurity, the All-age and the
Subscription.
The Futurity is a breeders stake, and
Only uOSS can enter WllOSe udflS idfS
been nominated. The breeders and own
ers divide the stake.
In the big stakes, the Derby. All-age
and Subscription, the owners and han
dlers divide the purses.
First" winners and Champions are
valued, anywhere from $1,000 to 5000.
Birmingham's Star in DOgdOm
Dog men are divided into two classes,
the bird dog owners and the others.
The bird dog men of Birmingham es-
pecially, and of the United States gen.
orally, were made to sit up and take
notice last week by the brilliant per-
Torrance of Lewis c. Norris owned
by r. J. Rowe of Birmingham, who took
the first prize in the Subscription stake
run Friday, December 4, in the CONT
mental field trials at Waynesboro Ga.
This stake is the most coveted prize in
the field trial world next to the national
championship. 1t is the stake in which
the dogs in any other class in the trials
then on may upon the payment of the
entrance fee enter into competition for
the first. With an entrance fee of $50
and il entries the purse netted the win
ner $500.
In this race the Birmingham pointer
met the following high class dogs: Med
johnson, '.Tooie" commissioners Har-
ry," John Proctor" 'Lang's Boy" "De
Soto Frank" 'Rodman," la Besita,"
Brunswick Countess" and millionaire"
Lewis" was entered in the All-age in
the GEORGIA but was not placed. In
tbs trial, lowing to the dry conditions
prevailing and warm weather, no bril-
liant work was shown by any dog, as
the birds seemed to be scarce. However,
the Continental" which followed the
| next week under exactly opposite condi-
| tons as to the weather, being cold and
Ial, ST. lit,r fol la 4
| birds were found. 1t is a well known
| fact among sportsmen that cold and We
conditions are not favorable to the high
| est class of work by pointers and thi:
| makes the showing of Lewis all thu
| more brilliant. He won the approval o
| spectators, judges, trainers of other dog
| ard that of the staff correspondents o
| sporting journals present at the trials.
In talking with the well known trainer
| W. II. Martin, who was present at boil
| Of the trials, and reading after the Amer
lean Fields staff correspondent, it !
evident that Lewis" was entitled to sec
ond place in the all-age of the Contnen
tai. But judges cannot be at all places
| under all conditions at a field trial, TO
the dogs will often work vide apart, an,
! when the points are close, In reaching
decision, the fairest OF judges will some
times err, even as Homer was wont t
| nod. tbs said.
| w. d. Gilchrist, who handled Lewis
| in both the trials named was so cur
CT his class, and that he had not receives
his full merits, that he entered him, 70
| what may be known as the 'meltin
pot of field trials, the subscription stake
| where this great dog went through
gruelling race of two hours, and the
had to beat that great dog. de Sot
Frank" in the second series, who wa
placed as runner-up.
From a Great Authority
One of the great authorities on Dir
| dogs and field sports in this country
The American Field" in speaking @
the winners of the Continent field trial.